Author Archives: AviationQueen

AVIATION QUEEN: Going to Germany? Don’t Forget The Christmas Markets!

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It’s Christmas market season in Europe, and IBIT will have plenty to share on this tradition, starting with our very own Aviation Queen!

By Benét J. Wilson
In my day job, I write on business aviation at Aviation Week.  Among all the myriad things we do, we also put on conferences and seminars across the world. 

This week, our Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul group is holding an engine repair seminar in Munich.  I was having a Twitter conversation with one of my colleagues attending the session and he asked for tips of things to do.

Back in December 1998, I was in Munich for a press event held by a now-defunct German aircraft manufacturer.  But one of the events on the trip was an evening visit to Munich’s famed Christmas Market.   This market, located at the Marienplatz in the center of the city, has been held since the 14th century.

The Marienplatz has a series of outdoor booths that sell everything from Christmas ornaments to food to German pastries. The ornaments range in price from reasonable to ridiculous, but will become treasured keepsakes on your family tree for years to come.

But I have to warn you, like I warned my friend — beware of the booths selling hot mulled wine.  The wine is delicious on a cold winters’ night, but can leave one tipsy – especially if you decide to indulge in adding a peppermint schnapps shot!

For a complete list of the markets, click here — and genießen sie!!

Interested in aviation, journalism or social media? Check out Benét’s new Web site, AviationQueen.com!

AVIATION QUEEN: 10 Must-have iPhone Travel Apps

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By BENÉT J. WILSON

Let me start by apologizing to Greg and his IBIT readers.  My last column was Aug. 26, which is far too long, especially since I have SO many pieces yet to write.  You all know that life always manages to get in the way.

Since my last post, my Dad was kind enough to buy me a 32 GB iPhone 4 for my birthday.  I have had an iPod Touch for a few years, but you are limited to using it fully if you don’t have access to wi-fi.  I am a BIG fan of iPhone apps; I currently have 164 of them on my phone.

With the iPhone 4, you can divide your apps into little folders so you don’t have to scroll incessantly to find the apps you want.  I have created five travel-related folders, and I thought I’d share 10 travel apps that have changed my life.

  1. Gate Guru. Earlier this year, you may have seen this app featured in a Apple iPhone TV commercial. It gives locations and user reviews (including mine as Aviation Queen) of retail, restaurants and services at airports, broken down by terminals and concourses, across the country. When you have a tight connection and want to make sure you get something to eat for the plane, this app is a godsend.  It also lists retail stores and services including ATMs and post offices.  It recently added a feature that offers iPhone coupons for vendors, depending on your airport.  For example, I can get a free pretzel at Auntie Anne’s or free cured olives at Vino Volo in Terminal A at my hometown BWI Airport.
  2. USA Today Auto Pilot. This app has a boatload of functions. It can track your travel itinerary, track a specific flight, show airport delays on an interactive map, give you a travel directory with contact information for the world’s airlines and hotels, offer a weather map with forecasts, features a destinations gallery of user-generated pictures for specific cities and offers links to articles from the USA Today Travel channel.
  3. Translator, by CoDesign. This puppy has languages from Afrikaans to Yiddish that all translate into English. There’s enough space for plenty of words and phrases to translate.
  4. Currency Converter, by Oanda. This app converts currencies from the Afghan Afghani to the Zimbabwe Dollar, quickly and easily.
  5. Southwest Airlines. This carrier is my number one, and this app is great. I can check in for my flight, pay for Early Bird check-in, get DING fare alerts, make reservations and check my Rapid Rewards account.
  6. I HEART Travel Packing ($1.99). Believe me, it is NOT fun to realize you’ve reached your destination and forgotten to pack underwear. This app has sample lists for men and women; it also allows you to create your own list and create a master catalog where you can drag items for new lists.  it can also be invaluable if by chance your luggage is lost and the airline needs an inventory of your items.
  7. Next Flight ($2.99). Let’s say you’re at JFK Airport and your flight to San Francisco is delayed or worse,  canceled. What do you do? Go to this app, type in the city-pair and it will tell you what airlines have the next flights going there. Call your airline (using your USA Today AutoPilot app for the phone number), give them the options and voila-you’re on your way while the rest of the crowd is still standing around the gate agent desk, hoping to be accommodated.
  8. Airfare, by TechTraveler.com. So the airline, for whatever reason, was not helpful. Go to this app, type in your city-pair, and it promises to find you the lowest fare. The only bad thing is it doesn’t seem to include Southwest Airlines fares (but that’s why you downloaded their app!).
  9. HotelsNearMe. OK, so the flights were full and you’re stuck overnight at JFK. Click on this app, and, based on your current location, it will tell you the names, addresses, phone numbers, room rates and star ratings for hotels in your vicinity. You can also look at descriptions, amenities, photos and reviews.
  10. preFlight. Need to know about airport delays? This handy app tells you, broken down by airport or by state.

