Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I was waiting for my flight out of MDW last Friday, and found that a >number of flights had been disrupted.  The departure board looked like >it frequently does during bad winter weather, with the word "Delayed" >next to perhaps a dozen flights.  The only difference was that the >weather was warm, relatively, with blue skies and sunshine. >It turned out that "W" had dropped into Cleveland for a visit, and shut >down operations while AF1 lumbered in and out.  The result was delay to >a number of flights due through MDW, by as much as two hours, thirty >minutes.  Because of the disruption, not only were flights to and from >Cleveland late, flights going to other destinations on aircraft that had >come through Cleveland were late. >One woman I spoke to was quite distraught, since her flight was delayed >over two hours, and she was going to miss the last shuttle bus for the >day from her destination airport to her home town some miles away. She >was going to have to stay in an airport hotel for the night, and as it >would be Saturday, the shuttle ran on a reduced schedule, and there >wouldn’t be a run until after noon, meaning she essentially lost all of >Saturday with her kids in the bargain. Her last comment to me was that >she wasn’t voting Republican again. >The effect I saw in Chicago must have also been felt at any number of >other airports, since Cleveland is a Continental hub, and many other >airlines, like Southwest, have a strong presence there. >There has to be a less intrusive way of handling AF1.  Perhaps it needs >to restrict itself to military fields, where protection is easier, or >maybe the restrictions on other aircraft movements in the area around >AF1 have to be relaxed. The President makes no friends by goofing up >everybody’s plans like this.

We were flying in and out of Minneapolis a couple of years ago when Air Force One was there. It didn’t affect us at all landing. It was leaving about the same time our connection was. We heard one plane called to leave a few minutes early and ours was delayed perhaps 10 minutes. I’m not sure why planes would be delayed a couple of hours for this. Were there any other possible reasons such as bad weather?

Response:

> There has to be a less intrusive way of handling AF1.  Perhaps it > needs to restrict itself to military fields, where protection is > easier, or maybe the restrictions on other aircraft movements in the > area around AF1 have to be relaxed. The President makes no friends by > goofing up everybody’s plans like this.

happens when he’s overseas too, and boy that is unpopular as foreigners don’t venerate the office of US president like americans do.   they should land him at military fields,and then finish the journey if necessary in a helicopter. I bet there was myriad little tragedies like that of the lady you mentioned, all knock-ons from those delayed flights. ant

Response:

"The President makes no friends by goofing up everybody’s plans like this." Well… THAT is the whole intention, to make sure that the President is hated by his people. The same goes when the President goes overseas, so that he too would be hated by people overseas. Now the question is, are you going to let ‘their’ plan succed (by getting upset and then end up hating the President) or are you going to fail ‘them’ in ‘their’ plan (by not getting upset and actually like the President)?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->We may now be the financially poorest large city in the USA but at least >most of us don’t suffer from the unsightly  conditions that apparently >plagues you; a sorely distended ego compounded by a flatulent mouth… > Actually Miami is the poorest major US city…and Detroit is right down > there too… > It’s so easy to make jokes about Cleveland, but it has been doing somewhat > okay compared to the old daze of 20 – 30 – odd years ago, there has been a > revival of the downtown area, e.g. The Flats, etc….

It would be hard to describe the Flats as a revival.  As far as I can remember there never was anything to revive.  Development of the Flats I’ll buy.  Now the downtown area (upstairs) has undergone a revival after a long decline. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If you want to see a real sad civic case, visit St. Louis aka "The > necropolis on the Mississippi"…much of it resembles Berlin or Warsaw c. > 1945.

Response:

I love to see AF-1, the 747 take-off and land, and generally, the U.S. Secret Service does prefer military airfields for arrival and departure. Also, many places the President visits don’t really have the 747 runway capacity – ORF for instance, when the Norfolk Navy Base and Oceana NAS are right there. But, there is a difference. When campaigning, Air Force 1 with the President prefers commercial airports with the airport arrival and the large crowds, instead of the limited access military bases, for political purposes. As a rule, each President dictates his own security arrangements with the Service – and when campaigning, he isn’t going to fly into a military base when he can get a huge voter reception at a public airport, usually planned well in advance. When he isn’t campaigning, and now in his second term, no reason for Bush, Jr. to glad hand the public, Air Force 1 can move in and out of military facilities easily. As for disrupting air traffic all around a particular city, the plane can travel with fighter escort all across the world, non-stop. There is no particular safety reason for other commercial airliners to be grounded to get out of its way. It is given a clear airway, but usually it is known in advance when the President is traveling and where, so closing down operations because he is there isn’t really helping him security wise.

Response:

Unfortunately Greg, I believe we now hold this dubious title on some governmental list; the local media has been going nuts on it for over a month now.   Funny though how it coincides with Cleveland also being one of the most affordable placed to live in the USA… I do remember those ‘daze’ you refer to, being a Fifty Year resident…East Bank of the flats is dead, ‘warehouse district’ just up the hill is happening; West Bank going gangbusters!  BTW…Thanks to the Zebra Mussel invasion Erie is looking as Blue as the Mediterranean of the Rivera….  Nice backdrop for the Cleveland Grand Prix and Air Show too…  On those off days attending our world renown Cleveland Orchestra concerts and Cleveland Museum of Art of course… When we’re not working at the world renown Cleveland Clinic/ University Hospital complexes repairing world leaders and assorted Potentates; or educating them at Case Western Reserve University that is…  <g> Tim K "Gregory Morrow" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We may now be the financially poorest large city in the USA but at least > most of us don’t suffer from the unsightly  conditions that apparently > plagues you; a sorely distended ego compounded by a flatulent mouth… > Actually Miami is the poorest major US city…and Detroit is right down > there too… > It’s so easy to make jokes about Cleveland, but it has been doing somewhat > okay compared to the old daze of 20 – 30 – odd years ago, there has been a > revival of the downtown area, e.g. The Flats, etc…. > If you want to see a real sad civic case, visit St. Louis aka "The > necropolis on the Mississippi"…much of it resembles Berlin or Warsaw c. > 1945. > — > Best

Response:

> We may now be the financially poorest large city in the USA but at least > most of us don’t suffer from the unsightly  conditions that apparently > plagues you; a sorely distended ego compounded by a flatulent mouth…

Actually Miami is the poorest major US city…and Detroit is right down there too… It’s so easy to make jokes about Cleveland, but it has been doing somewhat okay compared to the old daze of 20 – 30 – odd years ago, there has been a revival of the downtown area, e.g. The Flats, etc…. If you want to see a real sad civic case, visit St. Louis aka "The necropolis on the Mississippi"…much of it resembles Berlin or Warsaw c. 1945. — Best

Response:

We may now be the financially poorest large city in the USA but at least most of us don’t suffer from the unsightly  conditions that apparently plagues you; a sorely distended ego compounded by a flatulent mouth… Tim K

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->     Cut him some slack.  He had to go to Cleveland.  I think that is > punishment enough. >     At least the Cuyahoga river did not catch fire when he was there. > — > Joseph Meehan > Dia’s Muire duit

Response:

> Since the Iraq invasion, the Bush regime has become very scared

Speaking of scared, why are you afraid to discuss the fact that your country is holding six hostages? Is it because you can only write about three things? Those three things being your hatred of America, your twisted fascination with the foreskins of other men, and your desire to play pretend "airline expert" when you haven’t been on a plane in almost 10 years?

Response:

>> Since the Iraq invasion, the Bush regime has become very scared >Speaking of scared, why are you afraid to discuss the fact that your country >is holding six hostages? Is it because you can only write about three >things? Those three things being your hatred of America, your twisted >fascination with the foreskins of other men, and your desire to play pretend >"airline expert" when you haven’t been on a plane in almost 10 years?

The answer is yes.

Response:

> Well, there was the time that his predecessor spent two extra hours on the > tarmac at LAX getting a haircut (from some chic Hollywoodish salonkeeper). > Apparently, there were loud moans and groans from the myriad delayees.

Did he actually shut down operations at LAX, or just disrupt it byt blocking some taxiway to a runway ? Since the Iraq invasion, the Bush regime has become very scared (rightfully since it is despised around the world) and has increased the demands on airports it travels to with increased levels of shutdown of both ground and airspace around the war criminal’s plane. When bush went to visit the US airbase in germany, he imposed himself on Frankfurt airport, forcing it to shutdown twice (for arrival and departure), as well as forcing the closure fo streets and a highway to get him by car to the US airforce base. The war criminal should have landed at his own air force base. I think Bush underestimates the hatred against him (but secret service doesn’t) and still thinks that people actually appreciate seeing him and his plane, so he decides to land at the most popular airports.

Response:

>I was waiting for my flight out of MDW last Friday, and found that a > number of flights had been disrupted.  The departure board looked like > it frequently does during bad winter weather, with the word "Delayed" > next to perhaps a dozen flights.  The only difference was that the > weather was warm, relatively, with blue skies and sunshine.

