March 6, 2001 WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWSLETTER

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HOTELS 70% OFF IN OVER 65 CITIES WORLDWIDE!
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Paris..............from $59
London..........from $79
New York.................from $69
La$ Vega$......................from $79
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• La Primer Biblioteca Virtual
• La Nacion
• A super view from the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake just outside the town
• An elevated view of a street within the city
• A view of the traffic at Libertador Avenue and Callao Avenue
• A view of the traffic at Carlos Pellegrini and Sarmiento
• A view of the traffic at Córdoba Avenue and Cerrito
• A view of the traffic at Corrientes Avenue and Callao Avenue
• A view of the traffic at Libertador Avenue and San Martín
• A view of the traffic at Mayo Avenue and Callao Avenue
• A view of the traffic at Mayo Avenue and Bolívar
• A view of the traffic at Corrientes Avenue and Pueyrredón Avenue
• A view of the traffic at Santa Fe and Cerrito
• A camera supplying various sizes of images from a square in the cityhttp://www.edusalta.gov.ar/agenda/webcam321.jpg A view of San Bernardo looming over the city rooftops. Cat: Cities, Scenery

 

*BONUS MILE OFFERS*

• Double miles: US Airways Dividend Miles frequent-flier plan members receive double miles when flying trans-Atlantic flights on Swissair or Sabena in business or coach class from any U.S. gateway May 1-June 20. Check when booking flights, as some fares may not be eligible for the bonus.
• Earn 5,000 Bonus SkyMiles With Your First Online Booking
• Double miles: Midwest Express frequent fliers can fly Swissair or Sabena through March 31 and earn double miles. Valid with purchase of a full-fare ticket in first, business or published economy class from any U.S. gateway to Zurich or Brussels.
• Future Shop Offers Aeroplan Miles With Each Purchase
• Double Miles On New Air Canada San Jose-Ottawa Nonstops
• Delta's Frequent Flyer Program Turns 20
• Up To Triple Delta SkyMiles To Japan Or Buenos Aires

• AA.com Offers Nonstop Savings for Winter/Spring Travel
• `Kids Fly Free' to Disneyland With Alaska Airlines Vacations
• 10 Percent Savings At Alaskaair.com and Horizonair.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WHERE'S JOHNNY JET?<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
*I know I am sending the newsletter a day early, but I am leaving for Argentina tonight and didn't want to have to fool around with the email after a 10 hour flight (plus I have never been there before and who knows if my email is even going to work).

Good news this week!  Johnny Jet received a lot of press! We had a record week in terms of hits and vistors, thanks to the New York Times, and Clark Howard's syndicated radio show!

 I started off the week downtown at the Eye for Travel conference when I got a scary phone call from Amber telling me that she was just in a major earthquake.  I quickly turned on the news and who do I see? My cousin Nicole reporting live for CBS. After finding out Amber and my cousin were safe I attended a business lunch at the Fox Sports Bar in downtown (next to the Staples center). The deal went through and the work week went by quick. Saturday rolled around and I went to the LA Times Travel Show in Long Beach. The show was interesting, but I started to feel like I was coming down with a cold, so I left early (but thanks to our Jet Talk Reporter; Marc Meredith for picking up the slack and reporting on the event).
While driving home,  my CT buddy Mike called me up and said if you are coming East you better leave tonight because it's going to be a nasty blizzard. Well, the last thing a person wants to do is fly an all nighter when they're not feeling well. I rolled the dice and left on the 7am on Sunday. I made it, but it's always scary when the pilot says, well hopefully we will beat the storm and not get diverted (it's FAA regualtion that they have to have a backup airport to land at). It just started to snow as we landed.
All the media hyped this storm up so much that we thought we were going to get 2-3 feet of snow. Driving home from the airport wasn't so bad.  One of the first places we stopped was the grocery store to stock up. This picture is at Stew Leonards, a must stop when going through CT.
Well, the media pulled a fast one on us. I think they just wanted us to watch and listen to the news all day long and go out and buy food, snow shovels, and warm clothes. They were so wrong about this storm. Here are some pictures I took five minutes ago from Connecticut. Next time the airlines should wait until the storm actually hits to cancel all their flights. Did you see how many Delta canceled the day before the snow came? Unbelievable.
 

