Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[American's New Boarding Process Could Probably Maybe Not Speed Up Boarding]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/20/americans-new-boarding-process-could-probably-maybe-not-speed-u/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/20/americans-new-boarding-process-could-probably-maybe-not-speed-u/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/20/americans-new-boarding-process-could-probably-maybe-not-speed-u/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fly For Fun, Flickr
Airlines are constantly experimenting with new, more efficient ways to board airplanes. A faster turnaround time on the ground means more on-time flights, which translates to better revenue for the carrier. So anything that they can do to speed up the process is in their best interest. Oh - and if it makes the process easier for the passengers then that's a decent side benefit as well.

Back in March, our friend Johnny Jet was the first to report on a new strategy that American Airlines was testing to hasten the whole boarding process. Coming soon, passengers without overhead bags will be allowed to board the plane prior to other (but after preferred) passengers. With no bags, they can quickly disburse onto the plane and into their seats without clogging the aisle. The next batch of passengers with bags will hopefully then be less hindered when loading.

The policy is being widely implemented and reported right now. How much will it speed up the process? American claims that this will save about two minutes a flight, though that average is spread across thousands of flights in which millions of permutations of boarding issues (full overhead bins, surly passengers, surly crew) can occur. Given the wide statistical nature of the process, passengers probably register much of a difference in timing.

What they will notice is a slight modification to the boarding zones, though this change still wont relieve the gate lice congestion. If American could come up with a solution for that problem, we'd be impressed.

American's New Boarding Process Could Probably Maybe Not Speed Up Boarding originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairlinesairportairportsamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesboardingMon, 20 May 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Metropol Parasol: The Largest Wooden Structure In The World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/04/metropol-parasol-the-largest-wooden-structure-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/04/metropol-parasol-the-largest-wooden-structure-in-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2013/05/04/metropol-parasol-the-largest-wooden-structure-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under:



The largest wooden structure in the world is surprisingly hidden in a quiet neighborhood of Seville, Spain. Called the Metropol Parasol, the 490 by 230-foot monstrosity floats casually above La Encarnación square like a space ship landing in the middle of a city. Underneath, Spaniards siesta and carry about everyday life oblivious to the intrusion, while visitors can ride an elevator up to the top of the structure and explore the flowing architecture. Make sure to explore market underneath the Parasol as well - though it's got a modern layout reflective of the parent structure, there's plenty of Iberico jamon and Rioja to remind of you of the old world.

[Photo Credits: Grant Martin and Liz Telschow]

Metropol Parasol: The Largest Wooden Structure In The World originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 04 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>metropol parasolMetropolParasolsevillespainSat, 04 May 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How To Deal With The Ridiculous New Airline Change Fees]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/27/how-to-deal-with-the-ridiculous-new-airline-change-fees/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/27/how-to-deal-with-the-ridiculous-new-airline-change-fees/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/27/how-to-deal-with-the-ridiculous-new-airline-change-fees/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The big news in the travel industry this week was that United and US Airways raised the cost of changing tickets from $150 to $200. This means that if you need to change your ticket for any reason prior to departure, whether you got stuck in traffic on the way to the airport or your pet goldfish died, you're going to have to pay a little bit more.

Gouging? Probably. Expected? Definitely. As airline prices continue their slow appreciation over the years decouple from the actual inflation rate, they're turning to more and more ancillary fees in order to gain revenue. We saw it in baggage fees and in-fight meals and entertainment. Ticketing fees were bound to increase.

Rather than get angry about the fees, let's focus on moving forward. Change fees only apply when you need to change your ticket, so the first thing that passengers can try to do is book the right ticket. A little-known rule when purchasing tickets is that the airlines have to give passengers 24 hours to cancel or change a reservation. At American Airlines you can put a ticket on hold until midnight the next day. United will let you cancel a reservation at no charge within 24 hours. And online travel agents like Orbitz and Expedia will cancel most reservations within 24 hours if you call their customer support and carefully draw out your complaint.

