Economy Class & Beyond
London Charing Cross and Waterloo East to close for 22 days for Engineering Work
For those of you in the South East of England, there are some major changes to travel as Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations close for part of the summer for engineering works during the next 22 days.  This impacts train services operated by Southeastern, with no trains serving either Waterloo East...
Traveling For Miles
Quick tip: Don’t convert Amex points to Avios right now
If you're in need of Avios (British Airways, Iberia, or Aer Lingus) and are thinking of converting some Amex Membership Rewards points to satisfy that need, it may pay to hold off right now if your circumstances allow.
Economy Class & Beyond
Last Week at Econony Class and Beyond (25th July)
It’s that time of the week again – we’ve hit the end of the week and almost the end of July. But it’s time to look back at a week at Economy Class and Beyond. Even after in passing, Ozzy Ozborne can’t be held down. Celebrating the first Ozzy Day,...
Economondo
Qatar Airways’ Worst Product? Dubai to Doha on an Old A330
Read my review of a Qatar Airways Airbus A330-200 on a short flight from Dubai to Doha
Also on BoardingArea
Your Mileage May Vary
One Of The Rudest Things Air Travelers Do Now Even Has A Name
Air travel has always brought out the best—and the worst—in people. Every frequent flyer has seen it: the person who blocks the boarding lane, spreads out across three gate seats,…
Frequent Miler
Fee-free Visa Gift Cards in-store at Staples
Staples is again offering fee-free fixed $200 Visa Gift Cards, through Saturday, August 1, 2026. The limit is nine per customer per day in-store, although some stores may allow more. Different stores appear to have different policies regarding the variable-load cards that some Staples now sell. Some folks report that...
Live and Let’s Fly
American Airlines Is Growing Itself Into A Hole
American kept $71 million on nearly $17 billion, so it is ordering more widebodies it will borrow for. The people who built the debt want your trust to fix it.
Miles To Memories
Point.me Makes Finding Award Flights Easier With New Tools & Additions
Point.me has launched a new interactive Explore map tool for award flights, along with other new useful additions to the program.
Economy Class & Beyond
London Charing Cross and Waterloo East to close for 22 days for Engineering Work
For those of you in the South East of England, there are some major changes to travel as Charing Cross and Waterloo East stations close for part of the summer for engineering works during the next 22 days.  This impacts train services operated by Southeastern, with no trains serving either Waterloo East...
The Points of Life
Ryan Air Madrid to Mallorca: Why Not?
For weeks, I tried to find a points flight from Madrid to Mallorca. Air Europa showed no availability. Iberia only had flights with connections. In the end, I paid $150 to fly Ryan Air direct. For such a short flight, I have no complaints. I paid for carry on bag...
Frequent Miler
Staples.com is selling $200 digital Visa gift cards with no purchase fee
Staples is once again waiving purchase fees for digital Visa gift cards sold online. This type of deal is always popular, so you’ll want to buy ASAP if you’re interested. The Deal Buy $200 virtual Visa gift cards with no purchase fee at Staples.com. Direct link to offer. Key Terms...
Points With a Crew
5 Survival Tips For A Long Haul Flight With The Middle Seat
Is there anything more miserable than a middle seat for a long haul flight? If you're stuck there, here are 5 tips to make your flight a little less painful
The Points of Life
Duty Free Alcohol: Who Knows the Rules?
I needs me rum when I travel. Accordingly, I bought a bottle of Don Q 7 for $33 from SJU airport. It was put in the sealed bag and tucked away in my carry-on (see). Upon my arrival to Madrid, I had an ‘oh shit’ moment when I found out...
The Bulkhead Seat
American Boeing 787 Diverts to Dublin After Six Flight Attendants Become Ill Mid-Flight
An American Airlines flight from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)…
Your Mileage May Vary
One Reason I’m Still Keeping The Capital One Venture X
I’ve reached the point where merely breaking even on a credit card is no longer enough. If I have to pay a $395 annual fee and then carefully use several…
Travel Codex
Egypt Is Finally Moving to E-Visas
If you’ve ever arrived in Cairo after a long international flight, you know the drill. Before you can even think about heading to passport control, you’re usually stuck in another line buying Egypt’s famous visa sticker with cash and then taking the proof of payment to the immigration officer to...
View from the Wing
Defunct Airline Suing Boeing For $179 Million Over 1995 Crash Blamed On Engine Failure And Pilot Error
Boeing is suing to block a defunct airline’s $179 million claim over a 1995 Cameroon Airlines 737 crash. The accident report blamed engine failure and pilot handling, while Boeing says the airline’s purchase contract waived these claims decades ago.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
London Gatwick Airport Left With No Running Water With Toilets Left Backed Up, And Restaurants Shut,
London Gatwick Airport (LGW) has been left without any running water on a busy Sunday at the height of the summer holidays, leaving toilets backed up, restaurants shut, and airport staffers handing out bottles of water to travelers battling hot conditions in the South East of England. At around 11...
Miles To Memories
50% Off Amazon Order with Amex Membership Rewards Points!
There is a new 50% Off Amazon With Membership Rewards Points offer that you can check your account to see if you are targeted for it.
Live and Let’s Fly
America’s $250 Visa Fee Could Boomerang
The US now tacks $250 onto most visitor visas. The bigger risk for Americans is what happens when other countries decide to return the favor.
