Travel

function redirect(urlPrefix) { window.location(urlPrefix + “http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/up-front-with-tim-winship/it-may-be-time-to-bid-aloha-to-alohapass-miles.html?id=2537957″); } function printAnchor(urlPrefix) { document.write(”"); } mboxCreate(’st_bookmarks_horizontal’); On March 20, Aloha Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It’s Aloha’s second time in bankruptcy, and there’s a real possibility that this is the beginning of the end for the Hawaiian carrier. The prospect of Aloha being grounded for good unnerves members of the airline’s AlohaPass frequent flyer program. And it should. In the five-year period between 2002 and 2007, when many of the major carriers were in or on the brink of bankruptcy, I found myself reassuring jittery mileage collectors that their miles would almost certainly survive, even if the airline which issued those miles disappeared. That was because a major airline’s frequent flyer database is a valuable marketing asset,
(Read the full post about ‘It may be time to bid “Aloha” to AlohaPass miles’…)

function printAnchor(urlPrefix) { document.write(”"); } mboxCreate(’st_bookmarks_horizontal’); Laptops are highly desirable targets for thieves and hackers, and they’re vulnerable to careless baggage handlers. Here are tips to make flying with a laptop safer.Make sure your computer’s security systems are up to date. Set a system password and turn off any auto-fill or remember-password features. Use a padded laptop bag. Carry your laptop on the plane, as theft or damage are more likely if you check it. Be watchful of your laptop at all times. Do not send your laptop through the security X-ray machine until it’s your turn to walk through the metal detector. Keep an eye on it as you pass through. Ask one of the agents to grab it if you get held up for a search. Be wary of Wi-Fi scammers. Hackers often set up “free” Wi-Fi service through peer-to-peer networks at airports. To avoid this, open your “Wireless Network Connection” box to view the available networks. Don’t be fooled by
(Read the full post about ‘Keep your laptop safe when flying’…)

OLD FORGE, Pennsylvania — My best friend from childhood is Italian-American. Very Italian-American. So when Mary Immaculata Ferrario Rinaldi invites me to visit the Pizza Capital of the World, I don’t ask questions. She knows pizza. We head out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, toward Old Forge, population approximately 10,000. In about 10 minutes we’re driving down Main Street. I start counting the pizza cafГ©s, as they call them here: Rinaldi’s, Brutico’s, Arcaro & Genell’s, Anthony’s, Ghigiarelli’s — 11 on this street alone. Within just a few blocks, there are at least nine more. Even the florist on Main Street is called "Pizzazz." Mary said we would need reservations, and she’s right. It’s 4:30 p.m. and Revello’s is packed. The place attracts locals and celebrities. Hillary Clinton was here a couple of weeks ago. Just for fun we ask if we can sit in the booth where she sat. "No problem, honey," the waitress, Dorothy, says. Now, if you are thinking regular
(Read the full post about ‘Dough rising in Pizza Capital of the World’…)

function printAnchor(urlPrefix) { document.write(”"); }   

The soaring glass and metal Terminal Five, Britain's largest enclosed space, will be the new home of British Airways, channelling passengers past Gucci and Prada boutiques and a restaurant by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. "Looking around this bright and airy space with its clean efficient layout, I am sure that many millions of travellers will have reason to be appreciative," the queen said. On the eve of the queen's visit, police arrested a man who ran out onto a Heathrow runway. Police exploded his bag as a precaution but did not find a bomb and said they did not believe the incident was terrorism-related. His motive was not clear. Green protesters worry the new terminal is just the first stage in a vast new expansion that will see a third runway, sixth terminal and up to twice as many passengers. Last month, protesters broke into the airport and wrapped a banner around a plane. Others chained themselves to the roof of the House of Commons. The airport's
(Read the full post about ‘Queen opens new Heathrow terminal’…)