    Cut him some slack.  He had to go to Cleveland.  I think that is punishment enough.     At least the Cuyahoga river did not catch fire when he was there. — Joseph Meehan Dia’s Muire duit

Response:

I was waiting for my flight out of MDW last Friday, and found that a number of flights had been disrupted.  The departure board looked like it frequently does during bad winter weather, with the word "Delayed" next to perhaps a dozen flights.  The only difference was that the weather was warm, relatively, with blue skies and sunshine. It turned out that "W" had dropped into Cleveland for a visit, and shut down operations while AF1 lumbered in and out.  The result was delay to a number of flights due through MDW, by as much as two hours, thirty minutes.  Because of the disruption, not only were flights to and from Cleveland late, flights going to other destinations on aircraft that had come through Cleveland were late. One woman I spoke to was quite distraught, since her flight was delayed over two hours, and she was going to miss the last shuttle bus for the day from her destination airport to her home town some miles away. She was going to have to stay in an airport hotel for the night, and as it would be Saturday, the shuttle ran on a reduced schedule, and there wouldn’t be a run until after noon, meaning she essentially lost all of Saturday with her kids in the bargain. Her last comment to me was that she wasn’t voting Republican again. The effect I saw in Chicago must have also been felt at any number of other airports, since Cleveland is a Continental hub, and many other airlines, like Southwest, have a strong presence there. There has to be a less intrusive way of handling AF1.  Perhaps it needs to restrict itself to military fields, where protection is easier, or maybe the restrictions on other aircraft movements in the area around AF1 have to be relaxed. The President makes no friends by goofing up everybody’s plans like this.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->I was waiting for my flight out of MDW last Friday, and found that a > number of flights had been disrupted.  The departure board looked like > it frequently does during bad winter weather, with the word "Delayed" > next to perhaps a dozen flights.  The only difference was that the > weather was warm, relatively, with blue skies and sunshine. > It turned out that "W" had dropped into Cleveland for a visit, and shut > down operations while AF1 lumbered in and out.  The result was delay to > a number of flights due through MDW, by as much as two hours, thirty > minutes.  Because of the disruption, not only were flights to and from > Cleveland late, flights going to other destinations on aircraft that had > come through Cleveland were late. > One woman I spoke to was quite distraught, since her flight was delayed > over two hours, and she was going to miss the last shuttle bus for the > day from her destination airport to her home town some miles away. She > was going to have to stay in an airport hotel for the night, and as it > would be Saturday, the shuttle ran on a reduced schedule, and there > wouldn’t be a run until after noon, meaning she essentially lost all of > Saturday with her kids in the bargain. Her last comment to me was that > she wasn’t voting Republican again. > The effect I saw in Chicago must have also been felt at any number of > other airports, since Cleveland is a Continental hub, and many other > airlines, like Southwest, have a strong presence there. > There has to be a less intrusive way of handling AF1.  Perhaps it needs > to restrict itself to military fields, where protection is easier, or > maybe the restrictions on other aircraft movements in the area around > AF1 have to be relaxed. The President makes no friends by goofing up > everybody’s plans like this.

Well, there was the time that his predecessor spent two extra hours on the tarmac at LAX getting a haircut (from some chic Hollywoodish salonkeeper). Apparently, there were loud moans and groans from the myriad delayees. Here, where he comes and goes regularly, AF1 (when its the 747) uses the Texas State Techinical College Airport, a former USAF base  with 10,000′ runway across town), unable to operate comfortably from the 6600′ or so short runway at ACT, only a few miles from the ranch at Crawford (although there ain’t exactly a stream of flights coming and going from ACT). Restrictions on local airspece when he’s here cause more complaints, although the sound of Marine 1’s turbines passing about a quarter mile from my bedroom window can rouse you when he’s up for an early morning sortie. I suspect that the Cleveland problem resulted from the lack of a suitable nearby military facility (which the SecServ likes from security perspectives). TMO

Response:

Question:

The airlines are no longer at the pier to accept luggage and issue boarding passes.  This is a thing of the past.  You have to hall your luggage to the airport now. The lockers are gone at the airport.  All of this is because of security concerns. The only real option is to book a tour from the cruise line, or haul your luggage with you through out the city. roland

Response:

last time I was in this situation I rented a car.  Pick up from cruise dock, luggage fit in car, toured around for several hours then turned in at airport.  Total cost was a bout $25 more than normal transportation to the airport, and a whole lot less than taking cabs around all day or even a cruise line excursion.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The airlines are no longer at the pier to accept luggage and issue > boarding passes.  This is a thing of the past.  You have to hall your > luggage to the airport now. > The lockers are gone at the airport.  All of this is because of > security concerns. > The only real option is to book a tour from the cruise line, or haul > your luggage with you through out the city. > roland

Response:

Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is not until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the Waikiki area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a car or a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day and pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL forward it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. I’m sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Response:

Hi Several years ago we had the same problem. Flights to the mainland leave at 9 PM or later. We asked the cruise line for advice and they told us arrangement necessary to have it stored at the cruise terminal. Everything worked out fine. Van in Texas

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is > not > until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the > Waikiki > area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a > car or > a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day > and > pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL > forward > it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. > I’m > sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Response:

Twanger and said: >Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is not >until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the Waikiki >area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a car or >a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day and >pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL forward >it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. I’m >sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Contact your NCL agent for info.  He/she should be able to help you.  If you didn’t arrange your air through NCL, alternatively you might explore local museums, and aquariums.  When I cruised out of Tampa, I found that for the price of a ticket, the local aquarium would store my luggage.   It may be so in Hawaii as well. —  To  email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.   Brian M. Kochera    "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"  View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

Response:

You can probably store it at the airport hotel, give them a call Honolulu Airport Hotel 3401 North Nimitz Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Ph: 808-836-0661 Fax: 808-833-1738 They have closed all the lockers at the airport.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is > not > until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the > Waikiki > area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a > car or > a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day > and > pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL > forward > it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. > I’m > sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Response:

Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is not until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the Waikiki area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a car or a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day and pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL forward it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. I’m sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Response:

Hi Several years ago we had the same problem. Flights to the mainland leave at 9 PM or later. We asked the cruise line for advice and they told us arrangement necessary to have it stored at the cruise terminal. Everything worked out fine. Van in Texas

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is > not > until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the > Waikiki > area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a > car or > a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day > and > pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL > forward > it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. > I’m > sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Response:

Twanger and said: >Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is not >until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the Waikiki >area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a car or >a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day and >pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL forward >it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. I’m >sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Contact your NCL agent for info.  He/she should be able to help you.  If you didn’t arrange your air through NCL, alternatively you might explore local museums, and aquariums.  When I cruised out of Tampa, I found that for the price of a ticket, the local aquarium would store my luggage.   It may be so in Hawaii as well. —  To  email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.   Brian M. Kochera    "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"  View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

Response:

You can probably store it at the airport hotel, give them a call Honolulu Airport Hotel 3401 North Nimitz Highway Honolulu, Hawaii 96819 Ph: 808-836-0661 Fax: 808-833-1738 They have closed all the lockers at the airport.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi.  Our cruise will be over at 9 AM in Hololulu but our flight home is > not > until 10:30 that night.  We plan to spend the day sightseeing in the > Waikiki > area but are wondering what to do with our luggage since we don’t need a > car or > a room for that day.  Can we store it in the cruise terminal for the day > and > pick it up later on that evening on our way to the airport?  Will NCL > forward > it to the airline to hold?  Many thanks to anyone who knows the solution. > I’m > sure it must be a common problem for cruisers.

Response:

The airlines are no longer at the pier to accept luggage and issue boarding passes.  This is a thing of the past.  You have to hall your luggage to the airport now. The lockers are gone at the airport.  All of this is because of security concerns. The only real option is to book a tour from the cruise line, or haul your luggage with you through out the city. roland

Response:

last time I was in this situation I rented a car.  Pick up from cruise dock, luggage fit in car, toured around for several hours then turned in at airport.  Total cost was a bout $25 more than normal transportation to the airport, and a whole lot less than taking cabs around all day or even a cruise line excursion.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> The airlines are no longer at the pier to accept luggage and issue > boarding passes.  This is a thing of the past.  You have to hall your > luggage to the airport now. > The lockers are gone at the airport.  All of this is because of > security concerns. > The only real option is to book a tour from the cruise line, or haul > your luggage with you through out the city. > roland

Response:

Question:

Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day

Response:

cathay has packages! Whebn we fly to brisbane we always stay at the airport hotel – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On > our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong > Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. > Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience > – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at > 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >cathay has packages! >Whebn we fly to brisbane we always stay at the airport hotel > Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On > our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong > Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. > Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience > – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at > 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day

What do you consider decent?  What price range and quality for example?  There are tons of places there for all tastes and price ranges.

Response:

Have a look at: http://www.res99.com/nexres/search/power_results.cgi?src=10009812&cit… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On > our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong > Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. > Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience > – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at > 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day

Response:

Hi jbk – I was thinking of something in the $100 – $150 CAD range . We checked out the Regal on the web and the best rate is 1500.00 HK dollars – which is about $250 CAD – and a little pricey for me. Someone mentioned that Cathay has packages – but can’t find it on their website.  How does one access the packages with Cathay?  I booked online and they didn’t offer any packages. Thanks in advance for all your advice! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->cathay has packages! >Whebn we fly to brisbane we always stay at the airport hotel >> Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On >> our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong >> Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. >> Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience >> – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at >> 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day > What do you consider decent?  What price range and quality for > example?  There are tons of places there for all tastes and price > ranges.

Response:

>Hi jbk – I was thinking of something in the $100 – $150 CAD range . >We checked out the Regal on the web and the best rate is 1500.00 HK >dollars – which is about $250 CAD – and a little pricey for me. >Someone mentioned that Cathay has packages – but can’t find it on >their website.  How does one access the packages with Cathay?  I >booked online and they didn’t offer any packages. >Thanks in advance for all your advice!

