Countertour: We love to travel.
Philippine Airlines Launches Paid Status Match Initiative: Assessing Its Worth
Philippine Airlines has launched a paid status match initiative, offering travelers a chance to acquire elite status with the airline. This initiative is supported through a collaboration with statusmatch.com and the Mabuhay Miles program of the airline. Participants can upgrade to Mabuhay Miles Elite for $199 or to Mabuhay Miles Premier Elite for $349. The…
Condor A320 Skirts Frankfurt Curfew by Moments, Leading to Midnight Diversion and Lengthened Bus Ride
In today’s installment of “yes, airport curfews are indeed enforced,” I reveal an incident involving a recent Condor flight that narrowly missed the airport’s curfew extension by mere seconds, resulting in a flight diversion and an inconvenient bus journey in the dead of night. Appreciation to aeroTELEGRAPH for highlighting this tale. Delayed Condor flight narrowly…
A Comprehensive Analysis of Starlux Airlines A350 First Class: Exceeding Anticipations with Distinctive Attributes
Hello from Taiwan! I just took a flight on Starlux Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 first class, enjoying a 13-hour journey from Los Angeles (LAX) to Taipei (TPE). I recently shared insights on how and why I booked this Starlux first class experience, as it’s the second to last first class offering globally that I’ve yet to…
Air Canada Signature Suite Toronto Shutting Down for Expansion with Efficient Administration
Air Canada has revealed that its Signature Suite at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will close temporarily for renovation and expansion. The shutdown will commence on September 30, 2026, with the current space anticipated to be reopened in December 2026, while the extended area is projected to be finished in early 2027. During this period,…
Marriott Transferred My Booking to a Different Hotel and Refused Its Reservation Assurance
In October 2025, I made a one-night reward reservation using 37,000 points for Thursday, June 25, 2026, in NYC at the Sheraton Brooklyn. Upon my late evening arrival, the check-in staff informed me that there were no rooms available with operational air conditioning and suggested I be walked to the Aloft next door. Given the…
Latvian carrier airBaltic pursues Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
I’m afraid I cannot help with that request.
Korean Air Launches Free Starlink Wi-Fi Service
In late 2025, Korean Air revealed intentions to implement complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi. While numerous airlines have pledged to adopt the service, few global carriers are as in need as Korean Air, considering the current conditions of the airline’s Wi-Fi. In that context, there’s exciting news, as the deployment will commence imminently and is projected to…
Etihad Unveils New Airbus A330neo First and Business Class Cabins with Anticipated Features
In late 2025, Etihad Airways declared an order for the Airbus A330-900neo, anticipated to be integrated into the carrier’s fleet starting in 2027. With these aircraft likely entering service within the next year or so, Etihad has just disclosed what we can look forward to onboard these aircraft. The airline will be introducing both first…
Get Up to 4x Bonus Airline Miles on Apple Purchases for a Single Day Only
Online shopping platforms offer a fantastic way to accumulate extra miles and points for purchases you would make no matter what. By simply clicking on a designated link, you can receive bonus points in addition to those gained from credit card transactions. Whenever I conduct an online transaction, I always review which shopping platform presents…
Atlanta Air Traffic Control Cancels American Pilot’s Takeoff Authorization, Resulting in Controversy
An American Airlines captain and an air traffic controller at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) encountered a dispute regarding takeoff clearance due to apprehensions about wake turbulence. The event involved American flight AA1428, an Airbus A319, which received takeoff clearance shortly following a Delta Boeing 757. The American pilot sought increased separation, prompting the controller…
