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Author Topic: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread  (Read 197936 times)

WarriorFan

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #75 on: March 27, 2018, 06:37:18 PM »
Favorite HKG story:
I was stuck in Palembang Indonesia during 9/11.  Actually was sick and in hospital before 9/11 but that's a different story (don't eat road-side tempe).  Asian flights were not stopped, so on 9/13 I got to Jakarta and to HKG trying to get home to UK where I was living at the time.  In HKG I realized the severity of the overall situation when, upon landing, I saw that one complete runway was closed and was being used for aircraft parking.  There must have been 100 x 747s and everything else you can imagine, wing to wing, on the whole runway, taxi-way, and every available hard stand.  At that point I realized I might best just go into the city and find a hotel and wait it out.  Went to my (at the time) favorite Sheraton Towers in Kowloon.  Jogged the avenue of the stars every morning and drinks on the top floor with island view every evening, and the rest of the time watching BBC and CNN and talking with other travelers trying to figure out how to get home.  It was a very nervous time but the memories are etched forever. 

Lots of drunken Hong Kong 7's stories as well... but not for today. 
"The meaning of life isn't gnashing our bicuspids over what comes after death but tasting the tiny moments that come before it."

Goose

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #76 on: March 27, 2018, 06:45:14 PM »
Warrior fan

Great HK story. Not a bad place to be stuck for a week. I was in my to Chicago to catch a flight to HK on 9/11. I think your story sounds like a far better experience.

Dr. Blackheart

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #77 on: March 27, 2018, 09:32:52 PM »
Favorite Hong Kong story was from the old airport on a 747, pre-handover.  A major typhoon was approaching and our United flight was literally the last plane left.  The airlines wanted all equipment out.

They announced at the gate we are going.  Get on at your own risk but we advise you don't. It was an all glass Terminal on the pre-landfill runway but we all went.  They didn't even take tickets.  As soon as we were seated, the pilot said "strap them on"and took off straight up like the space shuttle and flew over the monsoon the hell out of there.

Hard to top that.  I think the cocktails were free flowing for the 20 of us on the entire plane.  Pretty sure there was a sonic boom.

DegenerateDish

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #78 on: March 31, 2018, 12:00:27 PM »
Staying at the JW in San Antonio (highly recommend) and my wife ordered some lunch at the pool. Bill came and I told the young twenty something waitress that we’re guests of the Underhills. Needless to say she didn’t pick up the reference.

Benny B

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #79 on: April 01, 2018, 11:12:35 PM »
Staying at the JW in San Antonio (highly recommend) and my wife ordered some lunch at the pool. Bill came and I told the young twenty something waitress that we’re guests of the Underhills. Needless to say she didn’t pick up the reference.

There’s this term called “operator error” that everyone should learn and understand.  The simplest of which is don’t give an input to which the expected response is a 404 or BSD.
Wow, I'm very concerned for Benny.  Being able to mimic Myron Medcalf's writing so closely implies an oncoming case of dementia.

Herman Cain

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #80 on: April 02, 2018, 06:46:28 PM »
I just bought a piece of luggage .. the $120 model will do just fine.  Serious q, Briggs & Riley seems to be $300-600.  What makes it 3x better?
Lifetime Guarantee and it holds more on the inside because the handle is on the outside . I got one after Delta ruined a great Tumi I had for many years . I recommend the Briggs.
Winning is overrated. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war.
                       ---Al McGuire

dgies9156

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #81 on: April 05, 2018, 09:43:57 PM »
Lifetime Guarantee and it holds more on the inside because the handle is on the outside . I got one after Delta ruined a great Tumi I had for many years . I recommend the Briggs.

I have had Hartman for years. I go nowhere without it.

Today I have my Hartman road warrior. I began calling it that because it has been rebuilt at least twice and is so scuffed up, it looks like it has been with me for all the miles I've ever flown.

Best buy in the world for Hartman is Lebanon, Tennessee. It's about a half hour east of Metro Airport in Nashville and is Hartman's factory store. Great luggage. Reasonable prices.

jsglow

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #82 on: April 06, 2018, 07:43:53 AM »
I have had Hartman for years. I go nowhere without it.

