Tagged With "Buenos Aires"
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For those who hate Heathrow, Gatwick plans new allure
London's Gatwick Airport, second only to Heathrow in British air traffic, is in a hot competition with Heathrow for the right to build an additional runway to accommodate growing air traffic in Southeast Britain. Part of its strategy is to line up a...
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Scotland's vote may help ax high flying tax
The infamous British Air Passenger Duty, which can add as much as $450 to airfare for a family of four flying trans-Atlantic to or from Britain, may have met its match in the Scottish vote against independence earlier this fall. Seem...
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Update: Loyalty Programs and Credit Cards
For some of us, credit cards are more than a convenient way to pay—they are the lifeline to free travel through loyalty programs. Between points for purchases and bonuses for opening or upgrading credit card accounts, it's possible to get quite...
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Airbus A380. No new customers in 2014
Apparently the massive two level Airbus A380, capable of passenger loads in excess of 600 passengers, failed to generate a single new customer in 2014, according to this story by Bloomberg Businessweek. The only buyer so far this year was a...
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WiFi in the air spreads on regional jets
The networks of regional flights that connect the major airline hubs to smaller cities are getting wired...or rather, wirelessed. Delta has already added some, United recently announced plans, and yesterday, American put in its bid, announcing that...
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Those darn computers! Outage snarls London
Computer outages in Britain's air traffic control system are fouling up flights in and out of London, as controllers limit the number of flights to what they can handle without the misbehaving machines. DETAILS (and updates) from USA Today.
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Concerns Over Safety Standards Grow After Balloon Accident in Cappadocia,Turkey
A hot air balloon crashed in Guvercinlik Valley on Wednesday, killing one man and leaving another in critical condition. This marks the third crash since 2009 in Cappadocia and there are rising concerns about ballooning safety standards...
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Throwback: Eastern Airlines Returns to Miami
Friday, Eastern welcomed its first aircraft to Miami International Airport. It's the first of 20 new Boeing 737s Eastern has for its return. The Airline is hoping to start charter flights in the second quarter, but no dates or routes are set....
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500,000 People Up in the Air
I just read today that an average of 500,000 people are on planes at any given time . I had no clue. To see just how busy the skies are look at the Guardians great website that maps planes in the sky live. ...
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Gulf rivals show off new fleets
It's sort of Fleet Week in the air this week...Qatar Airways took possession of the first Airbus A350 delivered to anyone and plans to put it in service Jan 15 on a Doha-Frankfurt route, followed by Doha-NY as more planes are delivered. MORE...
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Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport Adds Another International Route
Eva Air is the latest to announce new service to Houston's Airport. The new route will go to Evas's base go in Taipei. ANA,Korean Air,SAS, United, & Spirit all have added or announced new routes to Houston in 2014. Read More: http://www.usatoday.com/story/...ontinental/20514757/
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Changing Trains in La Serenissima
My English friend and I left the beautiful apartment on the Anfiteatro in Lucca , she home to Bromsgrove in the West Midlands, and I toward Budapest and my old friends with a guesthouse near the famous synagogue. I was treating myself to...
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$240 NY-London, LA $320: Norwegian Air
Norwegian Air Shuttle, a low-cost carrier that has begun flying trans-Atlantic from Oslo now plans to offer service by this summer to NYC and LA from London Gatwick. The announced fares are $240 each way to NY and $320 to LA--less than half the cost...
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Watch those search engines: the big ones are not always best!
I was just booking a one-way trip from Barcelona to Marseille for next summer hoping to use some points sitting on a bank-based (but not airline-affiliated) card. Imagine my shock when the ticket (which I knew should cost about $89) showed up as...
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Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile
A number of you have helped me plan a trip to Portugal and Barcelona. I've decided to go on this trip next May when I'll have a few more days of vacation. Checking out different airline websites, I came across Icelandair, which flies...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 18, 2013: Strokkur Geysir, Iceland
Geysers got their name in Iceland sometime in the 12th century. Iceland has abundant geothermally heated water, many homes not even having a hot water heater, just naturally hot water pumped in. While it's no longer very...
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Liverpool - What do you mean. It has a Beach ?