Continue reading How To Deal With The Ridiculous New Airline Change Fees

How To Deal With The Ridiculous New Airline Change Fees originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airline feesAirlineFeesairlinesbudget-travelfeesSat, 27 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Join Gadling At The New York Travel Festival This Weekend]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/15/join-gadling-at-the-new-york-travel-festival-this-weekend/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/15/join-gadling-at-the-new-york-travel-festival-this-weekend/http://www.gadling.com/2013/04/15/join-gadling-at-the-new-york-travel-festival-this-weekend/#commentsWhen Roni Weiss cornered me at the AOL offices a few years ago to pitch the concept of a new travel conference I had my doubts. We have travel conferences. We have travel societies, Facebook groups, Twitter wars and blog chats. We need to travel more, chat less and improve the conferences that we already have, I suggested.

I stand by that assertion. But I also think that there's space to grow in an industry that's starting to diverge. I'm told that the Travel Festival this weekend is more about the appreciation and inspiration of travel and writing versus the abject pandering for sponsorships or freebies. I think that there's definitely room to grown in that realm.

And some pretty great people are coming out in support. In addition to the panel that I'm on with Ross Borden from Matador and Joe Diaz from Afar, Matt Gross (the formal Frugal Traveler), Matt Kepnes (ie, Nomadic Matt), David Farley, Andrew Evans (National Geographic's Digital Nomad) and Robert Reid (Lonely Planet) will all be there, along with a handful of other really great travel people in the community. These are people that have written the guidebooks, edited the stories and survived the battles of the travel industry over the last few decades. I'm sure they have plenty of insight to give.

In case you're interested, several Gadling folk will be there including Mr. Farley, above. David will be speaking on the Czech Republic and announcing winners of the writing contest at noon, while Ross, Joe and I will be speaking on new media strategies. I'm pretty sure that there will be drinks somewhere in that equation as well.

Come on out and join us. The festival runs over multiple days and you can find more info here.

Join Gadling At The New York Travel Festival This Weekend originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why Is Marriott Sponsoring A Jackie Robinson Movie?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/23/why-is-marriott-sponsoring-a-jackie-robinson-movie/http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/23/why-is-marriott-sponsoring-a-jackie-robinson-movie/http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/23/why-is-marriott-sponsoring-a-jackie-robinson-movie/#commentsFiled under:



"Does Marriott have a minority problem?"

There's an interesting story over at Marketplace.org about a new movie coming out about Jackie Robinson and its corporate sponsor. Marriott, the worldwide hotel chain, is partnering up with Warner Brothers, the producers of "42," to be the official hotel sponsor for the film.

But why? In a film about baseball that took place far before Marriott was a household name, why would a hotel need to sponsor a movie? Marketplace's host, Kai Ryssdal and Wesley Morris, a film critic at Grantland.com lob a few theories back and forth during this interview, but the only conclusion they can resolve is that the move targets attention from minorities. If that's the case, it'll be interesting to see what they sponsor next.

Why Is Marriott Sponsoring A Jackie Robinson Movie? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>42baseballjackie robinsonJackieRobinsonmarketplacemarketplace.orgmarriottSat, 23 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Map From American Airlines Shows Award Seats By Location]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/21/new-map-from-american-airlines-shows-award-seats-by-location/http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/21/new-map-from-american-airlines-shows-award-seats-by-location/http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/21/new-map-from-american-airlines-shows-award-seats-by-location/#commentsFiled under: , ,



One of the biggest complaints with airline mileage programs is that the miles are often difficult to redeem for flights. The carriers may hand them out left and right while claiming to have low-cost awards, but in practice, those tickets can be difficult to find. As a result, many passengers either end up getting gouged on miles for their ideal trip or booking a completely different itinerary.

Researching an ideal destination based on one's mileage balance has always been limited, however, based on the number of airports a passenger wanted to search. For example, if I wanted to get out of Chicago and take a miniature vacation this weekend with the 25,000 miles in my account, I would be limited to checking availability on each route manually by typing in San Francisco (SFO), Sioux City (SUX), New York City (NYC), etc., and checking availability by hand. It's both time consuming and risky, because there is no guarantee that those 25,000 mile awards will be available for any given destination.

Perhaps realizing this, American Airlines just launched a new online tool to map available destinations based on your origin, dates of travel and number of available miles in your account. Plugging in the above query thus brings up the above map, where dark blue pinpoints indicate possible trips and light blue pinpoints show upsells.

