Your Mileage May Vary
My Current Take on Flying United Airlines
It’s funny how your feelings about an airline can shift over time. After several years of not flying United, I’ve recently had enough trips with them to form some fresh opinions. We tend to choose United when it makes the most sense in terms of price, schedule, or location—especially to hubs...
Live and Let’s Fly
Review: American Airlines 787-9 Flagship Suites Business Class
It’s rare these days to see widebody jets on domestic routes, but I enjoyed flying a brand new American Airlines 787-9 from Los Angeles to Chicago in Flagship Suites, the carrier’s latest business class product. American Airlines 787-9 Flagship Suites Review I used miles to book this trip: AA had space on...
Economondo
Korean Air’s Fantastic New Narrowbody: Jeju to Seoul Gimpo on the Airbus A321neo
Background As part of fleet renewal initiatives, in 2015, Korean Air placed an order for their first-ever narrowbody Airbus jets (assuming you exclude the rebranded Bombardier C Series, the Airbus A220). With thirty of these on order, later topped up to a whopping total of fifty, the Airbus A321neo was to...
TravelUpdate
This Might Just Be My Best Domestic Economy Award Redemption
In the miles and points hobby, there’s a lot of debate about “cents per point” cpp and “cents per mile” cpm when it comes to using your hard-earned rewards. Getting the best value you can is often a goal. I find myself trying to get excellent value as often as...
a bar with many bottles of liquor on the counter
BoardingArea
Review: United Polaris Lounge, Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
The first Polaris Lounge reborn with a fresh look, an elegant dining room, and a speakeasy style bar The revamped Polaris Lounge at Chicago O’Hare shines with new furnishings, an elegant dining room, and a second “speakeasy” style bar which sets it apart from the other Polaris Lounges in the network. The...
Miles For Family
$750 Bonus on No-fee Business Credit Card
I mostly chase credit cards that offer miles and points for free travel. However, cards that offer cash back can be a great addition to your wallet. US Bank just increased the welcome bonus this no-fee business credit card. US Bank Triple Cash Rewards Business Credit Card The US Bank Triple Cash...
2PAXfly
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA: Neighbour-free seating — bid for an empty seat beside you
If you hate the middle seat lottery, then Virgin Australia now has a lottery fix. From Wednesday, 24 September 2025, the airline has rolled out Neighbour-Free Seating. This scheme lets economy passengers bid to keep the seat next to them empty. But only on select domestic and short-haul international routes. How...
2PAXfly
FLIGHT ASSAULT: Man charged with indecent assault on LAX to Melbourne flight
A 71-year-old Victorian man has been charged following an alleged indecent assault aboard an international flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne on Monday, 22 September 2025. The man, reported to be Mounir Botros is accused of touching the woman by reaching inside her clothes as she attempted to sleep on...
Frequent Miler
Capital One wins the coupon book wars by not playing | Coffee Break Ep71 | 9-23-25
We find the coupon book trend fairly tedious and frustrating, but we’ve had to admit that American Express has sort of won this game by offering “coupons” and perks that are actually compelling. But since many of us don’t really like the coupon book approach at all, does that make...
Your Mileage May Vary
Hotel Review: Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort
We first visited Aruba earlier this year on our cruise, and while we had casually mentioned a possible future stay at the Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba Resort, we had no idea it would happen so soon. When our Texas trip this summer was unexpectedly cancelled, we pivoted to a quick...
Live and Let’s Fly
Review: Alaska Airlines Lounge Los Angeles (LAX)
The Alaska Airlines Lounge at Los Angeles (LAX) is a cozy oneworld lounge with great coffee and kind staff. Alaska Airlines Lounge Los Angeles Review (LAX) I stopped by the Alaska lounge before my American Airlines flight from LA to Chicago. Hours + Access + Location The lounge is located in Terminal 6 and...
Miles For Family
Hooray! Capital One Adds Three Transfer Partners
Today, Capital One announced three new transfer partners. Yahoo! Japan Airlines (JAL) Transfer miles from Capital One to Japan Airlines with a 1000:750 transfer ratio. This is great news because the other major banks (Chase, Citi, Amex) do not offer transfers to JAL. Award seats on flights to Japan are in great...
Economondo
Flying Korea’s Interestingly Named LCC: Seoul to Jeju on Air Seoul
Background Operating just six Airbus A321s to 21 destinations across East Asia, Air Seoul is one of Korea’s smallest low cost carriers. Yet despite its comparatively small size, the airline has arguably been able to punch above its weight when it comes to making a name for itself in lands both...
Miles For Family
4 New Transfer Bonuses Just Added!
Some new transfer bonuses just came out this week. I’ve updated the September 2025 Transfer Bonuses post to reflect these additions. New: Citi 50% Transfer Bonus to Turkish Airlines Through October 18, 2025, get 50% transfer bonus from Citi to Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles program. This is a rare transfer bonus...
Wild About Travel
My Twelve Hotel Commandments
  From five stars in Singapore to a rickety bed and breakfast in Blackpool, a tree house in Zimbabwe, a 747 parked at Stockholm airport, a draughty youth hostel in nirehn Scootkanbd and everything ij betweemn means I ahve sleopt in a lot of hotel beds.   Thou shalt know where thy hotel...
2PAXfly
SINGAPORE AIRLINES: Bringing Caviar Service to Business Class?
According to Aaron Wong over at The MileLion, Singapore Airlines has issued a call for tender via its eProcurement portal, seeking suppliers of ‘farmed caviar for Business Class.’ Get back in the queue, Krug and Book the Cook. Singapore Airlines appears to be introducing a touch of fish egg luxury...
