Flight Attendant terminated after admitting she qualified for food stamps
Filed under: Airlines, News We're beginning to sympathize with the JetBlue flight attendant who made the dramatic exit via emergency slide after hearing this latest news from the flight deck. A legal battle is pending after a Compass Airlines flight attendant admitted publicly that she qualified for food stamps.
Kristen Arianejad was terminated on August 25 after being featured in a local television program and admitting she was approved for food stamps to supplement her wages.
Arianejad is being represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA).
"Poverty is not a crime and it is despicable that Compass Airlines would fire an employee for speaking the truth," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Unfortunately, there are flight attendants across the country who have to rely on federal and state assistance to make ends meet.
Instead of paying hardworking flight attendants a living wage, airline management would rather shame them and make them fear for their jobs. We call on Compass to immediately reinstate Kirsten Arianejad."
Compass flight attendants have a starting salary of between $13,842 ($1,153.50/month) and $15,453 ($1,287.75/month). Individuals living in Arizona, Arianejad's state of residence, can have a maximum income of $1,671 to qualify for food stamps.
Compass Airlines is headquartered in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and often conducts regional flights on behalf of Delta.
Image courtesy of AVStop.com. Flight Attendant terminated after admitting she qualified for food stamps originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Earn elite qualifying miles on Delta with Hilton stays
Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations, Airlines, Airports It's pretty common in the travel world to see alliances between airlines and hotels when it comes to earning miles and points; a few points exchanged here and there among giants is an easy way to keep brand loyalty and momentum among the masses.
Normal earnings, however, are almost always limited to redeemable miles -- that is, mileage earned won't count towards elite status or any tiered thresholds that the airline or hotel measures you against over the course of the year.
With this new promotion between Delta and Hilton, however, that's different. Now, any stay at a Hilton property will earn the traveler upwards of 1000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM), which means that you can earn part of your elite status on Delta without even flying. While these miles are only limited to 10k over the promotion period, this could be a good way to top up a few extra miles to reach 25k or 50k miles before year's end -- and you can do it without suffering the loss of leg room.
Sign up for the promo over at Hilton and don't forget to make Delta your earnings partner.
[via Gary at View from the Wing]
[flickr photo via ..colb..]
Earn elite qualifying miles on Delta with Hilton stays originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Top 10 hilarious traveling cat photos
New Wisconsin hotel smoking ban: big fines, no choice
Filed under: North America, United States Wisconsin has just cracked down on smokers from out of state. It's only the second state with a smoking ban that applies to every hotel room in the state. This differs from most smoking bans, like the one in Kansas, in which the properties can allow smoking in a certain percentage of guestrooms. Michigan is the only other state with a hotel smoking ban this severe.
The hotel business in Wisconsin wasn't thrilled about the legislation and did push against it. The greatest challenge, however, seems to be convincing the guests that it's not a scam - that the ban is actually the law. It's a lesson worth learning, for guests, because the consequences are severe. Notes USA Today:
Wisconsin's roughly 2,000 hotels post signs declaring their building a non-smoking facility. They're also requiring guests to initial a statement promising to comply or face paying a fee. Hotels are charging penalty fees anywhere from $100 to $300, she said.
[photo by ell brown via Flickr]New Wisconsin hotel smoking ban: big fines, no choice originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The Alaska State Fair: Record-breaking pumpkins and cabbages
Filed under: North America, United States It's State Fair time all over the country, and Alaska is no exception.
While the Alaska State Fair offers many of the same rides, cuisine and 4H projects you'll find elsewhere in the US, there are a few exhibits and contests that carry a bit more weight. These involve Alaska's giant produce, which grow to record size under our endless summer daylight. Sure, the growing season is short, but our months of midnight sun make up for that.
Bypass the deep-fried Twinkies and check out the healthy stuff: cabbages the size of bean bag chairs, zucchini as thick as baseball bats, pumpkins resting like large boulders.
This year, the winning cabbage in the Great Cabbage Weigh-Off came in at 105.6 pounds (the record is 127 pounds). Though it didn't break any records, other produce broke the scales. A pumpkin came in at 1101 pounds (!), while the winning turnip weighs 21 pounds.The Alaska State Fair: Record-breaking pumpkins and cabbages originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Barbados within reach: American Airlines adds nonstop flights from DFW
Filed under: Barbados, Airlines, Caribbean Texas residents will have even easier access to the sun, sand and fun this summer with the addition of new non-stop flights to Barbados courtesy of American Airlines. This new nonstop, three times per week service from the airline's Dallas- Fort Worth (DFW) hub begins Dec. 16. Currently the airline provides daily nonstop service from New York-JFK and Miami International Airports.
The flights will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
"These new flights will provide our customers from the Central and Western regions of the U.S. easier and more convenient access to Barbados," said said David M. Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Authority.
Currently available for purchase, the flight will be operated with Boeing 757 aircraft with 22 seats in Business Class and 166 in the Coach cabin. December coach fares begin at $314.