Can you access www.priceline.com from Canada? If not, try joining the Singapore version at http://www.priceline.com.sg/eng/default.asp . They can sometimes have fantastic prices if you use them correctly. Cheers, Alan —

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Hi jbk – I was thinking of something in the $100 – $150 CAD range . >We checked out the Regal on the web and the best rate is 1500.00 HK >dollars – which is about $250 CAD – and a little pricey for me. >Someone mentioned that Cathay has packages – but can’t find it on >their website.  How does one access the packages with Cathay?  I >booked online and they didn’t offer any packages. >Thanks in advance for all your advice! >Can you access www.priceline.com from Canada? If not, try joining the >Singapore version at http://www.priceline.com.sg/eng/default.asp . They >can sometimes have fantastic prices if you use them correctly. >Cheers, Alan

If you check Regal Hotels website, they have last minute specials that are considerably below their normal rates–right now at HK650 for the Regal Kowloon which is quite a nice hotel for instance.  You might want to make a backup reservation so you have a reservation and then check the Regal prices just before you go to see what their last minute rates are.  I would try the Evergreen in your price range, which is a small family owned hotel I have stayed at many times which is ok and you can get it on www.asiatravel.com and make a reservation there.

Response:

The YMCA Kowloon, right by the Star Ferry and good free breakfast, usually around 600 HKD.

> Have a look at:

http://www.res99.com/nexres/search/power_results.cgi?src=10009812&cit… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On > our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong > Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. > Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience > – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at > 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day

Response:

You can get a really nice Hotel for CAD 120 in early Dec See http://b2b.hotelclub.net/enter.asp?id=4566 You can search in CAD or HKD on this site Maybe something like New World Renaissance 5-star at CAD 121 The Eaton or Miramar 4-star at CAD 115 Prudential or Charterhouse 3-star at CAD 90 Robin

> Hi jbk – I was thinking of something in the $100 – $150 CAD range . > We checked out the Regal on the web and the best rate is 1500.00 HK > dollars – which is about $250 CAD – and a little pricey for me. > Someone mentioned that Cathay has packages – but can’t find it on > their website.  How does one access the packages with Cathay?  I > booked online and they didn’t offer any packages. > Thanks in advance for all your advice!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >cathay has packages! > >Whebn we fly to brisbane we always stay at the airport hotel > >> Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On > >> our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong > >> Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. > >> Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience > >> – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at > >> 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day > What do you consider decent?  What price range and quality for > example?  There are tons of places there for all tastes and price > ranges.

Response:

I stayed at the Eaton 4* and nicely priced with www.accomline.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Flying Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to Brisbane from Vancouver.  On > our return (early December 2004) we will have to overnight in Hong > Kong.  I had posted a while ago on this but can’t find the thread. > Does anyone have any recommendations – based on first hand experience > – as to a decent, reasonably priced hotel in Hong Kong?  We arrive at > 8:00 PM and depart about 3:00 PM next day

Response:

Question:

Could anyone tell me if there are any car rental agencies right at the Port of Miami?  Thanx,  Patti

Response:

>Could anyone tell me if there are any car rental agencies right at the >Port of Miami?  Thanx,  Patti

Hi Patti, The only rental agency at the Port of Miami is Avis. Best regards, Ray LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905 http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Response:

Avis is the only car rental agency with an office in the Port of Miami.

Response:

avis has an office right at the piers. also you can pre-register before you embark and once you disemabrk you can be in your car in just a few minutes. they also have a van to take you to the office(about a 1 minute drive).

Response:

In December 2000, at least on the RCI/Explorer of the Seas sailing, Avis did not follow this very attractive procedure–the "hook" that got me to use Avis over my preferred rental car provider in the first place.  Instead, everyone had to assemble in a ship lounge at 7a on disembarkation day and wait in line for the Avis rep to do the paperwork and assign you a car.  It was a zoo.  And believe it or not, she was handwriting contracts–you’d think that at least for those of us who had used Avis to get to the port for embarkation, a computer-generated contract would have been ready & waiting. Maybe this was a one-time foul-up by Avis…if not, I was not impressed.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> avis has an office right at the piers. also you can pre-register before you > embark and once you disemabrk you can be in your car in just a few minutes. > they also have a van to take you to the office(about a 1 minute drive).

Response:

Greetings —         Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? thanks

Response:

The only delay we encountered (12/22) was entering the port.  They have started checking ID’s, but I noticed that the taxis were going right through and private vehicles (like mine) were being stopped.  Inasmuch as we were very early (10:30) we got in, parked and had cabin  keys in hand by 11:30. Arlene <—also had luggage delivered to cabin before 3 PM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Greetings — >         Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting > there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying > in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is > this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there > a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we > plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? > thanks

Response:

>e to take a cab to the port. Is >this is good option

A breeze.  Relax and enjoy.

Response:

Take the cab.  The fare is regulated at something like $18 per cab (NOT per person) from airport to Port of Miami.  If you get to the port at 2:00 or 2:30 you will be fine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Greetings — >         Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting > there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying > in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is > this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there > a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we > plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? > thanks

Response:

We have never had any problems with a cab to / from the port. (and airport) Should run you about $25. It may be a bit more from an airport hotel than from the airport itself since it is not considered a flat rate (If I remember correctly….seemed really stupid at the time) Matt

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Greetings — > Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting > there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying > in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is > this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there > a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we > plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? > thanks

Response:

Yep, from the airport to the port is $18 flat rate. Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Take the cab.  The fare is regulated at something like $18 per cab (NOT per > person) from airport to Port of Miami.  If you get to the port at 2:00 or 2:30 > you will be fine.

Response:

Greetings —         Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? thanks

Response:

The only delay we encountered (12/22) was entering the port.  They have started checking ID’s, but I noticed that the taxis were going right through and private vehicles (like mine) were being stopped.  Inasmuch as we were very early (10:30) we got in, parked and had cabin  keys in hand by 11:30. Arlene <—also had luggage delivered to cabin before 3 PM – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Greetings — >         Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting > there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying > in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is > this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there > a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we > plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? > thanks

Response:

>e to take a cab to the port. Is >this is good option

A breeze.  Relax and enjoy.

Response:

Take the cab.  The fare is regulated at something like $18 per cab (NOT per person) from airport to Port of Miami.  If you get to the port at 2:00 or 2:30 you will be fine. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Greetings — >         Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting > there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying > in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is > this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there > a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we > plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? > thanks

Response:

We have never had any problems with a cab to / from the port. (and airport) Should run you about $25. It may be a bit more from an airport hotel than from the airport itself since it is not considered a flat rate (If I remember correctly….seemed really stupid at the time) Matt

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Greetings — > Had a questions about the Port of Miami – I have heard that getting > there can be a pain – and as we are flying in the day before and staying > in a hotel near the airport, we would like to take a cab to the port. Is > this is good option, should we look into a nicer car service – is there > a waiting time period once we get to the port, and how early should we > plan on getting to the port that we won’t be rushed or stressed in any way? > thanks

Response:

Yep, from the airport to the port is $18 flat rate. Jeff – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Take the cab.  The fare is regulated at something like $18 per cab (NOT per > person) from airport to Port of Miami.  If you get to the port at 2:00 or 2:30 > you will be fine.

Response:

Could anyone tell me if there are any car rental agencies right at the Port of Miami?  Thanx,  Patti

Response:

>Could anyone tell me if there are any car rental agencies right at the >Port of Miami?  Thanx,  Patti

Hi Patti, The only rental agency at the Port of Miami is Avis. Best regards, Ray LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905 http://www.lighthousetravel.com

Response:

Avis is the only car rental agency with an office in the Port of Miami.

Response:

avis has an office right at the piers. also you can pre-register before you embark and once you disemabrk you can be in your car in just a few minutes. they also have a van to take you to the office(about a 1 minute drive).

Response:

In December 2000, at least on the RCI/Explorer of the Seas sailing, Avis did not follow this very attractive procedure–the "hook" that got me to use Avis over my preferred rental car provider in the first place.  Instead, everyone had to assemble in a ship lounge at 7a on disembarkation day and wait in line for the Avis rep to do the paperwork and assign you a car.  It was a zoo.  And believe it or not, she was handwriting contracts–you’d think that at least for those of us who had used Avis to get to the port for embarkation, a computer-generated contract would have been ready & waiting. Maybe this was a one-time foul-up by Avis…if not, I was not impressed.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> avis has an office right at the piers. also you can pre-register before you > embark and once you disemabrk you can be in your car in just a few minutes. > they also have a van to take you to the office(about a 1 minute drive).

Response:

Question:

>Find somewhere quiet to sleep within the airport

Why do visions of that nice lady from Air Lingus on the Airport program who goes around looking at people sleeping in the terminal come to mind?

Response:

> I will have a 10 hour layover in London on my way back from Madrid [

flying to DFW ]. Plane from > Barajas arrives at Heathrow aboput midnight, plane to DFW leaves at 10 Am > Any recommendatrion on where to stay ? Reasonable priced hotels ????

