Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/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[5 airlines with great in-flight services in economy class]]>http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/5-airlines-with-great-in-flight-services-in-economy-class/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/5-airlines-with-great-in-flight-services-in-economy-class/http://www.gadling.com/2012/01/09/5-airlines-with-great-in-flight-services-in-economy-class/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

in-flight services economy class

Last week, I spent 13 hours desperately trying to fall asleep on a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to London; my economy class seat didn't have a personal entertainment system and the cabin monitor was pitch black from my angle. The week before, my sister took a red-eye United Airlines flight from Honolulu to San Francisco without the benefit of a pillow, blanket, or snack.

For many airlines, it looks like in-flight services in economy class are going the way of liquids on board. But thankfully, there are still some airlines that understand that service, entertainment, and even a few extras are a part of the customer experience, even for the peons in coach. These five are leading the pack.

Virgin Atlantic
Not only does Virgin offer one of the best personal entertainment systems I've ever experienced, they also offer a uniquely British flight experience on their Heathrow-JFK service. From complimentary English publications like Hello and Tatler in the waiting room, to free toiletry kits with socks and eyeshades, to a high tea service with scones and clotted cream, the attention to detail is there.

Continue reading 5 airlines with great in-flight services in economy class

5 airlines with great in-flight services in economy class originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairlinesairplaneairplanesbest in-flight services economy classBestIn-flightServicesEconomyClasscoachcomforteconomyemirates airlinesEmiratesAirlinesin-flightin-flight amenitiesin-flight entertainmentin-flight servicesin-flight services economy classin-flight wifiIn-flightAmenitiesIn-flightEntertainmentIn-flightServicesIn-flightServicesEconomyClassIn-flightWifijetbluesingapore airlinesSingaporeAirlinesthai airwaysThaiAirwaysunited airlinesUnitedAirlinesvirgin americavirgin atlanticVirginAmericaVirginAtlanticMon, 09 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines food killed passenger, claims lawsuit]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/30/american-airlines-food-killed-passenger-claims-lawsuit/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/30/american-airlines-food-killed-passenger-claims-lawsuit/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/30/american-airlines-food-killed-passenger-claims-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

American AirlinesAs if filing for bankruptcy protection was not enough to fill American Airlines plate, now a passenger is claiming the troubled airline killed her husband.

According to the lawsuit, Raquel and Othon Cortes were on a flight to their home in Miami and had just completed the first leg of their journey, a flight from Barcelona to New York, when dinner was served. Othon chose the chicken, Raquel chose something else, reports NewTimes.

  On the ground at JFK it was apparent that something was wrong with Othon. He became pale, had stomach cramps and was suddenly very thirsty, symptoms consistent with food poisoning, in a typical time-frame.

Raquel told NewTimes that as they boarded the flight from JFK to Miami, her husband's illness was "expressed and obvious" to AA staff. Boarding anyway, things took a turn for the worse quickly with Othon presenting nausea and shortness of breath which preceded a heart attack. He was pronounced dead in Norfolk, Virginia where the plane made an emergency landing, albeit too late.

Continue reading American Airlines food killed passenger, claims lawsuit

American Airlines food killed passenger, claims lawsuit originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airline foodairline food kills passengerAirlineFoodAirlineFoodKillsPassengerairlinesAmerican AirlinesJohn F. KennedyMiamiSky ChefsSkyChefsWed, 30 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Obese passenger forces neighbor on US Airways flight to stand for 7 hours]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/23/obese-passenger-forces-neighbor-on-us-air-flight-to-stand-for-7/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/23/obese-passenger-forces-neighbor-on-us-air-flight-to-stand-for-7/http://www.gadling.com/2011/11/23/obese-passenger-forces-neighbor-on-us-air-flight-to-stand-for-7/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Arthur Berkowitz, a passenger on US Airways Flight 901 from Anchorage to Philadelphia, had no other choice but to stand up during his seven hour flight. It seems the next seat over was occupied by a passenger so overweight that it was impossible for Berkowitz to stay in his seat. Now, Berkowitz is speaking out about the ordeal.

