Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Poll: Have you ever passed up the cheapest airfare to avoid a bad airline?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/have-you-ever-passed-up-the-cheapest-airfare-to-avoid-a-bad-airl/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/have-you-ever-passed-up-the-cheapest-airfare-to-avoid-a-bad-airl/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/have-you-ever-passed-up-the-cheapest-airfare-to-avoid-a-bad-airl/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

People love to complain about the dismal state of air travel these days. Whether it's the stomach-churning airline food (and there's so little of it!), the complete lack of leg room, or the fact that your luggage was for some reason routed through Honolulu, we've come to expect some pretty poor service from quite a few airlines these days.

In any other industry, customers register their indignation by refusing to spend money at the offending establishment. Found a finger in your Caesar's Salad? You're probably never visiting that restaurant again. Tired of your cable cutting out in the middle of House? You just might cancel that company's service and call up their competitor (who'll probably even throw in a year of Starz at no extra charge!)

But with airlines, we're like the pathetic girlfriend who's been cheated on five times but still believes her boyfriend when he says, "Seriously, this time will be different! I've changed!" The worst airlines stay in business because by and large people are willing to put up with crummy service if it means they get a cheap flight.

Continue reading Poll: Have you ever passed up the cheapest airfare to avoid a bad airline?

Poll: Have you ever passed up the cheapest airfare to avoid a bad airline? originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air travelairlinesAirTravelTue, 03 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside the Emirates A380 First Class shower]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/12/inside-the-emirates-a380-first-class-shower/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/12/inside-the-emirates-a380-first-class-shower/http://www.gadling.com/2009/10/12/inside-the-emirates-a380-first-class-shower/#commentsFiled under: ,



Last week, I wrote how smelly passengers are among the most annoying people to be sitting next to on a flight. For passengers in First Class on Emirates flights serviced by their Airbus A380, body odor can be a thing of the past (and I don't mean though copious amounts of Drakar Noir).

The Emirates Airbus A380 is the first commercial plane in the world to feature full shower facilities. Passengers in First Class can request the use of the shower, and are allotted 30 minutes of privacy, along with 5 minutes of water.

The shower facility is massive when compared to most bathrooms in the skies, and the room is thoroughly cleaned between each visit. In fact, this flying shower has more features than most of us have at home, including a flat panel TV and several integrated closets and hangers.

Continue reading Inside the Emirates A380 First Class shower

Inside the Emirates A380 First Class shower originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a380emiratesemirates A380emirates airlinesEmiratesA380emiratesairlinesshowershowerheadMon, 12 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mile High Dining Club: Air France]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/01/mile-high-dining-club-air-france/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/01/mile-high-dining-club-air-france/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/01/mile-high-dining-club-air-france/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Welcome to the first installment of the Mile High Dining Club where I'll be exploring and reviewing all things delicious (and perhaps not so) in the air, on the tracks, and on the ground.

As airlines continue to cut more services, the bygone Pan American days of bottomless champagne, caviar and carving stations of roast beef have unfortunately fallen to the wayside as more travelers now find themselves packing cold cheese pizza, cinna-buns and bagel sandwiches into their carry-on's in an attempt to avoid spending more money while on board. Some food experts even argue that "complimentary" first and business class meals no longer offer anything edible of note other than, "the dreadful food in the sky". Certainly, the culinary times are-a-changin' due to economic woes, so is it still possible to enjoy a decent meal while in the air?

Let's take a look at one of the more respected airlines for foodies-- Air France.

It's well known that the French have it going on when it comes to cooking, and my experience while dining on-board an Air France flight mostly held its ground to this effect. Recently, I booked an overnight flight from Washington to Paris in the airline's Affaires (business class) cabin where the uber-spacious seats convert to semi-flat beds and little extra's such as mini Clarins moisturizers, feather pillows, and drawstring bags for your shoes, make red-eye travel a lot less painful.

