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JOHNNY JET'S Q & A
With Travel Insider ~ David Rowell

PROFILE

After traveling up to 200,000 miles a year as a corporate traveler, David founded his own travel company in 1990, quickly growing it to become one of the largest travel wholesalers that specialised in travel to Australia and New Zealand.

He sold the company ten years later, and after a fitful attempt at retirement, returned back to travel, now under the guise of 'The Travel Insider', writing a weekly column and newsletter about the industry.

David is originally from New Zealand, and, when not traveling, now lives in the Seattle area with his wife and dog.

DAVID'S ANSWERS

HOW OFTEN DO YOU FLY?
Once or twice a month, typically long-haul rather than short-haul.
IN A YEAR HOW MANY MILES/POINTS DO YOU EARN?
50,000 or more (from my credit card alone!) and perhaps 150,000 in total in a 'good' year -or should that be considered a 'bad' year, I wonder :)
WHAT CLASS OF SERVICE DO YOU MOSTLY FLY IN?
When I'm paying for the ticket, I'm down the back in the cheap seats. When someone else is paying, or if I'm cashing in frequent flier miles, then I'm as far forward as possible.
FAVORITE AIRLINE?
That's an easy question. Qantas. In the US, I have yet to fly JetBlue (they have almost no service to Seattle) but as soon as I have a sensible chance to do so, they're sure to become my favorite domestic carrier
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT?
Concorde (of course) but I sadly have only flown it once. In terms of common aircraft, the 767. And (although you didn't ask) I don't like the new 777 with its computer controlled engines - they seem to vary too much in power, unexpectedly, in mid-flight, and I always find it a bit worrying when, in the middle of ordinary cruising, you suddenly hear the engines make a big change in their power setting!
FAVORITE HOTEL?
I'm not going to tell you! I have favorite hotels in many cities, and most of them are treasures that few other people know about, and I'm too selfish to risk spoiling them by sharing the details with your tens of thousands of readers. :)
FAVORITE HOTEL AMENITY?
Soap. No - just kidding - who needs more hotel soap!!!
FAVORITE AIRPORT?
Ugggh. That's a bit like saying 'favorite dental procedure'. But, being a confirmed Anglophile, I'd probably put Heathrow's Terminal 4 high on my list - just love their champagne and salmon bars!
FAVORITE AIRPORT TO PASS TIME IN?
You're joking, right?
FAVORITE CITY?
London or Sydney. Or Salzburg. Or St Petersburg. Or - hey, how many answers am I allowed, anyway?
FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
The Noble Nest in St Petersburg (Russia).
AISLE OR WINDOW?
Depends on the flight. I'll take a window on a daytime trans-polar flight every time. But would probably prefer an aisle for a long boring night flight.
ETICKET OR PAPER?
Another easy question. Paper. Much more flexible.
TRAVEL AGENT OR ONLINE?
Usually travel agent, but I have sometimes taken advantage of online specials.
FAVORITE TRAVEL WEBSITE?
I use Travelocity for no real scientific reason, but just because it is what I've become used to.
FAVORITE TRAVEL COMPANION?
(Is my wife going to read this....)
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A TROPICAL ISLAND, WHAT THREE ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU?
High speed DSL line and computer. Archos Jukebox Recorder 20 with potentially 300 hours of music on it. And (just in case she is reading this) - my wife, of course. And, no, these answers are not in order of preference!
BEST TRAVEL TIP:
Get an airline affinity credit card and charge EVERYTHING onto it. And, for lots more tips, visit my website