"I didn't fly from Alaska to Philadelphia on Flight 901," Berkowitz told consumer advocate Chris Elliott, "I stood."

The neighboring 400-pound man's body spilled over into Berkowitz's personal space so much that he was forced to stand for most of the 7 hour flight, and he couldn't use his seat belt during takeoff and landing.

"His size required both armrests to be raised up and allowed for his body to cover half of my seat." said Berkowitz.

US Airways apologized for the incident and said in a statement "Our intention is to offer the best travel experience possible. The details you have provided indicate that we have failed to meet our intentions." US Air offered Berkowitz a $200 voucher in compensation.

In a poll on Elliott's consumer watchdog site, 96% (over 17,000 votes) thought that US Airways did not offer Berkowitz enough compensation. We agree.

[Image credit: AP]

Obese passenger forces neighbor on US Airways flight to stand for 7 hours originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlinesChris ElliottObese passengerObesePassengeroverweight passengerOverweightPassengerSci/TechUS airUs airwaysUsAirUsAirwaysWed, 23 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Explore the world with Trazzler's new iphone app]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/11/explore-the-world-with-trazzlers-new-iphone-app/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/11/explore-the-world-with-trazzlers-new-iphone-app/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/11/explore-the-world-with-trazzlers-new-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

trazzler comes out with new smartphone app for travelersTrazzler's new free iPhone app, called Trazzler, allows people to explore the world through their smartphone.

When the program first opens, users will be asked to take a short quiz that will allow the app to get to know their personality. The test consists of a series of images in which the user will be prompted to click the photos that appeal to them the most. Through the user's answers, Trazzler can delve deeper into the personality of the user and figure out who they are most compatible to travel with as well as ideal destinations that fit the personality type.

Like a social network, this app makes it easy for you to find your friends who are also using Trazzler and see how well you would fit as traveler partners. Not only that, but users will also be able to read expert recommendations on travel.

The app seems to be getting a lot of attention, as last week more than 30,000 iPhone users downloaded Trazzler. To download the app for yourself, click here. The app is also available on the iPad and iPod Touch.

Explore the world with Trazzler's new iphone app originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budget travelBudgetTravelinternetiphone appIphoneAppsmartphone appSmartphoneAppsolo travelSoloTraveltravel companiontravel photostravel recommendationstravel technologyTravelCompanionTravelPhotosTravelRecommendationsTravelTechnologytrazzlerTue, 11 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ajungo, the new social network platform just for travelers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/06/ajungo-the-new-social-network-platform-just-for-travelers/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/06/ajungo-the-new-social-network-platform-just-for-travelers/http://www.gadling.com/2011/10/06/ajungo-the-new-social-network-platform-just-for-travelers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ajungo is the new social networking platform just for travelers Sick of searching through advice sites and hearing reviews from who only knows? Wish you could connect with other travelers about past or upcoming trips and events? Love social networking but wish you could interact with others in your travel niche? Then there is a brand new social media website just for travelers that brings together all of these platforms into one site.

Ajungo, created by Ben Barton and Steve Shea, is a brand new networking site that allows travelers to connect before, during, and after a trip. Here is how it works:

1) Create a profile and link all of your social networking sites. What this does is allows the site to funnel through your social networking platforms to pull information and funnel it around specific
destinations.

2) Find others who have been to your destination of choice and look through their posted trip or ask them for advice. Or, you can find others who will be in your destination of choice and plan to meet up or travel together.

3) Create your trip canvas, which consists of enabling the sites real-time travel guide feature so that the site can pull your photos and updates while you're on your trip. This allows other travelers to learn from your experience as well as acts like a blog or trip journal by keeping your trip memories organized and sharing them with friends.

The goal of the site is to make travel more social as well as more comfortable for people going to new destinations. And, if there is any information that you do not want shared, the site will not post it without your permission.

