Travel Tonic

Travel news – May 16th 2012 to May 17th 2012:

• Air Berlin CEO learned of airport delay ‘from the media’ – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Air Berlin, Germany's second-biggest carrier, plans to operate its biggest hub at the new Berlin Brandenburg International Airport.
• Two Websites Reveal Where Power Outlets Are at Airports – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  The view from a ground-level power outlet at Fort Lauderdale Airport (Courtesy kjarrett/Flickr)
• Airlines and airports offer new ways to avoid lengthy lines at security checkpoints | APEX Editor’s Blog –
  blog.apex.aero
  - Benet Wilson
  

  Back in January, Kansas City, Missouri-based architecture and engineering firm HNTB Corporation released a study that found about 44 per cent of passengers see the air travel experience as stressful, while 41 per cent find it frustrating. A big point of contention, according to the study, are the queues at airport security checkpoints.
  If you are not a member of an airline’s frequent-flyer elite, you can end up waiting in the same security lines that passengers in the study find so distasteful….  show all text
• Airbus Accuses Boeing of Price War – WSJ.com –
  online.wsj.com
  

  Airbus on Tuesday accused Boeing of trying to start a price war after the U.S. company pledged to work aggressively to regain a 50% share of the market for new, more fuel-efficient single-aisle planes.
• Flying Through The World’s Busiest Airport Just Got A Little Easier – Budget Travel recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Thanks to a new terminal at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, there's no reason to dread connecting in Atlanta.

• Passengers On Virgin Atlantic Will Soon Be Able To Use Cell Phones In-Flight – Rachel Mosely recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  A Virgin Atlantic plane on the runway in Manchester (Courtesy eisenbahner/Flickr)
• Special Coverage: EBACE 2012 –
  aviationweek.com
  Follow Aviation Week and BCA's coverage of developments from the premier annual meeting place for the European business aviation community – EBACE 2012.

Travel news – May 12th 2012 to May 16th 2012:

• TSA Misstep Causes Teen to Lose Pricey Medical Equipment – Budget Travel recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  A familiar sight at the airport (Courtesy niiicedave/Flickr)
• Why Flight+ Is Apple’s App of the Week – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  The app Flight+ launched only a couple of weeks ago, but it's already a bestselling app in the iTunes App Store. The reason is simple: This week, Apple named Flight+ its App of the Week, singling it out as exceptional among the 725,000 apps in the store.

• Ask the Family Travel Expert: What to Expect From Disney World’s New Art of Animation Resort – posted this over on Frommer's : Disney World's new Art of Animation Resort opens in late May, offering an affordable solution for families who want suites that sleep up to six people.
• Airlines on time at record rate in first quarter, data show – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  The nation's big airlines got passengers to their destinations on time at their best rate in the first quarter, the government reports.
• No Honest Customer Will Pay $100 to Carry a Bag on Spirit – >> The Cranky Flier –
  crankyflier.com
  

  You've probably seen at least one of the dozens of stories reporting on how Spirit is going to charge $100 for a carry on bag. Those stories are incredibly mis
• Mothers Day: Sweet Home Croatia; An American Mother in Paris – This week on the Travel with Rick Steves Podcast:
  Author Jennifer Wilson describes what it was like to relocate her family to the same mountain village in Croatia her great-grandparents emigrated from, an American who married a Frenchman explains what it's like raising her first child in Paris, plus, Rick shares how his mother influenced him as a traveler.
  
  Podcast
• Want an airline to change? Then speak with a million voices –
  elliott.org
  - Christopher Elliott
  When it comes to customer service, travel companies constantly push the limits with fees, surcharges and onerous policies. No industry does it more than the airlines, and no domestic airline does it more than Spirit Airlines, the small Florida-based carrier known for its risque ads and creative…

Travel news – May 10th 2012 to May 12th 2012:

• Russian crash shows risks of informal demo flights – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  The crash has put a spotlight on the notoriously informal atmosphere aboard new aircraft during manufacturer demonstrations.
• Google Map shows volume of tourists taking pictures in every location around the world | Tnooz –
  tnooz.com
  - Kevin May
  