No Work All Travel
New Nonstop Flight from Tbilisi to Shanghai
Have you ever planned a trip to a place that doesn’t have flights to a particular country? No, that’s silly talk. With that out of the way, SkyTeam’s China Eastern Airlines has just started a new nonstop flight from Tbilisi to Shanghai. Firstly, as cool as it is to see Georgia...
View from the Wing
America Keeps Throwing Billions At Broken Air Traffic Control — Canada Built A Better System 30 Years Ago
The U.S. keeps pouring billions into FAA-run air traffic control while staffing, technology, and accountability lag. Canada’s nonprofit NAV CANADA model shows a better path: separate regulator from operator, fund the system through users, and modernize without waiting on Congress.
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Woman on Covered Bridge in Vermont. Sunday Morning Photograph.
A woman was walking ahead of me on the Historic Middle Covered Bridge — which crosses over the Ottauquechee River — in the rather quaint town of Woodstock in Vermont. This was one of...
One Mile at a Time
My Honest Four Seasons Yacht Cruise Experience: Amazing Ship & Crew, But Not Frictionless
Hello from Dubrovnik, as I just completed a cruise with Four Seasons Yachts, which is Four Seasons’ new cruising venture. I’ve been fascinated by the recent trend of luxury hotel groups launching cruise brands, and it’s wild to see how quickly this industry is evolving.
One Mile at a Time
Remember That Alaska Airlines Family Flight Saga? Here’s The Conclusion…
Several weeks ago, I wrote about how Alaska Airlines wrongly denied a family boarding, and then kicked them off the next flight, with that second removal being due to a ”clash of personalities” with the crew. There are a lot of details there, so please read those two posts before...
View from the Wing
Booked A Non-Refundable Hotel By Mistake? Here Are The Moves That Get Your Money Back
Non-refundable hotel bookings are not always impossible to fix, especially when there is an obvious mistake caught right away. But when a reservation runs through a third-party portal, the hotel, booking engine, and portal all have to communicate — and even when the refund happens, the traveler may never be...
Eye of the Flyer
A Surprise Birth Before a Royal Caribbean Cruise, Carnival’s Fork-and-Feet Incident, a 100K Points Offer Ending Soon, Hotel Cards Expiring July 29, and a Rocket Launcher Hoax at LaGuardia — Weekly Recap
I have traveled to many parts of the world and seen people behaving in some truly questionable ways. But this week Chris published a post about a Carnival cruise passenger that made me almost throw up. I’ll let you read it for yourself — but I will say this: should...
View from the Wing
American Airlines 787 Diverts To Dublin After Most Cabin Crew Fall Ill — Passengers May Be Owed $200,000
American Airlines flight AA719 diverted to Dublin after about six of nine flight attendants became dizzy and ill, leaving as few as three unaffected.
Traveling For Miles
The wreckage of a hugely significant Pan Am flight has been found
The wreckage of a Pan Am Douglas DC-4 that went down off Puerto Rico in 1952 has been found on the floor of the Atlantic, 74 years later. On the face of things, this may not sound like a big deal and the Clipper Endeavor is not a name most people...
Traveling For Miles
Citi ThankYou Rewards: Transfer partners & transfer times [2026 Edition]
Citi ThankYou points are one of the four big transferable currencies in the miles & points world and can be earned by using select Citi credit cards (e.g. the Citi Strata Premier® Card), and these points can be transferred across to a variety of other travel loyalty programs.
Economy Class & Beyond
Digging a little deeper in to UK Airport Drop off fees… what about the free options?
There’s been a story floating around the wires this week, with the RAC publishing a story on the cost of dropping off someone at a UK airport (and the prices going up). With nearly all charging for the privilege, there’s a little more to the story.  Let’s investigate. It costs...
Traveling For Miles
Can you earn hotel points & elite credits on multiple rooms?
The question of elite credits normally gets raised as the end of the year approaches and travelers realise that they're still short of the few nights to re-qualify for whatever hotel status they hold. This year I've been asked the question a little earlier but I thought I'd address it...
Traveling For Miles
Deal: Get $100 on $1,000 of Air Canada spending [Targeted]
Chase is currently targeting select card holders for a saving on a future Air Canada booking and the good news is that the booking window is, by Chase's standards, relatively generous (you don't have to book by tomorrow!).
Traveling For Miles
Iberia is running a strange US and Mexico Economy Class sale
Iberia is currently running a sale on flights to the United States and Mexico but this is one of the stranger sales that I've seen an airline release - the prices aren't particularly impressive and the travel dates are just weird.
Economy Class & Beyond
Aerolíneas Argentinas signs leases for 14 new aircraft
We’re onto one of the last deals announced at Farnborough 2026, with Aerolíneas Argentinas signing lease agreements for 14 New Aircraft. The company signed agreements with lessors at the Farnborough International Airshow and is moving forward with a plan to renew 25% of its total fleet and 60% of its...
Traveling For Miles
How to access Amex Centurion Lounges (and where the lounges are)
The first American Express Centurion Lounge was opened in Las Vegas in 2013 and since then, Amex has rolled out its lounge concept to multiple locations around the US as well as to select international locations. In this article we take a look at who can access these Centurion Lounges, what...