Today I have my Hartman road warrior. I began calling it that because it has been rebuilt at least twice and is so scuffed up, it looks like it has been with me for all the miles I've ever flown.

Best buy in the world for Hartman is Lebanon, Tennessee. It's about a half hour east of Metro Airport in Nashville and is Hartman's factory store. Great luggage. Reasonable prices.

Making a note for a future trip down.

Dr. Blackheart

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #83 on: April 06, 2018, 08:05:53 AM »
Making a note for a future trip down.

There is also an outlet store in Aurora.

jsglow

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #84 on: April 06, 2018, 09:39:29 AM »
There is also an outlet store in Aurora.

I need to get out more!   :)

Benny B

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #85 on: April 06, 2018, 09:55:12 AM »
To me, no amount of travel justifies spending more than a couple hundred on luggage, especially if travelling internationally... luggage should be the perfect balance between durable and disposable.

Case in point: The reimbursement limit for lost baggage is $3,300 domestically.  That includes your luggage, everything that was inside of it, and anything you may need to purchase to make up for the lost items.  If you travel often, chances are you have a nice suit or a few nice outfits in your bag, maybe a couple nice pairs of shoes, etc... if your baggage is lost going to a business meeting or presentation, $3,300 may be enough of a cushion to get you a new suit and a pair of shoes on short notice and still get your luggage reimbursed; however, internationally, the limit is around $1,700.

Another benefit: I'm only on my second set of bags over 13+ years of business travel.  I check bags, at most, on 20% of the flights I take, and it was only two years ago that I had a wheel broken off my large roller case (sheered or torn off may be more accurate).  In any event, I had a reimbursement check from AAL within 30 days for the full replacement cost (depreciation be damned), and I put that towards a brand new set of bags.  So as long as nothing is lost, damaged bags can be the gift that keeps on giving if you play your cards right.
Wow, I'm very concerned for Benny.  Being able to mimic Myron Medcalf's writing so closely implies an oncoming case of dementia.

GoldenEagles1990

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #86 on: April 06, 2018, 01:27:41 PM »
I have a 5 hour layover in Amsterdam next month. I have heard it from many people, and have seen it a couple times on this list, but what makes this airport so great?

MU Fan in Connecticut

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #87 on: April 06, 2018, 03:44:59 PM »
It has a casino in the airport.  It is very clean and very well organized and laid-out.  Lots of shops.
That's my experience. 
I'll be passing through Schipol-Amsterdam next weekend myself en route to Dusseldorf.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2018, 07:57:42 AM by MU Fan in Connecticut »

reinko

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #88 on: April 06, 2018, 05:28:30 PM »
It has a casino in the airport.  It is very clean and very well organized and laid-out.  Lots of shops.
That's my experience. 
I'll be passing through Schipol-Amsterdam next weekend myself.

I can't believe casinos haven't made their way into more airports (sans free alcohol).  It would be like printing money.

Not too mention, throw some small seat movie theaters in airports too.  Upon entry you get a little pager or something where you input your flight info and it pages you 15 min before boarding. 

DegenerateDish

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #89 on: April 06, 2018, 09:37:01 PM »
I can't believe casinos haven't made their way into more airports (sans free alcohol).  It would be like printing money.

Not too mention, throw some small seat movie theaters in airports too.  Upon entry you get a little pager or something where you input your flight info and it pages you 15 min before boarding.

It amazes me too that airports haven’t figured out how to do a better job of maximizing revenue, especially hubs that are more likely to have delays. I sat at United Club at DFW two weeks ago for 6 hours waiting out weather. I honestly said to myself if there was a blackjack table, I’d have gone and killed at least half an hour. I remember the old PGA Tour stores at airports (I think McCarran still has one actually), and I used to go putt there to kill time.

Imagine a Top Golf at Hartsfield, Bush, or LAX? Place would be a goldmine.

Juan Anderson's Mixtape

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #90 on: April 07, 2018, 07:31:02 PM »
Staying at the JW in San Antonio (highly recommend) and my wife ordered some lunch at the pool. Bill came and I told the young twenty something waitress that we’re guests of the Underhills. Needless to say she didn’t pick up the reference.

Loved the JW when we stayed there a few years ago. Very good food at the onsite restaurants, huge outdoor pools, water park, and great staff.

