Jaunted - Baseball Travel

Deltalina Shares Her One-Bag Packing Tips

pbb — 2008-11-23T12:00:18-05:00

To us, there's nothing more snoozy than reading detailed tips on how to squeeze the most junk into a small roll-aboard or how to cram enough gear for two months into a tiny pack. But Delta is hoping to spice up your packing with some tips from YouTube-famous Deltalina--pointers that are all the more important now that the airline is charging $15 for your first checked bag.

In talking with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Deltalina "reveals" that rolling clothes is the best way to neatly pack your stuff while also reducing wrinkles. Once everything's tucked away, she says, dropping a luggage tag with your contact info inside the bag before closing it up is a good idea. That way, if the ID you've attached to the outside disappears, ruthless luggage handlers can still determine which wheelie is yours.

The tips aren't exactly Earth-shattering, but as was the case with those recent TSA videos, they can't hurt with a bustling holiday travel week coming up. And having Deltalina doing the packing is sure to garner some extra attention, too. To wit: This post!

Related Stories:
· Pack Smart: Deltalina Shows You How [AJC]
· Pack Smart: Tips from Deltalina [Delta Blog]
· Deltalina: True Love [Jaunted]
· Deltalina Returns! [Jaunted]

[Photo: Delta Blog]

San Francisco: Virgin InFlight WiFi Liveblog

egw — 2008-11-22T17:53:31-05:00

<![CDATA[<object width="385" height="311"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3G89mxpIpfM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3G89mxpIpfM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="385" height="311"></embed></object> Virgin America debuts its inflight GoGo WiFi today, and we are so excited... almost as excited as Tay Zonday. Join us as we liveblog our way through its debut flight. 4:51PM PDT We tell our seat buddy that we want to stay on the Internet even after the official cut-off. Unfortunately, because we've signed up for a particular session, they'll be able to tell that we're on and can come over and nudge us. Shoot. So this is goodbye till we're on the ground and can give you a full report. Well, we'll go ahead and sip some more champagne. By the way -- we are flying somewhere, specifically, Great Falls, Idaho. We're not stopping there, just making a big loop. Oops! Tim Maxwell just called us "young lady" and told us to log off. Later! 4:47PM PDT Announcement: "The WiFi trial has come to an end." The crew from <a href="http://www.gadgetgossip.net/">Gadget Gossip</a> is shooting directly behind us. Which makes us wonder... How much are people actually writing on this plane? There are so many people in the aisles we're starting to feel a little left out with our computers. 4:41PM PDT SF comedy troupe SPF7 is filming a skit on how to join the Mile-High Club. In the words of someone we have sworn never to mention again, thanks but no thanks! <img src="http://www.jaunted.com/files/5957/DSCcompy_champy.JPG"> 4:38 PM PDT Overheard: "If you think American is slow, you haven't met slow yet." Predict widespread mutiny when Virgin America attempts to get us all to log off so they can stream to YouTube Live on the ground. Particularly from the iPhone users! 4:27PM PDT Apparently some people are having problems getting online... not us! Smooth sailing all the way. Suzanne from YouTube borrowed our computer to check out the <a href="http://www.youtubelive.com">YouTubeLive</a> site to see Brandon Hardesty, who's making announcements right now... for us to go to YouTube and look at his movie reenactments. Woo hoo! Feeling delightfully overstimulated thanks to the free Karma Champagne and of course the sweet, sweet Internet. But the question is, was that Richard Blakeley I saw in front of me and when is he going to do something crazy? 4:13PM PDT: We're online... on the plane! The buzz in the air was palpable as VX11 took off from San Francisco International Airport and a plane full of Internet junkies waited for this moment. We watched a promo reel from YouTubers like LisaNova, William Sledd and SF Parkour using Virgin America planes as a backdrop during takeoff, and now everyone's either online or trying to get there. Our seat buddy: Tim Maxwell, Chief Marketing Officer for Aircell which is sittin' pretty with either deals or talks in the works with most major American airlines to provide WiFi. (American has their GoGo service through them as well.) Famous people we've seen so far: <a href="http://www.justin.tv/ijustine">iJustine</a> (she is so wee!). We hear Keith Powell and Katrina Bowden of "30

Mexico City: Japanese Tom Hanks Can't Get Enough Of Mexico City

pbb — 2008-11-22T15:03:55-05:00

A former Tokyo janitor named Hiroshi Nohara has been living in Mexico City International Airport since September 2. Why? He hasn't said, though he did tell reporters recently, "My life is 'The Terminal 2.'"

Camping out in Terminal 1, which serves both domestic and international destinations, he relies on donations from airport restaurants and transiting passengers to get by, content to sleep in a chair. Despite the freebies, he is not, the Associated Press says, in good shape:

During his stay, Nohara's wiry goatee has grown into a scraggly mass. His red-tinted hair is speckled with dust and dandruff, and his cream-colored jacket and fleece blanket are dingy with overuse. He smells like he hasn't had a shower in months.

