Dear fellow travelers:
Hello and welcome to David Rowell’s Travel Insider newsletter. Once again, this is Joe Brancatelli of JoeSentMe.com pinch-hitting for David while he’s escorting several Travel Insider groups around Europe.
This week we talk about the elephant in the room: The rather awful way airlines treat us. Why do the airlines hate us? My Seat 2B column has some thoughts about this week’s flying outrages. We’ve also got coverage of Miami’s wacky airport, talk of gadgets, our security at airports and much more. And, of course, some fabulous travel bargains on JoeSentMe’s Steals & Deals page. Most of these columns are free to read, but several would require membership in JoeSentMe, the noncommercial website for business travelers.
Enjoy your weekend and Happy Summer for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere.
Cheers — Joe Brancatelli // [email protected]
BRANCATELLI IN SEAT 2B: WHY DO AIRLINES HATE US?
After nearly 40 years as a business traveler, this question haunts me: Why do airlines hate us? Why, in fact, do airlines seem to hate everyone? The people who distribute and book their tickets? The corporate travel managers who keep us flying? Travel agents. The people who make the luggage we carry. This week in outrage at http://www.bizjournals.com/bizjournals/blog/seat2B/2015/06/why-are-the-airlines-provoking-the-rage-of-road.html
STEALS & DEALS: LAST CALL FOR SUMMER SALES AROUND THE WORLD
+ Cathay Pacific and Korean Air offer hot sales to Asia.
+ Hilton adds a 5000-point-per-stay bonus for a few weeks.
+ Accor mounts a global hotel sale for summer travel.
+ Budget gives scads of Amtrak points.
+ Air New Zealand’s $2,000 South Pacific business-class deal returns.
+ Last call for summer business-class sales to Europe.
Surf to http://deals.biztravelife.com
ROBERT MCGARVEY: MY LAPTOP IS MORE SECURE THAN YOURS
Suck it up: My computer is more secure than yours. That is a bold, flat-out claim, but it also is true. That’s because I use the Google-powered ChromeBook and its more secure than any Mac or Windows machine. Period. Surf to http://securethoughts.com/my-computer-is-more-secure-than-yours
CHRIS BARNETT: MAMMA MIA! MIAMI IS ONE WACKY AIRPORT
On business flights to South Florida, I usually aim for easy-to-navigate Fort Lauderdale airport. But I flew into Miami International Airport several weeks ago. Mamma MIA! That is one wacky airport, particularly if you’re on a tight travel schedule and unfamiliar with the sprawling complex. Surf to http://cb.biztravelife.com
JERRY CHANDLER: TSA FAILS, SO HOW DO WE SECURE AIRPORTS & AIRCRAFT?
The TSA’s epic fail on a recent test of its efficiency and the resulting bureaucratic response beg the question: Just how concerned should airline passengers be about airport and aircraft security 14 years after 9/11? Surf to http://www.airlineratings.com/news/507/-disturbing-data-just-how-effective-is-airport-security
TACTICAL TRAVELER: JOE’S WEEKLY BRIEFING FOR BUSINESS TRAVELERS
The briefing in brief: United jilts JFK and sets up a shuffle on Transcon Triangle routes. Southwest plays defense at Dallas/Love Field. Delta dumps the Seattle-Tokyo/Haneda run it fought to keep but didn’t want to fly. More hotels open–but the US State Department won’t stay at the Waldorf anymore. Ramadan starts the month of fasting for Muslims. And more … Surf to http://tactical.biztravelife.com
PHIL BAKER: THE BEST TRAVEL GADGETS RIGHT NOW
From drones to wearables to wallets, there are amazing new gadgets out there to consider. At least from the high-tech side of things, this is a good time to be a business traveler. Surf to http://techspertsinc.com/gadgets-for-fathers-day-san-diego-trancript/
ROBERT MCGARVEY: WILL ALIBABA BE THE END OF NETFLIX?
Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant, will eventually enter the U.S. market with streaming. Will it mean the end of NetFlix? Surf to http://www.thestreet.com/story/13189974/1/would-you-use-alibaba-streaming-video–and-is-this-rip-for-netflix.html
