Happy Travel Season

It's crazy out there, try to connect in cities not known for snow.

Chicago - Bad Connection Airport in Winter

Sorry Hertz - That Is Miserable Value

Like using United miles for a new Apple product, just don't do it.

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I Don;'t Mind allegiant Jets from the Outside

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I'd like United to paint one or two of their new 777-300ER's in the Star Alliance livery.

Air India 777

Element Airline Cart

Though not certified for aircraft use, I like the travel theme in the airline style cart in the Element lobby. 

1,000,000 Miles!

I reached 1,000,000 lifetime miles on United Airlines. I started April 18, 1992 with a flight from ORD to CHS. I reach 1,000,000 on October 9, 2018 500 miles south of Adak, Alaska on a flight from SIN to LAX. My shortest flight was 67 miles from MKE to ORD. My longest was LAX to Singapore at 8,770 miles.

Please Don't

Rather than using United miles to buy Apple products, just use the miles to fly business class on Lufthansa instead. It'll be much better value. Also flying to Portland or Manchester will save sales tax. The trip could pay for itself.

Silly United

Unexpected United Airlines Co-Branding

Airlines + Movie Star + Cigarettes. Interesting combination.

United Upgrade Cleared

I'm Gold on United and my upgrade cleared, after I boarded. Still counts. I enjoyed the egg sandwich. The Goose Island wasn't my favorite style. 

Virgin - Alaska

I was right, my Alaska A319 was still in Virgin America colors this week. They are making better progress than I anticipated.

People are Evil

There are some miserable people out there, like the person in Denver who put outlet stickers around the terminal.

Airline Magazine Map

Delta and other massive carriers have made the in magazine route map useless, it's all just the route lines.

Hilton Head Airport

I liked flying into Hilton Head airport (HHH). It has 3 flights a day to CLT on American E175's. It's a great option if a CLT connection and American Airlines are acceptable for you. Otherwise Savannah is great.

Fun Logo

The Entire Terminal Post Security

New United Boarding Process

United has a new boarding process and I'll test it 3 times (maybe 4) this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Boarding is almost as annoying as deplaning

Happy Travels

I have a day trip to SAN this week.

Using Up a Southwest Credit

Cool Sighting

The Golden Dove A319

First Time in Delta First

No meal since I'm leaving after 8pm, but I'm excited.

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Flying to a new airport today - Hilton Head HHH.

A321 to CLT then E175 to HHH

Photo Post F35

I don't have a F35 photo, but I saw one on my trip.

Hilton HHonors Status Match

Hilton will match your status in other programs and you can keep it until 2020 with a few stays.

JFK has a Hilton Close By

Happy Labor Day

Does the holiday include airline management or just union represented jobs?

Having a Union = Having Union Issues

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Odds are my Alaska A319, on a flight later this month, will be red and white.

Flow Control

Low clouds around SFO caused a 2 hour delay for me last night. I had an open middle seat, so it wasn't all bad.

143 Seats - Not All Full on My Flight

LAX-SIN

That's a long flight in Economy Plus, but it will help lock down lifetime status.

Free Shipping at the Boeing Store this Weekend

Just in time for my birthday, the Boeing Store is offering free shipping this weekend.

Free Shipping Offer Not Valid on Aircraft

More Travel Planning

Where to go for Thanksgiving? I like going places that don't celebrate the holiday.

I Won't Take Spirit There

Mismatched Nose Cones

Why buy mismatched nose cones? Basic white would never work with United colors.

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Not much interesting going on. Just planning a trip for my brother.

Likely to Include an Air Canada Component

Glad I Have Lifetime SPG Status

I'm glad I grabbed lifetime Platinum status with SPG last year and it will transfer to the combined Marriott program. The new numbers for lifetime Marriott status are a huge hurdle.

Next Up - Lifetime United Status

Tax Haven Travel - Portland

Portland, OR is a great city for a weekend of beer, food, and shopping, especially since there is no sales tax. Downtown has a large mall and an Apple store. A little bit north, there are more brand specific shops and breweries. I enjoyed my stay the The Nines hotel and the MAX light rail is a great way to get into town from the airport and hop around central Portland. 

Horizon Q400 Departing Portland

The Portland Japanese Garden is a bit out of the city center, but a great morning or afternoon of tranquility. The airport has shops after security that sell beer and wine if you'd prefer to carry on liquid souvenirs. 

Another Photo PostSFO

SFO Plane Spotting

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Enjoy.

Fun Name

AA Award Changes

My American Airlines saver award trip has changed 5 times in as many weeks. My original arrival time was backed up over 4 hours and I didn't want the new 5 hour connection, so I called reservations. Since the arrival time was greater than 4 hours different, I could pick any available flights to make my trip work, not just saver award flights. This was great news, because I could switch from an obnoxiously early departure time to a reasonable time. Added bonus, the new flight was on an A330 with flat bed seats. This was better than I booked.

Old Flat Bed Seats

Then my flight changed again. The connecting aircraft changed to an all coach E145 and arrival moved back 2 hours to 11:04PM. I booked first class and a 5:30 arrival originally. This was a non-starter and I call AA reservations. I was looking to cancel and rebook for an alternate airport.

No First and No Fun Over 60 Minutes

The reservations agent let me change my arrival airport and pick from any flight with seats. This was great, so I booked a reasonable flight and hope it will stick. I'm also back in first for both segments. The key is being persistent and having flight options to suggest to the phone agents before calling. Also 4 hours difference is the magic number for American agents to offer you anything reasonable.

No Flat Bed Seats, but Open Bar

New CRJ Cabin

The tube is the same diameter, but new CRJ 700's, 900's, and 1000's can have larger bins and in seat power as part of a cabin refresh from Bombardier. Offer not valid on CRJ 200's.

Delta Will Have New Cabins on 20 new CRJ's

Antonov Volga Dnepr

Fun sighting.

Dash-8 Tribute

Great 30 minute tribute to the Dash-8 from Piedmont Airlines.

Boeing 737 MAX Selling Well

The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are a tweak of the previous version. They are quieter and more efficient, but still the same basic design (just lengthened tube) from before I was born. The new model is also selling well. That's too bad for passengers. Boeing needs a sales flop before they will take out a blank sheet of paper. The 737 is cramped and a fresh design would be more comfortable for passengers. 

737-500, Close Enough

Retro Photo Post

I Enjoy Retro Schemes

Hilton Points are Almost Worthless

Hilton out did Delta. Hilton award nights are dynamically priced and wildly expensive. I'm an SPG guy, but was looking around to see if better hotel program value could be found. It's been a while since I looked at Hilton and YIKES, awards got expensive. I think I'll go Marriott and Hyatt.

Delta Also Has Wildly Expensive Awards