Johnny Jet

First, let me take care of some housekeeping business, and then we’ll get to the good stuff and some really BIG NEWS! This newsletter usually publishes every week about this time without exception. I have only missed one week in 3 years time. However, for those of you who use AOL, you most likely did not get our newsletter because of AOL's new spam trap. They think we and everyone else who sends a lot of emails are spammers! Obviously, we are not and we pride on the fact that we have a "clean site" (no casino pop-up ads, etc.) and no spam. For the record, we do not spam and we hate spam, too. We would appreciate it if any week that you do not get this newsletter, please contact us immediately at webmaster@johnnyjet.com. We will start negotiating with your domain or ISP to make sure the blockage is not repeated. Most email providers are making it more difficult for services like us to send you email.

So, we will be sending an email to our existing subscriber base (nearly twenty-thousand loyal readers) asking you to re-confirm your subscription. This is called a double-opt in and it should ensure that you will continue receiving the Where’s Johnny Jet newsletter with travel news and tips each week. Thank you for your understanding, your cooperation, patience and support.

OK, are you ready for some BIG news? I have been secretly writing a book called “You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com” with Eric Leebow (he's an internet guru from Cleveland, one of my favorite cities) and guess what? Yes, it's now available at Amazon.com, JohnnyJet.com and our publisher's website Yahbooks.com and bookstores, soon. The best news is that the book has been getting some rave reviews and if you or anyone you know is in the media, please see if they can give the book a plug! Johnny Jet, the author, needs more press! Here are the early reviews: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes, "True to its subtitle, this "Ultimate Internet Travel Guide" has it all." The Houston Chronicle says it's, "One of the best and newest publications". The Midwest Book Review wrote, "If you are contemplating any kind of trip at home or abroad, whether for business or for pleasure, then get yourself a copy". Mark Orwoll from Travel + Leisure Magazine said it's "An encyclopedic wealth of Websites that any traveler will find useful". The Cleveland Plain Dealer boasted it "Can direct you to more than 3,000 travel-related sites". Last but not least BookHaven.com said, "It's so helpful, you'll be hesitant to loan your copy to others".   How big of a smile do I have? Now, let's try and keep it rolling! Help support JohnnyJet.com, click here and get your copy today!

Please consider spending just two minutes to log on to Webbyawards.com/peoplesvoice and click register to vote. Then enter your name and email (it is not necessary to enter any of the other info they ask for). Remember not to click the boxes at the bottom, unless you want emails from them. Once you register, click travel, which is on the right. Then at the bottom of the five choices, enter JohnnyJet.com as a write-in vote and let's see if we can get JohnnyJet.com to win a Webby award! I heard last year a write-in vote website won website of the year, so it can be done. Thanks again, for your support!

You’ll remember that we left SYD and were flying home across the Pacific. Landing at LAX, we didn't see any signs or people who feared SARS, even at Customs. We cruised passed the US Custom’s agent, or so we thought because Amber Airplane was asked to ,“Stop!” Shocker. The coolest thing about arriving in California from Australia is the time change. Since we crossed back over the International Date Line, we gained and not lost a day. We landed about eight hours before we EVEN took off from Sydney. How freaky is that? When we arrived home I went straight to work and sleepy head Frank went right to the couch. When Frank woke up a few hours later he asked me what time it was. I said "1:30pm on Tuesday".   He said "it can't be, we left Australia at 4:00pm, on Tuesday". I said "Australia? What are you talking about?" For a split second I could see the Twilight Zone music playing in his head. Actually, our trip Down Under could have been a dream, that's how incredible it was.

Frank hung out in L.A. for a few days, visited with some friends and our cousins. Frank made it back East for our niece and nephew's birthday party but I couldn't swing it, I had too much work to catch up on. Bummer, I know. However, my cousin Dennis came into town. You know the one from Chicago, who I went to London with in November? Remember he's a shop-a-holic, just like Amber Airplane and my sister Carol. Since he was in town, one of my friends took us to Paul Frank's factory in Orange County. If you haven't heard or seen any of Paul Frank's clothing and other cool stuff around, then ask any teenager or hip adult. They will know. Their office was so cool, the headquarters’ retail shop is awesome and we bought presents for Dennis' kids and Amber Airplane, too.

I know Amber Airplane has too many clothes, but it was her birthday. She really wanted a puppy, but since we travel so much, I gave her an Afro Ken dog. To celebrate we went to The Ivy on the Shore in Santa Monica. It's Amber's favorite restaurant. The place is awesome, but just like Amber Airplane... expensive (Just kidding Amber, you aren't expensive). Then when we arrived home, our friends surprised her BIGTIME when they jumped out of the hallway with a birthday cake. Oh yeah, we also went to some far away exotic place which I will write about next week. For clues read on.

Before leaving town I had one more birthday to celebrate. This time my little cousin "G" who just turned one. You have to love going to kids b-day parties, they always have the best food. This one had a hot dog stand, a pretzel & churros stand, and a hand dipped ice cream cart. How cool is that? I don't know about you, but April is the one-month I go broke on buying birthday presents for people. What's going on in the month of August, Spanish-fly season or something?

Here are clues where I took Amber for her birthday. We both have never been on the airline or to the destination, which is popular for honeymooners. It is very far from LAX and even farther from JFK. The colors, artistic designs, and name of the airline alone will make you want to go there, not to mention the brand new Airbus A-340-300 airplanes. Any ideas?

I can't wait any longer and must tell you now. We went to Tahiti! Yes, TAHITI! I know I am the luckiest guy in the world. It all started a when I received a phone call from a friend of mine who is one of the best travel agents. He was running an incredible special offer from FlyTahiti.com and wanted me to get the word out. They said "how would like to show Johnny Jet readers what Tahiti has too offer?" I said, “Let me think about it” for a NANNO second. Of course I'm going to go.   Naturally, I didn't tell Amber Airplane, because I wanted to surprise her. I said, "How would you like to go to a tropical destination this week? She just looked at me like... “I know you are lying, after all we just got back from Australia”. Then I told her it's OK if you don't believe me, just have your bag packed with plenty of bathing suits.

