Pricey Cities
This past weekend, I jetted off to Seattle for a long weekend with some of my closest friends. It was my first time visiting the Emerald City, and it was definitely a memorable experience. (I promise a long and detailed account of the whole trip in my next post). But one thing that did concern me a little before I left was a recent report I read from TripAdvisor, ranking the most expensive U.S. cities this summer, and guess which one made the top 10.
Yes, Seattle ranks No. 8 on the list of highest-priced U.S. cities, based on the combined costs for two for a one night stay and evening out. Adding up hotel, return taxi trip, and dinner and cocktails for two, the total cost comes to $415.04 in Seattle. (Note: I was there with seven women...you do the math.) Luckily, we stayed with my friend and her husband, so hotel expenses were not a concern, which is definitely a good thing considering Seattle saw a 26% jump in summer hotel prices between 2012 and 2013. But there's no way we skipped out on dinner and drinks around the city--that's part of the experience--and I knew we had some day-time activities planned, so I was prepared to shell out a few extra bucks.
At least Seattle isn't the most expensive. No, that honor goes to Honolulu, Hawaii. A night there will cost a whopping $504.94. But that's only 69 cents higher than the second highest-priced city, New York City ($504.25). Seattle is also still cheaper than Boston ($473.59), San Francisco ($471.89), Chicago ($448.45), Los Angeles ($447.61) and Washington, D.C. ($446.13).
More Leisure Travel
Leisure travel is on the rise, as Americans continue to feel more confident about the economy. TravelClick released a study indicating that totel bookings for leisure travelers in North America for the next 12 months are up 4.6%. While this is great news for the hospitality industry, it could mean higher prices and fewer available rooms for travelers. While summer is always a high travel season, the forecast could mean high tourist volumes well into fall and the early part of winter.
American to squeeze in more seats
In an attempt to cut costs and boost revenue, U.S. airlines have reduced flight capacity, dropping less popular routes and reducing the number of flights per day to other destinations. As a result, fares are much higher and planes are more packed than ever. As if things weren't bad enough, American has decided to make it even more cramped onboard with the addition of more seats.The airline said it plans to squeeze in more seats on its Boeing 737 and MD-80 planes, which accounts for more than 60% of the fleet. So while this may make more seats available, it also steals away precious leg room, which is particularly nice to have on long flights--or anytime for that matter.
Marriott Rebrands for Younger Generation
Marriott Hotels launched a new campaign aimed at younger travelers. "Travel Brilliantly," as the campaign is called, seeks to show consumers that the hotel can cater to both business and leisure travelers. The effort includes a revamped logo and a heightened social media presence, as well as television, digital and mobile advertising. At travelbrilliantly.com, travelers can learn about new innovations and share their own ideas about how to improve the travel and hotel experience. The goal is for Marriott to redefine the future of travel, according to the company.
Showing posts with label American Airlines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Airlines. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
News Update
There has been a lot going on in the travel world as of late, it's been hard to keep up.
Once again, all eyes are on the cruise world, as a stranded Carnival Cruise ship, Triumph, is towed to a port in Mobile, Alabama. The ship has been without power, for the most part, since Sunday when a fire took out the propulsion system, leaving it unable to sail. The sewage system is out, meaning there are no working toilets or showers, and the heating and air-conditioner have malfunctioned, resulting in nearly unbearable heat . The ship was floating in the Gulf of Mexico about 150 miles off the coast of Yucatan, before tug boats began pulling it to shore. Passengers have been sleeping in hallways or on decks to get relief from the heat and stench, and have been forced to wait in lines for hours just to get a small portion of food. Carnival secured buses and over 1,000 hotel rooms in New Orleans for when passengers finally arrive back on shore. They can choose to get on a bus and head to Galveston or Houston, or spend a night in New Orleans and catch a charter plane the next day, Carnival said. The company is covering all travel-related expenses. Passengers will also get a refund, $5000 and a credit toward another cruise--though I'm sure most of the some 4,100 people on board will be avoiding cruises for a while after this horrible experience.
