Your BAT editor Chris McGinnis and The BAT appeared on GOOD MORNING AMERICA today! Seriously! The segment is about how to beat long lines. My part (taped at SFO) starts at about 2:10.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9022454

Check it out and let me know what you think! We are also pleased that the ABC reporter, Becky Worley (who lives in the East Bay), is now a BAT reader, too!

Big day for The BAT!

Have you STILL not witnessed the wonders of in-flight Wi-Fi? What are you waiting for? If it’s cost, we’ve got a deal for you. BAT readers can give the new Gogo inflight internet service a go FOR FREE now through January 7, 2010.

Note that Google is sponsoring free in-flight wi-fi on Virgin America Nov 10-Jan 15, but if you’re on wi-fi equipped aircraft from United, American, Delta or AirTran, you can use this code to avoid the standard $13 fee.

Here’s how: When you get on a wi-fi equipped plane, fire up your laptop or PDA and log on the internet. You will automatically arrive at the Gogo site. Then enter this BAT code:

2285274562xbf

(copy and paste this into a doc or write it on a slip of paper and put in your wallet to access on the plane)

And Voila! Free internet! Let us know what you think.

Those Northwest pilots who overshot Minneapolis HAD to have been asleep. I can’t think of any other reason for the silence. Can you? What do BAT readers think? Please leave comments below!

OCT 28th: Here’s the latest on this story.

Check out what Delta’s now got on transcons from SFO to NY-JFK to compete with United PS, AA and Virgin’s first. Very nice! Will you try it?

Where do you want to go on your next business trip or vacation? This might help:

A recent poll of 15,000 women revealed that the world’s best lovers can be found in Spain, Brazil and Italy. The worst? In descending order: Germany (too smelly), England (too lazy) and Sweden (too quick). The Dutch were fourth worst (too dominating) and Americans came in fifth worst (too rough).

The poll was conducted by a global research firm www.onepoll.com asking women from 20 countries to rate countries based on the sexual experiences they’ve had with nationals of each. It first appeared in the London Telegraph and has made the rounds ever since. Read on for the full best/worst list:

Continue reading →

Hey BAT Readers!

Here we are in tail end of the dog days of summer in the midst of a recession that won’t stop dogging us! (I recently heard Joie de Vivre hotels CEO  Chip Conley refer to the situation as a “repression”— a combination of a recession and a depression!) We were hoping that summer was going to be a turning point or a bottom to the travel industry’s tailspin, but based on recently released 2nd quarter numbers from airlines and hotel chains, we just are not there yet. Airline revenue is down about 25% compared to this time last year. Average hotel rates have declined below $100 per night-– for the first time since 2007 (currently at about $97).

Business travel is still in the pits. Leisure travel is a hair better, but still not good. It seems like the travel industry is stuck in a “less worse” situation. But…bad industry news is good for consumers, at least in the short run…airfares are exceptionally low as are hotel rates nearly everywhere. Airport security lines are no longer an issue (except on Sunday afternoons!) Airline and hotel employees are treating customers a lot better for the most part.

Longer term, the news is not so good for consumers who should expect fewer flights on older, smaller and dirtier planes. Ancillary fees will continue to bloat. Hotels could start to appear frayed and tatty as renovations get postponed and staff get overworked. Rental cars might get older, smellier and clunkier.

Wish we had better news! For now, we’ll keep muddling through and chronicling all the changes for you, dear readers. Thanks for tuning it!

Best,
Chris McGinnis
Editor

Check out my latest travel tips segment on TV

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Like what you are reading? Then be sure and SUBSCRIBE to The BAT so you don’t miss a single nugget of info. Look to the right>>>> and click on the SUBSCRIBE links! RSS or email! Thanks! Tell all your friends to do the same! –chris