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Airport Renovations Get Scaled Back as Airlines Cut Routes and Passenger Traffic Wanes

June 23, 2009 at 5:04 PM | 0 Comments

Oakland Airport's Southwest terminal during its renovation of 2006.

No surprise here but with the travel industry taking a hard hit this year, airports across the U.S. are having to put their massive renovations plans on hold or in some caese, just settle for just quickie face-lifts.

At Oakland International Airport in California, for example, a $1 billion plan to build a third terminal was shelved last summer after ExpressJet withdrew from the market, Aloha Airlines went out of business and other carriers, especially Southwest Airlines, cut back on flights. Passenger traffic fell by 30 percent, creating a ripple effect at the airport’s restaurants and car rental operations, which also generate cash. Food and beverage revenue dropped by 25 percent; car rental revenue by 20 percent.

Instead of building a new terminal, Oakland is doing a $200 million facelift of an existing terminal.

On the bright side(?), having less passengers allows the construction crews to get their work done faster. A very minor consolation to the airport indeed.

About a dozen other U.S. airports have cancelled or delayed their improvements but Kansas City International Airport is doing something different. The airport is taking advantage of the drop in construction costs to pursue its airport improvement projects which will cost about $161 million. Guess that's what happens when someone calls you a Hot Destination for 2009.

Thank God, JetBlue did their T5 overhaul before the economy crapped out!

Related Stories:
· Oakland Airport Under Construction [Jaunted]
· Airport Projects Delayed or Canceled [NY Times]

Thar's Gold In Them German Vending Machines!

June 18, 2009 at 5:01 PM | 0 Comments

Looks like the Germans have lost their faith in paper currency (again) these days. How else to explain the Gold to Go dispensers in the Frankfurt Airport? The Times UK reports:

After inserting your euros in the slot there is a familiar whirring noise as if the machine is readying itself to spit out a can of lemonade or a bar of chocolate. Instead there is a satisfying clunk as a prettily wrapped bar of the world's favourite precious metal thuds into the dispenser.

"It's better value than the bank," Romy Erhardt of TG-Gold-Super-Markt told The Times, "And it's very convenient — no waiting time — you just put in your cash and a minute later you are an investor in gold."

Passengers can buy passengers one gram, five grams or 10 grams of gold starting at about 30 Euros. While the value is better than the bank, passengers will still pay a bit more than market value. C'mon its a gold vending machine. That's expected.

The company has already installed a similar machine in Frankfurt's main train station and plans to put 500 more of the machines throughout the country as well as in Austria and Switzerland. While passengers at the Frankfurt Airport can also get a Maple Leaf Five Canadian dollar coin and a Kangaroo Fifteen Australian dollar coin, we're still tickled by the idea of a vending machine spitting out a real gold bar placed in a metal case that reads, "My Golden Treasure."

Related Stories:
· Germans flock to gold bars vending machine at Frankfurt airport [Times UK]
· Gold Mining Map [Jaunted]
· Gold Super Markt [Official Site, German]

Craving Peet's Coffee in New York? Then Book a Flight Out of JFK

June 15, 2009 at 3:59 PM | 0 Comments

Peet's Coffee is a revered West Coast coffee chain that keeps a humbler, lower profile compared to other java joints. We love their great roasts and powerful latte drinks, not to mention their refill policy (90 cent for a large coffee refill) and their two hours of free WiFi.

In our personal coffee rankings it's scores a solid second place standing ahead of Coffee Bean and Starbucks but behind Dunkin' Donuts and that's only because we live in Los Angeles where DD is forbidden.

While we pine for Dunkin' on the West Side, our East Coast friends do the same with Peet's. But they won't have to pine anymore if they are flying out of T4 at JFK. A small Peet's Coffee counter has opened right near the Virgin America gates. So anyone coming from the West Coast and already missing Peet's can have one last cup of joe. Similarly, westbound passengers can get a head start on acclimating by taking a latte on the flight.

Peet's is also available in NYC grocery stores but you know, it's much better when someone else makes it for you.

Is Qantas Blaming Airports For Its New Exit Row Charge?

May 27, 2009 at 3:36 PM | 1 Comment

Charging extra for an exit row seat is, sadly, nothing new, although it's largely been the province of budget airlines or short domestic routes. This week Qantas announced it will introduce the system on its international routes, and with a much heftier charge than we're used to – up to A$160 ($125) just to get the extra few inches of leg room (and all that responsibility if there happens to be an emergency).

While passengers backlash against this new charge, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is busy complaining about how poor Qantas has to pay so much money to airports. He wants to negotiate with Qantas's frequently-used airports to reduce costs, but some airports just won't play ball – Joyce said:

Airports are very, very good at earning revenues out of everything you could imagine - if they could charge for oxygen at the airport they probably would.

