Qantas Twitter Competition Backfires

Qantas encouraged travelers to tweet details of their ideal on-board luxury experience to compete for an opportunity to win their own amenity kit and pajamas offered to first class passengers. The twitter competition instead provoked more than 10,000 negative responses related to a labor dispute that caused several October flight cancellations from the carrier that left passengers stranded worldwide. No winner has been announced.

Woman "Imprisoned" for 12 Years on Scientology Cruise Ship

Valeska Paris claims to have been held against her will for 12 years on the Church of Scientology owned cruise ship "Freewinds" after her mother broke from Scientology because she says her husband's self-made small fortune of over $1 million was coerced from him which resulted in his committing suicide.

Paris was 18 at the time and was allegedly told she would be on a two week cruise on the ship in order to "disconnect from her suppressive mother," but then found herself forced to labor for up to 48 hours at a time by herself in grueling areas of the ship. Paris also claims that she was not allowed to leave the ship without a close escort at all times, so she had no opportunity to escape or leave even though she made it clear that she did not want to be there.

The typically private Church of Scientology fully denies the claims but would not agree to provide news outlets with any interviews.

Virgin America and Air Canada Top List of Healthy In-Flight Eats, Southwest and Spirit on Bottom

Dietdective.com has conducted a recent survey of the food offerings on nine different airlines in order to determine which airlines offer health-conscious options and which are the most apt to cause your body to spill over into the next seat during the duration of your flight.

At the top of the list of healthy in-flight food were options offered by Virgin America and Air Canada. Both of these airlines offer healthy snacks including vegetables and hummus, nuts, and filling meals like an egg and vegetable wrap offered by Virgin America that has only 370 calories and is high in protein.

The airlines in the middle of the health rankings for the nine studied were United Airlines, US Airways, Jetblue, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines. These airlines offer mostly healthy options for full meals but do not tend to provide snacks that feature low calorie counts or high levels of nutrition.

The worst airlines for anyone planning on eating on a flight and consuming as many calories in air as the number of feet in the flight's cruising altitude are Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Spirit would not provide any nutritional information at all, so it seems pretty obvious that there can't be much (if any) good going on there. Southwest's (and Spirit's) biggest issue is the lack of options in general- none of which are even remotely healthy.

The Future of Airport Security?

International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently unveiled what it thinks may be the future of airport security- in as early as five to seven years. The early concept stage features a series of tunnels (different levels of security based upon the traveler- "Known Travelers" i.e. those that have undergone a government background test face the least intrusive of these tunnels) that will have x-ray machines, eye scanners, and metal and liquid detectors.

In addition to these neon tunnels, thermal lie-detection may also be implemented (research shows that people that are lying/ making up something on the spot brain activity changes and can be detected thermally). Some passengers can also opt-in to bluetooth tracking in order to get an idea how fast lines are moving and even create passenger profiles that can offer more insight as to what passengers do when in the airport. Perhaps the most sci-fi of the concepts being considered is the utilization of cloned super-sniffer dogs for drug detection (something that has already been going on since 2005 when the dog Chase, a member of drug-dog lore for his immaculate sniffing mechanism, was cloned for the Incheon International Airport in South Korea). The next dog clone is expected to have an uncanny ability to sniff out diseases in humans. Another feature that may become common is an increase in Behavioral Detection Officers, who are able to tell when people are hiding something.

Houston International Airport Immigration

I cannot say enough good things about the experience I had at the Houston International Airport's (IAH) customs and immigration services. After my flight arrived I was pleasantly surprised to find 12-18 global entry stations- which eliminated what I thought would be another miserable wait time.

Withing 20 minutes (20 minutes!) I was off the plane and to the luggage belt for my bag transfer. To make it completely through immigration in 20 minutes is something I would love to see at every international airport (though I know the chances are slim to none). Perhaps I should connect through IAH more often...

El Salvador: No es mi primera elección de destino

I have just returned from a stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Salvador. Before I decode my most likely flawed Spanish above Robert Langdon-style, allow me to share some of the knowledge I gathered there (that may or may not be about as accurate as Dan Brown's revelations).

El Salvador has 22 volcanoes, four of which are active, and 14 volcanic lakes (reminds me of that volcano movie with Pierce Brosnan when the old lady jumps ship into a lake- apparently a very shallow one- filling with liquid hot magma and pushes James Bond, Sr. and his crew in a rowboat to safety). The small country also features seven mountain ranges. El Salvador is certainly great to navigate via car, as it is possible to drive north to south or east to west in just four hours.

