“Avatar  - Hawaii…

Audiences have been mesmerised by the 3-D beauty of James Cameron’s latest blockbuster, which is nominated forBest Film…

Set on the pristine, forest-covered planet of Pandora, it’s thrilling to realise that, unlike its Na’vi inhabitants, the real place does exist — if a little less digitally enhanced. The stunning landscapes were shot on Kauai island, Hawaii…

This 552 sq mile island has all the requisites of paradise: palm trees, aquamarine sea, waterfalls, canyons, ravines, rainforest and dramatic cliffs. Go there and dream.

A Single Man - Los Angeles

Tom Ford’s acclaimed movie debut is shot in soft, muted, retro colour tones that bring its 1960s’ West Coast locations beautifully to life. The story of a gay man grieving over the loss of his lover features a flashback, in black and white, to a rocky beach that was filmed inland at Vasquez Rocks Park in Los Angeles County. The rock formations are part of the San Andreas fault. They have been used often for film and TV locations, including, most famously, Star Trek.

Inglourious Basterds  - Potsdam

Quentin Tarantino’s film about a Jewish attempt to assassinate the Nazi leadership in the Second World War was filmed at the legendary Babelsberg Studios, Potsdam, in Germany. Babelsberg is the world’s oldest large-scale film studio, where numerous classics, including The Blue Angel with Marlene Dietrich and Fritz Lang’sMetropolis, were filmed. Attractions at its “film park” include a stunt show and a TV studio where children can test their skills as a newsreader or cameraman.

Crazy Heart  - Santa Fe

Relive part of the movie while you ride horses, swim, play tennis or relax at the 450-acre Bishop’s Lodge Ranch, Resort & Spa where part of the film, which stars Jeff Bridges, was shot. The New Mexico town provides another interesting link to the Baftas tomorrow: Cormac McCarthy, who wrote the Pulitzer prize-winning novel upon which The Road (Best Cinematography) is based, lives here.

Up in the Air – United States

George Clooney is shortlisted for Best Leading Actor and Up in the Air is also a frontrunner for Best Film at the Baftas. You don’t need to spend as much time in the air as George Clooney does as he plays an emotionally washed-out character who travels across the US, but in real life, a US plane-hopping trip can be a lot of fun. ” (via  timesonline.co.uk)

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of the best movie location vacations

” “One “happy island” just a got a little happier…

Ritz-Carlton executives, together with newly elected Aruba Prime Minister Mike Eman, announced plans to open The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba, an exclusive 320-room oceanfront resort set on the island’s popular Palm Beach…

The new resort, scheduled to open in 2012, will feature several restaurants, an on-site spa, two swimming pools and a 24-hour casino….

The Ritz-Carlton Club Level will be available to guests who want a more private stay, complete with concierge service…

Aruba is one of the most visited islands for east coast travelers. Legacy carriers including American Airlines, Continental, and Delta offer daily flights to Aruba, and the emergence of JetBlue’s daily flights to Aruba have helped the happy island boost tourism efforts over the past year.

The Ritz-Carlton Aruba is the hotel group’s latest project in the Caribbean. Ritz-Carlton has hotels in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, Mexico and The Bahamas. The hotel group will welcome the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles at LA LIVE next month.” (via www.gadling.com) by  Melanie Nayer

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read more about Ritz-Carlton coming to Aruba

“Dear Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland),

As you prepare to embark on your eighth action-packed day, TVGuide.com thought it wise — after looking into your future (i.e. the first four episodes of 24’s New Season) — to pass on a little advice.

1. Remember to cherish your friends: Chloe O’Brian (Mary Lynn Rajskub) has put her job — and sometimes her life — on the line for you. Though you’d love to hightail it back to Los Angeles, there are more pressing matters in New York.

2. Remember that New York is a world capital: with world issues. These 24 hours will be unlike anything you’ve seen before. The threat is on a much bigger level, involving a nuclear superpower in one of the most volatile places in the world.