There are still plenty of imperfections in the system. Partner availability doesn't seem to be showing up fluidly, and passengers taking transatlantic flights on British Airways are still exposed to the egregious taxes. But the tool does a great job at exposing travelers to the wide spectrum of flights available with a constrained number of miles. Today, I learned I could fly to either the Canary Islands or Sofia, Bulgaria, for only 40,000 miles during the winter season, and that's a great deal regardless of taxes.

Give the app a try yourself at aa.com/awardmap# and see what you find.

New Map From American Airlines Shows Award Seats By Location originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin America And Singapore Airlines Launch Mileage Partnership - Star Alliance Next?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/10/virgin-america-and-singapore-airlines-launch-mileage-partnership/http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/10/virgin-america-and-singapore-airlines-launch-mileage-partnership/http://www.gadling.com/2013/03/10/virgin-america-and-singapore-airlines-launch-mileage-partnership/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Passengers on the scrappy airline startup Virgin America were introduced to a new benefit last week: an expanded partnership with Singapore Airlines. Now, in addition to the assorted codeshare agreements currently in place, fliers on each airline can accrue miles from the partner carrier. So the 2000 Elevate points earned on Virgin America from Chicago to Los Angeles can now turn into 11,000 miles earned from Chicago to Los Angeles to Singapore. Conversely, passengers in Singapore's KrisFlyer program can also earn miles on Virgin America's domestic routes.

Shared mileage accrual also means that passengers in each frequent flier program will be able to redeem miles on partner carriers, so all of those domestic trips on Virgin America can now translate to international trips on Singapore.

Virgin America's partnership with Singapore is a great step towards bringing in business from partner carriers, and one wonders whether this is the first step towards working larger networks. One of the biggest detractors to flying on the carrier has always been the lack of mileage partners in the United States, and if the airline were part of the Star, Oneworld or even Skyteam network, a huge market of business travelers would shift their business over. Since Singapore is part of the Star Alliance network, it may be a natural next step for Virgin America to partner with United Airlines, the biggest domestic Star carrier.

Were that the case, however, it might make sense for all of the Virgin carriers (i.e., Virgin Atlantic, V Australia, etc.) to join a global network, and since Virgin Atlantic just partnered up with Delta Air Lines (Skyteam), it seems that the brands are in conflict. Perhaps the cost of joining an alliance is just too high.

[Photo Credit: Virgin America]

Virgin America And Singapore Airlines Launch Mileage Partnership - Star Alliance Next? originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget-travelfrequent flyer milesFrequentFlyerMilessingaporesingapore airlinesSingaporeAirlinesvirginvirgin americaVirginAmericaSun, 10 Mar 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Anthony Bourdain Answers Questions About His Checkered Past]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/27/anthony-bourdain-answers-questions-about-his-checkered-past/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/27/anthony-bourdain-answers-questions-about-his-checkered-past/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/27/anthony-bourdain-answers-questions-about-his-checkered-past/#commentsFiled under: ,

BourdainOur favorite chef and cranky traveler Anthony Bourdain jumped on the internets earlier this week to answer questions about his past as a cook, traveler and troublemaker, and as usual, the internets had lots of prying questions.

One of the best things about Mr. Bourdain, though, has always been his brutal honesty, and he held little back in replying to the numerous questions. The travel superstar, who readily admits to heavy drug use in his early years, fielded a variety of questions ranging from inquiries about his tenuous relationship with the Travel Channel to stealing Guy Fieri's Lamborghini to details of his new show on CNN.

An excerpt from the questions and his responses is pasted below. You can read the full Q&A session over on Reddit.

Q: What do you think of Rick Steves?
A: I wish he'd remember to give me my bong back.

Q: What is the best "meat in tube form" in the world?
A: The Chicago hot dog.

Q: What kind of person were you in your twenties? What were your goals and do you think you would have ever imagined you'd be where you are now?
A: I was a complete asshole. Selfish, larcenous, druggy, loud, stupid, insensitive and someone you would not want to have known. I would have robbed your medicine cabinet had I been invited to your house.

Q: Why did you steal Guy Fieri's Lamborghini and then frame a teenager?