IBIS Heathrow is OK. I stayed there once. About 65 pounds, good by London standards.       Address :       112-114 Bath Road       Hayes Middlesex       UB3 5AL LONDON       UNITED KINGDOM      Tel : (+44)208/7594888       Fax : (+44)208/5647894 You can book at www.ibishotel.com or through agents. begin 666 px.gif ` end

Response:

> >I will have a 10 hour layover in London on my way back from Madrid [ flying to DFW ]. Plane from >Barajas arrives at Heathrow aboput midnight, plane to DFW leaves at 10 Am >Any recommendatrion on where to stay ? Reasonable priced hotels ???? > Since recommended arrival time for LGW and LHR international departures is now 3 > hours prior to flight time, you won’t have much spare time to get to any hotel > other than ones in the immediate vicinity. Even then it will be a short night…

And there are NO ‘reasonably-priced hotels’ within reach of Heathrow (nearest are probably in Slough).  Find somewhere quite to sleep within the airport, or else spend a lot of money on an airport hotel, or a lot of money on taxi rides to get to Slough and back.  Otherwise, your only hope is a special offer at an airport hotel through an on-line booking service.

Response:

> > Often BA and Virgin are cheaper. Then again it is not worth it if AA > work out 75 dollars cheaper. They are not that bad, but if you have a > choice they are definately bottom of the pile! > You mentioned bad service and "horrible food". > I rarely think of food as being worth $75 for a flight. > I don’t know what kind of service you are looking for in Economy.  I > find little difference between AA and BA there. If I ask for a drink, I > get it. What other service are you looking for? > I rarely fly economy to Europe anymore, as I usually spend the miles for > the upgrade from the US West Coast.

Actually I had acknowledged that if an AA flight was $75 dollars cheaper I would take it. I am not here to have an argument, this is simply my opinion. Indeed I have many frequent flier miles with AA and find they provide adequate service. I simply find Virgin and BA to provide a better, more professional service and it starts the trip/vacation off on a better tone.

Response:

>I will have a 10 hour layover in London on my way back from Madrid [ flying to DFW ]. Plane from >Barajas arrives at Heathrow aboput midnight, plane to DFW leaves at 10 Am >Any recommendatrion on where to stay ? Reasonable priced hotels ????

Since recommended arrival time for LGW and LHR international departures is now 3 hours prior to flight time, you won’t have much spare time to get to any hotel other than ones in the immediate vicinity. Even then it will be a short night…

Response:

I will have a 10 hour layover in London on my way back from Madrid [ flying to DFW ]. Plane from Barajas arrives at Heathrow aboput midnight, plane to DFW leaves at 10 Am Any recommendatrion on where to stay ? Reasonable priced hotels ????

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly > > on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA > > fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better > > food and entertainments. Both are excellent! > > Try not to go AA though…. > Not even for the extra legroom? > If leg room is the only consideration then sure! I give equal or more > importance to good inflight entertainment, good food, free drinks and > over all, good flight attendants. AA has good leg room and probably > decent inflight entertainment for coach class in their 777s. But BA > and Virgin provide far better food and drink service, decent IFE > (Virgin’s better than BA) and BA fight attendants are the best of all > three. It comes down to what is important to you. American passengers > generally give a rats ass about inflight food and drinks (which is why > their airlines have gotten away with so much cost cutting). European > and certainly Asian travellers give very high importance to food, > drinks, IFE and attitude of the flight attendants. > Happy Flying. > Riaz

I have never flown on Virgin Atlantic but I have flown Transatlantic many times on BA, AA, United, US Airways, Delta, Sabena (now only a memory). NorthWest, KLM. All in economy/coach/steerage. I find AA generally to be better than BA (I like their UK and European product but have less than happy memories of their Transatlantic service) and I like KLM best of all. And the IFE on KLM AMS-LAX is almost non-existent but it is a good opportunity to read. JohnT

Response:

> Often BA and Virgin are cheaper. Then again it is not worth it if AA > work out 75 dollars cheaper. They are not that bad, but if you have a > choice they are definately bottom of the pile!

You mentioned bad service and "horrible food". I rarely think of food as being worth $75 for a flight. I don’t know what kind of service you are looking for in Economy.  I find little difference between AA and BA there. If I ask for a drink, I get it. What other service are you looking for? I rarely fly economy to Europe anymore, as I usually spend the miles for the upgrade from the US West Coast.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> > As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly >> > on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA >> > fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better >> > food and entertainments. Both are excellent! >> > Try not to go AA though…. >> Not even for the extra legroom? > If leg room is the only consideration then sure! I give equal or more > importance to good inflight entertainment, good food, free drinks and > over all, good flight attendants. AA has good leg room and probably > decent inflight entertainment for coach class in their 777s. But BA > and Virgin provide far better food and drink service, decent IFE > (Virgin’s better than BA) and BA fight attendants are the best of all > three. It comes down to what is important to you. American passengers > generally give a rats ass about inflight food and drinks (which is why > their airlines have gotten away with so much cost cutting). European > and certainly Asian travellers give very high importance to food, > drinks, IFE and attitude of the flight attendants. >    Actually, as it turns out, I’m going AA.  ;-) >    When I fly, I don’t especially care much about the food > or entertainment, since I’m typically asleep within a few > minutes of takeoff.  ( Or, for those occasional long > periods on the runway, before hand… )  All I ask is > a bottle of water and perhaps a piece of fruit.  And I bring > those myself, anyhow. >    Even when I’ve flown first or business, > transcontinentally, I don’t see why people are so hung > up on the food.  You’re still basically getting warmed-over > food in a less-than-pleasing environment – after all, > wouldn’t you complain if you were in a fine, groundside > restaurant, but your seats vibrated, your table > was no larger than a school desk, and there was a constant > roar coming from a few feet away? > – Rich

Please don’t get me wrong, AA are fine, but I personally prefer BA and Virgin. Take your own food and a good book (and sleeping drugs!!) and you are all set! Happy travels!

Response:

> > As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly > on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA > fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better > food and entertainments. Both are excellent! > Try not to go AA though…. > Not even for the extra legroom?

Only for the frequent flier miles!! The legroom does not make up for the bad service and the awful food. It just doesn’t set your holiday off on the right note. Usually from NYC if you pay 20-40dollars more you can go BA or Virgin and it is worth the difference. Often BA and Virgin are cheaper. Then again it is not worth it if AA work out 75 dollars cheaper. They are not that bad, but if you have a choice they are definately bottom of the pile!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> > As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly > > on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA > > fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better > > food and entertainments. Both are excellent! > > Try not to go AA though…. > Not even for the extra legroom? > If leg room is the only consideration then sure! I give equal or more > importance to good inflight entertainment, good food, free drinks and > over all, good flight attendants. AA has good leg room and probably > decent inflight entertainment for coach class in their 777s. But BA > and Virgin provide far better food and drink service, decent IFE > (Virgin’s better than BA) and BA fight attendants are the best of all > three. It comes down to what is important to you. American passengers > generally give a rats ass about inflight food and drinks (which is why > their airlines have gotten away with so much cost cutting). European > and certainly Asian travellers give very high importance to food, > drinks, IFE and attitude of the flight attendants.

   Actually, as it turns out, I’m going AA.  ;-)    When I fly, I don’t especially care much about the food or entertainment, since I’m typically asleep within a few minutes of takeoff.  ( Or, for those occasional long periods on the runway, before hand… )  All I ask is a bottle of water and perhaps a piece of fruit.  And I bring those myself, anyhow.    Even when I’ve flown first or business, transcontinentally, I don’t see why people are so hung up on the food.  You’re still basically getting warmed-over food in a less-than-pleasing environment – after all, wouldn’t you complain if you were in a fine, groundside restaurant, but your seats vibrated, your table was no larger than a school desk, and there was a constant roar coming from a few feet away? – Rich

Response:

> > As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly > on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA > fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better > food and entertainments. Both are excellent! > Try not to go AA though…. > Not even for the extra legroom?

If leg room is the only consideration then sure! I give equal or more importance to good inflight entertainment, good food, free drinks and over all, good flight attendants. AA has good leg room and probably decent inflight entertainment for coach class in their 777s. But BA and Virgin provide far better food and drink service, decent IFE (Virgin’s better than BA) and BA fight attendants are the best of all three. It comes down to what is important to you. American passengers generally give a rats ass about inflight food and drinks (which is why their airlines have gotten away with so much cost cutting). European and certainly Asian travellers give very high importance to food, drinks, IFE and attitude of the flight attendants. Happy Flying. Riaz

Response:

As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better food and entertainments. Both are excellent! Try not to go AA though….

Response:

> As someone who has flown between NYC and London over 30 times, mostly > on BA, Virgin or AA – I would put AA in a firm 3rd, and Virgin and BA > fight it out among themselves!! BA is better service, Virgin better > food and entertainments. Both are excellent! > Try not to go AA though….

Not even for the extra legroom?

Response:

<deleted> Browse through some of the passenger opinions about BA and Virgin on the following website. http://www.airlinequality.com/Forum/seats.htm I have only BA. Virgin seems to have better equipment and food but one common theme across several opinions seem to be that Virgin flight attendants are too busy prancing around like models and less occupied with serving customers. BA flight attendants may not be models but they work harder with the customers. Both airlines generally are good bets. I would find it difficult to choose based on inflight experience. I choose BA because they go wherever I want to go. BA’s American partner is AA, so one can fly to and from many US cities to Europe by doing a AA/BA combination both of which have BA flight codes. Riaz

Response:

>> But both of those factors (coupled with the generally pleasanter atmosphere > on Virgin) made me choose Virgin whenever possible back when I used to fly > to London. > I find the Virgin atmosphere postively horrible, in fact my last flight > with them was bad enough that I threw away the 2nd leg of it, and chose a > different carrier for the journey rather than pay the change fee to get it > moved to when I needed it.