And because I’m feeling generous, I’ll even throw in a bonus app — MyTSA.  This app gives travelers the latest security checkpoint wait times at airports across the country.  It uses actual passenger data, along with public feeds on airport delays from FAA’s website, to calculate wait times.  I’ve used it several times, and it has been accurate every time.  You can read my post on the app at Aviation Week’s Things With Wings blog.

And I’ll toss the question out there to you, dear readers: what iPhone/Android/Blackberry travel apps are a must-have on your devices?

EDITOR’S NOTE
No need to apologize, Benét. We’re just happy to have you here at IBIT, and we always look forward to…

Wait a minute…you have a LIFE? I’ve heard of those! I think Oprah did a show on it once!

AVIATION QUEEN: My Dream Airport, Part 2

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Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Changi Airport | © Soon Wee Meng via Dreamstime.com

By BENÉT WILSON

After my column earlier this month on what my dream U.S. airport would look like, several of my Twitter followers faulted me for not including non-U.S. airports on my list. 

So here’s what Aviation Queen International Airport would look like if it were built, say, to replace Paris Charles DeGaulle Airport (CDG).

I’m a girl that likes airport eye candy, so I’d want my facility to look like Singapore’s Changi International Airport.  The facility is quite striking inside and out, with lots of glass, light and open air spaces.

I also really enjoy my airport shopping, so I’d want the vast selection offered at Seoul, South Korea’s Incheon International Airport (ICN).  That airport has shops that offer the world’s iconic brands, but also offers stores that fit along all price points.

Staying on the shopping tip, I must give a tip of the hat to British Airways’ London Heathrow Terminal 5 for the liquor tastings at its duty-free shops.  Thanks to those tastings, I switched from Tanqueray 10 Gin to Bombay Sapphire Gin.  I also discovered Amarula, a South African liqueur that gives Bailey’s Irish Cream a run for its money.

For easy in, easy out access, I love Munich Airport (MUC).  There’s the central terminal, then two terminals on either end.  There’s no miles and miles of walking that you see in many European airports, but I won’t name names.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) gets mad love from me in several different categories.  One, it’s a great place to be if you have a long layover because there’s plenty to do — an the Rijksmuseum, with real Van Goghs in it; a casino; a spa;  and the boutique Hotel Yotel. Second, there’s great shopping. And third, if you want to take a quick trip to downtown Amsterdam, there’s plenty of cheap public transportation to get you there.

I am one of those people who love spotlessly clean restrooms and Brussels Airport (BRU) wins my award hands down.  I never saw people cleaning during a long layover, but no matter where I went, those bathrooms were spotless.

My best airport for clearing customs was the UK’s Manchester Airport (MAN). I traveled to Manchester regularly when I worked for a UK-based company and even though my flight tended to arrive with other international flights, the lines here were never more than 10 minutes.

For food, I want the chef that runs the Italian restaurant at Switzerland’s Lugano Airport (LUG). I had spent a week in Baveno, Italy, at a resort that served food I still have nightmares about.  The whole trip, foodwise, was saved by the pasta I ate at that little place in Lugano. 

But if you’re looking for a variety, I have to give the nod to Incheon.  It has a great selection of restaurants, from sit-down to carry-out, catering to different cuisine tastes.

But now that I think about it, my perfect international airport already exists — Changi Airport.  Take all the items I mentioned above, and Changi has them — and more. 