As expected after nearly a year of rumors, discussions, and speculations, US Airways and American Airlines agreed to merge for the hefty price of $11 billion. The deal will create the nation's largest airline. This will allow them to better compete against United and Delta Air Lines, which have both expanded through mergers. The merged airline will be called American Airlines and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year. This is most likely the last major consolidation we'll see in the airline industry, at least for a while. So what does this mean for us? Well, we'll have four major airlines from which to choose, as they control about three-quarters of the U.S. market. Customers of the merged airline will have more choices and increased service across a larger network, the airlines said. The new company will have more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations and 56 countries. I know this will affect a lot of people who are frequent fliers of both airlines, and the airline said there will be no changes to those programs at first. I, on the other hand, will continue to book flights on my preferred airlines--Frontier, JetBlue , and UnitedContinental.
For anyone who experienced frustrating delays on a trip last year, you may be surprised by this next little tidbit. Airline on-time rates were at a nine-year high in 2012. Airlines also reported a record low in the number of mishandles bags. Carriers ended 2012 with an on-time performance rate of 81.9%, making the year one of the best three years out of the last 18. Long tarmac delays also dropped, as only 42 that exceeded three hours were reported, down from 50 in 2011. The overall flight cancellation rate remained stagnant, averaging 1.29%. Despite the positives seen in airline performance, consumers complaints still went up slightly--I guess it takes a lot to please us.
Next time you want to upgrade, why not opt for a luxury car rental? This segment of the car rental industry is on the rise, and many people can do it without spending that much more than they would for a full-size sedan. Enterprise expanded its "Exotic Car Collection" to 13 locations in six states; while Hertz said rentals of luxury vehicles grew 15% in 2012. As a result, the company added the Porsche Panamera to its fleet in certain locations. A new company, called Silvercar, entered the mix, renting only silver Audi A4s with customized technology. Rates to rent these cars run the gamut from under $100 to nearly $1,000 a day, and many companies will offer special discounts or promotions, since these rentals are less frequent. Personally, I'd go for the Bentley GTC for $800 a day.
And now another update from Boeing--because we haven't heard enough about this. Boeing conducted two test flights of its 787 Dreamliner as it looked for the cause of the battery problems that grounded the planes. The company said it examined microscopic crystals, called dendrites, can cause lithium-ion batteries to short-circuit and fail, but they are not the main focus of the investigation. Officials are also examining whether a manufacturing defect, the charging process or the battery design could have led to the initial fire.
This week, people around the world celebrated Mardi Gras, with bright costumes, colorful beads, spectacular parties and parades, and, of course, delicious food and plenty of libations. Obviously, the party cities of New Orleans and Rio De Janeiro were the place to be on Fat Tuesday. While thousands of people flocked to these cities over the weekend, there were plenty of other locations holding their own celebrations.
And finally guys, this is for you. If you are tired of having to buy gifts and flowers for your girlfriend on Valentine's Day and take her out for a nice dinner, then perhaps you should live in South Korea. Here, Valentine's Day is when women shower men with gifts. It is also just one of the many romantic days in a series of calendar-dictated holidays in the country. Next is March 14, called White Day, when men gift women with candy. And on April 14, Black Day, singles who did not receive any gifts head to local restaurants to enjoy some jjajyangmyeon, or "black noodles."
So there you go, a quick update of some of the big--and not so big--news stories.
On a more personal news-worthy note, my trip to Australia/New Zealand is 21 days away! I cannot wait! Please know that I will update with stories and pictures as much as possible while I am gone, but most of the recap will occur upon my return. Please send me gift requests prior to March 8. (No guarantees you'll get exactly what you want, but at least I offered.)
