My apologies for the recent lack of posts.

Due to a career change, I have not been traveling at all.  This will change soon I am sure, so look forward to new posts in the near future.
Thank you for your support!
James

Travelers Tech Spotlight:

In Review: 
GOGO In Flight Wireless Internet  http://www.gogoinflight.com/gogo/splash.do

I'll start by saying that its fast, and convenient.  My company pays for my internet connection, so the price is not relevant to me, however it may be to YOU.  Gogo charges per flight length if you purchase on the plane.  Also, I noticed while I was logging in that there were multiple prices that would pop up with each window, for example, first it was $9.99 for a flight from PHL to DEN.  By the time i navigated to my login page, the price had changed to $12.99 for the same flight, so be careful with your purchase.  It may be a bit misleading.  Also, remember that from PHL to DEN is just over 3.5 hours, so that is $2.85/$3.71 per hour!  Remember your hourly income and determine if it is worth it to get some extra work done or just to surf the net.

Another perk is that they have internet for mobile devices too, and I was very happy to stream Netflix on my Ipad at my company's expense!  By the way, this post was made on the airplane, which means it really works.  Overall, I'd say it is worth it for the longer trips.  Happy surfing!

Questions?  Fire at will!

TSA On Luggage Etiquette And Body Scanners

With today's post I would like to share my thoughts about TSA and their efforts to keep the air safe.  My first topic I will title Luggage Etiquette, and I will hash out certain subjects as; How to pack? and How can I save time.  I will follow this segment up with things to look out for when dealing with luggage searches.  In my second segment, I will be speaking briefly on the newfangled body scanners and how to plan ahead to beat the line times.
     Luggage Etiquette:
Luggage starts at the ticket counter.  If you do not check luggage, skip this segment and move to the next.  For those of you that do, you'll want to keep reading to ensure a seamless flight from ticket counter to your seat(in first class, if you've read my previous posts.)
Checked luggage can be tricky, so allow me to offer as much knowledge as I can on the subject:
     Most airlines now charge per bag, unless you are an elite member with their rewards program, so the first step in saving money is to pack light.  Multiple bags can cost you up to $100 on some airlines.  If packing light is not an option for you, read on.
     If you need to check multiple bags for your trip, remember to keep each one below the 50lb threshold.  Going over 50lb will cost you 50-100 bucks, and 70lb and up bags will net you 100-200 bucks.  Again my solution is to pack light.  If this is still not an option for you, find a good rewards credit card and pay the balance each month!
     Now, these bags that you are checking need to be unlocked and able to be inspected without too much effort, unless you want TSA rifling through your unmentionables and damaging your goods.  Also, it may behoove you to leave a nice note informing them to put your things back the way they found them.  Many times, I would find my toolbox left with all the bags open and tools spilled everywhere within its confines.  One day I left a POLITE note inside asking TSA to please be sure to zip up all my bags and to put things back the way they found them.  Believe it or not, this little trick does work!
     Also, the ticket agent will ask you for your boarding pass and ID card.  After providing them with this, keep BOTH of them handy, you'll be needing them for the next checkpoint.  Remember, the goal is efficiency.

The next position you get to will likely be the passenger screening station.  There are many ways to be more efficient here, so try a few and see how you like them.
     A great way to save time here is to pre-pack you liquids in a clear 1qt ziplock bag.  I see too many people at the screening line trying to jam their lotions and creams into bags and throwing things away and so on.  This is very inconsiderate to all of those in line behind you and I recommend just planning ahead.
     Next is to get out that laptop and put it in a bin all by itself.  This is the rule and the officer will enforce it anyways, so why not get it right the first time?  Also, a quick tip I have learned is to laminate a business card on the front of my laptop with my name and contact information in the event that my laptop is left behind.  This will eventually happen to you if you travel as much as I do, so the best way to save time and avoid it is to simply do what I do!
     Off with the shoes and belt.  This is pretty simple, but i see a lot of people coming back through metal detectors because they left their shoes or belt on.  Not only is it wasting your time, but its wasting the time of everyone behind you.  Be smart and you will be rewarded.  

  
     TSA Body Scanners and what to do:    
With the new body scanners, you will need to take EVERYTHING out of your pockets.  Yes, this means EVERYTHING.  The best idea is to listen to the recordings and TSA officers while you are waiting in line so you understand all that needs to be done in advance!
     The body scan takes 7-10 seconds per person, and potentially requires a second scan.  When compared to the 3.5 second time it takes to walk through the metal detectors, wait times just got about 60% longer.  Be smart by being prepared for this and show up to the airport a little bit earlier.

     Utilize some of my time saving tips above and educate yourself further to understand the rules and regulations and you'll be cruising through all the lines from check in to the gate.  Safe travels!

Questions, Comments?

