Travel Blog: News and Briefs
“United 93”: Editors, Writers and 9/11 Family Members Speak Out
by Michael Yessis | 04.10.06 | 7:21 AM ET
The movie “United 93” opens in less than three weeks, and it’s certainly on a lot of people’s minds. Families of those on the flight that went down in a Pennsylvania field on 9/11 were given a private screening Saturday in Newark, New Jersey. Los Angeles Times writer Scott Martelle reports that the families lauded “Universal Studios and director Paul Greengrass for what they felt was a realistic re-creation of events whose true details can only be guessed at.” At Slate, the editors have posted an interesting internal e-mail discussion about the controversy over the “United 93” trailer, which at least one New York City theater pulled last week. Meanwhile, at Time, someone (I don’t see a byline) has written a story that covers several 9/11-related movies in the works, goes behind the scenes of “United 93,” and delivers another positive review of the movie.
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Yahoo! BuzzWould You Like an Upgrade to First Class, Viscountess?
by Michael Yessis | 04.10.06 | 6:05 AM ET
David Owen has a funny Talk of the Town item in the latest New Yorker highlighting all the honorifics Emirates Airlines offers to members of its frequent-flier program, Skywards. The list starts with Mr., Ms. and Mrs. and seems to include just about every title known to man. Al-Haj. Archdeacon. Dame. Swami. Vice Admiral. Viscountess. It goes on. Owen writes: “Anyone who chooses King obviously goes in first class, Private in economy, Wing Cmdr in an exit row. But what about Cardinal? Does he belong in first class (by virtue of his position in the ecclesiastical hierarchy), economy (for doctrinal seemliness), or business (a possible compromise)? Are Prince and Princess the business-class versions of The Prince and The Princess, or do all royals automatically belong in first? If you accumulate enough miles for a cabin upgrade, do you get a title upgrade, too? And if you’re just a Representative (or a Member of Parliament), rather than a Senator (or a Lord), what are you supposed to do? Fly Delta?”
Beware of Foreign Accent Syndrome!
by Michael Yessis | 04.07.06 | 1:56 PM ET
At first I thought it might be another of Gadling’s April Fool’s Day posts, but, oh, it’s real. Too real. Last night I saw on ABC’s Primetime how Foreign Accent Syndrome almost ripped apart at least one Michigan family, making a child cry for a good few seconds, when his mother woke up speaking not with her usual Midwestern accent but with one that made her sound vaguely like a Russian transplant. According to a BBC article from a few years back, it is a real condition.
Russia Plans to Implement Lie Detector Tests For Airline Passengers
by Michael Yessis | 04.07.06 | 1:52 PM ET
A lie detector system could be in use at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport by July, according to Adrian Blomfield’s story in the Telegraph. Travelers’ voices will be analyzed for stresses as they respond to four questions. Blomfield writes: “The first is for full identity; the second, unnerving in its Soviet-style abruptness, demands: ‘Have you ever lied to the authorities?’ It then asks whether either weapons or narcotics are being carried.”
Oh Flight Attendant, There’s a Rat Crawling Up My Leg
by Jim Benning | 04.06.06 | 5:19 PM ET
Gridskipper has the gory details on the rodent, the LA-NYC American Airlines flight, and the yelping.
The Coming of Bushland?
by Jim Benning | 04.06.06 | 5:05 PM ET
We missed this, probably because it appeared on Saturday, when we often try to stay far, far away from our computers. Gadling posted some funny April Fool’s Day blog items, including Bushland to Open. “Fans of America’s 43rd president will finally have something to rejoice about later this month when the new Bushland presidential theme park opens,” writes Neil Woodburn. “Built atop the breeding grounds of the endangered Texas blind salamander, Bushland embraces the life and accomplishments of George W. This wonderful family getaway has something for all ages; the Michael Moore Harpoon Toss, the Cheney Shooting Range, the Deficit Roller Coaster (which only goes up), and the Karl Rove Spinner (the opening of the Karl Rove Steamboat Cruise has been postponed until problematic leaks are fixed).”
Anti-Terrorism Officers Escort Clash, Led Zeppelin Fan Off Plane
by Jim Benning | 04.05.06 | 5:06 PM ET
Crazy story: According to Reuters, anti-terrorism detectives escorted a 24-year-old man off of a London-bound airplane in Britain after he was singing along to “London Calling” by The Clash as it played from his MP3 player during the taxi ride to the airport. The taxi driver heard what he thought were suspicious lyrics—among them, “Now war is declared—and the battle come down”—and contacted authorities. The man was hauled off the plane before take-off, questioned and later freed, missing his flight. The rocker-traveler, Harraj Mann, reportedly told the Daily Mirror, “He (the taxi driver) didn’t like Led Zeppelin or The Clash but I don’t think there was any need to tell the police.” Mann makes a good point. Now, if Mann had been listening to Yanni before his flight, well, that would have been another matter.
