• Kremlin
• GENEVE AEROPORT

*BONUS MILE OFFERS*

• Hilton HHonors Offers Double Airline Miles This Winter

• Getaway deal: Book rooms at participating AmeriHost Inns for $29.95 to $79.95 a night through March 31. Go to www.amerihostinn.com or call 800-337-4510. Blackout dates and restrictions may apply.
• Fly until summer: Alaska Airlines takes 30% off airfares until Dec. 28; fly through June 7. Some fares require travel on specific days. Save an additional 10% at www.alaskaair.com.
• Jamaica: Book round-trip tickets on Air Jamaica between Houston and Jamaica for $99 Dec. 26-Jan. 22. Travel through March 24. Limited seats; some restrictions. Go to airjamaica.com or call 800-523-5585. Business travel
• European skies: US Airways offers $1,800 Envoy Class fares to Europe. Purchase tickets by Feb. 28, at least 30 days ahead of travel; fly Jan. 19-March 24.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>WHERE'S JOHNNY JET?<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I hope you all had a very merry Christmas! I did!
On Monday (Christmas Eve) Amber and I flew from LAX-ORD-CLE. The airport was not too crowded and we didn't have to take our shoes off at security. I was kind of bummed because I wore my Santa socks.

When we were landing in Cleveland I started to sing "It's starting to look a lot like Christmas..." because it was snowing!  I love a white Christmas, even though we only had flurries and a dusting.
We were in the city that "Rocks" (according to Drew Carey, not me) to visit Amber's family.  They were very hospitable to me as I spent my first Christmas with them. Speaking of hospitable that's the first place we went when we got off the plane.  Amber's sister had a baby, named Chloe Noel,  while we were flying.  She is sooo cute and I will have pictures in next week's newsletter (I forgot my digital camera, so I'm waiting the old fashion way for my film to be developed).

After a couple days in Cleveland, I took the bus (Yes, Greyhound) to Erie, PA. You can't beat it: $13 and it only takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. Greyhound won't guarantee you a seat so theirs no need to spend the $3 to order in advance online. Just show up an hour early because It's first come first serve (but usually if the bus is full they will get a second bus).  Almost all of the people were very respectable except the 2 derelicts (who didn't want to share their seats) that I had to sit next to in the back of the bus.
BONUS INFO: You can check 2 bags and bring 2 carry ons, but it's too tight to work on your laptop.

I went out to Erie to celebrate what would've been my Mom's 74th b-day with my sister. It's hard to believe this is my second Christmas without my Mom, and it's so weird not having her around, but I am coping. If anyone has lost a loved one I recommend reading Many Lives, Many Masters, and watching John Edward's show Crossing Over. Both of these helped me tremendously to deal with my Mom's passing.
 
 

Check out these New Links
"SpoKEN Tales" with Ken Solo: Travel date: Dec 4, 2001: Onward to London

FROM A READER:
I flew   to Sacramento for the day on Thursday 12/20/01 on Southwest.  The flights were really fun, and Southwest does have a great attitude and a lot of fun.  Flight attendants were in good humor, cracked jokes (If you wish to smoke in flight, we'll have you step outside etc)  and sang a welcome on landing.  $60 rt - can't beat that, but the lines at security and checkin were way long.  Took me nearly 25 minutes to clear security and then get my boarding pass at the counter in SAN and about 35 minutes at SMF.
 
 

Next Week:  2002!

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
DELTA OFFERS AN ADDITIONAL MEDALLION QUALIFICATION PERIOD

Does it look like you're not going to make it under the  wire in time to maintain your cherished Medallion status? Don't have time to jump on a few long flights by Dec 31 in order to bump up those SkyMiles? Then consider this . . .

Later this month, Delta will announce that it will offer a SkyMiles Medallion level qualification promotion  running from Jan 1 - Mar 31.

As usual, in order to re-up your status, you're gonna have to get on a plane and FLY.

