Love on an Airplane

I bet you thought there was some "mile high" story here huh?
...not this time.


I came across this photo in a blog today and thought it was cool.
I spend lots of my time on a place, so unique ideas on planes are cool to me.

Air Safety Video: "Nothing to Hide"

FIERCE!

Spirit Crusher Airlines

I love that Spirit (...or SpiritCrusher and Angel and Rusty like to call it.) Airlines has specials that always tie in with current events.

I like this one to the left called the M.I.L.F. sale. M.I.L.F. can stand for MANY ISLANDS LOW FARES or MOTHER I'D LIKE TO FUCK, as it commonly does. Either way, it's one way to get things (...like their airplanes.) going, huh?

My friends and I flew to Guatemala for eight cents on Spirit Air one time. When I found the sale, I called and wanted to book the entire plane. It would be one wild, porn star/hooker flight, but they would only let me buy six tickets at that price. Alas, we went. The most expensive thing besides missing the flight was the window at the villa I had to pay to replace because I threw Fabrice through it when he made me upset.

They had a few controversy causing sales and some that were only posted for a day before they were removed like the, "Hunt for Hoffa" sale.

Check out www.spiritair.com if you want to see some of the specials they have. Meanwhile, check out www.spiritcrusherair.com if you want to see another website that I don't do anything with. ARGH! I really need to stop buying domains and not doing anything with them.

Southwest Airlines Commercial - HILARIOUS!

I laughed so hard when I saw this commercial. (I can so imagine doing something like that. SHIT!)

I have some other funny airline commercials on my Facebook from yesterday.

Here's another one with a GREAT message behind it that I know I need to pay attention to.

Allegiant Air $15.00 Sale

JimyVR IM'ed me and told me about a sale that Allegiant Air is having from LAX to a few obscure, I'm sorry, "secondary" cities for only $15.00 each way. (Thanks, Jimy!)

You can find out more and if it could work into your travel plans at http://www.allegiantair.com/aaLanding20090415_TAXDAYSALE.php but you have to do it by 6:00pm today.

I looked at a few days that we could all go to Springfield-Branson, MO, but we can't all go, so it's going to take some more coordination if we want to do that.

I might just look at some dates and go to Grand Junction, CO by myself for the weekend in May. ...that's cool.

...even with the "extras" it's still a steal.

Site of the Moment - www.FlightNetwork.com

Howard sent me this link to a new travel website that you can find online at www.FlightNetwork.com.

Upon a quick search today for a flight to the HustlaBall London, I found an insane $247.00 flight round trip. (It is in Canadian dollars for some reason, but man, that's $203.00 in United States dollars.)
It's a little deceiving because when I went to actually book it, the price was listed as
Adult Fare: 1x$247.12
Adult Tax: 1x$475.68
Total: $722.80 CAD
...so that sucks, but keep an eye on that site for more low fares when searching for travel.

Southwest Airlines Coupon

I totally love this Southwest Airlines coupon advertisement I came across.
...that's brilliant.

Listening on ATA

I was cleaning out some more of my stuff in Las Vegas the other day and I found these earbuds from the now defunct airline called ATA Airlines which stood for American Trans Air. (...and not as in the kind that Jason Carter like, this is a different kind of "trans". Think trans-portation and not tras-sexual. *wink*)
I liked these cool listening devices becasue the wires wound up in the plastic thing as you turned this little dial, so it was clean and I could store it well.
You can see the old ATA website HERE.

Site of the Moment - www.SaverJet.com

JimyVR sent me a link today for an airline I have not heard of, but after watching the commercial and checking out the website, I think it's hilarious.

Terms and Conditions: This unrealistic airfare really is unrealistic and isn't even available, and if it were available it would apply to the initial cost of the advertised flight only. Items not covered in the 'initial cost' will include all manner of hidden fees, the theory being that if we charge you $10 here and $20 there we can slowly bring the price of the flight up to pretty much what it would cost you to fly with anyone else. For some weird reason your brain will still be telling you that the flight will only cost $40 even while we are taking money off you left, right and centre for all sorts of crazy things - some of which we make up on the spot just for fun. Our best trick is to sting you for luggage that weighs over a kilo just as you are checking in - because what are you going to do! Is this legal I hear you ask? Well, of course it is - as long as we outline all the different things we will be charging you for in a legal disclaimer like this, which nobody ever reads. We could probably even be totally abusive in the terms and conditions and no one would ever complain because no one ever gets past the part that promises we will fly them somewhere exotic for a ridiculously small amount of money. Well guess what, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Except on some other airlines.