Once again, all eyes are on the cruise world, as a stranded Carnival Cruise ship, Triumph, is towed to a port in Mobile, Alabama. The ship has been without power, for the most part, since Sunday when a fire took out the propulsion system, leaving it unable to sail. The sewage system is out, meaning there are no working toilets or showers, and the heating and air-conditioner have malfunctioned, resulting in nearly unbearable heat . The ship was floating in the Gulf of Mexico about 150 miles off the coast of Yucatan, before tug boats began pulling it to shore. Passengers have been sleeping in hallways or on decks to get relief from the heat and stench, and have been forced to wait in lines for hours just to get a small portion of food. Carnival secured buses and over 1,000 hotel rooms in New Orleans for when passengers finally arrive back on shore. They can choose to get on a bus and head to Galveston or Houston, or spend a night in New Orleans and catch a charter plane the next day, Carnival said. The company is covering all travel-related expenses. Passengers will also get a refund, $5000 and a credit toward another cruise--though I'm sure most of the some 4,100 people on board will be avoiding cruises for a while after this horrible experience.
As expected after nearly a year of rumors, discussions, and speculations, US Airways and American Airlines agreed to merge for the hefty price of $11 billion. The deal will create the nation's largest airline. This will allow them to better compete against United and Delta Air Lines, which have both expanded through mergers. The merged airline will be called American Airlines and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year. This is most likely the last major consolidation we'll see in the airline industry, at least for a while. So what does this mean for us? Well, we'll have four major airlines from which to choose, as they control about three-quarters of the U.S. market. Customers of the merged airline will have more choices and increased service across a larger network, the airlines said. The new company will have more than 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations and 56 countries. I know this will affect a lot of people who are frequent fliers of both airlines, and the airline said there will be no changes to those programs at first. I, on the other hand, will continue to book flights on my preferred airlines--Frontier, JetBlue , and UnitedContinental.
For anyone who experienced frustrating delays on a trip last year, you may be surprised by this next little tidbit. Airline on-time rates were at a nine-year high in 2012. Airlines also reported a record low in the number of mishandles bags. Carriers ended 2012 with an on-time performance rate of 81.9%, making the year one of the best three years out of the last 18. Long tarmac delays also dropped, as only 42 that exceeded three hours were reported, down from 50 in 2011. The overall flight cancellation rate remained stagnant, averaging 1.29%. Despite the positives seen in airline performance, consumers complaints still went up slightly--I guess it takes a lot to please us.
Next time you want to upgrade, why not opt for a luxury car rental? This segment of the car rental industry is on the rise, and many people can do it without spending that much more than they would for a full-size sedan. Enterprise expanded its "Exotic Car Collection" to 13 locations in six states; while Hertz said rentals of luxury vehicles grew 15% in 2012. As a result, the company added the Porsche Panamera to its fleet in certain locations. A new company, called Silvercar, entered the mix, renting only silver Audi A4s with customized technology. Rates to rent these cars run the gamut from under $100 to nearly $1,000 a day, and many companies will offer special discounts or promotions, since these rentals are less frequent. Personally, I'd go for the Bentley GTC for $800 a day.
And now another update from Boeing--because we haven't heard enough about this. Boeing conducted two test flights of its 787 Dreamliner as it looked for the cause of the battery problems that grounded the planes. The company said it examined microscopic crystals, called dendrites, can cause lithium-ion batteries to short-circuit and fail, but they are not the main focus of the investigation. Officials are also examining whether a manufacturing defect, the charging process or the battery design could have led to the initial fire.
This week, people around the world celebrated Mardi Gras, with bright costumes, colorful beads, spectacular parties and parades, and, of course, delicious food and plenty of libations. Obviously, the party cities of New Orleans and Rio De Janeiro were the place to be on Fat Tuesday. While thousands of people flocked to these cities over the weekend, there were plenty of other locations holding their own celebrations.
