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Social media apparently very useful when it comes to great customer service
Welcome back!
How was your trip? We haven’t received any e-mails with tips or complaints from parents about Thanksgiving travel so I take it, all is well. Good.
Today’s post is a great find. I’m rooting for both sides on this one. Guests at the Four Seasons Tweeted about the service they were receiving, only to find that hours later the staff at the Four Seasons caught wind of the Tweet and quickly went into damage control mode.
I was once taught about the power of the pen (as a journalist). Today, there is power of the Tweet (as a consumer).
However, I wonder if the fact that the guests were travel writers had anything to do with it? Hmmm.
Hotel Chatter.com
Year after year, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts win all sorts of awards and garner spots on all different sorts of hotel lists for their attentive services to guests. But recently, we were impressed by their speedy response to a comment we had made last month on our Twitter page. (@Global_Gourmet).
Here’s what happened: We were staying at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Santa Barbara to attend Alaska Media Road Show–a get-to-know our 50th state kinda speed dating for writers and Alaska marketers. We’ve actually stayed at this Four Seasons before and this time, Katy Perry and Russell Brand had checked in together right before us. (We Tweeted that too, and received a “Juicy! xoxo” response from none other than Perez Hilton.)
But back to our hotel service story.
We returned to our room after a reception the first evening and found that Four Seasons’ had given us the full signature turn-down service (slippers, ear plugs, water, etc.) plus a cute gift from the fine folks of Ketchikan.
Then our ears perked up at the hotel’s music selection wafting from the bedside clock radio. It was chamber-like and haunting (maybe inspired by Halloween?) and not at all Zen or soothing. So, we Tweeted this:
“Okay, the turndown music in my room at Four Seasons Biltmore is so not soothing. More appropriate for a funeral or beheading. #alaska” (READ MORE)
Possible travel snafus encourage families to know their rights with airlines
It’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, and for many of you that means it’s time to head back home via plane, train or automobile. For those of you traveling back by air, I found today’s story very useful. As an airline passenger, you have rights that aren’t being broadcast by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
I hope that you find today’s article helpful. Oh, and don’t forget to take advantage of the airport security family lanes. Look for them, if you don’t see it, ask someone from the Transporation Security Administration (TSA).
Until then, have a safe trip and I’ll talk to you on Monday!
SmartMoney, AnnaMaria Andriotis
Thanksgiving travel is always fraught with risks.
When hundreds of thousands of travelers reserve flights for the same day, some hassles now seem inevitable. Flight delays (particularly at airports at risk for blizzards) can disrupt tight family schedules, and lost luggage can force travelers to buy new clothes until their bags are found.
In September, about 14% of flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted, according to the Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, 3% of baggage was mishandled, down from about 4% a year ago.
“When you buy an airline ticket, that’s a contract that you’re promised by an airline to get you to a destination, but they don’t guarantee their flights will be on time,” says Bill Mosley, a spokesman at the DOT.
Indeed, delays have become so common that the government took action by fining three airlines for stranding passengers in a plane parked on a tarmac overnight. (READ MORE)
The Team at FTS are Thankful for You
From our family to yours,
Happy Thanksgiving, and may
your return trip be a peaceful
one 
iPhone Apps That are Sure to Ease the Pain of Family Travel
By now, many of you should be sitting down with family and friends to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner so I’ll make this quick.
Did you know that there are at least 11 iPhone applications that are specifically geared to ease the stress of traveling with the family? This is news to me. I’m still using my Palm Smartphone. After reading this, I’m going to take my husband’s advice and make the switch to an iPhone in the VERY near future. Technology is insane, and I love it.
Now, if only I can find a reason to switch from a PC to a Mac :/
Dreamweaver and Web Development Blog
The holiday season is upon us and along with the food, festivities and fun comes the joys of traveling. Whether near or far, traveling with kids brings its own set of challenges. Regardless of whether you are embarking by plane, train, or automobile, anything longer than an hour or so will inevitably result in antsy kids and “are we there yet?” whines.
