Is the New Zealand ad too over the top?

Progressive New Zealand Airlines recently ran an ad that featured Sports Illustrated bikini models demonstrating safety.  Watch below...

The video raised alarm with some, and joy with others.  Your thoughts?   

DR Nights Flights - Google Flights!

As a side note to the below DR NIGHTs post, here's an easy way to book flights.   It's Google's "Google Flights" that makes booking trips very easy.   I'm taking the liberty to post a few sample air-flight prices below...

Los Angeles to the Dominican:  $616 and up...

New York to the Dominican:  $665 and up...

Tampa to the Dominican:  $661 and up...

Anywho....check them out for all your flights, it's pretty cool.  Just Google, Google flights or go here:  www.google.com/flights

Jetblue has the fastest airline website!

I remember doing a post about this a long time ago - which airline companies have the quickest websites.   Well, the powers-to-be, Compuware, have done their studies again and Jetblue is the big winner.

Loading up the front page of Jetblue took 4.237 according to Compuware and the slowest, United Airlines, took a whopping 18.284 seconds!   In this fast moving world of computers, smart phones and I-Pads, those extra 14 seconds really matter.  If you're anything like me, you move on if it's taking too long.

(winner winner, chicken dinner)

I did my own tests and yes, Jetblue was pretty quick using my laptop and yes, United Airlines was slower, but not terribly slower. 

Airlines rounding out the top 10 in mobile site performance were Delta Air Lines, AirTran Airways (which is merging with Southwest Airlines) and American Airlines.  All had response times below seven seconds.

Test them out for yourself if you get bored:  #1.  Jetblue   &  #2.  United Airlines.

No more free cookies for you on Frontier Airlines

Jeez this economy is BAD.  Now Frontier Airlines is gonna stop serving it's warm cookies in flight once the current stock runs out.  By late May the cookies should be all gone thus entering the airline into an "ultra-low-cost" business model.  

What's next, charging for barf bags?  :-)  Check out Frontier at: www.frontierairlines.com, to see if they got any better rates due to the soon-to-be missing cookies.

Study shows pilots get less sleep than other workers

A new poll by the National Sleep Foundation has shown that our trusted airline pilots get less sleep than your average worker in America.  About one-fourth of pilots, or 23%, admitted that sleepiness has affected their job performance at least once a week, the poll found.

What's also scary is that 1 out of 5 pilots have admitted "serious errors" while working on the job.

Most of it is related to the busy schedule demanded onto them by airlines.  While most (58%) pilots take cat naps during the days that they work it'd also be nice if they could have more regulated sleep schedules.

What it was like flying in the 60's

I found a cool webpage from a seasoned traveler.  So seasoned in fact that he used to fly a lot in the 1960's before this blogger was even born.  Things seemed way different back in the day.  A few samples...

• Smoking was permitted anywhere on the airplane
• No laptops, no cell phones (duh)
•  The stewardesses were pretty young women
• No security procedures of any consequence
• There were observation decks at many airports
• The vast majority of the passengers were businessmen
• You could buy life insurance at the airport!!!

 Read the full article here: www.mysite.verizon.net/60s. 

Sangster International has a new VIP lounge in MoBay

This is a story that I missed for a few months.  Sangster International in Montego Bay, Jamaica has a new VIP lounge called "Club MoBay."  What is it?  It's a 10,000 square foot area within Sangster where you can kick back & have drinks, snacks and check your e-mail.  It offers other benefits such as...

• Fast-track through check-in

• Unlimited free Wi-Fi
• Space to enjoy a premium bar featuring of course, Red Stripe Beer and complimentary snacks
• Business facilities such as high-speed internet access and meeting areas
• Spa treatments
• Shower facilities
• A fully equipped business center

(an attendant will notify you it's time to board)

 Passengers will also be able to pay for one time access at $30 USD for adults and $15 USD for children 12 and under, while children 2 years and under will be admitted free of cost. Located in the departure terminal between gate 9 and the RedStripe Café, the lounge will be open from 7 AM to 11 PM daily.

 So is $60 bucks worth it to slide through customs a little quicker?   And what's up with the showers?  I've never gotten to the airport and needed a shower, but hey, I guess it's a nice option just in case the ride in from Negril is too hot.   Also, if you buy entry at your hotel or in the airport, you get fast-track passage through security and immigration, which from experience, I know can be a hellish long wait at Sangster.

Word also has it that you can buy the $30 passes from Hedonism II before leaving.

Another look at Google Flights

I love Google.  They come up with so many cool ideas and products including Google Flights that debuted this summer.   Users can search for flights at www.google.com/flights and then filter their flight queries by price, airlines and routes.   It offers a super clean interface that's quick and very easy to use.  Another cool factor:  it shows on the map prices for others cities across the nation.

(sample screen-shot)

I decided to check it out for myself.  Flying out of Los Angeles I added "Sin City", Las Vegas.  For a round trip starting Friday December 16th to Monday December 19th I found fares from $118 on Spirit all the way up to $503 flying Delta.