It has special baby lounges where mothers can nurse and take care of their children in a pleasant, accommodating environment.  There’s a health clinic on site in case you’re not feeling so hot.  There are business centers and plenty of Internet access.  There are live music lounges, a nature trail, free rest areas, shower, fitness and spa facilities and a swimming pool. 

Have at least a five-hour layover? You can register for a FREE two-hour tour of Singapore, which includes transportation.

So tell me — what is your favorite non-U.S. airport? What are some of the best amenities you’ve seen at these airports?

Greg’s Take
I really didn’t need another reason for wanting to check out Singapore, but now I have one: Changi airport. Normally, you can’t wait to get away from the airport, but Benét’s description of Changi makes me want to go hang out there.

And coming from a long line of frustrated would-be fighter pilots, I have to love any civilian airport that doubles as an air force base, which Changi does.

So far, Schiphol is my favorite international airport, and its reputation as one of the world’s best is well-deserved. But I suspect Changi, especially the new Terminal 3 seen above, could give Schiphol a real battle for the hearts of air travelers.

Singaporeans must be amazing people. These are are the same folks who built a swimming pool the length of a football field — and stretched it across the tops of THREE high-rise buildings! Their country may be small (pop. 5 million, a quarter the size of Mexico City), but when they decide to do something, they clearly don’t half-step.

Besides, how could you not love an airport whose international designation is SIN?

AVIATION QUEEN: My Dream Airport, Part 1

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If you could design your airport airport, what would it look like? Our Aviation Queen shares her vision of air travel.

By BENÉT WILSON
The History Channel recently had a great program entitled “Most Extreme Airports.” It was a top 10 list of the craziest airports to land in, and I was pleased to say that I’ve landed in four of the 10 airports – St. Maarten, Aspen, San Diego and the old Hong Kong Airport, Kai Tak.

I was recently interviewed by the Milwaukee Business Journal on food choices in airports after I sent out a Tweet about the great choices I found on a May trip to that city’s General Mitchell Airport (ZML).  So then I started thinking – if I were going to play Dr. Frankenstein and stitch together my perfect airport, how would that look? 

So here are the top 10 things I’d like to see at Aviation Queen International Airport.

First, I’d want a facility that looked distinctive, like my beloved Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).  I never fail to catch my breath when I see that Eero Saarinen-designed wave of the main terminal when I drive up or land at that airport.  And I think a nice-looking airport just sets a nice tone for the start and the end of a trip.

Second, I would want it to have lots of light and space like Orlando International Airport (MCO).  As the gateway to Walt Disney and other amusement park attractions, Orlando does get its crowds.  But I have never felt closed in or trapped there because of all the space and great windows and skylights everywhere.  Orlando also gets bonus points for being a very user-friendly airport.

Third, I need to have some good food/beverage and retail shopping.  I would include the best elements of Portland International Airport (PDX), Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)and the international terminal at my hometown, San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  All three have a great balance of local, regional and national outlets that give the people what they want.

Fourth, I’d want to chill out in a terminal that looks like JetBlue’s T5 at John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) in New York.  There’s plenty of space to sit, there are plenty of outlets and free wi-fi. I like that I can sit at a desk at the gate and work, plus I can order some food delivered right at my desk.

Fifth, I’d want the efficient security checkpoint staffers like the one at my hometown Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. BWI was the first airport to get Transportation Security Administration screeners, and they have it down to a fine science, keeping the lines moving and doing it with professionalism and a strong sense of courtesy and respect for passengers.

Sixth, I’d want the easy-in, easy out convenience of Kansas City International Airport (MCI).  You drive up, you walk in and your gate is right there, including security checkpoint.  And if you land there, the baggage claim is right at your arrival gate.  Their bag delivery system is quick. You grab your bag, step 10 feet to the curb, catch your cab and go.

Seventh, I’d want the ease of getting to Aviation Queen Airport that you see with Washington National Airport (DCA).  You can catch the Metro subway, you can catch the bus, you can catch a cab and you can even ride your bike to get to the airport.

Eighth, I want good parking – and a system to tell me where to park – like Sky Harbor Phoenix International Airport (PHX).  In Terminal 4, I can drive up and see exactly how many spaces are available on each floor. It saves me time from driving around aimlessly looking for a space. Phoenix would be perfect if they had the red light/green light system at BWI airport, though.

