Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Swiss City Turns Financial District into Sweet Living Room]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/07/25/swiss-city-turns-financial-district-into-sweet-living-room/http://www.gadling.com/2007/07/25/swiss-city-turns-financial-district-into-sweet-living-room/http://www.gadling.com/2007/07/25/swiss-city-turns-financial-district-into-sweet-living-room/#commentsFiled under: , ,


DeputyDog shares these photos of an outdoor "living room" in Switzerland. Yes, you read that right; This is outside. The city of St. Gallen laid out plush, red carpet among the stodgy buildings of their financial district. The installation is called "Stadtlounge" which translates from German to English as "city lounge." I love how the fabric pours out over the streets and rises in gorgeous curves to form ultra-chic couches.

If you'd like to learn more -- and you can read German -- check out the official Stadtlounge site. If you can't read German, or if you're just lazy, sneak a peek at more city lounge photos after the jump...

[via Reddit]

Continue reading Swiss City Turns Financial District into Sweet Living Room

Swiss City Turns Financial District into Sweet Living Room originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>St. GallenSt.GallenStadtloungeSwitzerlandWed, 25 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Traveling Tips from a Backpacking Geek]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/when-geeks-backpack/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/when-geeks-backpack/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/28/when-geeks-backpack/#commentsFiled under:

Thomas Beagle is a shining example of why we love geeks here at Gadling. Thomas and his partner Kim planned a backpacking trip around Central America and southern Mexico, but they did more than just thumb through a Let's Go guidebook. The duo took a very careful and considered approach to packing for their long journey, and Thomas shares the technological aspect of the trip planning on his blog:
  • Carrying Important Documents: Thomas and Kim scanned their passports, civil union certificate, and other important documents. Then, they encrypted the files, and saved them to USB flash drives. Each person held onto a flash drive during the trip. This is a twist on the traditional approach of carrying all of your important documents on you in case of an emergency. It might be difficult to access the files while you're away with nature, but it's good to be prepared.
  • Securing Bank Accounts: They chose a bank that offers an extra layer of security when accessing your accounts over the Internet. HSBC Bank New Zealand offers a keychain-sized device that displays a rotating code for the bank's website. A thief would need to know your secret login information and would need to steal the device to get access to your account. That's not impossible, but it's safer than only using an online password that someone could catch by looking over your shoulder.
  • Protecting Digital Photos: The pair knew they were going to snap a lot of digital pictures on the road, but they did more than sign up for a Flickr account. They also burned CDs of their photos and mailed copies home. That's a great way to backup those priceless memories in case something happens to your camera's memory cards before you return home.
Thomas lists a few more tricks and tips he used while abroad on his blog which is aptly titled The Compleat Thomas Beagle.

Traveling Tips from a Backpacking Geek originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backpackbackpackinggeekThu, 28 Jun 2007 09:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: 747 Makes a Very, Very Low Landing]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/15/video-very-low-landing-by-a-747/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/15/video-very-low-landing-by-a-747/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/15/video-very-low-landing-by-a-747/#commentsFiled under:


Here's a video for the "I Need New Pants" file. It's a KLM 747 making an extremely low landing at an airport in St. Maarten. I love how everyone on the beach is transfixed by the giant flying object hurtling towards them. Me? I'd be the guy ducking for cover and screaming like a little girl.

I'm not one to doubt the usually reputable content on The YouTube, but can this possibly be real? Judge for yourself; check out a video of another St. Maarten landing after the jump.

Continue reading Video: 747 Makes a Very, Very Low Landing

Video: 747 Makes a Very, Very Low Landing originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 15 Jun 2007 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airplanelow landingLowLandingvideoFri, 15 Jun 2007 03:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Urban Camping: Tents in the Big City?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/11/urban-camping-tents-in-the-big-city/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/11/urban-camping-tents-in-the-big-city/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/11/urban-camping-tents-in-the-big-city/#commentsFiled under:


Prices of metropolitan hotels got you down? No worries. Michael Rakowitz' P(Lot) project has the answer for cheap stays in the city: car cover tents! Plop one down in a parking space, feed the meter, and you've got yourself a campsite. Break out the s'mores! Sure, vagrancy laws might cut your stay a little short, but the memories would last a lifetime. [via]

Check out more urban camping photos after the jump.