And finally guys, this is for you. If you are tired of having to buy gifts and flowers for your girlfriend on Valentine's Day and take her out for a nice dinner, then perhaps you should live in South Korea. Here, Valentine's Day is when women shower men with gifts. It is also just one of the many romantic days in a series of calendar-dictated holidays in the country. Next is March 14, called White Day, when men gift women with candy. And on April 14, Black Day, singles who did not receive any gifts head to local restaurants to enjoy some jjajyangmyeon, or "black noodles."
So there you go, a quick update of some of the big--and not so big--news stories.
On a more personal news-worthy note, my trip to Australia/New Zealand is 21 days away! I cannot wait! Please know that I will update with stories and pictures as much as possible while I am gone, but most of the recap will occur upon my return. Please send me gift requests prior to March 8. (No guarantees you'll get exactly what you want, but at least I offered.)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Going to the Extreme
When it comes to travel, some are more daring than others. I recently came across two articles that both talk about extreme travel, but in two different respects.
The first one was based on a survey of workers who were asked if they would take a business trip to a dangerous location if their boss asked them to, or would they refuse and risk losing their job. Given the economy, it isn't too surprising that 23% said they would refuse the assignment, compared with 21% who said they would go on a perilous trip at least one time. About 14% said they would go to an unsafe place for work, but would look for a new job when they returned.
I guess my only question in this case is what classifies a place as unsafe? I would probably lump most of the places that have been popping up in the news in the dangerous category: Syria, Mexico, Egypt. Those destinations are all experiencing political turmoil and drug-related violence. But other than places like that, what really makes a location unsafe, at least on corporate standards? I should probably pose that question to the people who administered the survey or to a company that sells travel insurance, since they assess risks and liabilities for a living.
One hundred and seventy travel fanatics paid from $799 to more than $4,000 to participate in the event, dubbed MegaDo, sponsored by American Airlines and its Oneworld alliance partners. They flew from New York to London, to Dallas/Fort Worth, to Seattle and then Los Angeles. While on the trip, they got the inside scoop on everything, from why flights are canceled to a ride down a plane's emergency exit chute. The events were created for the whimsical travelers, the most extreme fliers who love air travel. This is basically a hobby for them.
Some of the previous activities of MegaDo get-togethers included visits to the Airbuss factory in France, and the headquarters of Lufthansa. Some CEOs of major airlines have talked to the MegaDoes, answering questions and giving advice, as well as taking suggestions from some of their most loyal customers.
MegaDo earned them even more. Attendees, in addition to VIP access, collected a minimum of 17,500 miles and about double that for anyone who bought first- or business-class seats. There was a special promotion for the event that offered the chance for up to 55,000 more points. The flights also earned them "elite-qualifying miles," which help them reach elite status.
While many people hang onto their miles until they need them--for instance, for a family trip abraod for two weeks--many of these extreme fliers travel for the sake of traveling, and to earn more miles. One such traveler took a flight to Sydney, Australia, only to spend six hours on the ground before heading back to his home in Winnipeg. Flying time was 24 hours each way, including connections. The reason: to top off his frequent-flier account.
As someone who travels as often as I can, but generally hates the whole process of it, I think these extreme travelers are a little crazy. When I hear that their travel passions are based on earning points and miles, I wonder about their validity. Is it all just about the numbers? Or is it about the experience? I love earning miles when I can, but it is not the main reason I travel. I go to enjoy a trip someone, to experience a new place, to learn about another culture or take some time to relax. My concerns were somewhat eased when I reached the end of the article. Two of the travelers made points that I can definitely agree with, and I think should be part of every traveler's philosohpy. The first said that it wasn't just about the flying, it was about the people you meet. I strongly believe that you can meet some of the most interesting people while traveling, and those individuals can turn into a great friend that you can reach out to if ever you are in their city, and vice versa.
The second traveler said "the more you get to see the world, the more you realize what else there is out there to see. Travel really brings the world together." If ever I become an extreme traveler, this is the kind of attitude I want to maintain, the kind of message I want to convey.