3. Remember that you’re an oldie: Sorry, Jack, but this is a new CTU and not everyone knows you like we do. You may not be able to get away with the same tomfoolery you used to. Tread lightly.

4. Remember that no one can be trusted: Keep that in mind while interacting with the new kids. Brian Hastings (Mykelti Williamson), the head honcho at the New York CTU base, may not be on your side. And he’s not always the brightest crayon in the box, so watch your back. ” (via  tvguide.com) by Natalie Abrams

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of  Eight Things Jack Bauer Should Know for 24’s Eighth Season

Sample fares (USA, Canada, Mexico destinations are included)

-$50 one way Seattle to Orange County…

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Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for Alaska Airlines Sale- purchase by Mon. Dec 7…

Travel is valid between January 5, 2010, and March 10, 2010

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Trip package includes roundtrip coach-class air transportation for winner and up to ten guests from either San Francisco, CA or Los Angeles, CA (winner’s choice) to Fort Lauderdale, FL;…

two (2) nights accommodations in a hotel of Sponsor’s choice (six single rooms, each double occupancy);…

admission to the Virgin America inaugural launch party;

and roundtrip transfers between airport and hotel.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to Enter to win VIRGIN AMERICA STAY GOLDEN AMERICA Sweepstakes

ends on November 6, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. ET

Book your 2010 vacation package now and get incredible prices to popular destinations! Book: 9/11/09 – 10/30/09 by 6:00 p.m. CT Travel: 1/1/10 – 3/10/10 from Southwest Airlines® Vacations Location Hotel Name Rating Flight + 3 nights per person, per night Anaheim Holiday Inn Anaheim $92 from San Francisco Anaheim Holiday Inn Buena Park $83 from San Francisco Clearwater/Tampa DoubleTree Beach Resort Tampa/North Redington Beach $91 from Jacksonville Clearwater/Tampa Holiday Inn Clearwater Beach $82 from Jacksonville Clearwater/Tampa Sheraton Sand Key Resort $107 from Jacksonville Ft. Lauderdale The Westin Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale $238 from St. Louis Ft. Lauderdale Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa $186 from Kansas City Keystone Keystone Lodge & Spa, a RockResort $219 from Albuquerque Keystone River Run Condominiums $205 from Amarillo Las Vegas Bellagio $139 from Denver Las Vegas Circus Circus Hotel & Casino $57 from Ontario Las Vegas Excalibur Hotel & Casino $96 from Cleveland Las Vegas Luxor Las Vegas $78 from San Diego Las Vegas Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino $87 from Tucson Los Angeles Beverly Garland’s Holiday Inn Universal Studios $101 from San Francisco Los Angeles Hyatt Regency Newport Beach $127 from San Francisco Los Angeles Sheraton Universal Hotel $138 from San Francisco New Orleans Hilton Riverside $116 from Birmingham New Orleans Sheraton New Orleans Hotel $119 from Birmingham New York City Holiday Inn Midtown 57th Street $125 from Baltimore New York City New York Marriott Marquis Hotel $150 from Baltimore New York City Warwick New York $159 from Baltimore Orlando DoubleTree Hotel at Entrance to Universal Orlando $105 from Nashville Orlando Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort $157 from Baltimore Orlando Disney’s Port OrleansResort - French Quarter $140 from Nashville Orlando Sheraton’s Vistana Resort Lake Buena Vista $179 from Manchester Orlando Sheraton’s Vistana Villages on International Drive $169 from New Orleans Park City The Yarrow Resort Hotel $142 from Denver Park City Three Kings Condominiums $205 from Denver Phoenix/Scottsdale Fairmont Scottsdale $213 from Los Angeles Phoenix/Scottsdale Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch $224 from El Paso Phoenix/Scottsdale The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa $154 from San Diego San Diego Holiday Inn San Diego Bayside $101 from San Jose San Diego La Coasta Resort & Spa $139 from San Jose San Diego Paradise Point Resort & Spa $116 from Tucson San Diego The Dana on Mission Bay $106 from Sacramento San Francisco Hotel Carlton $68 from Los Angeles San Francisco Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf $88 from Los Angeles San Francisco Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf $90 from Los Angeles St. Petersburg/Tampa Alden Beach Resort & Suites $92 from Jacksonville St. Petersburg/Tampa Tradewinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites $117 from Raleigh/Durham Vail Manor Vail Lodge $308 from Albuquerque Vail The Lodge at Vail, a RockResort $212 from Amarillo Customized vacation packages include: • Roundtrip flight via Southwest Airlines® • 3-night hotel accommodations (including taxes) • Rapid Rewards® credit on flight portion • 24-hour traveler assistance

