Best Airports for Business Travel

by Neil Woodburn on

For most of us, getting stuck in an airport becomes a lesson in boredom that can only be alleviated through naps, iPods, and people watching.

But what about all those Type A personalities on business trips forced to eek out some productivity while stuck between flights? We’ve all seen them, hunched over their laptops at the gate while others around them snooze or fiddle with their hand-held electronics. It must be hell trying to get work done under such circumstances.

Fortunately the fine folks over at Business 2.0 have done some investigative journalism to uncover the very best American airports for the business traveler–stopover locations where suits can cozy up to a bevy of services designed to transform even the briefest of stops into a massive outpouring of workflow.

The five best airports for business travelers, according to Business 2.0, are Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP), Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), Denver International (DIA), San Francisco International (SFO), and Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW).

And why are they so great? Just check out some of the following perks; free Wi-Fi and a day spa (CLT), $45 day-pass to Northwest Club Lounges (MSP), eight business centers and an onsite hotel (DFW), and sushi and a meditation room (SFO). And of course, all have internet hook-ups, CNN feeds, hypercharge stations, access to fax machines, photocopiers, and everything else you might need in your office away from home.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of January 14

by Adrienne Wilson on

There have been some tear-jerkers, some inspirational pieces and a couple of new faces this week, but I’m in a quirky mood and with that said I’m giving you five of the weeks quirkiest posts, sort of. In no particular order here they are:

5. Dance of the Flight Attendant:
I can’t say that we’ve posted comics in the past or how many more we’ll touch on in the future. With this particular comic Justin brings our attention to the daily ritual performed by flight attendants daily and so many often ignore as drawn up by Jen Wang. It’s short, sweet, and actually quite nice.

4. Quiz: What’s Your Travel Personality?:
After I took this quiz I wasn’t quite sure about myself. In fact I wasn’t quite sure that I’d taken the correct vacation for my um, travel type at all. I came out as a Mind-Venturer, which when I really think about it – it is all so very wrong, but maybe I just never knew my true traveling self. Apparently I’m not the type that would enjoy sleeping under the stars, yet one of my best travel memories was camping on the beach in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Who creates these quizzes again and what type of traveler are you? Think you know?

3. LP’s The Perfect Day:
Say you’re in Dubai and you’re looking to experience the perfect day… Well this could be tough for some, but not all. Perhaps you’d like to experience the perfect day according to what the locals might consider it being or maybe you’re just in need of another great Lonely Planet selection. Think quick insight and travel advice you can trust all to help you find true bliss on your backpacking excursion.

2. Silk Sleep Sacks:
Not comfortable with the hotel sheets? Yeah, I can understand. Before your adventure outdoors ever begins there is the mind-battle every traveler faces indoors the night before in their very own hotel bedroom: To crawl under the sheets or sleep standing up? That is the question. Just like being in the great outdoors you’ll need the right gear if you’re going to get a great night sleep. Now you can buy a Silk Sleep Sack. No clue what I’m rambling about? Check it out then!

1. The Arcade Wire: Airport Security:
In my younger wonder years I used to stick to the joystick of a good ole’ arcade game like glue and since I’ve loosened my grip I’ve come to explore the real-world and not the mind-warping scenarios in most arcade games. Now I and you too, can delve into the world of Airport Security via an arcade game. It’s not mind-warping – it is real! I just wonder how many points you score for discovering hyper-active and explosive lip-gloss.

Sir, There’s a Fly in My Urinal

by Dave Luna on

Here’s something from the “Urban Legend or Not?” files…

It seems the bathroom authorities at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport placed a picture of a housefly in the bowls of men’s room urinals. This simple image gives gents a — shall I say — bulls-eye. The little insect ensures guys aim for the drain and keep off the floor. This supposedly saves time and money in restroom cleaning costs. The folks at TruthOrFiction.com contacted the airport, and the Netherlanders confirmed the claim. That’s what I call dedication to journalism.

I actually saw one of these urinal flies in Schiphol Airport, and I just figured it was some plumbing company’s odd logo. Also, if you wanted to know, their Musca domestica mind-trick worked on me.

The Arcade Wire: Airport Security

by Justin Glow on

You know what? I’ve had it with all the fun, innovative video games of today. What I want in a game is realism. Not graphic realism, mind you, but true-to-life realism — a game that bleeds conventionality. No more space aliens or rocket-powered cars. I want something down-to-earth, something like this “newsgame” titled The Arcade Wire: Airport Security by Persuasive Games.

Now you can fulfill your dreams of becoming an airport security agent, all from the comfort of your own home. Think you have what it takes to rifle through the bags of unsuspecting travelers and pick out whatever item the TSA has deemed unfit for flying that particular day? Now’s your chance to find out.

“In The Arcade Wire: Airport Security you inspect each passenger and his luggage and remove the forbidden items before allowing the passenger to go through,” reads the official game description. “… but the list of forbidden items changes on a moment-to-moment basis. Prohibited items may include pants, mouthwash, and hummus.”

The Flash-based game is free to play, and comes in three difficulty ratings: “fickle, arbitrary and knee-jerk.” Visit PersuasiveGames.com to test your skills.

Productive Complaining

by Neil Woodburn on

Travel, by its very nature, is fertile soil for things to go wrong.

And when they do, there is a right way and a wrong way for dealing with them.

Thankfully, Budget Travel has put together a handful of suggestions on the proper way to complain so that your problem will be remedied. Writer Laura MacNeil, for example, suggests that you “control your emotions.” Interviews with flight attendants revealed that they are more willing to help those who are polite to them.

Or, if the problem occurs in a hotel and it is part of a chain, go back to your room and call their customer-service number; this will usually produce results.

How to Complain When Things Go Wrong, includes many other smart choices to make when something hasn’t gone as promised and you want some immediate action. My favorite: Write about it. If someone screws up I can post about it here on Gadling. Others can do so on their personal blogs, or simply write a letter to the editor of a travel magazine or newspaper. Something not mentioned in the article is the Lonely Planet Thorn Tree. Travelers post a huge number of tips on this forum and if something went wrong on their journeys, you can be sure they will mention it here.