Blue1 - Best Looking Birds in the Air

Blue1, a regional carrier owned by SAS, has the best looking airplanes.  The 717 isn't a sexy shape, but the Blue1 paint on it looks outstanding. Too bad it's part of SAS and in a bad financial state. Pluna used to have the best looking planes until they folded last year; I'd hate to see the new best looking airline fold too.

Blue1 Jet in Helsinki

United Airlines 777 Rear Facing Business Class Seats

I always wondered what the rear facing business class seats on United were like, so I grabbed one (with an upgrade) last month on a flight from Denver to Chicago to find out; I didn't want a longer test in case I didn't like the feeling. I really didn't notice a difference in flight.  The bigger issue with seat 9A was a missing window and claustrophobic feeling.  The forces experienced at take off and landing are reversed too; it wasn't uncomfortable, but just felt a little off.  

United Airlines 777 Seat 9A Rear Facing Business Class Seat

Sunrise at Savannah Airport

I've always enjoyed watching the sunrise at an airport (EWR post, IAD post) and I saw a beauty last week in Savannah.

Nice Sunrise at Savannah Airport (SAV)

Chase Freedom Rewards Poor Values

The Chase Freedom card is my oldest credit card because it has no annual fee and provides consistent value.  The 5% bonus categories are usually great deals and Chase will send me a check (or statement credit or direct checking account deposit) with my rewards.  The program also lets you destroy value with gift card rewards.  3,000 points earns a $30 check or a $25 gift card.  Even if gift cards were 2,500 points, you still lose out because you aren't earning points on that purchase.

Cash Back Via Check or Direct Deposit

Gift Card Values

Happy New Year - Back to 0's

It's January 1st and all the status balances have reset. It's tough looking at 0's across the board.  I wish United and SPG were like Delta and rolled over qualifying points above those needed for the status level reached.

SPG Totals

United Totals

American Totals

Hyatt Goose Egg

US Airways 0's

2012 - Year In Review

2012 was a busy year! I flew 140,595 miles (new high score), 108,115 of them paid with cash (partially financed by my real job).  Inexpensive trans-con trips in February and cheap tickets to San Juan, PR in fall helped me reach and race past 1K status.  Work travel was better than expected and I took advantage of a $300 DEN-SJU fare that allowed two stops in each direction (I never left the airport in SJU on any of my 5 visits) that let me cheaply go from not quite Premier Exec to comfortably 1K.  

Paid Travel in 2012 - http://www.gcmap.com/

All Flights from 2012 - http://www.gcmap.com/

Selected favorites from 2012:

• Helsinki was a great city to visit and a delight to experience.
• The Park Hyatt Tokyo was far and away the best hotel of the year, maybe ever.
• The A340-600 was my favorite new airplane (for me) to fly; it feels special.
• ANA business class was the best of 2012.
• HEL (Helsinki) is my new favorite airport (FRA is a close second).
• "I flew around the world" is a fun new phase I can use (thanks US Airways Dividend Miles Around the World fare).
• Writing this blog, it really is fun.

Thanks for reading this year and I hope you have a great 2013 filled with new adventures.

US Airways A320 First Class Lunch Review

I had a bad first impression with US Airways first class last month.  They got a second chance last week and I had a much better experience.  I was on an older, former America West, A320 and the seat reclined about 1 inch.  There was no wifi (first class has to pay if available) or other form of entertainment offered other than the meal service.

US Airways First Class Lunch - It's Chicken

The meal service was a choice of chicken or pasta.  I went with chicken (too many bad pasta experiences, even though it looked good for my seatmate) and enjoyed it thoroughly.  There was great flavor to the main dish. I also like the Caesar salad and cheese and tomato dish. Desert was a light lemon cake, but I didn't eat much because I was comfortable full from the main dish.  A snack basket with chips, cookies, and other treats was passed around after about two hours and available to pick over until landing. It's a nice touch I hope United will copy and help cement a good experience despite an uncomfortable seat.

US Airways First Class Dessert