Dinner started off with an aperitif of salted cashews and a glass of Ayala Brut Majeur champagne, which like all of Air France's wine selections, was chosen by sommelier, Olivier Poussier. After being presented with the Affaires in-flight menu, which typically offers a four-course option including an hors d'oeuvre, main course, cheese course and dessert, I moved on to a glass of white Bordeaux (Chalonnais Rully Rodet, 2006). Note: Air France's economy class also offers aperitif, Champagne, and Olivier Poussier chosen wines along with a choice of two hot meals as part of their on-board service.

Continue reading Mile High Dining Club: Air France

Mile High Dining Club: Air France originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air franceAirFranceairlinesdiningfoodreviewwineSat, 01 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Onboard Central America's thriftiest carrier: Sosa]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/10/onboard-central-americas-thriftiest-carrier-sosa/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/10/onboard-central-americas-thriftiest-carrier-sosa/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/10/onboard-central-americas-thriftiest-carrier-sosa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Honduras has two carriers that fly among San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and the Bay Islands. Those are Islena Regional (a division of TACA) and Aerolineas Sosa, "Su linea Aerea Amiga" (Your Airline Friend!)

Among other aircraft, TACA operates a few ATR-42s on these routes, a 42 seat propeller plane manufactured in France. Islena Regional, on the other hand, uses a fleet of sad, dumpier versions of that aircraft known as the Czech made Let-L410 Turbolet.

Gadling had the pleasure of flying on both airlines last month, but the most exciting, scary, beautiful and terrible experience was on Sosa. Follow along as we take you on a virtual voyage on Aerolineas Sosa, Central America's thriftiest carrier.

Continue reading Onboard Central America's thriftiest carrier: Sosa

Onboard Central America's thriftiest carrier: Sosa originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplanehiddenhondurashondurassosaFri, 10 Jul 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Accidental Chef Travels: An Introduction]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/30/the-accidental-chef-travels-an-introduction/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/30/the-accidental-chef-travels-an-introduction/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/30/the-accidental-chef-travels-an-introduction/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

This post is the first installment of my culinary travel feature column, "The Accidental Chef Travels". Come join me to discover all that's delicious!

I think the best way to introduce myself is to begin with the basics. I grew up in an unusual family -- part West Virginia hillbilly (we proudly hail from the mountainous coalfields) and part academic, since despite having a few economic and cultural cards stacked against us, the majority of my relatives as well as myself went on to receive advanced degrees, write books and teach university level courses. Go figure.

Because of this dichotomous existence, I've spent much of my life straddling the gray area, somewhere between cheesy grits and Chateaubriand. Yet, despite this oxymoron-esque lifestyle, one thing has remained constant -- my love of worldly exploration and an inherent need to taste every last bit of it.

I still believe that the best place on earth is my grandmother's kitchen in Princeton, West Virginia, where she, well into her upper-nineties, whipped up the best fried pies and coconut cake you've ever tasted. Yet, while granny's comfort food remains unbeatable, I still spend my days infatuated with what the rest of the world has to offer.


Continue reading The Accidental Chef Travels: An Introduction

The Accidental Chef Travels: An Introduction originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cooking classesCookingClassesculinaryfarmers marketsFarmersMarketsfeaturedfeaturesfoodfood and drinkfood and winefood blogFoodAndDrinkFoodAndWineFoodBlogresortTue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Paris Air Show begins]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/15/the-paris-air-show-begins/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/15/the-paris-air-show-begins/http://www.gadling.com/2009/06/15/the-paris-air-show-begins/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Paris Air Show begins today, in what promises to be a week full of excitement and events in Le Bourget, Paris. Along with the Dubai and Farnborough air shows, the Paris exposition is among the largest in the world, bringing in dislpays, press and tourists from all over the planet.

This isn't your normal Kalamazoo airshow with the Blue Angels and a couple of helicopters, either. Scheduled only once every two years, the Paris Air Show brings all of the manufacturers, suppliers and buyers to the table, showing off their newest wares (787 interiors, A350 plans etc,) giving demonstration flights and wooing customers.