With a valid tourist visa that won't expire until March, authorities can't really toss him out of the airport. But he has left on his own at least once: Nohara went to see the Estadio Azteca, one of soccer's most storied venues.

Related Stories:
· "The Terminal 2?" Japanese Man Makes Airport Home [AP, via Google]
· The Japanese Tourist Won't Be Tossed Out [Expreso.com.mx, in Spanish]

[Photo of another long layover at MEX: 00ucci]

Los Angeles: Aircell WiFi Gets Another Glowing Review

pbb — 2008-11-22T13:00:17-05:00

Virgin America launches its first WiFi flight today, and God-willing we'll be on-board to get all the juicy details. So it's especially timely that we've come across yet another review of Aircell's in-flight wireless service Gogo. What's it like to be online for the entirety of a six-hour transcon? Ben from the B-Side Blog has just posted another of his famous flight live blogs:

2:45 pm
I've just flown by Chicago. I tried to take a pic, but the lighting was such that there's really not enough contrast to see it. You can just barely make out the outline of Lake Michigan. In other news, LADY, STOP KICKING MY CHAIR!
3:15 pm
Here's a strange twist. Doug from "The Hills" just added me as a friend on MySpace. I'm suspicious of this as I feel like if he ever met me, he'd want to punch me in the face, but who knows what his motives are. I approved his friendship and will let you all know what happens...
3:32 pm
Meanwhile, poor Leslie the flight attendant is positively intent on getting me a drink. ... What can I say? I'M JUST NOT VERY THIRSTY TODAY! ... If it's any consolation, you are probably the VERY BEST FLIGHT ATTENDANT I HAVE EVER HAD. And I've flown on Lufthansa!

In-flight WiFi: Allowing up-to-the-second passenger critiques since 2008!

Related Stories:
· Flight Live Blog: Ugh Edition [B-Side Blog]
· Liveblogging an American WiFi Flight [Jaunted]
· Gogo WiFi on American Is "Totally Worth It" [Jaunted]

Cleveland: Today Show Travel Guru Defends Honor On Local News Station

pbb — 2008-11-22T12:30:18-05:00

Jaunted homeboy Peter Greenberg recently released his latest book, which, as we explained in our review, highlights the worst places on Earth. Now, when you call your latest tome Don't Go There, you better expect to catch some flak--but lately Peter's been getting dissed by just about everyone whose city was included.

Last week, WJW in Cleveland invited him to do a segment on new travel gear and gadgets--until anchor Stefani Schaefer ambushed him with a question about including her town in his round up of terrible destinations:

Schaefer: I was born and raised here in Northeast Ohio, and I have to say, with many others, [I was] disappointed when your new book... featured Cleveland. May I ask why?
Greenberg: Sure, did you read the book?
Schaefer: Didn't read the book...

Things actually got worse from there.

Note to local news anchors: Peter may be on "The Today Show" instead of "60 Minutes," but if you need any evidence that he knows his stuff and tells it how it is, just call up EasyJet and ask what they think of him these days.

Things Are Different In Canada

pbb — 2008-11-22T11:30:18-05:00

In September, Canada launched a passenger bill of rights, entitling fliers to humane treatment and--get this--a chance to disembark if a delay seems interminable. So we shouldn't be surprised by the latest bit of travel news out of Ottowa: Air Canada and other airlines based in the country can no longer charge disabled or obese people extra for an additional seat.

The Supreme Court of Canada didn't actually make a ruling in a case involving a wheelchair-bound woman and a paraplegic who both insisted that they shouldn't have to pay extra to travel; instead, the court decided not to hear an appeal, effectively upholding a Canadian Transportation Agency ruling that all carriers must charge passengers the same fare, regardless of medical concerns.

In the US, airlines can--and do--charge extra if passengers need an extra seat, whether that's because of obesity or because they need a caregiver to accompany them. The so-called passenger of size policy is of Southwest, which says you must buy an extra ticket if you can't fit between the arm rests, is now of particular interest: The low cost carrier starts code sharing with Canadian airline WestJet in 2009.

Related Stories:
· Air Canada Can't Make Disabled People Pay Extra [Bloomberg]
· Canada Protects Obese Two-for-One Rights [Airline Biz Blog]
· Progressive Travel: Canada Launches Passenger Bill of Rights [Jaunted]

[Photo: Eric B�gin]

The Week In Review

pbb — 2008-11-21T16:49:00-05:00

Our short list is all about pop culture travel trends in real-time.
It's the best of the week's news, bite-sized.

FAME:
	Free Tickets All Around
	Escaping Winter in Andros
	Southwest Coming to LaGuardia? Also: Sorry America: Cuba Tourism Is Booming
LAME:
	A Bad Case of the Xannies
	These Pirates Don't Quit
	No Virgin America for Chicago? Also: "The Hills": Season Five