SFO Plane Spotting

The Westin SFO and Aloft SFO have a great park close by for plane spotting. There are benches and a great view of runways 1R, 28L, and 28R. The tower is 120.5 if you have a scanner. I took some pictures while out there last week. The view is great, but shooting jets almost a mile away is difficult with a hand held camera. I did see someone with a tripod and 400mm lens, a better set up than I had. It was still a fun afternoon.

Map of Shooting Location

SWISS A340 Landing on 28L

Boeing & Airbus Shop Sales

Airbus is having a a sale of up to 40% off. They don't don't charge VAT (deducted at check out), but shipping is expensive.

United Airbus Option

If you'd rather pay full price, but not pay shipping, pick Boeing. Use promo code USSHIP17 for free shipping.

United Boeing Option

20% Off Qatar Business Class or Coach Coupon Code

2017 marks our 10-year anniversary of service to the US. To celebrate, we are offering you exceptional fares from any of our 10 US gateways. For two days only, book flights and enjoy up to 20% off* the base fare.

To receive the discount, simply enter the code SUPER1 into the promo code field when searching for your flights. Offer is valid until Thursday, January 26, 2017 for travel until December 15, 2017.

Great deal if you can utilize it.

Your 777 Will Be More Comfortable

United Airlines 737 First Class Breakfast

Enjoy an update on the state of United Airlines' domestic first class breakfast. The empty plate is filled with a cinnamon bun, the meal highlight. Remember to start early, while on the ground preferably, on consuming Bailey's because they don't stock very many bottles.

It's as Flavorful as it Looks

Vote ANA!

Help ANA pick a new 777 design promoting the Tokyo 2020 games. ANA has a great history of special paint schemes.

The Standard ANA Design is Great Too

Southwest State Flag Riddle

Can you name the state?

Mystery State 737

Buy American

If I were to buy new, an ACJ319 would be my pick. A used 757 is great value.

Add caption

Fun Photos

I have over 500 photos to publish, so here goes a few.

British Airways Club Europe A320

ORY-LHR is a short flight, but it came with the full Club Europe service. I'm glad the flight wasn't longer because the seats are a tight squeeze. The seats are also minimally padded. The meal service was nice and provided the inflight entertainment. The crew was friendly and the trip was nice, but any longer and I would have been sore and bored.

Tight Fit

Breakfast - The Tea is the Best

Empty Leg Private Jet Travel

There an empty leg from Barbados to Europe on an ACJ319 available. I don't know the cost, but it's surely a smoking deal.

Same Aircraft - Much Different Experience

Snowing in Denver

Good luck connecting.

Memories of Better Times

Fun Photo

Have a great weekend!

Great Day To Fly

Airbus Raises Prices

Airbus is raising list prices by 1%. This won't make a difference because no one pays list price.

Don't Expect to Pay Close to $437M

Fun Photos

I like this one.

Frontier - It a Zoo in There

London Tube Strike

London's tube train drivers are on strike for two days. In a very British way, British Airways cabin crews are also going on strike to support the tube drivers. I don't get this phenomenon, but maybe Mrs. May could be more like Mrs. Thatcher and get the unions to cut this junk out.

That's a Lot of Planes on the Ground

Using United Miles to Fly British Airways and Air France

I booked a one way business class award in January using United Airlines miles. I wanted to see Paris and enjoy a free one day stop over (offer no longer available with United). The trip was DEN-SFO-YYZ-CPH-CDG with about 22 hours in Copenhagen. The aircraft were United 757 first class to SFO, Air Canada 767 business class pod to YYZ, brand new Air Canada 787 business class to CPH, and an SAS A321 flying to Paris. It would be a fun sampling of airlines and a long time enjoying premium cabins. I was excited to fly the new Air Canada 787 after reading about it.  

I Don't Know What the Inside Looks Like

Air Canada cancelled the YYZ-CPH flight 3 months in advance (not sure if it was Boeing's delivery issues or Air Canada sales), but didn’t tell me. They rebooked me on a flight two days later resulting in a 2.5 day layover in YYZ and a negative 2 day connection at CPH. After a brief call with Air Canada, I learned that it's my problem and United is responsible since they issued the ticket. I called United and booked a Lufthansa trip DEN-MUC-CPH while keeping the SAS leg to Paris. This reduced my premium cabin time, but kept my trip on schedule. I love Lufthansa and the A330 to Munich has the new business class seats.

Lufthansa & Denver

As European airlines do, Lufthansa went on strike with short notice. As is my luck, I had a flight with them and it was cancelled. I found out about it at about 8am on the day of departure. I thought I was in the clear when I went to bed the previous night because a strike forced cancellation should have one day notice.

Not What I Had In Mind

Lufthansa rebooked me on Delta, coach to Atlanta then business to CDG. Their computers saw my trip as DEN-CDG and rebooked accordingly. I saw it as two trips, DEN-CPH then CPH-CDG. I called United to see if they could assist. Since Lufthansa ‘took control’ of the ticket, the United agents were unable to help. I called Lufthansa and tried to work out an alternative. After some negations, we agreed on British Airways to CPH then Air France to CGD. I received an updated itinerary email and took a deep breath. 

Bad/Old Seats - Friendly Crew

At the airport British Airways was able to find the reservation, but it wasn’t ticketed. The agent referred me to the Lufthansa counter to sort it out. The Lufthansa contract agents couldn’t ticket it themselves, so it was back to waiting on the phone. After about 20 minutes, the ticket was sorted and I had a boarding pass and was off the the American Airlines lounge. 

Better Lounge in Denver than United

This award reservation earned me some miles, a slight consolation for losing time in Denmark and spending over an hour on the phone. The key here is to be alert for changes and if not acceptable, jump on the phone immediately to find a better alternative. 

Airbus Shop Sale

Take 30% off with code PRIVATE2017 at the Airbus shop, you also save by not paying the 19% sales tax built into the prices. Shipping is steep, but this is a good deal.

Spirit Airlines A319

Let's Not Bother to Pretend

The sales pitch for support animals doesn't even pretend it's to help the infirm, it's just to bring your dog on vacation for free. I would think people so emotionally handicapped should not be flying. They are, supposedly, on a razor's edge in the best of times. They would be a danger to others in case of an emergency. 

Add I Saw for Free Pet Travel

Also a dog won't help nervous flyers. Try a teddy bear; Boeing sells aviation themed bears. The teddy bear is better to travel with, not inconvenient to others, and requires no attention if sleeping. If you have a serious fear of flying, get over it. Really, it's that simple and classes are available so you can get over it. Solve problems people, that's the best way to go through life.

Fly Private if You Want To Bring a Pet

Happy 2017

I knew it was coming, but it still stings. I'm also expecting less generous saver award availability and other more direct forms of points inflation.

All My Work Last Year Vanished

Thinking of Future Adventures