Now you don't book your flight with Google directly.  Once you find the price you want to book you select it and you'll be whisked off to the website of the airline who's price you like.   I don't know how Google makes money off it and ordinarily I'd research it and find out, but I'm trying to watch a game of Football on the side here, so you're on your own buck-a-roos!

UK models party topless on vacation

This is nuts!  British model Rosie Jones and her friends took a vacation and decided to get the party started early in the airplane.  Then once on ground, the nudity keep going!   Enjoy...

Looks like they went to Cabo

Score cheap airfare w/Southwest & AirTran

What do you do when business slows?  Have a sale!  Both Southwest, and its subsidiary, AirTrans are releasing some pretty amazing rates - as low as $35 one way.  Flights of 450 miles or less are on sale for $35 each way – or less than $95 round-trip, even when taxes and fees are included.

(I could fly from Los Angesles to Las Vegas for $88)

For flights between 451 and 1,000 miles, sale fares are $65 each way (plus taxes and fees).

That jumps to $95 each way for flights of 1,001 to 1,500 miles and tops out at $125 each way for flights of more than 1,500 miles.

If you want in on the action you must book your tickets by the end of the day Thursday but then they are good for travel from November 30th through December 14th 2011 and from January 4th through February 15th, 2012.  

 Read the fine print for Southwest & AirTran.

Average salaries of airline pilots and stewardess

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2009, half of all of commercial pilots made a median annual wage of $65,840, with the bottom 10% earning $32,520 and the top 10% making $120,550.

Looking at the same stats from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the median annual wage for flight attendants is $43,350 per year, however, you may start out making as little as $14,000 to $19,000 per year.

Naturally, in either profession, it all depends on the amount of flights worked and your time on the job.  Rookies make less and seniority pays more.

Did the numbers surprise you?  If anything, I figured the pilots would be earning more.  Shoot, they're skilled and have our lives in their hands.  Being a stewardess is hard, I'm sure, but they really only have our snacks and drinks in their hands...really.

Google introduces a new airline shopping tool

Did you all see the stories out this week about Google's new airline shopping tool?  With the new technology Travelers can search for flights at www.google.com/flights and filter their flight queries by price, airlines and routes.   Also, it has a bar chart showing which travel dates are more expensive to fly!   Cool!

The new search method for flights has been expected after Google bought ITA software for $700 million earlier this year.  Google's new tool is a work in progress, it was reported that the WTC (World Trade Centers) were listed as airports, opps.   Google itself is not acting as a travel agent, instead, it directs customers to airlines' websites if they want to buy a ticket.

Check them out at: www.google.com/flights.

Fares drop to $19 as low-cost carriers roll out fare sales

Yesterday 3 of the nation's largest low-fare airlines introduced their fare sales for the fall season.   Fare sales by Southwest and its subsidiary AirTran cover flights through early December while Frontier's sale extends into February.  Frontier's sale fares drop as low as $19 each way on some routes, such as Milwaukee-Kansas City and Denver-Kansas City.

Sales by Southwest & AirTran are nearly identical. The sales, which include one-way fares as low as $59 each way (plus taxes and fees) cover travel between Sept. 16 and Dec. 14.

(our personal favorite, Virgin America, didn't announce sales)

Tickets require a 10-day advance purchase and must be purchased by the end of the day Thursday (Sept. 8). The lowest fares are for flights on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Saturdays, though higher sale fares are available on other days. Travel is blacked out from Nov. 17 through Nov. 28.

As for Frontier, its sale tickets also must be purchased by the end of the day Thursday, though Frontier's sale covers flights through Feb. 15. Frontier's fares, which require a 14-day advance purchase, are lowest for Tuesday and Wednesday flights, though higher sale fares are available on other days.  There are several blackout dates around the Thanksgiving and winter holidays.

Frontier's sale fares focus on its hubs of Denver, Milwaukee and Kansas City: Sample one-way fares on Frontier (not including taxes and fees): Denver-Kansas City, $19; Kansas City-Milwaukee, $19; Denver-Phoenix, $49; and Milwaukee-New York LaGuardia, $79.

2 hurt at LAX getting off airplane

An airline passenger and a pilot were getting off a a 737 at LAX in Los Angeles this week when the loading bridge collapsed sending the unlucky two 10 feet down causing minor injures.  The flight, which originated in Boston and had a stopover in Chicago, was carrying 107 passengers and crew members.

Both were transported to Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital in Marina del Rey in fair condition, a fire department spokesman said. They complained of pain to their ankles, back and necks, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Virgin America adds NFL games to flights

California-based airline, Virgin America, is looking to beef up its sports content in time for the football season.  So it's adding more network channels to its in-flight entertainment system.  Virgin has a "Red system" which is an in-flight entertainment system that now has more content with live sports and news for it's guests.

(inside a Virgin airplane)

To the system they just added 4 new stations, NBC-NY/WNBC,  FOX News,  TBS and FOX-NY/WNYW, all channels that are live TV.  The Red system also provides more than 35 on-demand films, 3,000 audio files and video games.   Sweet!  All of the new channels mean one thing, more NFL football for people!  Since the stations are LIVE you can catch your favorite team playing now.  Double sweet!

