Aug 17th, 2011 at 2:00PM: They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. San Francisco Examiner writer and occasional Gadling contributor Bob Ecker doesn't behold much, at least for a few unlucky states. Ecker previously named the prettiest US states including coastal California, exotic Hawaii, diverse New York, historic Virginia, and verdant Washington. He's now determined the unfortunate ugliest states, measured by ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
American posts
The 5 ugliest states in the country
Aug 17th, 2011 at 2:00PM: They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. San Francisco Examiner writer and occasional Gadling contributor Bob Ecker doesn't behold much, at least for a few unlucky states. Ecker previously named the prettiest US states including coastal California, exotic Hawaii, diverse New York, historic Virginia, and verdant Washington. He's now determined the unfortunate ugliest states, measured by ...FAA stops collecting airfare taxes -- and the airlines cash in
Jul 23rd, 2011 at 1:30PM: Recent budget woes in the legislative branch of our US government have been creating a cascade of disruptions, and the most recent hiccup involves the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Without proper agreement on a fiscal plan moving forward, the government has been forced to shut down a portion of the agency, most notably the section that collects taxes on our domestic airplane tickets.
...American Airlines makes largest purchase in airline history
Jul 22nd, 2011 at 10:30AM: There was deep speculation in the airline nerdery about whether American Airlines was going to be making a purchase at the Paris Air Show, and though the event came and went without a spark of activity, a palpable sense of excitement has been humming ever since. After all, with one of the oldest fleets on the planet, there was no doubt that American needs to freshen up -- it was just a matter of ...
Latin America on a budget: How to plan a budget-friendly adventure
Apr 5th, 2011 at 11:00AM:
Latin America is one of the world's most budget-friendly regions for visitors. There are very cheap places to stay across the region--most notably across Central America--where a few dollars will get you a bed for the night and dinner.
But in a budget-friendly region like Latin America there are also huge divides in terms of quality. How do you do your research to make sure that you come up ...Knocked up abroad: prenatal care and pregnancy advice in a foreign country
Feb 22nd, 2011 at 11:30AM: See part 1 of Knocked up abroad: getting pregnant in a foreign country here.
One of the best parts of my experience so far with pregnancy in a foreign country has been the excellent medical care I have in Istanbul. Like many other expats before me, as soon as I took a positive pregnancy test, I called up the American Hospital for an appointment. The hospital treats many foreigners each year, is ...Now Open: the Pentagon's super secret art collection
Sep 24th, 2010 at 1:30PM:
Did you know the Pentagon collects art? The United States military began taking an interest back in 1840 and today, the total collection counts more than 15,000 pieces produced by some 1,300 actual American soldiers. Most of these artists are self-taught, enlisted military personnel and depict the sights and scenes of life in the armed forces--often at war and often in other countries.
I got ...American Airlines to deliver free liquor to top customers
Sep 22nd, 2010 at 12:00PM: American Airlines is stepping up to take care of some of its most loyal and committed customers. The carrier is going to start offering up free booze in its U.S. Admirals Club lounges beginning October 1, 2010. Look for the basics – "well-brand liquors, as well as beers and house wines" – the company said in an announcement. Premium alcohol and food will be available, but not free.
...The Afro-Punk Festival: not your mama's punk show
May 5th, 2010 at 5:00PM: Each week, Gadling is taking a look at our favorite festivals around the world. From music festivals to cultural showcases to the just plain bizarre, we hope to inspire you to do some festival exploring of your own. Come back each Wednesday for our picks or find them all HERE.
You think you know what punk is. But you haven't seen anything until you've joined the thousands of head-bangers who ...American Airlines is being watched by the FAA
Jan 3rd, 2010 at 1:00PM: Three strikes have led to increased federal attention for American Airlines. The last month hasn't been kind to the airline. In two instances, planes bumped wingtips with during landings in Charlotte, North Carolina and Austin, Texas and another overshot the runway in Jamaica. The FAA released a statement on Friday indicating that it would review these situations in case they're symptoms of a ...Holiday travel to fall 2.5 percent
Dec 14th, 2009 at 1:30PM: The airports may not be as crowded at Christmas this year. The Air Transport Association of America expects holiday flight traffic to fall 2.5 percent from 2008. The holiday period is measured as December 17, 2009 through January 6, 2010. The busiest days in the sky are most likely to be the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Christmas.
