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Category: Travel

American Airlines to Charge for Blankets and Pillows

American Airlines will now charge $8 for a blanket and pillow on domestic flights lasting longer than two hours. USA Today reports:
Beginning May 1, coach passengers on American's domestic flights that last more than two hours, as well as those on flights to Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, will have to pay $8 for a blanket and inflatable neck pillow. The airline will throw in a $10 off coupon for purchases of more than $30 at Bed Bath & Beyond stores.

*****

On domestic flights of less than two hours, coach passengers won't have access to blankets at all. Premium-class passengers on all American flights and coach passengers on longer international flights will continue to get free blankets and pillows. "Everything we do is evaluated in terms of what's best economically for the company while still providing services customers want," says American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely.

"I don't think it's an unreasonable fee," says Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst at Forrester Research. "It gives the passenger some control. If they want a blanket they can pay extra for it; if not, they didn't pay for it as part of their fare."

Airlines are scrambling to find new and larger sources of "ancillary" revenue -- money paid for services or items other than a seat. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation expects airlines globally to take in $58 billion in ancillary revenue this year -- 12% of their total expected revenue.
Air travel gets more obnoxious each month it seems. Filthy planes, poor air circulation, no leg room, delayed flights, lost luggage and security delays have turned air travel into something miserable. Charging for a germ-filled blanket is just adding insult to injury.

Posted on February 9, 2010
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Boeing's Largest 747 Plane Takes First Test Flight

Boeing 747-8


Businessweek reports that Boeing's largest ever 747, the 747-8, took its very first test flight today.
"People are really excited about this," Brian Johnson, deputy test program manager for the 747-8, said before the jet's flight today. "It's been a long haul to get these two planes up in the air."

The 747-8 jumbo jet has Boeing's longest commercial wing, supporting a stretched fuselage that will have 16 percent more room in the freighter model, which is the variant that flew today and will be the first delivered. The passenger version can accommodate 51 extra seats and 26 percent more cargo volume.
The AP says the jumbojet measures 250 feet long, which is 18 feet longer than current jumbo 747s. Take a look:



You can learn more about the new airplane here on Boeing's newairplane.com website.

Image: Boeing

Posted on February 8, 2010
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Observation Deck Closes Temporarily on Burj Khalifa Tower

Burj Khalifa Tower


The BBC reports that the observation deck on the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building has been closed for repairs. The building opened to fireworks just a month ago. The BBC says the tower's builder, Emaar Properties, gives an "unexpectedly high number of visitors" and power supply problems for closing down the tower's observation deck.

The tower's website explains what the observation deck experience is like.
Begin your vertical ascent to the observation deck in a high-speed elevator, travelling at 10 metres per second. As the doors open, floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. By night, sparkling lights and stars compete for your attention.

Special telescopes provide virtual time-travel visions of the scenes beyond and below. You'll see close-up real-time views as well as the past and the future, by day and by night. You can also walk the entire perimeter for the most comprehensive views. If you wish, adventure outside onto the open-air terrace to enjoy another perspective of the sweeping views below.
Tickets cost $30 if purchased in advance or $100 if purchased at the tower. A date for the reopening of the observation deck has not been given.

Posted on February 8, 2010
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Super Bowl Ads: HomeAway's Hotel Hell Vacation Trailer

Griswolds in Tiny Napoleon Hotel Room


HomeAways' Hotel Hell Vacation trailer, shown during Super Bowl XLIV, was very funny. The trailer was true to the Griswolds as we remember them from the Vacation movies. Clark and Ellen Griswold find themselves in an awful hotel that is not as advertised. You can see more videos from the series on HomeAways' website. Here is the trailer:



Posted on February 7, 2010
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13 Million Cranberries Used to Make Winter Olympics Display

Cranberries Winter Olympics


13 million cranberries were used to make an enormous depiction of the Canadian Olympic Committee's logo at the 2010 Winter Olympics. The 13 million cranberries will float within a 46,000 square foot parameter in front of the Richmond Olympic Oval, home of the 2010 speed skating competitions. The cranberries will float throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The tribute celebrates Richmond's top agricultural crop and honors the Winter Games.

Richmond is an official Venue City of the Games, and is Canada's largest producer of cranberries. It has more than 60 family-owned farms, the majority of which are part of the Ocean Spray Cooperative.

"The cranberry grower-owners in Richmond are thrilled to help create a magnificent display that shows our pride as a Venue City for the 2010 Olympic Games and celebrates this thriving industry in our city," said cranberry grower Todd May. "Our family has been growing cranberries in Richmond for four generations, and we're proud to continue the tradition of providing a versatile fruit that's good for you and is enjoyed all over the world."



Cranberries Winter Olympics


Posted on February 7, 2010
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Luxury Aircruise Concept Slowly Floats You From London to New York

Seymour Aircruise Flying Luxury Hotel


London-based design and innovation company Seymourpowell has come up with the Aircruise, a floating hydrogen gas powered luxury hotel. The Aircruise concept features penthouse apartments and bars and glass viewing floors. The Aircruise would take about 100 passengers on a leisurely 37 hour flight from London to New York. Here is a video of what the Aircruise will be like if it becomes reality. Take a look:



The Aircruise will not be witout competition. Popular Science has a story about another flying luxury hotel called the Aeroscraft that could carry up to 250 people.

Posted on February 7, 2010
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Snowmageddon: Monster Snowstorm Whallops the Mid-Atlantic

President Obama has dubbed the monster snowstorm that hit the Mid-Atlantic as Snowmageddon. The mayor of Washington DC wants residents to stay home so the city can clear the streets. The mayors says the goal is to get the city back up and running in time for business on Monday. However, that may not be easy as 20 to 30 inches of snow has fallen in many areas. Take a look:



Some buildings, including a small church, have collapsed because of the weight of all the snow.



