Airline Hell

by Erik Olsen on

We’ve all been there, but I love it when someone actually videos the experience.

Maybe this, and similar stories, will kick the airlines in the butt and get them to do something about how abysmal the service has been so far this summer. I’ve flown four times since April and EVERY single flight was late and had problems similar to this (tho not as bad as here). The airlines are struggling and so filling flights to the hilt, and the airports are understaffed and have problems getting the planes off the ground. Someone DO something.

I found this link over at Jason’s blog, and watched it with both incredulity and sympathy.

Indian Airline Billboard Wars Continue… Maybe.

by Justin Glow on

Remember when I posted about the billboard wars between Indian airlines Kingfisher and Jet Airways? Jet Airways had erected a billboard saying “We’ve changed” and Kingfisher responded with a billboard of their own directly above the Jet Airways message saying “We made you change.”

The story isn’t over — a third Indian airlines, GoAir, responded to both of them with a third billboard saying, “We’ve not changed. We’re still the smartest way to fly.”

This is getting a bit ridiculous. With roughly 18 airlines in India, the billboards might reach the moon by the time the battle is over. I do have a sneaking suspicion that the GoAir billboard is Photoshopped, though. If you look at the original article I wrote, the bottom billboard doesn’t have “DesignersMind.com Creative Showcase” written on it like in the photo above. Someone’s been messing around.

What do you think? Can anyone verify that this third billboard actually exists? [via]

Previously: Kingfisher to Jet Airways: We Changed You!

Wine Tasting in Airports?!?

by Neil Woodburn on

In the never ending quest to eek a tiny bit of pleasure out of the strain of airline travel, one emerging company is bringing upscale sophistication to the airport lounge itself.

Vino Volo (Wine Flight) is a high end wine store which entertains waiting passengers with wine tastings paired with “locally-produced artisan cheeses, dry cured meats, and smoked salmon rolls wrapped around crab meat and créme fraiche.” Mmmm!!!

As if this isn’t cool enough, Vino Volo isn’t overblown with brightly lit, garish interiors like so many other airport retailers. Instead, it offers “warm wood tones and comfortable lounge chairs” so that it actually feels like you are in a real wine bar or restaurant instead just outside gate 42.

Currently, Vino Volo can only be found in a handful of airports in the United States; Dulles, Seattle, Baltimore, and Sacramento, with ten more locations appearing in the next year.

And yes, you can buy the wine to go. Hello 2001 Chateau Figeac, goodbye United Airlines house red!

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of June 24

by Adrienne Wilson on

Some of these are still pretty recent posts that you SHOULD NOT have missed if you’ve been a good little Gadling reader checking in everyday. In the event you somehow slipped and missed a day or two here are five worthy of review.

5. Only in OZ: Irwin’s Whale Watching Boat:
Still feeling melancholy over the death of Steve Irwin? Don’t! Chances are he wouldn’t want you to be and if you find yourself heading to OZ soon this featured activity may be your chance to remember Steve and learn a lot about whales which he loved just as much as the famed crocs.

4. A Canadian in Beijing: Vegan Mandarin Language Survival Guide:
After reading this little language survival guide Ember whipped up, my head is full of useful new words to help out at the dinner table in China. I’m not vegan, but it never hurts to know.

3. Swimming with Manatees: Life in the Slow Zone:
When my friend invited me to swim with manatees the first time I laughed not really knowing what they were or thinking she was serious. After hearing how fun her trip was and this tale by Gadling guest blogger, Dolores Parker, I wish I were closer to Crystal River, FL to swim with them myself. If you’re searching for fun ways to hang with the family in Florida this one is sure to please all.

2. Traveling Tips from a Backpacking Geek:
No matter how prepared you think you are for your big trip ahead looking over some one else’s tips never hurts. Here are a few ideas from a backpacking geek on how to save digital photos and important documents from being lost forever.

1. Hilarious Hand-Written Airline Complaint:
In need of a good laugh? This has to be one of the funniest complaints I’ve ever seen in regards to that horrible seat next to the lavatory that some ‘poor soul’ gets stuck with on a completely packed flight. In this situation the poor individual decided to share the experience with the airlines in a laugh-out-loud hand-written complaint with pictures. A MUST READ.

New Online Booking Engine Promises to be the Best

by Neil Woodburn on

Yet another site to find and book airline tickets!

And of course, this one promises the “lowest prices and best schedules.”

Vayama.com is currently in Beta mode, but it just might emerge as one of those Kayak-worthy travel sites that we all come back to.

Here is one of the things I like best about it: a map. Plug in your departure and arrival cities, and Vayama will plot the routes. So what’s the big deal? Not only is it cool to visualize your journey, but it comes in handy when you have a choice of connections to make. Now you can actually see how far out of your way some connections take you.

Vayama also claims to provide a number of fares that the company has privately negotiated that have never been published online before. I did some jumping around on some random flights but didn’t find any spectacular savings. According to a recent article in USA Today, however, these special deals pop up by combining unusual destinations and airlines–such as a San Francisco to Sydney flight aboard Hawaiian Airlines.

So, I guess it is a wait and see. I will most certainly bookmark this site and use it along with a handful of others when I make my next travel arrangements. It will either provide the best option for my trip, or it won’t.