The AIRistocrat

If This Is the Best We’ve Got… We’re Screwed

Posted on April 12, 2013 ·

hotel I’m less inclined to think of these as truly the best America has to offer in terms of hotel innovation, and more likely to think that a CNN reporter just got lazy after finding a few good first few examples that she thought would make a good article. Still, good for some neat ideas of where to stay when traveling domestic. But if this is truly the most high-techy crap we’ve got to offer, East Asia’s gonna whup the hell out of us.

America’s 10 highest-tech hotels, straight from the fine folks at CNN.com. Check it.

Filed Under: Blog ·

HuffPost Travel: “Jordan Becomes An Oasis In The Middle East”

Posted on February 23, 2013 ·

One of my favorite places in the Middle East. Jordan is an amazing destination and a hidden gem for those willing to give it a shot. And while craziness rages on around it, Jordan itself remains calm, cool, and collected. The gist:

“…Those who overlook or dismiss Jordan in their travel and vacation planning are missing out on a fun, friendly, and fabulous Middle Eastern country that continues to offer up fantastic sites and gracious Arab hospitality in a safe and stable environment in spite of the ongoing troubles of some of its less fortunate neighbors.”

Read more on my other blog over at HuffPost Travel.

Filed Under: Blog ·

Bring on the Future: Google Glass

Posted on February 23, 2013 ·

Now this is gonna be cool as hell. Google Glass has gone through a little evolution since it first non-debuted, but when it finally gets perfected enough for mass release, I really think it’s going to transform our lives and our productivity, especially when it comes to travel, travel planning, working, and staying connected on the go. Check it:

Filed Under: Blog ·

HuffPost Travel: “A Shocking Message For Airlines”

Posted on February 23, 2013 ·

Since I pissed off every American flight attendant ever a few months ago with this [honest and accurate] article on HuffPost Travel, I figured now I’d take a shot at pissing off every coach traveler too. Go big or go home, right? I still stand by my suggestions here, though. And think they would actually improve the economy flying experience by offering more and better choices of food and snacks for sale. So there. The gist:

“…Airlines: Stop forcing that default complimentary soda and snack on your economy passengers on domestic flights. Most of us don’t want it, all of us can do without it and we all know you can’t really afford it….”

Before you have a coronary, read the rest at HuffPost Travel.

Filed Under: Blog ·

Oh Helllllllll No: United FA Power Trippin’

Posted on February 22, 2013 ·

Boy oh boy, I got fired up after reading this! I’ve just seen far too many cases of piss poor in-flight customer service over the years. There are many great flight attendants out there, and I’ve had many of them. But the bad apples always spoil the bushel, and there are certainly a lot of bad apples out there who hate their jobs and have no problem power trippin’ on passengers whom they despise too. Check out Matthew’s account of what happened on a recent United Airlines flight to Istanbul:

Thrown Off a United Airlines Flight for Taking Pictures

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog ·

HuffPost Travel: “How Not to Handle a Tourism Crisis: Lessons from Egypt”

Posted on February 22, 2013 ·

Want to earn a double doctorate in Screwing Up An Economy-ology? Then be sure to attend the finest institution in the world for this specialization – Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism. Read more about their bumbling of Egyptian tourism for the past two years, right up on to the present, in my new article on the Huffington Post. The gist:

“…Unlike many of its competitors for international tourists, Egypt could be a case study in how not to protect and preserve a nation’s tourism industry when a serious social, economic or political crisis emerges. And although it may seem to provide a convenient excuse, paralysis within Egypt’s political establishment over the past year should not have prevented its tourism ministry — and the wider government for that matter — from proactively and aggressively addressing what it surely knew could become a major problem for Egypt’s tourism industry. And that it has…”

Read more of what I have to say on this at HuffPost Travel.

Filed Under: Blog ·

Horror Movie Redux – It Finally Happened

Posted on January 10, 2013 ·

economy Well, the day finally came. I dreamed about it, I dreaded it, and I even feared it. But it happened, and now I have to deal with it and move on. I learned a lot from the experience, and I don’t regret that it happened. But as God as my witness, I hope it never happens again. After who knows how long, today was the day I finally had to fly coach again. But before you go labeling me the biggest drama queen d-bag on the face of the planet, understand why I got stuck “back there” and you’ll likely go back to loving me to pieces again.