Hotel Review: Atlantic City Borgata

Let me first start by saying that I was seriously considering another place to stay when I saw the $149.00/night price tag.  I needed two rooms in a casino in Atlantic City since my parents were up for a visit over the weekend.  I love to play at the Borgata, and I do have Red Label rewards card, but this is easily trumped by the Black Label holders, so I was looking at two basic rooms at a buck fifty each per night.  Well, needless to say, I did reserve the rooms but something that I didn't expect happened.  When I arrived at the counter, I was fumbling for my Red Label card, and out popped my Priority Club Platinum card and My US Airways Chairman card.  The person at the counter saw these and immediately upgraded our rooms to King Suites with an outstanding view of the city on the 21st floor.  I have been upgraded to suites many times before, but I could have never expected what I saw when I opened the door to my suite.  This place was trimmed with mahogany and marble from floor to ceiling, fit with a jacuzzi, 52" Samsung TV just like the one that sits in my living room, and the view... just breathtaking.  Especially at night when the lights came on. 
Moral of the story?  Let people know that you have status EVEN if it is not with them!  Every good business wants more business, and whether or not that entails giving out free upgrades and spa packages, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a hotel or airline that you are not even a member with.  Best of luck finding your upgrades!

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Status Report

Following my own advice, I just flew back from ONT through PHX and I was upgraded twice.  Each flight had me sitting in the front of the bus sipping wine and eating biscotti.  I just wanted to take the time to follow up and inform all of my readers that your efforts will be rewarded if only you take the time to follow my easy steps on getting an airline upgrade.  There is no sure-fire way to guarantee that spot in the quiet cabin, but you will enjoy the fruits of your own extra effort more often than you might think.  Go out and try each time you fly!

Farewell for now! 

Travelers Tech Spotlight:

In review:
Targus Premium Laptop Charger (AC/DC) APM69US (Piano Black)
 This multi-tasking laptop charger will also charge one other item, and comes with several tips to charge just about anything you can think of.  I stumbled upon one at a Best Buy once when I had forgotten my charger and it was all they had.  It came with a pretty price tag, but alas, it was the only charger available at the time, so I brought it back to the hotel with me.  It has been in my bag ever since.  I like it for every reason anyone else might, whether its the slim design, light weight, or versatility and I'd go as far as saying this baby was worth every penny.  You don't have to take my word for it, though, just follow my link and read others reviews.  I'll bet it becomes a permanent fixture in your travel bag too!

Your comments are important! 

Hotel Review: Intercontinental Milwaukee

I recently returned from a trip from Milwaukee, and I thought that I would take the time to do a quick Hotel Review.  I am really unimpressed with this hotel and I do not recommend it to any of my readers.  I got a bargain on the room from Hotwire.com down from its $280 per night price to $94.  Generally speaking, I have found ICH properties to be lavishly furnished and well kept, however, to my dismay, this one was rather dingy and poorly managed.  Please seek refuge in other ICH hotels in the area, I recommend the Holiday Inn Express, since it fell much cheaper, and there were just as many amenities, not to mention it was clean!  Just my two cents.

Comments?  Let me have'em! 

Up Your Chances For Upgrade

It has been made apparent to me lately that there are more ways than one to get a first class upgrade with your Frequent Flyer status and I'm here to exploit them.  In all my travels, I am constantly seeking a free upgrade to first class, and I'll be the first to admit that its not easy by any stretch of the imagination.  Here are a few ways that I have found to increase your odds against the airlines.
Rule 1:  Become a Frequent Flyer.  Simply put, you need to earn your place before you can waltz into a first class ticket.  Status is everything, and will allow you to even negotiate a coveted seat on other airlines that want your business.  With this status comes the greatest chance of being upgraded to first, but there are other ways to increase your odds without it.  Also, you may find that playing multiple angles will help you along even further.
Rule 2:  Check in online!  This will up your odds greatly.  A little known step in finding that super-seat is simply getting it before that guy in the suit can lock it down at the gate!  Just be a little more cunning than the would-be Frequent Flyer, and you are on your way to being pampered.
Rule 3:  Buy a FULL FARE ticket.  Upgrades will be given to status first, when available.  After that, the full fare ticket holders are among the top of the list which is now determined by fare price.  If you bought a cheap seat, just sit in it, because it was what you were sold.  Otherwise, for all of you business travelers out there, buy the full fare and collect reward points on the company AMEX.  Its a win-win.
Rule 4:  It helps to look the part.  Flying First Class is an elitist thing to do, and I don't see many scrubs sipping wine and eating hors d'oeuvres.  That said, I suggest a decent wardrobe decision, and a certain amount of schmoozing with the gate agent for the available seat.  Will it always work?  Certainly not, but if you thought this was a guide to instant upgrades, than regrettably you did not read the title.
Rule 5:  Book with a travel agent.  Your travel agent can slip in some special information while booking the flight that might say that you are the CEO of the business or some sort of VIP.  If a seat is available, don't you think the airline would love to give it to the customer with the most potential money?  After all, charging for bags and now even checked baggage lets me know that's all they really care about. 