Check out Virgin's cool website:  www.virginamerica.com where they have current deals like Los Angeles to Chicago for $119 (plus tax and all that jazz)

Dress up while flying and possibly score perks!

These days when you look around the airport you'll notice 99% of the flyers are dressed like they're heading to the gym or like they're heading to a Walmart.  And that's all well and good, BUT, something has been going on lately at airports.  People who dress up really nice are sometimes being offered an upgrade in seating!

(does this guy look better or...)

I was on a flight from Los Angeles to Phoenix and got called to the guests service counter.  At first I thougth they were going to ask me if I was willing to take another flight or something.  Come to find out I was called there due to my suit that I had on (I was going to a business meeting) and the powers-to-be offered me a FREE upgrade to first class based on my outfit.

(...or this woman?)

There were a few extra seats up front and I got one!  So that $350 Hugo Boss suit I bought from the back of a car one day here in Los Angeles seems to be paying off!   I got to researching the 'net and found a few other cases where this has happened.  Does this mean if you wear a suit you'll get a automatic upgrade?   No, but you might!   And you'll look big pimping as you fly either way.

Colorado woman accused of groping TSA agent

A 61-year-old woman from Colorado is facing Federal charges because she turned the tables and groped a TSA at Phoenix's international airport on Friday.   Phoenix police say irritate passenger is accused of grabbing the left breast of the unidentified TSA agent Thursday afternoon at an airport checkpoint.  

TSA staff say the woman refused to be go through passenger screening and became argumentative before she squeezed and twisted the agent's breast with both hands.  Police were called and say she admitted grabbing the TSA agent and continued to argue with officers before she was arrested.

She was released on Friday from jail where the charges will be dealt with another day.

UPDATE:  The woman accused of grabbing a breast of an airport security screener in Phoenix, Yukari Miyamae, will not face felony charges of sexual abuse, according to the Maricopa County Attorney.

Denied e-cigarette, unruly flier pelts attendant with peanuts

What happens when a nicotine craving airline passenger gets denied his fix?  He goes nuts, literately!  A Southwest Airlines passenger was arrested Monday July 11th on charges that he hurled bags of peanuts and pretzels at a flight attendant.  The man apparently was upset the attendant refused to allow him to use an "electronic cigarette" on the flight.  According to reports, Pogos Paul Sefilian, 42, of Sandy, Utah, became "combative" over the issue while on Southwest Flight 188 from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City.

The incident appeared to begin when Sefilian started using his "e-cigarette" after boarding the plane.  The attendant asked him to put it away and informed him it could not be used on the plane. That apparently did not sit well with Sefilian.  Next up Sefilian argued with the flight attendant, but stowed the device, according to the complaint.  But after takeoff, he pulled it out and became enraged when the attendant again asked him to put it away.

The Associated Press cites the complaint as saying:  "Later in the flight, (Sefilian) began to throw peanuts and pretzels at the flight attendant."  He also target the cockpit door with his snack attack.

The FBI was waiting for Sefilian when the plane landed in Utah.  He was arrested and charged with interfering with a flight crew.  He was being held in a Utah jail Wednesday pending a detention hearing on Thursday, according to AP.

JetBlue's 'Carmageddon flights' SOLD OUT!

With "Carmageddon" hitting Los Angeles this weekend JetBlue decided to help out.  For $4 each way, including taxes and fees, JetBlue promised to help L.A. residents fly over the expected congestion while getting from one side of the metro area to the other.  The roughly 40-mile flights are scheduled for 45 minutes -- with most of that "flight time" presumably coming while taxiing on the ground.

But according the Los Angeles Times, the tickets sold out within hours.  For the rest of us, we either better stay at home or plan on sitting in your car for hours on end.  JetBlue's spokeswoman, Allison Steinberg, told The Press-Telegram, "It's our shortest flight ever."  

Check out the actual deal on JetBlue's website at:  www.jetblue.com/overthe405.

A United frequent-flier hits 10 million miles

You think YOU travel a lot.  Out of Chicago comes a automotive sales consultant who's flown over 10,000,000 miles with United Airlines.  This is an actual confirmed amount.  He's been with United Airlines for the last 29 years flying an average of 340,000 miles a year.  

The frequent flyer, Tom Stuker, hit the 10 mil milestone July 9th somewhere above the cornfields of Iowa on United Flight 942 from Los Angeles to Chicago.  Upon landing in Chicago Stuker got a special celebration with United Continental CEO Jeff Smisek, and other airline bigwigs, on hand to congratulate him. 

 * photo credit to AP

What does get in return for his loyalty to United?   For starters, he's earned 50 million "redeemable" miles - a total that's been padded with elite bonuses.   United also states that whenever Stuker calls United reservations, "all he has to say is 'Hi.' The agent on the other end of the line will immediately recognize who is calling and take special care" of him.

He's also been awarded with a commemorative book listing every United flight he's flown since he joined the frequent-flier program.   Good job Tom!