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11/18/11--09:00: Frequent flyer applies to 13 credit cards in one day to earn points (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Budget Travel, News

There's a whole pseudo-science on the web regarding the art of earning miles and points by means of credit card applications. Many in the mileage running and hoarding business use credit cards heavily to earn special bonus or signup-miles by applying at certain times or hitting minimum spend limits. With a decent credit score it's a fairly easy game to play, though I'll be the first to admit that the full ramifications of cyclically applying-for and canceling credit cards are still unknown. Still, that doesn't stop many from churning out the applications.

Recently I came across the most outrageous example of this sort of activity from a blogger named Ben from The Man From 1000 Places, who actually applied to thirteen credit cards in one day in order to reap a total of more than 500,000 miles and points. Ten of those applications have currently been approved while another three are still pending. With a score in the high 700's before the application, Ben expects his credit rating to take a brief hit but return to his normally high rate after 6 months.

With the 500,000 points, a wide variety of travel rewards and upgrades are available to the savvy hoarder. Round trip, business class tickets between North America and Europe, for example, cost 100,000 miles on American Airlines, and though the blogger wont be receiving all of the miles in one specific account he'll be able to combine several of them.

In order to keep those points, he'll will need to pay $233 in annual fees and then cancel most of the cards to prevent more annual fees. The only other trackable cost is his credit score. Gary Leff, co-founder of frequent flyer community milepoint.com and author of the ViewFromTheWing blog suggests:


Applying for credit generates a consumer-initiated pull of your credit score, and every time you apply for credit it's an indication you might NEED that credit, and may be a bigger risk.

In the long-run you might well improve your score by having more available credit that you aren't utilizing, and over time as the accounts age by having more older accounts. But the short-run effect of several credit pulls and a younger average age of accounts will make a big dent in your score.

If you see your score drop below 750 you'll begin receiving higher interests rates on major purchases like mortgages, and those costs will likely exceed any benefits you get from signups. So it's important to stay away from plenty of new card signups leading up to a home purchase or refinance. Individuals with more borderline credit may experience problems with auto loans.

Taking the time to apply for and earn the cards thus might be a decent way to get some extra points, as long as the financial preparations are made and the credit cards are properly disposed of. Hopefully there's no long term financial impact beyond the credit score.

[Flickr image via Andres Rueda]

Frequent flyer applies to 13 credit cards in one day to earn points originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/20/11--14:00: Vice TV kicks off All the Wrong Places travel series (and contests) (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Asia, Japan



Our friends at VICE TV just launched a new travel series over on their site called All the Wrong Places. In typical VICE fashion the videos focus on fringe topics and travel culture, but unlike some of the previous guides (see: Congo or Liberia) ATWP destinations are attainable and even aspirational to most sane travelers. Unique to the series, though, is that they're actually taking everyday fans along for the ride in the "co-pilot" seat.

The launch episode for the All the Wrong Places is embedded above, and explores the shrinking culture of Dekotora Trucks among a small Japanese community.

You can apply for any of the remaining "seats" over on Facebook. We're signing up right now.

Vice TV kicks off All the Wrong Places travel series (and contests) originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/21/11--06:59: Introducing Nick Dana, Gadling's ocean race blogger (chan 1893096)

Filed under: About The Bloggers



A critical part of putting together the right travel blog is in having the right kind of writers to inspire travel. At Gadling it's always been my goal to have writers that love to travel first and that love writing and inspiring second. That's why Kyle Ellison's been on the road this fall sending dispatches from the 10 Days 10 States series or why I've been bouncing between Seoul and London and Libera and Chicago for the past few months. Spending time on the road is an important part of travel writing and it's important that we lead by example.

Our featured bloggers Kent Wein and Heather Poole are great embedded travelers working at Gadling, delivering news on the industry from inside of the beast. And as part of that great culture of unique perspectives I'd like to introduce Nick Dana as our newest blogger embedded within the Volvo Ocean Race. As the only American sailor on team Abu Dhabi, Nick works as the Media Crew Member (MCM) onboard Azzam, the 70' sailboat that will spend the next nine months racing around the world.

It's already been a difficult start for team Abu Dhabi and there will be weeks of intense coverage and stories as the race pushes around the planet. Check back frequently for Nick's dispatches and bookmark his coverage here.

Introducing Nick Dana, Gadling's ocean race blogger originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/24/11--12:00: Trick out your bike with animated wheels (chan 1893096)

Filed under: North America, United States, Video



Well here's a new way to hipster out your bicycle for your daily commute (I'm looking at you, Portland). Youtube user TheManimation concocted a paper insert to go on top of a bicycle wheel that when rotated turns into a groovy animation. You won't see it at first. Initially, the whole thing will look like one of those folded paper snowflakes that we all used to make in kindergarten. But once the wheels get moving, everything hits the right frequency and the gears start spinning (literally). The result is pretty impressive.

