Win a SkyMall gift card from Gadling & Passports with Purpose

by Mike Barish on

Sure, SkyMall Monday is silly and tongue-in-cheek. But, that doesn’t mean that we don’t have a serious side. We know a good cause when we see one. That’s why Gadling is thrilled to be partnering with Passports with Purpose this year as part of their fantastic fundraising initiative. In doing so, we’re also giving away a $250 SkyMall gift card to one lucky donor.

What’s Passports with Purpose? You can learn all about them here, but what you need to know is that they organize travel bloggers from around the world to donate prizes to encourage readers to donate to a different cause every year. This year, they are raising money to build a village – yes, an entire village – in rural India to improve the lives of those struggling to survive. They are partnering with LAFTI, an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the Dalits of India.

Every single penny of your donation will go to LAFTI to assist them in reaching their goal of raising $50,000 to build a village. And, for every $10 you donate, you’ll be entered to win a $250 SkyMall gift card. SkyMall partnered with Gadling and graciously donated the gift card in support of Passports with Purpose. A village gets built and you get some awesome SkyMall gear. What’s not to love about this?

Not sure why you would want a $250 SkyMall gift card? Check out the SkyMall Monday archive for some ideas. When the time comes for the winner to use the gift card, I will make myself available to consult on the big SkyMall purchase(s).

SkyMall Monday is all about laughs and we’re happy to spread that joy. But, we’re even more thrilled to be associated with such an outstanding cause. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Passports with Purpose, donate whatever you can and help us build a village. That’s sure to generate a lot of smiles.

Donate to Passports with Purpose

Stash Hotel Rewards loyalty program reaches 100 independent properties

by McLean Robbins on

Tired of the same old loyalty chains? After just six months in business, Stash Hotel Rewards, the loyalty program that draws together independent and boutique properties has reached 100 total properties in 74 cities.

Stash has or will soon have 17 hotels in the Bay Area, seven in Seattle, six in New York City, and four in metro Atlanta.

“100 hotels means more choices for discerning travelers who want to earn points but don’t want big-chain sameness,” said Stash chief executive, Jeff Low. “Increasingly, travelers will find great independent hotels offering Stash points almost anywhere they go.

The independent hotels that recently joined Stash range in size from a five-room inn tucked among the skyscrapers of Atlanta to Doral Arrowwood, offering 370 rooms and a private golf course – just 30 minutes from Manhattan. A number of the properties, such as The Cliff House at Pikes Place, Louisville’s Brown Hotel, and San Antonio’s Menger Hotel have been recognized nationally for their historic significance.

We’re excited to keep a further eye on this loyalty program as it continues to grow.

SkyMall Monday: Jumpin Jammerz ACTUAL REVIEW

by Mike Barish on


Last week, SkyMall Monday focused its keen eye on Jumpin Jammerz. As promised, this week we’re bringing you our actual hands-on review of the footed pajamas. We put Jumpin Jammerz through their paces to see if they deserve their place in the SkyMall catalog. Are they as fun as their marketing videos make them out to be? The short answer: No. Are they comfortable? Not unless you enjoy stewing in your own juices. Do they live up to their claim of being the “do anything, wear anywhere” footed pajamas? Why not just watch this video edition of SkyMall Monday to find out.

Check out all of the previous SkyMall Monday posts HERE.

U.S. legacy carriers grab top spots in “worst company” chart

by Scott Carmichael on

Ask anyone what they consider to be a “bad company”, and most of them will mention their bank, their regular airline and their cable company. Because of this, U.S. airlines tend to score pretty bad in the monthly report from the American Customer Satisfaction Index.

Business Insider collected the most recent data, and lists the top 18 worst companies in America – and it’ll come as no surprise that four of the top ten companies are airlines.

In fact, Americans think so little of the legacy carriers, that the ones that made the list even managed to score lower than the biggest banks.

When customers think United Airlines scores worse than banks that have been in the news due to mortgage fraud issues, you just know they suffer from a customer service problem. In the top ten, here are the worst airlines in America:

#7 – American Airlines
#6- Delta Airlines
#5 – US Airways
#2 – United Airlines

The one thing these airlines all have in common is baggage fees – and sure enough, the common complaints mentioned in the research all point to baggage fees being a reason for customers to rate them so low. Delays are of course also a big factor in how passengers rate customer service. None of the low cost carriers made the list, and no carrier with free baggage allowances is mentioned either. Bottom line; if an airline is going to charge for baggage, they’d better make sure the rest of their service is top notch or they’ll be stuck in this list forever.%Gallery-64688%

Explosion at Mexico resort kills seven

by McLean Robbins on

An apparent natural gas explosion Sunday morning has killed seven people, including five tourists and one nine-year-old boy, reports USA Today.

Five Canadian tourists and two Mexican workers were among those killed by the blast at the 676-room Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in Mexico’s Playa de Carmen. Eight other Canadians were injured, including two who are listed in critical condition. Ten other people, including two U.S. citizens and eight Mexican employees of the hotel, suffered less serious injuries and were listed as stable.

Canadian news outlet CBC News report that the dead are a woman and four males: a nine-year-old boy, a 51-year-old man and two other men between 25 and 30 years of age.

Canadian outlet The Star offered the following explanation for the blast:

Initial investigations were focusing on the possibility that naturally occurring gas from a nearby swamp had built up under the hotel and somehow ignited, said Francisco Alor, attorney general of Quintana Roo, where the resort is located. Officials at the resort said no gas lines were located in the area where the blast occurred.

“The report suggests an accumulation of gases produced by decomposing organic material in the subsoil, and this gas produced the explosion,” Alor said. “Expert examiners and civil defence personnel will have to determine if the underground space filled with swampy water that remained in this zone when the building was constructed four years ago, could have generated this type of gases.”

Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.