Make connections with travelers, view their trips, find travel buddies, or just interact with others in the travel community. It is all possible on Ajungo.

Ajungo, the new social network platform just for travelers originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ajungoblogging toolsBloggingToolsconnect with travelersConnectWithTravelershotel reccommendationsHotelReccommendationsshare travel experienceShareTravelExperiencesocial mediasocial platformsSocialMediaSocialPlatformstravel bloggingtravel experiencetravel networkingtravel reviewstravel tipsTravelBloggingTravelExperienceTravelNetworkingTravelReviewsTravelTipsThu, 06 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Airlines that could kill you]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/28/airlines-that-could-kill-you/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/28/airlines-that-could-kill-you/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/28/airlines-that-could-kill-you/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Airlines that could kill youAviation safety is no small concern for the European Commission when it comes to airlines that could kill you. Airlines not up to standard are banned. Over 90 companies and 250 airlines are on the no-flight blacklist with African, Indonesian and Kazakhstan airlines dominating the list.

The 17th update of the so-called "blacklist" of airlines banned in the 27-nation European Union is serious business for the EU's Safety Committee.

"The European Union now has a coherent approach to banning airlines", said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the Commission responsible for transport. "This black list will keep dubious airlines out of Europe. It will also make sure that all airlines operating in Europe's sky meet the highest safety standards".






Continue reading Airlines that could kill you

Airlines that could kill you originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airline blacklistairline safetyairline safety recordsAirlineBlacklistairlinesAirlines that could kill youAirlineSafetyAirlineSafetyRecordsAirlinesThatCouldKillYouEU airline blacklistEuAirlineBlacklistThu, 28 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Travel group promoting Trusted Traveler Program]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/25/travel-group-promoting-trusted-traveler-program/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/25/travel-group-promoting-trusted-traveler-program/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/25/travel-group-promoting-trusted-traveler-program/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trusted Traveler ProgramShould frequent flyers and business travelers get through airports faster than everybody else? Yes! says the U.S. Travel Association who is trying to convince lawmakers that big airport users need special attention.

"Travelers encounter much hassle at our nation's airports, and it's time for Congress to act," said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. "A one size fits all approach to security is inefficient. If Congress implements a trusted traveler program, we'll see more Americans traveling - and that will create more American jobs.

Continue reading Travel group promoting Trusted Traveler Program

Travel group promoting Trusted Traveler Program originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airportairport hasslesairport securityairport security checksairport security nightmareAirportHasslesAirportSecurityAirportSecurityChecksAirportSecurityNightmaresecurity checksSecurityChecksTrusted Traveler ProgramTrustedTravelerProgramTSAMon, 25 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten stress-free travel tips for people who hate to travel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/15/ten-stress-free-travel-tips-for-people-that-hate-to-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/15/ten-stress-free-travel-tips-for-people-that-hate-to-travel/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/15/ten-stress-free-travel-tips-for-people-that-hate-to-travel/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

ten stress-free travel tips
To many people, traveling is a joy, something to look forward to, plan for and have fun with. Those who travel a lot have their routine down pat and often keep luggage packed, ready for the next trip. Those who do not travel much probably don't because they don't like the whole business of traveling. Aside from people with really challenging handicaps, people in prison or celebrities, most people should not have a lot of trouble with traveling.

Lets take a look at some great travel tips from those who don't travel much but enjoy travel and have figured out how to make it as stress-free as possible.

Continue reading Ten stress-free travel tips for people who hate to travel

Ten stress-free travel tips for people who hate to travel originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ten stress-free travel tipsTenStress-freeTravelTipstravel tipstravel tips for airlinestravel tips for packingtravel tips for staying healthyTravelTipsTravelTipsForAirlinesTravelTipsForPackingTravelTipsForStayingHealthyFri, 15 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[AirTran helps this travel writer put the "fun" back in flying]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/08/airtran-helps-this-travel-writer-put-the-fun-back-in-flying/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/08/airtran-helps-this-travel-writer-put-the-fun-back-in-flying/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/08/airtran-helps-this-travel-writer-put-the-fun-back-in-flying/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