  The wonderful thing about so-called open APIs is often the level of detail the data contain – effectively allowing developers to create all sorts of fascinating mashups.
  Here is a particularly good example – using data from photo hosting and sharing service Panoramio, Estonian developer shop Bluemoon has plotted the location on a Google Map of every single image on the site.
  The result, as Bluemoon says slightly , is the globe by “level of touristiness”, a slightly awkward word but most people …  show all text
• That’s Ridiculous! Are Hotel "Energy" Fees About to Make a Comeback? – posted this over on Frommer's : Hidden fees can be a nasty surprise for vacationing travelers, especially if the fees are mandatory and cover basic services such as utilities.
• Receive Half Off Train Tickets in Canada – Smarter Travel has posted some info about spectacular scenery: See Canada's spectacular scenery by rail this summer and enjoy discounted ticket prices. VIA Rail Canada is offering 50 percent off regular high-season fares on routes throughout the country.

  Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.

• Why You Don’t Want to Have an Accident When Driving a Rental Car in Mexico – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  Rental car in Mexico (Courtesy adam_d_/Flickr)
• Wreckage of Russian ‘SuperJet’ found in Indonesia – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  A Russian Sukhoi SuperJet with with 46 people onboard has disappeared from radar, The Associated Press reports.
• Airfare Deals: American Airlines, Alaska, SAS – posted this over on Frommer's : Book now for an American Airlines airfare sale to Colorado, an Alaska Airlines sale to British Columbia, and a SAS sale to Scandinavia.

Travel news – May 9th 2012 to May 10th 2012:

• New York City Bike-Sharing Program To Debut This Summer – Budget Travel recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  Biking in New York City just got easier. (Courtesy Smart Destinations/Flickr)
• Cathay Pacific Opens SFO Lounge to Klout Users « The Official Klout Blog | Klout –
  corp.klout.com
  - Don Hoang
  

  Tweet
  Just a couple of weeks ago, we introduced Klout for iPhone to help people keep track of their influence wherever they go.
  Today we’re announcing a great partnership with Cathay Pacific Airways that makes the benefit of taking your Klout with you even more obvious. Starting today, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) visitors using the Klout for iPhone app need only show a Score of 40 or higher to enter the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge. Previously, the only way to s…  show all text
• From Twitter – Plan your site seeing and print or use iOS. http://t.co/ALC37q8i
• Superjet International –
  superjetinternational.com
• DealAngel Sorts Hotel Deals for Value, Not Just By Lowest Price – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  If a hotel like this is unusually cheap for your travel dates, given its pricing history, DealAngel will let you know. (Courtesy Fr Antunes/Flickr)
• Log In | Facebook –
  facebook.com
  Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, post links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.
• Bahamas’ Atlantis Resort 45% Off with Airfare Credit and Extras – Smarter Travel has posted some info about atlantis bahamas: Just a few days to save with extras galore. Atlantis, Bahamas starts at $199* per night for spring (up to 45% off) and $329* for summer. Stay 4+ nights and get up to a $400 air credit*. Other perks included. Blackout dates and terms apply*.

  Head over to www.smartertravel.com to read the whole article.

Travel news – May 6th 2012 to May 8th 2012:

• Anger, embarrassment on delay to new Berlin airport – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  German officials say the planned opening of Berlin's new airport next month must be delayed because of fire safety issues.
• Travel Troubleshooter: Hey, What Happened to My Points? – posted this over on Frommer's : A traveler's hard-earned points are missing after a stalled transfer between frequent-flier programs. Will he be able to recover those missing points?
• Max Out AAA and Senior Discounts on Hotels With Room 77 – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  
  

  (Courtesy Holiday Inn)
  
• Air France-KLM reports $483 million loss for Q1 – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Air France-KLM on Friday reported a $483 million loss for the first quarter of 2012, citing rising fuel costs.
• Friends vs. Strangers: Who Gives Better Travel Advice? – Laura Michonski recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  There are two types of social networks out there—groups of people that you know from real life (Facebook, LinkedIn) and groups of like-minded folks that you've never met before in your life (TripAdvisor, IgoUgo).

  Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info)

  The former operates on the assumption that you trust your nearest and dearest more than a group of strangers, the latter that the wisdom of the crowds is greater than the sum of its parts.

• Qantas delays Airbus A380 superjumbo deliveries – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Qantas has decided to delay the delivery of two Airbus A380 superjumbo jets. The Australian carrier labeled the decision as a cost-cutting move. …
• Israeli president dumps El Al for Air Canada in flap over fees – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Airline fees have become a top irritant for many fliers in recent years. Now, even heads of state are feeling the impact.