Don't expect to have plenty of legroom, though. Part of the ...State Department website lists where American travelers have died abroad
Dec 7th, 2009 at 3:00PM: The LA Times recently linked to a tool on the US State Department website that allows you to search by date range and country to find out where around the world Americans have died of "non-natural" causes.
The information goes back to 2002. No names or details of the deaths are disclosed, they are only reported as suicide, drowning, drug-related, homicide, disaster, or vehicle, air or ...Airline secret societies
Dec 6th, 2009 at 1:00PM:
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There's a special type of membership level, but the airlines don't want you to know about it ... unless you're dropping an easy $50,000 a year on full fare tickets with the same airline. The topic, which comes up from time to time, is in the headlines again thanks to the work of George ...Are you planning a mileage run? Four reasons to rush to the airport
Dec 5th, 2009 at 12:30PM: There are only a few weeks left in 2009, and frequent travelers across the country are staring more intently at their mileage statements than Santa does at the naughty/nice list. The stakes are high: miss the elite cutoff, and a year of upgrades, accelerated check-in and other perks disappear. For passengers who see gold or platinum status levels within reach, year-end "mileage runs" can make a ...Odds are, you'll be on a smaller plane
Dec 5th, 2009 at 10:30AM: Airlines are using the little planes for longer runs, these days. According to the Las Vegas Sun, the average regional airline flight hit 461 miles in 2008, up profoundly from 274 miles in 2009. That's an increase of 41 percent! This is an industry-wide trend, so shopping around isn't likely to help you get a larger jet. The major carriers are relying on regional affiliates, so you'll probably be ...Seven travel-related things to be thankful for
Nov 26th, 2009 at 10:30AM:
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While travel as the act of discovering a new place can be exhilarating and exciting, travel as the act of being in transit can be annoying and exhausting. Long lines, delays, rude people and all the frustrations that go along with moving large amounts of people ...Flight attendants fake strike to make point
Nov 22nd, 2009 at 3:00PM: Contract negotiations between American Airlines and its flight attendants have stalled. So, the flight attendants kicked off a fake strike on Wednesday. At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, they picketed, handed out leaflets and wore red badges, showing flights they feel couldn't run without them. So, just think of how strong a real strike would have been! Similar protests were held at 12 ...American Airlines fires web designer over response to rant
Nov 11th, 2009 at 2:00PM: In an era where communication is fast and easy, sometimes it's easy to forget about boundaries. American Airlines fired a web design employee because of this. The employee responded to a blog post from a "disgruntled user," but the airline felt he went too far, saying that he released sensitive information about American. This was a violation of his non-disclosure agreement with the company.
So ...FBI hunts for close in Miami-Boston bomb threats
Oct 3rd, 2009 at 12:00PM: The FBI is looking for common denominators in bomb threats on American Airlines flights between Miami and Boston. Two cases have arisen, prompting the FBI to dig a little deeper. The most recent incident occurred on Wednesday, when a flight attendant found "bomb on board, Boston-Miami" written on a bathroom cabinet. A search of the luggage yielded no bombs or other weapons.
On September 17, a ...American Airlines employees busted for drug-smuggling
Sep 16th, 2009 at 10:00AM: 22 people were arrested Tuesday amidst allegations of smuggling drugs from Puerto Rico into the US on American Airlines planes. Nine of the people arrested were employees of the airline, who allegedly sent over 9,000 kilograms - almost 20,000 pounds - of cocaine to US destinations that included Miami, Orlando and New Jersey. According to the US Justice Department, the ring has been operating since ...Relationship with JAL: Delta or American?
Sep 13th, 2009 at 3:00PM: Fliers in the United States may get more options when traveling to Japan, but it's unsure which airline will be the one to deliver. Both Delta and American are said to be in talks with Japan Airlines, and the winner is likely to have greater access to the largest travel market in Asia. Delta's deal is reported to be worth several hundred million dollars, while the American Airlines offer is said ...