airtran flies to bermudaFlying is not usually a fun experience, and, as a travel writer, I often dread the drudgery of airport security, limited fast food options and cramped middle seats. But sometimes, you're surprised. After a marathon security line at Baltimore-Washington International airport and a trudge down to the end of Terminal D, I heard peppy music, which I thought was emanating from the rum bar a few gates down. I'd noticed the balloons at the check-in gate and spotted more ahead. As I rounded the corner, I spotted it. A full steel drum band, massive dance troupe, and cameras everywhere.

Had I accidentally wandered into a Make a Wish Foundation flight? (This had happened once before.) No - it was AirTran's first flight to Bermuda, and I was apparently on it.

Passengers excitedly milled around the gate area and curious patrons strolled down from other flights to see what was going on. A large table was set up with complimentary bagged sandwiches, chips, soft drinks and cookies emblazoned with the AirTran logo. Employees in Bermuda shorts offered literature about the island, and the native Bermudian dance troupe, flown in for the occasion, performed a routine before boarding the plane in full regalia. Luckily the flight was only about half full and they were able to fit their four-foot tall hats in the overhead bins ...

Continue reading AirTran helps this travel writer put the "fun" back in flying

AirTran helps this travel writer put the "fun" back in flying originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airtranBaltimore Washington International AirportBaltimoreWashingtonInternationalAirportbermudabwiflyingFri, 08 Apr 2011 10:31:00 EST<![CDATA[2011 Airline Quality Ratings - AirTran at number one]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/05/2011-airline-quality-ratings-airtran-at-number-one/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/05/2011-airline-quality-ratings-airtran-at-number-one/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/05/2011-airline-quality-ratings-airtran-at-number-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

airline qualityThe 2011 Airline Quality Ratings (AQR) were just released, and AirTran topped the list at number one. The Atlanta based air line got top marks in the study that accounts for on time arrivals, mishandled baggage, complaints, and other metrics. The study only includes airlines in the United States and provides interesting statistics about the overall quality of domestic air travel.

The main form of complaint involved flight problems, followed by baggage. While overall complaints went up about 30% from 2009 to 2010, overall quality rating also went up marginally. This could be due to the communication channel widening to include new forms of customer feedback. AirTran handled baggage the best with only 1.63 bags mishandled per 1000 passengers. American Eagle was at the other end of the spectrum with 7.15 bags mishandled per 1000 passengers. Of all the airlines listed, Hawaiian Airlines topped the list in on time arrival. Over 92% of their flights landed on time. The full report can be viewed here.

AQR Rankings - Domestic Airlines
16. American Eagle
15. Atlantic Southeast
14. Comair
13. Mesa Air
12. United
11. American Airlines
10. Skywest

Continue reading 2011 Airline Quality Ratings - AirTran at number one

2011 Airline Quality Ratings - AirTran at number one originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairline qualityAirline Quality Rating ReportAirlineQualityAirlineQualityRatingReportairlinesairtranamerican airlinesamerican eagleAmericanAirlinesAmericanEaglecontinentaldeltafrontierHawaiianAirlinesjet blueJetBlueMesaUnited Airlinesunited-statesUnitedAirlinesus airwaysUsAirwaysTue, 05 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Southwest grounds planes, investigation underway]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/03/southwest-grounds-planes-investigation-undeway/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/03/southwest-grounds-planes-investigation-undeway/http://www.gadling.com/2011/04/03/southwest-grounds-planes-investigation-undeway/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Southwest grounds planes

As a result of Sacramento bound Southwest Airlines flight 812 making an emergency descent Friday night after a large hole appeared in the fuselage, 79 Southwest planes have been grounded.

While no one was seriously injured Friday as the Southwest flight carrying over 100 people rapidly lost cabin pressure and made scary descent from 34,500 feet, landing safely in Arizona, questions about maintenance of the aircraft are being asked.



