http://www.blackbookmag.com/ en michael.orell@gmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-11-24T02:20:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/img/logo2.gif http://www.blackbookmag.com http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/forecasting-thanksgiving-travel-delays/13300 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/forecasting-thanksgiving-travel-delays/13300#When:21:30:00Z Wednesday, November 25, is officially the busiest traffic day of the entire year. In 2009, there's going to be even more traffic out on the roads and more delays in the air. On the east coast, Manhattan has already posted their "Gridlock Alert Days" citing 11/25 as the worst of them all, compounded by all the street closures for the Macy's Parade. Over on the west coast, I-5 should be a veritable parking lot starting midday on Wednesday. This year should be particularly bad for driving, as more people opt to go by car than spend on plane tickets. But that doesn't mean air travel will be substantially easier. travel 2009-11-23T21:30:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/black-friday-travel-deals/13294 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/black-friday-travel-deals/13294#When:19:00:00Z While the travel industry doesn't go quite as hog wild as the retailers do -- the lines forming at JFK or LAX at 4:15 am the day after Thanksgiving are not for special savings on round trip flights to the Caribbean -- there are some deals to be had starting this Friday as the luxury goods retailers try to make some kind of cash in this depressed travel season. Though the deals might get a little more fast and furious for Cyber Monday, when people put down their shopping bags and start clicking their way through holiday sales, there are three good sales you can get your hands on this Friday. travel 2009-11-23T19:00:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/inverted-waterslides-speedo-not-included/13274 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/inverted-waterslides-speedo-not-included/13274#When:16:00:00Z Waterslide rides have come a long way from the wavy, bumpy, numbers that you'd ride down on a little squishy mat while water sprinkled over you -- now they come with sheer drops and gallons of water flushing you down long curvy tubes, spitting you out into a giant pool with such force that your bathing suit comes loose. Next up in the world of water slides: the inverted loop. Europe and Asia already have one of their own loop-de-loop slides, and by all reports, waterpark-goers are loving the fear-factor that comes with hitting an almost upside-down loop in thinnish plastic tubes. travel 2009-11-23T16:00:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/in-flight-retail-to-go-beyond-skymall/13198 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/in-flight-retail-to-go-beyond-skymall/13198#When:22:20:00Z Traditionally, the only things you've been able to buy in-flight are food and cocktails. However, with airlines expanding into the sales of items like blankets, cigarettes, and now WiFi, the door has been cracked for other retailing opportunities on board. American Airlines has reportedly broken the seal and is selling Heathrow Express train tickets on a limited basis for some LON-bound flights. This is a smart idea -- a win-win for the passengers and the airline. travel 2009-11-20T22:20:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/win-a-twilight-trip-in-washington-state/13196 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/win-a-twilight-trip-in-washington-state/13196#When:21:20:00Z It seems like just yesterday Washington State was getting all caught up in the Twilight/New Moon mania and spinning off tours and downloadable PDFs for all Twihards who felt like coming to visit Port Angeles, Forks, and the spooky area of La Push. Now they're offering actual trip giveaways to the Twilight promised land. New Moon officially comes out today, and Washington is going to ride the vampire wave as long as they can, or at least until April, when they'll stop giving away free trips. travel 2009-11-20T21:20:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/the-first-four-entries-on-the-amsterdam-trip-contest/13194 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/the-first-four-entries-on-the-amsterdam-trip-contest/13194#When:16:00:00Z Tourism boards are finally getting that Facebook is a great way to promote themselves. Sydney offered up a trip down under as a Facebook contest, and even Auschwitz has its own page for promotional purposes. Amsterdam has thrown its clogs 'n' tulips 'n' hash in the ring, offering up a cool contest to win a trip to the stoner city; the catch is you really have to give something up. You enter your information and snap a photo of something you're willing to trade for the free trip to Amsterdam (which includes airfare, a three-night stay at the Lloyd Hotel (breakfast included), topped off with one free dinner). Whatever