What is travel? ByrdluvsAWACO attempts to define travel.

Join an interesting discussion on the hows, whys and why nots of delaying checked bags intentionally.

Advance planning is underway by some Northwest FTers.

So you’ve boarded your flight, stowed your carry ons and settled into your seat. Then the gate agent boards to request for volunteers to be offloaded, offering nothing in return!

Read about this scary tale by BamaVol here.

Find out what it is like to be a passenger on Virgin America by reading the Virgin America Trip Report thread posted by FlyerTalk member SkaterJasp.

By the way, it goes without saying that SkaterJasp is no longer a virgin when it comes to flying on that airline.

For those of you lamenting the loss of the Second Avenue Deli in New York when it closed its doors more than a year ago, the good news is that it is set to re-open.

There is nothing like Kosher delicatessen in New York for either a delicious satisfying meal or a simple nosh between meals. Imagine the pastrami sandwiches on rye bread with spicy brown mustard, accompanied by a potato knish, a bowl of matzoh ball soup, and an assortment of sour pickles and half-sour pickles. This must be consumed with a Dr. Brown’s cream soda.

This is only one of countless combinations of enjoying authentic New York Kosher delicatessen cuisine.

Read the Second Avenue Deli To Re-open thread for more details.

The delays are in TBIT. Reported in both British Airways forum and Lufthansa forum. It is probably affecting all flights into LAX TBIT.

Where’s that you may ask? It is in Greenland and belabiah is flying there on a combination of paid and award tickets.

Do you have tips or tricks to help mitigate the risk and effect of possibly misconnecting to the last flight of the day to your destination?

An FTer birthday this week – wish GK a happy birthday on 16th August.

Jenbel and chrissxb have set up a fantastic consolidated do thread.

New news – the case of the vanishing airport lines is unfortunately not discussing security/immigration queues.

A report on a trip – continuing the middle east theme from last week, TEX277 has written about Swiss and Lufthansa first class for Dubai and Abu Dhabi (with some other flights thrown in).

Something from the talking heads, err Talk Board – voting is underway on a new emergencies forum. There is also a request to clarify the home forum for posts about Sri Lankan Airlines, and a proposal for a new air cargo forum.

Something random – TidewaterTraveler asks what do you expect on a flight to Ndjamena? If anyone knows it will be some FTers, right?