Trick out your bike with animated wheels originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/27/11--13:00: Stop motion travel through Google Street View (chan 1893096)



Stop motion is always a creative way to mobilize inanimate objects in real time, and when you mix in the miracle of Google Street View there's a clever story in the fold. In Address is Approximate, Vimeo user The Theory captures the lonely life of an office desk toy rekindled with the use of a few local props and a large screen monitor. It's a beautiful product, and perhaps the best video that we've ever seen hosted at Vimeo. Nice work.

[Via Photographyblogger and Reddit]

Stop motion travel through Google Street View originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/27/11--15:30: Australia plans world's largest marine park (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Activism, Oceania, Australia, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Theme Parks

An area the size of Germany and France combined is about to become the world's largest marine park off of the north-east coast of Australia. Including a broad swath of the Coral Sea (where the Great Barrier Reef currently resides), the massive area is home to some of the most exotic sea creatures in the world as well as several important shipwrecks from World War II.

The protection afforded from the creation of this park will guarantee that the floral, fauna and archaeological species will continue to thrive unhindered by manmade causes, and will almost definitely pave the road for further tourism in the region.

Announced late last week, the Guardian indicates neither name nor official boundaries for the park as of yet. The government of Australia will release further deals within ninety days.

Continue reading Australia plans world's largest marine park

Australia plans world's largest marine park originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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11/30/11--06:30: American Airlines is bankrupt! Now what? (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Airlines, News

By now you've probably heard that AMR, the parent company of American Airlines is bankrupt, making them among the last of the legacy carriers to finally concede to ultra-competitive pricing and sky high oil prices. It's a sad day for stockholders, but like many of the fallen giants they'll pick themselves up, dust off and continue to operate -- albeit a little bit leaner.

This is the second airline that I've followed into bankruptcy. My first, Northwest was back when I was living in Ann Arbor and when I still had unbridled love for all things airplane and travel. That enthusiasm helped me ride through the hard times at Northwest and into the Delta years, and over the course of the transition I even learned a few things in the process. Here's a few things that current and potential passengers can expect:

American knows that their customers especially their frequent fliers are the most important part of the company. Without that revenue they can't expect to survive. So they wont do anything to broadly disrupt operations or disturb the current mileage base. They may make small changes to the way that miles can be redeemed, but they wouldn't dare touch the miles that we currently have.

Similarly, none of the currently booked flights are in danger. If any routes are impacted during the reorganization, American will thoroughly reaccommmodate any passenger and they'll still make it from point A to point B. The airline will also continue to competitively price flights and offer normal service. Providing anything less brings the risk of disturbing the loyal passenger base and losing valuable business.

As with the other airline bankruptices, most of the changes to American will be behind the scenes. Employee benefits and pay will suffer, some routes will shrink and growth will surely stagnate. But American has big plans for growth down the road. This year they made the largest aircraft order in history and they've long been preening Tom Horton to take over as CEO. Bankruptcy is just one more move in this chess game of the airline industry.

[Flickr image via Fly For Fun]

American Airlines is bankrupt! Now what? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/01/11--10:00: Buy elite miles on Delta, cheat your way to elite status (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Airlines, News

The trump card when going toe to toe with the airline industry has always been elite status. Once you're silver or gold or whatever color is associated with frequent travel, many of the airline fees go away, upgrades start to sneak out of the woodwork and travel becomes slightly less miserable. That's why many people carefully plan their annual travel to make sure that they reach a special status, sometimes even going as far as taking a mileage run to earn the right volume.

The problem with earning elite miles at the last minute, though, was that it was usually a waste of time, space and carbon. But airlines wouldn't sell elite miles because then non-frequent travelers could game the system.

This week, Delta has partially fixed that conundrum by actually selling elite miles. They won't sell you many, but if you need a few extra miles to make it to the next tier then it can be actually worth your time.

2,500 points, for example, will cost a traveler $295. But once that tier has been reached, a traveler can expect a whole host of fees waived plus free upgrades, preferred seats and priority checkin. For that price, it may be worth the investment.

You can learn more about Delta's plan to sell miles over at their site. You can buy up to 10,000 miles.

[flickr image via sacra-moneta]

Buy elite miles on Delta, cheat your way to elite status originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/03/11--06:00: United Airlines to order A380 jumbo jet? (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Airlines, News

Things are going pretty well for United this year. Full approval for their merger with Continental Airlines went through, they became the first domestic carrier to adopt bio fuel and one of their biggest competitors has gone bankrupt. Their media and public relations departments should get the rest of the year off. In fact, they should buy us dinner.