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to Book your 2010 Vacation Package today! Flight + 3-night Hotel packages starting at $57 per person, per night.

–ONE GRAND PRIZE:
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-The trip for two includes three nights hotel accommodations in Hollywood, California
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-plus a collection of props that were used in Hannah Montana The Movie.

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from Delta Airlines Vacations, and Tanger Outlets

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Ends Aug. 31,2009

“For about 15 days a month, Alaska Airlines pilot Jim Lancaster lives in a motor home in Parking Lot B near the southernmost runway at Los Angeles International Airport.

Every four minutes, a jetliner or turboprop roars in — 500 feet above his front door — for a landing. The noise is so loud it forces Lancaster to pause during conversations. But he doesn’t mind. Lancaster puts up with the smell of jet fuel and screaming engines to save time and money.
The 60-year-old aviator’s primary residence is a cottage he shares with his wife overlooking a quiet bay off Puget Sound in Washington state. Living in Lot B while he’s on duty means he doesn’t have to rent a Los Angeles apartment with other pilots or spend 12 hours a day commuting to and from the Seattle area.

“As kids we used to ask our parents to take us to the airport to see the planes,” Lancaster quipped. “Now I get to live at the airport.”

He isn’t the only one. Lancaster’s 2001 Tradewinds sits among 100 trailers and motor homes that form a colony of pilots, mechanics and other airline workers at LAX, the third-busiest airport in the nation. They are citizens of one of the most unusual communities in the United States.

Their turf, just east of the Proud Bird restaurant off Aviation Boulevard, is less than 3,500 feet from the south runway. It is a drab expanse of crumbling gray asphalt, approach lights, chain-link fencing and rows of beige and white RVs — some battered, others grand. A splash of color comes from the red and white blooms of about a dozen rose bushes along the colony’s northern edge.

Many of the residents are separated from spouses, children and significant others for days — even weeks — at a time in order to keep their jobs or move up the pyramid of the airline industry.

“This is the cost of being a pilot today,” said Todd Swenson, 40, a first officer with Alaska Airlines. His wife, Amanda, and 2-year-old son, Noah, live in Fresno, a six-hour commute by car. “I’ve wanted to be a pilot all my life. It can be awful here. But I have to provide for my family, and I love flying airplanes.”

Swenson, who earns about $70,000 a year, lives across from Lancaster in a 1973 Coachman trailer that belonged to his father. If Lancaster’s 38-foot rig with leather furniture is Park Place, Swenson’s is Mediterranean Avenue. The 23-foot metal box is as cramped as economy class, with just enough space for a double bed, a television and a La-Z-Boy recliner. There is a galley kitchen and a bathroom about the size of an airliner lavatory.

The trailer’s windows are blacked out with foil and brown paper bags so Swenson can sleep during the day. To muffle the constant din of aircraft, he bought a white-noise machine — a small tape player with a recording that sounds like a washing machine. Swenson works out at a nearby 24-Hour Fitness, where he showers to conserve his trailer’s limited water supply.

Inside the Coachman, the wood paneling and storage cabinets are covered with photos of Amanda and Noah, whom Swenson returns to about 11 days a month. He keeps in touch via a computer webcam.

