Jaunted

Food Travel / Foreign Grocery Friday / Ohio Travel / Dessert Travel / Chocolate Travel / → All Tags

Foreign Grocery Friday: Ohio's Peanut Buttery Buckeyes

When we travel, one of our favorite things to do is to pop into a local grocery store and check out the food products and candies we'd never find anywhere else. So we're trying out this new feature, Foreign Grocery Friday, where each week we'll feature some of our (and your) favorite overseas treats. Got a recommendation? Let us know!

Buying off-brand Peanut Butter Cups is risky. Oftentimes they just aren't as yummy as Reese's and, even worse, they could come in a holiday tin with a Currier & Ives scene printed on the top. Yuck. That's why it's high time to share a secret indulgence of our own which can only be gotten in parts of Ohio.

The peanut butter and chocolate treats are Buckeyes, shaped like the actual nuts they're named for, but tasting so much better. Their existence is a school- and state-spirit thing, and you'll find them in Columbus to honor OSU, and Toledo, because that's nearest where they're made (in Perrysburg, Ohio). Both cities are usually passed through on road trips, but we advocate taking an hour to detour and find Buckeyes.

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Full-Body Scanning / Airport Security / TSA / Technology / TOL / Airports / Naked Travel / Nude Travel / Terrorism / Ohio Travel / → All Tags

Why Does Toledo Express Airport Need a Full-Body Scanner?

Yesterday, it was announced that the latest airport to receive a Full-Body Scanner was Toledo Express Airport, in Toledo, Ohio. Our first thought: "umm, why?" Toledo Express isn't exactly known for being a high-traffic airport with a variety of passengers passing through; in fact, it's barely known at all, seeing as how it serves a whopping average of five flights a day to such exotic locales as Chicago and Minneapolis, and—if they're lucky—Detroit, only 45 minutes north by car.

Now we're not blindly hating on TOL; we've got family in the area and we've flown into and out of this airport more times than we care to admit. It's just that Toledo Express Airport has no reason to have a full-body scanner, other than the vague cry of "terrorism." All the potential knife-wielding gang members flying out already hustle up to Detroit to catch flights anyway. Toledo can't even call itself "Toledo International" because it only offers regional flights. But wait, now let's talk about the current security at TOL and why it's enough...

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The Battle Rages: JetAmerica Versus The FAA

And the JetAmerica drama continues, as more details about their issues with the FAA emerge, and the struggle for landing slots continues. An article published yesterday in the Toledo Blade not only names the dates when JetAmerica's web began to unravel, but also quotes the Port Authority as being "not that optimistic" about the carrier.

So remember back when JetAmerica boasted of selling 20,000 tickets in their first 48 hours of having their website active? It turns that this publicity, and their May 27 press release even announcing their ticket sales, were the straws that broke the camel's back; they caused the FAA to contact JetAmerica and inquire about exactly what their plans were for landing slots, since they now needed them as an obviously regularly-scheduled carrier.

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Yes Virginia, There Really Is A JetAmerica

Christopher Grazel, COO of Jet America stands at right

Have you been following the news out of Toledo, Ohio? No, of course you haven't, but if you had you'd know that JetAmerica, that enigma of a new LCC, is starting to kick things off in their hub airport.

At a recent press conference at Toledo Express, the motto "Let's Get America Flying Again" was announced, and since then our contacts on the ground report that a full-out barrage of both TV and newspaper advertising has hit the Northwest Ohio area. Thanks to grants and some deep pockets of their own, the Toledo Port Authority will be spending $900,000 on promoting the start-up airline, even though when it first flies on July 13, it'll only be going direct to Newark, Minneapolis, and Melbourne, Florida.

Nonetheless, Toledoans are flocking to embrace the airline as a local news station poll asking "Do you think you'll use Jet America to fly out of Toledo instead of going to Detroit Metro?" has thus far received 85% "yes" responses. Is it because their laughable TV ads sound like an intro to a Billy Mays informercial? Probably.

Related Stories:
· Jet America spends bundle to lure flyers back to Toledo [WTOL-Toledo]
· Jet America Does The Impossible: Sells 20,000 Tickets In First Week [Jaunted]
· JetAmerica Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: WTOL]

JetAmerica / New Airlines / LCCs / Airline News / Toledo / → All Tags

JetAmerica Does The Impossible: Sells 20,000 Tickets In First Week

As skeptical as we've been about new LCC JetAmerica and its plan to service secondary airports like South Bend, IN and Melbourne, FL, it seems as though travelers are biting.

Our people in Toledo, JetAmerica's soon-to-be hub city, called in to report that the local news is boasting of Jet America's ticket sales: 12,000 tickets sold in the first 48 hours after their website launched, a number that was expected to reach 20,000+ by the end of that first week.