Highlights this year include the Russian made Sukhoi Superjet, Boeing's 777-346ER and the fancy new Airbus 380 as well as a wide variety of historical aircraft including the Bleriot XI and the P51 Mustang. You can see an entire list of aircraft at the exposition website.

The best part is that Gadling is going to be on site documenting the air show this year, bringing you updates from the show and tons of pictures of the events and demonstrations. See an airplane in the list above that you want a better look at? Let us know and we'll stop by and take some photos for you.

Stay tuned all week for updates from the Paris Air Show!

The Paris Air Show begins originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air showAirShowbourgetparisparis air showParisAirShowMon, 15 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Inside V Australia's Boeing 777 flight simulator]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/31/inside-v-australias-boeing-777-flight-simulator/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/31/inside-v-australias-boeing-777-flight-simulator/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/31/inside-v-australias-boeing-777-flight-simulator/#commentsFiled under: ,

When I was invited out to visit V Australia's 777 on it's maiden voyage from Seattle - Los Angeles - Sydney earlier this year, poor Amanda Bolger from public relations had no idea what she was signing up for. Sitting in the cockpit with Ken Pascoe, the pater familias of VA pilots, we took a couple of photos and he casually mentioned "Hey, if you come out to Sydney we should take out the simulator."

Oh, but I was coming to Sydney, Ken, and after a few pestering emails, he finally gave in and invited us to come out to Silverwater, just outside of the city to take the simulator out for a spin.

Meeting Ken out at the Strathfield station earlier this week, we drove up to CAE, where V Australia had a small suite of offices and a simulator installed in a rear, cavernous room. This is where all VA pilots train, both in instrumentation at a computer console and in actual flight operation, inside of the 23 million dollar simulator.

The front of the cockpit is replicated in exact detail to a "white tail" aircraft, a generic 777 that still hasn't got the exact installed features of VA equipment. A little bit later next month, they'll be making those upgrades. Behind the pilot and co-pilot seats are an additional three seats where an instructor and observers can curate the flight.

As far as operation, Marty Khoury, another V Australia pilot on hand explained that the graphics and performance are so lifelike, even to the bump of every light in the runway, that sometimes the pilots forget that they're even inside of the simulator.

So how did Gadling's flight experience go? Disasterously. But I'll tell you about that next week.

Gallery: V Australia's 777 simulator





Inside V Australia's Boeing 777 flight simulator originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>777boeingfnisimulatorv australiaVAustraliavirginvirgin australiaVirginAustraliaTue, 31 Mar 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Continental #1 in Fortune mag]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/03/continental-1-in-fortune-mag/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/03/continental-1-in-fortune-mag/http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/03/continental-1-in-fortune-mag/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Okay, the competition couldn't have been all that stiff. Continental Airlines was rated the top airline in Fortune magazine's annual list of most admired companies. Its score of 7.71 was not good enough to push the company into the top 50, though. This is the sixth year in a row that Continental has taken the lead spot in the airline category. Somehow, Southwest is listed as #7 on the full list, though it scored behind Continental.

Looks like Fortune is suffering from a case of "journalist's math."

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Larry Kellner said that "Continental's more than 42,000 co-workers are the reason for our success, and I'm proud to see their hard work recognized again this year." Apparently, he has forgotten that the passengers shelling out cash to fly on the airline's 2,800 daily departures might have something to do with that, too.

Air France-KLM followed Continental with a score of 7.15. Southwest Airlines (6.89), Singapore Airlines (6.57) and Delta Airlines (6.18) were also recognized on the Fortune list.

Funny, JetBlue didn't show up.