Continue reading Urban Camping: Tents in the Big City?

Urban Camping: Tents in the Big City? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Michael RakowitzMichaelRakowitzP (LOT)P(lot)tentsurban campingUrbanCampingMon, 11 Jun 2007 08:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Really, Really Long Security Line in Heathrow]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/01/really-long-line-at-heathrow/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/01/really-long-line-at-heathrow/http://www.gadling.com/2007/06/01/really-long-line-at-heathrow/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Here's a video that will actually make you glad you're sitting in front of a computer instead of being out on vacation. It's footage of an unbelievably long security checkpoint queue in Heathrow Airport for passengers changing flights. The cameraman for this particular film spent over three and a half hours waiting in it.

The piece is almost three minutes long, and that wasn't even enough time to film all of the people in line!

[via Boing Boing]

Really, Really Long Security Line in Heathrow originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Heathrow AirportHeathrowAirportqueuesecurity checkpointSecurityCheckpointFri, 01 Jun 2007 09:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Review: 3M Computer Privacy Filter]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/29/review-3m-computer-privacy-filter/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/29/review-3m-computer-privacy-filter/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/29/review-3m-computer-privacy-filter/#commentsFiled under:


Not too long ago, I mentioned 3M Computer Privacy Filters. Remember? The filters are thin plastic sheets that attach to your computer monitor so the display is only visible to someone directly in front of the screen. (You can see the effect in the pictures above.) They're perfect for business road warriors who want to keep their sensitive work away from those pesky corporate spies.

I picked one up the other day for my traveling laptop, and I've been quite pleased with the results. I took a few photos of the privacy filter in action, and you can check them out after the jump.

Continue reading Review: 3M Computer Privacy Filter

Review: 3M Computer Privacy Filter originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 May 2007 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3M Privacy Filter3mPrivacyFilterdisplaylaptopprivacyTue, 29 May 2007 13:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Protecting Electronics at the Beach]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/28/protecting-electronics-at-the-beach/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/28/protecting-electronics-at-the-beach/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/28/protecting-electronics-at-the-beach/#commentsFiled under: ,

More and more people rush to the beaches with iPods, mobiles, and cameras in tow, and it seems these people have bigger concerns than which level sunblock to wear. The question on their minds: "How do you keep those electric doodads safe from sun, sand, and surf?" The Associated Press' Jackie Farwell answered with some tips to keep your electronics safe at the shore:
  • Carry your devices in air-tight cases. These enclosures can protect from the big three beach baddies: moisture, sand, and dust. (Such cases are available from Pelican, Otterbox, and Anvil.)
  • Keep your electronics out of the sun. Direct sunlight can make electronics overheat causing possible damage, so keep your devices in cool, shady areas. The article recommends buying a tiny umbrella, but that's just silly.
  • Cover any open ports. Plug up any holes because ports like headphone jacks and DVD drives are vulnerable to vicious sand attacks.
  • Clean with compressed air. If sand does get into an open port, blast the area with a puff of compressed air to dislodge any stray beach particles.
  • Wipe your hands clean. Your iPod's worst enemy could be you! Be sure your hands are clear of any lotions that could discolor rubberized skins.
  • Let your toys cool down. Bringing a hot device into an air-conditioned room might cause condensation inside the case. Let your items settle to room temperature before bringing them across extremes.
I can vouch for the water-proof cases. I once lost a camcorder and a cell phone to a rogue wave from a wakeboarder. It was a drench and run.

Heed these warnings and stay safe this summer!

Protecting Electronics at the Beach originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 May 2007 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beachelectronicsprotectionsafetyMon, 28 May 2007 16:57:00 EST<![CDATA[The Luxury Hotels of Tomorrow]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/10/the-luxury-hotels-of-tomorrow/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/10/the-luxury-hotels-of-tomorrow/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/10/the-luxury-hotels-of-tomorrow/#commentsFiled under:


This gorgeous structure is the Apeiron Island Hotel complete with a private lagoon, a few exclusive restaurants, and an art museum. The building appears to rise from the ocean like a graceful fountain of water... or maybe some kind of space taco. Unfortunately, this is just an artist's rendition of the conceptual, seven-star luxury resort; With a price tag of $500 million, the Apeiron will probably remain just an eye-catching picture.

