Christmas list: five things I want from the airlines

by Tom Johansmeyer on

‘Tis the season, right? Regardless of beliefs, we’re all secretly wishing for something, even if we’re not hoping for a big fat guy to slide down a slim chimney to deliver it. And, I don’t think I’m unusual in having my own list of wishes. I’m not so naïve as to think the airline industry will turn my Christmas list into its New Year’s resolutions, but I can always dare to dream!

So, here it is – air travel industry, take note. I want five things I want for Christmas.

1. Name change: stop calling me a passenger, and start calling me a customer. I know, I know … I’ve asked for this before. Pay attention: I’m still asking for it. Without me – and a lot of people like me – you wouldn’t have had such a fantastically profitable year in 2010. Don’t get me wrong: I’m not begrudging you the profits. In fact, I want you to be profitable (I am a capitalist after all). Just show me that you realize I’m the guy spending, and extend this courtesy to everyone else who does.

2. Be realistic: I know there are some things you can’t control, such as weather and the TSA. But, there are plenty of ways you can improve. Take a long, hard look at your operations, and make some tough decisions. It’s not easy to admit your shortcomings, but in the end, doing so will benefit everybody (even you).
3. Add a clause: every frequent traveler has heard it said by a flight attendant: “Our primary job is safety.” We know this … good god, do we know this. I’m asking for a simple statement to be appended to that: “but we’re also committed to service.” Now, put it all together:

“Our primary job is safety, but we’re also committed to service.”

That sounds incredible. I could definitely get on board with that kind of thinking. And what does it cost the average flight attendant? Six extra words. The whole thing could be pushed out on Twitter, with plenty of room for hashtags and retweetin!

4. Leg room: okay, I know I’m getting greedy on this one, but I’d really love a little more. I’m not a tall guy, and I still feel cramped.

5. More a la carte pricing: maybe I’m the only guy out there who’s a fan of getting nickel and dimed … but I like choosing which nickels and dimes. I’d much rather pay only for what I use. Let the other guy pay for his own damned sandwich.

[photo by morberg via Flickr]

Christmas in Hawaii: 5 steps to surviving the holidays alone on an island

by Melanie Nayer on

As a New Englander, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without snow and bitter cold. Almost. There’s something to be said for a “white Christmas”, but there’s also something to be said for Mai Tai’s on the beach in Hawaii. There’s nothing like pine trees draped in snow; then again, there’s something great about a Christmas tree standing between two palm trees and tiki torches.

When I first told people I was going to Hawaii for Christmas I was flooded with concerned responses.

“Alone?”
“By yourself?”
“Are you suuuuure?”

My response to each question was a resounding “Yes.” I was going to Hawaii – L’anai to be exact – for 10 days, part of which would spend on hotel reviews and the other half would be a much-needed vacation. It was an end of the year gift to myself on a Hawaiian island so small, most people don’t even know it exists.

I arrived on L’anai via ferry from Maui and was immediately escorted by hotel shuttle to the Four Seasons L’anai, Manele Bay. There are three hotels on the island: two Four Seasons hotels, and one 10-room inn, Hotel L’anai. Within seconds I realized why everyone was so intrigued by my solo travel plans to Hawaii: there is no “party of one” here. Amid the honeymooners and families – and one huge corporate event – there was me. I suddenly became determined to rid everyone of the stigma associated with traveling alone. I’m not depressed, dumped or recently divorced – I just want a vacation.

So, how does a solo traveler enjoy the holidays alone on one of the most secluded and romantic islands in the states? Easy.1. Don’t think of it as ‘alone’, think of it as ‘on holiday without everyone else.’ Back home they are layered in scarves and mittens, fighting over who sits where around the dinner table, and packing in last-minute shopping at the overcrowded malls. You’re sitting on a beach with a cocktail and someone else is do the cooking (tip: The Ocean Grill at Four Season’s Manele Bay makes a great burger!). Enjoy.

2. Request a corner room or room far away from the center of the hotel. This will ensure a little more quiet and you won’t be in the middle of honeymoon and family vacation traffic. If possible, get a room with a balcony. Some of my best moments so far on this trip have been enjoying a morning cup of coffee on my balcony at Manele Bay watching the sunrise over the Hawaiian islands.

3. Choose a hotel with plenty of on-site options and connections to the community. At some point, you’ll want more than the beach. On L’anai, the Four Seasons has two resorts: a beach resort (Manele) and a mountain resort (Koele). Guests of either hotel have access to the other hotel and its activities. I’ve been horseback riding through the mountains, hiking on some of the most beautiful trails, and attended an art show, all thanks to the connections of the hotel.

4. Make friends with the locals. Cliche as it may seem, making friends with the locals can be the difference between feeling sorry for yourself and belting out Journey’s “Separate Ways” and an all-night karaoke bar (not that I’ve done that, mind you). While on L’anai, make sure you stop by Hotel L’anai for their live band every Friday night. It’s the best on the island, and because you’re family when you walk in, you can spend all night at your table just enjoying the music (and likely sharing a glass of wine with the owners). Tip: Stay for dinner and order the truffled mac-and-cheese, venison or filet. The comfort food of this grill won’t let you down.

5. Find a volunteer opportunity and donate your time. No matter where you choose to spend your holiday, there’s a soup kitchen, senior center or shelter that needs your support. Ask the hotel for a local volunteer group contact, or connect with the visitors center in the area to learn about volunteer opportunities. This year, I’ll be handing out “wish gifts” to children on L’anai and serving breakfast Christmas morning at the local senior center. There’s no gift greater than a smile you receive from those you’re helping. Their gratitude will make you forget you’re flying solo for the holidays – in fact, you’ll feel as if you’ve just inherited a family.