Continue reading Continental #1 in Fortune mag

Continental #1 in Fortune mag originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairline industryairline sectorAirlineIndustryairlinesAirlineSectorcontinentalcontinental airlinesContinentalAirlinesfortunefortune magazineFortuneMagazineTue, 03 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EasyJet survival guide: six simple steps]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/easyjet-survival-guide-six-simple-steps/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/easyjet-survival-guide-six-simple-steps/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/easyjet-survival-guide-six-simple-steps/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The name is seductive: EasyJet. This low-cost airline boasts occasional fares of below €10 (one way) and can get you almost anywhere in Europe. What's not to love? Of course, entering the experience, you know deep down that there has to be some unpleasantness involved, but you accept that as a condition for cheap travel. After all, you're only inconvenienced for a few hours at the most - it's not like you're crossing the Atlantic. These are short, easy flights that would be called "regional" back home.

Nonetheless, the whole gig can be an absolute drag.

The most difficult part of the EasyJet excursion is the rush of the crowd ... which you'll endure more than once. At some point, the line at the gate descends into chaos, as boarding "zones" decompose from a single line to several crowds of travelers jockeying for position. Then, the bus from the gate to the airport is little more than a cattle car and sets the scene for another crowded push in which any semblance of order is but a wish. By the time you get to your seat, aisle, window or middle no longer matters. You're just happy that the uncertainty (as well as the shoving) is finished.

Fortunately, here are ways to make your EasyJet flight a bit easier (and, for those of you bouncing along the northeastern United States [LINK:tag], you can apply some of this to the Delta Shuttle). It'll never be a first-class experience, but you'll be able to avoid some of the stress involved in this form of air travel.

[Photos thanks to EasyJet]

Continue reading EasyJet survival guide: six simple steps

EasyJet survival guide: six simple steps originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget-traveldiscountdiscount rateDiscountRatediscountseasyjeteuropelow cost carrierlow cost carriersLowCostCarrierLowCostCarrierstravel-tipsTue, 10 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Onboard V Australia's Boeing 777]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/onboard-v-australias-boeing-777/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/onboard-v-australias-boeing-777/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/10/onboard-v-australias-boeing-777/#commentsFiled under: , ,



This past Friday, Gadling got a special invitation to tour V Australia's new Boeing 777 jumbo jet, the aircraft that will soon fly routes between California and Australia on the world's newest airline.

We'll get to into all of the hobknobbery of the event in a forthcoming post, but for now, lets take a look through the aircraft.

Each Boeing 777-300 has three classes of service: Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

Like most other transpacific products, economy is fairly cramped with 3 x 3 x 3 seating (32" of leg room and 6" seat pitch,) cloth seats and rows upon rows of cattle. Sections are fairly compartmentalized among rows 20-25, 26-38 and 40-52, with each cabin separated by lavs and galleys respectively, so you can bet that the smaller sub-cabin is going to be quieter.

Exit rows have plenty of space, and if you're going to pitch for a set, I would recommend row 26, because row 20 has bassinets and row 39 has a galley nearby.

Thankfully, each seat has an LCD running the Panasonic RED system with an additional USB port, so you can stay entertained with movies, games and music or charge your iPod. Bulkhead seats have video screens in the armrests. Contrary to other reports, however, there is no in-seat power. Alternatively, a flight attendant that we spoke with said that there is AC power in the rear galley, so you can always wander back and plug in.

Gallery: vAustralia plane

Continue reading Onboard V Australia's Boeing 777

Onboard V Australia's Boeing 777 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>777airplaneairplane reviewAirplaneReviewboeingboeing 777Boeing777fniv australiaVAustraliavirginTue, 10 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Can other airlines learn from Virgin America?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/05/can-other-airlines-learn-from-virgin-america/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/05/can-other-airlines-learn-from-virgin-america/http://www.gadling.com/2009/02/05/can-other-airlines-learn-from-virgin-america/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In my mind, there is nothing worse than flying. I think it's a waste of time (I've probably wasted, cumulatively, half a year of my life in the air). Ever since I had to take off my shoes and undo my belt, I've hated checking through security. And there's something really gross about sharing oxygen with over a hundred other travelers on a plane. I feel like I'm bound to catch the flu.

