I left Tuesday, September 28th from O'Hare @ 9:20am. The plan was to go to JFK via Pittsburgh arriving JFK @ 1:50pm. I also had a flight from JFK to Istanbul that was departing @ 4:45pm. My flight from O'Hare left on time and without a hitch. I landed in Pittsburgh on time and discovered that I had the perfect connection. I arrived at the same departing gate for my flight to JFK. Within 30 minutes we were boarding the same plane for our on time flight. All on board we were expecting an ealy departure. Wow, what a perfect connection. This is when it all went wrong. The pilot with his pilot voice announced that we will push back but have a 20 - 30 minute delay. We would park on the tarmac and wait for our take off time. After the 30 minutes passed another announcement was made that we would have another one hour delay. After that hour passed another announcement was made that there would be another 1 1/2 hour delay and due to passenger rights we would have to return to the gate. Upon returning to the gate we were told to not leave the gate area because we could get the all clear at any time. So we waited. Then we were told that our 12:30pm flight would now leave @ 4pm. So I started checking other options to get to JFK to make my Turkish Air flight. It is now 2:30pm and I think I can still make it. As I'm on the phone checking options an announcement is made that the flight has been canceled. Everyone approached the counter. Side note. Why do people cut in line? It's the one thing that really gets my goat. It's rude and unacceptable. What I don't understand is why others allow it to happen? Any way, back to my 10 hour flight from Chicago to JFK. One by one we told our stories and the airline assisted us with rebooking on another airline. In the mean time I called the group leader @ JFK to advise that I would not make my connection in JFK to Istanbul. She put me on a prioity waitlist for Turkish Air's 11:35pm flight. Finally, I'm at the counter and I get the last seat on USAir from Pittsburgh to Laguardia. The scheduled arrival is 6:30pm. Plenty of time to get from LaGuadia to JFK. I am told that my bag will be transfered from my original flight to my new flight. I really don;t trust this and I think it smells of a lost bag. I have faith and proceed. I head down to the gate and guess what's displayed. That's right "Flight Delayed". But that delay turned out to be a delay at all. Shortly after we boarded the plane for a pretty close to on time departure. We pushed back from the gate and our pilot makes an announcement in his pilot voice......We've been advised of a delay of 20 - 30 minutes so we'll push back and wait for our time of departure. De Ja Vu anyone??? This time 20 - 30 minutes was all it took. We took off and headed to LaGuardia. I actually arrived @ JFK @ 7pm. My luggage arrived as well. I approached Turkish Air and advised that I am still on Prioity Waitlist and won't know anything until 10pm. So I wait. I get a beer and a sandwhich and I wait. @ 11:00pm I'm finally cleared, issued my boarding pass and hand my bag over to security. Once again I'm worried if my bag will make it to the plane in 30 minutes but I put it out of my mind and head to the gate. I am pleasantly surprised with Turkish Air. Clean plane, good entertainment center, I got an aisle seat and the food was pretty good. I arrived in Istanbul, Turkey and the flight took 9 hours 40 minutes. Less time than it took me to get from O'Hare to JFK.
I cautiously approach baggage claim expecting that my bag would not have arrived and wouldn't you know it...there it was...a thing of beauty going around the carousel! I eagerly grab my bag and off I go to my hotel. I'm now in Turkey having a wondeful time.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Traveling Eye Partners with Illinois Bureau of Tourism
Hello Travelers,
The Traveling Eye has partnered with The Illinois Bureau of Tourism. From January - June 2010 The Traveling Eye will be enjoying Illinois. We will take our listeners on a tour of Illinois featuring weekend getaways each week, doing a complete show on an Illinois region each month and hosting two come along trips to Illinois destinations, where you will be able to join us.
Illinois is truly a state that has diverse attractions and we will uncover them:
- Chicago & Chicagoland offer excellent site seeing, museums, world class dining, nightlife and shopping.
- Northern Illionois with its indoor & outdoor adventures and historic towns
- Central Illinois is Land of Lincoln. It's also Amish country and home to the Illinois State Museum.
- Western Illinois is synonymous with the great outdoors from skiing to river boating and great fall foliage.
- Southern Illinois has some fantastic trails. Native American trails, wine trails and golf trails.
Tune in and journey with us as we enjoy Illinois Mile after Magnificent Mile each Friday @ 11am CT on The Talk of Chicago 1690 WVON or on the web www.wvon.com.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Cruise Line Throw Cougars Overboard!
