Passenger’s bathroom dash causes panic on United flight

by Alison Brick on

You know when you’ve just downed your water bottle before reaching airport security? And you didn’t have time to use the airport bathroom? And then the plane is delayed on the tarmac?

Yeah, even then…don’t use the airplane toilet before takeoff.

One passenger learned the hard way yesterday. United Flight 22 had already left the gate at Los Angeles International Airport, but hadn’t taken off yet, and the man needed to use the toilet. But of course the fasten seat belt sign was on and a flight attendant told him to sit down.

He got up and ran to the toilet anyway.

I could easily imagine that happening. In my mind, it’s more of a personal emergency and not a threat to public safety.

But apparently, the flight crew didn’t think so. The plane was brought back to the gate. Once there, the man was escorted out, and the other passengers were let off the plane. Then, the plane was searched.

What did they find? Nothing. Nothing on the plane. Nothing in the man’s luggage. Nothing but proof that the passenger really needed to use the toilet.
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What’s wrong with the airlines’ new $10 surcharge for travel on busy days? (UPDATED)

by Aaron Hotfelder on

You’re already paying airlines extra fees for checking your bags, feeding you bad food, and letting you watch a bad movie. Now, as Gadling mentioned a few days ago, several airlines, including American, United, U.S. Airways, and Delta, have announced that beginning this Thanksgiving, domestic passengers will have to pay an extra $10 for the privilege of flying on a busy travel day.

The surcharge will apply to domestic flights on the Sunday after Thanksgiving and to flights on January 2 and 3, the first weekend after New Year’s Day.

So what’s wrong with this? Well, it’s not that the airlines are charging a premium to people who fly on very busy days– they already do that. (Ever looked at the price of a Christmas Eve plane ticket? Ouch.) No, the problem is that the airlines are creating yet another new “surcharge” instead of simply adding $10 to the base price of a ticket. (see update below)

The reason they’re doing this is obvious: it allows the airline to hide the premium in the “taxes and fees” portion of the ticket (where it might go unnoticed) rather than in the “base airfare” price. This is, of course, a bit deceptive– taxes and fees already make up a a large chunk, sometimes the majority, of a plane ticket’s price– and this new surcharge doesn’t quite feel legitimate. One Gadling commenter said it well: “It’s the sneaky nature of the thing that makes us dislike it.”

Note that, as Scott wrote in his original post, Continental, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, and Jet Blue, perhaps recognizing that their customers already feel nickel-and-dimed to death, have decided they will not institute the fees.

If these surcharges are instituted with little backlash, look for them to be expanded to Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Arbor Day, weekends…

UPDATE: American Airlines’ Media Relations guru Tim Smith emails to say:

“Any surcharge (for any reason) shows up directly IN THE FARE AMOUNT and does NOT affect any of the applicable taxes or fees. As always the customer gets to see the bottom line fare and full price PRIOR to making any purchase decision. The customer does not notice a difference! If it is $10 in the fare or $10 as a surcharge it is the same and looks the same!…

“So, if it’s the same as adding $10 to the fare, why not do it that way? The answer is simple, though still perhaps difficult for people to understand. Most fare changes (which cover thousands of markets and many dates of travel) are filed into a massive, computerized clearinghouse (ATPCO) that then pushes the fare information out to all the different computerized reservations systems – both online and those used by travel agents.

Gadling’s own Tom Johansmeyer discussed the scourge of airline fees here. I defended(!) Ryanair’s proposed “pay to pee” scheme here.

A tour inside Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue Tunnel

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Gadling’s Undiscovered New York series first told you about Brooklyn’s Atlantic Avenue Tunnel earlier this year. This past weekend, we headed down inside for a first-hand look. This subterranean tunnel, first constructed in the 1840’s, is perhaps the world’s first subway, pre-dating the system in London by more than 20 years. Each month, the Brooklyn Historic Railway Association runs tours of this forgotten wonder, taking visitors into the depths of a pitch-black tunnel that runs over 2,000 feet beneath busy Atlantic Avenue.

After paying $15 dollars, visitors are escorted to the middle of a busy Brooklyn intersection, where they descend through an open manhole. You creep under a support beam and through a concrete wall and suddenly you’re standing inside a huge underground cave, with ceilings 14 feet high and running the length of eight football fields. Bob Diamond, the explorer who re-discovered the tunnel back in the 80’s, regales you with the amazing story of its construction and use. Along the way you’ll learn about WWI German spies, Cornelius Vanderbilt and the notorious Murder, Inc. gangsters. Bob is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about his subject, and you’ll find yourself taken in by his vivid descriptions of the tunnel’s construction and the strange history of Brooklyn that created it.

Like so many the world’s great stories, the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel spent many years hidden in plain view, neglected and forgotten until a dedicated individual brought it to light. If you have a chance, make sure to stop by for one of Bob’s monthly tours: it’s a one-of-a-kind New York experience.

