Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Detroit to Seattle by highway in five minutes]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/detroit-to-seattle-by-highway-in-five-minutes/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/detroit-to-seattle-by-highway-in-five-minutes/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/11/detroit-to-seattle-by-highway-in-five-minutes/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



When I was in high school and college, some of my fondest experiences were the road trips that I used to take with my friend Chris. On one, we drove from Ann Arbor into Ontario to see the Weakerthans at the Trasheteria in Guelph and then moved onward to Toronto and our favorite hostel in Kensington Market.

Trips like this are the foundation on which I built my travel career, and now that I'm older and living in the city I rarely spend time in the car.

As for Chris, he just took up a job in Seattle and is still hitting the pavement hard. The above video documents his journey from Detroit all the way to Washington as he made his final move, all composed of still frames over the 2,300 miles. Keep on driving, my friend.

Detroit to Seattle by highway in five minutes originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbudget-traveldrivingroad tripRoadTriptime lapseTimeLapsevideoSat, 11 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Tips for flying cheaper in 2012]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/07/tips-for-flying-cheaper-in-2012/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/07/tips-for-flying-cheaper-in-2012/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/07/tips-for-flying-cheaper-in-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,



We're in a different world of air travel in 2012. Airlines have upped the ante in the a la carte pricing and fee game, and the Department of Transportation has taken steps to reduce the volume of nefarious fare marketing. American Airlines is now bankrupt, while Malev Hungarian is almost completely out of business and Spirit Airlines is on the full offensive. To put it mildly, the airline industry is a mess.

Despite the chaos, airfare remains competitive, with sub-$300 fares still commonly available from coast to coast and a glut of competition to keep prices low. The sales are fewer and farther between through, and only the savviest of travelers are cashing in on the best tickets. So we've compiled the cutting edge in airfare search technology into one simple spot for readers to do their research. The product, we hope, will ultimately save you a few dollars.

1. Check out Kayak's new search interface. Make no mistake, Kayak was already the top choice for savvy airfare searchers prior to this year, but as of January 2012 they've also made some nice improvements. Most useful perhaps is the flexible searching. From the main flight page on Kayak you can now click on "My Dates are Flexible" and then "Flex month" to get an excellent snapshot of when the cheapest time to fly from point A to point B is. If, for example, you know you want to get away to San Francisco for a few days next month, you can select a starting departure date and your desired duration of travel. The tool will then search for an entire month of flights taking place over your selected duration and then identify the best window for your travel.

Another nice application that Kayak has is the Explore tool. All that you need to get started with Kayak Explore is your point of origin; the system will populate prices around the planet that meet your criteria thereafter, whether you want a beach, ski or international destination. The result is a clean little application for inspiring travel for those without a destination in mind -- all while keeping a healthy budget.

2. Credit cards, points and loopholes. 2011 was the year of points and promotions, a trend well underscored by the explosive growth of The Points Guy and View from the Wing. It's a culture of budget travel and reward points gaming that the blogs are basically selling, and each site expertly takes you through the variety of tools that the community uses. Primarily, you'll see a lot of discussion about airline credit cards, many of which allow you to skirt various airline fees such as baggage or rebooking fees while piling on extra miles good for future travel. And though the reward can sometimes be barely worth the credit score and time invested, keeping track of your miles and gaming the system can be a fun and addictive activity.

Continue reading Tips for flying cheaper in 2012

Tips for flying cheaper in 2012 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplanebudget-travelcheap ticketsCheapTicketsflightTue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A mobility scooter for the adrenaline junkie]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/05/a-mobility-scooter-for/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/05/a-mobility-scooter-for/http://www.gadling.com/2012/02/05/a-mobility-scooter-for/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Paging the team at The Adventurists. Gadling Labs just dug up a great video from on the web showing a tricked out mobility scooter that would be great for a cross continent adventure. Youtube user colinfurze uploaded the video showing some of the ridiculous speeds and maneuverability afforded by a scooter that he customized, and the result is pretty outstanding.

This is actually the same machine that broke the Guinness World Record for fastest mobility scooter (at over 71MPH) a couple of years back. The outstanding weather that the UK has been experiencing in the last few days, however, allowed Mr. Furze to take the equipment out for some unique footage and fun. Perhaps next year's Rickshaw Run will also allow entries from the scooter class.