Ninth, I want to see really great, but unusual concession concepts at my airport. An example of this is Vino Volo. It’s a simple concept – offer a nice lounge with world-class wines by the bottle and glass, gourmet little plates of food, good seating, outlets and a nice view.

And last – but not least – I’d want Aviation Queen International Airport to have a great mix of domestic and international service like Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport (LAS).  I’m the type of girl who likes to go where I want when I want, so service is king.

So I’ll turn the question on you – what are the things you’d want to see in your own personal airport? What airports have you been to that have great amenities?

Text and images by B. Wilson unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

AVIATION QUEEN: Travel Globally, Eat Locally

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By BENÉT WILSON
One of the best things about travel for me is the chance to sample local cuisine. I have traveled the world, and I’m amazed at people who fly to Paris and make a beeline to the local McDonald’s. 

Not me. I’m all about taking in what the locals eat — and drink.

Back in February 1994, I took my first international trip since living in Brussels in the mid-1970s.  I went to Singapore to cover the Singapore Air Show.

Back then, the Internet was in its primitive stages, so I bought a “Lonely Planet” guide to get an idea of what I would do in my off time.  I’ve always been a big foodie, so I wanted to check out what was available locally.

Singapore is a very modern city that nearly had its ethnicity beaten out of it after decades of British colonial rule.  The city is clean, modern and efficient.  Unfortunately, it looks like any large north American city, and the restaurant scene is similar.

Lonely Planet told me about the famous Singapore food courts, which focus on local cuisine and delicacies in a basic setting at amazingly reasonable prices. 

My boss wanted to have dinner at TGIFriday’s that first night we arrived. I demurred, saying I could go to TGI any day of the week at home.  But how often was I going to have the chance to eat foods from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Indian, sometimes fused together?

Some of the dishes I still remember include chili crabs, fishball noodles, hor fun, shark’s fin and satay bee hoon.  The servers are very helpful in navigating the dishes, some of which might be a bit much for some American palates.

I love Paris, and have been many times for work and play. One time, I had a wonderful meal from Michelin-starred chef Guy Savoy — and at a fraction of the price of his usual expensive restaurants.  I ate at a tiny six-table bistro across the street from his flagship restaurant, where, on that night, Savoy himself was running across the street between the two eateries, cooking in both kitchens.

I traveled to Sweden several times in the 1990s and fell in love with reindeer, especially a leg loin with a lingonberry sauce.  Everything is served with Aquavit (similar to vodka), Sweden’s national drink.  I did not, however, develop a taste for herrings in cream.

I could do a whole blog post about the wonderful food of Brazil, some of which is similar to soul food.   The national dish is feijoada, a wonderful stew of black beans, beef and pork. It is served with white rice and is eaten with your choice of farofa (made of toasted cassava flour and is similar to corn meal), pork rinds, bananas, fried collard greens and Brazilian pepper sauce.  And of course, you MUST drink Brazil’s national drink, the  caipirinha, is made with cachaça (Brazilian rum) and two limes, muddled with sugar served over ice.

So when you’re planning that next international trip, take a quick surf on the Internet and see what’s what in local cuisine at your final destination.  Food is a key part of the journey and you’ll really miss out if you stick with restaurants you can easily visit when you’re at home. 

I’d love to know some of the great places you’ve frequented when traveling internationally.

AVIATION QUEEN: I Believe I Can Fly…Really!

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Our guest columnist slips the surly bonds of Earth

Remos GX | © Benét Wilson

By BENÉT WILSON

I have wanted to learn to fly ever since I stepped into the cockpit of a Pan Am Boeing 747 when I was 6 years old.  I have several friends who fly general-aviation aircraft and have always enjoyed the ride.

A few months ago, I saw a blog post on my Google Reader on International Learn to Fly Day, which was May 15.   One of the associations I cover in my day job is the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).  I had been out to Frederick, Md., to visit them, and I knew they would be participating in the day’s festivities.  So I dropped an email to AOPA editor at large Tom Horne to see if I could come out to Frederick for my demo flight, and the deal was done.