Hi Everyone!
Recently I was at a friends home, playing Bid Whist and the topic of "Cougars" came up. Not the furry, four - legged kind, the human, female, walk on two legs kind. For those of you who are not aware, a "Cougar" is an older woman who dates much younger men.
Sitting in the room were several generations of women. The youngsters were at a table playing "Spades". Their age range was from 26 - 39. They quickly spoke up that there is no way they would date a man that was younger then they. The "Grown Folks" as we call ourselves, were at the Bid Whist table and ranged from 45 - 65 years of age. We quickly let them know that a little young blood can put a spark in a mature engine. The room went up in serious and sometimes heated discussion.
The topic came up when I mentioned to the group a story Ja'Vonne and I talked about on our radio program, The Traveling Eye on www.wvon.com.Recently I was at a friends home, playing Bid Whist and the topic of "Cougars" came up. Not the furry, four - legged kind, the human, female, walk on two legs kind. For those of you who are not aware, a "Cougar" is an older woman who dates much younger men.
Sitting in the room were several generations of women. The youngsters were at a table playing "Spades". Their age range was from 26 - 39. They quickly spoke up that there is no way they would date a man that was younger then they. The "Grown Folks" as we call ourselves, were at the Bid Whist table and ranged from 45 - 65 years of age. We quickly let them know that a little young blood can put a spark in a mature engine. The room went up in serious and sometimes heated discussion.
According to TIME's Tim Padgett, Carnival Cruise lines has decided not to book anymore cougar themed group cruises. In December of 2009, a "Cougar Group" set sail on the Carnival Elation for a 3 day cruise from San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico and back.
Carnival Elation
The older women (Cougars) booked the cruise to meet and hang out with younger men (Cubs). When I heard that Carnival wasn't going to book any more cougar themed groups, I immediately thought that the event must have turned out to be a "Cougars Gone Wild" type of cruise. Young, gorgeous, washboard stomach guys chasing 40, 50 and 60 year old women around the deck and dousing them in tanning oil.
Carnival Cruise Lines said that the group of 300 plus wasn't wild at all. The wildest event was the typical cruise ship hot tub party. The guests weren't overly loud or disturbed other passengers. So what was the problem?
Tim reported that Carnival wouldn't discuss the ban on the Cougar groups but sent an email statement stating that the cruise line had, "made the decision not to allow any future groups to be booked and marketed on our ships under this them. It was a business decision."
There are travel experts who feel that Carnival is planning to market itself as a cruise line that promotes family fun and wholesomeness. The cougar groups may give the image of the cruise line being a floating girls gone wild party ship. ( Hey, it popped in my mind).
As we discussed the article during our card game, the question came up, "What would happen if the group wanted to buy out entire ship. Would Carnival turn them down?" I am sure Carnival or any other cruise line wouldn't turn down the money. It is, however, a different set of circumstances when you book the entire ship versus when you are just a small group among many passengers. While people are more accustomed to seeing a 60 year old man with a 20 or 30 something young woman on his arm, some folks may be offended (I don't have a clue why) or feel uncomfortable watching a 20 or 30 year old young man rub suntan lotion on a 50 or 60 year old woman. Sound like a double standard to you?
As I won my five, no-trump, downtown (yes, I am good), I informed the group that even though Carnival Cruise lines has thrown Cougar groups overboard, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise lines brought in the life boats. Cougars and Cubs will be setting sail in May and in December of 2010.
If you happen to be on board and see a group of beautiful, highly motivated, intelligent Black women engrossed in a bid whist game, pull up a chair and sit down. GROWL!
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!
Bonnie DeShong
Co-host The Traveling Eye - www.wvon
www.thetravelingeye.com
www.chicagonow.com
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Air Rage
Hi Everyone!
As I was reading through some crazy travel stories I came across one that sounded odd at first but I must say it could have been written about any one of us who fly on a regular basis. The story was about the overhead compartment on a plane
How many times have you gotten on a plane and went to put your carry on in the overhead compartment over your seat and found that the space has been taken by someone else's luggage. One would assume that the overhead compartment over each seat is designated for the two or three passengers that are sitting under it. However, in this case, someone has taken your space and there isn't any room in your compartment nor is there any room near you. Now your bag must go in a compartment away from where you are sitting or the flight attendant takes it from you and whisks it off to some unknown area. How many of you have wanted to stand in middle of the aisle and yell for the person who has taken your space to come and get their bag or worse yet, grab the bag out of the compartment and throw it down and place your bag in its rightful place, over your seat?