Hmm. Sounds a bit like the way airlines think, doesn't it?

Related Stories:
· Joyce Defends Qantas Charge For Emergency Exit Seats [The Age]
· Airports Would Charge for Oxygen If They Could [The Age]
· Getting What You Pay For Travel: The Best Seats in Coach [Jaunted]

[Photo: eperales]

Jetblue's 'Live at T5' Will Get JFK's Groove Back

May 26, 2009 at 8:47 AM | 0 Comments

For air travelers flying in and out of Jetblue's new Terminal 5 at JFK, it's easy to imagine the spacious food court and area around the Infohalo as being the perfect spot for a performance. And for New Yorkers, it's easy to confuse this Terminal 5 with the popular Manhattan music venue also called Terminal 5.

It's no wonder then that Jetblue has begun their own concert series in the airport, pairing up with Superfly Productions and Bowery Presents of the Terminal 5 music venue to bring acts beneath the Infohalo throughout the summer and early fall. The six-month "Live at T5" series began last week with Dan Dyer and will last through Thanksgiving weekend, injecting a little groove into the airport rigamarole.

Although future performers have not been announced, don't be surprised if before your next flight to Portland, Maine, you find yourself sipping a smoothie and swaying to live salsa.

Related Stories:
· Jetblue's Live at T5 Announcement [Twitter]
· T5 at JFK Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jetblue]

On the Road Again: How to Reach Rome-Fiumicino

May 22, 2009 at 10:06 AM | 0 Comments

Your flight has landed, you've claimed your luggage and now you're trying to get the hell out of the airport. To erase confusion and get your on your way, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing the various ways to get to and from major airports, and what those modes cost, from cheapest to the big blowout entrance. Got any tips or an airport suggestion? Let us know.

· COTRAL/Schiaffini Buses: As the cheapest option, taking a bus obviously involves the most hassle. Purchase tickets for the bus in the sundries shop down by baggage claim, and don't forget to validate it in the the little box machines inside of the bus. Head to Terminal A's ground transportation area to find the bus stop, and make sure you board the right bus. The one to Rome's main Termini station is "Aeroporto-Termini-Tiburtina," or there are also "Aeroporto-Roma Cornelia" to connect with subway line A and "Aeroporto-Roma Magliana" to connect with line B.
Total cost: €1.60 to €3.60 per person, each way depending on your route.
Total time:35 to 45 minutes

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Air Berlin's Very Own 'Deltalina'

May 22, 2009 at 9:31 AM | 0 Comments

True to our promise, we've gone and jetted off to Berlin for a week with thoughts of currywurst and cycling over cobblestones dancing in our head.

We safely arrived early this morning to Berlin's Tegel airport via Delta's non-stop flight 78 from New York-JFK, an experience we'd rather not repeat due to a decrepit terminal, mass confusion at the gate, and the horribly cramped seats of an older plane. And remember that jazz about Delta being tops in terms of tarmac waits? They aren't kidding; we had read through our guidebook before even hitting the skies.

Beyond the terminal's hot pretzel stand and the vending machine stocked with Ritter Sport chocolate and Haribo Gummi-Bären, we spotted this carry-on luggage measuring rack and its image of a perky Air Berlin representative.

Is this frisky-looking lass the German version of Deltalina? Sadly we didn't book the Air Berlin direct from JFK, but next time we just might have to if she promises to help us latch the overhead bins.

Related Stories:
· Delta Takes the Cake for Ridiculous Tarmac Waits [Jaunted]
· Berlin Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

On the Road Again: How to Reach Paris-Charles de Gaulle

May 21, 2009 at 10:51 AM | 1 Comment

Your flight has landed, you've claimed your luggage and now you're trying to get the hell out of the airport. To erase confusion and get your on your way, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing the various ways to get to and from major airports, and what those modes cost, from cheapest to the big blowout entrance. Got any tips or an airport suggestion? Let us know.

· RER B-line Extraurban Train: Although the cheapest route into Paris proper, opting for the RER means quite a bit of slogging around with your luggage. First, know what terminal you'll be arriving into; if Terminal 1, you must take a green transport shuttle to the RER station there, and if Terminal 2, take a blue shuttle to the station where the TGV train also stops. In exchange for the run-around, your RER into the city gives you a whole host of jumping off chocies: Gare du Nord, Chatelet-les-Halles, Saint-Michel/Notre Dame, Luxembourg, Port-Royal, and Denfert-Rochereau.
Total cost: €8.40 per adult or €5.90 per child, each way
Total time: 35 minutes to Gare du Nord

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On the Road Again: How to Reach Tokyo-Narita

May 20, 2009 at 9:21 AM | 0 Comments

Your flight has landed, you've claimed your luggage and now you're trying to get the hell out of the airport. To erase confusion and get your on your way, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing the various ways to get to and from major airports, and what those modes cost, from cheapest to the big blowout entrance. Got any tips or an airport suggestion? Let us know.