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JetAmerica Doesn't Skimp on Extra Fees, Expansion Plans

It's barely been 48 hours since new Midwest LCC JetAmerica announced their intentions to fly between Toledo, Newark, Minneapolis, South Bend, Lansing and Melbourne, and already the $9 fares for its first few weeks are being snatched up.

But will Jet America last longer than those first few weeks anyways? It is, after all, another airline from the folks behind the former Skybus LCC, who couldn't make it work in Columbus and folded in April 2008 after less than one year in business. Nonetheless, JetAmerica has enough extra fees for them to float on for at least a little while, assuming people want to travel between Toledo and Lansing with surfboards and five cats.

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JetAmerica Will Be Ready to Jet on July 13 with $9 Fares

JetAmerica has opened up its reservations for flights starting on July 13. And as promised, the flights will be super cheap.

Fares will start around $9 each way out of Toledo (for only nine seats) but much like Ryanair, JetAmerica will make most of its money on fees. According to the St. Petersburg Times:

Jet America will charge an additional $20 for a round-trip with an assigned seat, $20 to buy a ticket by phone and $10 to book on the Web site (www.jetamerica.com).

We plugged in a trip from Newark to Toledo for the opening date and indeed found a fare of $9 each way. (The return flight that first came up was a 6am flight but there were other ones available.)

We actually found that JetAmerica charges a $5 "convenience fee" if you book on JetAmerica.com (not $10) which means that $9 fare each-way is really $14. But the website was incredibly slow loading pages this morning and we couldn't see what their checked luggage fees are but we expect them to be similar to other airlines.

Nevertheless, JetAmerica is on track to deliver passengers on July 13 in a Boeing 737-800 jet from Toledo to Newark, N.J., Melbourne, Fla., Lansing, Mich., and South Bend, Ind. An official announcement is coming from them in an hour. Also, don't confuse Jet America with JetAmerica, the private jet share program.

Related Stories:
· JetAmerica is the New Air Azul is the New Skybus? [Jaunted]
· Jet America set to begin service in July [St. Petersburg Times]
· Discount airline plans flights from Newark Liberty International Airport [NJ Star-Ledger]

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Name That Airline: Air Azul Changes Everything Before It Even Takes Off

Not too long ago Air Azul jumped onto the scene promising flights from Toledo to Newark. Well before they even had a chance to kick the tires and light the fires, the airline is taking a little break. Instead of starting flights in June, flights are pushed back until at least July.

Originally, their services were going to be offered thanks to a little help from the charter company Sun Country Airlines. However, Sun Country recently sent a letter to all passengers that had booked on Air Azul to let them know that they’d have to rebook as they were no longer affiliated with Air Azul. Thankfully we were still on the fence, and didn’t book that bike trip across Ohio yet.

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A Different Azul Goes To Toledo, Not Brazil

Usually when we are chatting about Azul we’re talking about an airline south of the equator. However, there’s a new guy in town, and he’s showing some love for the Azul name—unfortunately his new destinations are a little less interesting.

Air Azul is looking to fly from Toledo, Ohio to Newark thrice a week. Don’t expect in flight television here, but they will be offering some cheap flights aboard their 737-800s. Promotional tickets will start at $49 each way, but we can only assume this starting price will be supplemented with add-ons—like a first bag fee of $10.

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Best Minor League Ballparks: Fifth Third Field

What's not to love about Minor League Baseball? It's got easier parking, cheaper food, wackier traditions, contests and great deals on last-minute seats. Seats that are close enough to the action that the visiting team can hear your heckling loud and clear. This week, we'll be guiding you around the country to play ball with the stars of tomorrow and the washed up heroes of yesterday on a Bull Durham-style road trip. We've even got the whole thing all mapped out for you.

Best Minor League Ballparks ::: Map

Toledo Mud Hens
We wouldn't be doing the Minors any justice if we didn't talk about the Toledo Mud Hens. Last September, the Detroit Tigers affiliate put an exclamation point on the season, beating the Rochester Red Wings 10-1 to win the Governors' Cup for the second straight year. (Hey, at least the Triple A team can win championships.)

Fifth Third Field is ground zero for Mud Hens fans. (Before you ask: It's named after a local bank.) The team is one of the oldest in the Minors, with history going back to 1883. It was also a fave of Max Klinger, if you're old enough to know who that is. The Mud Hens kick things off this year on the road, but the home opener is Friday the 13th. Good luck on that playoff run!

Getting There:
Fifth Third Field is another downtown park, surrounded by plenty of parking. You'll probably drop a couple singles unless you find a space on the street. Our map has the satellite view, or check out this JPG from the Mud Hens to get a better idea of the situation.

Insider's Tip:
You might be tempted to try the Fowl Balls at the park's Triple Play Grill, until you realize you don't like chicken that comes in ball form. (At least it's not mud hen meat.) Also, the Mud Hens stick it to Belle, with their own diva: Muddonna. After the jump, don't miss the Hang on Sloopy sing-along: The track is Ohio's state song!

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