A mobility scooter for the adrenaline junkie originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelmobility scooterMobilityScooterscooterSun, 05 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Flight attendant pranks passenger by hiding inside of overhead bin]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/flight-attendant-pranks-passenger-by-hiding-inside-of-overhead-b/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/flight-attendant-pranks-passenger-by-hiding-inside-of-overhead-b/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/19/flight-attendant-pranks-passenger-by-hiding-inside-of-overhead-b/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Ever had a flight attendant surprise you from inside of a closed overhead bin? You may have if you were flying on Southwest Airlines. Twitter user Holly McNamara (@hollymac) captured a photo and video this evening of a flight attendant pranking a boarding passenger by hiding inside of an overhead bin and closing the lid. When the unknowing passenger opens the bin there's a noticeable stutter -- then he tries to close the bin again in confusion.

Southwest is known for its casual work environment and excellent relationship with its employees, which is why this particular flight attendant probably felt comfortable pulling off the prank. A video showing a rapping flight attendant on the same airline was was widely circulated back in 2009, and has since gathered hundreds of thousands of hits on Youtube.

As for this incident, Ms. McNamara reports that the prank was pulled off on a layover in LAX en route to Las Vegas. In the name of good fun, we tip our hats to the flight crew and the passengers who could take a good joke. Just don't tell Boeing that anyone is hiding in their overhead bins.

Continue reading Flight attendant pranks passenger by hiding inside of overhead bin

Flight attendant pranks passenger by hiding inside of overhead bin originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A collection of the world's best street artists]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/a-collection-of-the-worlds-best-street-artists/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/a-collection-of-the-worlds-best-street-artists/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/13/a-collection-of-the-worlds-best-street-artists/#commentsFiled under:

One of the best things about discovering a new destination is in the life of the street. Our features editor Don George is famously good at reflecting on the cafe culture across the planet, and the simple act of walking through the city can impart loads of culture onto a traveler.

Street performers, or buskers, could perhaps be the diplomats of city culture, bring new forms of local art to the always-curious visitor. Whether this is the accordion player on the Paris subway or the acrobats on Barcelona's Las Ramblas, the visual art that we experience tends to stick to a destination, and there's a great deal of emotion tied to many of the performances. In appreciation of the art, the team at Gadling Labs thus rounded up a few of our favorite street performers to display for the world.

Got a favorite of your own? Post it in the comments.



Soccer player Iya Traore performs amazing soccer stunts overlooking the sprawling beauty of Paris. Check out more at IyaTraore.com

Continue reading A collection of the world's best street artists

A collection of the world's best street artists originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buskerstreet performerStreetPerformerFri, 13 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A traditional home stay in Seoul - by accident]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/a-traditional-home-stay-in-seoul-by-accident/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/a-traditional-home-stay-in-seoul-by-accident/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/11/a-traditional-home-stay-in-seoul-by-accident/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Jin is waiting for me when I return from Yongsang, placidly sitting at the picnic table in the atrium and staring off into the distance. When I knock on the astroturf covered door he looks up and grins, then lopes over to the door to greet me.

It's only been one night at the MaMa guesthouse (46, Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu) in Seoul, but I already feel like I belong. Between the Angok (Line 3) and Jeosan (Line 1) stops in the district parallel to Insadong, my discovery of the homestay was purely by accident. Walking toward my original hotel earlier the previous night, I saw the flashy sign of MaMa splashed across the traditionally-styled home and made a mental note: if things didn't work out with my current accommodations I'd return.

As usual, Jin Sung Jai was resting in his room when I first showed up, and through the front door window I could see his feet hanging out from the sliding doors of his room. He greeted me with enthusiasm - yes, there was a room available tonight, the "mother" room for only 60,000 Won - discounted 25% off of the normal rate.

It would be a traditional room, one not unlike those in a traditional Japanese household with a heated floor, a thin mattress in the center of the room and two linens on top. A sliding, rice paper door was the divider between the main atrium and my room, the same divider that went into Jin's and four other rooms around the perimeter of the atrium. For this and most other rooms here, the bathroom and living spaces would be shared.