In an attempt to ease some of the hassles of traveling – especially when battling the legions of fellow travelers during the holiday season – the following is a list of iPhone apps for making that long journey a little easier.
Note: Due to the sheer number of travel-related iPhone apps available, this particular list was compiled with only US travel in mind.
1. Pack and Go Deluxe
Before the journey even begins, packing yourself and other family members requires a great deal of organization. If you’re traveling with young children, things get more complicated when there are essentials like diapers, wipes, formula, bottles and baby food that you need with you. This app enables you to pick from a master catalogue of hundreds of items and create your own lists to ensure nothing gets left behind.
Cost: $2.99
2. Rest Area Finder
When you’re driving with the family on the Interstate and nature calls, knowing where the closest rest stop is can be a lifesaver. With this handy app, your location is constantly updated and rest stop information, i.e. rest rooms, gas, food, pet walking, vending machines, etc., is available so you can determine where to stop based on whether the kid needs to go or the dog does.
Cost: Free (READ MORE)
Last Minute Thanksgiving Holiday Plans May Work in Your Favor
Remember when waiting until the last minute to take a flight out-of-town cost hundreds of dollars more?
Not in this economy. Seems the airlines are actually cutting their fares to encourage passengers to purchase last minute deals. Hmmm, parents, this might be the way to go if you have three or more kids flying, too. I suggest having your bags packed, in advance, and be prepared to ask if your family can sit together.
Chicago Tribune-Travel, Jon Hilkevitch
Still deciding whether to drive, fly or stay home this Thanksgiving?
At the end of the summer, some experts cautioned that putting off Thanksgiving travel plans until the last minute would be costly. The warning was directed particularly at fliers hoping to snare low-priced tickets, because the airlines have reduced flights and increased charges for items such as checked baggage in an effort to prop up airfares.
Well, things haven’t necessarily turned out that way. Procrastinators are prevailing.
The major airlines are offering last-minute Thanksgiving sales, a reflection of a projected decline of almost 7 percent nationally in Thanksgiving air travel compared to last year.
The lowest average published airfares over the holiday weekend are down 4 percent, according to the AAA Leisure Travel Index. (READ MORE)
Baltimore Sun Prepares Readers for Flights via BWI Airport
This i
s a clever idea. Maryland residents get the latest on tips for flying out of their local airport, BWI Marshall Airport. This should be an annual standard for all local papers. I think getting this, maybe two weeks out, would make a world of difference for those traveling with their children.
What do you think?
The Baltimore Sun, Michelle Deal-Zimmerman
If you haven’t taken a flight in awhile, don’t worry – it will all be just as simple as riding a bike. Here’s what you need to know for your holiday trip.
1. BWI. BWI Marshall Airport is busier than ever with new flights being added this year from Southwest, AirTran and JetBlue. Southwest now offers nonstop service to Boston, New York and Milwaukee. AirTran has added daily flights to New Orleans and soon will begin flights to the Caribbean. JetBlue flies only to Boston – for now.
2. I.D. Make sure your name on your identification exactly matches the name on your flight reservation. Under a new U.S. program called Secure Flight, passengers also must provide a birth date and gender.
3. Bags. Weigh your bags before you leave home. With the many new checked bag fees – about $15 each way for the first bag – paying extra for a suitcase that weighs over 50 pounds will cost you $50 or more. (READ MORE)
Pack Light and Arrive Early for Your Flight This Thanksgiving Holiday
AAA reports are out and it finds that travelers [you] will wait in long lines, at the airport, or get stuck in traffic, on the road. And you will pay more. I hear today was the perfect day to fly to your Thanksgiving destination, especially if you
are flying with your little ones. One mom reported that there weren’t any lines at LAX today. Note to self: travel the Monday before the holiday for less hassle…there.
For those of you who are probably packing your bags as you try to digest this blog post, here’s today’s story. Don’t worry, we’ll be reporting on the top Thanksgiving Family Travel news finds all this week. Happy trails!
