Travel Blog

So what’s with the title? Last year I flew a few times, to the tune of over 25,000 miles with Northwest Airlines, and my WorldPerks membership was upgraded to Silver Elite status. The main thing I’m going to enjoy: getting on the plane prior to general boarding. I know Northwest saves 10 minutes by doing this, but I still find it… I don’t know… rude? annoying? that after exit rows, first class, and WorldPerks Elite and SkyTeam Elite members board, EVERYONE boards. Personally I would rather lose the 10 minutes and board by row rather than be hearded in like cattle into the JetWay.

My First Mileage Run of 2007: Northwest Airlines posted a mistake fare of between $125 and $160 for a one way Vancouver, Canada to Chattanooga, TN ticket booked into Y-class. Because it’s a Y-class ticket and I’m a frequent flyer, I get an immediate and free upgrade to First Class too!

Hey Folks! If you still want to join your friends and neighbors in the greatest peace march of the 21st century, then get on Jet Blue and don't you stew for as low as $39. each way dude!

Here’s a chance to encourage better design of airline experiences. Goodness knows the industry could use some more design-based competition; in addition to Jet Blue (isn’t this what air travel should look like by now?). Go to Virgin America’s website to petition the U.S. Department of Transportation to allow them entry into the market. After my less than optimal experience on Northwest this past week (their seats are narrower and the pitch is shorter than many airlines), I would welcome Virgin here.

Southwest Airlines is lucky to have Angela Vargo who spearheaded the Southwest Nuts about Southwest group blog all the way to the executives and now has a thriving group blog that even includes customers blogging. At one point, the CEO left a post brainstorming about changing the open seating policy to an assigned seating policy. There were hundreds of comments that rejected the notion and Southwest was able to build better service from listening to this interactive focus group.

Mike and I are expecting quite a decent tax return because of the house and our student loan interest, so we may be going to the Fazed: Vegas gathering. He’s going to have to pay for it because I am dead broke, owing money to medical institutions all around this fine city. I spent the last of my Christmas money to get prescriptions that make it so that I can get up and move around daily. Anyway, we’re also likely going to Cleveland, which, while not being much of a vacation, is a city I’ve always loved. And of course, there’s my requisite Rhode Island trip. I can’t pass that up as plane tickets through Jet Blue are extraordinarily cheap right now.

Well, it’s time to get my travel planner ready and go find those cheap airline tickets that I need.

As we took off, my mind wandered to luggage and personal poundage. Most airlines charge for luggage over a certain weight - say, 40 lbs. for carry-on and 50 for checked baggage. Should similar restrictions, and resulting price points pertain to passengers? In 2002, Southwest Airlines began enforcing a program that required folks whose bodies extended beyond the bounds of a single seat belt to purchase two seats. That raised some eyebrows. In fact, I’m not sure we’ll see real “variable” pricing for airline tickets anytime soon (and our “overweight” status I’m sure could have been a function of luggage).

Just to be a contrary old bat during the terribly cheery and determined New Year, there are a few travel destinations/stories/ideas that have really been flogged to death by major travel magazines and Web sites. It’s a big planet; can’t we find something else to explore and talk about?

Montana is a vast and varied state of mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests and caverns. It's the 4th largest state in the nation but with our popularion under 1 million, it's actually the sixth least-populated state. Ah... there is room to breathe and nowhere is the air fresher.

The first instalment saw Gretchen and I heading north to the Western Basin of Lake Erie. Anyone that has lived in Ohio for an extended period of time will know that the “lake” is Lake Erie and the “river” is the Ohio River. But anyhow, this was our annual trip to Maumee Bay State Park and Marblehead Light House.

Friends were singing praises of how big it was, how fun it was, how they nabbed bargains for products brought in by vendors from all over the world. We were so psyched up that we weren't going to miss it for the world when the Global Village opened again a week ago.