A passenger aboard a flight from Singapore to Australia took matters in his own hands, after he balled them into fists, and placed them in the face of another passenger. News.com reported that a passenger got on the flight and there was no room over his seat for his bag so he took the space above someone else's seat. The second passenger got on and found that his space had been taken, found the passenger of the luggage and "commenced" to hitting said passenger in the face. When I read this I immediately heard Popeye's voice, "That's all I can stand and I can't stands no more".
Passenger number one was moved to another seat, I assume his carry on luggage was moved with him, and the plane continued on to Australia where the authorities had a special compartment for Passenger number two and his luggage.
On another note, there is the traveler who is just plain rude. They get on the plane and they are sitting in row 19 but they place their luggage in the compartment over row 8 (they would never try this in first class compartments). This person has totally inconvenienced everyone on the flight because of the trickle down effect. Row number 8 can't place his luggage so he puts it in row number 9 who must now place theirs in row number 10 and so on and so on. Totally rude and inconsiderate.
You don't hear much about Air Rage. Usually people are pretty tolerant of babies crying, someone's knees in your back or a child kicking the back of your seat. There is also that one passenger that wants to talk the entire flight when all you want to do is listen to your IPOD or read a book. You may even tolerate that passenger that falls asleep and uses your shoulder for a pillow. However, someone putting their bag in the overhead compartment that is over YOUR seat? Intolerable!
Well, with fees going up on checked baggage and more people are carrying on their bags, there is only so much space in overhead bins so what is a traveler to do? Seriously, I'm asking, WHAT IS A TRAVELER TO DO?
Tune into The Traveling Eye every Friday from 11 AM to Noon, Central Time on 1690 WVON or on the web at www.wvon.com. Feel free to call in and voice your opinions on our topics at 773 591-1690
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!
Bonnie DeShong
Co-host of The Traveling Eye
www.thetravelingeye.com
www.thetravelingeye.blogspot.com
As I was reading through some crazy travel stories I came across one that sounded odd at first but I must say it could have been written about any one of us who fly on a regular basis. The story was about the overhead compartment on a plane
How many times have you gotten on a plane and went to put your carry on in the overhead compartment over your seat and found that the space has been taken by someone else's luggage. One would assume that the overhead compartment over each seat is designated for the two or three passengers that are sitting under it. However, in this case, someone has taken your space and there isn't any room in your compartment nor is there any room near you. Now your bag must go in a compartment away from where you are sitting or the flight attendant takes it from you and whisks it off to some unknown area. How many of you have wanted to stand in middle of the aisle and yell for the person who has taken your space to come and get their bag or worse yet, grab the bag out of the compartment and throw it down and place your bag in its rightful place, over your seat?
A passenger aboard a flight from Singapore to Australia took matters in his own hands, after he balled them into fists, and placed them in the face of another passenger. News.com reported that a passenger got on the flight and there was no room over his seat for his bag so he took the space above someone else's seat. The second passenger got on and found that his space had been taken, found the passenger of the luggage and "commenced" to hitting said passenger in the face. When I read this I immediately heard Popeye's voice, "That's all I can stand and I can't stands no more".
Passenger number one was moved to another seat, I assume his carry on luggage was moved with him, and the plane continued on to Australia where the authorities had a special compartment for Passenger number two and his luggage.
On another note, there is the traveler who is just plain rude. They get on the plane and they are sitting in row 19 but they place their luggage in the compartment over row 8 (they would never try this in first class compartments). This person has totally inconvenienced everyone on the flight because of the trickle down effect. Row number 8 can't place his luggage so he puts it in row number 9 who must now place theirs in row number 10 and so on and so on. Totally rude and inconsiderate.
You don't hear much about Air Rage. Usually people are pretty tolerant of babies crying, someone's knees in your back or a child kicking the back of your seat. There is also that one passenger that wants to talk the entire flight when all you want to do is listen to your IPOD or read a book. You may even tolerate that passenger that falls asleep and uses your shoulder for a pillow. However, someone putting their bag in the overhead compartment that is over YOUR seat? Intolerable!