The first one was based on a survey of workers who were asked if they would take a business trip to a dangerous location if their boss asked them to, or would they refuse and risk losing their job. Given the economy, it isn't too surprising that 23% said they would refuse the assignment, compared with 21% who said they would go on a perilous trip at least one time. About 14% said they would go to an unsafe place for work, but would look for a new job when they returned.
I guess my only question in this case is what classifies a place as unsafe? I would probably lump most of the places that have been popping up in the news in the dangerous category: Syria, Mexico, Egypt. Those destinations are all experiencing political turmoil and drug-related violence. But other than places like that, what really makes a location unsafe, at least on corporate standards? I should probably pose that question to the people who administered the survey or to a company that sells travel insurance, since they assess risks and liabilities for a living.
 |
| Boeing 737 Factory. Credit: Ben Mutzabaugh, USA Today |
The second story is a bit more entertaining--and something I had never really heard of until today. It focuses on extreme fliers--people who love to fly, and I mean really love to fly. So much so that they chose to participate in a grueling week-long trek to five cities and two continents, all to experience a behind-the-scenes look at the airline industry.
Some of the previous activities of MegaDo get-togethers included visits to the Airbuss factory in France, and the headquarters of Lufthansa. Some CEOs of major airlines have talked to the MegaDoes, answering questions and giving advice, as well as taking suggestions from some of their most loyal customers.
 |
| Smith Museum. Credti: Ben Mutzabaugh, USA Today |
Most of us know at least one person who is an ultrafrequent flier, probably someone who has to travel a lot for work. But these guys are a totally different breed. Even those who travel a lot are irked by everything that comes with flying, such as security lines, crowded planes, delays, cancellations, etc. But these travelers just enjoy every part of it, especially the pay off after a flight: frequent-flier points. Many of the participants at MegaDo have hundreds of thousands of miles, with some saying theirs reach the millions.
 |
| Emergency evacuation. Credit: Michael Rubiano |
As someone who travels as often as I can, but generally hates the whole process of it, I think these extreme travelers are a little crazy. When I hear that their travel passions are based on earning points and miles, I wonder about their validity. Is it all just about the numbers? Or is it about the experience? I love earning miles when I can, but it is not the main reason I travel. I go to enjoy a trip someone, to experience a new place, to learn about another culture or take some time to relax. My concerns were somewhat eased when I reached the end of the article. Two of the travelers made points that I can definitely agree with, and I think should be part of every traveler's philosohpy. The first said that it wasn't just about the flying, it was about the people you meet. I strongly believe that you can meet some of the most interesting people while traveling, and those individuals can turn into a great friend that you can reach out to if ever you are in their city, and vice versa.
The second traveler said "the more you get to see the world, the more you realize what else there is out there to see. Travel really brings the world together." If ever I become an extreme traveler, this is the kind of attitude I want to maintain, the kind of message I want to convey.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Observations in the Travel World
I have been chained to my desk as of late and, as a result, travel excursions have been limited. However, the number of travel stories I have read has been quite abundant, and my thoughts have been reeling all day--let's face it, the last few days--about everything that has been going on. So, in an effort to get my thoughts out there--and to finally post something after a long absence--I've decided to discuss some of my observations.
American Airlines
As many of you may or may not know, American Airlines is not doing so hot. In fact, its stock prices fell to their lowest point since 2009 last week, and there have been rumors that it will file for bankruptcy. American is the leader in declines among major airlines, and investors said they think the airline will run out of cash reserves. What's worse? Other airlines saw a drop in their stocks after news of American's poor performance, causing many of them to cut capacity and, possibly, raise fares--two things that are never good for travelers. So what does this mean? Well, it could lead to the downfall of one of the largest airlines in the U.S., a company that felt it was too big to fail back in 2008 when the recession started and was the only big name that did not file for bankruptcy protection at that time. It certainly is not a promising sign for the airline industry, especially since analysts expect air travel demand to slump at the end of this year, even with the busy holiday season ahead. I, personally, have only flown American a couple times in my life, and I've never been all that impressed with it. I usually opt for UnitedContinental or a budget airline like Frontier. In all honesty, this kind of failure may be exactly what American Airlines needs to turn things around. But bankruptcy is, for now, only a rumor, and there is no telling if it will actually happen.