>All medallion members who earned between 15,000 an 24,999 base miles or between 20 and 29 segments this year can earn SILVER status for 2002 by flying at least 6,000 base miles between Jan. 1 and Mar 31,  2002. (Was 4000 miles last year.)

>All medallion members who earned between 40,000 and 49,999 base miles or between 50 and 59 segments this year can earn GOLD status for 2002 by flying a minimum of 10,000 base miles between Jan. 1 and Mar 31, 2002.  (Was 8000 miles last year.)

>All medallion members who earned between 90,000 and 99,999 base miles or between 95 and 99 segments this year can earn PLATINUM status for 2002 by flying a  minimum of 20,000 base miles between Jan. 1 and Mar 31, 2002. (Was 15,000 miles last year.)

Delta has increased the number of miles needed to  requalify this year, which is less attractive than in previous years. However, we've heard rumblings that in January, Delta will extend its "double base miles" promo that was in place until Dec 15, which should help. (Stay tuned to THE TICKET for that announcement.)

There are a few more things that distinguish this program from the one Delta has offered in previous years. First, it has widened the pool of people eligible to qualify.  Previously, you had to be within 5000 miles; this year, you can be within 10,000 miles. Second, this year Delta will allow you to maintain your current level, or step up a level if you fly enough within the extended  qualification period. And, if your travel dropped off  dramatically this year, you can still maintain medallion status, but at a notch or two lower.

Due to unusual circumstances this year, American, United and America West announced earlier that they would simply extend current elite level member status through the end of 2002.

Delta's offer will be sent via direct mail in late January to medallion level members who were within 10,000 miles or 10 segments (5 for platinum) of re-qualifying for  medallion status on Dec 31, but were unable to do so by the end of the year. Delta says that only those members  who receive the offer in the mail can participate. So keep an eye on your mailbox!
sign up for personal delivery of THE TICKET newsletter
http://www.travelskills.com/signup.htm.
 

NEWSPAPER OF THE WEEK: (CAPE TOWN)

• Romance of steam brings economic hope
• 'Let young people in to SA to work'
• Fly through trees with the greatest of ease

• Carnaval in Quebec
• FIGHTING BOARDOM
• Exhibit shows diversity of David Smith
• A peak experience, or 2, in St. Lucia
• SUNDAY'S TRIBUNE
• Eurail passes to cost more
• London's Eye may stay
• Orbitz adds $5 fee
• SUNDAY'S TRIBUNE
• Bargains may curb travel reticence
• Tracking winter wildlife in Yellowstone

• Right for romance
• Best fares: Sure bets in Vegas, elsewhere
• Exhibit celebrates ukulele's popularity
• Texas town a haven on stormy Christmas
• Maui is top site for weddings
• Couples can find a perfect fit among Hawaii's islands
• A capital Christmas

• Roman Holiday
• Yosemite, the Picture of Peace
• Debut of Euro Marks a Major Currency Event
• Bronx Is Up, Battery's Down and Spring Tour Is on Broadway
• This Week's Holidays

• Stretching Out in Waikiki
• An 8-Sport Day at the Balsams Resort
• Winter the Swiss Way
• A Caribbean Resort Where Service Is Serious
• What's Doing: In Brandywine Valley
• Practical Traveler: Volunteering on Vacation
• Correspondent's Report: Occupancy and Rates Sag at New York Hotels
• Travel Advisory: Washington's Botanic Garden; Eurailpass Prices; A New Ice Hotel in Quebec
• Business Travel: Despite Improvements, Post-Sept. 11 Flying Is Still a Chore
• Letters: The Wright House; Mission District; Zimbabwe
• At the Airport, Nothing Remains the Same
• Hilton Hawaiian Village: Resort Information
• The Balsams: Resort Information
• Lenzerheide-Valbella: Lodging, Dining and Skiing Information
• Nevis: Resort Information
• Life in Line: Four Snapshots
• Deal of the Day: One Week in Britain

• Vacation Shots: Time to Go Digital?
• Pray as You Go: The Joys of Attending Mass Abroad
• Traveling Messengers
• M-I-C . . .You Elsewhere: A Bookish Sort, Wary of Disney, Finds Happiness in Orlando
• COMING ANDGOING
• Take Two. . . Trips ; In Style China
• EXTREME TRAVEL TRIVIA
• SIGN HERE
• Fly Buys
• Cross-Country by Rental Car
• MESSAGE CENTER
• DETAILS: The Other Orlando
• So You Want to Be a Courier . . .