Wow, what happened? miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

>>> But both of those factors (coupled with the generally pleasanter atmosphere >> on Virgin) made me choose Virgin whenever possible back when I used to fly >> to London. > I find the Virgin atmosphere postively horrible, in fact my last flight > with them was bad enough that I threw away the 2nd leg of it, and chose a > different carrier for the journey rather than pay the change fee to get it > moved to when I needed it. >Wow, what happened?

Very slow processing at JHB, late without any information leaving JHB, slow, very unfriendly cabin staff…  although to be fair, whilst I had an onward leg LHR-JFK, it wasn’t actually very convenient (plans changed.) and probably would’ve cost me more and been a lot less convenient than LON-YVR I really wanted to do by the time the flight came round. Jim.

Response:

> 3. rent the gsm phone

Or buy a used unlocked one on ebay, and a SIM pack for about GBP 10 when you arrive. If you can’t find one already unlocked, get a Nokia – they’re easy to unlock (free) yourself. You’ll have the phone for future trips, or you can sell/lend it to someone else. It’s worth it for the convenience.

Response:

>But both of those factors (coupled with the generally pleasanter atmosphere >on Virgin) made me choose Virgin whenever possible back when I used to fly >to London.

I find the Virgin atmosphere postively horrible, in fact my last flight with them was bad enough that I threw away the 2nd leg of it, and chose a different carrier for the journey rather than pay the change fee to get it moved to when I needed it. Jim.

Response:

> Hi All: >    I’ll be traveling to Heathrow in the middle of June, and it looks > like I can choose between BA and Virgin for my flights.  Not to open > up any cans of worms, but is there any particular reason I should > choose one over the other?  I.E., average seat pitch, etc.  I’ll > most likely be stuck in coach.

BA have slighty better seat pitch. VS have fastly superior entertainment. VS have better food. >    Secondarily – does anyone have a general idea of what phone calls > cost from London to the U.S.?  I’m trying to find out if it’s > worth it for me to rent a GSM phone ( my current wireless provider > offers rentals at $3/day + $1.49/minute ), or just suck it up and > pay the probably rapacious hotel rates.

Buy a phone card it should cost about 5US cents a minute (cheaper than many calls within the UK).

Response:

> I’ll be traveling to Heathrow in the middle of June, and it looks > like I can choose between BA and Virgin for my flights.  Not to open > up any cans of worms, but is there any particular reason I should > choose one over the other?  I.E., average seat pitch, etc.  I’ll > most likely be stuck in coach.  

Seat pitch is the same on both. Virgin used to have better in-flight entertainment; not sure if they still do. British used to not take seat reservations for coach passengers; not sure if that’s still the case either. But both of those factors (coupled with the generally pleasanter atmosphere on Virgin) made me choose Virgin whenever possible back when I used to fly to London. > Secondarily – does anyone have a general idea of what phone calls > cost from London to the U.S.?

1p (1.7 cents)/minute (plus local call) if you get a cheap card. But really you can spend as much as you like. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

>>   Secondarily – does anyone have a general idea of what phone calls >cost from London to the U.S.?  I’m trying to find out if it’s >worth it for me to rent a GSM phone ( my current wireless provider >offers rentals at $3/day + $1.49/minute ), or just suck it up and >pay the probably rapacious hotel rates.

1. Have your current phone "unlocked" and buy a sim London, if you have an international GSM phone. You didn’t mention what kinf of phone you have or 2. Use a calling card and call the US for a few pence per minute. or 3. rent the gsm phone

Response:

> Hi All: >    I’ll be traveling to Heathrow in the middle of June, and it looks > like I can choose between BA and Virgin for my flights.  Not to open > up any cans of worms, but is there any particular reason I should > choose one over the other?  I.E., average seat pitch, etc.  I’ll > most likely be stuck in coach.  

both have sub-average seat pitch.  Is AA an option? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->    Secondarily – does anyone have a general idea of what phone calls > cost from London to the U.S.?  I’m trying to find out if it’s > worth it for me to rent a GSM phone ( my current wireless provider > offers rentals at $3/day + $1.49/minute ), or just suck it up and > pay the probably rapacious hotel rates. > Thanks, >    - Rich

Response:

Hi All:    I’ll be traveling to Heathrow in the middle of June, and it looks like I can choose between BA and Virgin for my flights.  Not to open up any cans of worms, but is there any particular reason I should choose one over the other?  I.E., average seat pitch, etc.  I’ll most likely be stuck in coach.      Secondarily – does anyone have a general idea of what phone calls cost from London to the U.S.?  I’m trying to find out if it’s worth it for me to rent a GSM phone ( my current wireless provider offers rentals at $3/day + $1.49/minute ), or just suck it up and pay the probably rapacious hotel rates. Thanks,    - Rich

Response:

Question:

> No Wifi at O’Hare yet.  There is a bid request out for vendors to > provide it.  But it will be awhile.

There is WiFi at ORD.  AA has it. Hilton has it. The SAS lounge has it. Hang out near one of the lounges and you might be OK, or better yet, actually go to the lounge.

Response:

Take a look: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E33%257E2147134,00.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> No Wifi at O’Hare yet.  There is a bid request out for vendors to > provide it.  But it will be awhile. > There is WiFi at ORD.  AA has it. Hilton has it. > The SAS lounge has it. > Hang out near one of the lounges and you might be OK, or better yet, > actually go to the lounge.

Response:

> Take a look: > http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E33%257E2147134,00.html

You have to VPN back through your office if you’re using Wifi from a public access point. That, restrict your activity to encrypted protocols (https, imaps, etc.), or just accept that bored people in the airport are watching everything you do. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

No Wifi at O’Hare yet.  There is a bid request out for vendors to provide it.  But it will be awhile. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s >O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me >if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but >couldn’t find anything. >Thanks for any responses. >Bob

Response:

Still no wifi?  It really stinks…I fly to Springfield, and at that small airport they have wifi available, but not at O’Hare so far… Anyone have any other ideas or options I could purse? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> No Wifi at O’Hare yet.  There is a bid request out for vendors to > provide it.  But it will be awhile. >Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s >O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me >if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but >couldn’t find anything. >Thanks for any responses. >Bob

Response:

> Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s > O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me > if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but > couldn’t find anything. > Thanks for any responses. > Bob

    Well, as our Australian chap mentioned in the VISA COPS thread, you can extend the range by using an antenna made out of a Pringles can. That will give you a 15db gain, and allow you to be further out from a WiFi hotspot

Response:

—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 >       CYYZ does as well. Found that out quite by accident (pulled out > the laptop to check up on something, and boom! ‘net access). > Which terminal and near which gate(s)? > howard

        Mine was throughout Term. 3, at the AWE gates.                                                         BL. – — Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead!  | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto   PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569  F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: GnuPG v1.2.4 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFAhbV1yBkZmuMZ8L8RAse9AJ9vpfdhivKOZ1×2N7UH2tm0PjGk4gCdFIOc Bah2oH8fHCHkz0wjAoe+688= =Ra9W —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

Response:

>    CYYZ does as well. Found that out quite by accident (pulled out > the laptop to check up on something, and boom! ‘net access).

Which terminal and near which gate(s)? howard — Univ of Toronto     *     Spam detterent at work!     *                     * For the correct address, Please *                     * remove the UpperCase characters *

Response:

>There was a recent article on free wireless at airports, and the only >large airport to provide it was Pittsburgh.

Albuquerque (ABQ) and Wichita (ICT) also offer free connections. Anyone notice that Boingo no longer offers partial day or full day options? You appear to have to subscribe to their monthly plan now.

Response:

>> Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s > O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me > if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but > couldn’t find anything. > There was a recent article on free wireless at airports, and the only > large airport to provide it was Pittsburgh.

Istanbul has it for free, as does Singapore. JFK and Long Beach have it in the JetBlue terminals. Many airports have it in the lobby of the airport hotel. Sometimes it leaks out of the club lounges. In the rest, where you have to pay $10 or so for a day pass, some nice people set their laptops up to act as repeaters. You’ll have to scan for those yourself. miguel — Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

—–BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE—– Hash: SHA1 >There was a recent article on free wireless at airports, and the only >large airport to provide it was Pittsburgh. > Albuquerque (ABQ) and Wichita (ICT) also offer free connections.

        CYYZ does as well. Found that out quite by accident (pulled out the laptop to check up on something, and boom! ‘net access).                                                         BL. – — Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead!  | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto   PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569  F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF —–BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE—– Version: GnuPG v1.2.4 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFAhGu4yBkZmuMZ8L8RAvUdAKCNOuQZLy/P6mqY9tw4E3oJXy3EhACfVsSx 6yiE4EZN7v5IRjIJal8hcbM= =xeXG —–END PGP SIGNATURE—–

Response:

At Newark, it leaks out of the Continental Lounge near Gate 78??? (the lounge that is on a 2nd floor balcony).  If you sit in the food court under the lounge near the Pizza stand, you can get WI-FI and also have access to an AC power plug. Mike Schumann

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s >> O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me >> if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but >> couldn’t find anything. > There was a recent article on free wireless at airports, and the only > large airport to provide it was Pittsburgh. > Istanbul has it for free, as does Singapore. JFK and Long Beach have it in > the JetBlue terminals. > Many airports have it in the lobby of the airport hotel. Sometimes it leaks > out of the club lounges. > In the rest, where you have to pay $10 or so for a day pass, some nice > people set their laptops up to act as repeaters. You’ll have to scan for > those yourself. > miguel > — > Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu

Response:

> Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s > O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me > if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but > couldn’t find anything.