One Thousand Places to See Because They’re Disappearing?
by Jim Benning | 04.05.06 | 9:18 AM ET
Newsweek International and MSNBC.com have published a terrific story surveying the many threats posed to some of the world’s most iconic destinations, from the Great Wall of China (believe it or not, tourists are riding go-carts along it) to Mount Kilimanjaro (thanks to deforestation and global warming, the famous “Snows of Kilimanjaro” could be gone in 15 years) to New Orleans (water!).
Theater Pulls Trailer for 9/11 Film ‘United 93’
by Jim Benning | 04.04.06 | 10:39 PM ET
At least one New York movie theater has pulled the trailer for the new 9/11 movie, “United 93,” after one movie-goer who saw it apparently broke down in tears. The film chronicles events aboard the ill-fated United Airlines flight that crashed in a Pennsylvania field despite a heroic passenger revolt. It’s expected to open at the Tribeca Film Festival later this month. In January, we pointed out a New York Times story about the making of the film, then called “Flight 93.” Director Paul Greengrass told the paper, “One of the reasons why Flight 93 exerts such a powerful hold on our imaginations is precisely because we don’t know exactly what happened.” Be that as it may, I won’t be lining up to see the movie. Count me among the many who say it’s way too soon.
The Future of Travel: Travel + Leisure’s 35 Innovators
by Michael Yessis | 04.04.06 | 1:03 PM ET
Bless you Joe Ferry and your quest for better airline seats. Thank You Hermann Freidanck for trying to make airline food edible. And good luck Creenagh Lodge with your efforts to brand destinations, which, as we’ve seen, can be a minefield. These are three of Travel + Leisure’s 35 travel innovators, featured in the magazine’s April issue to commemorate its 35th anniversary. It’s a compelling, comprehensive look at the future of travel. It’ll be interesting to see how many of these innovators’ ideas take hold.
Thomas Swick Discovers Paradise
by Jim Benning | 04.03.06 | 6:10 PM ET
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel travel editor recently visited the Cook Islands. He stayed at the Paradise Inn. He lathered himself in sunblock. He perspired. He snorkeled. And as he writes in Sunday’s paper, he had a realization about paradise.
South Florida: Home of the Major Cruise Ship Lines and the Lawyers Who Love Them
by Michael Yessis | 03.31.06 | 12:00 PM ET
The Miami Herald published a fascinating package of stories last week about attorneys who specialize in representing cruise ship passengers and crew members. According to the Herald’s Amy Martinez, about 15 South Florida lawyers have created a thriving cottage industry by suing the big cruise lines.
Smell This! Westin’s Unique Ad Campaign.
by Jim Benning | 03.30.06 | 12:28 PM ET
My wife, Leslie, has a game she likes to play. Every once in a while, she dabs on some lotion from one of the hotels where we’ve stayed in recent years, rubs it into her hands and holds them up to my nose. “Where’s this from?” she demands with a grin. I take a whiff. My olfactory glands spring into action. Messages are relayed from my nose to my brain, and I find myself saying something like, “Maui. Definitely that place on Maui.” Or: “Is that from the hotel in Guadalajara?” More often than not, to my surprise, I’m right. The nose knows. Westin Hotels & Resorts must know this, too.
Celebrity Travel Watch: President Bush in Cancun*
by Theodore Fez | 03.30.06 | 9:35 AM ET
I know what you’re thinking: Yawn! President Bush is no celebrity, and this is not the Real Cancun! Has Theodore Fez lost his marbles? The answer is…no way! I’m a fashion hound, and what I saw in the press photos from the big honchos’ Cancun meeting today made me feel both shock and awe!
For Sale: Used Hotel Furnishings
by Michael Yessis | 03.29.06 | 1:53 PM ET
USA Today’s Roger Yu reports that the market for used hotel furniture is hot. As hotels upgrade their amenities, liquidators are buying up the old TVs, desks and other furniture and selling the items to the public. Yu writes that deals abound: a 27-inch color TV for $60, an eight-drawer armoire for $299, a TV credenza for $450. He’s also put together a list of hotel liquidators with showrooms around the country.
