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JOHNNY JET'S Q & A
With Travel Journalist ~ Jane Lasky

PROFILE

Jane Lasky is a Los Angeles-based transplanted New Yorker who has journalistically covered the world for the past three decades in newspapers, in magazines, in books, in newsletters, on Internet sites, on television and on the radio.

She wrote the bi-annual Business Travel News and Advice column for Esquire magazine from 1984 to 1988, and since then has authored the syndicated Business Travel Report column which appears in some 30 newspapers. She has been host of Trips & Tips on the Travel Channel and appears regularly as a travel expert on the lecture circuit and on television, the most memorable of which was when she swapped tipping tips with Oprah in 1994. Since 1996, she has been exploring cultural etiquette and offering travel tips on AOL's international channel (AOL keyword: Jane Lasky).

In her travels, Jane survived a slip into quicksand near Nairobi, scouted locations for MTV all over Southeast Asia and shopped for gold in the middle of Dubai airport in the middle of the night. She once went on a five-day assignment to Hong Kong and stayed just short of three years.

Jane always travels with her pillow, she succumbs to jet lag only when she has to, and she is definitely NOT the accidental tourist!

JANE'S ANSWERS

HOW OFTEN DO YOU FLY?
For pleasure, as often as possible. For business, as often as duty requires it of me.
IN A YEAR HOW MANY MILES/POINTS DO YOU EARN?
It varies. When I was commuting between Hong Kong and Los Angeles in the early 1990s, my numbers were off the charts. These days I don't log enough miles for elite status but I do log enough miles to get upgraded once in a while.
WHAT CLASS OF SERVICE DO YOU MOSTLY FLY IN?
I like to fly as close to the front of the plane as I can manage but I can cope with almost any seat--or non seat for that matter. Back in the days before I got caught I used to lie flat on the floor in the back of the back row on the upper deck of a 747 for most of the flight.
FAVORITE AIRLINE?
The airline that suites the route, preferably without any pit stops.
FAVORITE AIRCRAFT?
The Cessna my father flew when I was a kid. Sometimes, after I promised not to tell my mom what I had been up to, he would turn over the controls. I have yet to get my pilot's license but it is a goal.
FAVORITE HOTEL?
I constantly discover more to add to my list as I continue to travel and critique new hotels, though I admit that staying at Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand is Nirvana. I also love unique boutique hotels, especially those run by Joie de Vivre Hospitality and the Kimpton Group. I find Ian Schrager's offerings nifty, especially Morgans in New York. As for larger properties, I'll always be faithful to the Savoy and the Dorchester in London, The Hassler in Rome and The Crillon in Paris. In addition, I adore the Park Hyatt in Tokyo, Splendido in Portofino, Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles, Halekulani in Hawaii, Mandarin in Hong Kong, and The Four Seasons everywhere they operate.
FAVORITE HOTEL AMENITY?
do not disturb signs
FAVORITE AIRPORT?
Burbank, California, because it is only a 12-minute drive from my house.
FAVORITE AIRPORT TO PASS TIME IN?
Whenever I find myself stuck in any airport I try to make the best of the situation so I don't have a favorite per se. Most recently, I spent four hours in Seatac. I found out Horizon Airlines gives free Starbucks coffee to waiting passengers so I indulged in three cups. The, revved up, I went exploring. I discovered an outlet in the terminal called In Motion Pictures that rents DVDs so I chose Moulin Rouge to play on my laptop while I waited. Then I opted for a neck massage from a vendor in the C terminal and then I went back to my gate for some more Starbucks just before boarding.
FAVORITE CITY?
I love New York, Tokyo and London but I keep an open mind.
FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
room service
AISLE OR WINDOW?
aisle
ETICKET OR PAPER?
paper--they make great souvenirs as well as extra proof for the IRS.
TRAVEL AGENT OR ONLINE?
My travel agent; he's the best!
FAVORITE TRAVEL WEBSITE?
When I am on deadline, whatever site will answer my questions without any fuss; when I am not in a hurry I like to browse newspaper travel sections. I also really enjoy JoeSentMe.com.
FAVORITE TRAVEL COMPANION?
Depends on where I am going but usually I prefer to travel with Paul and our two kids. The exception: When I plan a trip specifically so that I can take a break from my family.
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A TROPICAL ISLAND, WHAT THREE ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU?
A guide to local customs and manners, a good translator and a souvenir from the States to give as a gift (makes for good cultural relations).
BEST TRAVEL TIP:
I'll borrow from the slogan once used by the Travel Channel: "Be a traveler, not a tourist."