GooooMarquette

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #91 on: April 07, 2018, 10:28:23 PM »
I have a 5 hour layover in Amsterdam next month. I have heard it from many people, and have seen it a couple times on this list, but what makes this airport so great?

I believe the casino is closed, there is a small museum that carries rotating exhibits of the Dutch masters and a lot of good duty free shopping.

https://www.amsterdam.info/airport-museum/

WarriorFan

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #92 on: April 08, 2018, 10:32:30 AM »
I have a 5 hour layover in Amsterdam next month. I have heard it from many people, and have seen it a couple times on this list, but what makes this airport so great?
Everything works, relatively few delays for a European airport (the Germans and French go on strike every other week, the Brits have no clue), the transit walks aren't too long and it's reasonably well signed (except for non-schengen to schengen, which can catch you if you're not careful).  Good restaurants, decent lounges if you are so entitled and quite clean. 
"The meaning of life isn't gnashing our bicuspids over what comes after death but tasting the tiny moments that come before it."

jesmu84

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #93 on: April 15, 2018, 10:18:19 PM »
So.. I wouldn't let any of my friends or family fly allegiant after reading this. I knew nothing of the company prior to reading.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/allegiant-air-the-budget-airline-flying-under-the-radar/

FAA switching from enforcement to compliance also seems like a move that may be bad for citizens

DegenerateDish

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #94 on: April 15, 2018, 11:12:42 PM »
Marriott/SPG program update coming Monday. Don’t know if this is going to be good or bad.

Goose

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #95 on: April 16, 2018, 04:55:44 AM »
Hope the Marriott news is good news. Getting screwed for $400usd for a room that is normally $150 tonight. I have no problem with it because I booked on short notice and knew Canton Fair was going on, but only because I like Marriott. Would be disappointed if they have bad news and I jump ship to another group. Have five good years invested in Marriott and do not want to start over.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2018, 05:13:21 AM by Goose »

rocket surgeon

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #96 on: April 16, 2018, 05:30:10 AM »
So.. I wouldn't let any of my friends or family fly allegiant after reading this. I knew nothing of the company prior to reading.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/allegiant-air-the-budget-airline-flying-under-the-radar/

FAA switching from enforcement to compliance also seems like a move that may be bad for citizens

Had a double segment on 60 minutes last night.  Made the old jokes about flying with crates of animals in back and a pilot with goggles, scarf and no teeth sound pretty good
don't...don't don't don't don't

jsglow

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #97 on: April 16, 2018, 07:00:56 AM »
So.. I wouldn't let any of my friends or family fly allegiant after reading this. I knew nothing of the company prior to reading.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/allegiant-air-the-budget-airline-flying-under-the-radar/

FAA switching from enforcement to compliance also seems like a move that may be bad for citizens

The 60 Minutes report was unbelievable.  Now I'm always on the lookout for shaded journalism but I was convinced the story was 'straight up'.  I mean, 300% above the average on industry wide mechanical failures?  I'd be going nuts as a CEO if we were 15% above the average.  What was it, 25 freakin' engine failures when the expert indicated most pilots never experience even one in their career?  Or how 'bout the cotter pin coming out of the primary flight control as one barreled down the runway at LAS?  That pilot had to slam the breaks and stop just short of The Strip or he might have put her through my bedroom window shortly after takeoff.  Um, no thanks.

And all through the segment I'm thinking 'What the hell was that defunct BS airline that dumped one in the Everglades?'  And there it was right at the end of the segment.  Effin' Valuejet.  That's exactly where the CEO came from. 

I'd never step foot on an Allegiant aircraft and hope that 60 Minutes just buried their business.  Before innocent people die would be nice.
« Last Edit: April 16, 2018, 07:05:47 AM by jsglow »

dgies9156

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #98 on: April 16, 2018, 08:43:26 AM »
Never flown  Allegiant and never will. I hate rock-bottom airlines. This is what happens when costs are the prevailing reason why a company exists.

Conversely, I fly United for a reason. While I have seen some maintenance problems on United jets from time to time, none were "mission critical." In all my years of flying, I have three aborted landings, all due to air traffic control errors, one aborted take-off and one "near miss" by taking advantage of a scheduling glitch and missing a plane that crashed. Again, air traffic control errors.