Kapalua, Hawaii – 23,000 acres of Maui Heaven

by Annie Scott on

Kapalua, Hawaii is an exclusive resort destination which is something of a best-kept-secret on the island of Maui. I hadn’t heard of it a few months ago, and now I can’t wait to go back.

Before we get into the delicious details, allow me to briefly make my case for why vacationing in Hawaii is like, the best idea ever:
1. All the comforts of home. As I mentioned in my article about the rainforest, Maui has Office Max, Barnes & Noble, Baskin Robbins; everything you secretly didn’t want to go without on your vacation.
2. In addition to the comforts of home, there are also active volcanoes, rainforests, and all your tropical adventure activities like zip-lining, parasailing and more — and don’t you feel a little safer doing that stuff in America, where you know insurance must be bananas?
3. Your money is good here. No changing of currency not only means you don’t have to do math, but you are also less likely to be ripped off by locals whose dollars are worth something else.
4. No customs, no passports, no weird, unexpected laws.
5. The time change works in your favor. Wanna sleep late? You can get away with it, because if you’re coming from the continental US or Canada, Hawaii is a few hours behind. I came from New York, so I would get up at 6 AM feeling like I slept till noon.
6. It’s freaking Hawaii. And yes, it is that gorgeous.

Onto Kapalua and the three places you can stay. Here’s one:
%Gallery-73767%So. Unless you’re into boats, Kapalua is typically reached by flying into Maui’s OGG international airport, then driving about 50 minutes around the perimeter of the island. Yes, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but there’s a volcano in your way (pesky) and it’s a beautiful drive.

There are three places you can stay in Kapalua, making it far more exclusive than Lahaina (which you pass on the way), where everyone and their mother has a hotel. The first and most beautiful digs in this blogger’s opinion is the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, nestled stylishly on Kapalua Bay, just steps from some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. The Residences consists of 84 private ownership properties which start at $4 million. If that’s laughably steep to you, consider the Club — 62 fully-furnished, deeded one-twelfth ownership properties (basically timeshares) which start at $350,000. The Club and Residences are elegantly appointed and fabulously designed — the architecture is stunning and distinctly Hawaiian — and extremely convenient to golf, the brand new Kapalua Spa, and more. Ownership also includes exclusive access to the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences’ dining and pool, which are not to be missed. Click here for more on all that.

Now, let’s talk about accommodations for those of us who aren’t into buying (or don’t have 350 grand to spare); there’s the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and the Kapalua Villas.The Kapalua Villas are a great choice for families, as they’re condo-style rentals complete with parking spaces and a large pineapple in every fridge. The Villas are divided into The Bay Villas and The Ridge Villas — and though staying at The Ridge means a bit of a hike to get down to the beach, the views are spectacular, and there are swimming pools on-site up there. Guests of the Kapalua Villas also have access to the pool areas at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, as well as free shuttles to get you all over Kapalua, including to golf, free tennis, and fabulous restaurants like The Plantation House and Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The Kapalua Villas run from just $169 per night to around $599, depending on size (up to three bedrooms) and season. And though they may provide the comforts of home like your own kitchen, free phone calls, and a daily newspaper, there is still maid service. Because you’re on vacation.

I know I said that the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences was the most beautiful option, but the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua hotel is no slouch. The gorgeous, 54 acre property recently underwent a $180 million renovation, and includes a luscious spa and six dining options from the lobby bar with live music to fresh fish by the beach, as well as the extravagant and magical AAA Four Diamond restaurant The Banyan Tree, which sources 100 percent of its herbs from organic gardens located (and strollable) on the grounds. The Banyan Tree alone is worth your trip to Kapalua.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel is also equipped with residential-style rooms, so families who are looking for the hotel atmosphere but want to be able to cook are well provided for. Another amenity for both families, couples, and lone travelers is the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment center on the property, which leads expeditions up to the Maunalei Arboretum Rainforest and takes guests snorkeling with underwater cameras in Kapalua Bay. You can ask about their monthly Give Back Getaway programs, or just arrange a trip to either destination privately with the center. Prices start at $299 and go up to around $6,500 for the lavish Royal Pacific Suite on the top floor.

Check out the gallery for photos of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, and visit Kapalua.com to learn more about this top-notch, cook-pine-peppered, fabulously luxe destination.

This trip was paid for by Kapalua Resort & The Ritz-Carlton, but the views expressed within the post are 100% my own.

Photo of the Day (9.27.09)

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Is the water dirty? Do I want to get wet? Sometimes these questions are irrelevant, particularly when you’re a kid and looking for amusement. Flickr user Cazimiro does a masterful job capturing the playful energy of a day in the park in today’s shot. I particularly liked the movement, the silvery texture of the puddle and splashes of water, frozen in mid-air. You almost feel as though you were there, hearing the playful yelps of the kids splashing around.

Want your pics considered for Gadling’s Photo of the Day? Submit your best ones here.