Ask The Pilot

by Iva Skoch on

Ok, so we missed it the first time around, when it was published, back in 2004. But it’s made its way to paperback and is now at Hudson News (at a lot of airports, so it’s easy to pick up while traveling). It’s Patrick Smith’s Ask the Pilot.

Based on his salon.com “column” of the same name, it’s really a series of questions and answers about air travel related issues, by a straight-talking writer, who happens to be a commercial passenger jet pilot.

The tag line says that the book is ‘for anyone who’s the least bit afraid to fly,’ but this book has enough in it to inform and amuse even the more “seasoned” flier.

He answers questions like, “what happens if a bird flies into an engine during take-off?” “What’s that smoke that trails from the wings?” “Will turbulence crash a plane?” “What’s a commercial pilot’s life like?” “What were the 10 worst airplane crashes?”

The one question he didn’t tackle: why is airline food so bad?

Think Before You Click

by Dave Luna on

We all make trivial typing mistakes, but for one German tourist, a wrong letter resulted in an 8,000 mile trek in the wrong direction. Tobi Gutt wanted to book a flight online to Sydney, Australia, but he actually ordered a ticket to Sidney, Montana. He didn’t realize his mistake until he found himself meeting a connecting flight to the 5,000 person town in Billings, Montana. Gutt waited three days in Billings before he received 600 Euros (about $790) from friends and family to purchase a fare for the right continent.

I’ve made airline booking mistakes, but I’ve always caught them before I ended up with the wrong flight dates. Though, it’s usually been a pain — and costly — to get someone on the phone and fix my errors. So, everyone, please remember what your elementary school teacher kept telling you: “Always check your work.” (Well, maybe she was just always telling me that.)

Travel Forecast 2007

by Neil Woodburn on

Travel, like any other business, has its share of experts who try to predict what the future holds for the industry.

Thankfully, the travel forecast for 2007 has been nicely summed up in an article by David Armstrong.

The general theme, however, is disappointing: Travel will become more expensive in 2007. New York hotels, for example, are expected to increase in price by a whopping 18%.

There is some good news, however. The following are just a few of the highlights to look forward to in the upcoming year:

United Airlines is installing 6-foot-6-inch beds in first class.
A record 54 million foreign tourists will visit the United States thanks to a weak dollar.
Singapore Airlines will begin flying the Airbus A380, the world’s largest commercial jet.
Collectively, the American airline industry will finally turn a profit in 2007.
The declining health of Fidel Castro may mean easier travel to Cuba for American citizens.

Not too bad!

iPod Listening When U Travel

by Erik Olsen on

Like a lot of people, I have fallen so in love with my ipod that, after my wallet, it’s the one thing I HAVE to carry with me when I leave the house. And before I go, I always make sure that it is loaded up with the most recent podcasts from NPR, as well as my Charlie Rose subscription on Audible.com AND many audio books from audible. I was happy to see Iva blog about audible’s content, especially about Rory Stewart’s The Places in Between, which I actually have in its atom-based, tree-pulp form and am enjoying immensely.

But for those who travel and are looking for walking tours and such to put on their ipods and other listening devices, here are a couple of ideas.

A company called AudioSteps offers audio walking tours of various cities around the country including New Orleans, Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. For the internationally-inclined, especially those traveling to London, a company called BlueBrolly has a fine selection of audio walks for areas including Westminster, Soho, Chinatown, Greenwich, Covent Garden, St Paul’s and other spots around the English capital. Finally, PodGuides takes a step further and offers digital maps and small pictures, along with the audio tracks. A fine idea, and one I’m sure we’ll be seeing a LOT more of.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of December 24

by Adrienne Wilson on

Before you start rattling off with excuses about how the family was visiting from Buffalo or how you got tied up under the mistletoe, please do me one small favor. Spare the sob story. I don’t care why you couldn’t get here or what could have been more important than getting your travel fix, but you’re lucky that I’m nice and feeling the holiday spirit for I’m giving you the gift of checking out what you missed!

5. Would You Like Polonium With That?:
Folks following the case of the Russian spy that was poisoned might be interested in filling their mouths with the very same cuisine the spy was noshing on when things went awry and sour in his stomach. Iva informs us that the Itsu in London isn’t doing so well at the moment and one can understand why, but the newest location in NYC is thriving. Someone daring enough to try the hamachi?

4. He’s BaaaaaacK! Michael Jackson in Vegas:
I’m not going to say a whole lot here. Erik already did a fine job of that, but in short the King of Pop shall be performing in Vegas. C’mon you know and I know you’re dying to see Mike!

3. Emirates Airlines to Allow Cell Phone Talk on Flights:
Starting in January 2007, Emirates Airlines will be the first to allow cell phones use during flights. If you’re not a fan of cell phones in general or someone babbling in your ear it may be time to invest in some ear plugs.

2. Expense Reports: The Bane of Travel Writers:
Okay, this is funny because if you’ve ever needed a receipt for any job, not just travel writing you can relate. Expense reports are just not fun, but such is what must be done when traveling on the company’s dollar.

1. Not Taking Vacation! Shame on You!:
This is too hard to believe. There are people (American people) who actually don’t take their vacation days off. It is just jaw-dropping. We’re not saying take the one or two weeks and go to Tonga, but geez, give yourself the opportunity to kick back at home and watch the Discovery Channel for crying out loud. Take a break!