“When my tires leave the driveway of my house in Fresno,” Swenson said, “the only thing I can think about is getting back to my family.”" ( via latimes.com ) by Dan Weikel

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of L.A. parking lot is home away from home for airline workers

“It’s just after 10 on a chilly Saturday night, and the acolytes are arriving on cue. Faces bathed in the glow of iPhones, we dutifully form a line that snakes across an empty nightclub parking lot in this seaside enclave of Los Angeles.

The object of our desire: the Kogi Korean BBQ truck, one of L.A.’s newest tourist attractions and a roving tribute to the social-media steamroller known as Twitter. ” (via usatoday.com ) by Laura Bly, USA Today

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click to read more about – With Twitter  hitting L.A.’s hot spots is a breeze

“Fashion guru Tim Gunn is best known for his role as judge and mentor on Bravo’s Project Runway and Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style but his main job is Chief Creative Officer of Liz Claiborne, Inc. He shares his travel highlights and tips with USA TODAY.

Q: Where have you been recently that you liked or were surprised by?

A: Last fall, I was in Los Angeles for five weeks while we taped Project Runway season six. I had visited LA many times before, but those trips were always a mere day or two. My impression of the city was lukewarm: a sprawling megalopolis where people spend inordinate amounts of time trapped in idling vehicles. What’s the appeal of that? So, I arrived in LA for my record-breaking stay with huge doses of apprehension. (But) I fell in love with Los Angeles! I found it to be a cultural treasure chest, with fabulous museums, architecture, and entertainment. And the weather was so sunny and sublime that I actually began to long for a cloud to pass by. Furthermore, I embraced the city as a pedestrian (!) and greatly respected the jaywalking enforcements, which I wish were in place in my dear home of New York, because it makes navigation so much safer and civilized. Finally, everyone should experience Ralph’s, a fabulous food emporium that’s unlike anything that we have here in New York. I shopped there every day. It was my therapy!

Q: What’s the best place you’ve ever visited?

A: Hong Kong. It has all of the exoticism that one naturally associates with South Asia, yet its 150 years of British reign have left it with a Western flavor of infrastructure. That means that for the visitor it’s a user-friendly environment. Central Hong Kong is great on foot: shopping, sightseeing, or just people-watching are all engaging. Travel to The Peak and you’ll experience a view that beats Paris from the Eiffel Tower or New York from the Empire State Building. And if you go to the south side of the island, there are hiking and biking trails and gorgeous beaches. Shop for antiques on Hollywood Road and have a Pimm’s Cup at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Be certain to cross the harbor to Kowloon and take in the city from there. And while in Kowloon, don’t miss the bird and the jade markets, which are amazing. For me, Hong Kong is Manhattan on the Riviera.

Q: What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?

A: How many of us can even pronounce Kuala Lumpur? It’s the capital of peninsular Malaysia and it was my temporary home for four months back in the 90’s. Kuala Lumpur sits at the convergence of two rivers. The name means “muddy confluence,” which it is. I love the amalgam of cultures in this city: a fabulous mixture of Indian, Thai, and Chinese. The architecture is fabulous, too, from the stucco Colonial residences and government buildings to the other-worldly Petronas Twin Towers, still the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world. The Malaysians are an incredibly warm and hospitable people who made me feel like a family member, not a mere visitor. Owing to the fact that I was in the city developing a project for Parsons School of Design (where I was a teacher and administrator for 24 years), I was working with other educators and designers, so we had a very grass roots relationship, eating lunch from food carts, commuting on bicycles (not recommended!), and even visiting the Chinese medicine purveyor for a bad cough that I developed (but I could not even bring the bowl of odiferous, molasses-looking gruel to my mouth, let alone drink it!). The medicinal gruel aside, the cuisine of Kuala Lumpur is among the best that I’ve ever experienced. Furthermore, I found Kuala Lumpur to be a very affordable city — hotel, restaurants, taxis, and even antiques.