When I tell folks I meet on Vacation I'm from Liverpool UK they say "You must be enjoying all this beach life. Long walks on the Sand. Fishing. Fresh air and gorgeous sunsets" so I reply "No. I get all this back in Liverpool- I'm...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 10, 2013: Banff and the Bow River Valley
The Canadian Rockies are noted for their jagged peaks, many of which are snow-capped even in summer. Much of the natural beauty of the area has been saved by their incorporation in a series of national and provincial parks, including Banff National...
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Island Air: Even Billionaires Get Airline Blues
Larry Ellison, of Oracle fame and billions (he's one of the world's richest) is still having trouble keeping Island Air (he owns it all) flying to Lanai, Hawaii (he owns 97%). Since acquiring the airline a bit over a year ago, there have been problems...
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RyanAir Stock Falters on Bargain Airfares
The stock price of RyanAir Holdings dropped because of bargain fares they offered to drum of business this current quarter. They also cited the weak European economy and rising competition. Read More
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Allegiant Air Rapidly Expanding Routes in The Northeast
Allegiant Air is rapidly adding 18 new routes in the Northeast. HERE is one new route between Burlington ,Vermont and Orlando, Florida. Allegiant Air now serves more cities than low cost Southwest Airlines. While one...
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Allegiant Rapidly Expanding Routes in the Northeast
Allegiant Air is rapidly adding routes in the Northeast. Such as this route from Burlington ,Vermont to Orlando just announced today. http://www.burlingtonfreepress...05/NEWS07/311050019/ In fact ,it now serves more cities than any other low cost US...
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Safe to fly on New Years?
We're coming home from our Christmas break on a red-eye that gets in at 12:15 January 1--15 minutes into the new year. A co-workers is suddenly very concerned, she says its bad luck to travel at times like that. She says its not superstition,...
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Wow! Iceland Express successor adds U.S. flights
The headline's not a pun; Wow Air is the company that bought budget carrier Iceland Express in 2012. The carrier will now re-enter the U.S. market with roundtrip Boston-Reykjavik-London Gatwick flights, connecting in Reykjavik with its other European...
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Air India uses 787's to the Max
After a bumpy roll-out, the Boeing 787 is gaining acceptance with some carriers and their passengers. Air India uses its fleet of 787s more heavily than most carriers because the cost of operating the plane 30% less than the rest of its fleet....
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What to expect from Air Travel in 2015
Stable or even falling airfares Fewer inflight amenities Expanding business class cabins New airplanes, new airlines Probably what most of us expected. More predictions at this link from Conde Naste Traveler.
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Columbia River Gorge, Where Gumbo Was #82
Gumbo was visiting the beautiful Columbia River Gorge, which straddles northern Oregon and southern Washington states. Specifically, Gumbo was enjoying the amazing view of the Gorge through the lobby window of the Skamania Lodge in...
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Spotted on the Road: '51 Chevy Bel Air, Ponce Cathedral
While stopping to take pictures at Ponce's Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I spotted this handsome '51 Bel Air, waiting at the cathedral entrance to take the bride and groom on their marital journey after the ceremony taking place inside. Looks...
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Good News For Musicians Traveling by Airplane
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a final rule to implement section 403 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The rule requires that each U.S. airline allow passengers to carry into the cabin and stow a small musical instrument,...
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Clashing Views: Who's responsible for fees and misery?
Tim Wu, in a recent New Yorker article makes a strong case that most of the things we complain about in travel, and especially air travel—cramped seats, fees for everything, etc.—are due to Wall Street pressure on carriers to...
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Hope for Europe's small "flagship" airlines
In the face of competition from Gulf-based carriers and European budget carriers, it's been hard times for the familiar "national" airlines of Europe. Some, such as Sabena and Swissair have gone under, re-emerging in other forms; some, such as...
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Palm Springs Air Museum, California (Where Gumbo was #104)
Gumbo was visiting the Palm Springs Air Museum in the California desert, and specifically had the privilege of sitting in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber (like the one in the above photo). Congratulations to the many who...
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Wifi Speeds in Air About to Increase
The FCC has given it's approval for Gogo's 2Ku next generation in-flight connectivity for use on aircraft. Airlines, like United and Virgin Air ,will be among the first to use it in the second half of 2015. Wifi speed...
