“The first leg of the 2013 Across America mission was concluded successfully. Bertrand Piccard did a wonderful job throughout the flight, bringing HB-SIA safely from San Francisco to Phoenix, and landing at 00:30 am MST (UTC-7) on Runway 08, Saturday May 4^th. Bertrand Piccard did a wonderful job throughout the flight, bringing HB-SIA safely from San Francisco to Phoenix, and landing at 00:30 am MST (UTC-7) on Runway 08, Saturday May 4^th.

Bertrand had a chance to give numerous interviews to media all around the world before climbing to an altitude above 12,000 ft. where he was then obliged to wear an oxygen mask. Interestingly enough, more people were connected from Japan than the US, for a short while, prior to touchdown.

Ever thought of flying electric cars? Sure seems we’re not far from that. During the flight Bertrand heard an aircraft asking the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) about Solar Impulse and why he had to remain at a distance. The ATC replied, “Just think of a flying electric car!” cracking Bertrand into a hearty laugh. HB-SIA was extremely well welcomed by all ATC along the way and the exchanges between Bertrand and his ATC interlocutors were very enjoyable. I can imagine how important these exchanges are especially during 20-hour long flights!”

The Solar Impulse team is very excited to spend a few days in Phoenix and we’re hoping to show the plane to as many people as possible. In fact, we were able to organize two days for public visits on Sunday May 5th and Tuesday May 7th between 1 pm and 7 pm. There will be 6 slots per day of one hour each. Given strict airport security regulations, please be aware that a maximum of 150 people are allowed per slot so hurry up and sign up today if you want to get a chance to see the solar airplane! Just register for the day and time most convenient to you (Sunday or Tuesday) and come to the airport with your printed ticket.  Parking is available.”

Both days are sold out but you could be added to a waitlist.

Landing in Phoenix

From http://www.solarimpulse.com/

“The promise of cheaper flights is driving many Canadians across the border to U.S. airports — and costing millions in lost revenue in Canada. The trend is disconcerting to Canada’s aviation industry, which is calling on the federal government to do something to lure back those travellers.

…

Manitoba is one of the provinces seeing the exodus of travellers. Close to half the cars in the parking lot at the Grand Forks International Airport have Manitoba licence plates these days.

…

The reason for the vast price differences in the U.S. and Canada has much to do with geography, said Dawson [Senator Dennis Dawson, chairman of the Senate transport and communications committee].

“We are a smaller market dispersed on a bigger country. That is not something easy to deal with but in addition to that, the government has imposed rents on airports,” he said.

“The government is making money out of security taxes for CATSA [Canadian Air Transport Security Authority]. They shouldn’t be making money out of security taxes. All of those are costs the government can control.”

A new federal strategy is needed so Canada can better compete with American airlines and airports, Dawson said, and that starts with addressing the rents airports pay, as well as other fees and charges added onto airline tickets.

“They can lower the rates of rents. They should. They should abolish them completely but, at best let’s ask them to lower them,” he said.”

Full article here

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Twitter @curbexcitement

I have seen this promotion quite a few times, and I am thinking of applying for the card especially that I have a mortgage now so whether an extra credit card affects my score or not would not matter.

When you apply by April 2, 2013, earn up to 50,000 Bonus Aeroplan Miles. Receive 25,000 Bonus Miles after your first use of the Card, plus earn 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in your first three months of Card membership.

Tempting as it seems it is the the $499 annual fee that stops me applying right away as I do no like paying annual fees. Period.

Of course, I could cancel before the end of the first year, and I would consider I have paid $499 for 50,000 miles.

I wonder what the fine print says about the card’s cancellation.

Apply, get approved, pay $499, get 50,000 miles, and cancel the card before the anniversary date.  It seems too simple not to execute it. Am I missing out on something? Why doesn’t everyone do it? What’s the catch? Wouldn’t Amex lose money?

Twitter @curbexcitement

The employer reimburses the hotel and airfare. Couldn’t they request that all points accrued while on business trips by their employees be used only for business trips? After all they paid for them. And it is not like people would start resigning because they don’t like the new policy (I wouldn’t) not to mention that it would be enough a few companies to start this trend and then almost everyone would follow them.

During a company event we had a brainstorming exercise, and the team I was in was tasked with finding ways of reducing the costs. One of the ideas that was put forward was for the company to rent apartments instead of consultants staying at hotels. And I was about to suggest, just to see the reaction: “The air miles earned while on business trips to be used for business trips and not for personal use.” However, I did not want to become the most hated man in the company .