Q: What’s your favorite vacation spot?

A: New York. I live here, but I’m never able to do anything even remotely touristy when I’m working (which is always, but I’m not complaining). When I have a rare couple of days off, I pound the city’s pavements, get to every museum exhibit possible, see one show on Broadway (that’s all that I can afford), catch up with dear friends who never see me otherwise, and stay home and order out. This is the most vibrant and exciting vacation spot in the world. ” ( via usatoday.com ) by Kelly Carter

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for more of Traveling with the Stars: Tim Gunn

Click for Previous Traveling with the Stars columns

The Westin Bonaventure (Los Angeles) will be offering guests 45 complimentary room nights on Fridays or Saturdays from March 27th – April 18th, 2009.

The first 45 guests to book will receive a complimentary night. Once the 45 rooms have been booked, all other guests will be offered our best available rates.

Eligible dates: March 27 and 28 and April 3-4, 10-11, and 17-18

Entries will be accepted between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. PT the Tuesday prior to the weekend of arrival by clicking book now below.

The Westin Bonaventure (a Starwood Hotel) 404 South Figueroa Street · Los Angeles, California

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for  The Westin Bonaventure (LA) giving away free nights

” How long did it take you to get a taxi last time you tried? If it was longer than 20 minutes, then chances are you live in the sticks or were calling on a busy Friday or Saturday night.

Catching a cab can be easy, whether you’re in a big city or a crowded sporting event.

But seemingly everyone has had difficulty calling or hailing a cab at some stage, on vacation or a business trip or when stranded in a city center after a night out.

So what’s the best, and quickest, way to get hold of a cab in New York? Or Los Angeles, California? Or at a major sporting event? We find out.

Beware the bandit

Basil Enerieze, a taxi driver in Los Angeles, says in general a passenger’s situation dictates the quickest way to get a cab. In downtown LA or in a commercial or tourist area, hailing a cab works best, he says, but calling one is the quickest way in suburban areas.

Cabbies, he says, prefer fares that are called from a home or business as it gives the taxi company some information about the customer – their phone number, name and residence – in case the fare turns into trouble. Does this mean that taxis are more likely to respond to a call than being hailed? “If they’re there and need a ride I stop my cab,” Enerieze says.

“The biggest problem we face is bandit cabs. Never take a bandit cab,” he says. Enerieze says he’s seen unlicensed operators in LA since he got his license 15 years ago, and that while they might in some cases be quicker or more available; the risks of hailing one are too great to justify.

He says that licensed cabs will be clearly marked with a city insignia, and tells the tale of when he went to the theater in downtown Los Angeles and saw the long lines for a cab and decided, against his better judgment, to hail one of the many unlicensed cabs outside.

On the 10-or-so mile drive to his home, he noticed the meter was running too fast. “I said, ‘I am a cab driver. I know that your meter is running too fast.’ He [the driver] said: ‘That’s the way it is.” And I paid the fare. [But because] it was an illegitimate taxi, I could not phone anyone to complain.”

Bad apples in the big apple

Matthew Daus, the chairman of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, concurs, telling AOL: “I think the number one, most important thing for anyone seeking taxicab or taxicab-like spontaneous service in New York City to understand is that only yellow, medallion taxicabs are legally empowered to solicit or accept street hails from the public. The driver of any other kind of vehicle that is soliciting passengers or responding to your taxi hail is already doing something illegal.” 

He says that in adverse weather conditions or during peak demand hours, customers can be tempted to hop into something that looks like a legitimate limo or black car, but he, too, warns of the risks.

“TLC-licensed drivers are drug-tested and have had a criminal background check, and TLC licensed vehicles are inspected three times annually and carry insurance levels well in excess of the state’s minimum requirements.” 

