Snakes on planes cellphones on planes? Which would you prefer? Ok… it probably won’t be that bad. But who really wants cellphones on planes? Well, the new trend started by Emirates Airline will allow passengers to use their phones during flights.

USA Today has an article on it.

“…the airline expects to have a system installed in the first of its Boeing 777 fleet in January that enables cellphones to operate at minimum power levels that won’t interfere with in-flight systems. The system is to be rolled out in 100 of the Dubai-based carrier’s aircraft in succeeding months.”

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For one of the few times on this blog, what I have posted about previously will be able to be used by my readers in “the real life.” So think long and hard about an entry that I’ve made that has actually mattered. . . Nothing comes to mind . . So I’ll tell you.

My last post about Trip Planning is worth $200. Actually, $205. You can make anywhere from $5-$205 for a simple winter travel plan. (more…)

Over at USA Today, Fivetravel writers have picked their favorite airports. You’ll probably need to use Internet Explorer to open it though, since it showed up terrible in my firefox (ugh..)

I think it’s a fairly interesting read. Note worthy facts:

• 2/5 of travel writers list LAX as least favorite airport.
• 1/5 states their least favorite airport is located outside the US (Lima, Peru)
• 2/5 of travel writers have Singapore, Changi as their favorite airport.
• 1/5 states they want restaurants nicer than Chili’s inside airports - Come on now, I’m a big fan of Chili’s.
• 2/5 feel the most annoying aspect of airports is security
• 2/5 complain of the uncomfortable chairs at North American airports

It will be interesting to see if Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport makes the list in the future. The complaints about US airports are pretty common throughout the article. I thougt that was interesting. Peace.

[tags] airport, travel [/tags]

A Reuters article reports that the UK is planning to ease its airport security and restrictions next week. The article doesn’t cite new, specific restrictions. During the ban of liquids and the tough luggage rules, 2,000 flights were canceled.

The canceled flights hurt Brittish Airways most. They lost an estimated $75 million to stranded passengers for hotels and luggage losses. The budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet were also hurt.

Additionally, the airport operator BAA, who operates London’s Heathrow, lost $25 million.

[tags] travel, heathrow [/tags]

Bangkok’s new, hyped airport Suvarnabhumi (NBK) & (su-wan-na-poom) is expected to open on September 28, 2006 to replace the aging Don Mueang, Bangkok’s current international airport.

A recent Forbes article discusses the dark side of the recent air port opening. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) warns that (more…)

I am a little late to the party, but UBS (Switzerland’s major bank - Union Bank of Switzerland) came out with a list of the 71 most expensive cities to live in. It is rather predictable, but it is nonetheless interesting to look through.

The list doubles as a budget traveller’s destination list by just flipping the list around. So Kuala Lumpar is actually number one. But really, it is a good reference when finding destinations to visit where you can get by on a few dollars a day. (more…)