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Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
In July 2006 I gave in to curiosity and realized my ambition to visit West Greenland. I returned 6 times in the next 8 years! I knew that about 10% of the world’s freshwater was sitting on Greenland with the capacity to raise...
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Making Connections For Connecting Flights
The other day we bought tickets on Delta from "da Burgh" -JFK-Paris-Vienna. We have a 1 hour 35 minute layover at CDG to make the connection with Air France to Vienna. After extensive travel in Europe this is the first time to make a connection onto...
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SkyMall's Business Dwindles With Increased Internet Usage In-Flight
SkyMall (the inflight shopping catalog) parent firm Xhibit Corp has filed for federal bankruptcy court protection in Phoenix on Friday, With increased use of electronic devices on planes and the increase in the number of air...
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'New' Alitalia sees new routes, livery and profits by 2017
Italy's Alitalia, long among the weakest of the European "flag" airlines (it's been within days of shutdown repeatedly) has announced a "reboot" that will mix some cost-cutting with some major change and expansion fueled by funds from Abu Dhabi-based...
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American adds DFW-Beijing and Asia mileage bonuses
Looking to build up its Asia business and partnerships, American Airlines is offering a double-miles promotion on its flights from the U.S. to Tokyo, Seoul and Hong Kong, as well as on many intra-Asia routes served with its partner, JAL. MORE...
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Aer Lingus may become part of British Air/Iberia group
International Air Group, the parent of British Air and Iberia, has made an offer to buy Aer Lingus, now owned 30% by RyanAir and 25% by the Irish government, and unlike two previous offers, the board of the Irish flag carrier has agreed to consider...
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British Air Avios: The rich will get richer and...
British Airways announced major changes in its Avios loyalty currency, which it shares with Iberia. While it comes dressed up in more guaranteed award seats, and lower off-season redemption prices, the big impact is that passengers in the cheapest...
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US-Int'l Air Traffic Sets New Records
International non-stop air traffic to/from the U.S. last hear hit 197.3 million comings and goings, up 7% over the year before. Of the total, about 56% was non-US citizens, and 44% citizens, with the tickets split almost evenly between U.S. airlines...
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Casas Particulares in Cuba
Visiting Cuba has forever changed the way I view accommodations when I travel now. For one I was always a chain hotel kind of girl racking up my points and being loyal to said luxury chains. I had the option to book luxury hotels in Havana...
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American, Korea to codeshare on DFW-Seoul
Not letting alliance loyalties get in the way of a good deal, American Airlines (Oneworld) and Korea Airlines (Sky Team) have signed a codeshare agreement on the Seoul-to-Dallas/Ft Worth route that American recently began flying. It's a win for...
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Viewing the Northern Lights: Tips and Techniques
When you see the Northern Lights for the first time, they seem unreal. Almost magical, maybe even scary to some. The Aurora Borealis is one of the most spectacular natural phenomena you can observe and well worth a journey to the northern parts of the...
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New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots
In the wake of the Germanwings crash that killed 150 in an apparent suicide-by-pilot, Lufthansa and many others are quickly adopting rules requiring at least two crew members be present inside the cockpit at all times. Lufthansa's announcement covers...
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Delta, Aeromexico look to join operations
Delta and Aeromexico, already alliance partners, are asking the two governments for antitrust immunity to form a joint venture allowing them to coordinate schedules, fares and routes between the U.S. and Mexico. It would be similar to the joint...
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Slow TV Comes to the Travel Channel
A live 12 hour road trip will air Friday, November 27, at 9 a.m. ET on the Travel Channel. The BBC of the UK has also commissioned a series of programs doing away with commentary, script or drama. This format is called Slow TV. It became...
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World's best airport? You have to leave home to find it!
Skytrax has released its ratings of the world's top airports, and the line-up at the very top has no representatives from North or South America. Six of the top 10 were in Asia, and the rest in Europe. Topping the list again is Singapore's Changi...
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Crowded Skies: U.S. sets air passenger record
Nearly 850 airline passengers for 2014! To be exact, 848.1 million passengers (obviously some repeaters!) flew on domestic airlines last year, or on foreign airline flights to and from the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The...
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Beating Jet Lag
One of the most frustrating things about traveling between continents is jet lag. It's a little different for everyone but basically is caused by your body's 24 bio-rhythm (internal clock) being thrown into disarray by changing time zones,...