Emirates Shows Off Airbus 380 Wild Life Livery

April 15, 2016: Dubai based Emirates — one of the world’s fastest growing and more innovative air carriers in terms of marketing, passenger services (like the US carriers used to be) and attention grabbing celebrity tv spots — features an array of African wildlife on one of it’s newer AIRBUS 380 jets.  Watch for even more travel innovations in the coming months as the next World’s Fair heads for their home in Dubai in 2020!
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Steves Revs Up $$$$s for Spring Travel and Sales!

April 13, 2016: Our travel pal Rick Steves is off and running (running up sales too) for spring and summer with his — what now seems monthly — push to sell his branded merchandise (like his Keep On Travelin T-shirts) and 2016 travel guide books. The TC does recommend considering the guide books (don’t order from the Steves retail machine — find a better deal on Amazon) but also look at Lonely Planet books.  Lonely Planet has been around forever and uses an army of respected freelance travel writers to write and update their destination guides — and offer price ranges from budget to 4 star.  “Keep on selling Rick!”
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Travel Feature Tuesday: US Airlines in Muddy Waters — Consumers Can’t be Satisfied

April 12, 2016: Despite reports that major US airlines have improved over the last year on landing on time, handling baggage and ensuring seats for all ticket holders, consumer satisfaction is still on the decline — with the number of complaints continuing to increase from last year. The airlines probably expect praise for doing the bare minimum of their job requirements — but perhaps landing on time 4% more often isn’t enough to forgive the rising ticket prices, add-on fees, shrinking seats, and nonexistent customer service.

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Travel Stuff You Should Know

April 11, 2016: By early spring, many airlines will have devaluated some of their more popular frequent flyer mileage awards — requiring more miles to find already hard to find travel awards. Lead by American Airlines (who had the courtesy to provide advance warning) and Alaska (who used an announced back door), many of the changes require more miles for international seats and seats on partner airlines. Frequent flyer programs are costly to administer, require airlines to give up seats they can now sell, and are just a cumbersome benefit that most would like to give up, now that business is so good. The TC’s advice: book on partner airlines, take the time and call to work with a reservations agent who has all the information (pay the fee — it’s worth it) and don’t be surprised if international ticket fee’s exceed $1000 — that’s still a good price for a guaranteed business class seat!

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TSA Looks the Other Way for Airline Employees Out of Uniform

April 8. 2016: The recent TSA incident at LAX — off duty JetBlue flight attendant deadheading back to New York — trying to smuggle 11 packages of cocaine inside one of her carry on bags — street value in excess of $3 million — brought to light that off duty airline flight employees are given a “pass” when it comes to full security screening. The flight attendant dropped the package, kicked off her shoes and ran away out the terminal front door before anyone knew what was going on. The next day, dressed in street clothes, found here way to board another flight from the same airport to New York. TSA says that full screening off duty airlines employees would be expensive and time consuming.  Basically, if you’re on the tourist watch list, you get the full screening program; if just a common criminal on the run, welcome aboard!

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OOPS — China Southern Passenger Escapes to Bathroom?

April 7, 2016: A first time flyer, after boarding a China Southern aircraft, needed a bathroom prior to take off — and mistakenly opened the rear aircraft exit door — instead of the bathroom door — heard a loud hissing noise and thankfully stepped back as the aircraft escape slide was activated.  The flight was delayed over 2 hours while a maintenance crews put things back together.  Oops — wrong door.  The passenger commented, “well the lines were long in the terminal”!!!!
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San Francisco Union Square Sunrise

April 6, 2016: SF’s iconic St Francis Hotel — with their newer tower building in the background. The hotel, now run by soon to be merged Starwood, has been around for over 200 years — sad to report the restaurant-observation lounge atop the tower, access by outside glass elevator, is closed. Also sadder to report the popular streets around Union Square over populated in the early am with overnight homeless — shameful the city and merchants can’t figure out how to help — especially with all the city add on fees with most retail and food charges!!

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Travel Feature Tuesday: Pay to Park in Vegas?

April 5, 2016: The opening of Las Vegas’s new T-Mobile Arena is causing a stir among Vegas tourists. MGM’s new arena, rumored to be the home of the NHL’s next expansion team, will be a premier location for regular sporting events, concerts, and other large-scale shows. The projected increase in visitors has pushed the MGM Grand, and surrounding resorts, Aria, Monte Carlo and New York-New York, to start charging event-night parking fees, and even higher valet fees.

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Virgin America to Disappear? Alaska to Take Over?

April 4, 2016: It appears Richard Branson’s group has found a US partner for a full take over. Today, Alaska Air Groups announced their plans to acquire Virgin America. Too bad — SFO based Virgin has distinguished itself recently with outstanding traveler recognition — Best Airline in North America, Best Airline Staff and Best Low Cost Airline — can’t name one US carrier with that even comes close! The TC’s take: Alaska is known as ons of the best managed airlines, from on time performance to traveler innovations. Alaska definitely didn’t need the acquisition, but you can now expect them to grow into a national juggernaut looking to set the bar for customer satisfaction.

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