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Reader Mail “What Are The Key Benefits To Being An Elite?”

Choosing a frequent flyer program can have many variables to choose from. In the scheme of things, with all programs being not being equal, what is the essential frequent flyer benefit for business travelers?   Mohammed Akbar, from Kuwait, writes, “I am searching for the key benefits of joining a frequent flyer program as a…

Reader Mail “Is A Lay Flat Seat The Same As A Fully Flat Seat?”

Wordplay is a hallmark of marketing and sometimes says exactly what a project is without actually saying what a product is.   This reader mail from Riley O’Connor is all about word play. Riley emailed me the following “I’m flying Australia in December and noticed some airlines describe their business class seats as a lay…

WhiteHouse.gov Petition To Abolish The TSA … why?

One week ago a new petition appeared on the White House’s website, the petition is to “Abolish the TSA, and use its monstrous budget to fund more sophisticated, less intrusive counter-terrorism intelligence.” To date, this petition has received more than 24,000 supporters … which leads to the question of “Why?”   The Transportation Security Administration…

British Airways Charts New Story Telling Territory

British Airways can trace its logo and call sign, Speedbird, back to Imperial Airways which first flew in 1924, and its complete history back to Aircraft Transport & Travel Ltd‘s first commercial flight between Britain and Paris’ Le Bourget Airport on the 15th of July 1919.   Now, as British Airways looks back at a…

Kicked Off A Plane For Being Gay Or Just Inappropriate?

Social Media … the ultimate tool for those who feel wronged, especially celebrities and semi-celebrities.   Earlier this week was no different when actress Leisha Hailey Tweeted that a Southwest Airlines flight attendant had her removed from her flight for being a lesbian.   In a matter of moments, The L-Word star’s tweets were ripping through…

Photographers, Southwest Airlines & Pre-Boarding

It seems that once a week, if not more often, a photographer emails me, Tweets more or calls me asking about Southwest Airline’s preboarding for photographers and credentialed media.   While the link to Southwest Airlines’ preboarding may no longer be on their website, the policy still very much exists, and is great for ensuring…

Ryanair Charges You For Not Buying Something

Ryanair, an airline that conjures up images of a stark raving lunatic of a CEO, uncomfortable seats and fees for everything … and just when you though Ryanair couldn’t charge passengers any more, it seems they can!   As Ryanair is set to release the Ryanair Cash Passport, a pre-paid Mastercard, another revenue channel for…

Why Can’t The TSA Find What They Are Looking For?

This past Tuesday news headlines abounded about a Utah man being arrested after he boarded a Delta Air Lines flight from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas with a knife, but the real headline should be “How do all these knives keep passing through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints?†  Granted, David Alan Anderson travel’s…

What Are The Most Idiotic Complaints Travelers Have…?

I have to acknowledge Pauline Frommer, of Frommer’s Travel Guides, for finding a recent survey from Thomas Cook and The Association of British Travel Agents on the 20 stupidest traveler complaints lodged by British travelers regarding their vacations.   My favorites of the list below include people who were not informed that the sea was…