2PAXfly
HONG KONG: Airport to close for 36 hours due to Typhoon Ragasa from 6pm Tuesday 23 September
Hong Kong International Airport is closing from 6 pm Tuesday, 23 September, until 6 am Thursday,25 September, as Super Typhoon Ragasa bears down with expected fierce winds and heavy rain. Flights in and out will be suspended. If you’ve got Qantas, Cathay Pacific, or another carrier scheduled to pass through Hong...
Wild About Travel
300 Airports—300 Stories: Which do I love, hate and in between?
After adding 16 airports in 2024, I have now flown to 289 airports across 73 countries. I’ve actually visited 90 countries, but some I arrived in by bus (e.g., Honduras, Liechtenstein, Nicaragua, Zambia), or by ship (e.g., Aruba, Tahiti), or by train (e.g., Luxembourg) or walked in the case of...
Altitude Yes
Revisiting the Worst Jet Lag of My Life
Having done many transpacific flights throughout my life, jet lag has been something I’ve learned to deal with. The truth is, there’s no solid, one method cure to it, especially when flying through many time zones. It also tends to vary trip by trip, and one particular trip comes to mind...
Points Miles and Bling
Cathay Pacific returns to SEA with five flights per week, and DFW route becomes daily
Cathay Pacific has announced the return of its non-stop passenger service between Hong Kong (HKG) and Seattle (SEA), beginning 30 March 2026. The addition of SEA makes it the ninth destination in North America. The new flights will operate five times weekly, using the Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Cathay Pacific North America...
TravelUpdate
Lounge Review: Primeclass Lounge Bermuda (US Departures)
Background & Access A friend and I visited the Primeclass Lounge Bermuda (US Departures). As Bermuda is a Pre-Clearance airport, the part of the terminal we are in was only for US departures. There is another Primeclass Lounge in the other terminal. The terminals themselves just opened at the end of...
Sam Chui
GeminiJets Airplane Models – August 25 New Release + Discounts
I have been collecting GeminiJets since they launched 20 years ago! During difficult times, I have found that model collecting can help alleviate some of the stress. Video Special Offer This is a sponsored post to showcase the latest GeminiJets airplane model releases. Hope you find something you like. To purchase GeminiJets, go to DiecastJets.com and use code SAMCHUI at checkout for...
Miles For Family
Goodness, Gracious, Great Wall of China!
This is a continuation of my Japan/China trip report. See also Back from China and Japan Trip! 5 Takeaways, Worth it: JAL Premium Economy Award Seats, Better Than Expected: AA Premium Economy Shanghai PVG to DFW, Hits and Misses from our day at Tokyo DisneySea, Take this Line and Shove...
Live and Let’s Fly
Introduction: A Quick Family Trip To Germany With AA’s New 787-9 Flagship Business Class + SAS A330-300
Welcome to my next trip report series, which will recount my recent, very brief trip to Germany to pick up my kids from their summer holiday with Oma and Opa. This report will include flights on the new AA 787-9 Flagship Business Class product, a regional flight on SAS, and...
2PAXfly
CATHAY PACIFIC: Resuming Hong Kong to Seattle flights in 2026
Cathay Pacific is adding another dot back on its North America route map. From 30 March 2026, the Hong Kong carrier will once again fly non-stop to Seattle, USA. Seattle becomes Cathay’s ninth North American destination, joining Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. Plus,...
The Bulkhead Seat
Hotel Review: Courtyard San Francisco Downtown/Van Ness Ave
I had to be in San Francisco overnight this past week and hotel rates were astronomical. All of my regular haunts were north of $1,000 for the night. I settled on the Courtyard San Francisco Downtown/Van Ness Ave and might have just found one of the nicest Courtyard properties out...
Miles For Family
Amex Platinum Changes Live, Earn Southwest Companion Pass with One Credit Card, and More
Amex Platinum Changes Now Live: For months, we’ve been talking about the refresh coming on the Amex Platinum cads (both personal and business). These changes went live this week, including the higher annual fee and the increased benefits. See this post on One Mile at a Time. Hyatt Regency Coconut Point...
Economondo
One of the Most Unique Airports in the World: Flying from Barra to Glasgow and Taking off from the Beach!
Background Home to just over one thousand residents and sitting near the south of the Outer Hebrides island chain, the small island of Barra is most certainly one of the more peaceful and picturesque parts of the British Isles. Despite its small size and relative geographic isolation, Barra is well known...
TravelUpdate
Review: British Airways Lounge Washington Dulles
British Airways operate their own lounge at Washington Dulles, which is also used by Aer Lingus. I was departing for Dublin on the Irish airline and used this lounge before my flight. For some reason the Aer Lingus website says the lounge is open until 17:00, but it is open much...
a sign on a building
BoardingArea
Review: Swiss Senator Lounge, Concourse A – Zurich (ZRH)
Swiss refinement with great food. The last of the Swiss Senator Lounges I visited, the lounge in Zurich’s A concourse has all the hallmarks Swiss lounges: open cooking station, large buffet, professional staff, lots of wood, and lots of outlets. The summary The lounge is located not far from clearing security and is...
No Work All Travel
Lounge Review: Two Delta SkyClubs, Miami and New York LaGuardia
Two Delta SkyClubs in the same day, how unusual for me. In spite of having an early morning flight, Miami’s Metrorail started running right when I needed it. A quick transfer to the Skytrain, followed by a brief stop at check-in and security led me to Delta’s H Concourse. The SkyClub entrance...
Live and Let’s Fly
Review: SAS A350-900 Premium Economy Class
My 11-hour journey from Copenhagen to Los Angeles on the Airbus A350-900 was quite pleasant and productive for a daytime flight, though I’d love to see SAS put a bit more effort into its food and beverages in premium economy. SAS A350-900 Premium Economy Class Review (CPH-LAX) I’m sitting on quite a...