In a way though, that's the sort of package that a solo traveler needs a foreign land - a small splash of traditional culture, a community space in which to reflect your thoughts and a shepherd to guide you through the process. In the morning I help Jin update his website as a meal of hard boiled eggs, toast and apples is delivered. He shows me through the stacks of paintings with a style that he's perfected with years of study across parts of Europe, North America and Korea. And with a handshake and a smile he sends me on my way to Incheon Airport. I would give a hundred stays in a big box western hotel in exchange for another night in a place like this.

Gallery: MaMa Guest House, Seoul Korea

A traditional home stay in Seoul - by accident originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelbudget-travelhome stayHomeStaykoreaseoulWed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Photographs of the people of China via Erin Drewitz]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/photographs-of-the-people-of-china-via-erin-drewitz/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/photographs-of-the-people-of-china-via-erin-drewitz/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/10/photographs-of-the-people-of-china-via-erin-drewitz/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Our dear graphic designer and occasional photographer Erin Drewitz had a busy 2011, romping between San Francisco, Dallas, China and the far reaches of the planet. Her most recent series, collected between Hong Kong, Shenzen, Changsha and Zhangjiajie captures some of the everyday life experienced among the country's working class, from the street workers in the central provinces to the schoolgirls bashfully commuting to class. Check out a portion of the collection below or view the full set over at erindrewitz.com.

Gallery: The People of China by Erin Drewitz

Photographs of the people of China via Erin Drewitz originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelasiabudget-travelchinaphotographyphotosTue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Engineers call for grounding of A380 after cracks found in wings]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/engineers-call-for-grounding-of-a380-after-cracks-found-in-wings/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/engineers-call-for-grounding-of-a380-after-cracks-found-in-wings/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/engineers-call-for-grounding-of-a380-after-cracks-found-in-wings/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Daily Mail reports this evening that cracks found in the wing sections of several Airbus A380 jumbo jets have led to deep concern among a group of Australian aircraft engineers. Calling for the grounding of all A380 aircraft, the group highlighted recent faults uncovered in the wing structures of several Singapore Airlines and Qantas jets in their complaint.

Acknowledging the cracks, the airlines and manufacturer claim that the faults are in non-critical sections of the wings and that an easy detection and repair method has been identified. None of the seven current carriers that operate the aircraft are planning on taking the equipment out of service.

Nevertheless, news of the cracks is a significant concern for Airbus, which has been struggling to compete in a market that's quickly moving towards smaller, more fuel efficient equipment. With the earliest delivery of their next generation aircraft slated for late 2013 2014, they need to rely on sales of the A380 to propel revenue. If technical difficulties keep plaguing the A380, it could significantly impact the future of the company.

[flickr image via Jlcwalker]

Engineers call for grounding of A380 after cracks found in wings originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a380airbusjumbo jetJumboJetqantasMon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Need status on American Airlines? January is your month!]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/08/need-status-on-american-airlines-january-is-your-month/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/08/need-status-on-american-airlines-january-is-your-month/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/08/need-status-on-american-airlines-january-is-your-month/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A combination of promotions on American Airlines makes January a particularly fruitful month for members who want to join their elite ranks. Usually, passengers need to fly at least 25,000 miles to reach gold status on the airline, but a double miles promotion (until the end of January) has reduced that to only 12,500. In addition to that, residents of Illinois, Texas and California can earn an additional round of double miles for flying select routes through the end of March, effectively earning some passengers triple miles.

This means that instead of the normal 3490 elite miles that one would accrue between Chicago and Los Angeles (round trip) a total of 10470 miles can be stacked up -- or 40% of the way to Gold Status. And once you reach gold status? A whole host of benefits are available.

For many, this elite status is what helps make traveling easier and justifies a full carriage of longer, more interesting travel in the years to come. Some even go out of their way to take a mileage run and accrue that status, though you should carefully consider your future travel plans (and balance sheet) before you make that commitment. For me, our Huffington Post offices and editors in California were worth making the trip to Los Angeles once or twice this month. And if it fits into the equation of your long term travels then it might be worth your time too.

Make sure you travel before the 31st of January for the global double miles promotion. You have until the end of March until the geographically based promotion runs out.

