HOUSE KEEPING: Remember when you click on the pictures in "Where's Johnny Jet," they will open up in another window. Just click the "x"(close) in each picture to get back to the newsletter. This should alleviate complaints about closing Johnny Jet. Thanks again for your support, and remember: If you book trips on the web, please go through JohnnyJet.com. (It will save you money).
EOS AIRLINES
If you missed my unbelievable outbound flight to London on Eos, here is the direct link to the story (a link to the 2-minute video can be found at the bottom of this story). As you can see, I fell in love with the airline. Who wouldn’t? Escorts
to the front of the line at security, then a 757 that can hold up to 231 economy seats -- yet is outfitted with just 48 seats, all of which turn into flat beds. Come on! However, I found a couple of flaws on my 7-hour, 31-minute return flight. One: Eos’ airport lounge
in London is not nearly as nice as the one in New York. Two: The flight attendants on this flight weren’t as amazing as the others. Don’t get me wrong -- they were still good, but they did not bring the mid-flight snack through the cabin, or come by often with bottles of water. I know, I’m a freak, but at $3,250 one-way walk-up fares they gotta step up. It was probably just an oversight, and I’ll be sure to let you know the next time I fly them (which I hope is soon). For more information on Eos, visit EosAirlines.com, or call 888-357-3677.
GETTING TO CT
I landed at JFK around 7 p.m. There was no line at customs and this new terminal (4) was so much better than my last
international arrival (Terminal 8). Instead of flying right back home to Los Angeles, I decided to visit my family in Connecticut (where I grew up) for a few days. Getting between New York’s major airport and Connecticut is more difficult, and possibly more time-consuming, than some flights. I have no idea why Connecticut doesn’t have easy, affordable access to the airport. Maybe it’s because there are too many rich people who don’t care about public transportation. I didn’t take Connecticut Limo (which is far from a limo). I swore to myself I would never use them again, after repeated rudeness. Besides, they’re not cheap: It costs $67 for one-way trip to Norwalk (only a 42-mile drive). At the ground transportation desk at JFK I asked about any options besides CT limo. The agent said "Prime Time Shuttle." They
showed up in the quoted 30-minutes time. Unfortunately, the driver kept going to other terminals to get passengers until he filled up the van. Luckily, at the second stop a whole family jumped in. The first destination was a hotel out of the way in White Plains, NY. On top of that, the driver got lost. He made us all nervous as he read the map speeding down the thruway. I started to get angry like the others, and asked him to slow down. I asked why he didn’t have a GPS system. "Too expensive." Of course! Two hours of a drive that should have taken half that set me back $63 (without tip – which he didn’t get). Next time I’ll save time and money by taking AirTrain (I’ll write about it next week).
CONNECTICUT
When I unpacked my bag in Connecticut
I discovered I had a little hand sanitzer gel in my carry-on. At the time this liquid item was considered dangerous, and banned from all airlines. Well, I took three flights and cleared three different security checks in three countries – including Britain -- and nobody stopped me. So much for security. My trip to Connecticut was relaxing, as my family, friends
and I took in the sun of the year’s last summer days.
VIDEO
Here’s a 2-minute Johnny Jet Video of my original flight over on Eos Airlines. Here’s a link
to all JohnnyJet Videos ever made. With high-speed the video loads in about one minute; with dial-up, it could be three weeks.
NEXT WEEK
Next week we fly back to California for my TV screening, a trip to Santa Barbara, and an international flight to… Stay tuned.
*If you heard about us somewhere else or have the link to the story please email Johnny Jet media and let us know where!
SOME OF LAST WEEK'S READER AIR-eMAIL
It was GREAT!!! Keep it up. Aloha! TJ - Hawaii
Ahh...the Hotel Ernst in Cologne! One of the finest hotels I've ever stayed in. They treated us like beloved members of their family there. From the location, the luxurious rooms...and bathrooms...the restaurants, bar, and staff, you just can't beat this home away from home! My husband and I do travel quite a bit and I thoroughly enjoy Johnny Jet's adventures. Keep up the great work! Valarie - Johnstown, PA.