The Associated Press reports that a review of Federal Aviation Administration records of maintenance problems for the 15-year-old plane showed that "in March 2010 at least eight instances were found of cracking in the aircraft frame, which is part of the fuselage. The records showed that those cracks were repaired."

"The safety of our Customers and Employees is our primary concern," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest's executive vice president and chief operating officer in a statement on Southwest's web site. "We are working closely with Boeing to conduct these proactive inspections and support the investigation. We also are working aggressively to attempt to minimize the impact to our Customers' travel schedules today."

Southwest is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing, builder of the aircraft to determine the cause.

Related Stories



Flickr photo by gTarded

Southwest grounds planes, investigation underway originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BoeingSouthwest AirlinesSouthwest airlines grounds 79 planesSouthwestAirlinesSouthwestAirlinesGrounds79PlanesSun, 03 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SkyWork launches Bern-London route with iPads]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/27/skywork-launches-bern-london-route-with-ipads/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/27/skywork-launches-bern-london-route-with-ipads/http://www.gadling.com/2011/03/27/skywork-launches-bern-london-route-with-ipads/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

skywork london bern ipads

Today SkyWork, a small Swiss airline, launches service between Bern-Belp and London City. SkyWork will be the only airline connecting the two cities with a direct service. London will join a short list of destinations in the SkyWork summer schedule stable: Barcelona, Berlin, Elba, Hamburg, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca.

There are a number of small airlines in the Alpine region flying short-haul routes across western and central Europe, including Baboo and Air Alps. But only SkyWork among these--and, as far as I can tell, among airlines in general--offers iPads for passengers to use during flight. User reviews of the SkyWork iPads suggests that passengers can look forward to browsing apps devoted to news, destinations guides, and games. Bern-London fares start at €59 each way.

SkyWork recently announced its expansion plans for next winter. The airline will fly to Amsterdam, Belgrade, Budapest, Madrid, Rome, and Vienna from Bern-Belp beginning as early as September. Here's hoping the airline will continue to provide iPads for passengers during flights as it expands.

Check out Gadling's Switzerland coverage.

[Image: Flickr | edwin.11]

Continue reading SkyWork launches Bern-London route with iPads

SkyWork launches Bern-London route with iPads originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bernipadipadslondonlondon city airportLondonCityAirportskyworkswitzerlandSun, 27 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines launches Android mobile app]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/09/american-airlines-launches-android-mobile-app/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/09/american-airlines-launches-android-mobile-app/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/09/american-airlines-launches-android-mobile-app/#commentsFiled under: ,

American Airlines Android AppLast night, American Airlines launched their first Android mobile app. Like most other airline apps, this one is a real one-stop-shopping stop for everything AA.

Inside the app, you'll find your reservations, mobile boarding pass, flight schedules, flight status and a special version of AA Sudoku. Yeah, we're not entirely sure what Sudoku is doing there, but it is a nice bonus.

Hidden under the "more options" button are 11 other handy flight features - terminal maps for six hubs, Admirals Club pass purchase link, trip locator, phone and web links and more.

The app is well designed, and (so far) without any bugs or other issues.

You'll find this (free) app in the Android Market on your phone, or in the web based Market. A similar app has been available for the iPhone for some time now, and is available in the App Store.

Gallery: American Airlines Android App


American Airlines launches Android mobile app originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aaairline appAirlineAppamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesandroid appAndroidAppmobile airline appmobile appMobileAirlineAppMobileAppWed, 09 Feb 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Delta Air Lines adds "economy comfort" section; improves BusinessElite and First Class seating on long-haul international flights]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/07/delta-air-lines-adds-economy-comfort-section-improves-busines/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/07/delta-air-lines-adds-economy-comfort-section-improves-busines/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/07/delta-air-lines-adds-economy-comfort-section-improves-busines/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines announced this morning a major investment in its international fleet: a premium economy section, dubbed Economy Comfort, on all long-haul international flights this summer. The new seats will feature up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 percent more recline than the airline's standard international Economy class seats.