“Taxicabs go where the people are. If you are hailing from the street, hail in the direction you are traveling to save turn-around time for both you and your driver. If you have the time to plan ahead, a call or Web site visit to a local livery service, black car or limousine service can quickly and conveniently arrange guaranteed door-to-door pick-up and drop-off. Look for the TLC diamond sticker inside the right-hand side of the windshield.”

Use your iPhone

Taxi Magic is the latest innovative application to come to your iPhone and allows a user to book a taxi at 25 of the nation’s biggest cities – excluding New York – and track the progress of the driver en route, all by pressing the iPhone’s touch screen a couple times.

Helpfully, while saving you time talking to an operator it also cuts down on the number of calls the operator has to field, speeding up the service for others.

The app, which pinpoints your location with GPS and calculates the nearest cab firms, was released by Web site ridecharge.com, which also features online booking and other goodies like taxi expense and receipt tracking and, in partnership with some companies, payment and account options that are always useful on vacation or business trips. “( via www.cnn.com) by Craig Howie

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read more of Confessions of a taxi driver

JetBlue announces new flight services between LAX and New York/Boston for as low as $105*!  Please review details below.

Details
Promotion End Date : 11:59 pm MST on Wednesday Feb. 11
Eligible Travel Dates: June 17 – July 24
Travel Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday only
Blackout Date: Saturday June 27 ? ?/*Restrictions, taxes and fees apply

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for sale page

also enter sweepstakes on same page that ends at 11:59:59 PM EST on 2/13/09.

“Pink slip, schmlink slip. Just because your business cards are now only good for jotting down your take-out Chinese orders doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself. Take it from someone who understands: now is the time to take a brief breather and reset your life, and isn’t that what hotels are for?

Ok they are good for a lot of other things too, but right this minute you need a break. Hold off on the Starbucks for a few days or liquidate the crap you kept on your desk and you’ll be surprised to know that you can afford a getaway to a city that is not Detroit.

1. Try your luck at Las Vegas’ Stratosphere Hotel and Casino. It just so happens that this, our number one choice for those with new time on their hands, is also the cheapest. Book a non-refundable room on their website and you’re looking at only $29 a night, a small price to pay to completely escape from your life for a little while. If you manage to save your soul from the slot machines, then head to the thrill rides that encircle the crown of the hotel; the Big Drop plunges faster than the balance of your 401K.

2. Head to warmer Climes and beach bum it at Miami’s Hotel Shelley. After Art Basel and before Christmas, the beloved art deco hotels of Collins Avenue will massively drop their rates, leaving the unemployed snow birds to grab up the $49 a night standard rooms at the Hotel Shelley. If you’re feeling indulgent, even the suite with jacuzzi rings in at only $89. This is the perfect time to have no commitments but several pairs of flip flops.

3. Give those Hollywood dreams a second chance with Los Angeles’ Orbit Hotel. Again with the warmer weather, because something as simple as sun exposure may juice you up with enough Vitamin C to feel optimistic again. The Orbit is one of those slashies, a hotel/hostel, but its vintage mid-century modern decor and excellent location on Melrose make up for possibly sharing a bathroom. Desperate to beef up your imdb profile? Bunks right now are going for $30 a night, or upgrade to a private room for $75. We can personally vouch for the shared rooms here, and the location for the price is unbeatable; stores like Kid Robot and Agent Provocateur are on the same block.” ( via hotelchatter.com ) by HotelChatter Contributing Editor-JetSetCD

Pointswizard.com Spin: read the rest of The Five Best Hotels Under $100 for the Newly Laid-Off

“MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is a dim, crowded, low-ceilinged affair, a J-shaped belt punctuated by security zones and boutiques hawking ersatz Cuban souvenirs, with all the appeal and glamour of a shopping mall that can’t quite pay its electric bills. It is not a place where you hope to eat well.

And yet, on a layover in early November, I hoped. Though lacking in atmosphere, the Miami airport is much like Miami itself, with Cuban restaurants and cafes strewn throughout the complex. Finding an excellent specimen of the Cuban sandwich — roast pork, ham and Swiss cheese with pickles on a roll, panini-pressed into gooey, crispy deliciousness — should, I figured, be easy.