Born Rich offers up more Futuristic Luxury Hotels that will never be built. For example, there's a picture of a flying hotel. How about an inflatable space station hotel over Las Vegas? My personal favorite is actually the hotel shaped like a ferris wheel. Why? Because everyone should spend a night on an amusement park ride.

The Luxury Hotels of Tomorrow originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 May 2007 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FuturismThu, 10 May 2007 13:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Movie Posters from Belarus]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/09/movie-posters-from-belarus/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/09/movie-posters-from-belarus/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/09/movie-posters-from-belarus/#commentsFiled under: ,


Have a look at this movie "poster" found in Belarus. Any idea what American movie this is? I'll give you a minute. (The answer is after the jump.)

You can check out more posters at the wonderful English Russia site. I love these images because I think films can be a good common ground to share with others in a foreign country. I once had a very interesting conversation about American films with some German guys at Oktoberfest in Munich. I learned from them that the Cameron Diaz movie The Sweetest Thing was called Super Sweet and Super Sexy in Germany. Yeah, shocking stuff, I know.

(Thanks for the tip, Mike!)

Continue reading Movie Posters from Belarus

Movie Posters from Belarus originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 09 May 2007 15:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Belarusmovie posterMoviePosterWed, 09 May 2007 15:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Make a Moleskine Travel Journal, Win a Prize]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/09/make-a-moleskine-travel-journal-win-a-prize/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/09/make-a-moleskine-travel-journal-win-a-prize/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/09/make-a-moleskine-travel-journal-win-a-prize/#commentsFiled under: ,

Calling all artists! Your talents could snag you a free trip to Paris* courtesy of Moleskine and Air France. The pair want to you create a work of art based on your travels for their "Invitation Au Voyage" exhibition.

All you have to do is transform any Moleskine notebook -- Classic, Cahier, Reporter, or City -- into a travel journal. Take a trip somewhere and document it using any artistic style you want: words, paint, collage, etc. The only thing that matters is that your work is interesting, unique, and creative.

Judges will select the 50 best journals for display in their traveling "Invitation Au Voyage" exhibition. If your work is chosen, it will make its way around Asia during August and September 2007.

The first prize is an economy class ticket to Paris, France. Second place will receive Moleskine's entire set of city notebooks covering Europe and America. Moleskine will also give a set of three notebooks to each of the remaining 47 artists chosen for the exhibition.

The contest ends on June 30th. *Anyone can enter, but Moleskine recommends entrants reside in Asia since the 1st prize will only fly from Asia to France. Give it a shot even if you don't live in Asia. Your work could still end up in the art exhibit!

[via Moleskinerie]

Related articles on Gadling:

Make a Moleskine Travel Journal, Win a Prize originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 09 May 2007 09:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Air FranceAirFranceMoleskineWed, 09 May 2007 09:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Two Men Spend 48 Days in Indian Airport]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/03/48-days-in-indian-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/03/48-days-in-indian-airport/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/03/48-days-in-indian-airport/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Two men from Bangladesh were forced to live in New Delhi's Indira Gandhi airport for 48 days. The duo left their homeland to seek employment in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, they did not have the appropriate papers to enter the country. So, officials confiscated their passports and placed the men on a return flight to Bangladesh with an intermediate stop in India.

The weary travelers landed in the layover country, but upon arriving, they found themselves stranded since their passports were still in Saudi Arabia. The lost souls waited in the transit lounge of New Delhi's airport for the 6+ weeks until Bangladesh could issue them new passports. During their stay, the gentlemen often asked the airport cafeteria to give them work -- without payment -- as a way to pass time. How's that for boredom?

Forty-eight days may sound like an eternity, but Iranian refugee Mehran Karimi Nasseri spent an amazing 18 years living in France's Charles de Gaulle Airport. His story was adapted into the film The Terminal. It's interesting to note that Nasseri continued to live in Charles de Gaulle even after he was offered papers that would allow him to leave.

