October 30, 2018: This time it’s Cathay Pacific who says hackers got into their passenger data base earlier this year and “took off” with over 9.4 million customer travel records, including passport ID. Earlier in the year, both British Air and Delta had similar data breaches, and thats just the ones we know about. All airlines need to pay more attention and find a way to tighten customer information security. The skies aren’t so friendly for travelers these days!
September 21, 2018: A dozen passengers and 3 flight crew members found out what it was like to be pepper sprayed — a passenger carrying a can accidentally set it off during a recent flight from Oakland to Maui — the can discharged about 3 hours into the flight — the pepper spray somehow got through TSA and made it onto the flight. It’s illegal to bring pepper spray on flights — probably didn’t do much for the inflight meal either?
September 20, 2018: With more people traveling these days — and travelers needing more time at airports — upscale retailers are looking at this captive audience as a new market — a new survey showing travelers airport retail spending up more than 30%! US airports are still a long ways away from what European and Asian airports have done to enhance both the travel and retail-dining airport experience — and are doing more to make more of your travel dollars even before you board the plane!
September 19, 2018: A Starbucks Reserve Roastery (fancy name that offers the opportunity to watch coffee being roasted — and charge more) opened recently in Milan — and quickly became a “must see and experience” for Italians and tourists alike. The 30,000 sq.ft. US coffee emporium has numerous coffee stations — customers are given a physical map to guide them through the shop and more than 115 beverage selections. A simple cup of java will cost you about $6 US — with lines and service taking about an hour. Wonder if they’ll be serving their popular seasonal pumpkin spice latte?
August 24, 2018: Odd event for Southwest during push back — maybe time to slow down the entire system and pay more attention to aircraft services and maintenance?
August 21, 2018: Norwegian Air figured out an interesting way to get world wide attention on the environmental deterioration of coral reefs — using one of their giant A380 aircraft as a flying billboard — hard to miss!!!
August 20, 2018: The Golden State has over 25,000 new hotel rooms under construction — representing nearly 200 new hotels — thats a 40% increase from 2017. Watch for higher room rates and more “mysterious resort fee” charges — be “curmudgeon aggressive” at check out with resort fees and refuse to pay them …. tell the desk clerk the “Travel Curmudgeon” said it was ok?
May 11, 2018: How’s this for creative airline interior design? How fun — Kids will never want to get off!
Modern Day Travel Guru Shares Death Defining Adventures, Non-Fake News, and Traveler Edification
ANYWHERE, Earth – April 9, 2018 – The Travel Curmudgeon (TC), a legendary anonymous traveler with worldwide recognition from the oilrigs of Galveston to the sinking streets of Venice, announced the significant milestone of sharing more than 500 stories, experiences, and advice to thousands of fans in just three years.
The Curmudgeon has already shared stories from the well-beaten path to obscure destinations while gathering an impressive social following with thousands of fans worldwide. He tells it like it is in a full frontal and curmudgeony tone that only he can deliver.
The Travel Curmudgeon gained early fame through timely travel insight covering hard-hitting topics like fee-crazy airlines, and bed-bug friendly hotels, but only began sharing his experiences of the trials and tribulations of cold airline coffee and Airbnb bedroom cameras with an international audience online in 2015. Prior to blogging, the Curmudgeon provided commentary for PBS and radio in which he reported on the wildlife and natural wonders of the Galapagos Islands, dined in Beijing at the Great Hall and interviewed Sesame Street’s Big Bird!
While the official three-year anniversary of the Travel Curmudgeon blog was April Fools’ Day, make no mistake – all of these impressive achievements are, in fact, a reality all made possible through the fan support and fast-growing following, as much as the unsupportive airline customer support and lackluster hotel and wait staff that provide the Curmudgeon with endless material.
As the Curmudgeon looks toward the future, he will continue to provide hard-hitting, controversial content from the road as he follows Oprah on the campaign trail, goes undercover at a Moscow-based Facebook hacking center, and finally catches the long-awaited Southwest flight to Hawaii (though he’s still not sure when that day might come).
The Travel Curmudgeon can be found on his website, travelcurmudgeon.com, or his social media pages on Facebook and Twitter, spreading travel tips, and good humored fun to an ever growing fan base.
About the Travel Curmudgeon:
A former PBS and radio travel commentator, the Travel Curmudgeon has spent years documenting his misadventures in the perils of consumer travel. The Curmudgeon is a seasoned traveler with more than 3 million air miles, who has touched down in more than 150 airports across six different continents. Prior to commentary, his professional career included executive management positions and representation of leading hotel-lodging groups, major transportation groups and consulting assignments with international and government entities involved in travel services – giving him a unique insider-perspective. His journeys, travel experiences, and commentary on the state of the travel industry can be found on his blog at www.travelcurmudgeon.com.
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