Top 10 Air Travel Myths Debunked

# 1  Airlines will compensate you if they are responsible for your flight cancellation
 False.  Ah, the golden "Rule 240" and its mythical prowess.  Many airline customers think that their overpriced ticket will get them in Wonka's factory when the stuff hits the fan, but the fact of the matter is, its just a piece of paper.  Good luck with accommodations for the evening too, folks, because I'm here to tell you that you ought to get comfy in that chair smothered in beer farts at the terminal.  In the event your flight is canceled until the next day, most airlines won't even think about putting you up in some fancier digs, but it may be worth it to inquire.  Most airline companies will provide you with airport food vouchers, but even they are severely outmatched by vendors.  
# 2  In conjunction with Myth # 1, Airlines will book you on the next flight out.
 How bout, NO.  You will get re-booked, however, don't count on it being the next flight to your final destination.  For that matter, don't even count on it being on the same airline.  Your seat will be on the next AVAILABLE flight out.  This means the next flight out with an open seat.  I hope your destination is not so popular that you will find yourself dealing with the problems associated with this. (see Myth # 1)  You might try a sob story to get out sooner, but plan on spending the first night of your honeymoon watching CNN next to the phone charging station with 50 of your closest friends.
# 3 Your connection will wait if your first plane is delayed.
 No way.  At any of the airports mentioned in my previous blog?  Lets hope you get to your connection on time, because we wouldn't want to make all the stand-by passengers happy now would we?  That's right, your seat will be given away to the standby customer who bought a ticket and paid extra to get home faster should you not make your connection on time.  And you'll get nowhere with your argument.  Trust me, just take the next flight because you're not getting anything for this one.
# 5 You will be informed in advance if the airline is unable to get your flight off in time.
 Nope.  If your flight was delayed/canceled prior to checking in, there is no guarantee that you'll get a phone call informing you of their plight.  Most likely you won't even know about it when you check in online either.  The best way to know your flight status is to check it yourself or hire a travel agent.  This will save you hours of your life.
# 6 You can sit with your family members if you book as a group. 
 Wrong.  While your brother Tony is sitting in 9E, you wind up all the way by the latrine, which by the way has a terrible odor emanating out from it.  Try sitting in the seat next to him and offering your ticket to the unlucky passenger who is supposed to be sitting there?  I don't recommend it, because first of all, it is rude.  Second, some people pick their seats.  Most of these people have status with the airline, which means that they fly a lot, and they won't be likely to give up that seat that they selected.  Never assume that you are more important than someone else when you want something that's theirs.  It's better to ask an agent prior to boarding, but I don't think you will get very far there either.
# 7 If you check in late, but still before the 45 minute window, your baggage will make it to your final destination.
 Maybe.  I feel it's worthy to mention something about checking in close to the 45 minute cutoff.  If you have bags, most airlines will let you check in up to 45 minutes prior.  It is supposed to be a cushion to get your bags on-board.  Don't count on it happening every time if you make it a habit of checking in late.  It is actually better to check in closer to the hour and a half range to guarantee that your bags make it where they are going, though even that is not a guarantee that they wont be lost in the process.
# 8 Using your cellular phone during takeoff and landing will cause electrical disturbances to the planes navigation equipment.
 Not gonna happen.  Stop watching Dateline and hanging out with your pal Chicken Little.  Instead, turn on Myth Busters and watch a live debunking of this myth.  Airlines want you to keep off your phone so you can rack up charges on their built in phones.  Why do you think they make a different head phone jack?  That'll be eight dollars please.
# 9 Re-circulated cabin air is more likely to make you sick.
 I don't buy it.  First of all, there is a nifty combatant for this called Airborne.  Its a dissolvable tablet you can toss in your in-flight water that helps fend of infection.  Aside from that, you are more likely to get sick from the germs in and around the airport/plane than from the air inside it.  A 1000 passenger wide study was conducted by the University of California shows that recirculated air does not make passengers sick.  Feel safer?  Just stay out of the latrine.
#10 Your odds of upgrade increase if you ask at the gate.
 Not unless you have status.  Attention self-important people, there is a list of upgrades which follows a very specific order.  Put on your smile and schmooze a bit, but just because you lobby with the gate agent does not mean you will even make the top 5 members on the upgrade list.  Especially because you probably bought the cheapest ticket available.  A generality: Status first, then the order is most expensive ticket to least.  Period. 

