It’s that “once an every couple of years†event for me again – I need to rent a car on an upcoming trip. My travels mostly take me to cities with incredible public transportation, or to where I don’t really need anything other than the hotel shuttle. But my upcoming trip to Chicago requires a…
Notable Airline, Hotel and Travel Industry News: August 22, 2012
United Airlines released its planned international flying for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Leave it to FlyerTalk to have the details a mere hour or two after word was spread to internal employees. The actual domestic inaugural has yet to be announced. Sticking with United for a moment, a pilot accidentally deployed the emergency slide this…
Virgin America 25,000 Bonus Point Elevate Visa Signature Card
[Edited 5/31/13: This offer has expired.] Virgin America is offering up to 25,000 bonus points if you sign up for a Visa Signature credit card with Barclays. The limited time offer expires soon, so act fast if you’re interested. First, the offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after your first purchase on the card Earn up…
Notable Airline, Hotel and Travel Industry News: August 21, 2012
American Airlines has some pretty darn good first class fares out there today. In looking at flights from Los Angeles, nonstops to Miami are available for $388 one-way, Chicago $420 and Boston $454. Hat tip: Airfarewatchdog. United Airlines expanded the recent Southwest fare increase of $10 roundtrip to include domestic flights longer than 500 miles.…
Amenity Kit Review: Virgin Australia Business Class – Men’s Version 2012
An amenity kit on a domestic flight? Yep… Virgin Australia offers amenity kits to business class passengers flying its premium A330s on transcontinental runs from both Melbourne and Sydney to Perth. Here’s a review of the men’s version for this installment of Amenity Kit Reviews. For a better description of each category and the 7-point…
Notable Airline, Hotel and Travel Industry News: August 20, 2012
Boeing pilots took United Airlines’ first Boeing 787 Dreamliner on a test flight around the skies of Seattle yesterday. Various systems were checked, including cabin pressurization, avionics, navigation and communications systems. United expects to take delivery of the aircraft in late September. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s CEO, Hubert Joly, resigned suddenly on Sunday to take…
Do Travelers Love Social Media and Mobile Devices? Yep
I’m an infographic fan, mostly due to my very visual nature (read: short attention span), and MDG Advertising put one out there recently showing how travelers use social media and their mobile devices. A couple of things that stand out to me on this one are: 18% of people surveyed used mobile device to book…
Lounge Review: Virgin Australia, Perth Domestic Terminal
I previously reviewed Virgin Australia’s domestic lounge in Sydney, and here now is their offering at Perth’s domestic terminal. The lounge entry is quite literally two paces straight ahead immediately after you clear security – you simply can’t miss it. Passing through the glass doors, you enter a small lobby with a circular reception desk…
National Aviation Day: My Memorable Aviation Firsts
Today is National Aviation Day, celebrating the history and development of aviation in the United States (and worldwide for that matter). It’s also fittingly Orville Wright’s birthday, who would have been only 141 today. Franklin D. Rooselvelt established the holiday in 1939 via presidential proclamation. Someone earlier today tweeted the question, “What was your first…
Vintage Airline Seat Map: Continental Airlines Boeing 727-200
It’s time for a little narrowbody love in this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps. Shown below is a Continental Airlines Boeing 727-200 seen flying the skies in 1987. Formerly a People Express bird, this all-coach, high-density aircraft was likely flying the shuttle routes in the Northeast corridor. Seat pitch must have been punitive as…