Continue reading Anthony Bourdain Answers Questions About His Checkered Past

Anthony Bourdain Answers Questions About His Checkered Past originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelanthony bourdainAnthonyBourdainbudget-travelWed, 27 Feb 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Follow Gadling In Spain This Week On The Instagrant]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/24/follow-gadling-in-spain-this-week-on-the-instagrant/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/24/follow-gadling-in-spain-this-week-on-the-instagrant/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/24/follow-gadling-in-spain-this-week-on-the-instagrant/#commentsIt's my turn on the helm of Instagram this week, which is great news because I'm traveling through a southern swath of Spain. Expect plenty of photos from Seville and Granada as I wander between cities, awkwardly bumping between glasses of Rioja and dishes of paella.

In case you missed it, we're in the opening weeks of our Instagram feed launch, and we're leaning on some of our well-traveled bloggers to populate the feed. Stay tuned for dispatches from Maui, Paris, Cabo and even Afghanistan over the coming weeks, and travel vicariously through our team.

Meanwhile, check out our Instagram page over on instagram.com/gadlingtravel.

Salud!
-Grant Martin, Editor in Chief.

Follow Gadling In Spain This Week On The Instagrant originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gadlinginstagramSun, 24 Feb 2013 17:36:00 EST<![CDATA[US Airways And American Airlines To Officially Announce Merger]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/14/us-airways-and-american-airlines-to-officially-announce-merger/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/14/us-airways-and-american-airlines-to-officially-announce-merger/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/14/us-airways-and-american-airlines-to-officially-announce-merger/#commentsFiled under: , ,

American Airlines and US Airways are set to officially announce their merger plans today, after months of speculation and planning. The joint operation between American, the currently bankrupt carrier based out of Dallas, Texas, and US Airways, the twice-bankrupt carrier based out of Tempe, Arizona, would form the largest airline in the world.

According to multiple sources, the airline would keep the American Airlines name while Doug Parker, the current CEO of US Airways would take the top management seat.

Full intentions of the merger are scheduled to be announced today in a 10 a.m. CST conference call in Dallas. Once the formal announcement has been made there are dozens of extra regulatory steps to be made prior to an official merger, including approval from the Federal Trade Commission, but most believe that the process will encounter little resistance. Complete joint operation is expected later this year or early next year.

As to how this will affect consumers, there is plenty of analysis in the airline community to read before going to bed, but the basics are pretty straightforward. With slightly less competition between carriers, consumers may expect to pay more out of pocket moving forward, but can expect a stronger airline better capable of handling economic downturns and volatile oil prices.

Based on previous mergers (among them, Delta and Northwest to form the then-largest airline) neither frequent flier program nor the miles therein will be gutted, but consumers can expect either AAdvantage or Dividend Miles to adopt the most cost-effective facets of the other program.
Until the airlines agree on all of the details further down the road, however, the community is only left to speculate on the full effects of the merger. Expect numerous updates as the year goes on.

[Flickr image via Fly For Fun]

US Airways And American Airlines To Officially Announce Merger originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american airlinesAmericanAirlinesmergerus airwaysUsAirwaysThu, 14 Feb 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starwood And Delta Air Lines Announce 'Crossover Rewards,' Joint Loyalty Program Benefits]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/07/starwood-and-delta-air-lines-announce-crossover-rewards-joint/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/07/starwood-and-delta-air-lines-announce-crossover-rewards-joint/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/07/starwood-and-delta-air-lines-announce-crossover-rewards-joint/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

crossover rewards delta and starwoodThere's news this morning of a new partnership called Crossover Rewards that's forming between two juggernauts in the travel industry. Starting March 1, Delta Air Lines and Starwood will be sharing some benefits from their loyalty programs, meaning members of SkyMiles and Starwood Preferred Guest will soon be able to enjoy perks extended to their partner program without earning status on the other side.

Shared benefits vary by the level of elite status but will not include the entire spectrum of perks. Delta Platinum and Diamond members, for example, will be allowed a late checkout and free Wi-i, but will not get complimentary room upgrades. Similarly, SPG members will enjoy a free checked bag, priority boarding and priority seating, but will not get upgrades. In both programs, booked travel will earn points for each loyalty account.

The move aims to target loyalty members from a different market sector and hopefully entice them to bring loyalty to another program. Simply put, this is an easy way for each brand to target highly profitable and highly loyal customers at low risk, so it's an easy partnership to forge.

This isn't the first time that loyalty programs have teamed up for earnings. Hilton Hotels has been using a double dip program in HHonors for several years where loyal travelers can allocate a part of their earnings to an airline mileage account.