The product, which is similar to upgraded Economy services currently available on flights operated by Delta's joint venture partner Air France-KLM, will be installed in the first few rows of the Economy cabin on more than 160 Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft by this summer.

In addition to more leg room and recline, customers seated in Economy Comfort will board early and enjoy complimentary spirits throughout the flight. These benefits are in addition to Delta's standard international Economy class amenities, including complimentary meals, beer, wine, entertainment, blankets and pillows. In-seat power will also be available on aircraft equipped with personal entertainment systems which come with free HBO programming and other for-fee content. The seats will be designated with a specially-designed seat cover.

Customers who have purchased an international Economy ticket on Delta will be able to choose Economy Comfort seats for an additional fee of $80-$160 one-way via the web, kiosks and Delta reservations beginning in May for travel this summer. SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallions will enjoy complimentary upgrades for themselves and up to eight companions traveling in the same reservation. Customers purchasing full-fare tickets will also enjoy complimentary upgrades. Gold and Silver Medallions will enjoy 50 and 25% discounts on the Economy Comfort seat fees, respectively.

Continue reading Delta Air Lines adds "economy comfort" section; improves BusinessElite and First Class seating on long-haul international flights

Delta Air Lines adds "economy comfort" section; improves BusinessElite and First Class seating on long-haul international flights originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin America lets loose in Cancún]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/01/virgin-america-lets-loose-in-cancun/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/01/virgin-america-lets-loose-in-cancun/http://www.gadling.com/2011/02/01/virgin-america-lets-loose-in-cancun/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Virgin America Cancun Launch

Virgin America just can't sit still these days. In the past two months, they've launched service to Dallas/Forth Worth (and added frequency from both LAX & SFO), placed an impressive order for 60 new A320's (to be delivered starting in 2013), said adiós to Toronto for the time being, and launched service to two cities in Mexico; Los Cabos and now, Cancún.

Everything about Cancún seems like a good fit for the airline. It's sunny. It's flashy. It's exotic. It attracts a young crowd and has high seasonal traffic with a significant need for competitive nonstop options from the West Coast.

But Cancún is a destination that has a way of polarizing travelers. For most Americans born after 1975, it's notoriously synonymous with Spring Break, loud nightclubs, and excessive resorts as far as the eye can see. For some vacationers, these are the only reasons to go. For others, they are the reason to never even consider going. Yes, the beaches may be spectacular and the attractions plentiful, but the rush to develop and commercialize both has left most of the city devoid of a single trace of 'authentic' Mexican culture - a fact that managed to earn Cancún the top spot on Gadling's list of places not to go in 2011.

With that in mind, allow me to be the mediator here and tell you exactly why you should go (or at least fly to) Cancún in 2011...

Continue reading Virgin America lets loose in Cancún

Virgin America lets loose in Cancún originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>A320BransonCancunCUNGoo Goo DollsGooGooDollsInauguralLAXMexicoSFOTop 20 CountdownTop20CountdownVH1VirginVirgin AmericaVirginAmericaWest CoastWestCoastTue, 01 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Air New Zealand's new 777-300ER; punching above their weight]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/20/air-new-zealands-new-777-300er-punching-above-their-weight/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/20/air-new-zealands-new-777-300er-punching-above-their-weight/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/20/air-new-zealands-new-777-300er-punching-above-their-weight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Air New Zealand's new 777

Prior to arriving in Seattle, I was completely oblivious to the events surrounding a Boeing airplane delivery.

I suppose in the back of my mind, I knew that all airplanes had to come from somewhere; but it might as well have been a mystical factory in the clouds that teleports sparkling new craft to a freshly vacated gate. I never gave consideration to the fact that after months of piecing together a giant flying technological puzzle, the manufacturer has to then "hand-off" the finished product to the airline that's patiently awaiting the completion of their expensive investment.

But this wasn't any typical delivery. For Air New Zealand, it was a grand celebration of four long years spent developing, prototyping, and refining an entirely new 'cabin experience'.