The national currency was the Colon(!) until the year 2000, but has now adopted the U.S. Dollar. This makes sense because 30% of the population lives on remittance- which means 3 million Salvadorans live and work abroad (mostly in the U.S.) and they send money home. That is a huge portion of El Salvador's economy! Most of the country's population works in agriculture or manufacturing.

The original inhabitants of El Salvador were the Pipil (sounds a lot like "people") Indians. Then the Mayans (their close neighbors) moved in until the Spanish decided to permanently vacation there in the 16th century.

82% of the country's population is Catholic, most of the rest are Protestant- one of the fastest growing religions in all of Latin America.

Security in El Salvador is either awesome (it's not) or terrifying (it is), because everywhere you go, there are "security" with sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, or other types of weapons keeping something safe. These security personnel patrol hotels, parking lots, banks, restaurants... everywhere! Most of them are privately hired, so who knows what type of training they've had.

Perhaps I should be thankful for the hoards of men toting automatic weapons, since many Salvadoran gangs target tourists- and will frequently stab or shoot their victims and take everything from them, leaving them for dead in the streets- a big difference from the typical petty theft that occurs in many tourist-directed crime-heavy cities (I would much rather get pick-pocketed on the metro in Madrid than stabbed and/ or shot for my $120 in El Salvador).

El Salvador must be limbo for retired Blue Bird buses. After their life has passed in other countries, they come here to wait in Purgatory for many years after their prime before they are ultimately laid to rest.

Some taxis are still Datsun B210s- when is the last time anybody has seen one of these for sale? 18 year olds may not have been able to vote.

Some of these things make sense: the country was in a civil war from 1975-1990! which is sure to prevent any country from experiencing a great deal of progress.

Before you go ahead and assume (if you already haven't) that I have nothing all that positive to say about my experience, hear this: El Salvador is trying hard and has many good things going for them like being a hub airport for TACA airlines, but they have a long way to go before they can compete with destinations in Central America like Panama or Costa Rica. At present, I would not recommend traveling there unless it is for a business related reason. El Salvador is not my first choice destination in Central America, but it looks to be on track to being a viable choice for travelers looking for an adventurous experience in a small country.

Dante's Peak! That's the volcano movie I was thinking of.

Europe's Thomas Cook Facing Financial Trouble

Thomas Cook Group, Europe's second-largest tour operator, has announced that it is looking to amend loan terms with its lenders as it is facing a difficult financial situation.

This announcement has sent the company's stock tumbling 75% to about 10 pence (roughly 16 cents) a share on the London Stock Exchange. Reports claim that Thomas Cook's debt was at 900 GBP (about $1.4 billion) at the end of September.

Spirit Airlines Fined by DOT for Deceptive Ad

The Department of Transportation has fined the discount airline Spirit $25,000 for violating the DOT's rule of not allowing deceptive and unfair advertising due to a billboard and Twitter ad from June.

The billboard ad had large print that advertised cheap fares, with an asterisk next to the seemingly low cost fares alerting viewers to study the fine print at the bottom which stated that "additional taxes, fees, terms and conditions apply." This may seem standard operating procedure for ads that craftily divert attention for actual costs, but this does not comply with the DOT's regulation that the full amount of taxes, fees, and associated conditions be clearly disclosed in full.

Spirit Airlines' Twitter feed was equally deceptive in that it provided a link in the advertisement that lead consumers to Spirit's website, where it was first mentioned that the $9 fare did not include taxes, fees, the stipulation that the ticket be a round trip purchase, and the like.

USA3000 Airline of Apple Vacations to Shut Down

USA3000, the airline founded by the owners of Apple Vacations, plans to shut down early in 2012. The airline is making arrangements to transfer its route commitments to other airlines. Frontier has pledged to take over USA3000's operations from Chicago to Mexico with no break in service.

Legislation Introduced to Mandate Cheaper Luggage

Travelers' grievances have grown exponentially in the last decade as prices have increased, crowds have grown, and security protocol has become reminiscent of Rubashov's experience in Koestler's Darkness at Noon. The most upsetting thing to many travelers is the outrageous cost of checking luggage. The massive fees have inspired hoards of travelers to push the natural limits of carry on baggage with bags scarcely capable of being pounded into the overhead bin, and more of them.