I can't imagine spending that much time in an airport. I can't even stand being in one for a three hour layover. I think I'd find myself coming up with games to play like "Switch Around the Luggage Tags at the Baggage Claim."

Two Men Spend 48 Days in Indian Airport originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 May 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Terminal MenTerminalMenThu, 03 May 2007 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Hilton to Home: Live in a Hotel Room]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/03/hilton-to-home-live-in-a-hotel-room/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/03/hilton-to-home-live-in-a-hotel-room/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/03/hilton-to-home-live-in-a-hotel-room/#commentsFiled under:

I've stayed in a lot of Hilton hotels, and I'm almost always pleased with the quality of the amenities in their rooms. (Unless it's an airport hotel with a lot of turn-over. Yuck!) So, when I heard about Hilton to Home, I was ecstatic.

Hilton to Home is an official Hilton online store that sells *almost* every product used to create the Hilton hotel room experience. You can order anything from sheets to shampoo.

There are three products I have to mention. I've always enjoyed them at Hiltons, and it's pretty cool that they're available online:
  • Serenity Collection bedding - I tried these sheets at the Hilton Sedona, and they were so soft and relaxing. Quite the complement to Sedona's natural serenity.
  • Shawl Collar Bathrobe - This one reminds me of a stay at the Hilton Berlin. I don't quite remember when or why I put it on, but I found myself wearing the morning after a long night of drinking with the hotel's bar band.
  • Hilton Family Exclusive Clock Radio - You can find these in almost any Hilton hotel. I like these because there are labeled buttons on the top that are preset to local Jazz, Rock, and Pop radio stations.
It's nice to know that there's a legal way to score some of these things for my own home because believe me... The housekeeping staff notices when things like curtains are missing.

Hilton to Home: Live in a Hotel Room originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 May 2007 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Hilton HotelsHiltonHotelsThu, 03 May 2007 11:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Keira Knightley and The Vacation High]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/02/keira-knightley-and-the-vacation-high/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/02/keira-knightley-and-the-vacation-high/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/02/keira-knightley-and-the-vacation-high/#commentsFiled under: , ,

And now, in celebrity travel gossip news...

Keira Knightley, the svelte star of Bend It Like Beckham, found herself while on holiday in the Himalayas. Keira told Elle Magazine about her journey through the remote area: "No-one knew me or cared what films I'd been in." The 22-year-old added that her eyes were opened, and she now wants an obscure life instead of "the celebrity thing."

Ah, yes, I've heard this before... This is a little something I like to call "The Vacation High," and it makes you want to stay on your dream vacation forever. But you know what? The High never lasts because trips are meant to be temporary; They separate you from reality just long enough for you to forget (or ignore) your ordinary life. Call me a cynic.

Don't get me wrong; I think Keira Knightley is great, but I also think her post-travel euphoria will most likely subside once Disney offers her $10 million to star in Pirates of the Caribbean 4: Return to the Caribbean.

(Thanks, Kelly!)

Keira Knightley and The Vacation High originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 02 May 2007 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Keira KnightleyKeiraKnightleyWed, 02 May 2007 17:05:00 EST<![CDATA[JetBlue Employees Arrested for Fraud Scheme]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/02/jetblue-employees-arrested-for-credit-card-fraud/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/02/jetblue-employees-arrested-for-credit-card-fraud/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/02/jetblue-employees-arrested-for-credit-card-fraud/#commentsFiled under: ,

Customer service representatives are supposed to give you service with a smile. Unfortunately, for a number of JetBlue fliers, that corporate grin had a little bit of deception behind it.

A Manhattan District Attorney discovered that four JetBlue representatives and a New York City corrections officer were involved in a credit card scheme that defrauded JetBlue customers. The criminal group stole credit and debit cards accidentally left at a JFK Airport JetBlue customer service desk by hurried passengers. The party used these accounts to purchase liquor, gifts, and lingerie. You know, I always suspected that airlines were ripping me off, but I just thought it was related to ticket prices.

Authorities arrested the five perpetrators, and JetBlue suspended the employees. I guess the moral of the story is "Don't push the agents at the customer service desk."

I'd like to note -- for those playing at home -- that JetBlue had nothing whatsoever to do with the credit card fraud. The company is too busy delaying flights for them to focus on such petty disturbances. Again, that's just another joke.

