https://traveling.to en-us https://traveling.to/2017/02/17/lost-in-translation-american-airlines-flagship-lounge-los-angeles/ Fri, 17 Feb 2017 10:00:10 +0000 <p>From Los Angeles, I had onward travel with American Eagle, so I stopped by the American Airlines flagship lounge before my flight due to my same day international itinerary.</p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_184423-650x486.jpg" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_184419-650x486.jpg" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_184427-650x486.jpg" /> <img alt="" src=" https://traveling.to/2017/02/16/lost-in-translation-jal-business-class-osaka-to-los-angeles/ Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:00:42 +0000 <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_160052-486x650.jpg" /></p> <p><strong>Japan Airlines 60</strong><br /> <strong>Osaka Kansai (KIX) - Los Angeles (LAX)</strong><br /> <strong>Tuesday, May 31st, 2016</strong><br /> <strong>Depart:  5:25PM</strong><br /> <strong>Arrive: 11:25AM</strong><br /> <strong>Duration:  10 hours minutes</strong><br /> <strong>Aircraft: Boeing 787-846 (JA-826J)</strong><br /> <strong>Seat: 9D (Business Class)</strong></p> <p>Like our https://traveling.to/2017/02/16/lost-in-translation-sakura-lounge-osaka/ Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:00:24 +0000 <p>Prior to our departure from Osaka, we stopped by the Sakura lounge.</p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_160107-486x650.jpg" /> <img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_160319-650x486.jpg" /> <img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_160326-650x486.jpg" /> <img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_160329-650x486.jpg" /></p> <p>The food options were extensively w https://traveling.to/2017/01/26/lost-in-translation-osaka/ Thu, 26 Jan 2017 03:00:40 +0000 <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160530_165453-650x486.jpg" /> <img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160531_111750-486x650.jpg" /></p> https://traveling.to/2017/01/25/lost-in-translation-hyatt-regency-osaka/ Wed, 25 Jan 2017 03:00:00 +0000 <p>For our two nights in Osaka, we stayed at the Hyatt Regency. I had ended up booking this hotel without paying too much attention to its location, ultimately selecting it on the basis of a good cash and points rate being available, over the Sheraton. The hotel is a bit out of the way, on the western edge of the city. There is a shuttle service to Osaka Station, but it ends relatively early.</p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160529_182237-650x486.jpg" /> <i https://traveling.to/2017/01/21/lost-in-translation-kyoto/ Sat, 21 Jan 2017 03:00:31 +0000 <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160529_094837-650x486.jpg" /></p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IMG_20160529_092330-486x650.jpg" /></p> https://traveling.to/2017/01/20/lost-in-translation-jal-business-class-los-angeles-to-osaka/ Fri, 20 Jan 2017 02:55:11 +0000 <p>JAL operates its 787 with angled lie-flat business class seats from LA to Osaka.</p> <p>Due to our flight delay, we had been given two $20 meal vouchers at check-in.  However, due to the free food at the lounge, we decided to buy a box of chocolates in the terminal to give to the crew.</p> <p><img alt="" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_20160527_161825-650x486.jpg" /></p> <p>Overall, service was impeccable, whether due to the half-empty cabin or our gift at the beginning of https://traveling.to/2016/07/28/lost-in-translation-the-qantas-first-class-lounge-lax-and-kal-lounge/ Thu, 28 Jul 2016 12:00:27 +0000 <p>As a bit of a reboot until things can be backfilled, I&rsquo;m jumping ahead in trip reports to mid-2016.</p> <p>As a oneworld Emerald, we were able to stop by the first class lounge at LAX.  Due to apparent lounge rules, it&rsquo;s not possible to hop between the business class and the first class oneworld lounges in the Tom Bradley terminal.</p> <p><a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/IMG_20160527_134145.jpg"><img alt="Qantas Lounge LAX" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/ https://traveling.to/2015/01/06/my-2014-mile-and-point-earning-and-burning/ Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:10:30 +0000 <p>In the <a href="/2012/01/01/my-2011-mile-and-point-earning-and-burning/" title="My 2011 Mile and Point Earning and Burning">tradition</a> of <a href="/2013/01/03/my-2012-mile-and-point-earning-and-burning/" title="My 2012 Mile and Point Earning and Burning">this</a> <a href="/2014/01/01/my-2013-mile-and-point-earning-and-burning/" title="My 2013 Mile and Point Earning and Burning">blog</a>, it&rsquo;s time to summarize where I went and how I got there.</p> <p>I flew about 261k miles this year https://traveling.to/2014/11/09/mistakes-were-made-sheraton-milan-malpensa-airport/ Sun, 09 Nov 2014 01:00:55 +0000 <p>For my last night in Milan, I booked <a href="/2014/02/23/italy-sheraton-milan-malpensa-airport/" title="Italy: Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport">another night at the Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport</a> hotel.  While my experience a few months prior was lackluster, the airport is <strong>really convenient</strong> for early morning flights.</p> <p>This time around, I was upgraded to a deluxe room.