I hope you have a good week freezing in the U.S.  We're going South :-).

Cheers,
Johnny

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I wasn't looking for a tag line but my cousin Vinny (yeah, I'm half Italian) said to me recently: "Their is a little bit of Johnny Jet in all of us". I thought for a second, and said that sounded pretty good.
When I asked the Smarter Living guys if they liked it they said, "No, we have our own slogan. Whenever we go somewhere we say, "I gotta Johnny Jet!"
Let me know if you like either one of these.
 
 
 

PLEASE SUPPORT AND PROMOTE JOHNNY JET. COM.  By Buying a cool T-Shirt or Hat. Click Here for more Details.
 
 

TIP OF THE WEEK:   By Chris McGinnis
Some Final Pretrip Tips (Part 1 of 2)

o Always write down your hotel and car rental confirmation numbers on your airline ticket jacket or in your daily organizer. These numbers are vital if your reservation is lost, the computers are down, or you are denied your room or car. When getting your confirmation number, ask for your reservationist's name. The reservationist will be more likely to make sure that all parts of your reservation are correct if she knows her name is attached to it.

o To get the lowest rate, you must ask for it two or three times throughout the reservations process. Reservationists are trained not to give away the store if they don't have to, so be sure to ask. "Is this the lowest rate available?" "Are there any specials on now?" "Can I get a better deal?" "Is the corporate rate the lowest rate?" "What other cheaper rates are available?" "What do I have to do to qualify for the cheapest rate?" Check airfares before you depart. Has a low-cost carrier recently added flights to your destination, and brought down fares across the board? Shop around at the car rental counters for the best rate; use your reservation only if you can't find a better deal.

NEWSPAPER OF THE WEEK: (SCOTLAND TIMES)

• Barbados, Caribbean: A time warp in the tropics
• Dusseldorf, Germany: Rio? Try Dusseldorf
• Bournemouth, England: Hip to be square
• Skyway robbery costing us dear

• HAVANA'S SALUTE TO A TRUE REVOLUTIONARY
• THE HIGH ROAD TO GRANDEUR
• TAKE YOUR WALLET TO DUBAI FESTIVAL
• HEAT'S ON IN CONGRESS ON AIRLINE PASSENGER RIGHTS
• THE CALL OF CUBA
• THESE VACATIONERS HOPE FOR STORMY WEATHER
• CAMP FRANCOPHILE
• IN SEARCH OF ALOHA
• LOW-COST BUZZ KEEPS EXPANDING BARGAIN EUROPEAN FLIGHTS
• PREZ POPULARITY POLL
• ASSISI VISITORS CAN SEE RESTORATION OF FRESCOES
• CRUISE SHIP ATM FEES COSTLY
• NEW YORK'S TUNNEL TOLLS WILL INCREASE
• OFF-ROAD DRIVING SCHOOL IN SCOTLAND OFFERED FOR KIDS
• `SHUTTLE LAUNCH TICKETS! GET YOUR SHUTTLE LAUNCH TICKETS HERE!'
• SANDLER PHOTOS CHRONICLE POST-WW I GERMANY
• SUNDAY'S TRIBUNE
• THE SINGLE TRAVELER
• CALL OF THE ROAD
• GORGE ON GOLF IN DOOR COUNTY FOR $520
• WORTH PRESERVING

• Tell me a Tale
• Texas travels: Brazil inspires water park on Padre
• California's Pelican Hill carves niche
• Powder play: Resort owners fear vacationers may skip Utah during Olympics
• Gear and gadgets: Headset helps soothe travelers
• Clubs feature perks
• Hotel is too hip to skip
• Choosing the perfect cabin is essential for relaxing cruise
• When the sap rises, Vermont is thick with maple syrup

• Loving Naples, Flaws and All
• Luxury Stay on the California Coast for Less
• News, Tips & Bargains
• Walking Fido Can Mean Trouble Out in Nature
• Dreaming, Scheming on Where to Retire to for One's Sunset Years
• Umpire of the Sun
• The End of the Road

