You’ve had the middle seat blocked for you. Just when you’re settling in to a flight with some room the person 2 seats across from you claims “your” empty middle seat to create space on their other side. What would you do?

Lufthansa has sent out some emails marketing United Mileage Plus’ double EQM offer. Flying Lawyer asks if this is the first sign of a Lufthansa takeover of United. What do you make of this?

Imagine having passes for you and a companion to fly in the premium class cabin anytime you like for the rest of your life. Would you have paid $400,000 for that privilege?

One man did, but his passes were revoked. In the American Airlines sued over lifetime first class flying pass (merged) thread, there is a long discussion about the particular reasons why that privilege has been revoked, as well as the posting of dreams of what FlyerTalk members would do with lifetime premium class passes — including using an overnight flight on which to sleep as a replacement for a hotel or home while in the middle of moving from one residence to another, and meals would be served as well — that allegedly also earned American AAdvantage miles!

FlyerTalk member bestbet33 says, “I have a reservation at a property that dosn’t exist”. Apparently, construction on the property at which bestbet33 has a reservation will not be completed by the time the date of the reservation arrives. What would you do — or, more importantly, what would be your…er…best bet?

Even more importantly, FlyerTalk member pauleeepaul asks if bestbet33 will get points. Who cares whether or not the construction will be completed at the time of the reservation, anyway?

We are not pulling your leg here at The Gate. Claw on this evidence for proof: Md. Crabhouse Suggestions Please! and  Where To Go For Great Crabcakes.

Shell we try the following threads instead: Worst Crab Cake Ever? Here’s My Vote…Bistro Moderne, Houston and Soft Shelled Crabs?

Whatever seafood you see, do not be a crab. Rather, please participate in these threads and help fellow FlyerTalk members crack the case on where to find the best and worst crab dishes.

For a while a few forums have images enabled. Following a TalkBoard recommendation this will soon be extended to most forums.  sbm12 has posted a very useful thread on how to post images on Flyer Talk.

In an apparent response to the offers by United Airlines for Mileage Plus frequent flier members to earn double elite qualification miles on United Airlines flights and Continental Airlines for OnePass frequent flier members to earn double elite qualification miles on Continental Airlines flights as reported by The Gate, Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are offering a similar promotion with notable differences as compared to the United Airlines and Continental Airlines offers: higher fare classes will count towards the earning of of up to triple Medallion Qualification Miles, or MQMs, for Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines flights worldwide…

…but are Northwest WorldPerks and Delta Air Lines SkyMIles members really earning up to triple Medallion Qualification Miles? Please read the How many flights will you book if Delta rolls out a 2X MQM Bonus right now? and Will NW/DL match AA/UA double EQM? threads for details, as well as some controversy and confusion.

FlyerTalk members are discussing the FEDEX crash at Narita March 22, as well as offering links to actual news stories, photographs and videos of this tragic incident.

The Gate offers our condolences to the crew and their families.

As soon as I saw the thread title I knew I had to read the thread discussion. Pilot brakes suddenly to avoid bunny rabbit.

A yet-to-be-identified US airline may fit airbags in all aircraft seats. Some FlyerTalk members think this is not their bag as this idea may crash and burn, while others do not think it will fly in the first place. Is this airline winging it with what it believes is enhanced safety? Could the possibility of accidental deployment during flight cause this idea to simply burst?