Continue reading Air New Zealand's new 777-300ER; punching above their weight

Air New Zealand's new 777-300ER; punching above their weight originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>777777-300777-300ERAircraftAirlineairlinesAirplaneANZAucklandAviationBoeingEd SimsEdSimsInauguralLaunchLAXSeattleThu, 20 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Southwest Airlines new Rapid Rewards program: what it means for travelers]]>http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/07/southwest-airlines-new-rapid-rewards-program-what-it-means-for-travelers/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/07/southwest-airlines-new-rapid-rewards-program-what-it-means-for-travelers/http://www.gadling.com/2011/01/07/southwest-airlines-new-rapid-rewards-program-what-it-means-for-travelers/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Southwest AirlinesToday Southwest Airlines announced changes to its popular rewards program, Rapid Rewards. the all-new program, which promises to eliminate blackout dates and allow redemption for international flights for the first time, will launch March 1 and will will allow members to redeem points for any seat on any flight, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions.

AOL Travel has covered the basic information about the Rapid Rewards program restructuring, but we're offering a bit more insight into what the program will mean for travelers.

A Brief History of the Rapid Rewards Program

Southwest's frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, previously allowed customers to earn a free roundtrip ticket to any of their domestic destinations after the accumulation of 16 credits per 24-month period. The program also allowed a half-credit for using a Southwest partner to book car and/or hotel stays. Members also earned one credit per $1,200 spent on Chase's Rapid Rewards-branded credit cards. Select merchants can earn double reward points.

Continue reading Southwest Airlines new Rapid Rewards program: what it means for travelers

Southwest Airlines new Rapid Rewards program: what it means for travelers originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frequent flyer milesFrequentFlyerMilesrapid rewardsRapidRewardssouthwest airlinesSouthwestAirlinesFri, 07 Jan 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Gadling's favorite airlines for 2011]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/09/gadlings-favorite-airlines-for-2011/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/09/gadlings-favorite-airlines-for-2011/http://www.gadling.com/2010/12/09/gadlings-favorite-airlines-for-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

gadling favorite airlines 2011

Even with airlines falling over themselves in an effort to generate profits out of new fees and charges, flying retains some glamour and excitement. No? Not working for you? Well there are mileage programs to exploit and perks to chase. And even in the direst landscape for customers, there are always new routes to sample, smiling flight attendants to befriend, and reliable pilots to thank for safe landings.

Going into 2011, it appears that Virgin America is Gadling's favorite airline. Virgin America sails above the competition with their standard of service, their appealing overall product, and their general freshness.

Other airlines we especially like or tolerate for one or another reason include easyJet, Qantas, VAustralia, Air France, Philippine Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Jet Airways, Continental, Alaska Airlines, and Porter.

We begin with the observations of Kent Wien, Gadling's resident pilot-contributor and the motor behind two Gadling features, namely, Cockpit Chronicles and Plane Answers.

Kent Wien. Air New Zealand. I don't know if I was more impressed with their new line of coach sleeper seats or the friendliness of their flight attendants. Either way, Air New Zealand has managed to capture much of the recent jump in tourism traffic to New Zealand by offering an innovative cabin design and enhanced service which includes an in-flight concierge for the entire airplane. They've changed the look and feel of their galleys by hiding them away during boarding, since the first thing passengers see when stepping on to an airplane is the in-flight kitchen. And most of these changes were accomplished even after they were named by Air Transport World as the airline of the year for 2010.

Mike Barish. I continue to love Virgin America. They're willing to show personality. They have a sense of humor and their use of social media is phenomenal. They have really embraced customer service and care about humanizing their brand.

Annie Scott. Air France has the best coach class of any airline I've flown this year, but Philippine Airlines gets ten points for calling their economy class "Fiesta Class."

McLean Robbins. Virgin America. Am I one of many?

Meg Nesterov. Turkish Airlines has become my default carrier of choice, which is fine given their excellent service. How many other airlines will let you cancel and rebook a flight last minute and only charges a small change fee? Their in-flight meals even in coach are reliably good and always free.