This phenomenon has caused Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) to introduce legislation that would "guarantee passengers one checked bag without the financial burden of paying a fee, or the headache of trying to fit everything into a carry-on." The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), would allow passengers to check one bag for free and prohibit fees for regular-size carry-on bags. Airlines would also be required to tell passengers about any restrictions on weight, size, and number of bags before they arrive at the airport. In addition, airlines would have to make public the associated fees for preferred seating and different types of checked luggage.

In 2008-2009, airlines collected $3.9 billion in checked luggage fees, even though fewer than one out of four passengers check bags.

China Airlines Joins SkyTeam Alliance

China Airlines, based out of Taiwan, joined the SkyTeam alliance in September with an impressive ceremony in Taipei, becoming the 15th carrier (and first Taiwanese airline) to join the global alliance. An announcement was made that either Air France or China Airlines will be flying a route between Taipei (TPE) and Paris (CDG) as soon as possible.

Taipei, China Airlines' hub, is home to one of the strongest economies in Asia. With China Airlines' addition, SkyTeam becomes the largest alliance serving the greater China market with hubs in Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Guangzhou (CAN), and Taipei. China Airlines also brings three new destinations to the SkyTeam network: Miyazaki (KMI) and Okinawa (NAH) in Japan and Surabaya (SUB) in Indonesia.

Anthony Bourdain Has a New Show: "The Layover"

Most people know Anthony Bourdain from his popular television show "No Reservations" or his memoir, Kitchen Confidential. His latest project is titled The Layover, and features Bourdain on a short-length visit to a particular city (24 hours or so).

Bourdain, who says he deliberately plans his layovers with care, will visit major travel hubs that travelers will often connect in but may not be staying for more than a few hours. He claims the show will be the first "useful" project he has done, and will showcase unique local places that travelers may not know about (hence, he will not be visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Tower of London in London).

Southwest Airlines to get Reality Television Show on TLC

Southwest Airlines might do for airlines what Sister Wives did for polygamy. I can't really say whether that is a good thing or not; but, either way, the show will provide viewers with more behind-the-scenes access than you would likely get during a cavity search at the airport.

The 13 half-hour episodes will chronicle the experiences of a few select travelers as well as the chaos involved with operating an airline. Filming begins this week at Baltimore Washington International Airport and Denver International Airport with more airports to be added in the coming weeks, which will provide a great insight as to what it is like to be an airline employee during the busiest travel time of the year. (Too bad there isn't a Southwest employee that moonlights at Target or another retail store that they could profile during the week of Thanksgiving- THAT would be some real life drama.)

No word as of yet when the show will air or what the title will be.

Comtel Air Forces Passengers to Pay More On Board in Order to Continue to Destination

Hundreds of passengers were stranded for six hours in Vienna on a flight from India to Britain when a Comtel Air flight stopped for fuel on November 15. The chartered plane demanded passengers pay a collective 20,000 GBP (about $31,000) in order to pay for fuel, airport costs, and other unexplained costs in order to continue on to Birmingham, U.K.

For passengers that didn't have enough cash on board, the flight operators were nice enough to make them get off the aircraft, go inside to visit an ATM, and re-board the plane in order to contribute money. Children under two were free, so I guess that is nice of them.

It seems curious why the flight crew would need to collect so much cash from passengers after the flight had already begun it's journey. I didn't know that pilots delivered a briefcase of non-sequential, unmarked bills to the airport before take-off could ensue, but I suppose you do learn something new every day.

According to AP, "Bhupinder Kandra, the airline's majority shareholder, told the Associated Press from Vienna that travel agents had taken the passengers' money before the planes left but had not passed it on to the airline."

It will be interesting to keep an eye on what the consequences- if there are any- of these actions (and the other related incidents that can be found in the article below) are.

View the video captured on the aircraft and read more here: http://news.yahoo.com/airline-passengers-asked-extra-cash-fuel-115831926.html

Chief Executives from Major U.K. Airlines Opposing Air Passenger Duties

Chief executives from Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and the discount airlines easyJet and Ryanair banded together to make a push to get rid of the United Kingdom's pricey air passenger duty.

The general consensus from these executives was that the air passenger duty taxed both tourism and business in the U.K. In the U.K., the air passenger duty is as high as 170 GBP for passengers in first or business class on long flights, and can add considerable costs to the price of an airline ticket that may deter potential customers.