I know she thought we were going to Florida, but when we arrived at LAX's International terminal her thoughts switched to the more probable; Mexico. Then we walked down the concourse and I said Okay, “let's play the "pick a destination a game". Praying she would pick Tahiti. I said, “Take a look at these airlines and choose which one you want to walk up to and if you are correct we will go there”. She said I know it's not Air Tahiti Nui, but that's where I would go! My heart filled up with excitement, I put my head down and a frown on and said, "Don't we wish". Then I pulled out a BIG smile and the tickets for Air Tahiti Nui and, “DING, DING, DING, YOU ARE RIGHT”!

I thought she was going to say, "Do you realize we just flew over Tahiti last week? It would've made it a lot easier just to....” but she didn't. She loves flying, just like me and an 8 hour, 4125 mile flight is no big deal, especially when you are on Air Tahiti Nui. Air Tahiti Nui operates one of the youngest fleets of Airbus A340-300 aircraft in the world. This plane was so cool that it's now one of our favorites. We sat in economy on the way over, and had a nice comfortable bulkhead seat with plenty of legroom. The plane was so smooth and quiet that I felt like I was dreaming. Not to mention they have pretty flight attendants that keep changing their uniforms for each meal service. The food, the service, and the free in-flight entertainment were outstanding.

When we landed in Papeete it was dark. We were greeted by a Tahitian band and a flower lei. I really prefer to land at night when I go to some far off land, because it makes it that much more magical. It's especially nice to wake up in the morning, open the curtains and have little idea what's lays waiting for us to discover. Not to mention, it helps with getting over jet lag (at least for me). Speaking of jet lag, you don't get any because Tahiti is only three hours behind PDT time (2 hours in PST). However, if we flew another hour or two West we would've lost a day, but that didn't happen.

Because everything was so last minute, I didn't get a chance to read up on Tahiti or finish my Frommer’s guidebook. Therefore, when I went to the airport ATM I didn't know what the exchange rate was. I freaked when I saw all my choices: 15,000 - 20,000 - 25,000 - 30,000 - 35,000 and of course I was pressed for time to catch our next flight. For a second there I was like, “Holy cow”! I don't have that much money in the bank! Then I regained my traveling sense and figured choosing the middle amount would be safe. It was! FYI: 25,000 CFP converted to USD equals US$230.00.

We took a 3-minute van ride to the other side of the airport where the really small inter-island flights take off.  Their is no security or metal detectors on interisland flights which makes travel a pleasure. Sitting under the little hut waiting for our flight to Moorea and listening to the crickets really was something special. I finally felt something I have never felt before: The feeling of being in the South Pacific, back in time. You have to understand, I have always dreamt of coming here and just the word South Pacific alone makes me melt.

Our flight to Moorea was amazing. We heard the five-minute, twelve-mile flight or jaunt is the second shortest in the world (the shortest, I think is within Scotland). We were on a Dornier 228 which seats 19 passengers. There were 12 of us on the plane, half were American, and the other half French and we all shared one thing in common: FEAR. Small planes make most people queasy, but I have to tell you this flight turned out to be wonderful. It might have been the coolest I have ever taken. It's hard to explain, it’s something you need to experience for yourself. All I can tell you is that is was surreal, just like our trip.

I'm looking forward to next week so I can show you around the Tahitian islands, and don't forget to get your copy the best new travel book, You Are Here Traveling with JohnnyJet.com! Safe travels.

Cheers,

Johnny Jet

LIVE WEB CAMS OF THE WEEK
View from Tamboerskloof (Cape Town, South Africa) onto Table Mountain LAX Airport

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
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BONUS MILE OFFERS
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LOS ANGELES TIMES
A splendid isolation Lodi, the other wine country It's the soundtrack that drives this father-son journey Sometimes less costly can mean more comfy With airfares hitting historic lows, it's time to buy tickets TRAVEL LOG Elizabeth I gets royal treatment Airlines, cruise lines take steps to halt SARS spread TOURS & CRUISES A good cause fits the bill, or coin Farther afield, still a jolly good show Alaska beckons small-ship aficionados It's tips at your fingertips with online postings EVENTS: MAY Shifting into low gear on PEI ¿Mi casa es su casa? Not for them Readers Recommend Happy trails in idyllic part of Ireland Admiring fields of gold in Puyallup

USA TODAY
AMR posts 'dreadful' $1 billion Q1 loss American CEO faces career crisis Hotel amenities do disappearing act Northwest management takes pay cut ACLU sues FBI over no-fly list Spring snow extends California ski season A visit to the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard Farm Shop. United unions ratify contracts World's airports battle spread of SARS ATA limits quarterly loss to $11 million American implements cost savings Hilton hopes to steer bookings to site Bad timing for Pittsburgh airport dip Glitch sends bogus AA prize notices Airline unions retain strength in slump Mexicana pilot sents errant hijack alert New American CEO Arpey 'up to task' Continental to close ticket offices BWI screeners arrested for brawling Denver baggage system in jeopardy American Airlines CEO Carty resigns AA flight attendants approve cuts AA workers in limbo, morale 'horrible' Delta to restore some dropped flights Continental CEO: Winners will emerge Test your knowledge: 100 flight trivia questions Out on the town: Nationwide centennial celebrations Fasten your seatbelt: Aircraft of the century Travel timeline: The history of flight A visit to the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard Farm Shop. Continental to close ticket offices, add fees United sets worker cost cuts