• Hawaii's Most Ancient Island
• Ecuador and the Galápagos
• Blooms Under the Volcano
• Seeing Kauai by Kayak
• A Voyeur in a Sunken Crater
• All That Is Britain, in a Yorkshire Drive
• It's 'English Spoken Here' on an Island Off Panama
• How a Turkish Blossom Enflamed the Dutch Landscape
• What's Doing in San Francisco
• Toys for Techies and Other Gear
• Slowing Down: Vacation as a State of Mind
• Travel Deals
• Buying Time at Resorts
• Business Travel: Foreign Currency, and the Best Way to Get It
• Some Smaller Airlines Bid Johannesburg Adieu

• Pay Dirt: 16 Ways to Save In Europe
• SHOESTRING EUROPE
• Trail Mix; U.K. High and Low
• And Another Thing . . .
• FACE-OFF
• Denver Nuggets
• IT CAME IN THE MAIL
• FLY BUYS
• SHOESTRING EUROPE Florence
• SHOESTRING EUROPE Berlin
• SHOESTRING EUROPE Barcelona
• SHOESTRING EUROPE London
• How to Backpack Through Europe

• American bid still the only one for TWA
• New  Northwest chief brings optimism to labor talks
• Midwest  Express sees change in air
• Airlines vow quicker refunds after audit finds fault
• Flirting  takes flight
• St.  Patty's rivals Mardi Gras
• Tennis  anyone?
• LaGuardia  delays fall after law kicks in
• American  scrubs more JFK flights
• New  Northwest chief brings optimism to labor talks
• Do passengers get enough oxygen?
• Legend Airlines closing
• Delta, United try to smooth fliers' trips

• Internet breakup: Southwest Airlines flights can no longer be booked on Travelocity.com, leaving the discount carrier with no major Internet presence beyond its Web site. Problems confirming whether seats were available on flights led to the change. The trouble was linked to the airline's booking system. Southwest says it was getting less than 1% of its revenue from Travelocity bookings.
• San Juan to islands: American Eagle will launch three turboprop non-stop flights a week from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Bonaire, a premier Caribbean diving destination, beginning June 2, and the San Juan-Curacao route will be non-stop starting in April.
• Airport massage: Delta Shuttle and Headhunter.net will give complimentary shoulder massages weekdays March 5-15 for Delta Shuttle customers in Terminal A at Boston Logan. Hours 7-10:30 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m.
• Trans-Atlantic deal: British Airways will fly non-stop from San Diego to London starting March 25 using Boeing 777-200 jets.

• Check In For Your Flight With A Wave Of Your Phone

• Don't be driven into extra fees for rentals (via PS Inform)</A>
• The New Reality Of Online Travel: Zero Commissions
• Boeing Returns To Full Operations After Seattle Quake
• Storms disrupt life across Europe (via PS Inform)</A>
• Tourism with a Twist
• 2 Airlines Say Travel Sites Must Fly Solo
• Northwest Airlines to Halt Commissions on Web Ticket Sales
• AccessAir stops flying
• Blizzard arrives in NY - Winter storms threaten CA
• Northwest to Travel Sites: You're Grounded

• Continental Airlines Makes Aviation History With First New York-Hong Kong Nonstop
• Man Prompts L.A. Airport Evacuation
• American Airlines Cancels All Thursday Morning New York - Kennedy Flights Due To Illegal Work Action by Union Members
• Amtrak Offers Cell-Phone-Free Cars
• US Airways warns of bigger loss in 1st quarter
• United Gives Time to Customers With Comprehensive Package of Airport Technical Innovations
• Ireland Calls Off St. Patrick's Day Celebrations
• AAA Re-Issues Popular Trouble-Free Travel Guide

• Delta, Pilots Request National Mediation Board Arbitration
• Work Action  Prompts American Airlines to Cancel Flights
• Bids for TWA  Due
• Economy  Class: All's Fair In Love & Fare Wars

