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The Most Visited City in the World is NOT New York

If you prefer to travel the 'beaten path' and visit cities that see more than their fair share of tourists, you may want to rethink your itinerary since there has been a shift in where the planet's travelers are heading. It's actually Bangkok, and not New York, that reigns as tourist capital of the world.

The figures are based on a recent survey put forth by Mastercard. The Global Destinations Cities Index lists the Thai capital as tops for foreigners coming to see the sights, eclipsing London, Paris and New York.

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What You Should Know After Qantas and Emirates Hooked Up This Weekend

Photo: Bernard Proctor/Qantas & Emirates Facebook

Easter Sunday in Australia was not only filled with egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, but it was the launch of the official partnership between Qantas and Emirates. The day signified the first flights for each of the airlines under the new friendship, all commemorated by each airline sending an Airbus A380 to buzz over Sydney Harbour at around 1,500 feet.

Alliances like this one are becoming a bit more commonplace in the industry, and they're pretty passenger-friendly in terms of more options for flying around the globe and for racking up frequent flyer miles.

Here are the immediate benefits of the Qantas-Emirates partnership for you:

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The Partnership Between Qantas and Emirates Clears First Hurdle

Ignore the obviously photoshopped A380 above

Way back in September, we briefly talked about a huge airline partnership between Qantas and Emirates. Back then the deal was still in its infancy and only the proposed benefits were released and, of course, the entire project was waiting for the respective Governments to approve the coupling.

Just today the first major hurdle was cleared. The ACCC, the Aussie Government office that wants to make sure there is due competition in the market, has given their initial thumbs-up for the partnership. Now, the two airlines can move forward with some mutual love. Furthermore, Emirates' CEO clarified the reason for this whole joint partnership, saying, "We don't want to enter a global alliance".

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Qantas and Emirates Did a Little Dance, Then Got Down Last Night

Some big news out of Australia. We're talking huge, game-changing news! After a few attempts at finding a global airline partner to help out the international leg of their operations, Qantas has finally secured one: Emirates. There are lots of details to cover, so let's get right into it.

The Flying Kangaroo has been looking for a new way to get more people on their planes and recently began talks with the Dubai-based carrier to code-share on flights to and from Australia. The move will expand travel opportunities for both sides of the partnership, allowing Australians to access the vast European network of Emirates—with only one stop—and Emirates passengers to fly domestically down under.

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Whoa. Dubai Airport Pulled Off a Shockingly Excellent Flashmob (Video)

Usually we're pretty critical when it comes to staged flash mobs, but trust us that this one is pure awesome.

It happened recently at Dubai International Airport, and the performers are meant to represent flight attendants, Dubai airport employees and passengers passing through. We're pretty sure they're all hired for the purpose, however.

Okay. No more talking. Just dancing.

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The Five Best Airport Bars for Toasting St. Patrick's Day

Being stuck at the airport on St. Patrick’s Day is definitely not the best way to celebrate the holiday. However, we’re pretty sure you can find some fellow travelers eager to toast to the Irish this week at airports across the globe. So pull up a stool, belly up to the bar, and order a pint of Guinness at one of our picks for the five best airport bars to celebrate all things green::

· Corcoran's Irish Pub at LAS
Lady Luck meets the Luck o’ The Irish at Las Vegas-McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. You’ll need to take a break from the terminal slot machines—like you have any money leftover anyway—to check out Corcoran's Irish Pub between gates C1 and C2. Expect the usual not-that-authentic recreation of a neighborhood pub, but that’s exactly what we want to experience this Thursday. Just take it easy with those Irish Car Bomb shots, as you don’t want to be turned away before boarding.

· Fionn MacCool’s at YYZ
Canada’s largest airport Toronto-Pearson will be celebrating the season this week with their version of an Irish Pub right within Terminal 3. The place has only been around for a year or so, but they promise to fill you up with both Irish inspired food and beverage. Get something to go along with your liquid lunch like a Guinness Steak and Mushroom Crock, but we’re sure they have a burger if you’re not that into the Irish food offerings this week.

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Plane-Spot In Private From Dubai's JW Marriott Hotel

As much as we would have loved to have a video of a plane landing over the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai in this story, it seems as though there is a serious dearth of photos and videos from plane spotters at DXB-Dubai International Airport. So let us then recommend a spot at which to make some: the aforementioned JW Marriott Hotel.

By requesting a room facing the runways, which usually run around $250 per night, you will get for yourself a truly awesome view of takeoffs and landings at the neighboring airport. The hotel sits at the end of a runway, so you won't feel as though you are sleeping at the airport, and it's luxurious enough to banish all thoughts of airport concessions. The key, however, is in asking for that runway-facing room without seeming suspicious.

