Joe Brancatelli is a long-time business traveler, a print media consultant and the guy who writes the Seat 2B column for Portfolio. At least for now, anyway: The magazine recently decided to cut 20 percent of its total staff, scale back its print production schedule to 10 issues a year and chop its web crew from 35 people to 5.

So with the magazine struggling to make good on a rumored $100 million start-up investment, business travel spending on the wane thanks to a global recession and a historic election taking place, you know, right now, what did Joe write about today? Ultra-premium loyalty programs so exclusive you can't even sign up for them.

After a seven-paragraph anecdotal lede, Brancatelli finally starts outlining some of the outrageous perks that travel companies apparently still shower on a small group of guests who, despite being important enough to earn unimaginable coddling from airlines and hotels, still need an extra ego boost. Of course, reading about the "secret societies" won't get you any closer to joining them because "If you have to ask, you don't qualify."

So, what's the point of the article then? We're not 30-year veterans of the publishing industry, but at least we try to be relevant and interesting on a daily basis.

Related Stories:
· Secret Societies [Portfolio]
· Empty Nast Syndrome [NYO]
· It's Nasty over at Conde [NYP]

[Photo of Conde Nast HQ: Tone Walker]]]> pbb 2008-11-04T10:00:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/19/101122/213

We normally don't go for the business travel-oriented ranting of Portfolio columnist Joe Brancatelli but his article this week is totally great. The premise? Where the heck is our in-flight WiFi?

With so many airlines recently announcing big plans for the service, Joe did a little digging to find out why we aren't yet online at 35,000 feet. One executive at American Airlines, which tested Aircell WiFi earlier this summer, says:

This thing should have been working months ago. Obviously, there's something wrong.

Delta, which just announced its plans, is already behind schedule: The carrier says it will have at least some planes fitted with wireless gear by year's end, but the FAA hasn't even looked at the airline's paperwork yet.

Airlines using technology from Row 44 aren't doing much better, it seems. Both Southwest and Alaska are already behind schedule, having yet to test the satellite-based wireless technology.

Related Stories:
· No WiFi in the Sky [Portfolio]
· Dark Horse Delta Announces Massive In-Flight WiFi Rollout [Jaunted]
· Coming Soon-ish: Virgin's Own In-Flight WiFi [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-08-19T10:15:12-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/27/17429/1614

So, yes, that American Airlines first-checked-bag fee is sticking, and just about everybody hates it. Frequently miffed business traveler Joe Brancatelli doesn't mince words:

This fee is going into the Airline Stupid Hall of Fame.

Getting his back is Joe Sharkey, who also frequently hates whatever it is airlines are doing these days. The New York Times writer turned over his column today to aviation consultant Michael Boyd, who promptly announced:

Airlines need to realize that they have to get the customer on their side, and you don't do that by making them line up longer at the counter checking bags.

Fair enough. But there is at least one person out there who isn't upset by the new rules. Jeff from Beat of Hawaii actually doesn't mind the $15 checked bag charge--because unbundled extras will keep fares low. As so many airline execs would tell us: Why pay extra for a service you're not using?

Related Stories:
· A Bad Bag Idea [Portfolio]
· More Travelers, Costlier Oil and More Commotion [NYT]
· Why AA's $15 Checked Bag Fee Is Fair [Beat of Hawaii]
· American to Hike the Price of Onboard Snacks [Airline Biz Blog]
· Airline Fees coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Joi]]]> pbb 2008-05-27T17:45:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/