My instructor for the flight was Dave Hirschman, AOPA Online’s senior editor. I’ve known Dave since we were both living in Atlanta, he as a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and me as senior manager of corp comm for Delta Air Lines.  We were flying the 2-seat, German-built Remos GX, a light sport aircraft.

It was a beautiful, albeit windy day, and we took off.  We headed toward the Potomac River and flew west toward West Virginia.  I did a turn around a house and we made our way back to Frederick.

First, if you decide to take lessons and you’re in the Frederick area, you MUST have Dave as your instructor.  I was terrified — and exhilarated — which he said was exactly what I should have been feeling.  Dave just kept reminding me that we were just taking a nice ride on a country road.  I was gripping the stick for dear life — so hard that my arm hurt.  He actually convinced me to use only 2 fingers to control the aircraft, and it worked!

I was worried that I was going to touch something that I shouldn’t on the Remos’ amazingly modern glass cockpit.  I was also nervous every time we hit a bump at the beginning of the flight.  But once I got into the rhythm of the flight, I would have stayed up all day.

While I was flying, my daughter was on the ground looking at aircraft in display, including a helicopter, some vintage planes and her favorite — the basket of a hot air balloon. She’s been flying since she was 10 days old, and I’m proud to say that at the tender age of four, she’s already inherited my love of aviation.

There were information tables and the AOPA crew was out in full force just in case someone was ready, like me, to take that next step in learning to fly.  For more information on your own lessons, check out AOPA’s Let’s Go Flying blog.

AVIATION QUEEN: Some People Really, REALLY Know How To Fly!

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Air travel can truly be sweet — if you’ve got the bucks

By BENÉT WILSON
Regular readers know that in my day job, I cover business/corporate/private aviation — jets like the Gulfstream G-IV (one of my personal favorites).  Last week, I was in Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the 2010 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE), which is a conference dedicated to this segment of the industry in this part of the world.

This conference includes what’s called a “static display,” where sellers and aircraft manufacturers can show off their aircraft.  What was really cool about this particular static display was it was right at Geneva International Airport, so I got to see a great mix of business and commercial aircraft all interacting in the same space.  You can see some of my pictures from EBACE at my Flickr account.

I got the chance to take an up-close-and-personal tour of a Boeing Business Jet, the private aviation version of the Boeing 737.  This particular jet was at EBACE because the owners were trying to sell it.  The previous owner was Boeing itself, which used the plane as transport for former Chairman and CEO Phil Condit from 2002 to 2005.  It was then leased to a Russian businessman, who returned it in November 2009. 

This aircraft makes first class on the best airline (in my opinion, Singapore Airlines) look like a seat on Ryanair.  Boeing  spent $37.5 million on the interior, which Mrs. Condit designed to look like a private English club, with lots of leather, dark colors and tapestries. 

There are two showers aboard, along with a stateroom with space for an office and has a pull-down bed.  There’s a complete kitchen and a crew rest area in the front of the plane.  The aircraft has 14 certified seats, but can seat 19.   In the rear stateroom, the bed can fold into the wall and more seats can be added.   And in the back, there’s a bedroom with a nice comfy double bed (it’s comfortable; I checked). There’s also a sitting room with a flat-screen TV, along with a conference room.

If you’re interested, the plane is selling for only $45 million.  The cost of a new  “green” aircraft — meaning completely stripped — is currently $53 million, and all aircraft are delivered green.  Then you’re going to spend, at a bare minimum, another $10 million to trick it out.  Right now, if you wanted to buy a green aircraft, the next slot available to do that is October 2012, and it will take at least a year to fit the interior.  So if you’re impatient and want to save some money, this aircraft might be ideal for you.

Amazingly, there are still plenty of people out there who would want this plane, even in the current economy. The current owner is hoping that someone from Russia, Eastern Europe or the Middle East will buy it.  And industry forecasts back that up, showing these three regions of the world targeted for growth in business jet sales.

All in all, it’s a nice way to fly.  And after that, it was really hard to be happy sitting in my Economy Comfort seat on KLM.  I’ll have a post on that experience later.