Travel news – May 3rd 2012 to May 5th 2012:

• Jumbo evolution – the Lufthansa way – Airline Business –
  flightglobal.com
  Lufthansa celebrated the arrival of its first Boeing 747-8I on Wednesday in a hangar at Frankfurt airport, where 1,200 invited employees – and a few journos – got a chance to preview the latest iteration of Jumbo Jet. Clockwise from…
• About face: Spirit says it will refund dying vet’s ticket – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Spirit Airlines says it will refund a dying Vietnam veteran's nonrefundable airline ticket, after all.
• Late for flight: Woman ignores flat, crashes at airport walkway – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  A Pennsylvania woman rushing to catch her flight ignored a flat tire and ultimately crashed her car near a moving-walkway that leads fliers into …
• That’s Ridiculous! Travel Companies and Their Restrictive Contracts – posted this over on Frommer's : Can't be bothered to read the fine print? It's just as well, since many contracts by airlines, car rental companies, cruise lines, and hotels appear to penalize the traveler.
• 3 New Websites Help Organize Facebook Travel Photos – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Sorry, Facebook: You're just not good enough at helping users organize and show off their photos, especially their travel photos.

• Airfare Deals: WestJet, SAS, China Eastern, Alaska Airlines – posted this over on Frommer's : Scared off by expensive plane ticket prices? Consider these fare sales from WestJet, SAS, China Eastern, and Alaska Airlines.
• Video – Breaking News Videos from CNN.com –
  us.cnn.com
  

Travel news – May 2nd 2012 to May 3rd 2012:

• Beat $4 Gas With Premium Buses in California, Texas, and Washington State – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  (Courtesy Greyhound Express)
• Watching Movies at the Airport Just Got Easier – Nicholas DeRenzo recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  If you're not lucky enough to fly on one of the few domestic carriers with seat–back entertainment (I'm looking at you, JetBlue!), in–flight entertainment can be a bummer.

• Spirit ups carry-on bag fee to $200 round-trip for some – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  Spirit Airlines is back in the news for its extra "a la carte" fees.
• Airports walk the walk with new fitness and wellness amenities for passengers | APEX Editor’s Blog –
  blog.apex.aero
  - Stephanie Gehman
  

  Air travel can be a stressful endeavour, and many passengers crave the ability to decompress before a flight. While some airports have offered gyms in their terminals for years (check out this index of in-terminal or nearby hotel gyms), a growing trend in airport fitness products is the emergence of yoga rooms and walking paths.
  For instance, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) have recently opened yoga rooms beyond their security checkpoi…  show all text
• MySeatFinder Fetches You a Better Seat Automatically – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Reserving a seat assignment on for a flight will never rate as one of life's most memorable moments. But with MySeatFinder, it's no longer one of the most boring.

• Boeing Designs Advanced Technology Winglet for 737 MAX | Flickr – Photo Sharing! –
  flickr.com
  
• City Passes in Italy: Worth It or Not? – Budget Travel recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  The Trevi Fountain in Rome (Courtesy dmg33/myBudgetTravel)

Travel news – April 30th 2012 to May 2nd 2012:

• Travel Troubleshooter: Insurance Wasn’t Required — How About a Refund? | Frommers.com –
  frommers.com
  - <a href="http://www.frommers.com/community/persona.html?UID=826400">Christopher Elliott</a><br>Tribune Media Services
  

  If a rental agent insisted that insurance is required to rent a car, would you cave in and buy it? That's what some travelers suggest is happening in tourist locations like Orlando and Las Vegas.
• Travel Troubleshooter: Insurance Wasn’t Required — How About a Refund? – posted this over on Frommer's : If a rental agent insisted that insurance is required to rent a car, would you cave in and buy it? That's what some travelers suggest is happening in tourist locations like Orlando and Las Vegas.
• Twitter / Lori Ranson: Lufthansa new lie flat biz … –
  twitter.com
• New York City Cracks Down on Short-Term Rentals – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  A short-term rental in New York City (Courtesy AirBnB)
• Hotel Perks: Gas Rebates for Summer Travel – posted this over on Frommer's : Don't let high gas prices put the brakes on your summer road trips. Take advantage of gas rebates and credits from these hotels in the U.S. and Canada.
• Video: Boeing 727 intentionally crashed in Mexican desert – USATODAY.com –
  travel.usatoday.com
  