There was a recent article on free wireless at airports, and the only large airport to provide it was Pittsburgh.  Here is a link: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/baskas/2004-03-02-baskas_x.htm

Response:

Just got a new laptop that has a Wi-Fi card.  I travel out of Chicago’s O’Hare (typically UA and UX terminals) and wondered if anyone can tell me if there are any free wi-fi hot spots? I’ve looked at O’Hare’s website but couldn’t find anything. Thanks for any responses. Bob

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Marriott Long Wharf, Seaport Hotel, and Boston Harbor Hotel are within a > few miles. I’m rather nervous about recommending any Hiltons as many of > the ones I’ve stayed in seem to be of less quality than some Budget Inns > but charge prices of 4 or 5 star places.  I know the Marriott is great, > but also with a price to match. > All three you mention are across the harbor (can be a serious transportation > hassle) and are also three of the most expensive in town. > I’ve stayed in Hilton, Hyatt and Embassy on site several times each. Nicest > and closest is the Hilton.  Embassy is brand new (about a year old). Hyatt > is overpriced for what you get.  I’d say it’s a toss up between the Hilton > and Embassy.  I usually shoot for the Hilton first but have no second > thoughts about the Embassy.  If they’re both full, I’d go into town, > actually before I’d stay at the Hyatt.

Thanks for the feedback.  I’m going to do the Embassy Suites for my layover at BOS as I managed to snag a good deal.  The pricing at the Hyatt is ridicilous compared to the Hilton and Embassy, presuming the properties are similar in what they offer (unless the Hyatt offers a great deal more, but from looking at the Hyatt & Hilton websites, I don’t see any significant difference). The ES looks good from their website, has a 6pm cx policy vs a 4pm on the Hilton, the property has the ammenties I’m seeking, and a nice dip in the jacuzzu will be good after a long day of international travel.   Just too bad I’m departing early in the AM the next day and can’t take advantage of the breakfast included at the ES.   The later cx policy is good in case I need to back out at the last minute because of flight irregularities (not expecting any, but you just never know). I did look at the Marriott — looks good, but I don’t want to deal with any transportation hassle.  I just want to go from plane, clear US Immigrations/Customs and get to the hotel without any hassle. Steve

Response:

>Last but not least, since on the subject, how about LGW lodging?  I’ve >stayed at the LGW Marriott Renessance several times over the past few >months — I have had a couple of good stays, but have had a few bad ones. >While it’s decently priced at 60 quid, it’s been unpredictable and of five >visits, the jacuzzi has never been working/open (either chemicals out of >whack or maint problems).  Other problems include heat not working and >broken lifts (elevators) on a semi-regular basis.  I’d like to find >something with more consistency at LGW when it comes to service and >functional facilities.  When traveling to London (and using LGW), I often >stay at an LGW airport hotel the night prior to returning to the states to >avoid the trip from central London in the morning.

I’ve been happy enough with the Copthorne. There’s a on-property lesiure centre that is nice and the private bar is good also. Best thing for me is that the rooms are quiet. Can be a bit confusing to find your room though. The halls are long and not necesarily logical. Don’t think you’ll get a room there for

Question:

I believe the hotel is called the Airport Hilton and is about 2 miles from the airport. From the hotel to the ship should take about 20 minutes and about 25 minutes from ship back to the airport.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have booked a cruise with HAL on the l4th of March for a 14 day cruise. > We > booked our own air, and booked a hotel through HAL.  They tell me the > hotel is > Tampa Hilton Airport hotel.  How far is this from the airport, and also > was > wondering if they have a shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel. We are > leaving > on the 13th for a pre-night stay. > Also, HAL will pick us up at the Hotel and take us to the ship.  How far > is this > hotel from the pier, and also, what is the name of the pier?  Also > wondering how > much time will be spent getting from the ship to the airport on > disembarkation > day.  Our flight doesn’t leave until 1 PM, but would have to be at the > airport > to check in 2 hours before, which would mean 11 AM.  Is this a problem. > Thanks > in advance for any information you can give me.  L.B. > I assume that means the Westshore Hilton. It is something like 2 or 3 miles > from the airport. There is a free shuttle from the airport.  The port is not > very far away, so the real question is what time they decide to disembark > you. > Paul

Response:

We have booked a cruise with HAL on the l4th of March for a 14 day cruise.  We booked our own air, and booked a hotel through HAL.  They tell me the hotel is Tampa Hilton Airport hotel.  How far is this from the airport, and also was wondering if they have a shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel. We are leaving on the 13th for a pre-night stay. Also, HAL will pick us up at the Hotel and take us to the ship.  How far is this hotel from the pier, and also, what is the name of the pier?  Also wondering how much time will be spent getting from the ship to the airport on disembarkation day.  Our flight doesn’t leave until 1 PM, but would have to be at the airport to check in 2 hours before, which would mean 11 AM.  Is this a problem.  Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.  L.B.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have booked a cruise with HAL on the l4th of March for a 14 day cruise. We > booked our own air, and booked a hotel through HAL.  They tell me the hotel is > Tampa Hilton Airport hotel.  How far is this from the airport, and also was > wondering if they have a shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel. We are leaving > on the 13th for a pre-night stay. > Also, HAL will pick us up at the Hotel and take us to the ship.  How far is this > hotel from the pier, and also, what is the name of the pier?  Also wondering how > much time will be spent getting from the ship to the airport on disembarkation > day.  Our flight doesn’t leave until 1 PM, but would have to be at the airport > to check in 2 hours before, which would mean 11 AM.  Is this a problem. Thanks > in advance for any information you can give me.  L.B.

I assume that means the Westshore Hilton. It is something like 2 or 3 miles from the airport. There is a free shuttle from the airport.  The port is not very far away, so the real question is what time they decide to disembark you. Paul

Response:

We have booked a cruise with HAL on the l4th of March for a 14 day cruise.  We booked our own air, and booked a hotel through HAL.  They tell me the hotel is Tampa Hilton Airport hotel.  How far is this from the airport, and also was wondering if they have a shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel. We are leaving on the 13th for a pre-night stay. Also, HAL will pick us up at the Hotel and take us to the ship.  How far is this hotel from the pier, and also, what is the name of the pier?  Also wondering how much time will be spent getting from the ship to the airport on disembarkation day.  Our flight doesn’t leave until 1 PM, but would have to be at the airport to check in 2 hours before, which would mean 11 AM.  Is this a problem.  Thanks in advance for any information you can give me.  L.B.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have booked a cruise with HAL on the l4th of March for a 14 day cruise. We > booked our own air, and booked a hotel through HAL.  They tell me the hotel is > Tampa Hilton Airport hotel.  How far is this from the airport, and also was > wondering if they have a shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel. We are leaving > on the 13th for a pre-night stay. > Also, HAL will pick us up at the Hotel and take us to the ship.  How far is this > hotel from the pier, and also, what is the name of the pier?  Also wondering how > much time will be spent getting from the ship to the airport on disembarkation > day.  Our flight doesn’t leave until 1 PM, but would have to be at the airport > to check in 2 hours before, which would mean 11 AM.  Is this a problem. Thanks > in advance for any information you can give me.  L.B.

I assume that means the Westshore Hilton. It is something like 2 or 3 miles from the airport. There is a free shuttle from the airport.  The port is not very far away, so the real question is what time they decide to disembark you. Paul

Response:

I believe the hotel is called the Airport Hilton and is about 2 miles from the airport. From the hotel to the ship should take about 20 minutes and about 25 minutes from ship back to the airport.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have booked a cruise with HAL on the l4th of March for a 14 day cruise. > We > booked our own air, and booked a hotel through HAL.  They tell me the > hotel is > Tampa Hilton Airport hotel.  How far is this from the airport, and also > was > wondering if they have a shuttle from the Airport to the Hotel. We are > leaving > on the 13th for a pre-night stay. > Also, HAL will pick us up at the Hotel and take us to the ship.  How far > is this > hotel from the pier, and also, what is the name of the pier?  Also > wondering how > much time will be spent getting from the ship to the airport on > disembarkation > day.  Our flight doesn’t leave until 1 PM, but would have to be at the > airport > to check in 2 hours before, which would mean 11 AM.  Is this a problem. > Thanks > in advance for any information you can give me.  L.B. > I assume that means the Westshore Hilton. It is something like 2 or 3 miles > from the airport. There is a free shuttle from the airport.  The port is not > very far away, so the real question is what time they decide to disembark > you. > Paul

Response:

Question:

I didnt see much in Taipei airport except very expensive goods – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Maybe the airport may be worthwhile itself. I remember Singapore > Changi where the airport muzac actually was performed by a > string quartet.  I sat down with my Heineken and gave them > a listen before I went shopping. They were really good. > Mette Li > Hello…next March I will have a 4 hour layover at CKS (Taipei) > airport.  I understand that I likely will not have time to head into > town and do any sightseeing, but is there anything to see very near > the airport?  Would it be feasable to hire a taxi to give me a quick > 1 hour tour or something to that effect?  Never been to Taiwan > before so I’m curious.  Also, my luggage will be checked in Manila > for travel onward to CVG via LAX.  Will this cause any problems for > my luggage (i.e., being removed from plane) if I exit the airport >       for an hour or two?  Thanks in advance for the advice. Craig

