Hotels&Airlines: Flying high on business confidence

A young university graduate looking for career advice in 1970, from an elderly family friend who was then president of the Pan American Airways in South America, received this: "I have no doubt that you will be successful, whatever you choose to do, government or business. But promise me one thing - never, ever work for an airline."

The then 22-year-old is Glenn F. Tilton, now chairman and CEO of United Airlines (UA), the largest transpacific carrier in the world.

Tilton finally found his calling in the airline business in 2002 after spending decades in other industries.