Blog

December 25, 2017: Did someone pull the wrong switch or forget to pay the electric bill at Atlanta’s Hatfield-Jackson Airport — busiest airport on a good day in the US? Last weekend, over 3000 passengers traveling for the holidays were stranded at the airport as Delta and the FAA put a ground hold (means all flights in bound and out bound stopped as well as those on the ground) on over 800 flights — as well as ripple effect across the US and Europe with hundreds of delayed flights — going well into the week.  Passengers on planes at the gate had to deplane out on to the cold rainy tarmac as it was too dark to come inside — and all inside travelers were also forced to leave and head for the street.  The city opened their convention center for stranded passengers and got Chick-Fil-A to provide food (on a good day this “chicken outfit” is not a TC favorite).  Makes one wonder what contingency plans US airports have for massive power outages? Just has one wondering …

December 22, 2017: Both airlines, who use Gate Gourmet catering out of LAX, are dealing with something extra with their contract food service provider — LISTERIA. It seems Gate Gourmet has a serious food health issue in its LAX kitchens — both airlines are providing meal vouchers for travelers to buy food for their flights before boarding as onboard meal services won’t be up to standards — what ever that is? Wonder who’s been minding the kitchen there?

December 18, 2017: One of the top travel hot spots for 2018 is Australia — some tour operators, like Expedia, are up 35% over past years selling visits to the vast country — about 9,500 miles from the US. It’s a very long flight from the US and most experienced travel folks say to plan for two and make 3-5 stops — depending on your stamina. Tour programs start at $1,700 and move upward depending on how much luxury or private attention you require.

• Expedia is a good place to start your travel shopping
• Trafalgar sells programs in the mid-price range
• Hilton Smith (Affiliated with TravelStore) can handle the upscale end along with Abrocombie — one of the best upper scale tour operators with programs to just about everywhere.

You might even venture out to Whitsundays Islands as part of your visit!

December 15, 2017: Cheating husbands should be careful where they fall asleep. An Iranian woman was with her husband on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Bali, when she unlocked his phone while he was sleeping. She did this by putting his finger on the home button. She found evidence he was cheating on her, the Times of India reported.

The woman, who had reportedly been drinking alcohol, then started a fight with her husband and “misbehaved” when flight crew tried to calm her down, according to the paper. The situation then got “out of hand” and the pilot made the decision to divert to Chennai, India. The family of three were offloaded at Chennai airport and the plane continued its journey to Bali. The woman was made to sober up under supervision at Chennai before she and her family were allowed to leave.

December 13 ,2017: This Friday, December 15th, wear your ugly Christmas holiday sweater and get yourself to the head of the boarding line with pre board privileges — nice to see airlines having some fun during the hectic over stressed holiday travel circus! And watch for the Virgin America brand to disappear in 2018 as Alaska Air becomes the “mothership” for both carriers.

December 11, 2017: TSA is changing its mind (again) about security for laptop computers. The move is on to not allow them as a packed item in a checked bag but only as a carry on — kind of the way it used to be. Concern centers on the laptop battery as a fire hazard — and if one is going to explode and start a fire — better with you onboard then in the sealed luggage in the hold. Many European and Middle East countries have already initiated the program as well as tougher passenger security questions at x-ray points AND at the gate. Be patient as this all requires extra time. Cameras, phones and iPads may be next?