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello…next March I will have a 4 hour layover at CKS (Taipei) airport. I > understand that I likely will not have time to head into town and do any > sightseeing, but is there anything to see very near the airport?  Would it > be feasable to hire a taxi to give me a quick 1 hour tour or something to > that effect?  Never been to Taiwan before so I’m curious.  Also, my luggage > will be checked in Manila for travel onward to CVG via LAX.  Will this cause > any problems for my luggage (i.e., being removed from plane) if I exit the > airport for an hour or two?  Thanks in advance for the advice. >       Craig > — > "They that can give up essential liberty to > obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither > liberty nor safety." — Benjamin Franklin > Concerned with the direction our government > is going?  VOTE LIBERTARIAN

There’s 2 terminals at CKS, and there’s very little to do at the old terminal 1.  Terminal 2 has a few more shops and lounges.  If you don’t have access to one of the airline lounges, you can pay a small charge to enter "The More" lounge upstairs in Terminal 2.  There’s internet, showers, and snacks there, among other things.  I know EVA and United use terminal 2, and China Airlines and Cathay use terminal 1.  Can’t remember the others.  CKS has a website at http://www1.cksairport.gov.tw/english/ Taipei is about a 45 minute drive, so you probably don’t have time to see the city, and there’s really nothing to do near the airport.  I’ve seen the air museum too as I pass by, but it doesn’t look like much.  Sometimes there’s a retired China Airlines A300 or a "Grand Air" (out of business?) 737-200 sitting around.

Response:

> But remember, Changi is the most exellent airport on the face > of this planet (IATA awards), so it may be abit unfair to project > this expectation level onto Taipei… just a thought > Preft

 If Changi is the best – then Taipei right before Yangon in Myanmar must be at the bottom of the list (and I do not know how the main North Korean airport is like) at least in Asia… Have a nice stay! Nik

Response:

> Maybe the airport may be worthwhile itself. I remember Singapore > Changi where the airport muzac actually was performed by a > string quartet.  I sat down with my Heineken and gave them > a listen before I went shopping. They were really good.

I haven’t been to Taipei for a few years but I don’t remember it being any great source of amusement. A bunch of people walking through really crowded, narrow corridors, and a lot of vending machines. miguel — See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

Response:

But remember, Changi is the most exellent airport on the face of this planet (IATA awards), so it may be abit unfair to project this expectation level onto Taipei… just a thought Preft – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Maybe the airport may be worthwhile itself. I remember Singapore > Changi where the airport muzac actually was performed by a > string quartet.  I sat down with my Heineken and gave them > a listen before I went shopping. They were really good. > Mette Li > Hello…next March I will have a 4 hour layover at CKS (Taipei) airport.  I > understand that I likely will not have time to head into town and do any > sightseeing, but is there anything to see very near the airport?  Would it > be feasable to hire a taxi to give me a quick 1 hour tour or something to > that effect?  Never been to Taiwan before so I’m curious.  Also, my luggage > will be checked in Manila for travel onward to CVG via LAX.  Will this cause > any problems for my luggage (i.e., being removed from plane) if I exit the > airport for an hour or two?  Thanks in advance for the advice. >       Craig

Response:

>Hello…next March I will have a 4 hour layover at CKS (Taipei) airport.  I >understand that I likely will not have time to head into town and do any >sightseeing, but is there anything to see very near the airport?  Would it >be feasable to hire a taxi to give me a quick 1 hour tour or something to >that effect?  Never been to Taiwan before so I’m curious.  Also, my luggage >will be checked in Manila for travel onward to CVG via LAX.  Will this cause >any problems for my luggage (i.e., being removed from plane) if I exit the >airport for an hour or two?  Thanks in advance for the advice. >      Craig

There’s an air museum right near the airport, might be worth going to. I see it every time I pass through CKS airport but have never checked it out. —- The Chiang Kai-shek Aviation Museum The Chiang Kai-shek Aviation Museum is located next to the CKS International Airport Hotel, two kilometers from the airport terminal building. The museum features exhibitions focusing on the history of aviation development both in ROC and in the world. You could also research Tzuhu (where the old generalissimo himself is awaiting his return to the mainland) to see if it’s doable. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany — "it’s the network…"                          "The Journey is the reward" Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:  http://www.speff.com

Response:

Maybe the airport may be worthwhile itself. I remember Singapore Changi where the airport muzac actually was performed by a string quartet.  I sat down with my Heineken and gave them a listen before I went shopping. They were really good. Mette Li – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello…next March I will have a 4 hour layover at CKS (Taipei) airport.  I > understand that I likely will not have time to head into town and do any > sightseeing, but is there anything to see very near the airport?  Would it > be feasable to hire a taxi to give me a quick 1 hour tour or something to > that effect?  Never been to Taiwan before so I’m curious.  Also, my luggage > will be checked in Manila for travel onward to CVG via LAX.  Will this cause > any problems for my luggage (i.e., being removed from plane) if I exit the > airport for an hour or two?  Thanks in advance for the advice. >       Craig

Response:

Hello…next March I will have a 4 hour layover at CKS (Taipei) airport.  I understand that I likely will not have time to head into town and do any sightseeing, but is there anything to see very near the airport?  Would it be feasable to hire a taxi to give me a quick 1 hour tour or something to that effect?  Never been to Taiwan before so I’m curious.  Also, my luggage will be checked in Manila for travel onward to CVG via LAX.  Will this cause any problems for my luggage (i.e., being removed from plane) if I exit the airport for an hour or two?  Thanks in advance for the advice.       Craig — "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." — Benjamin Franklin Concerned with the direction our government is going?  VOTE LIBERTARIAN

Response:

Question:

> Am doing a business trip to China which is requiring an overnight in > Bangkok.  Any recommendations for good accomodations near the BKK airport??? > The Amari looks fine but seems rather extreme in pricing for the quality of > service. > Comfort Suites no longer seems to appear on the Choice Hotels’ website.

I stayed at the Rama Gardens Hotel on my way to Ranong last year. Very nice hotel with spacious rooms, about US$ 60, a few minutes from Don Muang by cab. They also have a shuttle bus service. The place is non-smoking, but smokers can go to the beer garden. Can be booked on-line. M

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> OK, but the airlines cleary *request* that you check in at least 2 >> hours before takeoff , or would you like to debate that ? >Not much point. It’s not in dispute that they request it. >Likewise, the state police request that you not drive 57 in a 55 mile per >hour zone. >miguel >Ahh so you must be one of the morons who check in 10 mins before >departure and make the plane late for everyone >-

Hey Tony, the man: did miss your comments – - holidays or simply fed up with the morons?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->>That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some >>other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in >>case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that. >I hope that is not for an international flight , as checking in at >least 2 hours prior to takeoff is standard and required on most >flights. > I normally leave even less time than Tchiowa does. I can’t remember > the last time I checked-in more than an hour before the flight was due > to depart. I take around 20 international flights a year, and haven’t > missed one yet. You spend time standing in check-in queues if you > want, I’ve got better things to do with my time.

I agree. The biggest reason I plan to arrive 90 minutes before flight is not so much check-in time but "just in case" to allow for traffic problems. If I plan for 90 minutes and traffic is bad I still have plenty of time once at the airport. I don’t like feeling rushed when I’m getting ready for a flight.

Response:

> >> That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some >> other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in >> case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that. > I hope that is not for an international flight , as checking in at > least 2 hours prior to takeoff is standard and required on most > flights. > Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I > fell asleep in the airport and missed it.

It is not required in Bangkok. The New Jersey shape-shifter is just trying to pick fights. I don’t think there is an actual requirement anywhere. But there are "recommendations". In SFO they were recommending arriving 3 hours before flight time.

Response:

  > Ahh so you must be one of the morons who check in 10 mins before > departure and make the plane late for everyone

Nonsense.. Many airlines REQUIRE you to be at the GATE 15 or 20 minutes before departure. The only time I have not made this is when I was connecting and the first flight arrived late.  Then, they usually let you board. If you want to be safe and arrive at the airport, fine. But there is NO way I am showing up at 5AM for a 7AM Saturday flight to SNA. If I miss the required time to be at the gate, it is not your problem. If he checks in 10 minutes before flight time, and he was required to be at the gate 20 minutes before, then he will be denied boarding.  I suspect the cause of planes departing late because of late arriving passengers is usually do to connections or abnormal security delays.

Response:

>> Likewise, the state police request that you not drive 57 in a 55 mile per > hour zone. > Ahh so you must be one of the morons who check in 10 mins before > departure and make the plane late for everyone

Maybe twice in the past few years I’ve been the last person on the plane, and they weren’t international flights (just Southwest 1-hour hops). Fact is there’s just a whole lot of sitting around in the departure lounge to look forward to if you get there that early. Also I’m pretty sure if I had been arguing in favor of getting there three hours in advance you’d be the first one in line to tell me what a moron I was for not getting there at the last minute. miguel — See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

Response:

>>That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some >other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in >case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that. >I hope that is not for an international flight , as checking in at >least 2 hours prior to takeoff is standard and required on most >flights.

*******5555555  Not if you are the "great Tchiowa".  

Response:

>>>Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I >>fell asleep in the airport and missed it. >Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did >you sleep through the last 3 years also. >Which takes all of 10 minutes to complete.

Try doing it at JFK in NYC in 10 min.

