Comments for TravelCommons http://travelcommons.com Travel Podcast -- The Voice of the Traveler Wed, 02 May 2012 05:25:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on American Airlines Reaches Out to Apologize… Again and Again by Pierre http://travelcommons.com/2012/05/01/american-airlines-reaches-out-to-apologize-again-and-again/#comment-516 Pierre Wed, 02 May 2012 05:25:09 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=949#comment-516 Saw your post via a friend's share on FB, and I figured I'd add my 2 cents. AA has been on my sh!t list ever since they wasted one of my vacation days several years ago. Instead of getting me to Costa Rica, they got me to LAX 4 hours late and their connecting flight was already gone. There were 20 other people going to Costa Rica on the same flight from SF -- they all lost a day as well. AA's reaction? Blame it on the weather (it wasn't the cause), then deny any responsibility, then back down and reimburse everyone for a hotel. They are *by far* the worst airline in the world. They can't go under fast enough, IMHO, and I won't shed a tear for their demise. I've flown hundreds of thousands of miles on AA, but I feel no attachment to that crap company and their crap employees. :evil: Saw your post via a friend’s share on FB, and I figured I’d add my 2 cents. AA has been on my sh!t list ever since they wasted one of my vacation days several years ago. Instead of getting me to Costa Rica, they got me to LAX 4 hours late and their connecting flight was already gone. There were 20 other people going to Costa Rica on the same flight from SF — they all lost a day as well. AA’s reaction? Blame it on the weather (it wasn’t the cause), then deny any responsibility, then back down and reimburse everyone for a hotel.

They are *by far* the worst airline in the world. They can’t go under fast enough, IMHO, and I won’t shed a tear for their demise. I’ve flown hundreds of thousands of miles on AA, but I feel no attachment to that crap company and their crap employees. :evil:

]]> Comment on American Airlines Reaches Out to Apologize… Again and Again by lori Humm http://travelcommons.com/2012/05/01/american-airlines-reaches-out-to-apologize-again-and-again/#comment-515 lori Humm Wed, 02 May 2012 02:22:59 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=949#comment-515 Mark - you need to give Delta a try. I know the ORD hub is your issue, but I can't say enough about how well they treat elites. I was seated in coach for the first time in forever having not gotten an upgrade, and before we took off the first class attendant came back and found all the platinum and diamond elites and took drink orders for once we were in flight. I never experience the equipment issues you do, but I do do ATL gate dance once in a while (gate A1, no! B12! No! B 24!) but overall they do a fantastic job w customer service. Almost all of the things you talk about I think to myself, nope, not on Delta. In general, they done a good job of automating so much and yes - you can change your seat after you check in. You can even check your upgrade status on a smart phone and track your luggage. Someone's doing it right. I hope other listeners and readers can agree with me! Mark – you need to give Delta a try. I know the ORD hub is your issue, but I can’t say enough about how well they treat elites. I was seated in coach for the first time in forever having not gotten an upgrade, and before we took off the first class attendant came back and found all the platinum and diamond elites and took drink orders for once we were in flight.

I never experience the equipment issues you do, but I do do ATL gate dance once in a while (gate A1, no! B12! No! B 24!) but overall they do a fantastic job w customer service. Almost all of the things you talk about I think to myself, nope, not on Delta.

In general, they done a good job of automating so much and yes – you can change your seat after you check in. You can even check your upgrade status on a smart phone and track your luggage.

Someone’s doing it right. I hope other listeners and readers can agree with me!

]]> Comment on Best Hotel Amenity? Free Breakfast by Rich http://travelcommons.com/2012/04/21/best-hotel-amenity-free-breakfast/#comment-507 Rich Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:12:56 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=931#comment-507 Nothing stretches your per diem dollar better than the free breakfast. Can't beat it on value, although you have to get quite creative when it comes to those reconstituted eggs. Various combinations of cheese, ham, and hot sauce make them much more palatable. That, some yogurt, a cup of oatmeal and a piece of fruit, and I'm good until lunch without snacking. Just have to avoid the biscuits and gravy at all costs! Nothing stretches your per diem dollar better than the free breakfast. Can’t beat it on value, although you have to get quite creative when it comes to those reconstituted eggs. Various combinations of cheese, ham, and hot sauce make them much more palatable. That, some yogurt, a cup of oatmeal and a piece of fruit, and I’m good until lunch without snacking. Just have to avoid the biscuits and gravy at all costs!

]]> Comment on Best Hotel Amenity? Free Breakfast by Leo Vegoda http://travelcommons.com/2012/04/21/best-hotel-amenity-free-breakfast/#comment-500 Leo Vegoda Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:23:18 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=931#comment-500 I disagree. I would prefer to have good Internet access that I pay for or a good breakfast that I pay for than something free, which will inevitably be of lower quality. After all, on a business trip, sustenance and network access are reasonable business expenses. That being said, I think the best "amenity" I want at a hotel is a fantastic concierge. A superb concierge is much better than a quick search on yelp.com and will help make your stay in a city far more fulfilling. I disagree. I would prefer to have good Internet access that I pay for or a good breakfast that I pay for than something free, which will inevitably be of lower quality. After all, on a business trip, sustenance and network access are reasonable business expenses. That being said, I think the best “amenity” I want at a hotel is a fantastic concierge. A superb concierge is much better than a quick search on yelp.com and will help make your stay in a city far more fulfilling.