I think this airline embodies many of the other airlines.
I get so frustrated with the airlines and have so many stories, but you know what? I am thankful that I can even fly and I have that opportunity, so if I can say anything, it's thanks for flying big, expensive airlines.

I can't get over this, check out the MERCHANDISE page: 20c deal applies to first mug only, all additional mugs retail for $12.90 each. Minimum order 7 mugs. Post and packaging $24. We can't guarantee that your SaverJet mugs will arrive intact or in fact arrive at all.

The best might be the feedback page though: "Note: Due to the number of complaints we get we require your complaint to be no longer than 7 letters." Thank you for your feedback as it is valuable to us. How will you be paying the complaint lodge fee of $11.95?

Birds Eye View

Flying used to represent a certain kind of privilege for me, it used to be like a treat and so exciting. At times, now I find myself thinking, "Gawsh, I have to get to the airport how early? I have to sit still for how long? Man, this flight was expensive." I want to go back to the kid-like awe and thrill of being able to move about the cabin and country like Southwest Airlines acclaims.

I was looking at a few photos that I have taken from the plane recently.

We can argue that my head is always in the clouds, but here are a few random thoughts from the air up there.

• It's so serene when I am above the clouds. It's like the whole issue underneath is gone pecan.
• I really enjoyed the one with the sun going down with the red line in the image. How beautiful is that? Even though I drive down Sunset Blvd. several times a week, I don't get to see many sunsets from the perspective above it very often.
  
• You can see so much of a city, but so little detail when you are up in the air. It's amazing how you can see the entire thing, but now know what's going on in each little part until you are on the ground. ....crazy, actually.

Virgin Safety (Airline Safety)

As if I am sure enough of you don't fly enough, right? Take a look at the progressive safety video presentation the Virgin companies have come up with.

I just love the Virgin America safety video. It's innovative and humorous so it helps in my own opinion, to remember.


Here is the Virgin Atlantic one that has been on flights across the pond for years now.


Compare it to one of the hum-drum, but still safe video of say, US Airways or United Airlines or even the new Delta one that is pretty modern and one of the better ones, I think, but it's still not Virgin safety.

(...by Virgin safety I mean the airline, not Angel Benton. Angel Benton safety is a whole 'nother story and video.)

Airline Security on Sesame Street

I know airline security is no joking matter, but just like a first grader, it is sometimes easier for me to remember things when I can relate them to something else.

I hope we don't have to go Elmo anytime soon. (I think the country has only gone Elmo once and it's wasn't exactly a tickling matter.)

Google Flight Status

I used Google Mobile on my PocketPC to check the flight status of Dustin's flight when he was arriving and I didn't hear from him when he landed.
It worked beautifully and it was as simple as typing the airline, the word "flight" and the flight number.
The results looks like this and was super helpful to have in my hand.
"Thanks Google, as you take over the world, I am glad to know information is so easy to obtain."

Now I just need to find a website that will tell me when flights I am expecting are late via SMS.

Site of the Moment - Priceline & BiddingForTravel

I have really good luck with Priceline.com. ook at this flight record. The ones with green check marks are the ones that were accepted. You should see my hotel record, it's twice as many total records and looks similar.

I might be overbidding if all my records are winners huh? Hummmmm?

I think it was Jason Carter who told me about www.biddingfortravel.com. It's a site to use in conjunction with Priceline where it shows you what other people are bidding and winning so you can bid a little less. It also shows what hotels, flights, and cars as well as other travel items people can get, so you know what MIGHT happen. Thanks for that Jason.

Detroit Bound

I am Detroit bound. ...in the middle of winter nonetheless. I booked Lisa and I a trip to see my family in Detroit in early December. Most of my family besides my mother, father and brother, live in Michigan still, so I am going to see them before the holidays.

I always try to use different clip art for each post, but I really like this Detroit image.

It's going to be a quick trip and wasn't exactly the cheapest at $528.00 for both tickets on www.Priceline.com, but I want to go. (...Lisa is priceless anyway.)
I will get to show her some of the Christmas in New Center, downtown Detroit (...what's left of it.) and some of the Motor City casinos. (She works in that industry, so that might be cool for her.)

