Browsing Tag: travel

    Miscellany

    When evidence falls from the sky

    May 19, 2017

    The Gogo wifi was worse than normal on a recent flight — like, so bad that it felt like I wasn’t even connected even though Gogo was saying I was. Web pages wouldn’t load, even the most basic/speedy pages.

    I decided to try the live chat option to see if I could get a refund. But how do you convince a customer support guy that something that’s usually pretty bad is even worse than normal?

    Turns out I didn’t need any help. The evidence of how bad things were fell right out of the sky just as we started chatting.

    I eventually got back into the chat and didn’t need to prove anything else. How’s that for perfect timing??

    Gogo gave me two free full-day passes to make up for my troubles. (Nice gesture. Now I get free really bad in-flight wifi!)

    Miscellany

    Dear Alaska Airlines, I love you, but…

    November 23, 2016

    My wife and I recently flew Alaska Airlines (which I tend to love) and had an early-morning flight over to Seattle. Take a look at these three images and let me know if you see anything strange.

    Alaska.com website

    alaska-website

    Alaska’s iPad app

    alaska-ipad

    Alaska’s iPhone app

    alaska-iphone

    You probably noticed three different departure times — crazy, right?!?!

    We booked this trip a few months ago, and as often happens, the exact departure time changed a bit between then and when we actually left. What’s not normal is that the website and each mobile app were showing unique departure times. I had no idea which of the three was correct.

    About a week before the trip, I sent Alaska a direct message on Twitter to ask which time was correct. They’re always fast and helpful when you request help that way, and I quickly got a reply that the website always shows the correct time, and the apps don’t automatically update when flight details change.

    How crazy is that??!! This is 2016 and you can’t get your apps to show updated information??!!

    Turns out that the apps did update with the correct time when we checked in for our flights the day before, so all was not lost — we had accurate info while we traveled and used our phones. But I’m still blown away that the apps didn’t update at all in the days and weeks leading up to the flight.

    Dear Alaska, I love you, but you gotta do better than that.

    Miscellany

    Netflix on Your Hotel Remote Control

    March 15, 2015

    netflix-remote

    That’s the TV remote control that was in my hotel room recently on a business trip to San Jose. Right there near the top was a Netflix button — I’d never seen a remote like that. Have you? Is it new? Or maybe I’ve just not been staying in the right hotels?

    Anyway, pressing the button pulled up a Netflix login screen on the TV. Put in my username and password and BOOM! There I was, watching House Of Cards in the comfort of my hotel room. There was also an option to sign up for Netflix if I didn’t already have an account.

    Super clever, don’t you think? I remember reading ages ago that the first thing the vast majority of travelers do when they get to their hotel room is turn on the TV. So I’d love to know how much new business this Netflix remote control button is bringing in….

    Miscellany

    GoGo Inflight Internet … Speed?

    September 29, 2014

    This was on a recent Delta flight from SLC to EWR. I don’t know why we put up with this and I don’t know why we … or least I … get all excited to get online whenever I fly. Ugh.

    gogo

    Miscellany

    SLC Airport D Concourse: Close to Food Heaven

    December 3, 2013

    There’s nothing wrong or unusual about choosing flights/airlines/itineraries that go through a certain airport because you want to eat somewhere that you can’t eat at home … is there?

    I hope not. Cuz that’s what I’ve done over the past month or two with some of my recent trips.

    See, the airport recently overhauled its concession options and 13 new restaurants opened about a year ago. One of those is Smashburger, a fantastic burger joint that we don’t have here in the Tri-Cities. It’s right up there with In-N-Out and Five Guys. Super good.

    And here’s what’s really great: Smashburger is on Concourse D at SLC, and it’s within 50 feet of two other great food spots: Krispy Kreme (which we also don’t have here in Tri-Cities) and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

    slc-d-concourse

    Look at that. It’s like the Bermuda Triangle of food options practically right next to each other — except it’s a GOOD kind of Bermuda Triangle. You get three of the main food groups: burgers, donuts and chocolate. And what’s really cool is that it’s down at the end of the concourse, so you don’t usually have to fight huge crowds like the ones you get at the main terminal restaurants.

    Right now, that’s my favorite single airport concourse anywhere in the US. I love you, SLC Concourse D.