New Planes, New Seating
After a three year delay, Boeing finally delivered its first 787 Dreamliner to All Nippon Airways a couple weeks ago, and UnitedContinental said it will fly the jet in 2012. The new jet uses technology like lightweight composites and advanced propulsion that are said to increase fuel economy and environmental sensitivity. While I may not get the chance to fly on one of these jets in the near future, it is still exciting to see something so innovative come on the scene. I can only imagine the passenger experience these new planes will provide. Since UnitedContinental plans to use them on only two international routes--Houston to Auckland, New Zealand; and Houston to Lagos, Nigeria--I guess I will need to save up as much money and vacation days as possible in order to book a ticket.
In other plane news, Lufthansa reconfigured the seats in its jets, allowing it to add more rows while still providing passengers with plenty of legroom. I know what you're thinking, it doesn't seem to add up. How can you squish seats together, adding at least two to three more rows, and still give people more room? Well, you install thinner seats. The airline replaced thick foam padding with strong mesh and placed the magazine pocket at the top of the seatback to give passengers more room for their knees. I think this is a trend we will be seeing more often, since many airlines are being forced to cut flights due to financial woes and are trying to find more ways to bring in revenue. Adding extra seating will help make up for money lost from other cuts. Plus, the seats still take into account passenger comfort and satisfaction, meaning everyone wins!
The Airbus A380 is a double-decker jet that seats about 500 passengers, but Korean Air has rolled out its own layout with 407 seats. It has three sections: first class, prestige or business class, and economy class. The entire top deck is for prestige class and the first class suites have 24-inch HD screens. Also, it will have a duty-free shop at the back of the plane, as well as three bars: a self-serve bar on each deck and a "Celestial Bar" in the back of the top deck. Um...I think the description says it all.
Cheap Tickets/Giveaways
LAN Airlines, a Chilean carrier, selected a Latin American-themed restaurant in New York City where it gave out free vouchers for round-trip tickets to South America. Yeah, that's right. If you were at Nuela last Thursday night, you were one of the lucky diners who recieved a free flight. It doesn't seem fair that those people should get that kind of prize just for being in the right place at the right time, but it's all part of a larger marketing campaign for the airline. And let's be honest, I wouldn't complain at all if my dinner was interupted by a woman handing me a free flight to a foreign country. In fact, that would make my meal even more enjoyable.
Even though I didn't get a flight for free, I was able to take advantage of a limited-time holiday sale from Southwest Airlines. I had been scouring the travel websites the last couple weeks trying to find a reasonable price for a flight home for Christmas. However, I was not having much luck finding anything for under $300, so I figured I would hold off the search for another week, and lo and behold a deal came along. I was able to snag one-way tickets on Chicago-Denver routes for $99! And over Christmas...a definite steal in my opinion. So now I've booked my holiday trip home and I am so excited that I get to spend the money I saved on more gifts for my family! (Or on a new pair of shoes for myself, but I'm not that selfish.)
In Closing...
Those are the travel stories and experiences that have been on my mind lately. I apologize for not having anything more exciting, but I do hope to follow up with some destinations pieces in the coming days. So feel free to chime in on these topics and leave comments and opinions. I love reading them!