Unique to Crossover Rewards though is the elite benefits that are being shared. Under this program, even if the Delta Platinum has never set foot in the same city as an SPG property there are still benefits to be collected. It's a great incentive to loyal travelers and a savvy move by Delta and SPG. Hopefully the other carriers and hotels catch on.

[Flickr photo via Ed Yourdon]

Starwood And Delta Air Lines Announce 'Crossover Rewards,' Joint Loyalty Program Benefits originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossover rewardsCrossoverRewardsDelta Air LinesFinanceSkyMilesStarwood Hotels & Resorts WorldwideStarwood Preferred GuestThu, 07 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tips For Flying Cheaper In 2013]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/04/tips-for-flying-cheaper-in-2013/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/04/tips-for-flying-cheaper-in-2013/http://www.gadling.com/2013/02/04/tips-for-flying-cheaper-in-2013/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Another year has passed and the airline industry is still locked in its race to the bottom of quality and service. It now costs money to add anything special to your flight, from legroom to meals to Internet to in-flight television. Need to change your tickets? There's a fee. Want to standby for an earlier flight? There's a fee. On some carriers there's even a fee to store your bags in an overhead bin, and others are removing bathrooms to make room for more paying passengers. Even Southwest Airlines, the king of no-hassle flying, recently announced that they'll start charging fees for parts of their service.

No fee should surprise the frugal traveler at this point. The industry has adapted to à la carte pricing, which targets the casual and unwary traveler, and it's up to the informed passenger to find the best priced and fee-free tickets. The good news is that these new fees have kept base fares low - it's just a matter of finding the cheapest tickets. Here's how you can get started in 2013. For 2012 tips, check out last year's still very-relevant guide.

1. Cheat On Your Metacrawler
Oh, you use Kayak? Everyone does at this point, and though it's hands down the best tool for quickly searching the widest spectrum of airline sites, it's not the only authority. Sites like Momondo (based in Copenhagen) and Skyscanner (based in Edinburgh) often have access to different branches of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and can sometimes display completely different prices.

Here's a recent example. A flight I recently booked between Munich and Berlin was coming up as $650 on Kayak via Airberlin.com. But Skyscanner pulled up availability on a site called Ebookers.co.uk for a cost of $560. Total savings by switching crawlers: $90.

Continue reading Tips For Flying Cheaper In 2013

Tips For Flying Cheaper In 2013 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airfarebudget-travelcheap ticketsCheapTicketsFinanceITA SoftwareJetBlue AirwaysMilePointMomondoOrbitz Worldwide IncSkyscannerTravelocityTravelzoo IncTwitterVirgin AmericaMon, 04 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Budget Guide 2013: Chicago]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/29/budget-guide-2013-chicago/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/29/budget-guide-2013-chicago/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/29/budget-guide-2013-chicago/#commentsFiled under: ,


The neighborhoods that makes up the city of Chicago are in constant motion. It is a city of crime, segregation and flourish, a city of constant despair and rebirth. Because of that cycle, there's always a neighborhood on the cusp of development or the brink of disaster, which means new edgy properties opening and closing - and vying for the tourist dollar.

It's that competition that keeps the mainstream market on its toes. New budget hotels and restaurants on the outside neighborhoods have forced downtown spots to rethink the concept of "budget" and position new properties for a thriftier bunch. Find those new properties or visit the outer neighborhoods and you'll find the best budget destinations in this city; then throw in a well-built public transportation infrastructure and one of the busiest national airports and you've got the perfect formula for an inexpensive weekend trip.

That's not to say that all of your choices have to be limited to $2 taco stands and the youth hostel parked 30 miles west of town. "Budget" in Chicago can be experiencing celebrity-chef quality at food truck prices or a new boutique hotel at half the cost of the Waldorf Astoria. It's the second city for a reason: it's cheaper than New York, it's less pretentious, it's easier to access and its people are friendlier. Stick around, and your wallet might beg you to stay.