What the 60 Minutes  report did not address is the "outsourcing" of maintenance and the fact that if a plane breaks down away from the maintenance base, the "local" airline will fix it at the local airline's prevailing costs. Which means that if AAR's maintenance base is in Kansas City and a plane breaks down in Houston, they probably have to pay someone else in Houston who has experience with the MD-80. That gets expensive.

They never touched on who AAR is and whether it was AAR or Allegiant who had the problems. If it is the former, shouldn't Allegiant find a new maintenance provider?

Other airlines do this all the time and maintenance often is done in places like Lake City, FL, Duluth etc. But they also have big in-house maintenance operations and parts inventories around the United States.

Secondly, other airlines fly the MD-80 and its derivatives. Delta and American both have substantial fleets of MD-80s still (though American's is quickly on the way out and Delta's will be gone when it starts getting the CS-100). What separates American and Delta from Allegiant? Probably in-house maintenance and an acknowledgment these planes are old. There's nothing wrong with old planes -- just like there is nothing wrong with old cars. The key is maintenance. You have to know older planes require more frequent maintenance and if you provide it, the planes are fine.

Delta was flying up until about four years ago, DC-9-50 models purchased by North Central Airlines that I swear I flew on in high school and college. The model 50s were purchased in the early 1970s.

I knew it was a North Central jet because the registration was N---NC. Plus, the cockpit was turquoise in color.

I doubt Delta had the kind of aborted take-offs, inflight problems and other issues Allegiant/ValueJet had. Delta and Northwest maintain their airplanes!

jsglow

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Re: Scoop Airport/Hotel/Travel Thread
« Reply #99 on: April 16, 2018, 09:15:38 AM »
Never flown  Allegiant and never will. I hate rock-bottom airlines. This is what happens when costs are the prevailing reason why a company exists.

Conversely, I fly United for a reason. While I have seen some maintenance problems on United jets from time to time, none were "mission critical." In all my years of flying, I have three aborted landings, all due to air traffic control errors, one aborted take-off and one "near miss" by taking advantage of a scheduling glitch and missing a plane that crashed. Again, air traffic control errors.

What the 60 Minutes  report did not address is the "outsourcing" of maintenance and the fact that if a plane breaks down away from the maintenance base, the "local" airline will fix it at the local airline's prevailing costs. Which means that if AAR's maintenance base is in Kansas City and a plane breaks down in Houston, they probably have to pay someone else in Houston who has experience with the MD-80. That gets expensive.

They never touched on who AAR is and whether it was AAR or Allegiant who had the problems. If it is the former, shouldn't Allegiant find a new maintenance provider?

Other airlines do this all the time and maintenance often is done in places like Lake City, FL, Duluth etc. But they also have big in-house maintenance operations and parts inventories around the United States.

Secondly, other airlines fly the MD-80 and its derivatives. Delta and American both have substantial fleets of MD-80s still (though American's is quickly on the way out and Delta's will be gone when it starts getting the CS-100). What separates American and Delta from Allegiant? Probably in-house maintenance and an acknowledgment these planes are old. There's nothing wrong with old planes -- just like there is nothing wrong with old cars. The key is maintenance. You have to know older planes require more frequent maintenance and if you provide it, the planes are fine.

Delta was flying up until about four years ago, DC-9-50 models purchased by North Central Airlines that I swear I flew on in high school and college. The model 50s were purchased in the early 1970s.

I knew it was a North Central jet because the registration was N---NC. Plus, the cockpit was turquoise in color.

I doubt Delta had the kind of aborted take-offs, inflight problems and other issues Allegiant/ValueJet had. Delta and Northwest maintain their airplanes!

Exactly.  Everyone is for saving costs and I will be the first to acknowledge that some carriers may have found a newer and perhaps more efficient ways to skin the people mover cat for some routes (thinking alternate business models ranging from Jet Blue to SWA to Spirit) but have not heard any of those guys failing to properly maintain their planes. 

That was truly frightening last night.  We had occasionally looked at RFD-LAS as an alternative for our commute.  Not anymore.  I harken back to Hooters Airline.  Um, I don't think so.  Chicken wings and short shorts boys.  Leave it at that, mkay.