Articles about Travel
Southwest Airlines Posts Annual Profit Again
Almost put up a post yesterday about the new interiors that Southwest Airlines will be installing in most of its 737 fleet. Take the tour:
I was going to remark upon my dislike for hearing about how something is “sleeker” and “more comfortable” when the bottom line is that they’re cramming six more seats onto the plane so that they can rake in $250 million more in ticket revenue and pay $10 million less in fuel costs. I didn’t like how with all their talk about how “eco-friendly” their new cabins will be, they seemed to be glossing over the fact that the distance between seats is being reduced by an inch, and the new seats will recline back only 2 inches instead of 3.
Share Your Weekend Getaway Story and Photos, Appear in the Pages of D Magazine
Where do you like to escape from home, not all that far from home?
D Travel Club has a new contest that could land your vacation story and photos in the ink-and-paper version of D Magazine.
We’re looking to hear about your favorite quick getaways from Dallas-Fort Worth. Destinations within about 150 miles (with the idea that you might be able to drive there and back on a single tank of gas), but which still give you that glorious feeling of having left behind your humdrum, everyday existence.
All you need to do to enter is fill out this form to tell us about your trip and to share photos from the experience. Multiple entries are allowed and encouraged. All complete entries will appear on the D Travel Club website, and the editors of D Magazine will select the best to appear in the April issue.
Among the judging criteria will be uniqueness of the destination, helpfulness of the information and travel tips provided, and quality of the submitted photos.
Deadline for submitting entries to this contest is Feb. 10.
Enjoy Our New D Magazine Travel Website. And Share Your Own Story and Photos.
Awhile back we asked you to tell us about your vacation. Here’s why: Today we’ve launched our new travel website, which includes a mix of content from our readers and from our D Magazine editors. We expect it to be a place where Dallas travelers share the stories of their adventures. Please take a look and let us know what you think of it.
Tell Us About Your Vacation, Win a Stay-cation at the Gaylord Texan Resort
Look at that picture right there. Now look out the window (if you’re lucky enough to be seated near one). Where would you rather be?
Let me answer that for you: you’d rather be on that beach in Nicaragua. Yes, that Nicaragua. In other words, you’d rather be on vacation. I don’t have facts to back this up, but I’ve found that American workers spend between 86 and 92 percent of each work day planning for their next vacation.
D Magazine wants to help. We’re soon going to launch a new travel page of our website that will let readers swap vacation stories and photos, as well as learn from the travel experiences of our editors. We’re calling it Qwikster the D Travel Club.
Before we launch, we want to hear from you. And we’re offering the chance to win a two-night stay at the Gaylord Texan resort in return. Just click through to this form, tell us all about your last great vacation, share some photos, and you’re entered to win.
You must enter by October 30 to be eligible to win.
Calling All Engaged Couples: Win Two Round-Trip Tickets on Virgin America
Virgin America's coach cabin. Pretty sweet.
Do you know an engaged couple that needs a break from wedding planning? If so, be sure to tell them about our “Stylish Ride for a Stylish Bride” contest and they could win two round-trip coach-class tickets on Virgin America to anywhere they fly in the Continental U.S. and Mexico. All they need to do is send a video of the two of them telling us how they met. There’s no need for fancy camera work or to hire a videographer. What we are looking for is the most interesting or heartwarming story, not the best videography. Here are all the deets:
- Couples must be currently engaged.
- Couples must submit a video link (from YouTube), no longer than two minutes, of them telling the story of how they met. They then need to submit the link to us via this form and fill out all required information.
- Editors will narrow it down to five finalists whose videos we will post on BridalBuzz and they will be voted on for one week by the public. The one with the most votes wins.
- Submissions will be accepted from September 5 until 11:59pm on September 23.
- Voting will begin October 10 and last until 11:59pm on October 14.
- We will announce the winner on BridalBuzz on Monday, October 17.
- Travelers must depart on Virgin America from DFW airport.
- Travelers must have the exact same flight schedule.
- Travel must be completed by June 8, 2012.
- Read detailed rules here.
Southwest Pilot Unhappy With Attendants
A Southwest Airlines pilot is in the doghouse because of comments he made while his mic was live and he didn’t know it. His biggest alleged sin: lamenting that his flight crews consisted of “gays, grannies and grandes” (the last apparently referring to overweight people) instead of “cute chicks.” No telling his reaction if he’d had this guy onboard.
