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Tags: Southwest Airlines / Celeb Travel / Justin Timberlake / → All Tags

LUV Sex Magic: Justin Timberlake Flies Southwest

Clearly the thrill of low fares doesn't just attract us common folk: Justin Timberlake hopped aboard Southwest Airlines on Friday, and did he have an "A" pass? You bet he did!

Timberlake and a bodyguard were allowed to board the Burbank-Las Vegas flight first, although somehow the singer's buddy still got stuck in the dreaded middle seat. (No, we don't know whether Justin is a window or an aisle.) Timberlake spent the weekend in Vegas, including a stop at the Playboy Club and a private tasting of his new tequila, 901, at Wynn-owned nightclub XS.

Timberlake is rumored to be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this summer with Lupe Fiasco, a trip for which there are probably no low-cost carrier flights available. But maybe this priceless publicity will buy more time for Southwest's Vegas routes, on which the carrier was, according to the Las Vegas Sun, trimming capacity to better cope with the downturn. At $231 (the price of a round-trip we just pulled off Southwest.com for this weekend), it's the ticket even a non-millionaire can afford.

Related Stories:
· Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSouthwest [TMZ]
· J.T. promotes 901 and hits Blush, XS and Playboy Club [VegasDeluxe.com]
· To find profit, carrier plans to lose more Vegas flights [Las Vegas Sun]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: TMZ]

Tags: Universal Studios / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Fires / → All Tags

New York's Gone, Universal Studios Moves on

Universal Studios is still recovering from the massive fire that broke out on Sunday, and we noticed that a bunch of FAQs about the fire were posted today on the park's website.

Not much has changed since we last reported on the fire on Monday. The King Kong attraction and New York streets are gone. But the theme park is operating normally, and there aren't any ticket discounts. A press release from the park boldly tell us that "The show must go on."

We were just at Universal on May 21 and snapped this shot of the backlot as we headed down to take the studio tour. You can see the New York set from here. Universal says it will be rebuilt--along with a new attraction to replace King Kong.

Related Stories:
· Universal Studios Catches Fire, Loses Important Movie Stuff [Jaunted]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Universal Studios / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Videos / → All Tags

Universal Studios Catches Fire, Loses Important Movie Stuff

One of the backlots at Universal Studios in Burbank caught fire early Sunday morning, destroying a lot of precious movie memorabilia and sets including the King Kong exhibit, the courthouse square of Back to the Future and the New York Street, along with 40,000 reels of movies.

The theme park initially said it would remain open Sunday, along with the backlot tour, but the fire department closed the park as well as CityWalk, the retail and entertainment complex attached to it. Everything is scheduled to reopen this morning at 10 am.

Despite the fire, the MTV Movie Awards were televised live from the Gibson Theater at Universal.

No cause has been given as of yet, though highly flammable sets helped fuel the fire. After the jump, a quick video of the now-gutted New York Street area of the backlot.

Update: Universal Studios just sent out a statement saying that the actual BTTF Courthouse was saved, as were about half the buildings on the square. The park also confirmed that the King Kong attraction and New York Street were both lost as reported.

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Tags: BUR / TSA / Security / Airport Security / → All Tags

The Zip Lane: A TSA Idea We Actually Like

Earlier this month, the TSA launched a ski-themed trial that allows people to pick a security lane based on how familiar they are with airport screening. We didn't cover it because it's a stupid idea. Everyone *thinks* they're an expert, which is one of the (many) reasons the checkpoints are always so fubar.

But the agency's new gimmick is a good one. If you've got only enough carry-on luggage to fit under an airplane seat, you get to cruise through a special Zip Lane. Since its based on something instantly measurable--luggage size rather than experience--only unburdened travelers will get to use it.

The lane is only open for four hours a day, but it's in operation during peak flight times. The pilot program at Bob Hope Airport was a rousing success, at least according to the TSA. For now the Zip Lane is only available at BUR, but the agency plans to offer it at other airports soon.

