Jaunted

Travel Gear / Luggage / Baggage / Open Thread / Travel TIps / → All Tags

The Ultimate Debate: To Buy 2-Wheel or 4-Wheel Luggage?

We know there are strong opinions and hard evidence out there in the case of 2-wheeled luggage versus 4-wheeled luggage, and we want to hear them! You see, there comes a point in a traveler's life when such a choice must be made, and it's not always easy to pick a side. There is design, comfort, weight, brands, guarantees and overheard storage space to consider and it's a tad overwhelming when you're searching for the perfect constant travel companion.

So help out your fellow travelers; what bag do you swear by? Why does a traditional two-wheel trump the newer four-wheels, or is it the other way around? Share your position in the comments, and meantime we'll separate our own two and four-wheelers to different sides of the ring.

[Photos: loungerie, superciliiousness]

Open Thread / Airlines / United Airlines / Delta / American Airlines / Scew-Marry-Kill / → All Tags

Screw, Marry or Kill: United, American or Delta?

You know that game you and your friends played in high school where you would ask each other to name three celebrities that you would rather Screw, Marry or Kill? Then after you got a little drunk you would pick people that you actually knew in real life and that's when all the true feelings about the kids in your class would come out?

Well, let's get nostalgic this afternoon and play the game with three legacy carriers—United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Airlines.

Putting prices, destinations and fleet size aside, we're curious to know who you've had the consistently best, or consistently worse, experiences flying. Now, we've all had different experiences on different flights across all airlines so for some of you, this game could be tricky. For example: our travel buddy flew United from LAX to Chicago while we flew out on American. An avowed United disliker, we pitied our buddy and prayed that his baggage would arrive when he landed. Instead, it turned out we had a worse flight than he did.

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Bus Travel / Open Thread / Philadelphia Travel / Philadelphia Field Trip / Boltbus / Megabus / → All Tags

To Megabus or BoltBus? That is the Question

In a desperate bid to escape the humid, 95+ temperatures of a summer New York City, we spent this last weekend two hours south in Philadelphia, where it's about three degrees cooler. It was a last-minute decision, and after seeing that Amtrak wanted $45+ per person for a one-way, two-hour ride on a non-Acela between the cities, we immediately turned to the budget bus options, because they at least have WiFi.

So, the dilemma: to Megabus or BoltBus?

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Private Jets / Open Thread / Jetblue / Terminal 5 at JFK / → All Tags

Jetblue Shows Off an Airplane So Small It'll Fit In Your Garage

When you walk into Jetblue's Terminal 5 at JFK these days, you'll find a mini aviation museum slowing growing in their giant, open marketplace area. First, there was a giant jet engine on display, with an interactive display about airplanes and even a button you can push to make the engine spin. But their newest addition, to help celebrate Jetblue's tenth anniversary, reminds us of the days when we all thought we'd have jetpacks in the future; they're now exhibiting a bite-sized private jet with folding wings.

It's called the Icon A5, and we'd describe as the moped of airplanes even if the Icon calls itself "the very latest in sport aircraft design." To buy one, you'll have to lay down $135,000 and pledge to not carry anymore than 60lbs baggage onboard. Not that there's room for it anyway; the two-seater has wings that fold back for storage and a cozy cabin to keep it small enough to fit in someone's garage. Its max speed is 120 mph and its max distance is 345 miles.

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Food Travel / London Travel / London Field Trip / Open Thread / STN / → All Tags

What Weird Food Keeps You Coming Back To A Country?

One night, we were stuck sleeping underneath the departures board at London-Stansted airport, and we had very few pound coins left and a rumbling tummy, begging for food. So we went scrounging around, and that's when we saw them, our future obsession: potato chips in elaborate flavors. There was "Italian Sausage," "Prawn Cocktail," and even "Angus Steak."

Ever since then, we've always attempted to track down the craziest flavor crisps on subsequent trips to Britain. So it makes us wonder what special food items you look forward to purchasing on trips...are you partial to the interesting cereals of Italy? How about the cheeses of Mexico?

Or maybe you just have a great flavor of potato chips to recommend to us? We've already exhausted the offerings at Tesco and Marks & Spencer, so we're in your hands. So...what food items do you look forward to buying when you're abroad?

Related Stories:
· Food Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jaunted]

Airport Security / Security / TSA / Airports / Airport News / Open Thread / → All Tags

Have You Ever Caught the TSA Misbehaving?

This has not been the season for the Transportation Security Administration, what with their leaking of sensitive documents, the attempted crotch bombing on Christmas Day, the resulting knee-jerk security rules they laid down, the "oops, our bad!" lawsuits they sent to journalists and then retracted, and so much more.

Sometimes our hate for them and the vitroil spewed at the TSA by others online make us wonder at times if they really deserve it, and the answer to that is yes—yes they do. Working an airport security job should not be considered a step up from being behind the counter at Taco Bell, and yet it is.

So, with such brilliant employees (sarcasm!) dealing with millions of cranky, inconvenienced and confused flyers every day, mistakes are bound to be made and bored agents are bound to play solitare...wait, what did we just say?

Security officers caught red-handed

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Open Thread / Museums / The Louvre / Tourist Tricks / → All Tags

Be Honest, How Long Did You Really Spend Inside The Louvre?

This recent article in the New York Times has us feeling a little sheepish. You see, last fall we went to the Louvre in glorious Paris and we did a predictably touristy trip around the museum.

First stop, of course, was the Mona Lisa. Then we decided to take an audio tour that delved into the history of the museum starting with its beginnings as a fortress in the 13th century. As for the art itself, um, yeah, it was extensive. But do we remember much of it? No, not really. We didn't even snap that many pictures (does the picture of the Mona Lisa condoms on Rue de Rivoli count?) And we were out of the museum in just under two hours, only visiting two wings. And the NY Times knows it.

