December 27, 2007
The Gate has moved
The Gate has moved to a new site called Boarding Area. Please update your bookmarks and RSS feeds.
The address may have changed but the message is still the same - it is all about Flyer Talk. And, Canarsie and I have some new features to play with.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 2:56 PM
December 25, 2007
A Lost and Found Story with a Happy Ending, Thanks to FlyerTalk!
I have been saving this one for Christmas Day to get all of you in the Christmas spirit:
Urgent lost and found help is a real lost and found story posted by FlyerTalk member photojojo that has a happy ending and will truly warm your heart.
If you are a FlyerTalk member, this story will make you proud to be a FlyerTalk member.
If you are not a FlyerTalk member, then what are you waiting for?!? Join now!!!
Posted by Canarsie at 1:11 AM
December 24, 2007
MAXjet Files for Bankruptcy Protection, Ceases Flights and Operations
What do you do next if you are holding tickets on a MAXjet flight? What will happen to the company? Where do you go to find out more information?
Start here in the either the MaxJet Files for Bankruptcy or MAXjet Ceases Operations on 12/24/2007 threads. There are also threads pertaining to MAXjet in the Continental Airlines, British Airways and United Airlines forums on FlyerTalk as well.
For those of you who are not familiar with MAXjet, this airline offered all-premium-class service between London and New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Posted by Canarsie at 11:05 AM
December 23, 2007
12 days of Christmas
Read this thread for the 12 days of Christmas, BA style. Happy holidays everyone.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 10:22 AM
December 22, 2007
Should Companies Purchase Business Class Airline Tickets for Employees Traveling on Overseas International Flights?
If you read the opinions stated in the Company won't let me sit in business class thread, you will see that the answer depends on the individual FlyerTalk member who posts and the situation regarding company culture and corporate policy.
In the case of FlyerTalk member Ryan123, who launched the featured thread, the company for whom he works has a national corporate policy which states that business class is authorized for all international flights except to Mexico and Canada. However, the local office of the company for which he works refuses to allow him or any of his colleagues to fly in the business class cabin to Europe, to where he has flown six times last year.
Is this fair? Is this right? What do you think?
Posted by Canarsie at 11:18 PM
December 21, 2007
Go to HEL!
Whether you want to take a Weekend Trip to Helsinki, stay in Helsinki for 11 hours or find a nice restaurant using the Helsinki Dining Guide, Helsinki is a destination you may want to strongly consider.
Although I have never been there, the reason why I say this is because so many people have told me to go to HEL that I figured that it must be a really popular destination that is highly recommended by many people...
...what do you mean that they were not referring to the capital city in Finland to me?!?...
Posted by Canarsie at 12:51 PM
December 20, 2007
Saving Money Can Be a Real Gas!
These days, with fuel prices steadily on the increase, saving money at the petrol station is more important than ever.
I know I have had my fill of high gasoline prices.
Find out how in the CHEAP gas prices and Gas: Ways to save $ threads - but be prepared to get pumped for information from other FlyerTalk members.
Tank you very much.
Posted by Canarsie at 12:37 PM
December 19, 2007
Latest FT millionnaire in a year
bom_noite has collected a million hotel points in a year thanks to FT. Read how in the thread.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 1:46 PM
December 18, 2007
Visa: It is NOT Everywhere You Want to Be
No, I am not talking about the credit card. I mean, give me some credit!
Rather, have you ever refused to go to a country because of its high visa fee?
I know I have...
...Brazil and Russia immediately come to mind for me. I once had a choice of going to St. Petersburg in Russia or Malta. I chose Malta primarily because of the high visa fee imposed by Russia. As for Brazil, I stayed on the Argentina side of Iguassu Falls instead of on the Brazil side, again primarily due to the high visa fee imposed by Brazil.
Posted by Canarsie at 12:08 PM
December 17, 2007
Pizza!
Not to be crusty, but I repeat: I typically do not highlight FlyerTalk threads that I personally launch here in The Gate, but I am making another cheesy exception:
Where are the Best Pizza Places in the United States of America?
By the way, in Brooklyn we used to call them pizzerias.
Please do not slice into me that I highlighted another FlyerTalk thread lunched - er, I mean launched - by me. It is not like the toppings - er, I mean topics - of the threads are of a saucy nature or anything like that or that I was attempting to have the discussion mushroom in any way. Olive to highlight threads that may be of interest, that's all - threads that get to the meat of the information for which people are searching, simply to spice up everybody's day.
Posted by Canarsie at 12:15 PM
December 16, 2007
What is Your Traveler Intelligence Quotient?
I typically do not highlight FlyerTalk threads that I personally launch here in The Gate, but I am making an exception regarding a thread highlighting a challenge that is starting to take FlyerTalk by storm.
How well do you really know this planet of ours called Earth and its geography?
Find out by looking at The Traveler IQ Challenge thread and see just how good you really are at identifying places from around the world as quickly as possible.
Posted by Canarsie at 8:16 PM
December 15, 2007
Would You Pay $55.00 to Maintain Executive Elite Emerald Club Status?
National Car Rental has the Emerald Club program for frequent renters of its vehicles featuring Emerald Aisle service where one can bypass the rental counter and simply choose any vehicle in the Emerald Aisle section, check out at the exit and drive off. However, there is an Executive Elite status which offers such benefits as earning days of free car rentals sooner and an arguably better selection of vehicles. FlyerTalk member dbuckho is wondering if it is worth spending US$55.00 on two more car rentals from National Car Rental to qualify for Executive Elite Emerald Club status. Some FlyerTalk members believe it is; some do not.