Need status on American Airlines? January is your month! originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>american airlinesAmericanAirlinesbudget-travelfrequent flyer milesFrequentFlyerMilesmileage runMileageRunSun, 08 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Johnny Jet feature premiers on the Travel Channel, January 1st]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/30/johnny-jet-feature-premiers-on-the-travel-channel-january-1st/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/30/johnny-jet-feature-premiers-on-the-travel-channel-january-1st/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/30/johnny-jet-feature-premiers-on-the-travel-channel-january-1st/#commentsFiled under:

The last time I saw John DiScala - better known as Johnny Jet -- was at the JW Marriott tour in Chicago. Exhausted from a day long flight from Helsinki I wandered into a journalist's dinner at the freshly opened hotel and saw my old friend sitting among a group of eager young writers and polished senior management. As usual, he was lighting up the room and vivaciously engaging with the crowd. Sulking into my seat at the edge of the table I remember thinking to myself that this guy never stops.

The next evening as we quietly listened to the dulcet tones of Emmy Rossum at the opening reception I asked him about his travel schedule. "Something big" was all that he would reveal, something about a travel show that he had in the works and that had a big client behind it.

It turns out that that client was the Travel Channel, and the project was a special covering the hottest destinations for 2012. Airing on the 1st of January at 9PM Eastern, the special features Johnny hop scotching around the planet profiling some of the best upcoming destinations from Necker Island with Richard Branson to the adventure capital of the world in New Zealand.

Reached by phone late this week, Mr DiScala had only excitement to express about the show, suggesting that "some destinations for this feature you would definitely expect - but some might surprise you." Either way, we'll be tuning in at Gadling Labs for the premier. You can watch the special at 9PMEastern on the Travel Channel or scattered across the schedule thereafter.

Johnny Jet feature premiers on the Travel Channel, January 1st originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelchicagojohnny jetJohnnyJetMarriottNecker IslandNeckerIslandNew ZealandNewZealandRichard BransonRichardBransontravel channelTravelChannelFri, 30 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Your bag's perspective from Atlanta to New York]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/23/your-bags-perspective-from-atlanta-to-new-york/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/23/your-bags-perspective-from-atlanta-to-new-york/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/23/your-bags-perspective-from-atlanta-to-new-york/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Ever wonder what happens to your bag after you send it down the tunnel behind the gate agent at the airport? I was always under the impression that it was handled by a series of Oompa-Loompas who gently carry your bags from point A to point B on their heads, quietly singing the song of the baggage handler as glitter falls from the sky.

Apparently that's not the case. The kind folks over at Delta Air Lines just released a video detailing a bag's journey through the inner workings of Atlanta (ATL) and then over to New York City. To capture the film they strapped six cameras onto a package and sent it through the system, from the conveyor belts to the baggage trucks to the belly of the plane. Though the footage is ultimately an ad for their baggage tracking app, it's still an interesting perspective.

Your bag's perspective from Atlanta to New York originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairplaneatlantabaggagedeltadelta air linesDeltaAirLinesnew yorkNewYorkvideoFri, 23 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Slacklining in Yosemite]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/20/slacklining-in-yosemite/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/20/slacklining-in-yosemite/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/20/slacklining-in-yosemite/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Slacklining is an extreme sport that's gained some traction over the last few years, no doubt bolstered by the growing climbing community and the ubiquitous Patagonia ads. Similar to tightrope walking, the activity involves balancing on a slightly-slack piece of webbing and crossing between two fixed objects. It requires an impressive amount of both balance and strength, and is something that's great for both active athletes and those looking to build strength.

Nursing a patella ligament injury late this summer, my physical therapist recommended something similar to the exercise found in slacklining and I briefly gave it a try. Just last month, in fact, I discovered my first slackline positioned inside of the climbing gym in Brooklyn.

But there's no way that I'm climbing onto a slackline any higher than three feet off the ground. The gentleman in this particular video has set up a line over 3200 feet high in Yosemite, and is willing to cross it without a shred of safety equipment. It's an impressive feat, but one that I wonder might be a bit risky.