Monday Morning at DFW Airport: Shoot Me
I just got back from taking an Allisonette to catch a flight to Connecticut for summer camp. Her two bags made the flight; she did not. Now I’m completely responsible. Travelers are supposed to arrive two hours early; we were only an hour-and-a-half early. But having spent 83 minutes in various lines, I had ample time to assess the situation. I have two thoughts. One, never fly on Monday morning. The security line alone was start-to-finish 46 minutes long, and the TSA folks and American Air-LINES staff explained repeatedly that Monday mornings are “always like this.” (I’m new.) Two, something must be done about the carry-on hogs. Tons of people in front of us had carry-ons that would not fit into the little wire tester thing, and not for lack of trying. (Many slaps to foreheads when a lady got her bag stuck in the tester and it took two random people in line and three minutes to wrench it free.)
Carry-ons cause delays at every juncture: ticketing, security, and then the wretched process of squeezing them into overhead compartments and under seats. So here is my proposal: One carry-on bag goes free. The second bag is the problem, so charge for it. And make all of the two-bag folks go through a separate security line so those who travel light are not penalized. At security, one line can be for priority access; one line for regular ticket holders with one carry-on; and the final one for regular ticket-holders who want to carry on two items. As for my unhappy camper, she flies out tomorrow morning and we will leave at 5:10 am for her 7:50 am flight. It’s Tuesday, so we should be good, right? Wish us luck.
Leading Off (5/2/11)
Osama Bin Laden Killed – The Local Angles: After news broke that Osama Bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces, about a dozen people gathered at the North Dallas house of former President George W. Bush (here’s some video of the revelers). Bush called the death “a momentous achievement.” Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson reminded us that despite taking out al Qaeda’s number one, “the fight is not over.” True that, echoes this Dallas Morning News editorial, “but it is a victory nonetheless.”
Southwest Grows By 25 Percent Today: The almost 40-year old Southwest Airlines will complete its $1.4 billion purchase of AirTran Airways today, which puts AirTran’s presence at Dallas-Fort Worth International Aport in limbo. Per the Wright Amendment, AirTran will have to vacate the airport if Southwest doesn’t want to lose gates at Love Field. But a spokesperson for Southwest says the changes won’t happen immediately.
Fires Worsened By Landscape Changes: It turns out humanity can take some of the blame for the Texas wildfire destruction. The fires, which have burned 2 million acres since December 2011 2010, were made worse by a combination of poor land management, urban sprawl, and the introduction of new plant growth that has changed the face of the Texas landscape.
Leading Off (4/25/11)
Rain Good, Lightning Bad For North Texas Wildfires: Saturday saw four inches of rain fall in some parts of North Texas. Possum Kingdom Lake got a little more than an inch, which helped quell some of the fires. Yet the 17 new blazes also started Saturday. Last night brought more Olympian tears and lightning rage from Zeus, as he continues his efforts to burn Texas to a crisp as part of his ongoing war with Chuck Norris.
This Evening, Mavs Will Try to Prove That They Aren’t the Worst Team to Root For in All of Sports: Are the little Mavs soft? Are they the most notorious chokers in NBA history? Will Dirk’s hall of fame career be forever overshadowed by fourth quarter playoff impotence? Tune in tonight for another maddening episode of As The Portland Series’ Tide Turns.
Cruise With Cowboys Cheerleaders Canceled, Cruisers Upset: I suppose if you are Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders-obsessed then it is a shame that you spent good money for a chance to take a cruise with the cheerleaders only to have the buxom broads cancel. But what really fascinates me about this story is the list of other similarly themed cruises. I guess it makes sense that there are Star Trek-themed cruises, but Little House on the Prairie cruises? Or cruises featuring guest passenger Donald Rumsfeld? That sounds like Reality TV gold.
City Council Food Truck Vote This Week: The Dallas City Council will vote on food trucks this week, and it looks like it will be a go for zoning changes allowing the portable eateries to operate in the Arts District and in a section of Lower Greenville Avenue. Next step: allow trucks to operate anywhere they darn well please.