• Northwest Airlines mechanics approve strike
• Delta pilots begin informational picketing
• American: Judge grants injunction against union
• Strictly Islamic Malaysian state pushes tourism
• Machines offer literary snacks on London's Tube
• First nonstop N.Y.-Hong Kong flights begin
• Canada mulling more thorough passport checks
• Ryanair sets new discount European service
• Report: Budget airlines in price war over Nice
• U.S. issues travel warning for Indonesia
• Tourists 'feel richer' with fall of Turkish lira
• Japan's All Nippon Airways stops Malaysia flights
• Parades and partying usher in Mardi Gras
• Rio 'Carnival of Peace' sambas to an end
• Hotels hiking prices because of electricity costs
• Padre Island braces for spring break
• U.S. to review airline merger plans
• Ryanair sets Brussels as new European hub
• Report: Luxury marina planned for Barbados
• New York City bus company goes out of business
• Air New Zealand's Ansett to fly to United States

• Airline strikes: How to prepare
• 13 adventures for women only in the great outdoors
• Delta pilots seek to end mediation
• Floating city gets the green light
• American resumes flights at  JFK
• Airline seeks court order to preventwork slowdown
• Quickie cruises for the time-starved
• WashPost: Visiting the  chocolate spa
• 4 airline strikes: How to  prepare
• As Amtrak Metroliner 107 sped into Washington from New York City yesterday, there was something different about car No. 1. No cell phones. No laptop computers. And no loud talking. The “quiet car” concept has been so popular that Amtrak is expanding the service.
• Distinctive London-style red double-decker tour buses have been driven out of business in New York City after breaking licensing, environmental and safety laws.
• The terms “all-inclusive,” “duty free” and “four-star hotel” don’t mean what you think they mean. NBC “Today” show Travel Editor Peter Greenberg reports.
• Possible strikes hang over four of the nation’s biggest airlines, threatening to disrupt travel as early as spring. Northwest Airlines mechanics could be the first to try to walk out
• NBC “Today” show Travel Editor Peter Greenberg reports on the growing problem of overbooking at hotels and four ways consumers can fight back.

SMARTERLIVING

• Staying Healthy While Vacationing
• Deceptive Hidden Costs In Cruise Advertising
• She Explores Residential London

THIS WEEK'S INTERNET DISCOUNTS

• U.S. & Canadian Airlines
• U.S. & International Hotels
• Car Rentals

GOOD TO KNOW!
READERS WRITE IN:
Could you please tell me where to find information about ATM machines in international airports?  We are going to Quito and other cities in Ecuador and would find it helpful to know.  Thanks Peter S.

From my old roomate John:
In a desperate attempt to stabilize South America's most rickety economy, Congress passed a law in March 2000 to phase out the sucre, which lost two-thirds of its value amid the severe 1999 recession.  The sucre's rapid devaluation fueled annual inflation rates of 80 percent -- the highest rate in Latin America.  Under the government plan, the dollar will be the main domestic currency, replacing the sucre, which will only remain in circulation for small purchases. As of April 1, 2000, Ecuadorians have found that bank cash machines dispense only US dollars and not the multicolored sucres -- often filthy and torn.

So don't worry about finding cash machines to get local currency on your next jaunt to the Galapagos Islands.  Your familiar greenbacks will do just fine.  One tip... bring lots of one dollar bills for tipping.
 
 

I've been meaning to write you regarding the American Airlines "first class service" to Love Field in Dallas.  I took it a couple of times this winter--$268 roundtrip from LAX and it is first class.  Nice.  Since Legends seems to not be recovering from their financial woes this may not hold too long (according to my American sources), but it sure is nice while it lasts.  The rumor I hear is that they will continue the service (there are three flights daily on these reconfigured jets) but will jack up the price.  I don't know about the gourmet meals...if that will continue or not.  The last time I flew, we had about 40 passengers...4 flight attendants...and what a meal!  We were also seated in the exit row.  Not only was there more space, they had removed the entire row in front of us so even being long legged we couldn't touch the seats in front of us.        Sure enjoy your news and observations!        Margaret H.
 
 

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