I have a treat for many of you– a domestic Iran flight. Buckle up for a seat on Iran Aseman Airlines, from Tehran Mehrabad (THR) to Shiraz (SYZ). FYI, aseman means “sky,” or “highest heaven” in Farsi; the privately-held company was founded in 1980, and is based at THR. Earlier this month, I traveled with Key2Persia […]
Aviation
Two New U.S. Routes for Aeromexico
Stand by, SkyTeam members, and Mexico fans alike: two new U.S. routes for Aeromexico are coming your way. Let’s start with Mexico’s capital, Mexico City. From 5 June, Delta’s partner south of the border will be inaugurating flights from the city’s main airport (MEX) to Philadelphia (PHL). Capable of seating 160-166 passengers depending upon the […]
Korean Air Starts Airbus A350-900 Service
As of 27 January, Korean Air starts Airbus A350-900 service. The inaugural flight of KE’s newest aircraft type connected Seoul Incheon (ICN) to Osaka Kansai (KIX). Indeed, with Japan being a rapidly growing center of inbound tourism, it was no surprise that Korean Air opted for a short-haul across the Sea of Japan. (the second […]
Japan Airlines Restarts Tokyo Narita to Chicago
That didn’t take long. Coming this spring, Japan Airlines restarts Tokyo Narita to Chicago. In fact, it was only in 2023 that this route was axed, leaving Chicago O’Hare to be connected with only Tokyo Haneda for a spell. However convenient Haneda is for passengers going to downtown Tokyo, or for connecting to domestic flights, […]
Will On-Board Immigration Ever Return?
Over the more than two decades of solo travel, I’ve never encountered an immigration system quite so whimsical as that in Indonesia. I’m only going to speak in terms of entering a county as a tourist, although years back I did work in Jakarta for a spell. How would on-board immigration have worked then? As […]
Five New Fifth Freedom Routes of 2025
If you’ve been feverishly roaming the interwebs for some new fifth freedom routes of 2025, I’m here to help. Fifth freedoms are a common theme among travel websites, but I still want to provide a quick backgrounder. Created in 1944 by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention for short), and now managed by […]
Gifting Airline Status
Gifting airline status isn’t unique to Italy’s ITA Airways. Just ask the US3 (i.e. American Airlines, Delta, and United). For the past 15 years (save for maybe 2020 or 2021), I’ve had varying levels of airline status. Back then, the US3 rolled hard with distance-based mileage accruals, as did most of the world. You also […]
Oita Airport in Japan has One Unusual Amenity
London Heathrow, Frankfurt, and Vienna have airport supermarkets. Singapore Changi, a butterfly garden, swimming pool and jacuzzi, and yes, they, too have a supermarket. But Oita Airport in Japan? Try a foot bath. Oita Airport is the sole commercial airport in Oita prefecture, whose primary destinations include the eponymous capital, and a pair of hot […]
