Airline Biffys to Shrink in Size

March 21, 2016: Thank you Boeing for figuring out how to add an additional 14 seats to their current fleet of aircraft models — shrink the size of the already small uncomfortable bathrooms. Consumer action advocate Christopher Elliott — refers to todays airplane bathrooms as “already closet size” and does a grand job in his Washington Post column on the subject.  The column includes some expert insight into the most “germ hotspots” in the bathrooms — with the door handles taking top germ honors. The article goes on to comment that most airline flight attendants don’t think it’s in their job description to clean up the bathrooms — easier to just put an “out of order” sign on dirty bathrooms and send passengers elsewhere. One good piece of advice is to travel with your own antiseptic wipes — do your own clean up along the way.  All goes to support the airlines now making record profits and providing less services. Hopefully some planned moves in Congress in the coming months to take a good look at all this — including high fees for just about everything, shrinking seats and unrealistic ticket pricing!

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Southwest Says Passenger Too Wide to Fly?

March 17, 2016: Low-cost favorite Southwest Airlines made headlines recently by tossing off a passenger who they said was “too wide” to fly on one of their Oakland-Burbank flights. Unfortunately they picked on the wrong passenger, film director, Kevin Smith, who had a big following on Twitter and used his audience to slam the airline. Maybe airline seat travel requirements — weight, size, etc. — aren’t too far off? (kind of like posted theme park requirements for many thrill rides?)
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Travel Feature Tuesday: World’s Most Popular Cruise Port

March 15, 2016: If you’re wondering where to go on your next cruise, let popularity be your judge. Florida’s Port Everglades is the world’s busiest cruise ship port, recently breaking it’s own world record on Sunday, with more than 54,700 passengers coming in and out of the port in the same day. Although, any cruise in and out of Florida seems like a safe best with the top three busiest ports — Miami, Port Canaveral and Port Everglades—all found in the Sunshine State — as long as you don’t mind crowds!Screen Shot 2016-03-15 at 9.07.35 AM

JetBlue Flys Solo on New Pilot Program for Pilots

March 14, 2016: JetBlue Airways, once the “darling and poster airline” for low cost air travel with high customer service, has moved itself into full scale competition with big boy major air carriers — adding business class, international routes and a variety of add on fees — is said to be launching a major initiative to train and recruit new pilots. No prior flying experience needed — none — only requirement is a high education and training fee of $100,000 plus! Wannabe pilots will need to commit a full 4 years to the training program and still be required to pass FAA physical and pilot certification. Similar programs have been in place in Europe for years. With passenger loads high as are ticket prices and profits, the race is on to hire and train new pilots for all US carriers.
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Here’s a Great Find! — ParkSleepFly.com

March 12, 2016: Major Airport short or long stay parking — on or off lots — has become as expensive as some air tickets. And many off airport parking lots now require an advance reservation for space. But here’s a site you might want to look at: ParkSleepFly.com You book an over night stay most require only one night) at selected airport area hotels (the site lists dozens of US and Canadian cities that participate as well as hotel chains) and you receive free or reduced rate parking for up to 14 days — this is especially helpful if you have an early morning departure or long commute to the airport. Might be a good “non hassle” way to reduce pre trip stress and disorganization! (Note — advance booking, at least a week, is suggested — booking closer to departure day rates for both rooms and add on parking fees can increase. Make sure you ask if hotel free long term parking also includes taxes.)

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Emirates Sets Another World Record (Or Two) — Now Flying the World’s Longest Air Route!

Emirates Sets Another World Record (Or Two) — Now Flying the World’s Longest Air Route!

Dubai based government flagship air carrier Emirates has displaced Qantas to take the lead in flying the world’s longest commercial air route — non stop routes from Dubai to both Panama City and Auckland. The new routes log in at 8824 air miles — previous record — 8518 air miles — was the Qantas service from DFW to Sidney. Emirates is flying Boeing 777 ER aircraft on both routes. Actual time in the air is a little over 16 hours block time (estimated time from departure gate to arrival gate is 17 plus hours). Bring a book or 2 or 3!

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Travel Feature Tuesday: Disneyland of Outdoors?

March 8, 2016: The massive Memphis Pyramid, once home to the Memphis Grizzlies, is now home to grizzly hunters and other outdoorsmen as the world’s biggest Bass Pro Shops. Home to a hotel, various restaurants,a bowling alley, archery range, shooting range and more, Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid is a tourist destination for the whole family — that has welcomed more than 2 million visitors in less than a year of operation.

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Watch out for Bed Bugs in your Next Hotel Visit!

March 7, 2016: Chances are if you travel a lot and stay in hotels you’re going to be joined by creepy crawly little bed bugs. Usually because most hotels don’t regularly clean bedding covers and change pillows. A recent survey directed at bed bug exterminators noted that calls from hotels to get rid of room bed bugs are up — in the last 2 years — from 2-3 a week to 15-20 every week. Houston based “Bugs R Us” noted that most hotels try and get rid of the little critters on their own by tossing linens or spraying with ineffective chemicals — what that does is drive the bugs into the room walls and they soon return. Usually exterminators arrive at hotels in unmarked trucks with no id or logos on their equipment. When asked by hotel guests what they’re doing they usually answer “fixing water damage!” Best bed bug evasive action when checking into a room is to examine the bed closely, including lifting the mattress — creepy!

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Rick Steves Continues to Fill Pockets with $$$$’s Through Travel Show Gigs!

February 29, 2016: Popular PBS travel and guidebook guru Rick Steves will give you some insight into travel — but more comments on his political and pro marijuana views — with a series of public appearances this year at several consumer travel shows. The shows also provide Steves an opportunity to merchandise his guidebook collection, travel destination DVD’s, travel gear and growing tour operations. Steves has turned his boyish neighborly style PBS exposure into a multi-million dollar business, now with over 100 staff to support his various travel enterprises. Granted his over priced guidebooks are some of the best in the business — and visit recommendations worth consideration — but the TC feels  this one man dominated business is more focused these days on revenue — selling and branding — than on the customer service values that served consumer needs in past years. Travelers beware and shop around!
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