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In-Flight Fashion / Open Thread / → All Tags

What Are Your In-Flight Fashion Do's and Don'ts?

Not only is this outfit too painful to wear in-flight, it totally clashes with your Komfort Kollar!

Forbes has put forth a new kind of travel list today--Fashion for Frequent Fliers. The designer duds on this list not only look posh (you always want to look presentable in case of an upgrade) but they are made of wrinkle-free and scratch-free fabrics. We're also digging anything on this list that includes the word "elastic."

Forbes put this list together for once high-flying business class passengers who have been unceremoniously dumped to economy class by budget-cutting bosses but for the rest of us frequent fliers who have been slumming it in coach 90 percent of the time, we already have our list of go-to plane wear.

For this Jaunted contributor, black cotton leggings and a chic but roomy tunic have long been in-flight fashion staples (we like the ones with bejeweled necklines from Forever 21. Makes the look a little dressier but the fabric is usually cotton.) The shoes depend on the season but typically, it's anything that's easy on and easy off. We've also been known to sport a pair of neon green fleece socks in case of frigid cabin temperatures.

One article of clothing sure to have us turn into an in-flight fashion Anna Wintour? Sweatpants. Designer sweatpants are ok, but not desired. Those and Komfort Kollars.

It's ok to judge your fellow passengers. We do it all the time so go ahead and add your own In-Flight Fashion Staples in comments below!

Related Stories:
· Fashion For Frequent Fliers [Forbes]
· How Do You Survive Long Flights? [Jaunted]

Open Thread / Summer Travel / → All Tags

Are You Flying More This Summer Because of Cheap Airfare?

Even with all the checked baggage fees that make us cranky beyond belief, airlines have surprised us this summer by putting out some crazy affordable air fares, particularly amongst the LCCs.

JetBlue has their "cheep" fares and Southwest essentially is letting you pay per mile later this fall. But quite a few of the big airlines have come up with good deals to Europe and Hawaii so far this summer (provided that you're flexible and flying out of the right hub, of course.) Indeed, FareCompare.com says that air fares are 63 percent cheaper this month than last year.

We here at Jaunted have done a healthy mix of traveling between planes, trains and automobiles. But we're more interested in you. So tell us--provided that you were never down with "staycationing" in the first place--do you find yourself flying more this summer rather than road-tripping, busing it or taking the train?

Let us know how you have been traveling this summer in comments below!

Related Stories:
· Are You Still Going to Europe This Summer? [Jaunted]

Open Thread / No-Fly List / TSA / Airport Security / → All Tags

Does Your Common Last Name Often Put You On The No-Fly List?

We happen to know someone very near and dear to us who is unfortunately on the TSA No-Fly List. Or at least that's what we've surmised every time we've had to travel with him. While his criminal record is non-existent it seems that there is someone else out there with his very common first and last name who has committed some sort of criminal act that has placed him on the No-Fly list.

As it is, our friend is what is called a False Positive, someone with a similar name as a person on the No-Fly list. What this means is our friend cannot check-in online because the airlines have to see his driver's license (or other form of ID) with his birth date and address. This has been happening on and off for about five years.

Now, we're not saying it happens to everyone with a common last name (Jones, Smith, White, etc.) but having that last name doesn't help. Nor does a common first name like Michael or Jennifer.

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Open Thread / Extreme Travel / Dangerous Travel / Open Threads / → All Tags

What's Your Most Extreme Travel Experience?

We love a nice relaxing beach vacation as much as the next person, especially when umbrella drinks are involved. However, sometimes you want a little more than poolside waiter service. Sometimes, you wanna get dangerous. Cue the Roxette song, "Dangerous" please.

But how far are you willing to go for some thrills? Would you go deep sea “heli-fishing” or surfing off the coast of a volcano? Maybe your idea of adventure would be to try some "bizzare foods" or to visit some sex museums. Heck, maybe you even got Locked Up Abroad.And if you consider getting up close to the polar bears at the Berlin Zoo as far as your thrill-seeking will go, that's ok too. Because that can actually be very dangerous.

So let us know what kind of crazy possibly (hopefully?) death-defying stunts you’ve experienced or some or rebellious acts you've committed while on holiday in the comments below. We wanna hear your stories, mostly so it will inspire us to be a little more adventurous on our next trips.

Related Stories:
·The Uncertainty of Handing Over Your Passport at Border Crossings [Jaunted]
·Open Threads coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: chego101]

Open Thread / Travel Health / Zachary Quinto / Germs / → All Tags

How 'Spock' Avoids the Swine Flu and Other Viruses When Flying

New York magazine recently asked celebrities how they could possibly be carrying on with their daily duties in the midst of the (now, so last week) swine flu hysteria. The answers were as eclectic as the interviewees but we found a nice little travel health nugget from Zachary Quinto aka Spock in the new Star Trek. He says:

"Every time I get on an airplane I have a routine. I cover the inside of my nostrils with an antibacterial ointment. I'm popping Zicam like it's candy. And I drink, literally, from L.A. to New York, six bottles of water."

If the magazine had only asked what he packs in his carry-ons, we wouldn't be surprised to find a stash of surgical masks as well.

So tell us, are you as extreme at Zachary Quinto swiping your nostrils with Neosporin or are you touching everyone and everything on the plane without worry? Or as Brian Dennehy says, "What's the point? It's like worrying about getting hit when you cross the street." Let us know your bacterial killing/loving tips in comments below.

Related Stories:
· Nothing to Sneeze At [New York Magazine]
· The Swine Flu Hysteria [Jaunted]

[Photo: Ewen and Donabel]