The Gate with Brian Cohen
Visiting The Largest Volcano Crater on Easter Island: Rano Kau
Set on the idyllic southwestern part of Easter Island adjacent to the cerulean waters of the Pacific Ocean lies Rano Kau, which generally means “a large or wide volcano with an abundance of water” and is a natural phenomenon in and of itself — and although the sensation of vastness...
View from the Wing
American Airlines Current And Former CEOs Flew Home From Paris Together — Gucci Bags In Hand
American Airlines current CEO Robert Isom and former CEO Doug Parker were reportedly on the same Paris-to-DFW flight Sunday, returning with family and “Gucci shopping bags in hand” — while Isom is currently embattled over the carrier's poor financial performance.
Hawaii Calling
Guide to Hilton Impresario: Exclusive Perks For Luxury Stays
Imagine booking a luxury Hilton stay and getting perks like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and a $100 hotel credit—without needing elite status. That’s exactly what the Hilton Impresario program offered—and as of 2024, it has evolved into what Hilton now calls Hilton for Luxury. I’ve booked these rates for luxury...
Your Mileage May Vary
Why Airplanes Are So Cold (And It’s Not Just Your Imagination)
We’ve all been there…you board your plane, headed somewhere nice and warm, so you’re dressed for where you’re landing. Probably in shorts and a T-shirt. As you get all settled…
View from the Wing
A Simple Way To Decide Which Premium Rewards Credit Card Is Right For You
American Express, Chase, Capital One, and Citi have all overhauled the premium card market, and the right answer is no longer obvious. The best card now depends less on marketing claims and more on which lounges, credits, transfer partners, and spending bonuses actually match how you travel.
One Mile at a Time
Review: SAX Paris, Hilton LXR, France (Well Intentioned, But Too Hip For Me)
During my exotic journey to Bangkok via Paris, I spent a couple of nights in Paris, and decided to check out two different points hotels. For the first night, I booked SAX Paris, a Hilton LXR property. This 118-key property opened in mid-2025, belonging to Hilton’s portfolio of luxury, independent hotels. Given...
Live and Let’s Fly
Aer Lingus Adds Starlink, Delta Stands Alone
Starlink lands on Aer Lingus, expanding its airline takeover while Delta bets elsewhere. Will that gamble pay off as competition finally emerges? Starlink’s Grip On Airline WiFi Tightens Aer Lingus just joined the growing list of airlines rolling out Starlink, and at this point the list of airlines without it...
One Mile at a Time
Robert Isom & Doug Parker Fly Together From Paris In American Business Class!
It’s interesting to hear about this friendship. I guess it’s not too surprising, though it also sort of is…?
Frequent Miler
How to turn Capital One Cash Back into Miles (Video)
One of the superpowers of Capital One is that you can move Cash Back to a Miles card (or another person’s Miles card). You can learn more about Capital One here.  How to turn Capital One Cash Back into Miles (01:30) – When logged in, click the “View Rewards” button...
Your Mileage May Vary
How to Avoid Delta SkyMiles’ International Surcharge on Award Trips
If you’ve been collecting points and miles for a while, you probably remember when Delta SkyMiles awards—especially from Europe—came with some eye-popping fees. I learned that lesson the hard way…
Points With a Crew
TSA Stops A Woman For Having This Bizarre Item In Her Bag
You would probably not believe some of the stuff that people try to bring through TSA security. And while TSA has a mixed record, one lady found out that ...
Miles To Memories
Bye For Now, United Debit Card
I just picked up the United debit card, but I'm done with it almost as quickly - for now. Two negatives, one of them huge, led me here.
View from the Wing
The Best And Worst Airports In America — Why LaGuardia Is The Most Overrated
The best airports in America are the ones that get you there quickly, move you through efficiently, and get you on your way without making the terminal itself the main event. That is why some of the country’s most praised airports, especially LaGuardia, look better than they actually function.
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
New United Airlines Flight Attendant Contract Will Let Carrier Hire Crew Members On ‘Poverty Pay’ For Regional Flights
A new tentative agreement between United Airlines and its workforce of more than 30,000 flight attendants will allow the Chicago-based carrier to set up its own regional airline, where crew members would earn nearly 50% less than their mainline coworkers. Of the so-called Big Three U.S. airlines, United is currently...
Live and Let’s Fly
Royal Caribbean’s New Credit Card Points To Alliances
Royal Caribbean’s new credit card could be a model for airline alliances. It’s a parent company finally leveraging its own brands the way alliances have not, yet. What Royal Caribbean Actually Launched Royal Caribbean Group just rolled out a single credit card that works across Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises,...
