The Upgrd Podcast

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast This week we are joined by a 767 pilot who answered all our questions about airline operations, international flying, and general aviation questions. We discussed: Fozz's recent appearance on a local CBS news segment Matthew's blog post on United's rumored aircraft purchase Captain Steve's thoughts on crew layovers, ways to beat jetlag, crew meals, flying the 757 and 767 and more... Please leave any questions for Captain Steve below and I will forward them on.  

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast In this week's frequent flyer podcast we are joined by Gene Gibbs, a pension actuary and very frequent flyer. Any by very, we mean 425,000 miles per year. Listen in as we discuss: Matthew's recent airline bumps and compensation Josh's comprehensive post on American Airlines laptop power United Airlines and Continental Airlines reciprocal upgrade announcement Gene's travel patterns and comparison of Delta, United, and American Why Gene is reducing Delta travel next year and more... Please leave feedback, questions, or ideas for future episodes below.

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast In this week's airline podcast we are joined by our or BoredRoom blogger Alex to further discuss Alaska Airlines and their MVP Gold Elite program. We discussed: Recent blog posts including well done airline steak, the Star Alliance Megado, and airline club membership UA not renewing Mesa? Good/Bad/Neither? Redeem CO miles for SQ first? Alaska Airlines aircraft, first class cabins, meals, Board Room club, and more Seattle airport concourse changes and the fate of the United Dungeon err Red Carpet club And some very late breaking news (at the very end of the podcast) that has Ben in a fluster Please leave any comments on Alaska Airlines, their Board Room, or other in-flight services below.  

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast In this week's podcast we caught up on some listener mail and discussed recent news. In addition we discussed: Continental's recent comments on possibly merging with United in the future A discussion of some recent blog posts Whether or not to take a bump this holiday season An introduction to Star Gold for Continental elites and more... Please send in your listener questions and leave any other comments below.  

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast This week we recorded our podcast shortly after Ben arrived on BA 4 - the new Club World Service from JFK to LCY. Ben was comped a round trip by British Airways as a travel blogger to report on this new offering. In addition we were joined by Damian, a frequent United and Lufthansa traveler based in Frankfurt. We discussed: Amenities and service of the Club World Service on British Airways Arrivals in London City Airport US Airways recent downsizing to hub only flying Star Alliance awards in Europe Lufthansa's denied boarding compenstation and more... This was the first podcast edited and uploaded at 35,000 feet. I hope the upload worked! If there are any issues with the audio, please leave a message and it will be fixed once on the ground.

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast This week we are joined by Mark, a frequent US Airways traveler to discuss the US Airways Dividend Miles program. During the podcast we discussed: Delta's recent mishaps when landing and generally when "situationally unaware" A new segment "Your Hometown, Your Airline" where we recommend an airline mileage program based on a particular city. This week we discuss the best airline programs for flyers in Boston. Mark describes US Airways elite levels, elite requirements, and benefits of elite status What not to do when taking photos on an airplane Got any US Airways stories or program information that we missed? What do you think of the Hometown Airline segment - keeper? Leave a comment below. Also please take our survey on airline clubs.  

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast Well, not really, but United Airlines is sure trying to give you that impression. Episode 41 is a combination of an episode that we recorded last week, and a second brief recording this morning regarding the new change at United - eliminating the 500 miler requirement for domestic upgrades. In last week's recording we discuss: American Airlines double EQM along with the reduced requirement for using E-VIPs for Executive Platinums United allowing Z fares to be upgraded with miles next year Is Thanksgiving a good time to get bumps? Our blog posts on the newly lunched upgrd.com and more... This morning we discussed the new change to UA's upgrade policy and whether or not it changes our airline affiliations.  

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast At long last, our "live" recording. This episode is available as both an audio podcast an online as a video. As usual Ben and Hunter do not agree, what is your opinion? We discussed: Our first class upgrades flying to San Diego Hunter's opinion on OneWorld's low ranking compared to Sky Team A reflection on our lessons learned in the first 39 podcasts Our new website and more   Open video   $(function() { var player = $f("player", "/flowplayer/flowplayer-3.1.4.swf", { plugins: { rtmp: { url: '/flowplayer/flowplayer.rtmp-3.1.3.swf', netConnectionUrl: 'rtmp://vid1.upgrd.com/cfx/st' } }, clip: { provider: 'rtmp' } }); // setup button action. it will fire our overlay $("button[rel]").overlay({ effect: 'apple', onLoad: function() { player.load(); }, onClose: function() { player.unload(); } }); });

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast From the bitten off more than I can chew department comes epsiode 39 about Thai Airways. We are again joined by David who happened to be in Thailand as we recorded this a few weeks ago. Aplogies for the late upload as our live recording in San Diego and new website was a little more than I could handle this past week. We discussed: Earning miles on Thai Redemption on Thai The "Gold Envelope" The San Diego recording and video will be up soon.

By Upgrd Podcast - Upgrd Podcast A 50 minute flight with a full catered meal and dessert? Are we talking about some far off international carrier? No of course not, unfortunately though you will need a time machine. Listen in to our semi-historical talk about our earliest flight memories as we are joined by veteran traveler Todd, a meterologist at an east coast University. We discuss: United premier travel plus - devaluing status? http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125296377430509937.html   CO's old flights to/from BOS/DEN on the A300. Carved roast beef at your seat. Flying TW's L-1011 BOS-ORY service, and being the only one in F. TWA 747 BOS/JFK/BOS repositioning flight where upgrades were free and easy. Almost never missing an upgrade on Eastern Shuttle in the 80s thanks to their "Executive Traveller Program." Knowing how to get an F seat on the "all coach" Eastern Shuttle. Sometimes they put an L-1011 or A300 on the LGA/BOS service, and savvy flyers would enter the L2 door and turn left instead of right. An F seat was yours for the taking! American Airlines 747 with piano We will be live streaming from the San Diego Film Festival next weekend, make sure you join us and send your question live at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/upgrd (Link will work Saturday, September 26 at 4pm PST)