Getaways and New Designs – Travel News
As another ash cloud affects European air travel, the news is that train and boat companies are cleaning up (not unexpected, I admit). There’s no end date in sight for the eruption, causing many to choose a form of travel that they know won’t be disrupted – and who could blame them. In wondering if something similar could ever happen here, I checked the latest updates on US volcanoes, only to find that one was on yellow alert, and another on orange. It’s hard to think of any geological situation which would close down all of our airspace, but I still wonder how long the chaos in Europe will continue to affect our global carriers. Call me a pessimist, but when airlines lose money, isn’t it the passenger who pays?
Daily Getaways
I was interested to read about the Amex led Discover America Daily Getaways which features promotions from around 50 top travel brands. At first glance, there were two aspects to the site – the aforementioned getaways plus other travel experiences that travelers could bid on. There were some great experiences on offer, though deals go fast. These promotions are only available weekdays through June 4, so there’s not much time left to get your bid in.
New Aircraft Design
One day air travel could be greener, but it won’t be anytime soon. MIT researchers have come up with new aircraft designs which will cut fuel consumption, allow the planes to take off from shorter runways and – in one case at least – make them more comfortable for passengers. I hope that the wider cabins won’t be used as an excuse to cram in more seats, but since the designs are still in development (more funding needed from next year), I won’t have to worry about it for a while.
Mobile Travel
It’s no surprise that it’s all about mobile apps these days with a wide range of apps available to help you orient yourself wherever you travel. Sprint has suggested a few for their phones or you could look at our list of useful mobile travel apps. Meanwhile Amex has launched a mobile travel solution so business travelers can manage their itineraries and reservations online. It’s not the only solution that allows travelers to do this, but could be useful for confirmed Amex users.
Frequent Fliers?
Finally, file this one under ‘interesting reads’. Christopher Elliott says he’s a frequent flier program skeptic, talking about the ‘steep and hidden price’ of collecting miles. What’s your view?
Tags: air travel, business travel, iceland volcano, mobile travel, travel apps, Travel News
