Category: travel

  • Savannah Restaurants

    Savannah Restaurants

    Georgia Shore
    I was on a two week business trip to Savannah and tried a number of restaurants and coffee shops. I looked for whole foods, gluten and dairy free and good cups of coffee.
    (more…)

  • London Heathrow Terminal 5 View in HDR

    London Heathrow Terminal 5

    We had a few hours between flights but the time went by fast enough.

  • United Breaks Guitars

    “He s heard all their excuses and chased all their gooses” and after a year they didn’t pay. Over 3 million views and counting! A great song.

  • Holes in planes

    1192087_21097245

    Southwest Airlines Co. inspected about 200 planes overnight after a football-sized hole opened up in the passenger cabin of a jet in flight, forcing an emergency landing in West Virginia.
    From the Globe and Mail

    This reminds me of my most recent travels.

    When I was leaving Calgary a week and a bit ago to return to Kuwait our departure was delayed because the plane was hit by lightning on the landing. The British Airways pilot came into the departure lounge and fully explained the process being followed. He noted that he didn’t want to stay on the plane because due to an unrelated problem the on the ground air conditioning wasn’t working so it was too hot on the plane so he would stick around if there were any questions or concerns from the passengers.

    He said that because the plane was hit by lighting they have to inspect the plane to find out where it was hit and what if any damage was done. I thought that planes were hit by lighting all the time and didn’t know it was such a big deal. That is what they have been saying about the Air France flight that was lost over the Atlantic recently.

    Then about 45 minutes later he said they found the hole. It was a pencil sized hole near the rear of the plane. And he said now they had to give the news to the head office in London and possibly even a photo to London and maybe even have to consult with Boeing to get the OK to fly.

    Oh and he said don’t worry he wouldn’t get on the plan if it wasn’t safe.

    So about another hour later the news came back that the hole was in an unpressurized area of the plane and wasn’t a concern. So we were good to go.

    On the plane I was lucky to seat in an exit row. This often means you will be face to face with the flight attendant. She was very helpful in all ways. The service was very good. I told her that the delay would be no problem for her and she said well they don’t get overtime anymore. Part of cost cutting these days.

  • British Airways Executive Club

    OK, this is ridiculous. It isn’t like it used to be when I actually earned miles that useful.

    I have been flying BA from Kuwait to Canada and was wondering why I have so few points.

    I fly so called discounted flights — as everyone does if paying themselves. Normal people don’t fly full fare economy or other expensive fares which cost at least double the price. My fare is 460 KWD (1855 CAD) now as it is summer season and when I went to Canada in March in low season it was 315 KWD (1270 CAD). The airlines take advantage of the busy seasons by raising fares — as if we can change the dates of summer school holidays to get cheaper flights.

    Bottom line, you only get 25% of the mileage when not flying on an expensive fare.

    Each round trip from Kuwait to Calgary earns 3626 miles. And it would cost me 80,000 miles to get a free ticket to Calgary. So after 22 round trips I could get a free flight. Therefore, if I fly a couple flights a year in 11 years I can fly for free once!

    And so much for getting enough points for access to lounges etc. You get exactly zero of what they call tier points towards getting status to access lounges etc. unless you are flying an expensive fare.

    American Airlines is a partner with BA but I had a quick look and I think they are just as un-generous with their pseudo-reward program for frequent fliers.

    Not much of a reward for loyalty. The only plus for BA is they have a much better bag policy than Lufthansa and others. They allow two bags up to 23 kg each and one carry on plus a laptop bag. Oh and don’t go a kilo over in Calgary on the luggage, they will make you reduce the weight of the bag.

    And their food in economy is better than I recall from Lufthansa or Air Canada.

    Oh and have you ever seen an airline commercial showing the people sardined into economy class. No only businessmen or families in First or Business. How often can families fly business?

    End of my venting now.