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Updated: Jaunted's Airport WiFi Map

It's been quite some time since we last added a location to our Airport WiFi Map, and now that travel-to-see-the-family season is upon us, it's time for an update. And thanks to some tips about free wireless at airports abroad, we're officially taking our map global. Know about some WiFi we've yet to list, either in the US or elsewhere? Let us know.

Oh, and since you can't surf for hours without a power supply, Lifehacker pointed us to an incredibly useful wiki about where to find outlets in airports worldwide. With power and WiFi at the ready, getting bumped this Thanksgiving might actually be bearable.

Related Stories:
· AirPower Wiki [Official Site]
· Airport WiFi Map [Jaunted]

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Adventures of Link: No Shambolism in the Emirates

Is an authoritarian government the secret to a successful new airport terminal launch? After the debacle at T5 at London Heathrow, China opened its T3 in Beijing without a hiccup. And Dubai managed to effortlessly welcome passengers to its new T3 today.

It probably helps that only a single airline, Emirates, is occupying the new terminal. That should reassure JetBlue, which already had to postpone its move to JFK's T5 once. The first flights there are now slated for October 22.

Related Stories:
· Liveblogging the New Terminal [Gulf News]
· Dubai Airport Terminal 3 Keeps Its Date [Khaleej Times]
· Smooth Start for Emirates Terminal [Xpress]
· Terminal 3 to Welcome Passengers [Emirates Business]

[Photo: Wikimedia]

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Dubai Travel: DXB Terminal 3 Opening Tomorrow

Finally, some news from Dubai that isn't bragging about being a world first. Dubai Airport's new Terminal 3 is due to open tomorrow after some thorough testing. Emirates flights to the Americas and neighbor Gulf countries will be the first to move to Terminal 3.

We're intrigued by one aspect of the new terminal:

Features of the new facility include check-in counters within the terminal car park, allowing passengers to check in well in advance of their flight, return home, and then arrive back at the terminal for their departure.

So instead of waiting around in a check-in line for an hour or two, they want us to rock up half a day earlier, check in then disappear for a few hours? Sure, the airport is just a couple of miles out of town but we're seeing our entire day turn into an airport experience. And that is not what we want, so we'll be avoiding the super-advance-check-in counters, thanks.

Related Stories:
· Dubai's Terminal 3 to Open [Business Traveller]
· Dubai Terminal Test Gets Big Turnout [Jaunted]
· Yawn. Another World's First For Dubai [Jaunted]

[Still shot from Emirates Terminal 3 Video]

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Dubai Terminal Test Gets Big Turnout

When JetBlue announced earlier this summer that it'd need volunteers to test out its new terminal at JFK, pretty much everyone rolled their eyes. Seriously, who'd want to spend all day at the airport and not even go anywhere? Apparently more than 2,000 people in Dubai, who recently stopped by DXB to check out its new Terminal 3.

The volunteers poured through the new facility, which is scheduled to open sometime this year, checking out the gate areas, immigration and, of course, the bathrooms. Another batch of volunteers will test the terminal later this month and a third trial is scheduled for September. Though only a couple thousand people at a time are transiting the building now, airport officials expect more than 30 million passengers a year once T3 opens.

If you want to get a sneak peak yourself, sign up for the terminal test here.

Related Stories:
· Dubai Airport conducts First Major Trail at T3 [Official Site]
· JetBlue, Pick Us for Your Secret Terminal 5 Test! [Jaunted]
· Dubai Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of T3 under construction: Wikimedia]

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Internet Crash Travel: No Emailing Travel Snapshots This Week

So that's why you haven't been able to upload your photos at the Internet cafe in Jodhpur. Two big underwater communications cables under the Mediterranean got damaged yesterday, hampering web access from Egypt to India. The slow-down scared more than just photo-happy tourists: Passengers on Emirates Airlines, with its headquarters in Dubai, feared their flights would be grounded.

Still, airline reps say there aren't problems with scheduled flights out of the region. But that isn't what Dubai International Airport workers are saying; they've reported problems on the ground since the cables were cut.

Not everyone in the Middle East is without YouTube, though. Israel is on a different undersea cable, and folks in Lebanon and Iraq are both able to get online. Lucky: You'll still be able to research your Euphrates River shark fishing expedition.

Related Stories:
· Internet Outage Hits India, Middle East [AP, via Google]
· Internet Failure Hits Two Continents [CNN]
· Dubai Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Marc Shandro]