Adjustable Laptop Screens: Better Viewing while Flying

by Neil Woodburn on

Argh! 

The airplane seat in front of you reclines towards you but your laptop screen tilts the opposite direction.  The two meet at an awkward, incompatible angle, forcing you to hunch over and arrive at your destination with a kinked neck.

Well, since the airlines aren’t going to do anything about this, the computer manufacturers decide to pick up the slack.  Manufacturers who partner with Intel will be releasing laptops later this year that are ergonomically designed to accommodate the awkward seating configurations of airlines.  The adjustable screen pops up from the front of the unit, giving it enough room to angle back comfortably.  You can’t type very well in this position, but you sure can watch movies much easier. 

 

Iraqi Airlines

by Neil Woodburn on

Iraqi Airlines sounds like a bad joke, but such a company actually exists and routinely plies the airspace above one of the more dangerous countries on this planet right now.  I’ve flown some pretty horrible airlines in my life (Aeroflot, China Air), but have never run into the problems encountered by Associated Press writer Scheherezade Faramarzi while trying to fly from Baghdad to Sulaimaniyah. 

Take a moment to read her engaging account.  Although she lives to tell about it (always a big plus in my book) and arrives much closer to her destination than where she took off from, her ordeal is a lesson in frustration that will make even the worst trip of your life seem like coddled first class in comparison. 

Given the option, however, I’d still chose Iraq’s “friendly skies” over their not-so-friendly roads. 

 

Stopover Grub: Best Restaurants within 10 Minutes of Major Airports

by Neil Woodburn on

Have a long stopover and don’t feel like paying $14 for a chicken sandwich that tastes like stringy plant fiber trapped between two Hush Puppy loafers?  Well, usatoday.com has a solution for hungry travelers looking for a bit more sustenance between flights: catch a taxi into town and visit an honest-to-God, real restaurant. 

This particularly helpful column lists a handful of exceptional restaurants less than 12 minutes travel time from major airports across the United States.  A civilized meal at a non-airport restaurant is the perfect panacea to inject some humanity and comfort into the otherwise uncomfortable airport experience. 

Most on the list tend to be higher-end and expensive but helpful quotes from the Zagat Guide can help you decide which is right for you.  I’ve been to only one of of the suggestions, Café del Rey in Los Angeles, and found it exceptional.  The ten minute estimate for travel time, however, isn’t taking into consideration rush hour, so be careful you don’t miss your plane. 

 

Longest Flight EVER!

by Neil Woodburn on

I’ve often wondered this, and now I have my answer.  But before I throw it out, want to take a guess on how many hours it takes to fly the longest commercial passenger flight in the world?  My personal record is a gut wrenching 12 hours on a nonstop Moscow to Los Angeles Aeroflot trek.  And none of the TV screens worked.

According to a recent USA Today article, the longest flight currently in operation is from Los Angeles to Singapore on Singapore Airlines, clocking in at a grueling 18 hours and 30 minutes. 

Hey, that’s not even enough time to watch an entire season of 24!

 

More Leg Room

by Neil Woodburn on

At 6’4″ I really have a miserable time in most airplanes.  My knees are crammed into the seat in front of me and sleep is almost impossible.  You can usually find me at the back of the plane stretching my legs while the rest of the cabin is snoozing away. 

I was therefore very happy to discover the launch of two new airlines that have done away with the pesky coach seating and upgraded all seats on the flight.  The Concorde did this many years ago, but it didn’t help us budget travelers as all the seats were First Class. 

MAXjet and Eos Airlines-both of which have those really cool seats that fold down to a full sized bed-sell only those really cool Business Class seats, but not at Business Class prices.  MAXjet has been selling tickets from New York to London (one of their only routes) for just $679 one way.  Eos is more expensive, but still substantially cheaper than Business Class on most other airlines. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to pay a bit more for that bed.  And, a flight attendant to tuck me in.  They do do that in Business Class, don’t they?