Ahh, my two favorite places....Köln and Düsseldorf. I'm so glad you
got to see them. A tip: Get a roof tour of the Kölner Dom. Not the
spires, the roof. (I could do it with my eyes closed). It's
absolutely amazing. It would have been cool for you to spend more
time in Düsseldorf. People come from all over the Rhineland to party
there, and they have some of the nicest bars I've ever been to. In
the Medienhafen, there are tons of great clubs and restaurants. .....wait..... YOU ATE AT RIVA? I practically lived in
that square. That place is great! Aachen is very interesting too, because of the Charlemagne history
there. St. Vilinius is one of the coolest churches in Europe: 1.
because it's exterior is so ugly, 2. because it has a unique double
level masoleum structure. It's absolutely beautiful inside. Oh man, it makes me miss it. Joe – Anchorage, Alaska
Thanks for a awesome site. My office has been trying to pinpoint a song which is played on your video Paris 2006. Appreciate if you would be able to let us know. Cheers. Trevor Stevens – Adelaide, Australia.. REPLY: Thanks for the kind words and support! We really appreciate it. The song is: “Other Side of the World” by KT Tunstall. P.S. Don't forget to tell your family, friends and colleagues to sign up to our free Johnny Jet’s Travel News, Tips and Stories newsletter -- and to use our "Booking Buddy" search engines when booking travel.
So tell us Johnny...how did you manage to score that room at the Excelsior? Maureen Forster - Castlegar, BC Canada REPLY: Ah… Ancient Chinese secret.
Hi, I love your website and I hope to see you again on PBS. Peter C - Chicago
Those really are some skinny beers…and the dinner you posted on there looks crazy. I’m sure it’s delicious though; the Germans know food. Dan M - New York, NY
I have been reading your newsletter for sometime and remember your mentioning about using a phone for overseas use. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the web site that you mentioned. We are cruising the Mediterranean twice next year and we are interested in purchasing a phone. Being long time cruisers we know how difficult it can be finding a payphone to use a phone card and thought this would be a much better solution for us. Thanks for any assistance you can help us with. Roberta. REPLY: Thanks for the email. Johnny wrote this last week. INTERNATIONAL CELL PHONE: Many people ask me what phone service I use when I am abroad. When I travel I always bring my international (GSM ) cellular phone with me. Most U.S. cell phone companies don’t even have GSM tri-band phones, and the ones that do (T-Mobile) charge way too much for incoming and outgoing calls. Instead of paying their high rates, save money and get your own GSM phone. It’s not expensive, and there are a couple of options (renting is one). But before I leave the country I get the local SIM chip (Subscriber Information Module) for the place I'm headed to. The SIM chip gets inserted into the phone, and serves as the brain (it contains such information as the cell phone number, voice mail and call logs). The SIM gives me a local number, so no one needs to dial long distance. Best of all, when my friends and family back home call, it’s free. That’s right: All incoming calls are free in most countries! Another huge plus is that when I call them, it costs me at least half what a U.S. cell company would charge. Of course, I travel with my laptop, and try to use Skype (Skype.com) as much as possible. Still, it’s nice to be able to access home just a phone call away wherever I am. A number of cell companies provide these phones, but I use Cellular Abroad. I wholeheartedly recommend them -- and even talked them into offering a $10 discount to all JohnnyJet.com visitors. Be sure to mention Johnny Jet when ordering over the phone (1-800-287-3020) or online (CellularAbroad.com).
*Please note that we reserve the right to post excerpts, perhaps edited, from your message on the Johnny Jet website and newsletter. We will not use your full name without your express permission. If you'd rather not have your message posted on the website or newsletter, just say so and it won't be.
HOUSEKEEPING
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