Somewhere in the Skies, Fish Ceviche Is  Being Served
Coming up in Singapore Airlines A380 First Class Dining, with World-renowned chef Alfred Portale, served with the ultimate Givenchy china full-set, no less. And the new luxury size stemless wine glasses? A glory to behold. ˜ But not exactly "massclusivity". Joe Sharkey, On the Road - NY Times. Click to continue

Flight Attendants vs. Passenger: Care to Step Outside?
Flight attendant Elliot Hester takes on NY Times blogger Pico Iver, who had asked why U.S. carriers "have far and away the worst ˜ most surly, inattentive, and often snooty˜service in the world". In a spirited defense of the people "who are the face of the airline", Hester, with 20 years of service and 5,000 flights under his belt, makes sure he puts the blame where it belongs. Guess.  Click to continue

A Dark, Stormy and Costly Hotel Night
Chris Barnett, a regular columnist for The Brancatelli File, reflects on a dark and stormy January night in San Francisco, searching for a reasonably priced room. The not-so-subtle lesson for business travelers? "Be prepared to dig deep this year for a hotel room in a major city. And don't expect your corporate rates or frequent travel program status to mean much".  Happily, Chris throws in a nice compliment for The Benjamin in NY along the way.