• Travelers warned about unwrapped gifts
• Weather forecasts, airport information
• Something to write home about
• 10 great...places to worship amid splendor, on Christmas or any day of the year.
• The wilds of Australia
• Local tastes
• How holiday travel choices compare
• For money-is-no-object fliers, there's a new choice
• Airline industry takes a turn for the better

• Continental OnePass Miles For Online Shoppers
• Northwest Adds Security Checkpoint Lanes For Select Customers In 6 Cities
• US Airways Adds Self-Ticketing Kiosks In Pittsburgh

• United Airlines sued over World Trade Center attack
• It's a sardine scene at Bay Area airports

• AA recalls res agents due to call volumes
• Five Hour Lines at Oakland Airport
• D/FW is busier than expected
• Euro Should Offer Less Travel Hassle
• Critics Slam FAA for Security Lapse

 

• Transportation Security Nominee Vows to Meet Deadlines for Improving Airline Security
• Boeing Notifies 1,737 Workers of Layoffs
• Bush Moves to Avoid strike at United Airlines
• Alaska Airlines Escapes Charges over Maintenance Center; Settles Libel Suit
• NEW: Snow Condition Report

• Going the extra mile for Christmas
• Military, NASA tracking Santa
• Lawmaker proposes spinning off 2 Amtrak routes
• World airport rankings change after Sept. 11
• 2001 even worse for English tourism
• Bush blocks United mechanics' strike
• Congress excuses Amtrak from writing liquidation plan
• Slow holiday season in NY prompts concern
• Government rejects delay in bag check deadline
• FAA lifts most general aviation restrictions
• Midway resumes flights on limited basis
• Security breach stops BWI concourse traffic
• Florida yearns for winter tourism boost
• New York's Liberty Island reopening to visitors
• Charlotte airport shut down in screener mishap
• Bill passed to create black-heritage museum
• Police ponder charges in airport grenade incident
• Report critical of FAA air maintenance oversight
• Security lapses reported at Austin airport

• Security guards may need to unwrap packages at airports
• Travel up slightly from Thanksgiving
• Nominee hopes to meet deadlines
• Many airspace restrictions lifted
• U.S. air traffic plunged in September
• Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha to merge
• Liberty Island reopens to visitors
• Princess Cruises up for auction

• V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N: WHY WE NEED IT
• HEY, THAT'S NOT THE HOTEL I WANTED

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

GOOD TO KNOW!
ON-LINE TICKETING FEES(From: COOL TRAVEL MAIL)

In my recent articles about the debate between using paper and electronic tickets, I mentioned that several airlines charge fees for issuing paper tickets. Continental has now joined that list, charging a $10-per-passenger fee for issuing paper tickets along routes where electronic ticketing is available. The fee does not apply to tickets issued by travel agencies or for group travel.

Things are getting more expensive on-line, too. Orbitz.com began charging a $5-per-ticket fee as of December 1. This is not out of line with other on-line ticketing services (Priceline.com charges $5.95 per ticket; Trip.com charges $10 per ticket, plus a $5 processing fee; and Travelocity.com charges a $10 service fee for tickets booked on Northwest, which stopped paying on-line commissions last spring), but it is discouraging nonetheless to see the airlines' own ticketing service start to add on such fees. Orbitz.com users will be allowed a one-time free transaction until mid-January.

Just for the record, Expedia.com isn't charging any such service fees.
 
 

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