This World Traveler

Denver looks amazing from above. What strikes me the most is the way the western edge of the city just seems to end and really moutainous regions just begin. There's something really stunning about that.

(Picture Taken aboard Virgin America Flt 23, 12/11)

Labels: denver, flying, mountains, travel

Hey, ever wanted to fly naked? It's now totally possible! Seriously. For some reason, Germans like to get naked. "Free Body Culture" or FKK as it is commonly known in Germany is fairly popular. This is when Germans do relatively normal things in the nude, for some reason unknown to everyone else. I'm guessing it is some sort of health craze.

Now a travel agency is offering nude flights. Day trips run just 500 Euros (about $750)! Those prices are stripped bare! Expensive? Yes. Rip off? Of course! You have to stay clothed during boarding and before getting off the plane... and the flight attendants aren't allowed to be naked either. Total gyp! If I was gonna pay out the nose to fly "free," I think I would want the pleasure of wandering through the airport nude as well. Would make security checkpoints go a lot faster I'd imagine.

Reuters has the scoop.

You have to call the agency to make the reservation, by the way, and if you can read German, the information is here.

Labels: flying, germany, nudity, travel

Flying To Save Time?

Last night, I flew back to New York City, after a wonderful holiday with my family in the Chicago area. As I was on the train back home, I wonder how much time I really saved - and if the flight was worth it. Door to door, the drive from my house to my parents is 14 hours.

The flight from New York to Chicago is two hours. Seems like it should save a lot of time, yes? Well, maybe not so much. On my drive over to the airport, we hit traffic. So that's two hours. You have to get to the airport an hour early, a three and a half hour delay, 30 minutes minimum to get out of the airport on the back end, and then two hours to get back home in nasty weather in Chicago.

Suddenly two hours just became eleven. 11 Hours. Flying NYC to Chicago is basically an all day affair. Yet it is more convenient.

Now this case isn't necessarily typical. I live a fair distance from area airports, and the closest airport to me is usually the most expensive to fly from (Newark). And the weather was nasty in Chicago.... but I think we have a tendency to fly more out of convenience than anything else. Driving can be fun, but in the middle of the night in December, I'd rather be eating my complimentary JetBlue chips and watching Law and Order SVU on the seatback TV. Even if I only save a couple hours in the process.

Labels: flying, travel

Best of the Blogs

This has been a busy week for travel. A lot of good stuff worth reading online too!

First of all, the good news on the business end of travel. Lufthansa, just bought 19% of JetBlue this week. No immediate changes on either side as a result of this transaction, but I think it really only means good things for both airlines in the future - and possibly the nudge United needs to more aggressively pursue a buyer. The Cranky Flier is all over this and has some interesting analysis as well.

Then there's the bad news.
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises? Apparently no longer sailing, but still taking your money. Cruisemates

More bad news.
MaxJet? Days might be very numbered. Upgrade: Travel Better

Oh yeah, and if you didn't know? Bus rides in the US? Still no fun. Lane Winfield shares his sad story of being held hostage by an angry driver.

Finally, the New York Times lets a lot of people complain about flying.

The week in review. A little good news, a little bad news. A lot of whining.

Labels: buses, flying, jet blue, links, lufthansa, maxjet, travel