Air France A318 European Business Class

The seats do not recline! That aside, I had a nice flight. Thin crowd, even for a A318, so there was plenty of space to spread out.  Row 1 has the most space. Pleasant flight crew and good grub. European airlines seem to encounter fewer passengers wanting a cocktail in the morning, so don't be surprised with the limited booze options. 

Business Class Cabin

Breakfast

Seat Depth

Window View from Row 1

Star Alliance Lounge LAX

The Star Alliance lounge at LAX can be accessed by any Star Gold member, including domestic United passengers. The complication is that the lounge is a 25 minute walk each way.  If you have the time, it is very worthwhile. The lounge is in the new international terminal and has a nice hot buffet selection and good bar options. The best part is the outdoor patio overlooking runways 24L and 24R. I brought my scanner and enjoyed listening to the action on 133.9. It was a great way to pass the time, just set an alarm so you don't miss your connection.

Great View

737 Crew Rest Seats - United Airlines

They recline all the way to the row 2 seat cushion. I'm not sure why they installed row 2, but the Micronesia 737-800 only has 12 first class seats that can be occupied by passengers.

Row 1 Crew Rest

MSP's Famous Aviator

MSP has a great tribute to Snoopy, the most famous aviator from Minnesota. It's way better than the Amelia Earhart statue at Burbank.

Pride of MSP

SAA Voyager Wants Me To Earn Miles

We have noticed that at least one booking you previously made with South African Airways did not have a Voyager membership number, and we are concerned that you may be missing out on fabulous rewards with SAA Voyager - Africa’s only revenue-based airline loyalty programme.

I only flew SAA using United miles, so this is an odd offer. The flight from Perth was great because it saved me half a day.

State Run Star Alliance Airline - Better Than Air India

Private Jet Discount!!!

Delta Private Jets is offering 3% off their standard rates. Wow! This is a great marketing idea because private jet customers are exceptionally price sensitive. Trips must be booked by December 15.

A319 Not Offered - That's Part of Delta Charters

Save $50 or More on Emirates

For a limited-time, we've partnered with Visa Checkout to provide great savings of $1,000 off First Class fares, $250 off Business Class fares and $50 off Economy Class fares on round-trip flights departing from all Emirates US airports to selected destinations across our global network. 

To take advantage of this great offer, use promotional code USVISAC and make sure to select the Visa Checkout button when you’re ready to pay. 

Book by November 24, 2016

The sweet spot is if you find a cheap first class fare, but $50 on economy is nice too.

They Love A380's

Don't Fly Lufthansa When I Plan To

My last two trips on Lufthansa have been disrupted by strikes. I think it's me.

No Lufthansa Flights Departing Denver Today

Book Through IHG or Feel Their Indifference

We’ve made a change. Effective January 1, 2017, members must book directly through IHG® (IHG.com, IHG® App, IHG® brand sites, corporate travel sites, Central Reservations, or Hotel direct) and not through other travel booking sites in order to take full advantage of the benefits that come with an IHG® Rewards Club membership. Why? We want to give you the best travel experience—from start to finish—every time. And we can only do that when you book with us directly. 

IHG saves money when you book through them and they are trying to encourage direct bookings. Most chains have a version of this, just with IHG, you are less likely to notice a difference. You still get MrRebates credit if you click through to book at IHG while still seeing full IHG perks.

Taken From The Sheraton FRA

Honolulu International Airport - HNL

I'm starting to love HNL. The architecture is beautiful and the outdoor concourses are great. The airport has amazing views and there always seems to be a nice breeze blowing.  There is a terminal modernization project starting soon that will add gates and remove charm.

Get Up Close to an A330

Japanese Peace Garden

Ideal Smoking Section, But Isn't

Wide View of the Field

View from the United Club

Fun Interior Design - Mid Century Modern/Tiki

Suspect Southwest Award Math

Southwest is marketing to differentiate themselves from legacy carriers. Bags Fly Free is a clear differentiation, but the miles program isn't as clear cut. I don't doubt their math below, but they are missing a big component. United has flat rate award pricing, so no round trips are less than 25,000 miles. Southwest bases award prices on ticket costs, so their round trip prices shift as the price changes. United passengers are less like to use award miles on cheap flights, but can receive great value using their miles for expensive flights since it's the same cost in miles.

Southwest Math

Virtue Signaling or Actual Action?

Why only care about breast cancer in October? Could it be virtue signaling or is this a cause being tangiably supported? I wouldn't mind the all out pink assault in October if airlines permitted pink year round and just encouraged it in October. Also knowing of any tagible results from this campaign would be nice.

I Doubt They'll Repaint the Tug

30% Off Boeing Store

Time to stock up on expensive items because the Boeing Store is offering 30% off orders over $100.

I'm On A 757 Roll

Is a 747-200 an Upgrade?

I do love the 757.

