Jaunted - wellington http://www.jaunted.com/ The Pop Culture Travel Guide en-us Copyright 2006 - SFO MEDIA 2008-10-13T16:28:03Z Jaunted Jaunted Jaunted http://www.jaunted.com/images/jauntedw.jpg http://www.jaunted.com/ Air New Zealand Wants Your Head http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/9/10/12140/6970

Airlines are only getting started selling all the available space in their cabins to pad their bottom lines with ad dollars. But Air New Zealand's newest campaign is casting in a way that makes us suspect they know where their message will be impossible to ignore--by using nature's billboard.

The carrier is currently seeking people with shaved heads to carry temporary-tattoo advertising, stealing from the grand tradition of Goldenpalace.com to announce its check-in changes. The biggest of these is the move from a weight-based baggage system to a piece-based system; first bag is free up to 25 kilograms, with a NZ$15 ($10) charge for the second bag, NZ$50 for the third and NZ$150 for the fourth and up.

What does this have to do with some dude (or lady)'s bald pate? Beats us, because by the time you're stuck on the plane staring at it it's too late to repack. What's next, banner ads for the whale tail?

Related Stories:
· Airline to Offer Bald Facts on New Service [AP, via Yahoo]
· Air NZ Heads up New Ad Campaign [Stuff.co.nz]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: nicholas lee nicholas]]]> egw 2008-09-10T13:30:25-05:00 New Airport Terminal Not to Be Confused with Former Pro Wrestler http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/11/155219/682

Though Heathrow's T5 and Beijing's T3 are getting all the press, there's another world capital that's getting an airport update. Wellington has unveiled its new international terminal, called The Rock. It should be finished by the end of 2009.

The first stage of the project wrapped at the end of 2007, adding security and customs lanes, shopping and jet bridge improvements for international flights. The second half of the work will add more departure lounge seating, more bathrooms and a couple more international gates.

Of course airport officials hope the building's design will make it a destination:

The airport's South Coast location is represented by the inside aesthetics and outside shell of the building. Colored fragments of glass in the roof fissure let in a warm, natural light by day and backlighting at night creates a glow which will be seen from the air.

We shouldn't even need to mention it'll all be environmentally sound and heavy on green design elements. And, hey, it'll have free WiFi!

Related Stories:
· New Zealand's Capital Becoming Hip [Jaunted]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports: WLG [Jaunted]
· Airports coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-03-11T16:00:03-05:00 New Zealand's Capital Becoming Hip http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/3/7/64556/28255

Of late, our only coverage of the city of Wellington, New Zealand has been our fears about its dangerous airport. That's despite the fact that Wellington is actually the capital city of the country.

But like Canberra in Australia or Brasilia in Brazil, it's one of those capital cities that nobody really knows about. Until now. Statistics from New Zealand's Regional Visitor Monitor are suggesting that Wellington is increasing its popularity as a destination--though they might be going too far by suggesting it's becoming a "must see" city).

Taking a look at the stats, though, we do feel tempted to drop in. In the past year, Wellington's reputation as a place to socialize and have fun has increased from 6 percent to 42 percent--whatever these percentages mean, the jump is definitely high. Visitors say there is good food and wine to be had in Wellington and that it has an appealing cityscape. Sure, you might still have to land at its risky airport, but perhaps that's the adventure travel part of your visit.

Related Stories:
· The Stats Have It [Four Corners]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports: Wellington NZ [Jaunted]

[Photo: Team Frosick]]]> amandak 2008-03-07T09:25:01-05:00 World's Most Dangerous Airports: WLG: Wellington, NZ http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/1/12/155912/117

For the next couple of days we are doing a quick fly-over of the world's most dangerous airports. And by dangerous we mean formidable, adventurous, and fear inspiring. Know a stomach dropping, palm sweat inducing airport we should check out? Send it along.

Jaunted tipster Tim has seen his share of airports, and he wanted us to check out the Wellington New Zealand strip:

Similar to Hamilton Island is several respects, eg landing between hills with the sea at both ends of the runway. Great to land in Wellington when its windy, which it often is.

Want more? This airport's slogan is "Wild at Heart". Furthermore, on Friday nights the airport showcases local musicians in the terminal, and last year the airport put out a mix CD featuring songs from said musicians.

Oh, yeah, and there is a project in the works to lengthen the runway to keep up with aviation standards.

Click more to check out some video footage of planes landing at WLG to get an idea of what it is like to land in this skinny wind tunnel.

Thanks Tim!

Related Stories:
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Jaunted]
· Wellington Airport Map [Google Maps] ]]> markj 2007-01-12T16:00:20-05:00 Search Jaunted Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/