You see, I’ve been seeing a new someone special recently. Yes, my cold, stone-encased thoracic cavity does have a warm, beating, bleeding heart inside of it (shhhh! don’t tell anyone though). And on the spur of the moment this afternoon, I decided to surprise that special someone by flying down South and popping up unannounced. The surprise was priceless, but the journey was arduous. Because of the last-minute decision and booking, the first-class cabin on my second leg of the trip was already full and I had to fly <barf> coach, or “economy” as they also call it in the biz.

At least I got an “economy comfort” seat, though, if there really is such a thing, since that seems like an oxymoron. But it was traumatic nonetheless. I’ll be in weekly therapy for at least six months, and I’m still dry cleaning the awful stench of pretzels off of the unfortunate pair of Armani jeans that had to come into contact with the seat. I would just burn them, but they’re far too cute for that.

I joke. Really. It wasn’t all that bad. But it was seriously the first time in a loooong time I’ve had to fly coach, and the first time since they’ve introduced it that I’ve flown in those new “economy comfort” seats. The extra leg room was noticeable, but the lack of lateral wiggle room in the seat was noticeable too. That economy comfort scheme isn’t a bad option for domestic flights, even cross-country maybe, but I still can’t imagine an eight, ten, or twelve hour trans-oceanic flight in one of those seats. I’ll sashay my tail back up to the forward cabin for that, thank you.

In the end, it was totally worth the sacrifice, though!!

Filed Under: Blog ·

My Sassy New Travel Blogger BFF

Posted on January 10, 2013 ·

logo_sassy_stew Oh happy day! I think I have found my new travel blogger bff, and she doesn’t even know it yet. She and I are going to get gay-married and have lots of jet-setting babies. I can just see it now. In the meantime, so that she becomes popular and rich and can be my sugar mamma then pay out my alimony when I run off with the Prada cashier, patronize her blog, starting here:

Seven of Sassy’s Top Travel Tips

“1. Bring your own food (you can pack a lunch and bring it through security as long as there are no liquids) or purchase some in the terminal prior to boarding if you are into $14 turkey sandwiches. The majority of domestic routes will NOT be serving meals in-flight. Moreover, if they do, it will more than likely be a miniature can of Pringles that you will need to purchase. If you would like a free $7 cocktail, book a $3000 first class ticket.”

Oh and yes, it gets SO much better. Keep reading…

Filed Under: Blog ·

DC Museums Off the Regular Tourist Itinerary

Posted on January 9, 2013 ·

While kickin’ it back home in Washington, DC for a bit, @AIRistocrat sits down in his Pennsylvania Avenue digs to talk about some of his favorite local museums to check out in his home city that are a bit off the standard DC tourist and first-time visitor itineraries. After checking out the big sites, monuments, and museums, check out this video blog and then check out some of the places he mentions.

Also feel free to drop his name there and see what happens! lol

Filed Under: Blog ·

Awesomeness – Pass It On

Posted on December 30, 2012 ·

‎Right now I’ve got a 2 hour layover in the ATL and I was feeling a little blahhh. So I just up and decided to make a conscious effort to pro-actively perk up the day of every airline staff member I have to interact with here on this layover. Humor, charm, and compliments are not only brightening up their day, but doling it out is brightening mine as well.

By the way, I love that sweater. (This is better than amaretto!!) #Awesomeness #PassItOn

Filed Under: Blog ·

If This Is the Best We’ve Got… We’re Screwed

HuffPost Travel: “Jordan Becomes An Oasis In The Middle East”

Bring on the Future: Google Glass

HuffPost Travel: “A Shocking Message For Airlines”

Oh Helllllllll No: United FA Power Trippin’

HuffPost Travel: “How Not to Handle a Tourism Crisis: Lessons from Egypt”

Horror Movie Redux – It Finally Happened

My Sassy New Travel Blogger BFF

DC Museums Off the Regular Tourist Itinerary

Awesomeness – Pass It On

The 411 on The AIRistocrat

AIRistocrat on HuffPost Travel

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