Melanie Nayer. Props to Cathay Pacific. Great in-flight crew, and any airline that makes me a grilled cheese sandwich in flight is tops in my book!

Alex Robertson Textor. Porter, hands down. I like the airline so much I found a way to write a piece for their in-flight magazine. I want two dozen regional Porters around the globe, each with limited route maps, quiet, fuel-efficient planes, friendly fight attendants, and a single class of service.

Continue reading Gadling's favorite airlines for 2011

Gadling's favorite airlines for 2011 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air franceAir New ZealandAirFranceAirNewZealandAlaska AirlinesAlaskaAirlinescathay pacificCathayPacificContinental airlinesContinentalAirlineseasyjetjet airwaysJetAirwaysphilippine airlinesPhilippineAirlinesporter airlinesPorterAirlinesqantasturkish airlinesTurkishAirlinesVAustraliavirgin americaVirginAmericaThu, 09 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Infographic: Is it safe to fly this holiday season?]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/15/infographic-is-it-safe-to-fly-this-holiday-season/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/15/infographic-is-it-safe-to-fly-this-holiday-season/http://www.gadling.com/2010/11/15/infographic-is-it-safe-to-fly-this-holiday-season/#commentsFiled under: ,



The holiday season is often the time of year a lot of people take to the skies that are not frequent fliers. And if you combine this with the recent bad news about air safety, you can't blame people for asking themselves: is it safe to fly this holiday season?

With news of exploding engines, bombs in printer cartridges and enhanced security at the airports, the media would make it seem like flying is more dangerous than ever.

So, the artists at The Friendly Planet Blog have collected some data, and turned it into a brilliant infographic. With numbers collected from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Air Transport Association, the infographic shows what most of us already know - air travel is safer than ever.

The numbers don't lie - on over ten million flights in the U.S. last year, only 50 people died in a flight accident. You have a much greater chance of dying in the car on the way to the airport than you will when you are on board your flight.

In the coming weeks, we'll have some great survival tips on how to get through the hectic holiday travel season, and after the jump you'll find the full version of the graphic with lots more statistics to prove just how safe air travel is.

Continue reading Infographic: Is it safe to fly this holiday season?

Infographic: Is it safe to fly this holiday season? originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air safetyair safety authoritiesair travelair travel safetyAirSafetyAirSafetyAuthoritiesAirTravelAirTravelSafetyMon, 15 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Continental Airlines iPhone app includes Point Inside airport maps and more]]>http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/29/continental-airlines-iphone-app-includes-point-inside-airport-ma/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/29/continental-airlines-iphone-app-includes-point-inside-airport-ma/http://www.gadling.com/2010/10/29/continental-airlines-iphone-app-includes-point-inside-airport-ma/#commentsFiled under: ,

Continental Airlines has jumped on board the "make an app" bandwagon. But unlike a lot of branded travel apps, this one is amazingly well designed.

At the heart of the app are all the things you'd expect from an airline app - flight booking, flight status and links to contact information.

But in designing their app, Continental went way beyond the ordinary - for starters, the app includes airport maps from Point Inside - one of my personal favorites. Inside the app, you can also check in, pull up your mobile boarding pass, view reservations and even enable push notifications of flight status messages.

They didn't even stop there - under the "more" button, users will find a currency converter, a DirectTV program schedule (for in-flight live TV), games, links to Presidents Club locations, a timetable, recent Continental Airlines Tweets and an overview of reservations.

I've seen an awful lot of travel apps, but Continental Airlines really shows people how an app should be - a huge amount of handy tools, and all the features a Continental traveler needs to access their reservations. Well done Continental!

All I can hope for is that United Airlines does something similar soon...

You'll find the free Continental Airlines app in the App Store, or through this iTunes link.

Gallery: Continental Airlines iPhone App


Continental Airlines iPhone app includes Point Inside airport maps and more originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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