TheAirGorillaBlog

Here's a great surprise travel spot I recently visited. Outside Tucson, AZ, is Mt. Lemmon. The web site skithelemmon.com gives you their story. It is a gorgeous drive up there. There is a scenic village of log cabin homes and a few stores among the many pine trees. A small ski resort is there as well. They received multiple feet of snow from the recent El Nino storms that have hit the southwest (January, 2009). There are a lot of scenic overlooks with weird rock formations as you work your way up into the mountains. The restaurant at the end of the road does close early, though, but that's likely because you don't want to be driving back down the mountain when its dark.

Looking for Baggage Loopholes

Last week, following the increase in luggage check fees at Delta and Northwest, we took a look at ways to get around this increase in travel cost.  Well, the venerable New York Times is now covering this same story in an article scheduled for its Sunday travel section (but already available online).  However, with their greater resources and contacts the NYT article is able to go into a bit more detail on the situation than we were.

Writer Michelle Higgins came across some interesting ways that travelers are using to try to get around the unwanted expense.  For example, she found that some airlines are willing to check some slightly large luggage at the gate, rather than try to find space in the bins.  Sometimes this works well and results in bags showing up at the gate along with strollers and baby seats; other times it doesn't and the flier not only has to pay for checked luggage but gets the "dirty look" from airline personnel and other travelers.

Meanwhile, the scramble for bin space is getting to be on par with trying out for an Olympic team - many attempt but few succeed.  Some folks are even planning their seat location based on an airline's usual boarding method: those that load from the rear forward vs those that load from the front back.  Rear loader?  Go for a seat behind the wings to ensure plenty of room available for your carry ons.  Front loader?  Well, you get the idea.  What about an airline like Southwest that has no assigned  seating?  Well, since  Southwest doesn't charge for bags (and makes that a part of their advertising) it doesn't matter.  It seems bin space isn't an issue there.

One thing for certain - things are only going to get more challenging as airlines try to "recapture" expenses with baggage fees and the TSA increases scrutiny of carry-on luggage to protect travelers.  Since the airport is getting more hectic, why not at least let AirGorilla.com help make the preparation smoother with discount air fares and more.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Travel + Leisure's Best and Worst Airlines for 2009

We recently came across Travel + Leisure Magazine's Best and Worst Airlines for 2009. This was based on on-time arrival and came from Bureau of Transportation statistics from February 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009 (so wouldn't that be the best and worst for 2008?).  The numbers are interesting - for example, the best airline saw its on-time arrival rate drop from 92% to 89.5% and the bottom spot went to a carrier with a 70.7% on-time rate.  So overall there is not a great statistical spread.  Of course, statistics don't mean much when you're trying to catch a connecting flight.

So who was the tops overall?  That spot went to Hawaiian Airlines which was on time nearly 9 times out of every 10 flights.  The bad news?  It doesn't do much good for anyone not flying to or from Hawaii.  In fact, of the "Big 5" carriers (American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, and United), not one cracked the top 5.  The best of the group was Northwest at #7 with 79.6% on time rate; the worst was American Airlines at #18 (out of 19 airlines) with a 73.4% rate.  On the other hand, if you want to go with a non-regional top 5 airline you can pick Southwest (#3 at 83%) or US Airways (#5 at 80.4%).

Now, should you choose your airline only on the basis of on-time rate?  Maybe, if that is most important to you.  Of course there are always other qualities to use for picking your carrier - like price.  But no matter how you decide to choose, let AirGorilla.com help you find the best deal on your air fare and other travel needs.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Japan Airlines to File Bankruptcy

Reuters is reporting that Japan Airlines is going to be filing for bankruptcy due to continued losing years and over $16 billion in debt.  According to the report, the company will continue flying during the restructuring, which includes cutting about one-third of its staff and dropping routes that are not profitable.  This will be the sixth largest company in Japan's history to file for reorganization, and will leave Nippon Airways as Japan's largest airline.

Although some airlines are having problems right now, don't let it keep you from traveling. There are still airlines flying to incredible places around the globe.  Don't forget the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in February, and the World Cup (soccer for Americans, football for the rest of the world) will be in South Africa later this year.  And there are some special events happening around the globe, and AirGorilla will be giving you previews as they come along.  So remember, when it's time to hit the road for business or fun, let AirGorilla.com help you with all your travel needs.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Handling the Rising Baggage Fee Blues

The cost of flying Delta or its partner Northwest is going up as of today as the carriers raise their baggage fees for domestic travel and travel to Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The cost of your first bag is going up by $8 to $23 and $7 for the second bag to $32 - but this is only if you check in online. If you check your bags at the airport you will be charged an additional $2 on the first bag and $3 on the second. Right now these fees only apply to passengers who purchased tickets after January 5, but since we are past that cutoff date anyone flying on these airlines will be tagged with the upcharge.