Response:

> >> Likewise, the state police request that you not drive 57 in a 55 mile per >> hour zone. > Ahh so you must be one of the morons who check in 10 mins before > departure and make the plane late for everyone > Maybe twice in the past few years I’ve been the last person on the plane, > and they weren’t international flights (just Southwest 1-hour hops). > Fact is there’s just a whole lot of sitting around in the departure lounge > to look forward to if you get there that early.

[snip]    It’s actually been getting quicker for me internationally that pre 9-11. I used to budget 2- 3 hours before international flights out of major airports.  On more than one occasion, I’ve used it all.  Nominally, these days, getting there 2 hours is an assurance that you’ll get through in about 20 minutes.  The hard part is having the kahoonahs to do something like Miguel is talking about.  There is this weird sorta curve you experience.  As the flight approaches, the time it takes gets longer, more folks are arriving and checking in.  Then, at some point, folks stop arriving and it actually takes LESS time.      Now it is very airport and time of day dependent.  For example, on some airlines, like Virgin out of MCO for example, they only have a couple of flights a day.  However, BA out of Gatwick may have a boat load.  So you can find yourself in line with a bunch of folks whose flights leave after yours.      One of the bigger risks you actually run is with checked luggage. They need a finite amount of time to get your luggage through and onto the plane.  If you aren’t on it, they have to take your luggage off, but under some circumstances, if you’re on it, but your luggagge isn’t, they can still leave.  So arriving late might get you on the plane, but your luggage won’t.  Miguel travels almost exclusively with carry on so this isn’t an issue for him.      Domestically I had an odd experience.  I went up to get through security, and we practically walked straight through.  We were there 3 hours early (went to the airport with folks leaving earlier).  I got stopped at security because I had forgotten to remove my pocket knife.  I had to go back and mail it to myself.  When I returned about 10 minutes later, there was a HUGE line at security.  Half hour later, you could walk straight through again.     Airports experience surges, the smaller, the bigger the impact of the surges.  If you are familar with the airport, and their surges, you can easily show up with in the hour of your departure and still get on your plane.  In some cases, even when your wrong, the airline will tend to work with you to get you on (unless they are heavily overbooked, then you may have effectively just "volunteered" to be bumped).

Response:

Wah Shizzle says: > OK, but the airlines cleary *request* that you check in at least 2 > hours before takeoff , or would you like to debate that ?

They can request it all they want, until it is REQUIRED, I will show up in the amount of time I need to be there in order to make it to the gate by the REQUIRED boarding time.  If its two hours, it is two hours. BTW, is that two hours at the counters, or at the back of the line? The link you posted said "at the airport"… Now, if I am checking in at the First Class counter, do I need the same two hours? If it is the first flight of the day, do I need to be at the airport two hours early if the counter people show up only an hour before the flight?

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>>Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I >fell asleep in the airport and missed it. > Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did > you sleep through the last 3 years also.

What "international security"?  The only difference is that I can’t use the Kiosk.  I check in, get a boarding pass. Take myself and my carryon and a lot of the time through the same security checkpoint domestic flyers are going through.  I doubt the airline has flagged me as an international flier for the TSA people at the checkpoint.

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>No, but I’ve taken maybe eighty international flights in the last 3 years >and haven’t been 2 hours early for a single one – nor did I miss any of >them.

I went through a long process in Pudong (Shanghai) last week, and you might want to allow some extra time there. 1. Go to UA checkin, miss obscure sign saying you need to have your temperature taken before checkin. 2. Spot second sign, hit forehead, leave line and walk 100m to center of terminal, fill out form,get in line of about 10 people, walk past a temperature detector, get form stamped. 3. Back to UA, get in biz class line with about 6 people ahead. Moved slowly for no good reason. Get boarding pass. 4. Go to airport tax booth, no line. Pay RMB90, get card like metros use. 5. Get in short line to put card through machine. 6. Get in line of about 20 people putting goods through an x-ray machine run by customs. 7. Get in line of about 10 people getting exit clearance from immigration 8. Get in line of about 10 people clearing security. Walk through metal detector with steel shanked shoes ("shoes no problem") and laptop in carryon. No problem. 9. Go to gate. If you were in the economy check in line, you would probably need all two hours. In the biz class line, it took about 40 minutes.

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>>That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some >other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in >case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that. >I hope that is not for an international flight , as checking in at >least 2 hours prior to takeoff is standard and required on most >flights.

I normally leave even less time than Tchiowa does. I can’t remember the last time I checked-in more than an hour before the flight was due to depart. I take around 20 international flights a year, and haven’t missed one yet. You spend time standing in check-in queues if you want, I’ve got better things to do with my time.

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>>Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I >fell asleep in the airport and missed it. >Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did >you sleep through the last 3 years also.

Which takes all of 10 minutes to complete.

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I stayed at the Amari 3 nights ago. I don’t know how much it was – part of a package. I do know that the hotel is directly connected to the airport arrivals hall. No cab ride (you don’t even go outside), 2 minutes walk from arrivals hall to hotel reception and back from hotel reception to check-in the next morning. No extra time allowance for traffic jams. No cab fairs. Fan-bloody-tastic. Pay the dough and do the Amari.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Am doing a business trip to China which is requiring an overnight in > Bangkok.  Any recommendations for good accomodations near the BKK airport??? > The Amari looks fine but seems rather extreme in pricing for the quality of > service. > Comfort Suites no longer seems to appear on the Choice Hotels’ website. > I was told the Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok is considered an airport hotel, > but is it really that close??? > Since I’m arriving at 11:30 p.m., I figure the drive in wouldn’t be too bad, > but I would think that I would have to leave at around 7:30 a.m. to catch a > 10:30 flight. > Rich > — > Visit America’s Aviation Headquarters: > www.usaviation.com

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> OK, but the airlines cleary *request* that you check in at least 2 > hours before takeoff , or would you like to debate that ?

Not much point. It’s not in dispute that they request it. Likewise, the state police request that you not drive 57 in a 55 mile per hour zone. miguel — See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

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>> That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some > other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in > case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that. > I hope that is not for an international flight , as checking in at > least 2 hours prior to takeoff is standard and required on most > flights.

Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I fell asleep in the airport and missed it. miguel — See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

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>Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I >fell asleep in the airport and missed it.

Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did you sleep through the last 3 years also. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->miguel >– >See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

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>> Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I > fell asleep in the airport and missed it. > Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did > you sleep through the last 3 years also.

No, but I’ve taken maybe eighty international flights in the last 3 years and haven’t been 2 hours early for a single one – nor did I miss any of them. miguel — See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

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>>> Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I >> fell asleep in the airport and missed it. > Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did > you sleep through the last 3 years also. >No, but I’ve taken maybe eighty international flights in the last 3 years >and haven’t been 2 hours early for a single one – nor did I miss any of >them.

OK, but the airlines cleary *request* that you check in at least 2 hours before takeoff , or would you like to debate that ? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->miguel >– >See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

Response:

>>> Required in what sense? The only time I was 2 hours early for a flight I >> fell asleep in the airport and missed it. > Required for something nowadays called International Security , or did > you sleep through the last 3 years also. >No, but I’ve taken maybe eighty international flights in the last 3 years >and haven’t been 2 hours early for a single one – nor did I miss any of >them. >miguel

Not sure how well a sleepy greasy Mexican like you can read , but give it a try. http://www.nwa.com/features/update_airport.shtml – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->– >See the world from your web browser: http://travel.u.nu/

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> Am doing a business trip to China which is requiring an overnight in > Bangkok.  Any recommendations for good accomodations near the BKK airport??? > The Amari looks fine but seems rather extreme in pricing for the quality of > service. > Comfort Suites no longer seems to appear on the Choice Hotels’ website. > I was told the Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok is considered an airport hotel, > but is it really that close???

20 minute taxi ride, depending on traffic. Not really an "airport hotel" but close enough. > Since I’m arriving at 11:30 p.m., I figure the drive in wouldn’t be too bad, > but I would think that I would have to leave at around 7:30 a.m. to catch a > 10:30 flight.

That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that.

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http://www.ebinahouse.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Am doing a business trip to China which is requiring an overnight in > Bangkok.  Any recommendations for good accomodations near the BKK airport??? > The Amari looks fine but seems rather extreme in pricing for the quality of > service. > Comfort Suites no longer seems to appear on the Choice Hotels’ website. > I was told the Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok is considered an airport hotel, > but is it really that close??? > Since I’m arriving at 11:30 p.m., I figure the drive in wouldn’t be too bad, > but I would think that I would have to leave at around 7:30 a.m. to catch a > 10:30 flight. > Rich > — > Visit America’s Aviation Headquarters: > www.usaviation.com

Response:

>That’s plenty of time. Check in at Don Muang isn’t as bad as some >other airports. I arrive about 90 minutes before a flight (just in >case) and usually spend only 10-15 minutes on check in, if that.

I hope that is not for an international flight , as checking in at least 2 hours prior to takeoff is standard and required on most flights.

Response:

Am doing a business trip to China which is requiring an overnight in Bangkok.  Any recommendations for good accomodations near the BKK airport??? The Amari looks fine but seems rather extreme in pricing for the quality of service. Comfort Suites no longer seems to appear on the Choice Hotels’ website. I was told the Sofitel Central Plaza Bangkok is considered an airport hotel, but is it really that close??? Since I’m arriving at 11:30 p.m., I figure the drive in wouldn’t be too bad, but I would think that I would have to leave at around 7:30 a.m. to catch a 10:30 flight. Rich — Visit America’s Aviation Headquarters: www.usaviation.com

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