American Airlines
As many of you may or may not know, American Airlines is not doing so hot. In fact, its stock prices fell to their lowest point since 2009 last week, and there have been rumors that it will file for bankruptcy. American is the leader in declines among major airlines, and investors said they think the airline will run out of cash reserves. What's worse? Other airlines saw a drop in their stocks after news of American's poor performance, causing many of them to cut capacity and, possibly, raise fares--two things that are never good for travelers. So what does this mean? Well, it could lead to the downfall of one of the largest airlines in the U.S., a company that felt it was too big to fail back in 2008 when the recession started and was the only big name that did not file for bankruptcy protection at that time. It certainly is not a promising sign for the airline industry, especially since analysts expect air travel demand to slump at the end of this year, even with the busy holiday season ahead. I, personally, have only flown American a couple times in my life, and I've never been all that impressed with it. I usually opt for UnitedContinental or a budget airline like Frontier. In all honesty, this kind of failure may be exactly what American Airlines needs to turn things around. But bankruptcy is, for now, only a rumor, and there is no telling if it will actually happen.
New Planes, New Seating
After a three year delay, Boeing finally delivered its first 787 Dreamliner to All Nippon Airways a couple weeks ago, and UnitedContinental said it will fly the jet in 2012. The new jet uses technology like lightweight composites and advanced propulsion that are said to increase fuel economy and environmental sensitivity. While I may not get the chance to fly on one of these jets in the near future, it is still exciting to see something so innovative come on the scene. I can only imagine the passenger experience these new planes will provide. Since UnitedContinental plans to use them on only two international routes--Houston to Auckland, New Zealand; and Houston to Lagos, Nigeria--I guess I will need to save up as much money and vacation days as possible in order to book a ticket.
In other plane news, Lufthansa reconfigured the seats in its jets, allowing it to add more rows while still providing passengers with plenty of legroom. I know what you're thinking, it doesn't seem to add up. How can you squish seats together, adding at least two to three more rows, and still give people more room? Well, you install thinner seats. The airline replaced thick foam padding with strong mesh and placed the magazine pocket at the top of the seatback to give passengers more room for their knees. I think this is a trend we will be seeing more often, since many airlines are being forced to cut flights due to financial woes and are trying to find more ways to bring in revenue. Adding extra seating will help make up for money lost from other cuts. Plus, the seats still take into account passenger comfort and satisfaction, meaning everyone wins!
The Airbus A380 is a double-decker jet that seats about 500 passengers, but Korean Air has rolled out its own layout with 407 seats. It has three sections: first class, prestige or business class, and economy class. The entire top deck is for prestige class and the first class suites have 24-inch HD screens. Also, it will have a duty-free shop at the back of the plane, as well as three bars: a self-serve bar on each deck and a "Celestial Bar" in the back of the top deck. Um...I think the description says it all.
Cheap Tickets/Giveaways
LAN Airlines, a Chilean carrier, selected a Latin American-themed restaurant in New York City where it gave out free vouchers for round-trip tickets to South America. Yeah, that's right. If you were at Nuela last Thursday night, you were one of the lucky diners who recieved a free flight. It doesn't seem fair that those people should get that kind of prize just for being in the right place at the right time, but it's all part of a larger marketing campaign for the airline. And let's be honest, I wouldn't complain at all if my dinner was interupted by a woman handing me a free flight to a foreign country. In fact, that would make my meal even more enjoyable.
Even though I didn't get a flight for free, I was able to take advantage of a limited-time holiday sale from Southwest Airlines. I had been scouring the travel websites the last couple weeks trying to find a reasonable price for a flight home for Christmas. However, I was not having much luck finding anything for under $300, so I figured I would hold off the search for another week, and lo and behold a deal came along. I was able to snag one-way tickets on Chicago-Denver routes for $99! And over Christmas...a definite steal in my opinion. So now I've booked my holiday trip home and I am so excited that I get to spend the money I saved on more gifts for my family! (Or on a new pair of shoes for myself, but I'm not that selfish.)
In Closing...
Those are the travel stories and experiences that have been on my mind lately. I apologize for not having anything more exciting, but I do hope to follow up with some destinations pieces in the coming days. So feel free to chime in on these topics and leave comments and opinions. I love reading them!
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