JetBlue Employees Arrested for Fraud Scheme originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 02 May 2007 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JetBlueWed, 02 May 2007 12:04:00 EST<![CDATA[The Real Costs of Plane Emissions]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/01/real-costs-of-plane-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/01/real-costs-of-plane-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2007/05/01/real-costs-of-plane-travel/#commentsFiled under:

There are a lot of things I think about when I board a plane. For example, if I get stuck in a middle seat, I expect to be flanked by two lumbering people who smell of hot dogs and failure. The only aspect of the trip that I don't consider is the environmental cost.

Well, hey. That won't happen anymore. The Real Costs project forces a traveler to see what he normally takes for granted. The Real Costs is a plug-in for Mozilla Firefox, and it waits patiently until you plan a trip on a website like US Airways, American Airlines, or Orbitz. After you enter your depart and arrival points, The Real Costs presents you with a bar graph comparing the amount of carbon dioxide produced by that flight and alternative modes of transport like buses and trains. The project creators note: "Think of it like the nutritional information labeling on the back of food... except for emissions."

I tried The Real Costs while planning a round-trip flight from Philadelphia, PA to Munich, Germany. The graph predicted the flight would produce about 11,206lbs of CO2 which requires 203 "tree-years" to convert back into oxygen. There were even 203 little tree icons below the graph to drive the point home. Wow.

The goal of the project is to "increase awareness of the environmental impact of certain day to day choices in the life of the Internet user." The group hopes to expand the plug-in to support driving directions, parcel shipping, and car rentals.

(via MAKE: Blog)

The Real Costs of Plane Emissions originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 May 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>environmentTue, 01 May 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Way to Remove Pesky Tourists from Your Photos]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/27/another-way-to-get-rid-of-pesky-tourists-from-your-photos/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/27/another-way-to-get-rid-of-pesky-tourists-from-your-photos/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/27/another-way-to-get-rid-of-pesky-tourists-from-your-photos/#commentsFiled under:

Previously on Gadling: Adrienne mentioned a way to zap tourists with Photoshop. (Oh, Photoshop, is there anything you can't do?)

Well, if you don't have Photoshop -- or are just very lazy -- then snapmania's Tourist Remover is option for you. The web application can digitally shoo away undesirable objects like meddling tourists and passing cars. Using it is easier than the Photoshop method because the Tourist Remover does all of the dirty work for you.

You just need to snap three to ten photos of your scene, and you must keep the camera in the same position for each shot. (A tripod helps, but one isn't necessary.) Try to keep the lighting, aperture, and shutter speed the same for each photograph. Also, you should try to take your pictures so the unwanted objects appear as differently as possible in each image.

Then, just feed those images into the Tourist Remover, and it auto-magically combines the static areas of the image to give you a clearer view of the background. That's it! I haven't had a chance to try it out, but the Tourist Remover gallery shows off some pretty good final products.

(via MobuzzTV)

Another Way to Remove Pesky Tourists from Your Photos originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tourist RemoverTouristRemoverFri, 27 Apr 2007 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Elite Status in 5,000 Miles]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/26/elite-status-in-5-000-miles/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/26/elite-status-in-5-000-miles/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/26/elite-status-in-5-000-miles/#commentsFiled under:

You know those VIP fliers who get all the perks like early check-ins, shorter security checkpoint lines, and preferred boardings? Well, you can be one, too, if you follow this tip from Peter Vogel of CNN's Budget Travel Online.

Normally, American Airlines gives Gold Status after flying 25,000 miles in a year and Platinum Status after 50,000 miles. Well, through AA's unadvertised "90-Day Challenge," a flier can achieve Gold Status after accumulating 5,000 points and Platinum after reaching 10,000 points!* (Of course, those flights must be made during the 90 day period.)

To apply for the program, you will need to call AA's Advantage line at (800)421-0600. You must choose either Gold Status or Platinum Status for the challenge. Note: If you choose to go for Gold and meet the Platinum requirements, you will only receive Gold Status. However, if you choose Platinum, but only fly enough for the Gold Status... you get nothing. So, choose wisely.