Photo courtesy of Barbados.org Barbados within reach: American Airlines adds nonstop flights from DFW originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Weekending: Prague
Filed under: Europe, Czech Republic
While I'm living in Istanbul, I try to take advantage of all the amazing destinations a few hours' flight away and travel there as often as possible. I like to focus on destinations that are harder to access from the US for just a few days (such as Turkey's beach town Bodrum) and places best explored while I'm still relatively young and unencumbered (to wit: Beirut). Traveling as an expat takes on a different flavor as well, seeking culture and cuisine not found in my new city.
The place: Prague, Czech Republic
I really had no intention of going to Prague. Not that it doesn't interest me, I've heard it is enchanting and a must-see city, but this particular weekend we were all set to go to Kosovo, one of the world's youngest countries (by self-declared independence as well as population). A series of minor events caused us to miss our flight by minutes, but as we were already at the airport and ready to travel, we asked to be re-booked on the next international flight somewhere, which turned out to be Prague. We arrived in the Czech Republic with no reservations, research, or plans and through the magic of social media (and the Prague Airport's free wifi), I was greatly assisted and reassured by the great advice and insight from travel writers and friends Evan Rail, Alexander Basek, and Gadling's own David Farley. Turns out it's not an overrated country and I can now say, "Oh, I've been to Prague."
Continue reading Weekending: Prague Weekending: Prague originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Daily Pampering: Making waves in the Maldives
Filed under: Asia, Maldives, Hotels and Accommodations, Luxury Travel Why settle for the beach in your backyard when you can hit the waves on the other side of the world. We found some remote islands in the Maldives that will leave you so zen your family won't recognize you. You might need to cash in a bit on your savings account, but can you really put a price on your sanity?
Here are three great spots for soaking up the sun on the Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean:
Anantara Kihavah Villas, South Male Atoll: The opens in December and will sport 78 spacious overwater and beach villas. Think private pools, wooden sundecks, outdoor showers, and over-sized bathtubs built for two. There's also a 'jungle spa' for those of you who want to test your wild side. Opening rates start at $980 for a Beach Pool Villa.
Cocoa Island, Makunufushi: Cocoa Island was recently named 'Indian Ocean's Leading Boutique Hotel' in the 2010 World Travel Awards. The resort is hosting some December packages inc offers seven nights for the price of six, and 14 nights for the price of 12 from November 1 to December 26, 2010. Rates start at $880 per night for a Dhoni Suite this fall and are inclusive of daily breakfast.
Naladhu, Velighandu Huraa island: This hideaway has 19 secluded houses, each with its own private pool. Your House Master will serve as your concierge, butler, and personal assistant. While you're here, go on a Naladhu Spa Journey that includes a wellbeing consultation, skin assessment, daily private yoga classes, and a 90-minute treatment per person per day with a Master Therapist. Rates include accommodations and daily breakfast and start at $2,100 for an Ocean House.
What are you waiting for?
Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.
Daily Pampering: Making waves in the Maldives originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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AirTran, ATL airport reach seven-year agreement
Filed under: Airlines Travelers flying on AirTrain Airways will be spending a lot more time in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, thanks to the completion of a seven-year master lease agreement for facilities, signed earlier this week.
AirTran Airways, based in Orlando, Fla., operates the world's largest low-cost carrier hub at Hartsfield-Jackson and has a considerable economic impact on the city, state and region. The low-cost carrier is the 25th largest employer in Atlanta and employs more than 6,000 crew members in the state.
"Finalizing our long-term lease with the city of Atlanta brings economic certainty to the airline and sets the platform for future growth," said Bob Fornaro, AirTran Airways' chairman, president and chief executive officer. "This agreement is good for the city, AirTran Airways and fans of low fares around the nation."
AirTran is the second largest airline at the world's busiest airport serving dozens of destinations around the country and throughout the Caribbean. While the news may be good for the city's economy, it may not be a positive for travelers - Atlanta's airport is one of the country's most notorious for flight delays.
In addition to flight operations at the airport, the airline also operates pilot and flight attendant bases, a maintenance hangar and base, two reservations centers, marketing and sales, security offices and corporate and flight training centers in the area.AirTran, ATL airport reach seven-year agreement originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Cockpit Chronicles: FOQA kept these pilots out of trouble in Panama
Filed under: Panama, The Cockpit Chronicles I was excited, thrilled really, to fly with one of my favorite captains for five, 4-day trips over the next month and a half. If you had to work with just one captain for so many days in a row, it may as well have be someone you consider a close friend, and Dave fits that description. In fact, two years ago I wrote about my last trip to Panama City, Panama, and the captain on that flight just happened to be Dave.
But this time, on the first day of our trip to Panama we would soon be reminded just how busy flying an airplane can get down there.
First a little background is in order.
Usually we can pull up the latest weather at the airport we're arriving at either via a print out from our ACARS or by listening to an automated voice report that's available to us as far as two hundred miles away.
It's always a good idea to pull up the conditions as soon as possible so you can prepare for the runway and approach that's in use.