We made it to Berlin Tuesday morning after what, as I had anticipated, was a wonderfully pleasurable flight, relaxing in the sauna, playing a couple of rousing games of ping pong down on the recreation deck, sipping mai-tais with the crew, and singing karaoke in the lounge. In my dreams. Actually, as I really predicted, we were stuffed into our seats like sausage meat into pig intestines in the economy section of the 757-B. Periodically, they brought us drinks and what they claimed was food a couple of times. At one point during the "meal" a young, waiflike boy rose up at the rear of the plane clutching his small bowl and stating in his tiny but plaintive voice, "I want more." "More?!!" Bumble roared. "No one ever asks for more!" Well no, actually, that's in a scene from Oliver, but I presume you get my drift. Sometime after feeding us they started running a movie up in first class, while in coach, they passed around a View Master with a
(Read the full post about ‘To Deutschland We Have Come: The Jewish Museum in Berlin’…)

Traffic Backup. 110,000 people were expected to attend. It was simulcast to thousands more in movie theaters across America. The event was also simulcast on XM Satellite Radio. Unfortunately, a week of rain had flooded the concert field to the point where people were turned away, causing gridlock on the highway and roads leading to the site. Rumors circulated that the stage was sinking. Mike Gordon got on the radio and told everyone who wasn’t already in to turn away and that no more cars would be allowed in. At that point, only about 20,000 people were in the concert area. Instead of turning away, tens of thousands parked their cars on highway medians, in breakdown lanes, and on the sides of roads. Then they hiked in to the concert venue, some walking as far as 30 miles to the venue.  Among those that made it was Danny DeVito.  Star of the former television series, “Taxi” as well as numerous movies, including “Renaissance Man” and “Twins.”  About a half hour
(Read the full post about ‘The End of an Era.’…)

function redirect(urlPrefix) { window.location(urlPrefix + “http://www.smartertravel.com/blogs/up-front-with-tim-winship/for-airline-discounts-pay-by-paypal.html?id=2537794″); } function printAnchor(urlPrefix) { document.write(”"); } mboxCreate(’st_bookmarks_horizontal’); Although it’s not widely known, PayPal has agreements with several major airlines, allowing travelers to use the popular online payment service to purchase airline tickets. At least in part to address that lack of awareness, PayPal is currently offering cash rebates for tickets purchased from Midwest, Northwest, and Southwest. The rebates—$50 on Northwest and Southwest tickets costing at least $250, $20 on any Midwest fare—are only in effect for bookings made by March 27. But travel can take place later—between April 1 and June 30 on Midwest, between April 1 and June 14 on Northwest, and any time on Southwest. Bookings must be made on the participating airlines’ own websites, using the PayPal
(Read the full post about ‘For airline discounts, pay by PayPal’…)

Air New Zealand flies to Heathrow twice a day. It is the airline's only European port. A spokesman for the airline said if costs did increase by the amounts suggested "it is likely that will be reflected in an increase in the cost of travel". It was too soon, however, to say by how much fares would rise. Britain's Civil Aviation Authority has given Heathrow's owner, BAA, permission to increase charges by 23.5 per cent above the rate of inflation on April 1, allowing the airport to charge 12.80 (NZ$32) per passenger. For the following four years the airport can lift charges by a further 7.5 per cent a year plus the rate of inflation. Combined, this would result in an 86 per cent increase in charges at Heathrow by 2013, according to British airlines. House of Travel retail director Brent Thomas said New Zealand travellers were increasingly shunning Heathrow because of its high cost and inconvenience, and choosing other European cities as the start of their
(Read the full post about ‘Heathrow to increase charges’…)

function printAnchor(urlPrefix) { document.write(”"); } mboxCreate(’st_bookmarks_horizontal’); It’s not a travel myth—you can actually receive a refund from an airline if a flight price drops after you book. Of course, not all airlines will offer refunds, and they often come with strings firmly attached. First of all, you won’t receive a cash refund from any airline; instead, compensation comes in the form of a travel voucher worth the difference in price. Midwest, Southwest, and United will offer travel vouchers in the amount of the difference if you notice fares for your flight have dropped after you book, but you have to call and request the voucher. Additionally, Midwest will only provide a voucher within seven days of the original purchase date. Most of the other U.S. airlines (excluding Frontier) also offer vouchers for price differences, but they are subject to fees totaling anywhere from $25 to $200, depending on the airline and route. At those costs, a voucher
(Read the full post about ‘Get a refund if the price drops after you book’…)