Tokyo's Narita is a tricky airport in terms of airport transportation; there is no one single uber-fast way, and yet the 38-mile commute to the airport can cost an arm and a leg if you don't know what you're doing. Our best advice? Avoid taxis and town cars at all costs; read below to see why.

· Keisei Railway: When in doubt as to the cheapest mode of airport transportation, just follow the locals, and chances are they'll be hopping aboard a Keisei Limited Express, which is a normal commuter train making stops along the route from Narita into town. For a bit of an upgrade and a chance at a reserved seat, the Keisei railway also runs the slightly more expensive Skyliner to Keisei Ueno station.
Total cost: 1000 on the Limited to 2000 on the Skyliner ($10 to $20) per person, each way
Total time: 75 minutes, 60 minutes

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On the Road Again: How to Reach London-Heathrow

May 19, 2009 at 12:42 PM | 2 Comments

Your flight has landed, you've claimed your luggage and now you're trying to get the hell out of the airport. To erase confusion and get your on your way, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing the various ways to get to and from major airports, and what those modes cost, from cheapest to the big blowout entrance. Got any tips or an airport suggestion? Let us know.

· The Underground, aka The Tube: If you're a typical London tourist, you'll be going underground many times during your visit, so why not start early by getting familiar with the system from the airport? Catch the Tube at any terminal, and it'll run you right into town, with usual stops at places like Victoria Station, Kensington, West End, and Paddington Station.
Total cost: £4.00 ($6.19) per person, each way
Total time: 45 minutes

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On the Road Again: How to Reach New York's JFK Airport

May 18, 2009 at 2:41 PM | 0 Comments

Your flight has landed, you've claimed your luggage and now you're trying to get the hell out of the airport. To erase confusion and get your on your way, all week long at Jaunted we will be detailing the various ways to get to and from major airports, and what those modes cost, from cheapest to the big blowout entrance. Got any tips or an airport suggestion? Let us know.

For our first airport in this series, we're going with our home base of JFK and it's myriad of options for making the commute into Manhattan (or Brooklyn). Just remember that all times listed below are approximate; New York is a city where crazy things happen to gum up the works.

· Airtrain to Subway: While this is absolutely the cheapest way to JFK, it is the one most susceptible to delays and wonky weekend construction schedules. Nonetheless, New York City is to be found both above and below ground, and so we find ourselves on this route more often than the others.
The options: Hop the Airtrain for $5 at any of the terminals; the train to Howard Beach will hook up with A subway train ($2) which can get you to downtown Brooklyn or continue on into lower Manhattan. Our favorite, the Airtrain to Sutphin Blvd/Jamaica Station deposits you at the Long Island Railroad station ($5.25-$7.25 to take this into Penn Station) or the subway E train for $2, which goes across Queens and into Midtown Manhattan.
Total cost: $7.00 per person, one-way; $7.25 in June with the MTA rate hike; $10.25-$12.25 with the LIRR)
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes from JFK to Midtown (1 hour with the LIRR)

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Isn't This Where the Plane on Lost Landed?

May 18, 2009 at 10:02 AM | 0 Comments

We're still adding to our list of the world's most dangerous airports. Know a stomach dropping, palm sweat inducing airport we should check out? Send it along.

Forget roller coasters. We get our kicks on scary-as-hell runways. So we're about ready to schedule a trip to the South Pacific after tipster Paul Sloan of Tahiti Expeditions sent along word of Gizo Airport (GZO) in the Solomon Islands. Is it us, or does this runway look like it just shouldn't work? Apparently it does!

For the record, there are several dozen other airports scattered throughout the Solomon Islands, including the comparatively giant Honiara International Airport, where you can even catch a flight on Virgin Blue.

Needless to say, if you're Soloman Islands-bound and not to Honiara, you'll needs to board a tiny Solomon Airlines jet to reach this little beaut of a runway. Nailbiting landing are part of the exotic fun, don't you know.

Related Stories:
· At Least The Juana Azurduy Airport Has a Paved Runway [Jaunted]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Jaunted]
· Island Travel: Budget Airlines Hit Solomon Islands [Jaunted]

[Photo: TravelPod]