Please do not take my word for it.  I encourage you all to go out and try to beat the airlines, because I can't think of another industry that takes no responsibility for their falters.
Any questions or comments? We'd like to hear from you.



 

Travelers Tech Spotlight:

Here's a quick idea for a compact and lightweight tech item that should be in your bag:
Streamlight 66118 Stylus Pro Black LED Pen Flashlight with Holster
Maybe you find yourself asking "Why would I need to carry a flashlight with me when I travel?"  Well, here are a few examples of times where my flashlight came in handy:
Ever been in a hotel when the lights go out?  Heaven forbid all of your technology comes to a halt without electricity and I know how scary it can be for those of us who live behind a computer screen, but in this unlikely event, it PAYS to have a flashlight on standby.
Another recent example, I was heading to the airport one early morning and the rental car began to make a disturbing noise.  Its dark out and my flight is leaving with or without me, so I decided to pop the hood and do some investigating.  Thanks to the flashlight, I was able to locate culprit and make the necessary repair in time to catch my flight.  It could have taken hours for roadside assistance to locate the car and make the fix, so my handy flashlight saved the day yet again.

Comments, Questions, Rants?  All are welcome.

Spotlight: Worst Airports

LAX: Just fly to Ontario, Need I say more?
ORD: (Ohare) This place is swimming with people, be prepared to stand in line forever, for everything, including going to the potty.  Oh yea, don't even think about a close connection.
JFK: I'd rather rent a car and drive home.  Here's why:  Long connection time?  That's because it'll take you a week to navigate the place.  If you don't use up all your connection time, you'll wish you had bought that US Airways Club membership with the lack of services and products available.  Walking through JFK is like stepping into a catacomb which contains no elusive booty, dodging the snakes and pendulums and still getting slapped with a high priced ticket.  Fly elsewhere!
PHL: Thank goodness I don't have to connect here because its my home airport, but that still doesn't mean it's a good one.  Free internet only on the weekends?  What kind of crap is that Philly?  (try connecting to British Airways in the international terminal with "London" as a password)  Heaven forbid the poor fella to have to connect from the famed "F" terminal.  Nothing like taking a bus inside the flight line to the closest terminal.  Yuck!  Further to that, Its a bit of a hike to land in the "F" terminal and get to any kind of curbside service if PHL is your final destination. 
DFW: People in Dallas are just plain slow.  No offense to anyone from Dallas, because I understand the laid back culture, and I like it, but please people, kick it into high gear or move out of the way!  We all have connections and want our weekend at home, not waiting for another plane. 

Tell us what you think!  Post a comment in the box below.
Happy flying!

In Flight Bliss

Noise Cancelling Headphones
Ever get on the plane and sit next to an unusually talkative seatmate?  It is quite difficult to read a book, or fill out expense reports with all of the nonsense overwhelming your eardrums.  I will give a brief testimonial on how great these really are.  I fly up to four times a week, and I really do not have time to talk and make friends while I am busy responding to email and updating my expense and time reports.  For that over-talkative seatmate, I find these the most useful, but they also annihilate virtually all background noise.  Furthermore, at least once a month, I will fly to Italy for a week or so, and I used to have a hard time sleeping on the plane.  Not any more!  Just flip the switch and block out the noise.  Comfort is in the name of the product, and Bose will deliver with an added bonus of unsurpassed audio to blast your favorite tunes.   My recommendation: hop over to amazon.com and get yourself a set of these babies!  Link below.
Bose® QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headphones

Please post your own reviews below.

Which Hotel Rewards Program Do I Go With?

Without question, go for an Intercontinental Group Hotel(ICH), and don't forget to sign up for Priority Club Rewards. This is easily the best bang for the business buck spent on hotel nights vs rewards given back to the end user (you, the business traveler.) Year after year, I have acquired gear and gift certificate alike just by using my Priority Club card and staying at any ICH. Priority Club rewards will stuff your family's stockings at Christmas or pay for that big vacation you have been planning, or how about saving up for a new flat screen? Anything you can imagine, Priority Club has it, and just in case you could not find it, they offer a personal shopper starting with 50,000 points. No other hotel rewards plan will take care of you like this one. If all the aforementioned is still not enough to entice you to make the switch, let's talk recognition. Upon reaching Platinum status, (50 stays per year or 50,000 points) you are guaranteed a room in any ICH property, and if there is an upgrade available, you will be spoiled with it. It is not uncommon for me to open the door to a beautifully equipped suite with a bottle of wine waiting for me. It's the nights like these that you don't mind being on the road. Just remember... the more you stay, the more you will be rewarded. I am also a member of HiltonHonors, Choice Privileges and Star Rewards, and let me tell you, none of them compare.

Which rewards program do you use?
Please post your response in the comments section.
Looking forward to hearing from you.