Continue reading Budget Guide 2013: Chicago

Budget Guide 2013: Chicago originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbudget-travelbudgetguide2013chicagoIan SchragerJoie de vivreLincoln ParkLogan SquareO'Hare International AirportRick BaylessTue, 29 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Delta Air Lines Changes Mileage Program, Budget Travelers Lose]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/23/delta-air-lines-changes-mileage-program-budget-travelers-lose/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/23/delta-air-lines-changes-mileage-program-budget-travelers-lose/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/23/delta-air-lines-changes-mileage-program-budget-travelers-lose/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The announcement came quietly last week, amid bigger, louder clamor over another airline's new branding. Delta Air Lines will be changing its mileage program for the 2015 status year, and in a very big way. Coming up, passengers will soon be required to spend a minimum amount of money on the airline per year in order to reach elite status. So, for example, for one to reach Platinum status, it will soon be required to earn either 75,000 miles or 100 segments and spend a minimum of $7,500 on the airline per year. The full qualification table pulled from Delta's announcement is below

MEDALLION QUALIFICATION

Silver

Gold

Platinum

Diamond

MQDs

$2,500

$5,000

$7,500

$12,500

and

and

and

and

MQMs

25,000

50,000

75,000

125,000

or

or

or

or

MQSs

30

60

100

140
This change shouldn't be a surprise for regular travelers. Skymiles has been eroding for several years now, and this is the next step in completely trivializing the program. Options for low-cost mileage redemptions have nearly evaporated, and many passengers are holding onto stockpiles with nothing to buy. One disgusted passenger on the forum Flyertalk puts it this way:

Continue reading Delta Air Lines Changes Mileage Program, Budget Travelers Lose

Delta Air Lines Changes Mileage Program, Budget Travelers Lose originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplaneairportdeltaDelta Air LinesFinancefrequent flyer milesFrequentFlyerMilesmileageSkyMilesWed, 23 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Outtakes From Delta Air Lines' New Safety Video]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/16/outtakes-from-delta-air-lines-new-safety-video/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/16/outtakes-from-delta-air-lines-new-safety-video/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/16/outtakes-from-delta-air-lines-new-safety-video/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Late last year you may remember that Delta Air Lines produced a new on-board safety video. It was a replacement to the now-famous Deltalina video, updated with new hosts and a dash of humor. Widely applauded by the community for balancing light-hearted content with informational rules, several versions of the video are now in place among the 722 aircraft in Delta's fleet.

As a bonus, this time the airline also collected the scraps from the cutting room floor for a series of outtakes and bloopers. The deleted scenes include plenty of line-reading errors as well as a few goofy scenes cut from the main video for one reason or another. Take a look at the exclusive video above.

Outtakes From Delta Air Lines' New Safety Video originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbudget-traveldeltadelta air linesDeltaAirLinesouttakessafetysafety videoSafetyVideoWed, 16 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Use These Programs To Shorten The Airport Security Line]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/15/use-these-programs-to-shorten-the-airport-security-line/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/15/use-these-programs-to-shorten-the-airport-security-line/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/15/use-these-programs-to-shorten-the-airport-security-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The security situation in this nation's airports is in a constant flux. Checkpoints differ from terminal to terminal and it seems like there's always a new rule or restriction governing luggage. It's actually partially built that way for a reason; part of the Department of Homeland Security's strategy involves variety in your checkpoint experience. That's why sometimes you'll be directed through a millimeter wave detector while other times you'll go through a magnetometer. Without a regular security cog in place, it's hard for opposing forces to plan in absolutes.

Thankfully, a few measures have developed in recent months to relax part of the security runaround for many travelers. Some of these are backed by the DHS while others are facilitated by the airlines or third parties. Each is built to reward the prepared traveler with shorter lines and faster transfers at the airport though, and those minutes can be critical.

TSA Pre Check
A new program from the Department of Homeland Security is now being offered for frequent flyers of many airlines with proven travel records. Called TSA Pre Check, the program collects additional data about a passenger and his itinerary and then works with the airline to track the passenger and provide expedited screening.

Continue reading Use These Programs To Shorten The Airport Security Line

Use These Programs To Shorten The Airport Security Line originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbudget-travelTue, 15 Jan 2013 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Table Tennis With The Crossword Champion]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/08/table-tennis-with-the-crossword-champion/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/08/table-tennis-with-the-crossword-champion/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/08/table-tennis-with-the-crossword-champion/#commentsFiled under: , ,



At six points into the game I'm absolutely crushing the ball with my racket. It's taking the entire mass of my body to return each shot, but somehow they keep coming back. Finally, three points later, the right ball falls at my backhand and an errant slice lumbers awkwardly across the net.