TSA Testing Speedy Military Personnel Airport Security Check-In

November 15 marked the start of a test run by TSA of providing military personnel expedited screening at airport checkpoints at Monterey Regional Airport in California, with plans to expand the testing to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport in the coming months.

The tests, which will not yield faster check-in processes immediately, are being administered to determine if TSA's technology is compatible with military personnel's Common Access Cards in order to provided efficient, streamlined check-in in the future.

If the program proves to be successful through testing, it will likely be implemented in airports with large quantities of military men and women travelers. The program is part of Pre-Check which recently began trials.

Want to Meet the Person Sitting Next to You on a Flight... Before You Get There?

Perhaps you might be interested in the free service offered by planely.com which allows members to connect with others that will be on the same flight. The service could be worthwhile if you are interested in sharing a ride from the airport, trying to generate some business/ take advantage of a networking opportunity, or just want to find someone to have interesting conversation with (after a pre-screening).

According to Planely's website, there are three steps to the process (after registering of course).

1. Tell them when and where you are flying

2. They'll tell you who you'll be traveling with (those that are signed up for the service as well) so that you can do a little investigating on LinkedIn and facebook

3. Then it is up to you (or you could leave it to others) to reach out to other members

The service is definitely not for everyone- some prefer headphones and a book or awkwardly snoring 8 inches from your ear- but for those that are intrigued by meeting potentially interesting travelers and securing them as your seatmate, it might be something to look into.

Government Fines American Airlines $900,000 for Tarmac Delays

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) fined American Airlines a total of $900,000- $650,000 of which must be paid in the next 30 days to the FAA and up to $250,000 can be credited for refunds, vouchers, and frequent flyer mile awards provided to the passengers on the 15 American Eagle flights that were excessively delayed (in violation of the three hour rule).

The three hour delay rule (namely the steep fines that accompany it- as much as $27,500 per passenger) may be even more disruptive to even more travelers than sitting uncomfortably on the tarmac for 10 hours. Airlines are far more likely to cancel the flight all together if there is concern for being delayed. Better to avoid a huge fine and put passengers out than have to deal with disgruntled passengers AND a massive fine.

According to the Associated Press, "between May 2010 and April 2011, the first 12 months after the time limit was in effect, airlines reported 20 tarmac delays of more than three hours, none of which was more than four hours long. In contrast, during the 12 months before the rule took effect, airlines had 693 tarmac delays of more than three hours, and 105 of the delays were longer than four hours." These number seem great, though they do not reflect the much higher percentage of flights that are canceled as a result (many of which might not have actually experienced any tarmac delays at all)- better safe than sorry.

More on this from AP: http://news.yahoo.com/airline-fine-may-send-flight-cancellations-soaring-222545569.html

United to Install Internet Satellites on Interntational Flights

United Airlines is set to install satellite-powered internet on long-haul international aircraft. The satellite internet is different from typical aircraft internet because it does not rely on the ground-based towers that typically provide in-flight internet access. The satellite installation is also pricier, heavier, and a longer undertaking than the standard aircraft internet installation, but United is hoping the overseas service will be alluring to international passengers.

Southwest has already made the move to satellite, but does not get a high percentage of passenger usage. United is hoping to utilize the technology to appeal to travelers facing lengthy trips.

The pricing is not yet set, but Lufthansa, one of United's partner airlines, offers internet at a rate of about $15 for one hour and $27 for 24 hours of internet access. It will be interesting to see if the move by United prompts other airlines to adopt this technology (and perhaps make it more affordable).

5 Awesome Airport Lounges

Thai Airways First Class Lounge, Bangkok

Passengers begin their journey at an exclusive check-in area, so there is virtually no waiting for security and passport control. Once all formalities are complete, golf carts whisk them inside the lounge, where they can relax in semi-private rooms. Travelers can book a spa treatment -- including a 30-minute neck and shoulder or foot massage, or an hour long full body massage -- in their own private spa bungalow.

Lufthansa First Class Terminal, Frankfurt

This separate terminal, which the airline likens to a small luxury hotel, also has its own exclusive check-in and security checkpoints. Passengers can while away the time before their flight in leather armchairs and sofas or nap in comfy daybeds. Those who wish to relax with a spirit have plenty to choose from, including 80 different brands of whiskey. There is a top-quality restaurant, a cigar lounge, and wonderful shower and bath facilities. Every passenger also gets his or her own personal assistant. Guests are chauffeured to their plane in a Porsche or a Mercedes-Benz.

Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London

Order a colorful cocktail from the 14-meter (45-foot) bar or indulge in menu selections such as potato and watercress soup, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or duck à l'orange. The cool decor includes a ceiling to floor Japanese water wall and a den with a pool table and video game consoles.

JetQuay Terminal, Singapore

This lounge at Singapore's Changi Airport is not airline-affiliated, so access to it isn't included in the price of your ticket. Rather, it is available to passengers traveling in any class for an extra fee. If you're departing from Singapore, staffers will take care of your baggage, help you with travel formalities, and when it's time for you to depart, drive you to your gate in a buggy. If you're flying into Changi Airport, they will meet you on arrival and help with immigration clearance and luggage. The lounge's amenities include a business center, private meeting rooms, board room, massage chairs, showers, nap rooms and free Internet access.

The Wing, Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge, Hong Kong

This spacious lounge overlooking the terminal and the runway includes The Library, for quiet reading, and The Haven, for dining. The Cabanas offer private bath and shower suites complete with lounge chairs.

Adapted from CNN Travel, visit for more info and pictures: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/10/travel/luxurious-arport-lounges/index.html?hpt=tr_c1

Original article by A. Pawlowski

Michigan State and North Carolina Basketball Game on Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson in San Diego

The 2011 Quicken Loans Carrier Classic takes place tomorrow night at 4pm PT on Veterans Day, November 11, 2011 (11/11/11!) on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego, CA.

The Michigan State University Spartans will face off against the University of North Carolina Tarheels in what is sure to be an exciting game to watch as the players and coaches battle it out on the court in support of the veterans of the United States Military. The two teams will wear camouflage jerseys with USA on the back in support of veterans.

If the name of the carrier sounds familiar, it is likely because this is the name of the ship that buried Osama bin Laden's body at sea.

In attendance will be a very special guest, President Obama- who, of course, will have his choice of seating on either the 7,000 seat outside arena or the 4,000 seat arena being built in the carrier's hanger bay below the flight deck in the event that it rains in typically Sunny San Diego.

For more information on the event: http://quickenloanscarrierclassic.com/

United Airline Flies First Commercial Biofueled Flight

The information below is being quoted from an article that originally appeared in Travel Daily News

"United Continental Holdings announced that its subsidiary Continental Airlines is operating the first U.S. commercial flight powered by advanced biofuels. Flight 1403, a Boeing 737-800, departs Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport at 10:30 a.m. for Chicago O'Hare International Airport, making United the first U.S. airline to fly passengers using a blend of sustainable, advanced biofuel and traditional petroleum-derived jet fuel."

"Also today, United is announcing it has signed a letter of intent with Solazyme to negotiate the purchase of 20 million gallons of jet fuel per year, derived exclusively from algae oil, for delivery as early as 2014. Solazyme, headquartered in south San Francisco, manufactured the algae oil used on today's flight through its proprietary fermentation process. The end product was then refined outside Houston using renewable jet fuel processing technology from Honeywell's UOP."

"Operating the first U.S. revenue advanced biofuel flight represents a major milestone in Eco-Skies, United's commitment to leading commercial aviation as an environmentally responsible company by taking actions today that shape an environmentally sustainable future. Eco-Skies builds upon United and Continental's solid track record for improving aircraft fuel efficiency and introducing sustainability programs."

"Continental in 2009 made history as the first North American carrier to perform a two-engine aircraft flight demonstration using sustainable biofuels derived from algae and jatropha. The Boeing 737-800 aircraft used in that demonstration, tail number 516, is the same aircraft operating today's flight. In 2010 United conducted the first flight by a U.S. commercial airline using synthetic fuel made from natural gas."

Accomplishments of United Continental Holdings include:
"- The company improved fuel efficiency by more than 32 percent since 1994 by investing in a modern, fuel-efficient fleet and by streamlining its operating procedures. New fuel-efficient aircraft on order, 132 in total for delivery through 2019, include 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 25 Airbus 350s, which are 20 percent more fuel efficient than the older aircraft they will replace. United continues to modify existing aircraft with winglets, improving fuel efficiency by up to five percent.
- United and Continental operate more than 3,600 alternatively fueled or zero-emission ground service equipment vehicles.
- Whenever possible, pilots use innovative flight processes such as continuous descent or tailored arrivals, use only one engine while taxiing and ground power instead of aircraft engines when at the gate, and the airline often uses ground equipment instead of aircraft engines to move aircraft from gate to gate.
- During the last five years the company recycled more than 20 million pounds of aluminum cans, plastic and paper items from waste generated in-flight and in our facilities.
- Advancements in technology, such as paperless flight decks with iPads for pilots and paperless boarding with mobile devices for customers, further reduce environmental impact."

