Jaunted - Waterfalls

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

Jaunted Comments Of The Week

pbb — 2008-11-21T16:30:17-05:00

· A few of you had praise for our flight attendant heroes.

· Runway Girl flashed back to grade school after hearing about Qantas' toilet paper rationing:

Qantas reminds me of my second grade teacher. She felt that the class was using too much loo role, so she rationed it sheet by sheet. Three sheets was the maximum!

· Meanwhile, juliana was unimpressed by Sydney's MySpace page:

Isn't MySpace over? Shouldn't Sydney be on Facebook or Twitter instead?

· And egw thought this week's was the best episode of Amazing Race 13 yet:

Sorry, I can never NOT reference Borat when it comes to Kazakhstan. So this was the episode where all the good tasks were hiding. I was surprised Terrence and Sarah were surprised at the Fast Forward--has there ever been a season where the weird food challenge didn't involve sketchy meats?

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New Orleans: We're Not All Saints In New Orleans

egw — 2008-11-21T16:05:16-05:00

Whether your weakness is for po-boys or something less likely to be celebrated with a citywide party, the Big Easy has what you've been craving at hot spots like these:

Cafe Rani: Work it or get some work done at this healthy cafe installed in an old Salvation Army building. 2917 Magazine St.

Little Tokyo: You won't have to resort to ruses to get your hands on some delicious tempura at this Asian restaurant near City Park. 310 N Carrollton Ave.

Bulldog: Apparently, talk is precious at this Uptown sports bar. 5135 Canal Blvd.

Related Stories:
· Po-Boy Party Hits New Orleans [Jaunted]
· 120-Hour Cocktail Party Coming To New Orleans [Jaunted]
· New Orleans Travel Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: gigielmes]

Washington, DC: Southwest The Latest To Add Inauguration Flights

pbb — 2008-11-21T14:36:06-05:00

When we told you how to get to Inauguration 2009, we mentioned that Baltimore-Washington International should be on your radar, even if it's a bit removed from DC. Now there's ever more reason to consider BWI: Southwest is adding additional flights to the airport in the days before and after January 20.

The airline is adding service to and from Austin, Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, St. Louis and San Diego, and while some of those planes will be headed to BWI, others will land at Washington Dulles.

As we noticed when AirTran announced additional service to BWI, the extra capacity still isn't keeping up with demand: A number of Southwest flights from DC-area airports on January 21 are already sold out.

Prices are higher than you might expect from Southwest, too: Round-trip from San Diego to BWI, leaving January 19 and flying back January 21 starts at $688 all-in. Flying home on January 22 drops the price to $549. Book early and book often, Obamaniacs!

Related Stories:
· More Airlines Adding Inauguration Flights [Jaunted]
· How to Get to Inauguration 2009 [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]