There are a number of options for aligning with the runway and descending low enough to see the airport. There's the most common ILS approach, which can usually guide you to around 200 feet above the ground before a pilot has to see the runway, or a VOR approach which typically takes you down to 500 feet or the more recent GPS approaches which fall somewhere in between.
I couldn't hear the ATIS until we were just 60 miles away from the airport for some reason. Surely a weak transmitter, I figured.
The cloud cover was reported at 2000 feet scattered with more than ten kilometers of visibility. A piece of cake, we decided. We'll surely see the airport when we're within about 20 miles and then fly visually to land to the south.
Controller Confusion
As it happened, the weather wasn't exactly as advertised. It soon became clear that the Panama air traffic controllers were going to give us an approach to fly. They wanted us to fly nearly 60 miles south of the airport, before continuing back north of the airport and landing again to the south when we could see the runway.
We were following a 'company' 737 which was about ten miles ahead of us. "Company" is how air traffic control describes traffic from the same airline.
We asked if we could fly the GPS approach and land to the south, into the wind of course, which would be far less complicated. They initially agreed.Continue reading Cockpit Chronicles: FOQA kept these pilots out of trouble in Panama Cockpit Chronicles: FOQA kept these pilots out of trouble in Panama originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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The James Hotel opens in SoHo
Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Luxury Travel Long beloved by residents of the Windy City, The James Hotel brings its unique blend of residential cool to SoHo with the opening of its first New York City property. Anchoring the southwest corner of Soho at Grand and Thompson Streets, The James is currently accepting reservations at its 114 guestrooms and suites.
"The stylish and culturally rich neighborhood of Soho is the ideal home for The James New York," said Brooke Barrett, co-CEO of Denihan Hospitality Group, owners and operators of The James brand.
In homage to the creative neighborhood it calls home, The James New York will feature a mix of local and international artists, both prominent and up-and-coming. In an effort to be both child and pet-friendly, the hotel will offer both pajama sets and Paul Frank coloring sheets. Dog beds and doggy bowls will be provided by Soho-based pet retail shop Doggystyle, along with a specially-created amenity treat bag.
Additional guest perks include amenities from Intelligent Nutrients, a certified organic, food-based, natural beauty line and audio technology from Bowers & Wilkins, including Zeppelin iPod docking stations and iPads loaded with customized local shopping and dining guides as well as complimentary bicycles courtesy of Public Bikes or use of the hotel's Lexus RX 400 hybrid vehicle.
The hotel was designed by the Office for Design and Architecture (ODA) in collaboration with Perkins Eastman and custom interiors by Amanda Sullivan with The James Design team.
In conjunction with the opening, the hotel is offering introductory rates, beginning at starting from $349 and including in-room breakfast.
To make a reservation, visit www.jameshotels.com.
Image: Courtesy of James HotelsThe James Hotel opens in SoHo originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Loews Hotels offers Whoopie Weekends to help sweeten up romance
Filed under: Hotels and Accommodations I love a story with a little sass and sex appeal, so when Loews Hotels' latest promotion, the Whoopie Weekend, came through my inbox, I was immediately intrigued.
The hotel company is offering those needing a little flicker in their fire a bit of a discount that includes everything from accommodations to marshmallow creme. Here's what you get with the "Whoopie Weekends" romance package:
Luxury accommodations Indulgent welcome amenity: a make your own Whoopie Pie with marshmallow crème, chocolate mousse and dulce de leche fillings; "Making Whoopie for Two" breakfast in bed or the hotel restaurant; Two "Make Whoopie at Loews" t-shirts; Late checkout
The "Whoopie Weekends" package is based on double occupancy and is valid for one-night stays, Thursday through Saturday nights, now through February 2011. Pricing ranges from $124 at the Loews Ventana Canyon in Arizona to $294 at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in California.Loews Hotels offers Whoopie Weekends to help sweeten up romance originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Body of missing climber discovered after 21 years
Filed under: Climbing, Hiking, North America, Canada, United States, News On August 15th two hikers making their way through the Columbia Icefields of Canada discovered the body of American William Holland, who had been missing for more than 21 years. The 38-year old Holland had traveled to Canada back in April of 1989 to take on a challenging climbing route known as "Slipstream." That route goes up a frozen waterfall on the 11,338-foot tall Snow Dome. Apparently, Holland slipped while making that climb, and fell more than 1000 feet to his death.
All previous attempts to discover what happened to the Maine native proved fruitless, as ice covered his remains, keeping him hidden until now. But with glaciers melting all over the globe, it seems that they have retreated enough in the Columbia Icefields to reveal Holland's body at last.
According to a rescue specialist who helped with the recovery, the body was fully exposed and didn't even need to be chipped from the ice. It was also said to be fairly well preserved and in an almost mummified state. Holland's gear and clothing were also in nearly perfect condition as well thank to him being encased in ice for 21 years. He was still wearing his spiked boots and had a loop of climbing rope slung over his shoulder.
After 21 years of not knowing what happened to Holland, the discovery brings a measure of closure to his family.
[Photo credit: Qyd via WikiMedia]Body of missing climber discovered after 21 years originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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