Slacklining in Yosemite originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New travel show features Zach Anner, host with cerebral palsy]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/11/new-travel-show-features-host-with-cerebral-palsy/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/11/new-travel-show-features-host-with-cerebral-palsy/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/11/new-travel-show-features-host-with-cerebral-palsy/#commentsFiled under:



Earlier this year, Oprah's OWN television network ran a contest soliciting video entries for hosts of a new television show. The contest earned 143 million votes and a multitude of entires, but one in particular went viral. Zack Anner, a Texas native with cerebral palsy submitted a wacky, light hearted video pitching a show about travel with his condition. His video was a mixture of self-deprecation, clever production and genuine, happy hosting, and as a result the votes poured in.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Anner won the competition, and his show, Rollin With Zach went into production. The OWN network just released a trailer of the series which features the host traveling across the United States covering the nation from a local's perspective. At large, the new travel show beings on the Oprah Network this week. The first episode airs Monday, December 12 from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

If you want to check out the initial audition video, read on below.

Continue reading New travel show features Zach Anner, host with cerebral palsy

New travel show features Zach Anner, host with cerebral palsy originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-traveloprahoprah networkOprahNetworkOWNzach annerZachAnnerSun, 11 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to kayak like a boss]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/03/how-to-kayak-like-a-boss/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/03/how-to-kayak-like-a-boss/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/03/how-to-kayak-like-a-boss/#commentsFiled under: ,



Competitive kayaking is one of those sports like sepak takraw that just doesn't get enough attention in lamestream media. Take this video for example. Rider of the year Taylor Robinson's entry into Yellow Creek is a rough combination of pinball, watersports and badassery, and is the perfect example of how extreme and satisfying whitewater kayaking can be. How about some more stuff like this on ESPN instead of that World Series of Poker crap?

How to kayak like a boss originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureadventure-travelkayakingSat, 03 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[United Airlines to order A380 jumbo jet?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/03/united-airlines-to-order-a380-jumbo-jet/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/03/united-airlines-to-order-a380-jumbo-jet/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/03/united-airlines-to-order-a380-jumbo-jet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Things are going pretty well for United this year. Full approval for their merger with Continental Airlines went through, they became the first domestic carrier to adopt bio fuel and one of their biggest competitors has gone bankrupt. Their media and public relations departments should get the rest of the year off. In fact, they should buy us dinner.

In addition to all of that good news, rumors around the community are that the airline is eyeballing a new Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft on the market and a behemoth that's usually only reserved for the major international carriers. Though United flies plenty of routes, the majority of their passengers fly short haul in the United States, and as such a heavy, fuel-guzzling aircraft is hardly worth the investment.

With growing focus in the Asian Pacific region, however, the airline may start investing in larger aircraft to serve that market. While they haven't made any official announcement to lay public, Aviation Week reports that the COO of airbus claims "that United President and CEO Jeffery Smisek has changed his previously held view that the widebody was inappropriate for U.S. operators and now saw possibilities for the A380 in the new United fleet."

Perhaps that means that the American carriers are finally willing to step into the long haul game. We sure hope so.

United Airlines to order A380 jumbo jet? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a380airbusasiaunitedunited airlinesUnitedAirlinesSat, 03 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Buy elite miles on Delta, cheat your way to elite status]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/01/buy-elite-miles-on-delta-cheat-your-way-to-elite-status/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/01/buy-elite-miles-on-delta-cheat-your-way-to-elite-status/http://www.gadling.com/2011/12/01/buy-elite-miles-on-delta-cheat-your-way-to-elite-status/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The trump card when going toe to toe with the airline industry has always been elite status. Once you're silver or gold or whatever color is associated with frequent travel, many of the airline fees go away, upgrades start to sneak out of the woodwork and travel becomes slightly less miserable. That's why many people carefully plan their annual travel to make sure that they reach a special status, sometimes even going as far as taking a mileage run to earn the right volume.

The problem with earning elite miles at the last minute, though, was that it was usually a waste of time, space and carbon. But airlines wouldn't sell elite miles because then non-frequent travelers could game the system.

This week, Delta has partially fixed that conundrum by actually selling elite miles. They won't sell you many, but if you need a few extra miles to make it to the next tier then it can be actually worth your time.

2,500 points, for example, will cost a traveler $295. But once that tier has been reached, a traveler can expect a whole host of fees waived plus free upgrades, preferred seats and priority checkin. For that price, it may be worth the investment.

You can learn more about Delta's plan to sell miles over at their site. You can buy up to 10,000 miles.