Text and photos by B. Wilson

AVIATION QUEEN: I “Heart” Orlando International Airport!

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By BENÉT WILSON
I have always been an airport geek.  I love the wonder and possibilities that they offer.  You walk by gates and can dream about all the places you can go.  Back in 2006, I took over the airports/security beat, which meant I was yet again being paid to cover my hobby.

On Wednesday, I flew down to Orlando for the day to speak at a conference about the joys and pains of social media.  I was excited about the speech, but I was even more excited about going to Orlando International Airport. 

If that airport feels like Disney World, that’s the plan. 

Full disclosure — I’m a good friend and mentee of Carolyn Fennell. Her title is director of public affairs for the airport, but she’s the actual power behind the throne there.  You can read a great profile of her here.

Officials at Orlando Airport know that their facility is the first thing people see when they arrive to visit Disney, Universal Studios and other attractions in the city. So it was important to make the facility feel welcoming. 

If you squint and use your imagination, the monorail that gets you from the concourse to the main terminal feels just like the Disney monorail and is just as clean.  The airport is light, bright and airy, with a great mix of retail/food outlets.  And it’s one of those airports that offers free wi-fi.

I had about an hour and a half to kill, and in some airports, that can feel like a lifetime.  Not at Orlando.  There are comfy chairs and tables where you can relax or get in some work.  You can go shopping, and there are some great stores, including: Harley Davidson, Johnston & Murphy, Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and Swatch.  You can pick up last-minute souvenirs from the Disney Earport store (my daughter loves her Disney Fairy Tea Set, $19.95), Sea World and Universal Studios. 

And the airport has one of my all-time favorite brands — Lush, which sells freshly made cosmetics and bath/shower items. I discovered them during a trip to London and have been hooked on the red rooster soap and bath bombs ever since.  But I digress.

On the food side, they have the usual fast-food outlets, but there’s a Krispy Kreme – complete with the “Hot Donuts” sign — in the Food Court.  There’s a Hyatt Regency smack in the middle of the airport that’s actually owned and operated by the Greater Orlando Airport Authority.  And they have a spa — D_parture, which offers hair services, massages, spa treatments and nail services.  Most of the sundry/news stands even sell bags of Florida oranges!

So the next time you’re at the airport, take a look around and see the possibilities!

Text and photos by B. Wilson

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AVIATION QUEEN: Passport = Freedom, Part Deux

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© Val Bakhtin | Dreamstime.com

By BENÉT WILSON
One of the bad things about my continued march into middle age is that I can’t remember things the way I used to.  In my last post, I wrote about all the places I visited on my old passport, which expired April 12.  But I was going on memory, which was a really bad idea. 

Why? I missed some of the other great places I visited!

I went to Berlin twice. During my first trip, I was smack in the middle of the filming of “The Bourne Identity.” Let me tell you, Matt Damon is a really nice guy. 

I also got to take a tour of the now-closed Tempelhof Airport.  It was a pre-World War II monstrosity that became a symbol as the staging point for the Berlin Airlift. At the time I visited, it was a shell of its former self, mostly being used by private jets and low-cost, European-based airlines.

I went to Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal, Canada.  All three cities were unique, and I’d visit all of them again in a heartbeat.  I went to Jamaica –okay, but I probably won’t go back.  Same with the Bahamas.  I went to Puerto Vallarta, where I was chased by people trying to sell timeshares to “rich” Americans. Not pleasant at all. 

And I went to a private jet air show in Geneva, where I had a grand time at the Patek Phillipe watch museum.  I’m going back to Geneva at the end of the month, so look for a post from that trip.

But there were two trips that I should have highlighted in the last post. 

I watched the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and fell in love with the city.  I swore I’d get there some day, and I went in November 2005.  It did not disappoint.  The people were wonderful, the food fantastic, and I continue my love affair with sangria made with cava.  I am a huge Picasso fan, and Barcelona has what the artist considered his favorite museum.  And you can get in for free on the first Sunday of the month.

Barcelona was very easy to navigate, with a great subway and train system.  The city is filled with iconic buildings by hometown architect Antonio Gaudi.  Buildings you must see include La Sagrada Familia temple; La Pedrera residence; Casa Batlló (which looks like it’s made of skulls); and the Park Guell.