I wonder whether there has ever been an attempt by a company to ask their employees not to use the points earned on business trips for personal use, but use them for company’s benefit.

Twitter @curbexcitement

I was staying at a Fairmont, and I got the bad habit to go to the lobby in the morning and get some coffee from there as it was much better than the coffee I could make in the room, not that I am a coffee drinker, go figure!

Once I woke up very early, I could not sleep more so what to do but get some coffee. I think it was around 5:30 AM and as usual I put the shirt, the shorts and the training shoes on (those provided by Fairmont) as I did not want to go down there wearing PJs and the robe.

I was in the lobby, pouring coffee and there an Air Canada pilot waiting for his cab asked whether I was going to the gym so early. I mumbled something as I didn’t want to say I had no intention of going there and I was in the lobby only for the coffee and the Air Canada pilot said:

“I salute you!”

I was so ashamed with myself – people’s lives depend on him, and he salutes me – that I had to go to the gym and use the elliptical machine for around 15 min. I think I even stopped going to the lobby for the coffee since then, anyway it seemed a bad habit to have.

***

Don’t really know what’s happening with the site as some of the posts including mine cannot be accessed from the home page but some can! So this post is not only a true story but also a way to see whether everything works after the boardingarea upgrade.

Update: now it works!

Twitter @curbexcitement

The contest  ‘Land Your Way’ is open to all Canadian residents having reached the legal age of majority in their province or territory of residence prior to the contest period; it starts on January 30, 2013 and closes on February 28, 2013.

PRIZE TO BE WON:

One (1) grand prize (the “Grand Prize”) consisting of a 2-hour aircraft simulator session with a companion, accompanied by a qualified Air Canada instructor at the Air Canada Flight Training Centre in Toronto, Canada:

Included in the Grand Prize is:

• return airfare for two (2) in economy class from the major Canadian airport served by Air Canada closest to the winner’s place of residence to the Toronto Pearson International airport;
• access to the Air Canada Flight Training Centre in Toronto and to an aircraft simulator under the supervision of a qualified instructor;
• 2 nights of hotel accommodation in a standard room at a hotel in the vicinity of the Toronto Pearson International airport; and
• transportation between the Toronto Pearson Airport, the hotel and the Air Canada Flight Training Centre

Contest link Land Your Way

Beside the Air Canada contest there was a Starbucks contest as well on my Facebook page. Don’t know how it got there. Did I ever click on ‘Like’ Starbucks? I must have, I own Starbucks shares – even if I rarely drink their coffee – so I have to ‘like’ them.

The contest is ‘Name Your Blend, Canada’ and it is the name for Blonde Roast. I am thinking of participating with ‘Blonde and Smart’ or ‘Smart Blonde’. https://twitter.com/curbexcitement

@AlbertBrooks

Boeing has created a new request for travelers. “I don’t want to sit near the battery.

Retweeted 154 times 

http://twitter.com/curbexcitement

We are sorry to inform you that, as a result of the lottery process, your ticket application for the UEFA Champions League Final 2012 has not been successful.

I have received the ‘terrible’ news this morning. And I still don’t know how the algorithm worked, not that it matters now.

I asked Customer Service: “I marked the checkbox: If the price category that I have applied for is not available anymore, I accept to receive tickets in another price category. The amount due will be adapted accordingly.
What does it mean? Is there any order of preferrence? If I chose Category 3 will the system try to allocate first Category 4 or Category 2? How does it work?”

And they told me to read the FAQ. I had read it before and it didn’t say. However I read it again and it explained the position of the seats (the website didn’t). And then I decided to cancel my previous application and apply for the most expensive ticket. I would still pay lots of money to get there so why not have the best seat. And it is maybe once in a lifetime opportunity.

Also, I figured I stand better chances to get other ticket and I do not know why but I had thought I would win one. I was almost certain so I have already planned my vacation around the day of the final. I will try again next year but I would have liked to visit Munich.

PittDoc

Everyone else was ‘disqualified’ because they did not comply with the requirements of the contest that were in place at the moment of commenting. Therefore there was no need for a draw.

‘zasm’ did comply with the requirements and I tried to contact this user to confirm her/his booking class is valid for an upgrade but I have not received any answer so I could not have her/him in the draw.

However,  EagerTraveler commented ‘I have 25 [eUpgrades] more I can donate’ so I’ll contact this user to choose the 2nd winner (so to speak) using a random draw or some other way at her/his choosing.