Posted on February 6, 2010
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Video: Wizarding World of Harry Potter Super Bowl Ad

Wizarding World of Harry Potter


Here is the official commercial for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter that will air during the Super Bowl on Sunday. Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a theme park based on the Harry Potter universe. You can read more about the theme park here. The park will official open in late Spring 2010 at the Universal Orlando Resort. Take a look:



(via Attractions Magazine)

Posted on February 5, 2010
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Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety Warns on Airbort Body Scans

Backscatter SmallBloomberg reports that the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety is warning that the public should be informed that people will receive a dose of radiation from the new Backscatter x-ray body scanning technology. The Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety also says pregnant women and children should not be subject scanning.
Pregnant women and children should not be subject to scanning, even though the radiation dose from body scanners is "extremely small," said the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiation Safety report, which is restricted to the agencies concerned and not meant for public circulation. The group includes the European Commission, International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Energy Agency and the World Health Organization.

A more accurate assessment about the health risks of the screening won’t be possible until governments decide whether all passengers will be systematically scanned or randomly selected, the report said. Governments must justify the additional risk posed to passengers, and should consider "other techniques to achieve the same end without the use of ionizing radiation."
The government may try to pass off the new scanners as safe but there is no question that radiation is cumulative and dangerous. According to Bloomberg, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that frequent exposure to low doses of radiation can lead to cancer and birth defects.

Posted on February 5, 2010
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Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai Reopens Three Restaurants

Wasabi by Morimoto Taj Mahal


The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai continues to recovery from the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008. Three of the five star luxury hotel's restaurants reopened at the end of last month. They include the Wasabi by Morimoto, Harbour Bar and the Golden Dragon.

The Wasabi restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine. The old menu has been retained and 14 new dishes have been added, including new kinds of sushi, salads, cold dishes and an authentic Japanese Curry. The restaurant has also introduced 12 new varieties of Japanese rice wine.

The new menu at the Golden Dragon includes 20 different kinds of Dimsums.
The Dimsum with Caviar, will entice even the most reluctant palate, while the Dimsum with soup, can actually be drunk with a straw first! The Peking duck gently cooking in the open kitchen oven will tempt the guest with its aromas. Six grain noodles, cumin lamb, steamed sea bass in chilly mustard sauce are some of the other additions to the menu.

A true Sichuan meal is always accompanied with tea that is perfectly paired with the foods. The Golden Dragon offers around 8 different varieties of the teas in the menu. To make the meal truly exclusive the Golden Dragon will serves its meals in Narumi crockery, with gold brush strokes and will encourage guests to use delicate ivory and wooden chopsticks with hints of embedded oyster shell.
A photograph of the Wasabi restaurant is pictured above and a photo of a table at the Golden Dragon restaurant is pictured below. It is good to see the restaurants are back up and running following the 2008 attacks.

Golden Dragon Restaurant Taj Mahal Hotel


Posted on January 30, 2010
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London's Regent Street Popular With Shoppers

CNN reports that Regent Street has become one of the most distinctive streets for shopping in London. The street was built specifically for shopping when it was constructed in the 1800s. The street includes the first flagship Apple store opened in Europe Other stores include Bose, Ferrari, Anthropologie, Hamley's, National Geographic and more. Take a look:



Posted on January 28, 2010
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Peter Greenberg Talks Travel Safety Following Antigua Tourist Murder

An American woman was recently found dead in Antigua. She was a tourist who had been aboard a cruise ship. Her murder is one of several murders of tourists in Antigua during past couple years. Travel expert Peter Greenberg talked to Maggie Rodriguez about the murder and offered some tips for vacationing safely. Greenberg says murders are not that common but assaults and rapes are. Greenberg advises men and women not to travel alone at night. He also says to avoid carrying large purses with straps or handles. Take a look:



Posted on January 27, 2010
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Porsche Museum Celebrating Its One Year Anniversary

Porsche Museum


The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany is celebrating its first anniversary. The Porsche Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time on January 31, 2009. Since the opening over 530,000 visitors from all across the world have visited the museum. tallied by the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart just a year after its opening. The building is host to some 80 of the brand's most famous sports and race cars, numerous small exhibits, as well as little-known prototypes from the company's 60-year history.

Porsche Museum Cars


Photo: Porsche

Posted on January 27, 2010
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Air New Zealand Offers Sky Couches

Air New Zealand has introduced new economy seats that contain a lie-down sofa feature. The seats, called the sky couch, can be used by couples and by individuals. It does look like it would be comfortable and nice for really long flights. Take a look:



Posted on January 27, 2010
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New Legoland Being Built in Central Florida

LegolandThe Miami Herald is reporting that Merlin Entertainments Group is building a Legoland park in Central Florida. The shuttered Cypress Gardens theme park and botanical garden will undergo a makeover to become the new Legoland.
With up to 50 new rides, shows and attractions, it will be the biggest of five Legolands worldwide. The park is packaged to entice parents and kids 2 to 12 years old to spend a day immersed in a world that revolves around plastic Lego bricks, one of the world's most popular toys.

The plans include reopening the historic botanical garden that founders Dick and Julie Pope carved out of a cypress swamp in 1936 and fashioned into what was claimed to be Florida's first theme park. The once-famous water ski shows could return in the form of a Lego-themed stunt show, and the park will get its own studio with a full-time staff of Lego model artists. Cypress Gardens' leftover midway thrill rides and one or both of its wooden roller coasters will be sold.
The Legoland location in Carlsbad, California reportedly gets 2 million visitors a year. Legoland also has locations in Denmark, Germany and the UK. Playthings says the Legoland in Central Florida will be the second biggest Legoland in the world when it opens in 2011.

Posted on January 25, 2010
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