Well, with fees going up on checked baggage and more people are carrying on their bags, there is only so much space in overhead bins so what is a traveler to do? Seriously, I'm asking, WHAT IS A TRAVELER TO DO?
Tune into The Traveling Eye every Friday from 11 AM to Noon, Central Time on 1690 WVON or on the web at www.wvon.com. Feel free to call in and voice your opinions on our topics at 773 591-1690
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!
Bonnie DeShong
Co-host of The Traveling Eye
www.thetravelingeye.com
www.thetravelingeye.blogspot.com
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Man Overboard!
Hi Everyone!
How many of you enjoy going on cruises? During the cold winter months here in Chicago, people book cruises to get away from the ice, cold and snow. It is great to leave Chicago in December, head to a cruise Port of Call and after a few days or a week lying on deck in the hot sun, come back to the Windy City relaxed with a beautiful deep tan while everyone else is walking around dressed head to toe in layers.
I am not a cruise person but it is amazing the number of people who enjoy them as their only means of vacationing. However, over the past year or so, it appears that people are taking cruises for another reason.
During 2008-2009, there have been quite a few people that have gone overboard on cruise ships. The latest was New Years Eve when a 23 year old woman was reported missing from Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas. The ship was headed from Nassau to CocoCay. Security camera footage showed the woman jumping overboard from the 11th deck. After two days and 3,725 miles of trying to find the young woman, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search.
After doing a little internet research, it appears that between 2008 and 2009, at least 28 people have started off on a cruise but didn't come back in the same condition they were in when the ship left port, if at all.
Every time one of these reports hits the news, Ja'Vonne and I have discussions on what responsibility, if any, does the cruise lines have to insure the safety of all their passengers.
Should they take away the balcony rooms on ships? It was reported that and elderly couple booked a cabin with a balcony. They allegedly locked the door from the inside and jumped from the balcony into the ocean. Perhaps they should put netting up on all decks so that people can't jump from the ship into the water? Should cruise ships post more security on all the decks so that if anyone goes near the railing they are stopped? What would this mean for the other passengers who are just on a cruise to relax and have a good time?
I'm interested in hearing from you. What do you think?
Don't forget to mark your calendars to tune into The Traveling Eye Travel Radio Program heard every Friday from 11 AM - Noon, Central Time on The Talk of Chicago 1690 WVON or on the web at www.wvon.com. Ja'Vonne and I cover all topics that involve travel.
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!
Bonnie DeShong
www.thetravelingeye.com
www.thetravelingeye@blogspot.com
I am not a cruise person but it is amazing the number of people who enjoy them as their only means of vacationing. However, over the past year or so, it appears that people are taking cruises for another reason.
During 2008-2009, there have been quite a few people that have gone overboard on cruise ships. The latest was New Years Eve when a 23 year old woman was reported missing from Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas. The ship was headed from Nassau to CocoCay. Security camera footage showed the woman jumping overboard from the 11th deck. After two days and 3,725 miles of trying to find the young woman, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search.
After doing a little internet research, it appears that between 2008 and 2009, at least 28 people have started off on a cruise but didn't come back in the same condition they were in when the ship left port, if at all.
Every time one of these reports hits the news, Ja'Vonne and I have discussions on what responsibility, if any, does the cruise lines have to insure the safety of all their passengers.
Should they take away the balcony rooms on ships? It was reported that and elderly couple booked a cabin with a balcony. They allegedly locked the door from the inside and jumped from the balcony into the ocean. Perhaps they should put netting up on all decks so that people can't jump from the ship into the water? Should cruise ships post more security on all the decks so that if anyone goes near the railing they are stopped? What would this mean for the other passengers who are just on a cruise to relax and have a good time?
I'm interested in hearing from you. What do you think?
Don't forget to mark your calendars to tune into The Traveling Eye Travel Radio Program heard every Friday from 11 AM - Noon, Central Time on The Talk of Chicago 1690 WVON or on the web at www.wvon.com. Ja'Vonne and I cover all topics that involve travel.
Until next time, keep your EYE to the sky!
Bonnie DeShong
www.thetravelingeye.com
www.thetravelingeye@blogspot.com
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Up In The Air - The Frequent Flyer
Hi Everyone!
Have you seen the film that is in theaters starring George Clooney called "Up In The Air"?
This is one movie that will give you some great tips on traveling. As cute and talented as George Clooney is, his character in the film, Ryan Bingham, gives some great travel tips we all should follow when traveling.