Find the original article here with more information: http://www.traveldailynews.com/pages/show_page/46197?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=show_page/46197&utm_campaign=TravelDailyMainTitle

President Obama Targets Travel and other Areas for Budget Cuts

President Obama is continuing to try to find ways around the refusal of Congress to pass his $447 billion Jobs Plan. His latest effort targets cutting government agencies' spending in areas like travel, vehicle purchases, printing costs (by making things available electronically), unused or under-utilized electronics like laptops and phones, and promotional items like coffee mugs and gadgets.

The executive order urges agencies to utilize teleconferences and videoconferences so as to cut back on the amount of spending that goes into training/ conference/ meeting related travel- something that could have a substantial impact on the meeting/ event planning industry.

For an in-depth article, see here: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-signs-order-cut-travel-cellphones-swag-171104060.html

Survey: Best Hotels for Business Travelers

Business travelers: check out this survey, which ranks chain hotels on a number of key criteria as reported by different demographics of travelers. It is definitely worth checking out- especially if you are a road warrior.

http://www.businesstravelnews.com/uploadedFiles/Research/2011hotelSurvey.pdf

America's Cup in San Diego

The sailing competition is going to be underway in San Diego between November 12-20- which conveniently coincides with San Diego's Beer Week, which concludes on November 13, and the San Diego Bay Food and Wine Festival from November 16-20.

The races held in San Diego are a prelude to the America's Cup Finals, which will be held in San Francisco.

Private Jet Travel Demand Sees Increase

After three years of decreased demand for private jet travel, things are starting to look up for service providers as 12% of the wealthiest Americans (those with a net worth of $5 million or more) say they plan on using private jets for travel in 2012- significantly up from 9% in 2010.

The majority of clients that utilize private jets are actually corporate travelers- a base that has continued to grow due to the lowering cost of private jets and the vastly decreased hassle that goes along with it. Corporate travelers, especially when the bill can be charged to an expense account, are drawn to the allure of private jets because it eliminates the loss of time wasted spent haggling with the TSA at busy airports.

For a detailed (and very informative) discussion of this topic, see this article: http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/08/pf/private_jet/index.htm?hpt=tr_c2

Commerical Flights to Resume Between the USA and Cuba

Marazul, a travel agency based in Miami that specializes in travel to Cuba, has partnered with Delta Airlines to restore flights between Havana, Cuba and a selection of U.S. airports as restrictions on travel to Cuba are being eased in the United States.

According to Marazul's website, the direct flight between New York City's JFK International Airport and Havana is scheduled to be restored starting Sunday. In addition, beginning in December Marazul will provide flights from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport that operate weekly.

Tickets must be round-trip and can only be purchased directly from Marazul travel. The chartered flights feature a Boeing 737 operated by crews from Delta.

Not anyone can make the trip, however. Marazul's website states that only passengers that have been duly authorized by the U.S. government to travel to Cuba (including, but not exclusively, those with close relatives in Cuba, official business travelers, professionals, students, and other potential travelers authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control) may do so.

According to CNN, "in September of 2009, OFAC announced it would ease existing restrictions on travel to Cuba, citing President Barack Obama's initiative announced the same year to 'reach out to the Cuban people in support of their desire to freely determine their country.'"

The story from CNN can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/06/travel/new-york-cuba-flights/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

Airline Rankings: Best and Worst for Flight Delays

With the overall percentage of flights arriving on time at a dismal 78.6 percent, choosing an airline with reliable service is becoming even more essential for travelers. Here are the best and worst airlines for arriving on schedule.

