Minding our manners
“When it comes to travel,” wrote Cindy Plume, a reader from Bradenton, Fla., “people have lost their manners.” Of course I agreed with Cindy before I had finished reading the sentence. I’ve written about the topic extensively, including a memorable commentary piece on the subject.
Travel blogging myths
A lot of people seem to be obsessing about travel blogging these days. An inordinate amount of bandwidth is being spent discussing what travel blogging is. Few people are talking about what it isn’t. Here’s my contribution: three popular misconceptions about travel blogging.
Exposing my identity
Among hotel inspectors, there is only one quality that is more valued than our ability to review a property’s cleanliness, condition and comfort: our anonymity. Luxury hotels have to undergo rigorous service tests by secret inspectors to qualify for a four- or five-diamond rating. The staff often plays a cat-and-mouse game trying to identify the inspector. And sometimes, they catch us.
Alaska’s mileage mishap
Alaska Airlines frequent flier Victoria Pond believes she qualifies for a new double-miles promotion on Air France. But after half a dozen calls to both airlines, it’s still unclear whether she’ll get the bonus miles. Is this a bait-and-switch, or is the double-mileage deal for real?
The saints of business travel?
My father, who is a minister, named me after St. Christopher, the third-century martyr. I’m not a particularly religious person, and I am definitely no saint. (Can I hear an amen?) But I am pretty good at connecting the dots - finding relationships in data that others don’t see.
Northwest’s regional carrier wars
Things could get a little dicey (as if they weren’t already dicey enough) for Northwest Airlines passengers, reports the Lansing State Journal. The airline, which is already flying under bankruptcy protection, is embroiled in a tug-of-war with its regional airlines, Mesaba Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines, over costs and routes. At the same time, Northwest plans to start its own regional carrier.
Tainted travel advice
I recently got an e-mail from a high school sophomore who asked me how to become a travel writer. Travel writing looks like a glamorous profession. You get to visit exotic destinations, meet interesting people and write about them. I don’t think she had taken the time to read my travel writing.
Online travel loves adware?
You may already have made up your mind about adware - those annoying applications you download (often without knowing it) that send advertising messages to your computer. Well, now the online travel industry has made up its mind, too. In a document released just this morning, the industry’s trade group, the Interactive Travel Services Association (ITSA) says it likes adware. Under certain circumstances.
Working out on the road
As health care costs rise, companies are increasingly looking at ways to make their employees healthier, and business travelers are particularly at risk for medical problems. They are frequently stressed out and overworked, and often subsist on vending machine snacks and takeout food.
Best seat on the plane
Passengers in first class get fawned all over by flight attendants, seemingly unlimited drinks, and copious leg room, while the have-nots in the back of the plane have to pay for their drinks (on some flights, even sodas), are forced to wedge their bodies in seats designed for Lilliputians, and only casual attention by the flight crew.
Dying to cruise
Here’s another reason to think twice before taking a cruise: the Norwalk virus is back. Yesterday, the dreaded gastrointestinal virus afflicted nearly 200 passengers on Celebrity’s Mercury.
A runaround at Holiday Inn
When Robert Donovan makes a change to two back-to-back hotel reservations, he is assured by a reservations agent that he won’t be charged a cancellation penalty. And he’s right. Instead, Donovan’s second reservation is cancelled - and he’s billed for a missed night. What’s going on here? And is there any hope for a refund?
Blogging travel
Bloggers are well on their way to becoming part of the media establishment when it comes to politics and certain industries, like technology. But what about travel?
Coach choice?
The question du jour: what the heck is Northwest’s Coach Choice? Is this part of a new trend? And will the rest of the flock follow? Answer: No, and hopefully no.
Flying with reservations
When Carolyn Curtis tries to buy a bargain airfare through 1-800-Fly4Less, she’s in for a few surprises. First her credit card doesn’t work, and then she finds several mysterious fees on two of her credit cards. Where did these charges come from - and how can she get rid of them?