Tagged With "American Dream"
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
WorkerBee, how long will you be in Spain, and when? We're going for 8 days (not counting the travel days) in February. We'll be in Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Gumbo fans would love to hear how your trip is going and to see pictures along the way!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I will be there about a month, from February 12 to March 12. I will be in Madrid for a few days after I arrive and then off to Girona and environs for a few weeks. I may wander into southeast France for a few days as well before I return to Madrid for a couple of days before I fly out.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I envy your trip! We'll overlap in time, but not in place. If you do add France to the itinerary, you might want to look into the new TGV service from Barcelona to Paris that starts this month. I'm not sure of its route as it leaves Spain, but it might go where you want to!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Originally Posted by PHeymont: I envy your trip! We'll overlap in time, but not in place. If you do add France to the itinerary, you might want to look into the new TGV service from Barcelona to Paris that starts this month. I'm not sure of its route as it leaves Spain, but it might go where you want to! For some time the AVE has run from Madrid to Figueres which is north of Barcelona and Girona. The TGV has been running from Figueres to Paris for some time as well. I'm told that it takes...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
It required 40,000 miles for a round-trip economy ticket. All were in-seat miles and all were from a few years ago.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Now I know why your handle is WorkerBee. Persistence and hard work get the job done! Well Done!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Originally Posted by WorkerBee: It required 40,000 miles for a round-trip economy ticket. All were in-seat miles and all were from a few years ago. That's one of the things I like about AA...aside from the one-way awards. When everyone else was 50K to Europe, they were 40K offpeak and 60 peak. Now everyone else is 60K peak, and AA still has the winter bargains. Hope it lasts!
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Wonderful piece of planning WorkerBee ! Missing off London to avoid the $18 Departure Tax for Spain seems a bit severe. I presume your return journey is more direct.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
$ 18 ? I am puzzled by this. When I have taken flights from London to the US, the tax has been more like $ 150 - $ 200. It was worth it to spend time in London, of course. Still, it was not a small amount.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
The UK departure tax is "Banded" into distances and economy / regular / 1st class. London - Spain is only a short distance.
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Well, but if Spain is the destination, passing up UK makes sense. On the other hand, APD leads to calculations such as Flying NYC-LON-Continental Europe: No problem; as long as your time in UK is less than 24 hours, you are a transit passenger and don't pay APD. Flying Continential Europe-LON-NYC: Not so good; you pay the APD on the trans-Atlantic leg, and that's high. The other issue with this is not APD at all; flying to the Continent through Madrid or Barcelona tends to be cheaper because...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
Garry RF and PHeymont - Thank you very much for the information. In this case, APD is not incurred - Flying NYC-LON-Continental Europe: No problem; as long as your time in UK is less than 24 hours, you are a transit passenger and don't pay APD. In this case, there is an APD, even if the transit is less than 24 hours ? - Flying Continential Europe-LON-NYC: Not so good; you pay the APD on the trans-Atlantic leg, and that's high. Concerning the third item, this explains why Worker Bee had a...
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Re: I get to Boomerang to Spain ! Cheap !
I'm not sure on your question about WB's trip, because it depends on routing. From NY, AA most often uses their own seats for the ocean hop, but does use some BA seats from Newark. Other cities...not sure how many BA seats used in that direction. And sometimes it's a matter of class. For instance, last year flying home from Paris, there were AA seats in business class available non-stop, but economy was only available on BA Orly-London-Newark.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 14, 2014: The CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
Have you ever walked on that transparent floor? I think it would be terrifying!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 14, 2014: The CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario
Hi Travel Luver! Yes, I have walked on the transparent floor many years ago (pre-digital photography era, which reminds me that I need to get those slides transferred to digital). Unfortunately on this last trip to the CN Tower I did not have time to take the ride up to the observation deck. It probably goes without saying that if you are afraid of heights, the observation deck of the CN Tower may not be the attraction for you. Your adventure begins with a long but quick elevator ride to the...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 1, 2014: Marsaxlokk
More blue boats.....I believe I'm seeing a trend, here, PM. Do you dream of blue boats?