"Good!" my opponent says, soothingly, meaning "finally!" and then he rockets the ball over my shoulder.

I've heard that voice before though, that same voice, used in that same playful tone. It's the puzzle master, Will Shortz from NPR, that same voice that shepherds lost radio listeners through the weekly puzzle challenge, the same mind behind the New York Times Crossword. An eight-letter word starting with "T" and describing your skill at table tennis. Good!

Only this time, Mr. Shortz isn't working on puzzles, he's casually returning the missiles that I'm firing, one after another, across the table, four feet behind the line, tap-TAP, tap-TAP, tap-TAP, tap-TAP. If the sandwiches that I brought for lunch were nearby, I think he'd be snacking on them to pass the time.

That same voice happens to own a table tennis club in Pleasentville, New York, the Westchester Table Tennis Center, where rows of tables symmetrically divide players along columns of furious play. When David and I reach the center late that morning, two young men are lounging behind the front desk, rackets in hand, watching YouTube videos of famous players and games. We take the hour to warm up.

Continue reading Table Tennis With The Crossword Champion

Table Tennis With The Crossword Champion originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossword puzzleCrosswordPuzzlenew yorkNewYorkping pongPingPongpuzzlestable tennisTableTenniswill shortzWillShortzTue, 08 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA['Wonders Of Life' On BBC Two: Better Than The Rest]]>http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/05/wonders-of-life-on-bbc-two-better-than-the-rest/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/05/wonders-of-life-on-bbc-two-better-than-the-rest/http://www.gadling.com/2013/01/05/wonders-of-life-on-bbc-two-better-than-the-rest/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



We just don't get programming like this in the states anymore. A new show on BBC Two called "Wonders of Life" is shaping up to be one of the best shows on science and travel in a while. In the preview above (yes, that's Monty Python) we're privy to beautiful destinations, a fresh dose of science, outstanding filmography and most refreshingly: a modest host. It's the sort of show that could have one day been well-suited for this History Channel or Discovery. Instead, we not only have "Pawn Stars," we have "Pawn Stars" marathons. This is why I don't own a TV.

"Wonders Of Life" just aired their first episode on BBC Two, and if you're fortunate enough to get the channel you can check a schedule here.

'Wonders Of Life' On BBC Two: Better Than The Rest originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BBC TwoEntertainmentHistorysciencevideoWonders of LifeSat, 05 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What's The Difference Between Holland And The Netherlands? This Video Tells You]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/22/whats-the-difference-between-holland-and-the-netherlands/http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/22/whats-the-difference-between-holland-and-the-netherlands/http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/22/whats-the-difference-between-holland-and-the-netherlands/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Remember that fast-talking fellow with all of the nifty geography lessons? The guy who sorted out the difference among Great Britain, England and the UK for us in one dandy film? Well he's back, and he's here to explain the proper use between The Netherlands and Holland. I won't ruin the surprise for you, but the geographic difference was quite enlightening.

His name is CGP Grey, by the way, and he also sells T-shirts strangely. Check out his whole feed here.

What's The Difference Between Holland And The Netherlands? This Video Tells You originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 22 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amsterdamEnglandGreat BritainhollandnetherlandsvideoSat, 22 Dec 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[United Reveals New Airport Lounge Design]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/17/united-reveals-new-airport-lounge-design/http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/17/united-reveals-new-airport-lounge-design/http://www.gadling.com/2012/12/17/united-reveals-new-airport-lounge-design/#comments

There's a new airport lounge concept coming to United Airlines, and it's pretty dandy. The first showpiece in Terminal 2 of Chicago's O'Hare airport opens up on Thursday, the 20th of December, and the improvements over traditional clubs are dramatic.

Design facets of the club are a mixture of the Continental and United brands, folded into tones of travel and warmth. The spherical lights over the bar, for example, symbolize the updated company logo. Tables and lights are modeled after jet engines, while the swept ceiling looks like a wing. Even the bathrooms, which have 787 Dreamliner-style mirrors, reflect the airline's livery.

United plans to open seven more clubs in San Diego, Seattle, Houston, London, San Francisco, Atlanta and Boston through the third quarter of 2014, and any remodels will hold this updated aesthetic. Take a look through the club in Chicago below.

Gallery: United's Updated Lounge Design

United Reveals New Airport Lounge Design originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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