Hardly. At Bongos Cuban Café, a sleek sandwich bar owned by Gloria Estefan, the Cubano was well-pressed but devoid of flavor. At the Casa Bacardi lounge, it was inedibly dry — which was probably the point. The drier your mouth, the more Bacardi rum mojitos you’ll consume.

By the time I reached La Carreta, I was nearly in despair. Sure, this outpost of a Miami mini-chain looked appropriately shacklike, with a stand-up coffee counter and a cheap-looking backlit menu that included a host of tropical-fruit shakes. It certainly felt like Little Havana. But I’d been fooled before.

Not this time. The roast pork was juicy, garlicky and chock-full of real roasted flavor, and the cheese tasted as if it had actually been produced from the milk of a cow. La Carreta’s was a Cubano I would happily eat “off-campus,” as airline employees refer to the world outside the airport, even though the bread was oddly chewy and I wanted more pickles. Then again, I always want more pickles.

No one likes to eat in airports, but eat in airports we must, since we’re spending more time there than ever. Around one in four air passengers experienced trip delays averaging an hour and 54 minutes in 2007, according to a report from the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research at George Mason University. And it only gets worse during the holidays, said Lance Sherry, the center’s executive director, since airlines are running at maximum capacity and therefore can’t easily recover from delays and cancellations.

“Small delays will have a big impact,” he said.

At the same time, he added, the airports “perversely” benefit from the delays. By offering cheap leases to airlines, he said, the airports have to make money somehow, and they do so through concessions. Which is why that ice-cold turkey sandwich costs $9, the bottle of water is $3, and the delays never seem to get any shorter.

“They’re incentivized to keep passengers longer,” Professor Sherry said.

Still, there are bright points. In October, JetBlue opened a striking new food court in Terminal 5 of Kennedy Airport in New York (more on that later), and with another holiday season approaching, it seemed appropriate to see if good restaurants might exist in other American airports, perhaps overshadowed by the Cinnabons and Sbarros but producing honest, edible food nonetheless. And so, over the course of four days, I flew between some of the nation’s biggest hubs — Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Dallas-Forth Worth, Los Angeles and, in New York, La Guardia and Kennedy, which together accounted for about 400 million passengers in 2007, according to Airports Council International, an airport trade group — and tried to discover food worth eating. But what to seek out? And how to find it?

First, I wanted to ignore the big chains and focus instead on local food. Each of these cities has a strong, distinctive food culture, and I hoped this would come through in the airports. Plus, I reasoned, local employees might have a greater connection to the local cuisine and thus a certain pride in seeing it done right.

By this measure, Dallas-Forth Worth International Airport was exemplary, with not one but three Texas-style barbecue joints, all branches of off-campus stalwarts. Cousin’s Bar-B-Q was easily my favorite — the brisket had just the right balance of meat, fat and chewy, charred burnt bits — while Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, whose brisket was watery and ribs dry, made an intriguingly spiced hot link. Only Railhead BBQ disappointed, perhaps because I was already stuffed and had to save my chopped-beef sandwich for a cold midnight snack.” ( via travel.nytimes.com  ) by MATT GROSS

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read much more of Grabbing a Bite Between Flights

Whether you’re planning a future trip or are looking to get away immediately, check out the hottest fares, available for a limited time at alaskaair.com.

When we posted this these were some of the specials

Travel between September 19, 2008 – August 9, 2009

$269 Santa Ana to Anchorage

$319 San Diego to Fairbanks

$209 San Francisco to Ketchikan

$289Chicago to Anchorage

Travel between September 26, 2008 – November 20, 2008

$149 Wenatchee to Los Angeles
$199 Medford to San Diego
$149 Eugene to Oakland
$149 Boise to Flagstaff

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for Web Special Fares at alaskaair.com!

Prices are one way