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Re: The Architecture of Old Sana'a, Yemen
Lucky you! Yemen is high on my wish list but I may have missed my chance on this one. I sailed past not long ago but not the same, by a long shot, as my dream of staying in one of those beautiful buildings in Sana'a. For those wanting to get a feel for the city, there's an excellent documentary about English writer, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, who has lived in Sana'a for years, ' The English Sheik and the Yemeni Gentleman'. Also, 'New Day in Old Sana'a', by a Yemeni director. Both available on ...
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Re: "Stars of the Big and Small Screen": Hollywood rolls into Calgary
Thanks for reviving this wonderful presentation Ottoman. My wife could leave me here while she went shopping - or maybe she went away for a week ! And I still wouldn't be ready to leave when she got back. All your dream cars under 1 roof. Heaven in metal.
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Re: Gallery: Les Halles, Dijon, France
We spent a day in Dijon on the way from Paris to Lyon...and were happy to have visited the medieval core and the home store of the Maille mustard folks...but we obviously missed one of the best attractions! Oh, the bread...and the cheese...and the tomatoes: a summer dream meal right there...
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More Frequent Flier changes in the air
The world of award travel and elite perks continues to shake and shift. Delta, which like United, has switched for next year to awarding flight miles based not on distance but on price paid for ticket—a move that hurts many frequent...
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Buffalo-ed by the snow? Airlines waiving change fees
Each with its own set of rules, but American, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue are all adjusting rules on schedule and flight changes for passengers affected by the huge snows in the Great Lakes region. The USA Today article has more DETAILS and...
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Philly-London: Delta and American add flights
Both American, which already flies the route and Delta, which doesn't, are adding flights between Philadelphia and London—and increased competition usually means an opening for some sales as well...keep an eye peeled! Both services start in the...
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One year into merger, AA is optimistic
American Airlines and USAir merged a year ago this week, forming the world's largest airline, even though it's not quite operating like one. Passengers still book on two different systems, and sometimes use different customer service reps...but the...
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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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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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San Marino
This past May I was able to satisfy a childhood dream of visiting San Marino. After completing a fourth grade report on this place we finally spent a night there. This also comes after traveling in Italy since 1980. The republic is a beautiful place...
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Mediation for AA/US Airways Merger
The planned merger of American and USAir, which has been challenged by the Justice Department will go to mediation, in hopes of finding a solution that will be acceptable to the airlines and the Federal government. A mediator has been selected; if an...
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Tea at Downton Abbey? Britain spends big to get you there!
Visit Britain, the government tourist-promotion agency and Expedia are putting up about $7 million each to get more Americans to Britain, building on the popularity of Downton Abbey, about to go into Season 4 on US TV. Most of the money will go for TV...
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Not just DC: Govt wants more concession from AA/USAir
Reuters reports the Department of Justice wants a broad range of promises and concessions in any deal to withdraw its objections to the merger of American and USAir. Read more HERE
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Travel to Where "Your Shadow Always Has Company"
Well, you can't actually visit the planet Kepler 16b; it's not even in our solar system. But graphic artists at the National Aeronautical and Space Agency (NASA) have made up dream travel posters for several "exoplanets" (planets that orbit other...
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New Target for Thieves: Frequent-flier miles
If you believed all the whining about how this airline's or that airline's loyalty programs were no longer worth anything...a ring of thieves didn't, and have turned frequent flier accounts into new targets for thefts. Both American and United...
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AA gets its first Dreamliner
American Airlines got the keys today to its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Like anybody with a new toy, they promptly took it out for a spin, flying from Boeing's plant in Everett WA. American has 42 of the planes on order; this one, seen at...