The one saving grace in flying is the entertainment on the plane, and even that has been lackluster these days (aside from "Slumdog Millionaire," "Milk," and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" there really is nothing out in theaters worth shouting about).

That is until Virgin America came along. This upscale carrier somehow found a way to make flying really comfortable and fun -- starting with its safety video, which is just awesome.

Continue reading Can other airlines learn from Virgin America?

Can other airlines learn from Virgin America? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplanesflyingin-flight entertainmentvirgin americaVirginAmericaThu, 05 Feb 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Another hilarious airline complaint letter. This time it's the food]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/27/another-hilarious-airline-complaint-letter-this-time-its-the-f/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/27/another-hilarious-airline-complaint-letter-this-time-its-the-f/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/27/another-hilarious-airline-complaint-letter-this-time-its-the-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Back in June 2007, Justin wrote a post about a hand-written complaint letter to Continental Airlines. The letter included illustrations that were as hilarious as the text. There is a new airline complaint letter that is being touted as the funniest ever. This time the airline is Virgin Atlantic and the complaint is food--or what the airline tried to pass off as food on a flight from Mumbai to Heathrow.

The letter sent to airline owner Sir Richard Branson by a passenger is a tongue- in-cheek response to the passenger's reactions to each dish on his tray--nothing he recognized. It all started when he couldn't tell which item was the dessert and which was a main course. Each food complaint is accompanied by a photo.

"Look at this, Richard. Just look at it." Is the description under the first photo of two custard like dishes. Utterly flummoxed by those two choices that looked like sponge shafts that moved every so often, the letter writer proceeded to the next item--also unrecognizable.

The third item, the one covered in foil that he opened with anticipation, similar to what one might feel opening a Christmas present, was worse. He likened it to finding his "hamster in the box and it's not breathing." That gem is what's in the photo. Turns out the yellow stuff was gobs of mustard.

Attempting to watch the movie was as bad as trying to find something edible on his tray. The screen was grainy which made it difficult to see who was in the movie. The passenger thought, perhaps, Ray Liotta?

If you've ever had a flight that has left you exhausted, depressed, feeling like a sailboat that has lost its wind, you'll certainly recognize the feelings expressed here. Yes, indeed. This is a funny, funny letter. Make sure you click through the photo gallery for the full effect.

As a note, the food, according to Sir Richard Branson who supposedly replied, would have made the Indian passengers happy. [Telegraph.co.uk]

Another hilarious airline complaint letter. This time it's the food originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airline complaintsAirlineComplaintscomplaint lettersComplaintLettersfunnyhumorSir Richard BransonSirRichardBransonVirgin AtlanticVirginAtlanticTue, 27 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Vote for (or against) the airline of your choice in the Freddie awards]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/25/vote-for-or-against-the-airline-of-your-choice-in-the-freddie/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/25/vote-for-or-against-the-airline-of-your-choice-in-the-freddie/http://www.gadling.com/2009/01/25/vote-for-or-against-the-airline-of-your-choice-in-the-freddie/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It is that time of year again - the airlines and hotel chains of the world will all be competing for your vote, and a chance to win an award in the 21st annual Freddie awards.

The first Freddie award ceremony was held in 1988 and was named after commercial aviation pioneer Sir Freddie Laker. Sir Freddie passed away in 2006, but his name lives on in these awards.

The awards focus on several aspects of the loyalty program offered by these companies, and your vote determines who has the best program and perks in the industry.

