travelwriter

JD Power & Associates has just released their 2009 North America Airline Satisfaction Survey measuring overall customer satisfaction of both vacationers and business travelers.
The survey found that overall customer satisfaction with the airlines has declined for the third year in a row while the rate of on-time arrivals has increased, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS).

Ratings were based on overall satisfaction and the experience during the reservation process, check-in, boarding, de-planing, baggage, aircraft, flight crew, in-flight services, and cost/fees.

Low Cost Airlines:
JetBlue Airways was ranked as the number one low cost airline providing the highest overall customer satisfaction followed closely by Southwest Airlines as number two.  Westjet came in as number one for the ‘check-in experience’ as well as the ‘boarding, de-planing, and baggage experience’ while Southwest was number one for the ‘reservation experience.’

Traditional Network Airlines:
Alaska Airlines was ranked as the number one traditional network carrier with the highest overall customer satisfaction rate followed by Continental Airlines as a close second.  Continental Airlines was the number one airline for ‘cost & fees’ as well as for ‘in-flight services.’

Happy 4th of July!  

During the 33rd session of The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in London, England, it was announced that eleven cultural sites and two natural sites have been added to the World Heritage list.
The new additions include:

• The Wadden Sea, Germany/Netherlands
• The Dolomites, Italy
• Stoclet House, Belgium
• The Ruins of Loropeni, Burkina Faso
• Mount Wutai, China
• Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Iran
• Sulamain-Too Scared Mountain, Kyrgyzstan
• The Sacred City of Caral-Supe, Peru
• The Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, Republic of Korea
• The Tower of Hercules, Spain
• La Chaux-de-Fonds/Le Locle, Switzerland
• Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, United Kingdom
• The Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains, France

For only the second time in the history of UNESCO, a site on the World Heritage list has been removed.  The Dresden Elbe Valley in Germany was unable to retain its status due to the construction of a four-lane bridge in the middle of the site.

Here’s a quick look at Fourth of July Celebrations across the USA.  Fireworks at are the top of the list, followed by food, fun, and music.  What more could anyone want?

Spokane, WA
2-day festival at downtown Riverfront Park with food, live entertainment and fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

Chicago, IL
Millennium Park has all day activities and music with fireworks over Lake Michigan at 10:15 p.m.

Sunbury, OH
Independence Day Flea Market from 7:00 .a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; plus a parade at 10:00 a.m. and fireworks at 10:00 p.m. at Big Walnut High School

Prescott, AZ
All-day carnival plus a performance by the United States Military Band; fireworks at 9:00 p.m. at Pioneer Park.

Fort Lauderdale, FL
Watch the city’s annual fireworks extravaganza at Fort Lauderdale Beach

Keystone, SD
2-day event at Mount Rushmore ending with fireworks on July 4th

Gatlinburg, TN
Attend the 34th annual Midnight Independence Day Parade featuring a special tribute to the U.S. military along with a recreation of President Roosevelt’s motorcade in 1940

 Why stay in a hotel if you can experience the amenities of a cruise and the benefits of land?  Norwegian Cruise Lines has a deal for you.

Enjoy the Vancouver 2010 Olympics from the comfort of your own cabin onboard the Norwegian Star cruise ship.  These unique accommodations include either a three or four night duration, including gourmet dining, return airport transfers, transfers to/from the Sea Bus Terminal in North Vancouver, city tour and more.

While onboard the Norwegian Star, you’ll be pampered and can enjoy 13 restaurants, 8 lounges, spa, fitness center, endless activities, Captain’s cocktail reception, complimentary 24 hour room service, and of course, top-notch nightly entertainment.

Rates for staying onboard the Norwegian Star during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics start at only $99 USD per person.  For more information, visit: Vancouver 2010 Cruise Ship .

~Please note: this is a re-post of Thursday’s blog as it didn’t display correctly for many readers~

Everyone who goes on vacation wants to take great photographs.  Unfortunately, many of us do not think like a photographer – we all take that one great shot that we hope turns out.  A true photographer takes a hundred photos knowing only one will turn out.

David Huffman’s Travel Photo Tips: Know Before You Go book is a great read for the budding photographer or for anyone wanting to learn a bit more about their camera other than point, shoot, and pray.

Published in 2008, this great travel-sized paperback helps you first choose a digital camera for purchase and then shows you how to use it in an easy to follow format.  There are sections covering camera features, controls, settings, and handling, plus others on weather and basic editing techniques.

And you’ll get a 20-page bonus book covering advanced photo editing, enhancement, and correction techniques.  This detailed section also gives great advice on utilizing your own photo editing software and includes tips for purchasing advanced software.

David Huffman has worked in the photography industry for over thirty years, twenty of them with Eastman Kodak.  For more information, visit: David Huffman’s Travel Photo Tips: Know Before You Go or to learn more about David Huffman’s work, visit: David Huffman.

In the idyllic setting at the base of Whitefish Mountain Resort, on the shores of Whitefish Lake, and only miles away from Glacier National Park, lies the town of Whitefish, Montana.

For five days each summer, this small town of just over 5,000 residents, comes alive the music of Mozart during the Festival Amadeus running July 27 to August 1, 2009.  Presented by Glacier Symphony and Chorale, the event gives participants the opportunity to meet & greet with the musicians, enjoy food and fun, while younger enthusiast can attend a Mozart music camp for children.

Other summer musical events in Flathead Valley include the Thursday night concert series in Columbia Falls; the Sunday night Riverbend Concert Series in Bigfork featuring all genres of music including jazz, piano, and classical; plus the Picnic in the Park concert series in Kalispell – all running from June through August.

For more information or to order your FREE Flathead Valley Montana 2009 travel guide , visit: Montana’s Flathead Valley .

Everyone who goes on vacation wants to take great photographs.  Unfortunately, many of us do not think like a photographer – we all take that one great shot that we hope turns out.  A true photographer takes a hundred photos knowing only one will turn out.

David Huffman’s Travel Photo Tips: Know Before You Go book is a great read for the budding photographer or for anyone wanting to learn a bit more about their camera other than point, shoot, and pray.

Published in 2008, this great travel-sized paperback helps you first choose a digital camera for purchase and then shows you how to use it in an easy to follow format.  There are sections covering camera features, controls, settings, and handling, plus others on weather and basic editing techniques.

And you’ll get a 20-page bonus book covering advanced photo editing, enhancement, and correction techniques.  This detailed section also gives great advice on utilizing your own photo editing software and includes tips for purchasing advanced software.

David Huffman has worked in the photography industry for over thirty years, twenty of them with Eastman Kodak.  For more information, visit: David Huffman’s Travel Photo Tips: Know Before You Go or to learn more about David Huffman’s work, visit: David Huffman.

Boeing issued a press release yesterday announcing the postponement of the first scheduled flight of their Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft “due to a need to reinforce an area within the side-of-body section of the aircraft.” 

The need was identified during regular scheduled testing of Boeing’s ‘full-scale static test plane.’  Paying customers and paying airlines will have to wait until the new schedule for the first flight and first delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is made available in the next several weeks.  Boeing has 865 orders from 55 airlines for the Dreamliner aircraft.

The new Boeing 787 Dreamliner features innovative lighting, 30% larger overhead luggage bins, tall 19” windows, improved air quality within the cabin, along with cutting edge technology.  The Dreamliner is capable of flying up to 300 passengers depending on the exact configuration of the aircraft.

For more information, visit: NewAirplane