On the Road Again…
November 21st, 2005The keyboard might be out of our reach tomorrow, but fear not road warriors: We’ll be back sooner than you can try to sneak into business class…
Wondering about Oaxaca?
November 21st, 2005
The usually tony NY Times avoids $200 hotel rooms this week, looking south to increasingly chic Oaxaca, Mexico. With art galleries opening, restaurants offering fusion cuisine, and a host of Spanish language schools available, the eponymous capital of the Estado de Oaxaca make it a prime spot to start a Latin American tour. Skip the hostels of Antigua, and ease your way into the deep, deep south in style…
Open Skies, Open Season?
November 19th, 2005
The International Herald Tribune reports that the U.S. and E.U. have come to a preliminary agreement to expand trans-Atlantic aviation competition. The accord, in its current form, will expand access to London Heathrow Airport, relax government control of air fares, and allow national airlines to originate U.S.-bound flights anywhere in Europe.
The agreement hasn’t been set in stone, but its provisions would expand options for travelers on both sides of the pond. Specifically:
The plan would do away with rules that allow only British Airways, United Airlines, American Airlines and Virgin Atlantic to fly between the airport and the United States.
The deal hinges on U.S. regulators allowing foreign airlines more control over U.S. airlines. Currently, foreign stakeholders holding less than 25 percent of an American carrier can excert little control over its management. We’re hoping the plan is approved, and we appreciate this insight, from the U.S. Transportation Department’s undersecretary for policy, Jeffrey Shane, quoted in the IHT:
“The one industry in which capital is not allowed to flow freely across national boundaries is the very industry that has facilitated the globalization of all the others, commercial aviation.”
Let’s hope aviation hops on the bandwagon.
More Buzz About Kayak
November 18th, 2005
Uber-search engine Kayak.com continues to impress with new search options: potential flyers can now search for multi-city itineraries and by cabin class. The Kayak team unveiled the new features, they say, in response to demand from travelers. The site also expanded it’s feature Kayak Buzz, the recently launched, “tool that displays the lowest fares to the 25 most popular destinations from your city.” Kayak is set to become the Google of the travel industry, offering functionality and flexibility no other site offers. Kool.
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Newley Arrived
November 18th, 2005
Newley Purnell, a rising star in the travel writing world, gets specific about how to cope with the “at-home blues” over at Transitions Abroad. After two years in Ecuador and Taiwan, Newley found himself struggling with the tedious tasks of finding an apartment, job hunting, and taking calls from telemarketers (we assume). Despite having done the same things overseas, stateside those things just weren’t fun. Newley’s five-point list should help any long-term travelers readjust to life off the road.
Surfin’ Safari
November 18th, 2005
The NY Times escapes to the left coast today with 36 hours in sunny Huntington Beach, CA. The laid back beach town has been cashing in on its prime SoCal spot–it’s one click north of Seth, Summer, Ryan, and Coop’s Newport and two clicks north of the loveable crew from MTV’s Laguna Beach. Budget Travel EIC Erik Torkells talked up his hometown in the May 2005 issue. The Times piece mentions a few of the same spots: T.K. Burger and Sugar Shack, both divey breakfast and lunch joints.
Hey, it may be in the OC, but a burger basket for under $5 at T.K. Burger? That’s rad…
Sky Snacks
November 18th, 2005
MSNBC explores the now-common practice of charging for food on flights. James Wysong sympathizes with starving passengers strapped inside an aluminum tube, but has a great point: airlines were charging for the ham sandwich before, you just didn’t know about it. We’d rather pay rock bottom for the flight and bring our own snacks, thank you very much.
BTW, the article features an exceedingly timely interesting photo of Delta’s soon-to-be-defunct Song!
Photo by Dan Uscian, via Airline Meals.net.
Dark Days for Airlines
November 18th, 2005
The EU voted 577 to 16 Wednesday to establish a blacklist of airlines the bloc considers unsafe. The new blacklist, yet to be released, “would probably name a ‘few dozen’ airlines.” Similar lists in EU member countries include airlines from around the world in countries like Thailand, Ukraine, and Ghana. None of the blacklisted airlines will be permitted to fly in the EU, but the list won’t effect operations outside Europe. More blacklist news here, and caveat emptor.
Flying into the Sunset
November 17th, 2005
Looks like starting a low-cost carrier isn’t as easy as it seems. FLYi, the parent of Independence Air, has filed for bankruptcy protection. FLYi should have no problem in the courtroom, though, as the company has faced legal problems before. The carrier is still operating flights, but its future looks grim:
Independence began operations about 17 months ago from its home at Dulles Airport near Washington D.C. but has been unable to make money in the face of the competitive response by United at Dulles, high fuel costs, its own cost structure and other challenges.
Book tickets now to catch Dennis Miller’s final performance!
Paul