Vacation is supposed to be a time to relax. If you need to fly to your destination, then you are going to be stressed out before you get a chance to relax, trust me! We all dread going to the Airport and waiting in long lines with half a dozen suitcases. And now with the new security screening measures, its gotten even more tormenting. As if traveling wasn’t stressful enough! Many of us aren’t really comfortable flying and Airports are very stressful places to be.

Now, the TSA has decided to make matters worse. Is it not enough that we get pushed around by the TSA security screeners yelling at us, going through our valuables and making fools of us all. What could possibly make the current conditions worse at airport security checkpoints you ask? How about full body scanners that actually look through our clothing and allow the TSA screeners to see our naked bodies? That’s right, starting with Logan International Airport in Boston, MA the TSA will start using these so-called full-body scanners. They are planning to outfit the airport in October or November. The scanners produce 3D images of people’s naked bodies. The TSA has said that procedures will be implemented to protect passenger privacy. The technology “allows us to screen passengers for any prohibited items quickly and unobtrusively,” said George Naccara, the TSA’s federal security director for Logan. “Efficiency and effectiveness will improve with whole-body imaging.”

I’m all for security, but I believe the TSA has gone too far with this one. What do you think?

Popularity: 33% [?]

With all the media attention that Southwest is receiving lately for the lack of maintenance on their fleet, it really makes one think that Southwest and other airlines are getting away with more than just cracks in the fuselage and other maintenance issues. Oh, there are other airlines out there with the same problems as Southwest – it’s just that Southwest got caught! It’s unbelievable that it takes the FAA to expose this whole thing and make them repair their own planes. All airlines should strive for safety as the number one priority. Most airlines make statements that customer safety is their number one priority, but is it really? Are these statements just commonplace corporate babble? With the cost of fuel nowadays and increasing competition, are most airlines being forced to put safety second behind their profitability?

I fly a lot back and forth between Washington, DC and Orlando, Fl and last year made about 6 trips in total and flew Southwest Airlines. My spouse and daughter accompanied me and as a consumer I am outraged by the news that came out concerning these safety issues. Why didn’t Southwest just ground the planes and fix the safety issues that the FAA revealed in March of 2007? It’s a real shame that the FAA has to issue an Airworthiness Directive to make Southwest comply. A lot of people are upset that the FAA didn’t act sooner, but I believe that the airline that states customer safety is number one should have acted on just the smallest piece of information concerning safety. Either way, I will most likely not be flying Southwest any time soon.

Please let me know about what you think and voice your opinion right here. Thanks.

Popularity: 38% [?]

The wonders of modern aviation never cease to amaze me. Being an enthusiast of modern commercial aviation I sit patiently waiting for the next big thing to come out from the two builders of these winged marvels. So, it was to my utter amazement to hear about Airbus Industries’ new Jumbo Jet tagged the A380. The A380 is one huge plane. It is the world’s largest commercial Plane easily eclipsing the Boeing 747. To visualize just how much bigger it is to the Boeing 747, the airbus A380 is 24.1 m (79 ft) high, 73.0 m (239 ft 6 in) long and weighs in at 610,700 lbs (277,000 kg) as compared to the Boeing 747’s 19.4 m (63 ft 8 in) high, 70.7 m (231 ft 10 in) long and 393,263 lbs (178,756 kg) weight. In addition the maximum takeoff weight for the Boeing 747 is 875,000 lbs (397,000 kg) and the Airbus A380’s maximum takeoff weight is a whopping 1,234,600 lbs (560,000 kg)!

The Airbus A380 seats 555 people and is a true double-decker design. The upper deck has 96 Business Class seats and 103 Economy Class seats. On the lower deck there are 22 First Class seats and 334 Economy Class seats. Of course some airlines may decide to remove some seats and put in a shop, bar, casino, hot tubs or anything else making this a true luxury jet.

So the main question people ask me is how this huge marvel even gets off the ground. Well, it is powered by either four Rolls-Royce Trent 900 Turbofans providing 68,000 to 84,000lbs. of thrust each or four Engine Alliance (General Electric/Pratt & Whitney) GP7200 Turbofans providing 82,000lbs. of thrust each.

Either way you look at it the Airbus A380 is one huge plane and with all the development and technology that went into building this modern marvel it has separated itself from the competition by being the largest commercial plane in the skies today and one of the most expensive planes ever developed and built at an estimated cost of $15 billion.

Popularity: 100% [?]

It is a belief that hotels have to be expensive. Many people just surrender to the hotel prices. But now it doesn’t have to be like that. With HotelReservations.com you can travel anywhere around the world and stay in the hotel without paying a penny more than you want to pay. Hotel Reservations is one of the best online hotel reservations and vacation rental sites where you can find different packages you can choose from according to your necessity and economy. It also saves time and money in finding a good place to stay. It will arrange you a perfect vacation - no need to worry a bit about fooding or lodging or vehicle rentals.

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For more information visit their website at www.hotelreservations.com, you can get many great destination guide that gives you all kinds of recommendations on hotels, restaurants, general information, and even attractions and health tips, and if you have any questions, simply check out their FAQ page and get answers to all your questions.

Popularity: 25% [?]