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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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Marriott, Hotel Lobby, drop request to allow WiFi jamming
Marriott, which last year was fined $600,000 for blocking private WiFi hotspots at a convention hotel (forcing participants to pay up to $1000 for hotel service) has withdrawn from a petition it started (along with the American Hotel and Lodging...
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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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AA/USAir miles programs merge starting Saturday
The time has come for the next step in the 15-month-old merger of American Airlines and USAir: merger of the USAir Dividend Miles program into American's AAdvantage. All USAir accounts will be frozen on Thursday, Mar. 26 for the transfer; anyone...
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TSA Pre-Check: Less access if you're not signed up
TSA's Pre-Check, which allows travelers to pass through airport security without having to remove shoes, unpack laptops and generally move faster, will focus on passengers directly enrolled in the program, or in other government "Trusted Traveler"...
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Don't Leave Home Without...80 million AmEx points
A Chinese billionaire who's been buying classic Chinese art works at auction is not likely ever to run out of loyalty awards; he's racked up over 80 million American Express Membership Rewards points in the past few months using his card to buy two...
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Where to go for sun if you can't go "there" now...
In the wake of the terrorist attack in Tunisia and new visa restrictions on individual travel to Egypt, the Telegraph (UK) has gathered up a list of "fun in the sun" places for those in need of sand and tan. The list, with pictures, is HERE...
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More Merger News: AA to get"single certificate" next week
The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing the merged American/USAir to take the next step on its merger path; it announced Monday that it will issue the "single operating certificate (SOC)" that will remove the last barriers to the company...
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As scheduled Cuba service nears, charter operators face unknown future
A surprisingly large industry of scheduled charter flights from the U.S. to Cuba faces an uncertain future as the U.S. and Cuba negotiate their future relationship, including civil aviation, a topic that has already begun to be discussed by the...
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AA flight delays blamed on pilot iPad crash
American Airlines, the first airline to ditch huge paper pilot flight books for iPads, has had a little trouble with them this week. The airline reports that 24 flights on Tuesday (4/28) and 50 more yesterday were delayed by failure of an app that...
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Dream big! Designer thinks about huge zero-emission planes
Imagine a triple-decker plane that could carry 800 passengers, made almost no noise, and generated much of its own power in flight. Barcelona designer Oscar Vinals is working on that vision, and while much of it depends on whether technologies just...
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AA joins Delta, United in tweaking capacity
AA's 787s...arriving slower The last MD-80s...leaving sooner U.S. legacy airlines are all making money again, but...
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Alaska Airlines adds alcohol...to its engines
Alaska Airlines is signed up to become the first to use Gevo Inc.s alcohol-based jet fuel as soon as it completes testing and certification. The hope is to be able to reduce pollution, reduce swings in fuel price, and have a steady, domestic source of...
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AA, USAir: Next step, combining reservations
USAir, AA planes at Washington on the morning of their 2013 merger. That was the easy part... Now that American/USAir is past the legal hurdles, tidied up labor contracts, and merged the loyalty programs, they're ready for the big one: merging...
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British Air adds year-round Iceland flights
British Airways will be flying Heathrow-Rekyjavik three times a week, starting October 25, becoming the first mainline trans-Atlantic carrier to offer year-round service. BA and others have operated summer services, but the winter has been largely...
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AAA predicts big bump in Memorial Day travel
Among the things that tell you summer is nearly here is the annual Memorial Day travel prediction from the American Automobile Association—and this year is no exception. Here are some of AAA's numbers: 37.2 million travelers (going more...
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Lanai: Sorry, Island Closed for Renovation
Larry Ellison, the software billionaire (Oracle) has a dream of making the Hawaiian island of Lanai "the first economically viable, 100% green community" and he's closed down the island for a while to work on it. He can do that, because three years...
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American completes "re-banking" its hubs
American Airlines has completed a series of schedule changes at its Miami, Chicago and Dallas hubs to create shorter layovers, and so far it appears to be working. That's the report from a respected airline blog, Cranky Flier . A few...