[flickr image via sacra-moneta]

Buy elite miles on Delta, cheat your way to elite status originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deltadelta air linesdelta airlinesDeltaAirlinessky milessky pesosskymilesSkyPesosThu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines is bankrupt! Now what?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/30/american-airlines-is-bankrupt-now-what/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/30/american-airlines-is-bankrupt-now-what/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/30/american-airlines-is-bankrupt-now-what/#commentsFiled under: , ,

By now you've probably heard that AMR, the parent company of American Airlines is bankrupt, making them among the last of the legacy carriers to finally concede to ultra-competitive pricing and sky high oil prices. It's a sad day for stockholders, but like many of the fallen giants they'll pick themselves up, dust off and continue to operate -- albeit a little bit leaner.

This is the second airline that I've followed into bankruptcy. My first, Northwest was back when I was living in Ann Arbor and when I still had unbridled love for all things airplane and travel. That enthusiasm helped me ride through the hard times at Northwest and into the Delta years, and over the course of the transition I even learned a few things in the process. Here's a few things that current and potential passengers can expect:

American knows that their customers especially their frequent fliers are the most important part of the company. Without that revenue they can't expect to survive. So they wont do anything to broadly disrupt operations or disturb the current mileage base. They may make small changes to the way that miles can be redeemed, but they wouldn't dare touch the miles that we currently have.

Similarly, none of the currently booked flights are in danger. If any routes are impacted during the reorganization, American will thoroughly reaccommmodate any passenger and they'll still make it from point A to point B. The airline will also continue to competitively price flights and offer normal service. Providing anything less brings the risk of disturbing the loyal passenger base and losing valuable business.

As with the other airline bankruptices, most of the changes to American will be behind the scenes. Employee benefits and pay will suffer, some routes will shrink and growth will surely stagnate. But American has big plans for growth down the road. This year they made the largest aircraft order in history and they've long been preening Tom Horton to take over as CEO. Bankruptcy is just one more move in this chess game of the airline industry.

[Flickr image via Fly For Fun]

American Airlines is bankrupt! Now what? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Australia plans world's largest marine park]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/australia-plans-worlds-largest-marine-park/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/australia-plans-worlds-largest-marine-park/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/australia-plans-worlds-largest-marine-park/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

An area the size of Germany and France combined is about to become the world's largest marine park off of the north-east coast of Australia. Including a broad swath of the Coral Sea (where the Great Barrier Reef currently resides), the massive area is home to some of the most exotic sea creatures in the world as well as several important shipwrecks from World War II.

The protection afforded from the creation of this park will guarantee that the floral, fauna and archaeological species will continue to thrive unhindered by manmade causes, and will almost definitely pave the road for further tourism in the region.

Announced late last week, the Guardian indicates neither name nor official boundaries for the park as of yet. The government of Australia will release further deals within ninety days.

Continue reading Australia plans world's largest marine park

Australia plans world's largest marine park originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-travelaustraliabudget-travelcoral seaCoralSeagreat barriergreat barrier reefGreatBarrierGreatBarrierReefSun, 27 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Stop motion travel through Google Street View]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/stop-motion-travel-through-google-street-view/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/stop-motion-travel-through-google-street-view/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/27/stop-motion-travel-through-google-street-view/#comments

Stop motion is always a creative way to mobilize inanimate objects in real time, and when you mix in the miracle of Google Street View there's a clever story in the fold. In Address is Approximate, Vimeo user The Theory captures the lonely life of an office desk toy rekindled with the use of a few local props and a large screen monitor. It's a beautiful product, and perhaps the best video that we've ever seen hosted at Vimeo. Nice work.

[Via Photographyblogger and Reddit]

Stop motion travel through Google Street View originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trick out your bike with animated wheels]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/24/trick-out-your-bike-with-animated-wheels/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/24/trick-out-your-bike-with-animated-wheels/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/24/trick-out-your-bike-with-animated-wheels/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Well here's a new way to hipster out your bicycle for your daily commute (I'm looking at you, Portland). Youtube user TheManimation concocted a paper insert to go on top of a bicycle wheel that when rotated turns into a groovy animation. You won't see it at first. Initially, the whole thing will look like one of those folded paper snowflakes that we all used to make in kindergarten. But once the wheels get moving, everything hits the right frequency and the gears start spinning (literally). The result is pretty impressive.

Trick out your bike with animated wheels originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationbicyclebikingvideoThu, 24 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST