News and notes from around the interweb:
- The full schedule is up for the only major ‘Frequent Traveler University’ even of the year.
- Do airline loyalty programs have a future? Lucky from One Mile at a Time, Brett from Cranky Flier, and I debate this in an online forum.
- 5 Ways to Earn Elite Status With Little or No Flying
- Enter my hotel points giveaway. If you win you get to choose the program, and it’s a whole bunch of points!
- The Park Hyatt Sanya has opened! I can’t wait to stay at this resort on the South China Sea. It will be a fantastic value at category 5 for redemptions, especially cash and points (10,000 points and $125 per night). The base room is over 600 square feet, and suites are over 1200 square feet.
- Man on United Express flight urinates in coffee cups in the galley.
He thought that was a reasonable replacement for what the airline usually serves.He couldn’t wait for his turn to use the lavatory.
- Trip report: Kuwait Airways’ renovated lounge and new Airbus A320 business class. Since they have a fifth freedom route between New York and London, I look forward to seeing a new product for transatlantic flying too..
- The making of the Air France first class seat. I don’t find the La Premiere seat all that impressive, though some disagree. (HT: Alan H.)
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While the new AF La Premiere seat may not have sliding doors, or a separate living room, etc… IMO the design is incredibly tasteful. While I aspire to play around in Emirates First (probably pretty soon), the design of the suite/cabin is disgusting. The Middle Eastern airlines seem to take the “1995 yacht” approach to design. When is the last time that burled walnut was used well? Maybe in a Bentley once in a while, but… The AF design is restrained, quiet, and comforting. Pair that with the great food and the very good service (I’ve flown them dozens of times from economy to first, and have consistently found their service to be great), and this is a winning combination. If/when they have a first class sale later in the year, I’ll be happy to pay for a flight on the new product.
I literally JUST got off an AF 380 in F, and that is not the seat I sat in. I guess the upgrades are staggered? Neither my JFK-CDG or CDG-JFK flight had the lamp, or some of those controls. Overall the seat I was in was 99% flat, but not anywhere near as good as the LH flat bed.
As for someone peeing because the bathroom is full, I don’t doubt this doesn’t happen VERY often. I actually am surprised we don’t see more articles like this.