The various categories you'll get to vote in are:

  • Best Award
  • Best Bonus
  • Best Affinity Credit Card
  • Best Newsletter/Member Communications
  • Best Web Site
  • Best Customer Service
  • Best Award Redemption
  • Best Elite Level
  • Program of the Year

Vote for (or against) the airline of your choice in the Freddie awards originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flyertalkflyertalk.comfreddie awardsFreddieAwardsinside flyerInsideFlyerloyalty programLoyaltyProgramrandy petersenRandyPetersenSun, 25 Jan 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The most fun I have ever had waiting for a flight!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/22/the-most-fun-i-have-ever-had-waiting-for-a-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/22/the-most-fun-i-have-ever-had-waiting-for-a-flight/http://www.gadling.com/2008/11/22/the-most-fun-i-have-ever-had-waiting-for-a-flight/#commentsFiled under:




Welcome to Virgin America flight VX8001. This party plane is about to take off and celebrate the launch of the Gogo in-flight Internet service on Virgin America. The flight will also be the launch location of Youtube Live. The celebration includes Youtube celebrities and plenty of Champagne, so it is bound to be a fantastic ride!

We take off in about an hour, so please check back for some live photos from the party in the air!

The most fun I have ever had waiting for a flight! originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gogovirginvirgin americaVirginAmericaSat, 22 Nov 2008 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[A few long days through three alliances: Star, Skyteam and Oneworld]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/a-few-long-days-through-three-alliances-star-skyteam-and-onewo/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/a-few-long-days-through-three-alliances-star-skyteam-and-onewo/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/10/a-few-long-days-through-three-alliances-star-skyteam-and-onewo/#commentsFiled under: ,

The confluence of a pleasure trip out to Boston to see my girlfriend, an engineering conference in Pittsburgh and a meeting at (The) Ohio State University this past week brought me the opportunity of flying on three different carriers throughout the East and Midwest. Since my native carrier, Northwest was offering some truly hideous fares on my desired routes, I decided to give each alliance, Star Alliance, Skyteam and Oneworld a try on my three legs to see how the industry was faring while I was away on NW. Along my journey I kept the following diary:

Leg 1: DTW-NYC-BOS - Delta Airlines

Detroit - New York - CRJ900 Operated by Comair
Boarding and Gate Area

I don't get over to the B/C concourse at Detroit's McNamara often enough. While they do have a killer A&W Rootbeer stand, most Northwest flights depart out of the A terminal so I have little reason to visit the other half of the building. It's nice being on this side once in a while.

Due to what seemed to be some last minute booking and jockeying by the gate agent, we started boarding ten minutes late, but since the aircraft was so small, the twenty minutes was plenty of time to board the entire aircraft.

As usual, the typical gate lice nested around the boarding area, but they quickly cleared out once first and "elite" passengers boarded.

Continue reading A few long days through three alliances: Star, Skyteam and Oneworld

A few long days through three alliances: Star, Skyteam and Oneworld originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplaneamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesdelta airlinesDeltaAirlinesfnius airwaysUsAirwaysFri, 10 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[10 travel sites (besides Gadling) to keep an eye on]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/01/10-travel-sites-besides-gadling-to-keep-an-eye-on/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/01/10-travel-sites-besides-gadling-to-keep-an-eye-on/http://www.gadling.com/2008/10/01/10-travel-sites-besides-gadling-to-keep-an-eye-on/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Hopefully you're an avid Gadling reader. With popular features like The Cockpit Chronicles and Galley Gossip and helpful tips on new travel gadgets and which destinations to avoid, how could you not be?

Ok, enough with the shameless self-promotion; we're obviously not the only travel website out there. The Times Online just published an article on the 10 travel websites to watch for October. The list is a good combination of sites that give you everything from dirty pilot rumors to tips on staying slim while on the road. Keep in mind that since it's from the Times Online, the list has an English twist - many of the sites are Britain related.