I Knew I Had A Picture

I'm Now Gold With Best Western

I've never stayed with Best Western, but have a rewards number. I played a contest and they boosted my status a level from basic to Gold. BW Gold status might be the most depressing hotel status; close race with La Qunita Elite. BW will also match loyalty program status if you ask, they are the only chain that advertises this, but most others will do it if you ask.

This Costs More Than A Best Western Hotel

United Cheaped Out - Again

United did a real half rear end job removing the inflight entertainment components from legacy United 777's. The just put a sticker over the controls and a plastic plug in the headphone jack.

Not the best refurb job.

There Was Channel 9 Once

Bloody Mary Morning - Great Flying Song

Written in 1970, a few years before the invention of Bailey's, the Willie Nelson song Bloody Mary Morning is a fun song about flying. Or maybe a broken heart, I hear what I want to hear.

New QANTAS Logo

Well it's more like an updated logo and font, but big news from an airline with the same look since I was born. 

Current QANTAS Look

Not Having Good Luck to Asia on United

I spent a few hours hanging around Denver watching my departure move further and further back. Then I got on the plane, heard the wheels up time, and then exited aircraft and left for home. My flight with a 3 hour connection in SFO wound up miss-connecting by 15 minutes. Less than half of my Asia trips have gone correctly this year. Two of them were scrubbed completely. United is not running a good operation.

Memories of Better Times

Boeing Sold 14 (Maybe 28) 747's

Boeing sold 14, with options for 14 more, 747-8 freighters to UPS. They are an existing 747-400 customer and probably got these for a steal since Boeing was planning to shut down the 747 production line once they filled their remaining orders. This will keep the 747 program alive for another year.

I Don't Have Many Cargo Airline Shots

The A340 is 25 Years Old and Obsolete

Good thing Airbus paired this design with the A330 or it would have been dumped years ago. It has a limited future with VVIP operations, small carriers, and for it's long overwater (not ETOPS limited) range. You can buy one ready for airline service for $20,000,000. 

Most Operators Have Replaced It

First - Coach - First Crossing the Pacific

First class over the Pacific can be one of the best in flight experiences available, see ANA, Cathay Pacific, or JAL for examples. As per tradition, US carriers do it worse or not at all. United is no exception. They run domestic configuration 737's out of Guam all around the Pacific. They also run a domestic 777-200 from Guam to Honolulu and regional upgrades don't work on this flight, so be ready for 7 long hours in coach. From Honolulu, it's all domestic configurations.

Like I'm Flying to Boston

Regional Upgrades Work HKG-GUM

This means passengers flying the equivalent distance of LAX to London have to do it in planes made for LAX to SFO. Even worse there is no free food or alcohol. United has a monopoly, more or less, on the central Pacific routes and no interest in improving the onboard experience. Be prepared.

View from GUM United Club

Breakfast on a Domestic 737 Flight for Comparison

Breakfast HNL-IAH - Meh

Meal Leaving HKG on 737

Double Amex Points!

Shop small and get double points when using a registered Amex card. Not as fun as free money ($25 or $10 a card in previous years), but still a worthwhile promotion.

Delta & Amex Are Friends

Longest 777-200ER Flight In The World

United Airlines operates the longest 777-200ER flight from EWR to HKG, about 16 hours on board and over 8,500 flown miles. I flew it in coach. It's not bad if you have a good seat and travel prepared. 

Economy Seat Recline

Open middle seats make a world of difference. An open row is amazing. Otherwise shoot for an exit row (right side is better than left) or Economy Plus. I booked an exit row when I make my reservation then hold onto it until I'm at the gate and get a decent feel for the seat map. I was able to switch into an open middle row of 3 seats at the last minute and have all that space to myself.  It made for a nice trip.

777-200ER to HKG

Fly with ear plugs and an eye mask. The cabin is always noisy and next dark. Also avoid caffeine for the day. It's hard enough to sleep on board. Take a walk around the cabin every hour or two when awake. It helps. Also stock up on podcasts or bring a book, the TV's don't always work.

Exit Row Leg Room

Broken TV - It Reset After About 20 Minutes

Pack snacks. The food is ok, but infrequent.  The beer is free and the wine is undrinkable. Spirits cost money.

Pasta Dinner

More Pasta

Noodle Breakfast - Good

More Noodles - Still Good

Happy Weekend!

Going somewhere fun?

Air China Has Great Star Alliance Award Space

Good View From Houston United Club

Go to the third floor of the E11 United Club in Houston. It is less crowded and the views are great.

Ample Outlets, Quiet, & Views

Odd Emirates Advertising

Emirates paid for an ad to have me join their company as a pilot. I have less than 1 hour of total flight time at the controls, so this may be misguided advertising.  The website was an interesting view into their push to poach experienced pilots from around the world.

Emirates Never Goes Small

Window Seat With Nothing To See

Window seats are still fun, even if you're just flying over ocean the whole way.

I Am Biased

I Like This One

Fun picture.

Amazing Regional Jet

Post 787-900

Happy post #789.

A Virgin Atlantic 787-900 at LHR