]]> Comment on Podcast #96 — Eating and Drinking with Social Media; Frequent Flier Alliances by Podcast #97—1st Trip to Beijing; Important Hotel Technology | TravelCommons http://travelcommons.com/2012/01/05/podcast-96-dining-with-social-media-frequent-flier-alliances/#comment-489 Podcast #97—1st Trip to Beijing; Important Hotel Technology | TravelCommons Sat, 03 Mar 2012 19:38:02 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=880#comment-489 [...] the last episode, I talked about the Jawbone Jambox wireless speaker I got for Christmas.  It got a good bit of use [...] [...] the last episode, I talked about the Jawbone Jambox wireless speaker I got for Christmas.  It got a good bit of use [...]

]]> Comment on Podcast #96 — Eating and Drinking with Social Media; Frequent Flier Alliances by Robert Fenerty http://travelcommons.com/2012/01/05/podcast-96-dining-with-social-media-frequent-flier-alliances/#comment-488 Robert Fenerty Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:24:46 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=880#comment-488 Some Foodspotting photos are minor works of art. Their photos are also nicely integrated into the $10 Fodors app. Fodors reviews are edited and tend to be less extreme than say, Yelp, where so many reviews are either "awesome, 5 stars!" or "The waiter looked at me askance, 1 star." Some Foodspotting photos are minor works of art. Their photos are also nicely integrated into the $10 Fodors app. Fodors reviews are edited and tend to be less extreme than say, Yelp, where so many reviews are either “awesome, 5 stars!” or “The waiter looked at me askance, 1 star.”

]]> Comment on Podcast #96 — Eating and Drinking with Social Media; Frequent Flier Alliances by Frick http://travelcommons.com/2012/01/05/podcast-96-dining-with-social-media-frequent-flier-alliances/#comment-487 Frick Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:40:16 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=880#comment-487 I was back on the road yesterday morning and listened to your latest episode....Already one missed flight and a rental car with no GPS, I hope this isn't a sign for the years travels. I loved Untappd and it is a great way to find out a bit more about the city that I'm staying. Now I seek out different beers instead of the same 5 or 6...plus I like getting awarded badges, I'm not sure if my doctor would agree with that last statement. Keep the podcasts comming... I was back on the road yesterday morning and listened to your latest episode….Already one missed flight and a rental car with no GPS, I hope this isn’t a sign for the years travels.

I loved Untappd and it is a great way to find out a bit more about the city that I’m staying. Now I seek out different beers instead of the same 5 or 6…plus I like getting awarded badges, I’m not sure if my doctor would agree with that last statement.

Keep the podcasts comming…

]]> Comment on Podcast #95 — Holiday Travel Tips; Bad Spirit In The Air by Dan Gradwohl http://travelcommons.com/2011/11/25/podcast-95-holiday-travel-tips-bad-spirit-in-the-air/#comment-486 Dan Gradwohl Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:36:32 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=851#comment-486 Mark, Enjoyed episode 95 today, thanks as always. One thing to note....today, November 30, 2011 was the final revenue flight for the Mesaba Saab 340 fleet....sad to see them gone. Been riding on them for years. Two weeks ago my wife & I took one last Saab ride to DVL & JMS. Also, Horizon's next-gen Dash 8s are Q400s, I think you may have called them Q800s. Keep up the great work, Dan & Sara Gradwohl Mark,

Enjoyed episode 95 today, thanks as always.

One thing to note….today, November 30, 2011 was the final revenue flight for the Mesaba Saab 340 fleet….sad to see them gone. Been riding on them for years. Two weeks ago my wife & I took one last Saab ride to DVL & JMS.

Also, Horizon’s next-gen Dash 8s are Q400s, I think you may have called them Q800s.

Keep up the great work,

Dan & Sara Gradwohl

]]> Comment on Podcast #85 — Importance of Hotel Bathrooms; Maximizing Miles by Podcast #95 — Holiday Travel Tips; Bad Spirit In The Air | TravelCommons http://travelcommons.com/2010/11/30/podcast-85-importance-of-hotel-bathrooms-maximizing-miles/#comment-446 Podcast #95 — Holiday Travel Tips; Bad Spirit In The Air | TravelCommons Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:19:54 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=407#comment-446 [...] really need to fly?  We’ve talked about the fly-vs.-drive breakeven point in a couple of past episodes.  Now driving in the winter isn’t all sweetness and light either – especially across stretches [...] [...] really need to fly?  We’ve talked about the fly-vs.-drive breakeven point in a couple of past episodes.  Now driving in the winter isn’t all sweetness and light either – especially across stretches [...]

]]> Comment on Winter Travel Tips — Things to Remember When The Snow Starts Flying by Podcast #95 — Holiday Travel Tips; Bad Spirit In The Air | TravelCommons http://travelcommons.com/2011/01/16/winter-travel-tips-things-to-remember-when-the-snow-starts-flying/#comment-456 Podcast #95 — Holiday Travel Tips; Bad Spirit In The Air | TravelCommons Mon, 28 Nov 2011 01:17:48 +0000 http://travelcommons.com/?p=500#comment-456 [...] Travel Podcast reminded me that it’s been a couple of years since I’ve done my own holiday travel tips, so here’s my updated Road Warrior 201 tips for traveling between now and the New [...] [...] Travel Podcast reminded me that it’s been a couple of years since I’ve done my own holiday travel tips, so here’s my updated Road Warrior 201 tips for traveling between now and the New [...]

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