Check them out yourself:
  1. Professional Pilots' Rumour Network - check out the topic "nicest celebs" for the inside scoop
  2. Seatplans.com - aircraft seating plans and flight reviews
  3. Thetrainline.com - find cheap tickets in the UK and on Eurostar
  4. Hotels.com Visualiser - custom select your ideal hotel and the site finds on that matches
  5. Mr. & Mrs. Smith route planner - plan your itinerary with the site's tips on local pubs, etc.
  6. Virgin Holidays + Hip Hotels - uber stylish hotels for the glitterati
  7. Slimtree - fitness workouts you can download and use on the road
  8. Trivago a new travel search engine
  9. RogerandRandy.com - business travel experts give their two cents
  10. Great Hotels of the World -the name says it all

10 travel sites (besides Gadling) to keep an eye on originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>travel sitesTravelSiteswebsiteWed, 01 Oct 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Emirates A380 arrives in New York!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/03/emirates-a380-arrives-in-new-york/http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/03/emirates-a380-arrives-in-new-york/http://www.gadling.com/2008/08/03/emirates-a380-arrives-in-new-york/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Dubai's Emirates Airlines made its inaugural Airbus A380 flight into New York's John F Kennedy airport this past Friday, on what will now become America's first regularly scheduled service with the the new two story jumbo jet.

Gadling was on hand to capture some sweet photos in and around the aircraft, as well as through a press conference detailing the coming Emirates events.

The airline plans to augment the current service (now on a Boeing 773) between JFK and Dubai with this aircraft in order to carry higher volumes to the booming Middle Eastern country. Eventually, they also plan on integrating A380 service to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Emirates is the second customer of the A380, following nearly two years of manufacturing delays and an initial round of deliveries to Singapore Airlines.

In a series of test flights out on the West Coast, the airline will be trumpeting their new expanded service over the next few days, so if you're in California keep your eyes peeled for the behemoth overhead. While Gadling wont be able to make it out for the test flights, check in with The Cranky Flier at some point next week for the full scoop on in flight performance.

Meantime, check out Gadling's photos of the aircraft and of the inaugural event and start saving your change for a ticket!


Gallery: Emirates A380

Emirates A380 arrives in New York! originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a380airbusaircraftairlineairlinesboeingdubaiemiratesfeaturedunited arab emiratesUnitedArabEmiratesSun, 03 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gadling flies Open Skies]]>http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/08/gadling-flies-open-skies/http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/08/gadling-flies-open-skies/http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/08/gadling-flies-open-skies/#commentsFiled under: ,

I feel small in these seats, a feeling that I am unaccustomed to when flying overseas. Christopher stops by to see if I'm okay because I'm shifting around awkwardly. I send him off with a cheerful wave and adjust my duvet for the tenth time.

How did I get here?

Open Skies is a new airline spawned from British Airways and the open skies agreement. Their service, kicked off on June 19th between New York's JFK and Orly in Paris, is the most recent in a line of airlines catering to a new demographic - one who appreciates an enhanced business-class environment, treatment and experience overseas. For the extra one or two hundred dollars over the competition to fly in Economy, passengers can enjoy a smaller cabin, comfortable seats and superior In Flight Entertainment, food and service

Their only 757 aircraft features less than 100 seats, with three classes of service, Economy, Prem + and Biz. I'm told that in the future (and with their acquisition of L'avion), new cabins may only have Prem + and Biz.

With only about sixteen pilots and four times as many flight attendants, the community is small and tightly knit. On my outbound flight, I got to know a few of the flight attendants who filled me in on some of the details about the airline and gave me some tips for my stay in Paris. Each employee, hailing from a colorful past, brings a broad spectrum of experience to the table, the result of which is a multi-faceted group of individuals ready for any situation. As Antony Crucilla, the captain of the return flight told me, the airline has strict requirements in bringing experienced staff on board -- and it shows in their service.

Today, I'm on one of the first flights between New York City and Paris, test driving the service and reporting on the experience. Follow along and indulge in the newest airline on the planet: Open Skies.

Continue onward to Planning, booking and the concierge service, or skip ahead to

Online check in
Arrival and check in
In flight: Economy
In flight: Prem +
In flight: Biz
Transfer in from Orly
Return trip logistics
The final word

Gallery: Open Skies

Gadling flies Open Skies originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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