In an article in USAToday, a spokesperson is quoted as calling the fees "competitive," but a recently updated chart on the website Airfarewatchdog shows the Delta/Northwest fees as the highest for the first two bags (now just ahead of United). Will other airlines now raise their fees again? Only time will tell.

How can you as a traveler handle these increases? One way is to think ahead and plan what you really need to take and what you can do without. Do you really need that third suit or fourth pair of shoes? What can you safely take in your carry on luggage? Plan to use the largest bags you can handle - for example, if you take three bags on Delta that third bag will cost you $180 ($23+$32+$125). If you can manage to get it all in one oversized bag (51-70 pounds) it will cost just half of that ($90), or $175 for a larger bag (71-100 pounds). Another way you can deal with the rising cost of travel is by letting AirGorilla.com help you with all your non-luggage planning.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Doing Your Part to Stimulate the Economy - and Enjoy Some Sun

The economy has hit many sectors, and the travel and hotel industries have been no exception. A recent story in BusinessWeek tells about problems in the hotel industry in California as foreclosures quadrupled last year. Many hotels decided to upgrade and expand with easy loans from 2004 to 2007, but the drop in travel has made it difficult for these establishments to pay their mortgages. In Los Angeles alone there were six foreclosures, including the Marriott downtown, and another 30 were in default.

There is a lot of talk these days about the government helping to stimulate the economy. But all of us can do our part to help turn things around. Plus, with many hotels feeling the pinch, now is a good time to find some great deals on rooms. And if you are one of the many thousands who are not enjoying the arctic weather hitting so many areas, this could be your time to book a trip to California to check out some of those Pacific sunsets and above-freezing temperatures. So do your part to stimulate the economy, and be sure to let AirGorilla.com help you - after all, gorillas know all about warm weather.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Airlines Post Record On-Time Numbers

USAToday reported that domestic flights by the 19 largest carriers arrived on time 88.6% in November, 2009. That is a better than 10% improvement over October's numbers. In addition, there were only four flights that were delayed on the tarmac more than three hours, compared to the twelve in October. Of course, with bad weather and the Detroit incident, December's numbers will probably be worse. The good news is that more attention than ever is being paid to how well the airlines are doing with both their on-time numbers and their on-tarmac delay times. And in April the President's new regulations on how airlines treat tarmac delays will go into effect, so we will see if that has any effect. You can read more about the November numbers here.

With the holiday travel crush over, now might be a good time to take that vacation you've been wanting. AirGorilla.com can help you with discount air fare, hotels, and much more. Let a Gorilla pave the way for your trip.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Vancouver from a Vancouver Perspective

 
We're looking at Vancouver, British Columbia, as the time ticks down to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Today I came across a fun site that gives you a Vancouver perspective on Vancouver. Inside Vancouveris a blog about all things Vancouver and is a good place to start if you want to find out more about this beautiful city. Recently the site ran an online video contest where locals were challenged to create a short video showing what was great about their city. The top ten videos have been posted for voting, and they give quite a varied view of the city - from multicultural festivals to canine capers to the waterfront, and much more. Take a look and see what Vancouver residents think about their city.

Once you watch the videos, you just might decide you want to see the city in person - Olympics or not. When you're ready to take your vacation to Vancouver, first make the move to AirGorilla.com for you discount air fare and hotel booking needs.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Congratulations to Rain Bird

We just wanted to pass along our congratulations to Rain Bird for winning the Sweepstakes Trophy at the Tournament of Roses Parade. Their float, "Mountaintop Majesty," featured a family of mountain gorillas in a setting inspired by the Virunga National Forest in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This marks the third year in a row that Rain Bird has won this trophy, which honors the most beautiful entry in the parade. This just goes to prove, once again, that gorillas rock.

Check out this video preview from before the parade.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.

Consider a Vacation of Olympic Proportions

 
With the Holiday Season winding down, it's time to focus on the next big event: The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Over the next few weeks we will take a look at this beautiful city and the events it will be hosting. If you are looking for a special vacation this winter, the Olympics and associated events could be just the ticket.

The Olympics themselves don't start until February 12, but the fun begins in January. Vancouver will host Cultural Olympiad 2010 from January 22 through March 21. The festival will feature some of the best artists from Canada and the world, including the visual and digital arts, dance, theater, and more - nearly 200 different events. A special part of this is CODE - the Cultural Olympiad's Digital Edition - which includes a "digital scrapbook of Canada," wearable art, and interactive exhibitions.

If you are thinking about going to the Olympics, be sure to check out the Vancouver 2010 website for information about events, tickets, and more. And check out AirGorilla.com for help planning your air travel and hotels.

AirGorilla Dave is the Writing and Virtual Spokesperson for AirGorilla.com, an online discount travel company established in 2001 for Airfare, Hotels, Cars, Vacations, Safaris, and more. AirGorilla.com has great travel deals abroad and continues to make in roads to the travel industry. Please include AirGorilla.com next time you are searching for Discount Travel.