The premise of the film is Ryan Bingham is a Corporate Downsizing Expert. He works for a company that corporations hire to come in and fire people. Ryan is in more airports and hotels than he is in his own home. He has a personal goal to obtain 10 million frequent flyer miles on his airline of choice. Have you seen the film that is in theaters starring George Clooney called "Up In The Air"?
This is one movie that will give you some great tips on traveling. As cute and talented as George Clooney is, his character in the film, Ryan Bingham, gives some great travel tips we all should follow when traveling.
Ryan has several tips for the frequent flyer.
1. Pick an airline and sign up for their frequent flyer miles program. His airline of choice was American and their Advantage program. Then use credit cards, hotels, car rentals companies and restaurants that partner with the airline's program.
2. Learn to pack everything you need in a carry-on bag. He and my "partner in travel" and on the radio, Ja'Vonne, has this tip down to a science. I'm getting there.
3. Check in on line or at the Kiosk.
4. When going through TSA security, scope out the lines before you get in one. If there are families in a line and you are a single traveler, you might not want to get in that line. It will take time to get the strollers and things through. If there is a line with business travelers, that might be the line for you. They travel often and know what to do to get through security quickly.
5. Take time to know the airport you are traveling out of and in to. If your gate changes at the last minute you won't waste time trying to figure out which way to go.
6. Dress nice when you travel. You won't get that upgrade if you look like you are on your way to a football game.
6. Smile, be polite and look the airline personnel in the eye. You treat them nice...they will remember you the next time you come through.
Ryan's goal was to earn 10 million frequent flyer miles and he would get to fly anywhere he wanted on American, meet the premier pilot, and get his name on a plane. Did he make it? You will have to see the movie to find out.
Until next time, keep your EYE to the Sky!
Bonnie DeShong
Co-host of The Traveling Eye heard on WVON1690, www.wvon.com
Fridays - 11 AM - Noon, Central Time
www.thetravelingeye.com
Traveling Home for the Holidays!
Hi Everyone!
The holidays are here and like so many of you, Ja'Vonne and Gene Harley and I all went to our hometowns for the holidays. Ja'Vonne and Gene are from D.C. and flew out on different days headed east after the big snow storm. I am sure Ja'Vonne will blog about her trip east for the holidays. My hometown is Champaign, Illinois so I planned to pack up the car, hit I-57 and head home for Christmas.
My plan was to leave the evening of the Wednesday before Christmas Eve and be home in an hour and a half. Mother Nature had other plans and Chicago was hit with freezing rain (which I learned is different from sleet and snow) so it wasn't safe to head out. The holidays are here and like so many of you, Ja'Vonne and Gene Harley and I all went to our hometowns for the holidays. Ja'Vonne and Gene are from D.C. and flew out on different days headed east after the big snow storm. I am sure Ja'Vonne will blog about her trip east for the holidays. My hometown is Champaign, Illinois so I planned to pack up the car, hit I-57 and head home for Christmas.
What do you do when you plan to drive out of town for the holidays? Here are some tips that I take when I plan to drive anywhere in the winter months.
Winterize the car - I usually go the to good old neighborhood car shop to get my oil changed, fluids, and pressure in the tires checked. Speaking of tires, make sure the tires are in good condition. Don't forget to check the windshield wiper blades.
In the trunk of my car I have my winter pack together. I test things to make sure everything works. I have jumper cables, flares, a blanket, flashlight, a jug of water, kitty litter, windshield wiper solution, and a shovel. In my glove compartment I have a couple of granola bars.
When I get on the road I usually put premium gas in the car, however, whatever grade of gas you use, make sure you begin your trip with a full tank of gas. I find it helpful to fill up the tank along the way when the tank is half full.
With the icy rain in Chicago I postponed my trip until Christmas Eve but before I set out on the road I watched the weather reports, called my uncle in Champaign to ask what the weather conditions were there and I called the Illinois Department of Transportation (800 452-4368) to check the road conditions on I-57. IDOT's recording said that there wasn't any ice or snow on the I-57 from I-294 to Carbondale. GREAT! I felt safe to load up the car and head home for the holidays.
Remember, the best way to travel during the holidays is to do it safely.
What are some of your helpful travel tips?
Until next time, keep you EYE to the sky and Happy Holidays!
Bonnie DeShong
Co-host The Traveling Eye
www.thetravelingeye.com
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