Related Stories:
· Zip Lane [TSA Blog]
· TSA coverage [Jaunted]
· Airport Security coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: robjtak]

Tags: 2008 Candidates Travel / Fred Thompson / Mitt Romney / → All Tags

2008 Candidates Travel: Live From Burbank, It's Fred!

"Law and Order" fans rejoice! The series has now spawned three spinoffs and a presidential candidate. Former senator and fictional district attorney Fred Thompson officially announced his candidacy on Jay Leno's "The Tonight Show," aspiring to a role he has played in two different made-for-TV movies.

While the rest of the Republican field convened in Durham, New Hampshire for the fifth presidential debate, Thompson was hanging in California, a state he probably won't carry even if he wins the SAG member bloc. The other candidates took advantage of his absence to crack some lame jokes, according to Newsweek, while Rudy Giuliani complimented Senator John McCain and they both went after Mitt Romney.

Track all the travel on our Candidates Travel Map, which will not ask you for money after you check it out.

Related Stories:
· 2008 Candidates Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Canada.com, macro by ROFLbot]

Tags: Celeb Travel / Hotels / → All Tags

Graciela Hotel Yanks Welcome Mat Out From Under Rocker

A hotel which, as our cohorts reported on HotelChatter, claims "Music is part of our underlying welcome," just tossed one unruly musician out on his ear. Scott Weiland, the lead singer of Velvet Revolver and former frontman of the '90s act Stone Temple Pilots, was asked to leave the Graciela Burbank Hotel on Saturday after a domestic dispute between himself and wife Amy escalated into phone throwing, wall dents and blood on the bed linens, TMZ reported.

And all this time, we thought musicians trashed hotel rooms on tour as a counterstrike against their artistic demons. Velvet Revolver isn't due on tour until April, suggesting that Mr. Weiland is getting a head start. Unfortunately for him, the Graciela plans to press charges -- and his wife was arrested for setting his clothing on fire outside their house. (In a cryptic statement on VR's website, Weiland says his wife locked herself in the hotel room while he was leaving their kids with friends, at which point he left.)

On behalf of travelers everywhere, though, we must commend her for keeping the damage to private property. The angry rock legend in your hotel is one thing; the angry rock legend in the room next door, quite another.

[Photo: Gossipword]

Related Stories:
· Scott Weiland and Wife in Hotel Smackdown [HotelChatter]

Tags: Airports / Britney Spears / Celeb Travel / Rental Cars / → All Tags

Britney Spears Lands at BUR, Doesn't Rent Car

It looks like Britney Spears spent at least part of this week shuttling between Los Angeles and her home state of Louisiana. She was recently snapped deplaning at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, CA, one of our favorite airports anywhere and the winner of our 2006 award for best domestic airport.

Yes, celebs and commoners alike appreciate BUR, though probably for different reasons.

High Rollers can enjoy its convenient location to studios and Hollywood proper--like, no freeways necessary dude, all surface streets.

Plebes like us, enjoy not only the location, but also but also the proximity of the rental car facilities, and other pedestrian perks.

Insider Tip: at BUR rent your car from National, Alamo, Hertz, or Avis to enjoy this perk, otherwise you will find yourself on a shuttle.

Related Stories:
· Britney Lands in Burbank [PopSugar]
· 2006 Awards: Best Domestic Airport [Jaunted]
· Airports We Love: BUR [Jaunted]

Tags: Celeb Travel / Snoop Dogg / Drugs / Airports / → All Tags

Snoop Dogg and Airports, Now You Know You're in Trouble

We thought Snoop Dogg would stay away from airports for a while after he was busted for carrying a 21-inch collapsible baton in his laptop case at the John Wayne airport in the OC the other day.

But no, Snoop was stopped again at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif. yesterday.

According to the AP, Snoop was stopped in a loading zone by airport police officers for a vehicle code violation. When they searched his car, they discovered marijuana and a gun. Snoop was arrested on illegal drug and gun possession, then released on $35,000 bail.

We have to admire Snoop's courage and fearlessness in these uncertain TSA times. While the rest of us nearly wet our pants wondering if we went over the 3oz liquid rule, Snoop Dogg  walks around airports with guns, batons and weeds ablaze.

Ain't nothing like a g-thang baby.

[Photo: Us Weekly]

Related Stories:
· Snoop Dogg Packing Heat at Orange County Airport [Jaunted]
· Snoop Dogg arrested at SoCal airport [AP]