The leading restaurant surveyor, Zagat, rated both US and international airlines last year and published their results. The results speak for themselves. Not surprisingly, none of the major US carriers topped the lists. According to this survey, seems like the US airline to fly is Virgin America.
Tampa Intl. Airport topped the US airport list, while Hong Kong leads in the international arena. Want a good laugh? check out the quotes from the surveyors.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Money well spent
I've never met anyone that enjoys the airport experience. Everything from the long lines, dirty bathrooms, unhealthy food, crowded, noisy gates and cranky customer service from airline counters make you wish you were somewhere else. Well, you can be (at least in most major airports):
This airport "oasis" is the AA Admirals Club. Here you will find a haven from the multitudes of loud passengers, clean & comfortable leather seats, clean bathrooms, conference rooms to host a business meeting, showers*, a children's playroom, workstations, nice bar, freshly made sandwiches and soups, wireless internet, a number of periodicals and magazines, TVs, smoking lounge*, and most importantly: peace and quiet. These lounges are always clean, and most of the people you will find there are working quietly or just relaxing. It is without a doubt a MUCH more pleasant experience.
The cost of this oasis varies according to your AA Advantage status. Regular advantage members pay $ 450 annual fee, Gold pay $400, Platinum $350, and Executive Platinum $ 300.
It is worth it? No doubt. If you travel frequently, it is a must have. The staff is extremely courteous and helpful, and genuinely go out of their way to assist passengers. The best perk from membership besides the listed above? The in lounge reservations desk. This desk has more power than any other AA desk in the airport, and WILL get you on an overbooked flight, bypassing the standby list, assist with your upgrades, block seats adjacent to yours if the flight is not full, and much more. Definitely a must have in my books.
The loophole? Use your Amex Platinum card to gain free access into any Admirals Club or any other airline club worldwide. I've never experienced any other club rooms, but I've heard very positive experiences from the ones from BA and LAN.
Click here to view Admirals Club locations, fees and more.
*Not all locations have showers and smoking lounges; the most complete Admirals clubs I've visited are: MIA, JFK, ORD, DFW (smoking lounge in A & C), LAX. The crappiest: PHL.
This airport "oasis" is the AA Admirals Club. Here you will find a haven from the multitudes of loud passengers, clean & comfortable leather seats, clean bathrooms, conference rooms to host a business meeting, showers*, a children's playroom, workstations, nice bar, freshly made sandwiches and soups, wireless internet, a number of periodicals and magazines, TVs, smoking lounge*, and most importantly: peace and quiet. These lounges are always clean, and most of the people you will find there are working quietly or just relaxing. It is without a doubt a MUCH more pleasant experience.
The cost of this oasis varies according to your AA Advantage status. Regular advantage members pay $ 450 annual fee, Gold pay $400, Platinum $350, and Executive Platinum $ 300.
It is worth it? No doubt. If you travel frequently, it is a must have. The staff is extremely courteous and helpful, and genuinely go out of their way to assist passengers. The best perk from membership besides the listed above? The in lounge reservations desk. This desk has more power than any other AA desk in the airport, and WILL get you on an overbooked flight, bypassing the standby list, assist with your upgrades, block seats adjacent to yours if the flight is not full, and much more. Definitely a must have in my books.
The loophole? Use your Amex Platinum card to gain free access into any Admirals Club or any other airline club worldwide. I've never experienced any other club rooms, but I've heard very positive experiences from the ones from BA and LAN.
Click here to view Admirals Club locations, fees and more.
*Not all locations have showers and smoking lounges; the most complete Admirals clubs I've visited are: MIA, JFK, ORD, DFW (smoking lounge in A & C), LAX. The crappiest: PHL.
Stingiest airlines according to TIME magazine
It's not a secret that the economy is at one of its lowest points, with the lowest interest rates since WWII and inflation on a rise. High fuel prices and operation costs have hit the already bruised airline industry, and in the long run it is the consumer that pays the price for this.
We have seen increased airfare prices, along with outrageous additional fees such as charges to check in bags, premiums for aisle or window seats, and on board consumption of food and beverages. Some airlines have even started charging for pillows and blankets on cross country flights, ridiculous!
According to TIME magazine, the three stingiest airlines are the following:
1. US Airways
2. United
3. American
Click here to view the complete article.
tks Jose for the article
We have seen increased airfare prices, along with outrageous additional fees such as charges to check in bags, premiums for aisle or window seats, and on board consumption of food and beverages. Some airlines have even started charging for pillows and blankets on cross country flights, ridiculous!
According to TIME magazine, the three stingiest airlines are the following:
1. US Airways
2. United
3. American
Click here to view the complete article.
tks Jose for the article
Low, low airfares
I had been debating for quite some time what my first entry should be; I've been wanting to start this blog for a while and have many entries to write, but wanted to make sure the first one was short, simple and useful:
I'm a sucker for always flying the same airline, for two reasons:
First, I'm lucky enough to live in a city which serves as a regional hub (MIA hubs American Airlines, along with DFW and ORD). This means that I have a much better chance of getting home if I'm stranded anywhere or if I miss a connecting flight; I can fly into FLL, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach.
Secondly, based on my first criteria, I've racked up quite a few miles so I get to enjoy the benefits of elite status passenger; bypass lines, get upgrades, eliminate additional charges, and much more which I will later detail in further entries.
NONETHELESS, that is not the right way to go if you are looking to get the best airfare possible. If you dont fly much, or have a flexible schedule, I highly recommend this easy to use website to find the best deals in airfares:
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/
I'm a sucker for always flying the same airline, for two reasons:
First, I'm lucky enough to live in a city which serves as a regional hub (MIA hubs American Airlines, along with DFW and ORD). This means that I have a much better chance of getting home if I'm stranded anywhere or if I miss a connecting flight; I can fly into FLL, Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach.
Secondly, based on my first criteria, I've racked up quite a few miles so I get to enjoy the benefits of elite status passenger; bypass lines, get upgrades, eliminate additional charges, and much more which I will later detail in further entries.
NONETHELESS, that is not the right way to go if you are looking to get the best airfare possible. If you dont fly much, or have a flexible schedule, I highly recommend this easy to use website to find the best deals in airfares:
http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/
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