5 WORST:

1. Jet Blue, 72%
2. Comair, 74.6%
3. Atlantic Southeast, 75.2%
4. American Eagle, 75.5%
5. ExpressJet, 76%

5 BEST:

1. Hawaiian, 92.7% (the leader for the past three years)
2. Alaska, 86.9%
3. United, 83.8%
4. AirTran, 83.5%
5. Mesa. 83.4%

For a more detailed description of the study, see this: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/best-and-worst-airlines-for-delays/1

World's Busiest Airports

Information cited as released by Airports Council International (ACI)
Numbers quoted as passengers per year

International Travelers:

1. London (Heathrow), United Kingdom: 60.9 million
2. Paris, France: 53.15 million
3. Hong Kong: 49.77 million
4. Dubai, UAE: 46.31 million
5. Frankfurt, Germany: 46.3 million
6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 45.13 million
7. Singapore: 40.92 million
8. Incheon, South Korea: 32.94 million
9. Tokyo (Narita), Japan: 32.16 million
10. Bangkok, Thailand: 31.41 million

Total Travelers (International and Domestic):

1. Atlanta, USA: 89.33 million
2. Beijing, China: 73.94 million
3. Chicago, USA: 66.77 million
4. London (Heathrow), UK: 65.88 million
5. Tokyo (Haneda), Japan: 64.21 million
6. Los Angeles, USA: 59.07 million
7. Paris, France: 58.16 million
8. Dallas, USA: 56.9 million
9. Frankfurt, Germany: 53 million
10. Denver, USA: 52.2 million

Fastest Growth (with at Least 5 Million Travelers):

1. Istanbul, Turkey
2. Campinas, Brazil
3. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4. Charleroi, Belgium
5. Moscow (Sheremetyevo), Russia
6. Belo Horizonte, Brazil
7. Bogota, Colombia
8. Phuket, Thailand
9. Shanghai, China
10. Muscat, Oman

What to do if you are bumped from a flight

Here is a helpful article written by George Hobica: http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/04/travel/flight-bumping-tips/index.html?hpt=tr_c2

A few highlights:

Passengers can now collect up to $1,300 for being bumped from a domestic flight if they arrive at their destination more than two hours later than scheduled, under Department of Transportation rules revised earlier this year. (The previous maximum was $800.) Passengers can also get as much as $650 (up from $400) if they get to their destination within one to two hours of the scheduled time according to the new rule.

Elite tier members of an airline's frequent flier program are typically less likely to be bumped. You should also know that the folks in the cheap seats have lower priority on some airlines than the ones who paid full fare. So if you're a very frequent flier at the highest tier of your airline's program and/or paid a full fare (or are a business or first class passenger) you're more likely to get on board than the poor chap who paid next to nothing for his coach ticket.

If the airline won't issue you a seat assignment when you buy your ticket, that's a red flag and you might want to choose another flight or carrier.

Passengers should insist on a check instead of a travel voucher (a free round-trip flight, for example), which many airlines typically offer, because vouchers come with restrictions and can be difficult to redeem (you sometimes can only cash them in at the airport).

If your ticket does not show a fare (for example, a frequent-flier award ticket or a ticket issued by a consolidator), your denied boarding compensation is based on the lowest cash, check or credit card payment charged for a ticket in the same class of service (e.g., coach, first class) on that flight.

If you're bumped but arrive at your destination within an hour of the original time, there's no compensation owed.

Often, a seat may open up at the last minute if someone does not board. Also, it's usually only the gate agent at the airport who can handle the booking for the next flight and issue compensation. Calling the airline's toll-free number will not get you anywhere. If the gate agent instructs you to go to a customer service counter to be rebooked and/or receive compensation, then you can try calling the 1-800 number for assistance, but compensation is almost always issued at the airport by the agent who handled the flight.

Avoid peak travel days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday are best) and seasons (the day before Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday periods are notorious for being bump-prone) when planes tend to be jammed full.

Of course, the easiest thing you can do is book way ahead and arrive early. Way early. Don't buy a ticket if there are no assigned seats available. And be loyal: attain some status in your airline's frequent flier program and you're less likely to be ill-treated.

Best Fried Chicken in America!

From Yahoo and Food & Wine:

Two Sisters Kitchen; Jackson, MS
Pies-N-Thighs; Brooklyn, NY
Momofuku Noodle Bar; New York, NY
Harold's Chicken Shack; Chicago, IL
Central Michel Richard; Washington, DC
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles; Los Angeles, CA
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack; Nashville, TN
Mama Dip's Kitchen; Chapel Hill, NC
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill; Las Vegas, NV
Pine State Biscuits; Portland, OR

I am going to have to add a personal favorite to the list- The Hitching Post in Washington, DC (and, no, not the same Hitching Post from Sideways).

Original post with pictures and descriptions: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-40863020;_ylt=AtuISMuh3YyRt5jeHKL0_VKhpYMA