Check out Peter's write-up. He took took a flight to San Diego and a flight to London -- both from New York -- under the program, and he racked up enough points to grab Platinum Status and almost enough miles to achieve Gold Status for the next year.

If you'd still like elite status, but don't want to fly the miles, you can always pick up an airline credit card. For example, US Airways offers two credit cards that will buy you preferred check-in and early boarding.

Update: Reader Nick Hawkins notes that the 90-Day Challenge must be met using 5,000 or 10,000 Points, and one point may not always equal one mile. If you book online, you may only receive half a point per mile. Thanks, Nick!

Elite Status in 5,000 Miles originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 26 Apr 2007 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>90 Day Challenge90DayChallengeAmerican AirlinesAmericanAirlinesThu, 26 Apr 2007 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[It's All About the Hamiltons with Skybus Airlines]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/25/skybus-airlines/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/25/skybus-airlines/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/25/skybus-airlines/#commentsFiled under: ,

Watch your six, Southwest. There's another discount airline on the market. It's called Skybus, and it will offer $10 one-way tickets until December 15th. (Of course, that's only for at least ten seats per flight.)

Skybus CEO Bill Diffenderffer announced that "passengers can buy airline tickets for less than the cost of a tank of gas," and a company spokesman added that some tickets could reach $330. Cool. That's still much better than the last-minute tickets I've purchased from US Airways for over $1200.

Skybus plans to lower their costs by slapping advertisements on every available surface of their planes. (Sound familiar?) Also, the company will only take reservations via the Internet, so they will not incur the costs of a call center. Oh, and expect to pay a fee to check in your bags.

Unfortunately, the carrier will fly from only five airports when they begin operations on May 22nd:
  • Columbus, OH
  • Burbank, CA
  • Portsmouth, NH
  • Richmond, VA
  • Kansas City, MO
So, don't plan on flying out to Disney World with that ten dollar bill. You could probably go visit one of your great aunts, though. I'm sure she'd like that. Don't worry about missing out on great fares if you're not in those markets because Skybus will add three more airports by the end of May and another airport in June.

It's All About the Hamiltons with Skybus Airlines originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>SkybusWed, 25 Apr 2007 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[British Airways Hides Knight from 007]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/23/british-airways-hides-knight-from-007/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/23/british-airways-hides-knight-from-007/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/23/british-airways-hides-knight-from-007/#commentsFiled under: ,

Richard BransonBritish Airways performed some of their own James Bond-style covert maneuvers when they cleverly edited in-flight copies of Casino Royale. Sir Richard Branson, owner of the rival Virgin Airways, has a cameo at an airport security checkpoint in the theatrical release. However, the British Airways version only shows the back of Branson as he moves through a metal detector. Also, their biased cut obscures the tail fin of a Virgin Airlines plane that appears in the film.

I don't see the point of those changes. I mean, the viewers of that version already gave BA their cash. Would it really hurt to show Branson and the Virgin logo? I guess spite makes airlines do awful things.

I only bring this up because Richard Branson happens to be one of my heroes. After all, anyone who throws a tea party on top of a hot air balloon is ace in my book.

British Airways Hides Knight from 007 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Richard BransonRichardBransonMon, 23 Apr 2007 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[American Wants Women]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/11/american-wants-women/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/11/american-wants-women/http://www.gadling.com/2007/04/11/american-wants-women/#commentsFiled under:

This week, American Airlines launched a female-centric web site with a focus on connecting women fliers. The airline's new offering features ideas for safe, fun, and relaxing travel. Some of the items on the front page include "Girlfriend Getaways," "Book Recommendations," and "Travel Chic."

The airline notes that 50 million women fly American annually, and that number accounts for a little less than half of their total passengers. The company introduced the site with the hopes of boosting their sales to women by 2%. (That translates to a cool $94 million for those playing at home.)

I tried out the site, and it's pretty weak. The content consists mostly of short bullet points that don't provide any useful information. For example, a page targeted to business women advises them to check-in online, use personalized luggage tags, and sign up for frequent flier miles. I'd think anyone who travels often already knows how to do all of those things. Come on, American. I know you only want a 2% spike, but put some heart into it.

American Wants Women originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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