Lastly, don’t forget to unwrap something for yourself on Christmas morning. As one friend once said to me, “Even if it’s a new toothbrush, it counts as something to open!” Wrap a small gift to yourself and tuck it your suitcase. Whether it’s a scarf you purchased on your last trip, a pair of earrings you forgot you owned, or a new book you’ve been waiting to read, you’ll find a simple joy in unwrapping a present to yourself. And in the event you forget to give yourself a gift, never fear: at least you have a new toothbrush.

Aloha from Hawaii!

Latest al Qaeda threat targets hotel buffets

by Melanie Nayer on

According to a report from the Department of Homeland Security, al Qaeda terrorists have targeted buffets at various U.S. hotels and restaurants as their latest terrorist threat. USA Today reports the threat is “credible” and hotels have been briefed and are on alert.

According to USA Today:

While the report says that hotel industry security officials have been briefed about the potential threat, Joe McInerney, who runs the industry’s chief association in Washington D.C. – said that federal officials say that “there is nothing specific” in terms of a potential threat against hotels so the industry isn’t immediately worried although it is taking action.

Here’s what CBS reported:

The plot, uncovered earlier this year, is said to involve the use of two poisons – ricin and cyanide – slipped into salad bars and buffets. Of particular concern: The plotters are believed to be tied to the same terror group that attempted to blow up cargo planes over the east coast in October, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In online propaganda, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has praised the cargo attack, part of what it called “Operation Hemorrhage.”

The food poisoning threats are credible, and the Dept. of Homeland Security says public health officials are on alert. There hasn’t been any indication as to what hotels are being targeted or which ones have been briefed.

We want to know: Will you still eat at a hotel buffet this holiday season?

When airlines pull out of travel websites, who loses?

by Tom Johansmeyer on

It’s been a busy week. The action with airlines and online travel agencies has been brisk, and in the end, it affects you as much as it affects them. Sure, there’s plenty of money involved for the travel sites and the airlines, but in the end, it all comes down to what you experience during the buying process. These changes – with American Airlines and Orbitz and Delta and CheapOair – will have an effect on you and on which airline you fly next.

Doubtless, the numbers are big. Orbitz generated $800 million in revenue by selling flights on American in the first nine months of 2010, though some of it came from ancillary services. While CheapOair’s revenues from Delta aren’t available, let’s not lose sight of the fact that it’s the largest airline in the United States, so the impact can’t be trivial.

Are the airlines eyeing all that business and trying to claim it for themselves? There’s a flaw in that thinking, according to the Business Travel Coalition. In a statement released last night, it noted that American Airlines may lose some of the revenue it books through Orbitz, and you’re the reason why.

The dynamic is pretty straightforward. According to data from travel industry research firm PhoCusWright, the BTC says, 87 percent of travelers turn to the internet when they start shopping for tickets. Also, around 28 percent of the would-be travelers who visit online travel agencies wind up buying their tickets on the airlines’ websites instead.In practical terms, let’s say you’re looking for a flight, and you go to Orbitz. On Orbitz, you notice options from American Airlines. There’s a one-in-four chance, roughly, you’ll just go to American’s site to buy your ticket.

Now, what happens if you don’t see American on Orbitz (or Delta on CheapOair)? Well, you may see a flight on United, and go to that airline’s website to make your purchase. That’s a lost opportunity for the airline that pulled out of the online travel agency.

As Kevin Mitchell, BTC chairman, puts it: “American acts as if it’s the country’s biggest airline when it’s really number four and falling. Consumers may not even know American’s flights are missing. The ones who will gain the most here are American’s competitors who will enjoy feasting this Christmas on turkey served up by American. Delta, United, Southwest and others should be grateful for this early Christmas present.”

He adds: “American’s decision to immediately pull its flight information from Orbitz shows that it has near-zero interest in preserving an open and transparent marketplace. It is an outrageous act that will negatively impact consumers nationwide who are in the midst of comparison-shopping for their holiday travel. Moreover, American is tacitly acknowledging that if a consumer booked an American flight on Orbitz, and now needs to change it, she will need to work through American Airlines. That’s a recipe for huge consumer confusion and frustration right in the heart of the holiday season.”

The same, of course, could be said about Delta in regards to CheapOair, though on a much smaller scale, given that CheapOair forecasts 2010 total revenue of $1.2 billion (compared to $800 million in revenue related to American Airlines alone for Orbitz).

So, it all comes back to you. The airlines want you. The online travel agencies want you. This is why the battle for the consumer is intensifying. And, with fares on the rise and economic conditions stabilizing, the stakes are getting higher. For the airlines, direct ownership of the consumer certainly has its perks, but it also comes with a handful of risks. They may be serving business up to the competition, as Mitchell said.

Airlines and online travel agencies are king some pretty big bets on how you will book your tickets. Ultimately, however, the decision is entirely yours.

[photo by cliff1066 via Flickr]

Daily gear deals: $30 portable TV, $5 Bluetooth headset and more

by Scott Carmichael on

Here are the hottest daily gear deals for today, Wednesday December 22, 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today’s first deal is for a portable 7″ digital TV. This TV picks up channels over the air, or can play stuff off its line-in jack. On sale for $29.99 at 1saleaday.com.

Next up is the Samsung WEP450 Bluetooth headset. The headset features 6 hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby time. On sale for $24.99 – but comes with a $20 mail in rebate. Click here for this deal.

Today’s third deal is for a DC to AC power inverter. Feed this $20 gadget some power from your car, and it’ll deliver regular 110V for a laptop or other low power device. Also features a USB power port. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today’s lineup are the Altec Lansing Backbeat Plus noise isolating headphones. On sale for $16.99, click here for this deal.