I have a "thing" for abandoned buildings and always enjoy a quick drive around Detroit to look at the splendor that used to be. D-town has some of the best abandoned buildings I have ever seen in any city. The "Detroit Decay" beautiful in it's own right.

Having grown up there, my plan is to stay at a suburban hotel near my grandfather's hospital one night with my dad's side of the family, then visit my mom's side of the family at my aunt's house in the boonies one day. The last night, I sincerely want to stay downtown at an fancy hotel with Lisa and have a totally faux feeling of serenity at the kick-off of Christmas time in Detroit.

Los Angeles to New Orleans

$112.00, one way, Los Angeles cities to New Orleans. The deal that isn't THAT good of a deal to travel from Burbank to New Orleans, but is worth noting.
...for much less than I spend some nights going out, I could be going out at home in New Orleans. Interesting when I think if it like that. Last week, I could have taken 8.33 people on with me on a one way trip for what I spent at the bar.

I checked Southwest Airlines and came up with the left grid.

However, in general, I have found better deals using www.priceline.com.

As I have in the past, Continental has offered some of the lowest rates on www.sidestep.com and when searching outside the 14 days of the usual advance booking restriction, I found $271 for the lowest rate one way.

It is much better to depart from a smaller airport like Burbank in my own opinion, I have less wait time, quicker movement, less parking hassles, etc. however, it's not as easy to find "Deals" from the small airports. What do other people have to say about it? Find out in one forum on small airports versus large airports HERE.

Travel Tips - Finding Cheap Tickets

Don't thank me, thank Howard (...who writes about half of my blog.) and AOL for this tip and article.
http://information.travel.aol.com/news-and-tips/find-cheap-flights

Buy During Cheapest Times Of The Day

Airfares change three times a day as airlines periodically lower prices to fill up flights, and the early bird gets the worm, according to Hobica. "Early morning is the time to buy." he says, recommending that flyers check fares every five hours to try and snag a deal. On the weekend, the best time to check is early Saturday morning and again at 5PM, when the industry is most aggressively trying to fill seats, he says.

Virgin vs. Slut Airlines

I can't remember where I came across this image, but I couldn't help but think it was cute.
I think would be a frequent flier on the blue airline. *wink*

T.S.A. S.P.O.T.

I have been very interested in using behavior to tell about people lately. (...especially lately.) and even thought this isn't new news, as I search and find out more information, this is what I have come across often.

T.S.A. (Transportation Security Administration) has a program dubbed the S.P.O.T. program which stands for "Screening Passengers by Observation Techniques."
I spend many hours of time at the airport and even though it's cumbersome, I have to apprecaite the role of the T.S.A.
Yes, it's frustrating at times.
Yes, there are long lines.
Yes, they are not that nice. .Do they really have to be?

Here are some things I found online and that I found very interesting about the program.

• In the SPOT (Screening Passengers by Observation Technique) program, we have a conversation with (passengers) and we ask them about their trip. When someone lies or tries to be deceptive, there are behavior cues that show it. http://www.jaunted.com/tag/TSA/3
• Bradley airport may have behavior detection officers checking you out. Smile at the airport so they don't think you're a terrorist. http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=2985
• http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1195330,00.html
• http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2006/05/tsa_has_new_way.html
• http://www.tsa.gov/press/where_we_stand/training.shtm
• ...But a central task is to recognize microfacial expressions -- a flash of feelings that in a fraction of a second reflects emotions such as fear, anger, surprise or contempt... http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344868_airportprofiler26.html
• http://osdir.com/ml/culture.people.interesting-people/2004-10/msg00012.html
• http://thesop.org/index.php?article=8318
• http://blogofbile.com/tag/tsa/
  

Air Time

I was excited that I arrived about 45 minutes late for my flight today and was able to
get right on the flight since it was late departing. I was all ready to get on the next flight a little over an hour later, but I sailed right on through. I even got a window seat though earlier only aisles were available.
...that was the LAX to PHX flight.
On the PHX to ORD (O'Hare Airport in Chicago has an ORD because it used to be an orchard.) flight, not so good.
It's just about midnight and I am still in the airport waiting area waiting for pilots. It seems odd since there is a ready plane a few feet away, but that's why I work where I do and the 'air force' here works where they do.
A mechanical issue combined with the adverse weather was so bad that the pilots who were supposed to fly the plane had to get diverted to Tuson, AZ.
I have a long air time ahead of me from PHX to ORD overnight when I originally anticipated arriving in the Windy City about 12:15am.