Flight 1549—aka The Miracle on the Hudson—is now on its way to a more permanent home in Charlotte, but getting there is proving to be quite a challenge. That’s because this time it’s taking the highway, and there are definitely a few bridges and byways not designed with an Airbus A320 in mind.

Like all good road trips along the East Coast, those involved with moving the plane decided to get a head start over the weekend and changed the original departure date of today up to Saturday. It’s unfortunately not just a straight shot down I-95, as the trailer that’s carrying the plane—it was custom designed for its unique load—is trying to navigate smaller streets and tight turns. ]]> kjb 2011-06-06T08:34:30-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/6/3/131312/8810

Fans of the dystopian book series The Hunger Games are anxiously waiting the first movie based on the novels, due to hit theaters next year. So much so, that some are choosing not to wait at all and are instead traveling to North Carolina, where the movie currently is being filmed, for a sneak peek.

The film, which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Banks, and Woody Harrelson, began filming last week in Henry River Mill Village, an abandoned ghost town just outside of Hildebran, NC. The deserted town drew curious visitors long before it was featured in the movie, but now locals are expecting a steady stream of tourists checking out the site that was turned into Mellark's Bakery, a well known location in the books. ]]> cmb 2011-06-03T13:55:58-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/5/4/93514/09041

There’s been so many airport renovations and remodels around the country that we kind of forget what was going on at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. They finished off the second part of their brand new Terminal 2 earlier this year, but now they’re focusing their attention across the street to the dated—and one we find smelly—Terminal 1.

Airport officials are thinking that it will cost around $60 million to add all the niceties and upgrades to Terminal 1. Sure that sounds pretty expensive, but compared to the near $600 million they spent on the new Terminal 2—it’s just peanuts. Some of the features to get a facelift include the ticketing counters, security lines and baggage area. There will be glass elevators, a place to grab a coffee or snack before security, and plenty of translucent building materials to allow for some natural light. Architecture firm Pearce, Brinkley, Cease and Lee are still working on all the details, but the bulldozers are expected to roll through beginning this spring. ]]> kjb 2011-05-04T12:06:09-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/11/0494/73231

Airport washroom attendants. Yes, they do exist. Don't be frightened when you enter the bathroom at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, because there will be an airport employee there to greet you, guide you to an available stall, and even pump the hand towel machine for you. It's weird and potentially off-putting and no other US airport seems to have this, so what's the deal with them?

The issue of the CLT bathroom attendants is pretty common; even skateboarder Tony Hawk has tweeted about them, and it wasn't until a friend ran into them during a US Airways layover this weekend that we realized how unsettling the unexpected interaction can be. Heck—the best restaurants and five-star hotels with happening lobby scenes don't even use attendants any more. So why this airport? ]]> JetSetCD 2011-04-11T16:44:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/1/25/194032/337

A few years ago, we got to take a sneak peek inside Raleigh-Durham International Airport’s brand new terminal, and since then we’ve been in and out of it several times and have always been pleased. However, we’ve been eager to see what was behind the construction wall, as the second half of the terminal has been under construction for quite some time. Well, over the weekend things finally opened up to traffic—and just in time too—as hockey’s best players and fans are headed to the North Carolina’s Triangle for this year’s NHL All-Star Game.

This time we’re not on hand to check things out for ourselves, but we’re expecting a mirror image of the first half of the renovated Terminal 2—which is a good thing. High, soaring ceilings allow for plenty of waiting space for Continental and US Airways passengers as they will no longer be stuck in the outdated—and kind of smelly—Terminal 1. All in all, the new place cost around $600 million to build, so it’s only natural to expect the best of the best. ]]> kjb 2011-01-26T13:21:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/1/4/91441/79952

Believe it or not, January 15th marks the two-year anniversary since US Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger successfully water-landed his Airbus A320 on New York's Hudson River after a bird strike took down both of the plane's engines. All 155 crew and passengers onboard survived and thus Flight 1549 became known as the "Miracle on the Hudson." Sully retired almost a year ago, but the battered fuselage hasn't yet reached such a peaceful conclusion; it's been up for auction (mainly for parts) since last January, and it may finally have found a buyer.

According to Gothamist, this piece of aviation history could end up in a place where all are welcome to come and see it: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-01-04T10:41:14-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/5/18/101823/008

On a recent layover at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, we noticed these cute rocking chairs just outside the E gates. Even better, several of the chairs were located near outlets meaning you could charge your phone, observe the tarmac scene and rock yourself. And if you want to use your laptop, CLT has free WiFi! Pretty cool!

Another interesting service we noticed at CLT was that they have bathroom attendants in the bathrooms. Yes, just like the ones you see in NYC restaurants and fancy nightclubs. We liked this service because the bathrooms were nearly pristine and very orderly. But the pressure to tip--a plastic jar with the word "HAVE A NICE DAY" on them--was uncomfortable. Eeee.

Related Stories:
· Plane Spotting coverage [Jaunted]
· Airport WiFi coverage [Jaunted]
· CLT Airport [Official Site] ]]> juliana 2010-05-18T13:15:38-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/