A few weeks ago Marriott and Starwood officially announced plans to merge. At the time there were no other bidders and it appeared the deal would close without any issues. At the last minute, Anbang Insurance Group announced their intentions to acquire the Starwood brand. The bid was higher than what Marriott was willing to…
Getting upgraded is one of the best parts about traveling frequently. For the early morning or late night flights, having a few extra inches of legroom, seat width, and fee food/drink makes a big difference. Occasionally, if you are lucky enough to find domestic flights on larger aircrafts (767, 777, 787, etc.) an upgrade can…
In January 1970 Boeing introduced the beautiful 747 Jumbo Jet. The jet quickly became a symbol of the jet age. The beautiful “hump” on the 747 was introduced in order to house the vast computer network required to maintain flight, but allowed cabin versatility and a vast area for cargo which could be loaded through…
In the early 2000’s the United States Customs and Border Protection agency launched the Global Entry program as a way to expedite clearing customs upon arrival to the United States. The program was well received by travelers and gradually expanded through the years. For travelers that frequently travel internationally Global Entry saves valuable time when trying to…
Alaska Airlines is one of my favorite airlines to fly. Every time I fly the airline I get the feeling that the company has done a ton of research to figure out what flyers value and has managed to put together a sort of “best of” airline incorporating best practices from each existing airline. Everything…
Frequent travelers are always looking to escape the hostility of the airport terminal for some rest and relaxation before a flight. Airline lounges are great and I find them valuable when I am traveling. There is often free food and drink, occasionally showers, and usually free Wifi. Lounges also offer specific customer representatives that can…
Marriott is my hotel of choice when traveling. They have hotel options all over the United States. In the past two years, I’ve only had to spend 1 night at a non-Marriott hotel due to their vast network. I wish I were kidding, but upon check-in to the non-Marriott (Hilton) I discovered urine on the toilet…
Do you love to travel, but have an intense fear of flying? Are you so afraid of flying that you often avoid doing so? The good news is you’re not alone and this “aviophobia” you have can be fixed. I myself once had a fear of flying, but overcame it and I’m sure you can do…
If you have flown anywhere in the past few years you might have noticed an increasing number of airplanes with odd ends to their wings. These ends to the wing are called “Winglets” and they are pretty incredible, but often go unnoticed or unappreciated. The picture above is a United 737 with Split Scimitar Winglets. The…