  What would you do if you were able to get your hands on a vintage Boeing 727 jet?
• Strikes Threaten Turbulence for Travelers – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  (Courtesy joecruz/myBudgetTravel)

Travel news – April 27th 2012 to April 29th 2012:

• A Profile of London by A.A. Gill – NYTimes.com –
  travel.nytimes.com
  

  “If New York is a wise guy, Paris a coquette, Rome a gigolo and Berlin a wicked uncle, then London is an old lady who mutters and has the second sight.” A Londoner reviews his town.
• 36 Hours in East London – NYTimes.com –
  travel.nytimes.com
  

  Diverse shops, ethnic restaurants and cutting-edge clubs collide to produce the city’s trendiest area.
• Six Nights in Turkey, from $1,999 With Air – posted this over on Frommer's : Travel to Turkey this spring and save nearly $300 per person with this affordable package, which includes airfare and six nights' hotel.
• British Airways marks 85 years since the first inflight meal service –
  planetalkinglive.com
  

  British Airways) introduced the Silverwing branded air service on the London to Paris route. The flight offered the first luxury onboard meal service. A male
• Should Rome Open a Romaland Theme Park? – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:
  

  The Eternal City (Courtesy matteopenzo/Flickr)
• 7 Best (And Worst) Museums To Visit On An Empty Stomach – Valerie Rains recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Some folks plan whole trips around a restaurant (or ten), a signature dish, or an edible obsession. (I once vowed to eat gelato three times a day during an 11–day trip through Italy with a girlfriend—and we both held up our end of the bargain.) But simply eating something doesn’t always deliver context—which is what makes the food part of travel so fascinating, and why we devote a whole issue of our magazine to the topic each year (find our May/June Food Issue on newsstands now!). So here, we present seven museums across the country that have built entire exhibitions around a type of cuisine, a way of eating, or even a single ingredient. (Some even let you try the goods, too.) No, it’s not the same as eating your way through the best little pastry shops in Paris—but you just might learn something.

• What Your Klout Score Really Means | Epicenter | Wired.com –
  wired.com
  - Seth Stevenson
  Photo: Garry McLeod
  Last spring Sam Fiorella was recruited for a VP position at a large Toronto marketing agency. With 15 years of experience consulting for major brands like AOL, Ford, and Kraft, Fiorella felt confident in his qualifications. But midway through the interview, he was caught off guard when his interviewer asked him for his Klout score. Fiorella hesitated awkwardly before confessing that he had no idea what a Klout score was.

  Also in this issue
  The Man Who Makes the Future
  How …  show all text

Travel news – April 24th 2012 to April 26th 2012:

• Airfare Deals: Alaska Airlines, American, China Eastern – posted this over on Frommer's : Flights to Europe are expensive this year, so you'll want to take advantage of this summer sale to Spain from American Airlines. You can also save on flights to China this fall by booking now on China Eastern.
• Last-Minute Tips for Traveling to London for the Olympics – NYTimes.com –
  travel.nytimes.com
  
• How to Swap Miles Between Southwest and AirTran Reward Programs – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  Big news this week for Southwest and AirTran mileage programs: Now members may convert points earned in one program for use in the other, and vice versa (with one exception).

• World News: Search for Amelia Earhart goes high-tech – thestar.com –
  thestar.com
  A non-profit this summer will launch a $2 million, month-long search for the wreckage of Earhart’s plane off a tiny Pacific atoll.
• Why Hotels Use (or Don’t Use) Daily Deal Sites – Brad Tuttle recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  When hotels use daily deal sites like Groupon, they're not necessarily trying to make profits.

• Airlines Suspected of Fibbing About Seat Availability for Families – Sean O'Neill recently posted this on This Just In… Newsweek's Travel Blog:

  The airlines' latest now-you-see-it-now-you-don't sleight of hand—the Seat Assignment Shell Game—has prompted dozens of passengers to cry foul in online consumer forums.

• Airbus and Qantas overcame technical and logistical challenges in A380 repairs –
  flightglobal.com
  Qantas Airways and Airbus engineers faced both technical and logistical challenges in restoring its first A380 back to virtually brand-new condition after…