Please weigh your thoughts, as well as read the comments of other FlyerTalk members, in the $55 to keep Executive Aisle - worth it? thread.
Posted by Canarsie at 12:06 PM
December 14, 2007
This Service Charge Just Isn't My Bag...
...or, at least that is representative of what the majority of Delta forum FlyerTalk members are posting in the New DL Service Charge as of 13DEC regarding charging US$3.00 per bag used for the transport of such items as car seats and backpacks on Delta Air Lines flights.
While many are opposed to it, some FlyerTalk members justify the charge, such as what FlyerTalk member FlyingUnderTheRadar says here. Others ask why all Delta Air Lines passengers should subsidize a service that only a minority of the passengers use.
However, the discussion has veered into a sarcastic yet humorous exchange on how else Delta Air Lines can "nickle-and-dime" their customers, such as charging for boarding passes, sticks of deodorant for those who need it, and a fee for standing in line at the gate before your zone was called.
By the way, that will be US$4.00 for reading this "blog" entry. Thank you very much.
Posted by Canarsie at 11:26 AM
December 13, 2007
Coca-Cola or Pepsi: Which Do You Prefer?
I suppose asking this decades-old question is like asking which came first: the chicken or the egg?
There may never be a consensus as to which soft drink is the clear (or caramel-colored) winner in the now-infamous "cola wars" spurred from countless cola taste tests, but you can certainly opine as well as read what others think when they want a cola to drink in The Billion Dollar Question: Coke or Pepsi? thread.
One caveat: I do not believe you will actually have a chance to win a billion dollars for answering the question correctly...
Posted by Canarsie at 11:43 PM
December 12, 2007
This person is clearly not an FTer
An FTer would not have almost died after drinking a litre of vodka to comply with liquid rules at an airport. The canny FTer would have packaged up in 100ml bottles in a clear 1litre bag to take through security. Read the comments on the thread.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 9:02 PM
December 11, 2007
Board the wrong plane?
Fess up, you are not alone even among FTers. Check out the discussion to find out how this can happen to anyone.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 4:44 PM
December 10, 2007
Who says we're obsessed with miles?
Check out FTers' tales of odd mileage earning exploits before answering the question.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 9:54 AM
December 9, 2007
A "Do Not Disturb" Sign While in Flight?
Having a Do Not Disturb sign while a passenger on an aircraft seems like a good idea, although it should be rather obvious whether or not the passenger wants to be disturbed at all. For example, if the passenger is sleeping, it is a rather safe bet that that passenger wishes not to be disturbed.
Then again, does the Do Not Disturb sign work at hotels?
Read all about this idea posted by FlyerTalk member Philoj - but please do not disturb Philoj whilst posting in the I want a "Do Not Disturb" sign while flying thread.
By the way, is turb the opposite of disturb? If so, is it possible to turb, or intentionally bother, someone?
Posted by Canarsie at 9:48 PM
December 7, 2007
Travelling on British Airways to/through/from London Gatwick?
If so, then you should read this thread about cancellations, delays and transfers to other airlines.
Posted by Kiwi Flyer at 9:50 AM
December 6, 2007
How Much Have You Profited From FlyerTalk?
Better yet, what is your idea or definition of profiting from FlyerTalk?
Is it all of the extra miles and points you earned because of FlyerTalk?
Is it all of the money you have saved because of FlyerTalk?
Some FlyerTalk members find that they cannot place a value on all of the new friends that they have met all over the world, all because of FlyerTalk.
Please post your thoughts, as well as read the thoughts of others, in the How much have you made from Flyertalk? thread.
Posted by Canarsie at 10:17 PM
December 4, 2007
Now That's Weird!
Pack extra ketchup, Earl Gray tea bags, condoms, a clothesline and scented candles in your carry-on baggage. Lug a body pillow with you. Bring your own bed sheets, deodorant for the rental car, plastic suction-cup hooks, a stuffed animal and a shirt belonging to your husband with his scent still lingering on it. Carry fresh flowers and family photographs large enough to cover the pictures in your hotel room. Read entries from that notorious "weblog" called The Gate.
Well, the last item I obviously just added myself, but if this partial list posted by fellow FlyerTalk members of Weird stuff you do to make your stay more comfortable does not intrigue you enough to read the thread, then I do not know what will and leads me to conclude that you are probably weird too.
Posted by Canarsie at 11:46 AM
December 3, 2007
So...Where ARE You From???
Perhaps you do not mind being asked that question, but FlyerTalk member Droneklax minds - perhaps even more so than being asked how his FlyerTalk name is pronounced.
Hint: It is not pronounced drone-klax.
Of course, somebody had to ask the obvious question, so it may as well be FlyerTalk member cptango.
Please read the I hate it when people ask me "where are you from"? thread for anecdotes, experiences and explanations from other FlyerTalk members who like to accent-uate the discussion.
Posted by Canarsie at 8:22 PM
December 2, 2007
Do the "Bump": What's the Secret to Booking on Oversold Flights?
This classic FlyerTalk thread discusses ways to get "bumped" from an aircraft in order to obtain credit vouchers on future flights on the airline from which you were "bumped", as well as extra incentives and benefits such as bonus miles and points, free meals and free lodging.
This question was asked when the thread was first launched back in 2003. Is it any easier or more difficult to score a "bump" from an airline today, and have the rules changed?
Please read the thread and find out.
Posted by Canarsie at 11:17 AM
December 1, 2007
Delta Flight Safety Cards: A Colorful Topic
...literally!
Keep tabs on this topic, but do not be blue if you are not tickled pink after you red that thread.
Posted by Canarsie at 11:13 PM