One Mile at a Time
Review: Air France Business Class Boeing 787 (YUL-CDG)
For the first long haul segment of my exotic journey to Bangkok via Paris, I flew Air Frances Boeing 787-9 business class on the 6hr25min flight from Montreal (YUL) to Paris (CDG).
Miles To Memories
Earn $150 with New Varo Money Account, Plus $150 for Referrals
Varo Money is offering an increased signup bonus of $150. The offer is available through referral links, with both parties earning the bonus.
View from the Wing
Airlines Keep Making You Gate Check Your Carry-on Bag — Then You Board And See Empty Overhead Bins
Airlines keep telling passengers the overhead bins are full, then sending them onto planes where empty space is still sitting open above the seats. It is one of the fastest ways to make customers furious, and it happens for a simple reason: gate agents are under pressure to avoid even minor...
The Gate with Brian Cohen
Like Apple in Hue in Vietnam. Sunday Morning Photograph.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery — especially when that imitation is of a successful entity — such as with Like Apple in Hue in Vietnam. What had me laughing when...
TravelUpdate
Review: Qantas domestic business class from Sydney to Adelaide
Qantas domestic business class is very expensive and the value for money is just not there. When I…
woman shares vacation booking issue (l) air bnb app (r)
BoardingArea
‘I’d Have Been Out Of There’: Women Book Vacation At Jamaican Resort Through Airbnb. Then They Arrive And Realize It’s Abandoned. Then They Decide To Stay
"We were asking locals if they could help us."
The Bulkhead Seat
SWISS Launches 2026 Digital Easter Egg Hunt
SWISS International Air Lines is bringing a festive twist to spring travel with the…
One Mile at a Time
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card Review: Worth It For The Perks
Link: Learn more about the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Paddle Your Own Kanoo
Brit Flight Attendant Locked Up in Dubai After Sharing Photo of Airport Drone Attack in Group Chatt
A British citizen who works as a flight attendant for the Dubai-based low-cost airline FlyDubai has been locked up in the notorious Al Barsha pre-trial detention centre for violating a ‘draconian’ and widesweeping cybercrime law that makes it illegal for anyone to share images that the government doesn’t want to...
View from the Wing
American Airlines First Class Passenger Used Another Traveler’s Armrest As A Footrest — “Start Selling Feet Pics”
An American Airlines first class passenger put her feet on another traveler’s armrest, got them shoved off, and then put them back up on the window a few minutes later. The incident sparked a flood of suggestions for how to handle one of the most basic and revolting breaches of...
Eye of the Flyer
Delta Lounge Plans, Near-Collision Incident & Cruise Cost Warnings: What You May Have Missed
Happy Spring Break to those who celebrate. And Happy Kids Going Back to School Next Week for those who will be celebrating (like my wife and me). We have lots to catch up on, you and me. So, let’s jump right into it. Delta has been making plenty of headlines...
woman shares cruise experience (l) cruise leaving dock (r)
BoardingArea
Women Take Onshore Excursion During Bahamas Cruise. Then Their Pier Runner Gets Pulled Over At Last Call: ‘No Charger, No Toothbrush, Just Vibes’
“POV: ship leaving with all of our stuff and passports."
Live and Let’s Fly
Brightline’s Vegas Train Will Reshape US Short Haul Flights
Ahead of the 2028 Olympics, Brightline West is spending $21 billion to build high-speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. What happens to flights when it launches? Everyone’s Covering the Infrastructure Story The aviation and travel press has done what it always does: treated this as an infrastructure milestone....
One Mile at a Time
The Park Hyatt Tokyo Now Claims It’s A Resort… To Avoid Giving Late Check-Out?
Broadly speaking, we’ve seen a growing number of hotels try to find loopholes in order to avoid having to deliver all elite perks. It’s an area where not all hotel groups are created equal, and Hyatt is generally better than Marriott, for example. Well, here’s a case where a Hyatt...
One Mile at a Time
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card Review: Worth It For The Perks
Link: Learn more about the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Wild About Travel
rewute and redrfat Discovering the World’s Highest and Lowest Airports
Reflecting on my travels last year, I realised I flew through quite high and low-altitude airports. I have long realised that altitude affects the travel experience, airport operations, and the differing challenges for pilots. This got me thinking: of the 289 airports I’ve visited in my life, how many would...
One Mile at a Time
Rosewood Elite: How To Book Hotel Stays With Extra Benefits & Perks
Rosewood is one of the fastest growing luxury hotel groups, and has an impressive portfolio of hotels. Rosewood is approaching 40 properties, with nearly two dozen more hotels in the pipeline. Rosewood properties are known for beautiful design, great dining outlets, and friendly service, and the brand is quickly becoming...