The other big trip was to Seoul, South Korea, where I was doing a series of stories on flag carrier Korean Air. 

I was really excited to land at Incheon International Airport, since the facility has won numerous “best airport” awards.  After visiting, I now know why.  It was light and air and very easy to navigate.  It has world-class shopping, free shower/arrivals lounges for all travelers, free wi-fi and free computer stations, places to take tours or play a round of golf during a long layover and a free Korean museum where you can make your own crafts.

While I was there, the city was celebrating Buddha’s birthday, so there were celebrations everywhere.  The local flea markets and crafts areas are a shopaholic’s dream, and I made a point of not eating Western food.  The highlight for me was having lunch at Sanchon, a restaurant owned by Buddhist monks serving “temple” cuisine.  It was a lovely oasis in the city that served all-vegetarian fare — and I am NOT a vegetarian — and wonderful teas.

So go ahead — apply for your passport.  Having one can spur you to find your own adventures!

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AVIATION QUEEN: Passport = Freedom

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By Benét Wilson
After a good 10-year run, my passport expired on April 10.   I actually almost forgot the expiration date until I found out I needed to travel to Geneva,  Switzerland at the end of the month.  I paid $149 to get an expedited passport, and I’m ready to go.

The U.S. Passport Office mailed back my old passport, and as I looked at it, I started thinking about all the great places I visited during the past ten years. 

The two top destinations were England and Brazil.  I worked for Rolls-Royce aircraft engines for two years, and had to go “across the pond” about 4-5 times a year.  The trick I learned was to fly into Manchester, which has shorter lines, do my work at Rolls’ headquarters in Derby, then take a nice train ride to London for a visit to the executive offices. 

I also stopped off at Harrods’ Food Hall to pick up my favorite teas.

FACT: 75 percent of Americans do not own a passport.
–Pauline Frommer, “Pauline Frommer’s Travel Guides”

I took seven trips to Brazil, covering my time as an aviation journalist and at Rolls-Royce.  Most of my time was spent at the Embraer aircraft factory in Sao Jose dos Campos, but I also managed to get to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro several times.  And if we were ferrying a jet back to the United States, we always stopped off at Belem, which is where the Amazon River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

I had a visa to China for a trip that would have been really cool if it had happened.  I was supposed to fly a 30-seat jet from Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, home of the now-defunct Fairchild-Dornier aircraft plant, to Hainan via stops in Turkey, Oman, India, Thailand and Hong Kong.

But I still liked looking at that visa.

I took three trips to St. Martin in the Caribbean for the express purpose of plane-spotting.  The final approach to the airport is right on the beach, and you can sit at the Sunset Bar & Grill with a cocktail while you enjoy watching everything from a Cessna Caravan turboprop to an Airbus A340 jumbo jet land at Princess Juliana International Airport.

And no, the pictures are not Photoshopped–the planes really do fly that close.

And while the Netherlands is now on the euro, the island still uses guilders on the Dutch side.  I also visited Jamaica, Martinique, the Bahamas, St. Croix and St. Thomas, all lovely islands.

But the trip I cherish the most in this passport was a January 2005 trip to Paris.  I’ll outline my love affair with Paris in a future post.  I am a regular listener of NPR, and they did a story about how a temporary ice skating rink was built on the second level of the Eiffel Tower.  Skates and a session were included in the price of the tower ticket.  One of the people interviewed noted that he and his girlfriend were airline employees, so they just flew over on a lark.

At the time, I was working for Delta Air Lines, and a very good friend was at US Airways, so we decided to go on that same lark.  We actually spent more time in line than actually skating, but we still had a great time.  We ended up having dinner with some other airline employees at Willi’s Wine Bar, where we met some great wine distributors from New Jersey and helped them “test” what they wanted to sell in the U.S.

One of my best friends told me she always keeps her passport with her for two reasons:
1) You never know when you’re going to have to leave the country quickly; and
2) you never know when an adventure could be waiting right around the corner! 

So if you don’t have a passport, I encourage you to get one. At the very least, you have a great ID card that no one will ever question!

Text and photos by B. Wilson