you're trading in for the trip will be gifted to the Lloyd Hotel and showcased in their lobby. travel 2009-11-20T16:00:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/flight-1549-animated-audio/13192 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/flight-1549-animated-audio/13192#When:14:30:00Z Check out this flight simulation of US Airways Flight 1549, the plane that landed safely in New York's Hudson River by by super-cool-under-pressure Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger. The audio is from the actual flight and subsequent crash landing into the Hudson, and the whole thing feels very realistic with the alternating audio from Sully and the air traffic controllers. It's OK to enjoy it! No one got hurt too bad! travel 2009-11-20T14:30:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/delta-making-it-rain-on-japan-airlines/13174 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/delta-making-it-rain-on-japan-airlines/13174#When:23:20:00Z Delta is fanning cash like a banker at a strip club in an attempt to woo Japan Airlines away from its alliance with American Airlines. As of now, JAL is holding hands with American Airlines -- and has been since the mid 90s, giving AA an edge in the Asian market. The partnership with JAL has allowed AA to sell JAL routes to their own customers, taking a cut of the profit as part of the deal. Delta, however, is chomping at the bit to take over this alliance because it would give them a greater entree into Asia, particularly in the hot markets of China and Japan, expanding their plan for world domination led by flight attendants in red Richard Tyler uniforms. travel 2009-11-19T23:20:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/trade-airline-miles-for-boobs-in-finland/13166 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/trade-airline-miles-for-boobs-in-finland/13166#When:22:20:00Z Here's a sweet trade for your air miles: breast implants. In a savvy, unprecedented move, Nordstrom Hospital in Helsinki, Finland has come up with an innovative way to redeem miles for plastic surgery. In fact, this hospital offers no other kind of surgery besides the plastic. Nordstrom calls itself "one of the pioneers in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery," and promises the very best in care while you're there. The breast augmentation procedure would normally run €7,950 with an extra fee of €600 (brief) or €890 (extensive) for a warranty. (Yes, it's called a "warranty.") However, as an alternative, you need only trade in 3,180,000 points on your Finnair frequent flyer plan, and the boobs are yours for free! Of course, you must first go in to the hospital for a consultation visit before you can schedule the surgery so they can make sure it's all right to slice you open and pump you full of silicone. travel 2009-11-19T22:20:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/one-day-sale-jetblue/13168 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/one-day-sale-jetblue/13168#When:21:00:00Z JetBlue is at it again, with another one-day sale. This sale is hot on the heels of yesterday's version courtesy of Virgin America, and it is full of great deals, so if you've got the inclination and a few extra bucks, get a seat while they're hot. travel 2009-11-19T21:00:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/la-guardia-airport-pizza-eating-contest/13136 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/la-guardia-airport-pizza-eating-contest/13136#When:15:00:00Z If you happened upon La Guardia airport today and you happen to be wandering close to the eateries around noon -- perhaps waiting for glitch-related delays to resolve -- you may walk into a guzzling, chomping, and hopefully not puking contest to determine who can eat the most pizza. Famous Famiglia is providing the pies, and La Guardia airport is providing the contestants, namely eight of their employees. The poor suckers that have been roped into this cheese-and-sauce feast will have exactly six minutes to hork down as much pizza as they can cram into their gullets. travel 2009-11-19T15:00:00-05:00 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/tsa-bullying-update/13070 http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/tsa-bullying-update/13070#When:22:40:00Z Adamant Ron Paul supporter Steve Bierfeldt, who was detained in April for carrying $4700 in cash and then mercilessly bullied by the TSA -- all caught on secret audiotape -- has won a quiet victory for all Ron Paul supporters (and large-sums-of-cash-carriers) for his troubles in the security line. After his unfortunate time dealing with team TSA, the ACLU took on Bierfeldt's case and sued the agency. In response, the TSA has changed its rules and told its agents that “screening may not be conducted to detect evidence of crimes unrelated to transportation security” and that “large amounts of cash don’t qualify as suspicious for purposes of safety.” travel 2009-11-18T22:40:00-05:00