HOME
ABOUT JOHNNY
IMPORTANT #'S
BREAK TIME
 
 

JOHNNY JET'S Q & A
With Anita Vacation's ~ Anita Dunham-Potter

PROFILE

Travel columnist Anita Dunham-Potter has spent plenty of time in the air and on the road. A former flight attendant for US Airways she has traveled extensively throughout the globe for business and pleasure. She has parlayed her travel experience and knowledge into writing for various air travel magazines and in-house airline publications. In 1995, she created her own travel consulting company, JetNet Media, Inc (don't put a link, not necessary), which provides travel content for numerous organizations. In addition, she was formerly the Air Travel guide for About.com, and Smarter Living's ombudsman. Anita started her own site AnitaVacation.com in 2002, which provides weekly columns, ombudsman, deals, and weekly newsletter.

ANITA'S ANSWERS

HOW OFTEN DO YOU FLY?
At least once a month. Mileage varies, usually over 100K a year.
WHAT CLASS OF SERVICE DO YOU MOSTLY FLY IN?
Coach with an occasional bump up to first or business class.
FAVORITE AIRLINE?
(tie) US Airways & Delta -- both have outstanding fight crews, which can make or break a flight. It has been my personal experience that these two carriers excel over the rest in customer service. (Disclosure: worked as a US Airways flight attendant for 12 years -- left in 1999)
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT?
Airbus 330 - I love the 777 but the A330 won me over on my last transatlantic flight to London. Large aisles, nice big overheads, great seats with lumbar control, and of course your own personal video in coach with so many options
FAVORITE HOTEL?
I fell in love with the Clivedon Town House (http://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/) in London during a recent stay in January. It's a smaller boutique hotel where most rooms have fireplaces and antique furniture. Each room is named after a famous person - my girls and I stayed in the Gertrude Lawrence room. If I have to stay in "cookie cutter" type hotels, I prefer Westins. I love those Heavenly Beds!
FAVORITE AIRPORT?
Pittsburgh (Great shopping, and you can get a massage!)
FAVORITE CITY?
Rome - The best of everything--art, history, ambiance, food, people, weather.
AISLE OR WINDOW?
Window - I admit I am still fascinated by flight and never get sick of the view from the top.
ETICKET OR PAPER?
Both -- The majority of my travels are e-tickets since I tend to book last minute. So far, I have not had a problem. However, I recommend paper for more complex itineraries with multiple carriers.
TRAVEL AGENT OR ONLINE?
Both -- There are times when I feel only a travel agent will do. Especially, for cruises and package vacations. If I am only booking airline tickets, I do that completely online.
FAVORITE TRAVEL WEBSITE?
Anitavacation.com and Johnny Jet!
FAVORITE TRAVEL COMPANION?
My husband Dave and my daughters Samantha and Madeleine
BEST TRAVEL TIP:
I have "tips". Bring aboard a carry-on with essentials. If you are going on vacation or a important business meeting break apart your clothes so that if your checked baggage were to get misplaced you'll still have enough clothes to enjoy your vacation or business trip. Lastly, pack neat! You never know when your underwear will be on display during a random search at the airport.
Lastly, I'd like to add that there are far too many negative travel stories out there without any substance to help travelers cope. Quite frankly, this has led to the "wussification" of the American traveler. What I mean is that many American travelers are growing unrealistically impatient with travel and all it's little glitches. We need to have a tougher skin. We live in a completely different world that will test our patience more than ever. Travel has always been a journey. And, sometimes the journey if just as satisfying as the destination.