Sun Sentinel, Michael Turnbell
Fewer people are expected to fly this Thanksgiving, but that doesn’t mean you won’t wait in line.
Driving may look more appealing, but the roads will be more crowded this year, according to the AAA. And you’ll pay a lot more at the pump, too.
Our annual Thanksgiving pilgrimage to visit family and friends is under way. Making it to the dinner table this year requires a little planning, a lot of patience and in some cases, a fatter wallet.
Thanksgiving week is traditionally the busiest travel period of the year for South Florida’s three major airports.
You can expect to wait longer at security checkpoints. Finding a place to park might mean circling the lot or garage once or twice.
Travelers on Monday were thankful they beat the rush.
“It was excellent, very smooth,” said Tony Marino of his Delta Air Lines flight from Hartford, Conn., to Fort Lauderdale. “We always travel somewhere for the holiday and this year we decided to come here.”
“There hasn’t been any wait at all,” said Kyle Quackenbush, who was traveling with family from Kalamazoo, Mich. “We’re looking forward to having Thanksgiving dinner on a cruise ship.” (READ MORE)
AirTran Set to Put Ads on Seatbacks
The question asked by the blogger is, “What would you watch?”
I mean really, do we have a choice? I’m advocating for family friendly content, which means no, Gossip Girl commercials and New Moon trailers.
This is already being done by other airlines. I just want the airlines to be responsible in shooting for ads that are rated Y7 max.
What are your thoughts? Do you think this is appropriate?
WSJ Blogs, Scott McCartney
AirTran Airways says it will install seat-back advertising on all of its 138 jets, putting a 9-inch by 2 ½-inch ad in front of each passenger. The airline says it has “gone to great lengths to present these advertisements in a tasteful, unobtrusive way that we believe customers will enjoy.”
The first ad will be from an environmental news service called Mother Nature Network that is trying to spark attention by offering the chance to win a seven-night Royal Caribbean cruise. AirTran said it will ensure that the ads are all “consistent with the airline’s family-friendly atmosphere.’’
That probably means no Viagra or Cialis ads and no strip clubs, and who knows whether the airline would ban ads for the beer it sells on board. But to help the airline with its marketing, perhaps we should all offer ideas of what we’d like to see staring back at us for a few hours on airplanes. (READ MORE)
No News is Good News…
Hello there.
The FTS team is on the case. We’ve been scouring the headlines both on and offline, and we can’t find anything to report.
That’s a good thing for the family travel industry. Although there are more stories out there about pilots being fatigued and working too many hours, we’ve already covered that, and we won’t just post for the sake of posting :/
This is a good time to announce a very special service that we at Family Travel Suite are excited to offer. It’s days like these where we would be happy to post a family travel product review.
Do you have a product or service that you think would make family travel more pleasant, easier?
If so, send me an e-mail to mjackson AT familytravelsuite DOT com
Let us take a look, experience your product, then share it with the world, via this blog.
FAA Administrator Says There’s a Call to Professionalism Among Pilots, Given Recent Events
The wave of events within the aviation community has sparked special attention among pilots. Drunk pilots, pilots missing their stops, the events keep coming and Federal Aviation Administrator, Randy Babbitt says it’s all due to a lack of professionalism.
What do you think? Is it really a call to professionalism? I think it has a lot to do with the quality of pilots the airlines are hiring these days. There simply are no ethics. Today, most people are in their profession for the money. Not to make a difference or add value, simply to gain a paycheck. I’m just sayin’.
Daily Herald, Marni Pyke
Not a great autumn for pilots.
First, on Oct. 21, two Northwest Airlines pilots overshot the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport because they were distracted, according to federal authorities. The airplane was out of radio contact with air traffic controllers for more than an hour, a major national security gaffe.
If that wasn’t head-shaking enough, police arrested a United Airlines pilot minutes before take off from London to Chicago Monday because he was allegedly drunk.
The inebriated aviator incident is under investigation and the Northwest pilots are appealing license revocations by the Federal Aviation Administration. (READ MORE)