Dallas ‘Spruiks’ Texas Hospitality as Qantas Prepares to Land at DFW Airport
That’s according to the daily The Australian, which writes about air carrier Qantas ditching its regular Sydney-to-San Francisco run to come to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport instead, starting in May:
Dallas tourism representatives are keen to spruik the fact Texans are friendly by nature and its airport isn’t as busy as its Los Angeles counterpart, leading to quicker processing.
And what recommendations does the newspaper make to visitors coming to North Texas, after talking to the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau:
As far as a stopover destination goes, there are plenty of activities to keep visitors occupied. You can see where JFK was shot and visit the Sixth Floor Museum in the old book depository building, from where Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired his gun, go to a rodeo or see the iconic US football team the Dallas Cowboys at the new $1.3 billion Cowboy Stadium, where the Super Bowl was held in February.
Do you like how even a mainstream Aussie publication doubts the Warren Commission’s findings?
Things to Do in Dallas Tonight: January 10, 2011
Reading a little bit about photographer Annie Griffiths, who will be speaking tonight at the Winspear Opera House as part of the National Geographic Live! series, one thought immediately sprang to mind: I’ll bet she’s never been stuck in traffic for hours to traverse Woodall Rodgers.
To further demonstrate why her life is better than yours, attend the presentation (and watch the clip below):
Then check out other things to do in Dallas.
A Vacation Dispatch From Nancy Nichols in Fiji
Uncle Nancy is on vacation someplace in Fiji. She sent an update on her travels (and travails) to the staff. Along for the ride on Nancy’s vacation is none other than that turncoat Evan Grant, baseball scribe for the Morning News. I thought I’d share Nancy’s letter because it made me laugh (I had to dash out some of the swear words):
Well, I lasted almost two days without typing. Greetings from Fiji, where bula means “hi” and vanaka means “thanks!” Also golaka means “wine” and Ambien translates directly as “Ambien,” the miracle cure jet lag and Evan’s snoring. Evan and I traveled packed in a flying tin can for 22 hours, and we are still talking. BUT there have been lots of claw displays. Don’t tell him I said this, but he doesn’t want to sit on a lounge chair on the beach because “the beach is too sandy.” True.
Here is what I have learned about Fiji so far:
Young Australians have lots of little crying babies. Lots. Like, four each. They all like to eat breakfast at the same time that we do.
Australian babies are more obnoxious than American babies. The pitch of their cry is ear-shattering. I now understand why dingoes like to eat them.
Australian men are hot.
Travel and Adventure Show at Dallas Convention Center: The D Magazine Intern Preview
Two of our talented D Magazine interns, Taylor Walker and Meredith Stein, visited the Travel and Adventure Show at the Dallas Convention Center this morning. Below is their report (and a lovely little video presentation due to some technical difficulties, this won’t happen) to show the fun they had (and the fun that you could have there this weekend).
Alright, we get it. The Rangers own your Friday night. But assuming there’s no game 7 (which is the option we’re supporting), we’ve got an adventurous alternative to couch surfing to fill the remainder of your weekend.
Dallasites can head over to the Dallas Convention Center for the Travel & Adventure Show. In addition to speeches and travel tips from the likes of Arthur and Pauline Frommer (Frommer’s Travel Guides), guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of more than 30 cultural performances, which range from Bollywood to belly dancing, as they weave their way through a maze of more than 100 exhibitors, each representing a different travel destination. From Egypt to Alaska, these destination booths will be ready (and able) to offer you exclusive “show only” discounts on the vacations of a lifetime.
But the show isn’t all work and no play. Guests can also partake in rock climbing, ziplining, scuba diving, and our personal favorite, camel rides. And don’t worry about safety, we went ahead and tested them out for you! (Here’s where we’d show you their fantastic video. Perhaps the technical gods will take pity on us and let us show you the video Monday. Until then, happy weekend!)
Well, This Is One Way To Get Through Airport Security Faster
Guy walks into the DFW airport. Like this.
Warning: NSFW, slightly.
The Mansion, Adolphus Make Top Ten Hotels List
According to Travel & Leisure’s new Best List (and here at D Magazine, we love lists), the Mansion on Turtle Creek is #3 and the Adolphus is #9 of big-city hotels in the country. Chicago has four, New York has two, Dallas has two, and LA and Washington have one each. I was sorry to see the Hermitage in Nashville just miss the Top Ten, coming in at #11, because it is my favorite out-of-town hotel. If you happen to stay there, be sure to check out the men’s room downstairs. IJS.
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