</p> <p><a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_20140216_185211.jpg"><img alt="Sher https://traveling.to/2014/09/20/mistakes-were-made-milan-revisited/ Sat, 20 Sep 2014 01:30:00 +0000 <p><a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/PANO_20140215_204157.jpg"><img alt="Milan" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/PANO_20140215_204157-650x165.jpg" /></a></p> https://traveling.to/2014/09/20/mistakes-were-made-four-points-milan/ Sat, 20 Sep 2014 01:00:26 +0000 <p>For my night in central Milan, I picked the Four Points, located near Milano Centrale.</p> <p><a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_20140216_122527.jpg"><img alt="Four Points Milan" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_20140216_122527-487x650.jpg" /></a></p> <p>As I had come off an overnight flight and <a href="/2014/08/12/mistakes-were-made-united-airlines-business-class-newark-to-milan/" title="Mistakes were Made: United Airlines Business Class Newark to Milan https://traveling.to/2014/08/12/mistakes-were-made-united-airlines-business-class-newark-to-milan/ Tue, 12 Aug 2014 01:00:46 +0000 <p>Thanks to a United travel waiver for the Northeast, Wideroe was willing to make changes to the otherwise non-changeable mistake bookings.  Rather than try to call Norway, I gave their online chat a try: <a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/chat.png"><img alt="Wideroe Online Chat" src="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/chat.png" /></a>A few minutes later, I had a new ticket in my email and was ready to go.  A quick call to United and one systemwide upgrade later, I had a https://traveling.to/2014/08/11/mistakes-were-made-an-introduction/ Mon, 11 Aug 2014 01:00:10 +0000 <p>Back in November, a small Norwegian regional carrier, Wideroe, stopped charging fuel surcharges on Star Alliance-operated tickets across the Atlantic.  Needless to say, the frequent flyer community <a href="http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-discussion/1524370-fare-gone-ua-ewr-europe-370-return-91.html">pounced on the opportunity</a> to save hundreds of dollars per round trip.</p> <p>While I had previously visited Milan in October (thanks in part to Emirates&rsquo; fifth-freedom route https://traveling.to/2014/08/06/europe-for-the-holidays-lufthansa-first-class-frankfurt-to-new-york/ Wed, 06 Aug 2014 22:00:30 +0000 <p>Having been escorted to a <a href="/2014/07/02/europe-for-the-holidays-lufthansa-first-class-terminal-frankfurt/" title="Europe for the Holidays: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt">waiting car from the lounge</a>, we quickly drove along the terminal past Lufthansa&rsquo;s various widebodies waiting to depart to far-off lands.</p> <p><a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_20131231_102910.jpg"><img alt="Lufthansa First Class Frankfurt to New York" src="//traveling.to/wp-c https://traveling.to/2014/07/02/europe-for-the-holidays-lufthansa-first-class-terminal-frankfurt/ Wed, 02 Jul 2014 22:00:38 +0000 <p>I found myself relaxing most of the night before my flight to New York. At about 1AM, I looked at my United reservation in dismay.  My flight from Zurich to Frankfurt was there, as was my onward flight from New York.  The Lufthansa First segment was missing in action. Fast forward an hour later and with the help of a United agent, I managed to get the segment restored.  Nevertheless, it seemed prudent to head over to over to the airport a bit early.  If everything was fine, I&rsquo;d wind up https://traveling.to/2014/06/10/changes-youre-going-to-like-2/ Tue, 10 Jun 2014 13:30:23 +0000 <p>United finally announced that they&rsquo;re shifting to a revenue-based earning scheme for 2015.  Given the announcement looks like a copy-and-paste (and a find-and-replace of &ldquo;Delta&rdquo; for &ldquo;United&rdquo;) from Delta&rsquo;s announcements, it&rsquo;s surprising it took them this long.</p> <p>We knew <a href="http://www.onlinetravelreview.com/2014/06/10/united-moves-to-spend-based-mileage-earning-an-faq/">this was coming</a>.  Some are talking about the <a href="http://viewfrom https://traveling.to/2014/05/30/europe-for-the-holidays-sheraton-frankfurt-airport/ Fri, 30 May 2014 01:00:52 +0000 <p>Since I had a morning flight out of Frankfurt Airport, I decided to stay at the Sheraton rather than try to stay in city center.  While Germany has terrific trains to most (I&rsquo;m looking at you, Tegel) of its airports, it&rsquo;s hard to compete with taking an escalator and walking across a skybridge to the airport terminal building in the morning.</p> <p><a href="//traveling.to/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_20131230_202518.jpg"><img alt="Sheraton Frankfurt Airport" src="//traveling.to/w https://traveling.to/2014/04/08/devaluations-abound/ Tue, 08 Apr 2014 04:34:47 +0000 <p>After writing up my post about the AA award chart changes, I took a quick glance at Twitter.  There&rsquo;s not quite the sharp response that was elicited by United and Delta during their recent devaluations, but I caught notice of American Airlines promising that all would be revealed in the morning.</p> <p>Well, okay, they didn&rsquo;t quite say that.  <a href="https://twitter.com/AmericanAir/status/453413629656719361">They went for</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>You’ll see some changes to the AA https://traveling.to/2014/04/08/theres-a-storm-coming/ Tue, 08 Apr 2014 01:32:11 +0000 <p>While it&rsquo;s not quite as bad as the <a href="http://boardingarea.com/viewfromthewing/2013/08/28/is-american-aadvantage-adding-fuel-surcharges-to-all-international-awards/">feared fuel surcharges of last August</a>, One Mile at a Time <a href="http://boardingarea.com/onemileatatime/2014/04/07/american-aanytime-standard-award-rates-increased/">discusses how AA has quietly restricted its AAnytime awards</a>.  In between his original post and my write-up of this, AA has <a href="https://www.