In addition to all of that good news, rumors around the community are that the airline is eyeballing a new Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft on the market and a behemoth that's usually only reserved for the major international carriers. Though United flies plenty of routes, the majority of their passengers fly short haul in the United States, and as such a heavy, fuel-guzzling aircraft is hardly worth the investment.

With growing focus in the Asian Pacific region, however, the airline may start investing in larger aircraft to serve that market. While they haven't made any official announcement to lay public, Aviation Week reports that the COO of airbus claims "that United President and CEO Jeffery Smisek has changed his previously held view that the widebody was inappropriate for U.S. operators and now saw possibilities for the A380 in the new United fleet."

Perhaps that means that the American carriers are finally willing to step into the long haul game. We sure hope so.

United Airlines to order A380 jumbo jet? originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/03/11--08:00: How to kayak like a boss (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Paddling, Video



Competitive kayaking is one of those sports like sepak takraw that just doesn't get enough attention in lamestream media. Take this video for example. Rider of the year Taylor Robinson's entry into Yellow Creek is a rough combination of pinball, watersports and badassery, and is the perfect example of how extreme and satisfying whitewater kayaking can be. How about some more stuff like this on ESPN instead of that World Series of Poker crap?

How to kayak like a boss originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 03 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/11/11--10:00: New travel show features Zach Anner, host with cerebral palsy (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Video



Earlier this year, Oprah's OWN television network ran a contest soliciting video entries for hosts of a new television show. The contest earned 143 million votes and a multitude of entires, but one in particular went viral. Zack Anner, a Texas native with cerebral palsy submitted a wacky, light hearted video pitching a show about travel with his condition. His video was a mixture of self-deprecation, clever production and genuine, happy hosting, and as a result the votes poured in.

Not surprisingly, Mr. Anner won the competition, and his show, Rollin With Zach went into production. The OWN network just released a trailer of the series which features the host traveling across the United States covering the nation from a local's perspective. At large, the new travel show beings on the Oprah Network this week. The first episode airs Monday, December 12 from 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

If you want to check out the initial audition video, read on below.

Continue reading New travel show features Zach Anner, host with cerebral palsy

New travel show features Zach Anner, host with cerebral palsy originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/20/11--04:30: Slacklining in Yosemite (chan 1893096)

Filed under: North America, United States, Video



Slacklining is an extreme sport that's gained some traction over the last few years, no doubt bolstered by the growing climbing community and the ubiquitous Patagonia ads. Similar to tightrope walking, the activity involves balancing on a slightly-slack piece of webbing and crossing between two fixed objects. It requires an impressive amount of both balance and strength, and is something that's great for both active athletes and those looking to build strength.

Nursing a patella ligament injury late this summer, my physical therapist recommended something similar to the exercise found in slacklining and I briefly gave it a try. Just last month, in fact, I discovered my first slackline positioned inside of the climbing gym in Brooklyn.

But there's no way that I'm climbing onto a slackline any higher than three feet off the ground. The gentleman in this particular video has set up a line over 3200 feet high in Yosemite, and is willing to cross it without a shred of safety equipment. It's an impressive feat, but one that I wonder might be a bit risky.


Slacklining in Yosemite originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/23/11--08:30: Your bag's perspective from Atlanta to New York (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Airlines, Video, News, Travel Security



Ever wonder what happens to your bag after you send it down the tunnel behind the gate agent at the airport? I was always under the impression that it was handled by a series of Oompa-Loompas who gently carry your bags from point A to point B on their heads, quietly singing the song of the baggage handler as glitter falls from the sky.

Apparently that's not the case. The kind folks over at Delta Air Lines just released a video detailing a bag's journey through the inner workings of Atlanta (ATL) and then over to New York City. To capture the film they strapped six cameras onto a package and sent it through the system, from the conveyor belts to the baggage trucks to the belly of the plane. Though the footage is ultimately an ad for their baggage tracking app, it's still an interesting perspective.

Your bag's perspective from Atlanta to New York originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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12/30/11--10:00: Johnny Jet feature premiers on the Travel Channel, January 1st (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Video

The last time I saw John DiScala - better known as Johnny Jet -- was at the JW Marriott tour in Chicago. Exhausted from a day long flight from Helsinki I wandered into a journalist's dinner at the freshly opened hotel and saw my old friend sitting among a group of eager young writers and polished senior management. As usual, he was lighting up the room and vivaciously engaging with the crowd. Sulking into my seat at the edge of the table I remember thinking to myself that this guy never stops.

The next evening as we quietly listened to the dulcet tones of Emmy Rossum at the opening reception I asked him about his travel schedule. "Something big" was all that he would reveal, something about a travel show that he had in the works and that had a big client behind it.

It turns out that that client was the Travel Channel, and the project was a special covering the hottest destinations for 2012. Airing on the 1st of January at 9PM Eastern, the special features Johnny hop scotching around the planet profiling some of the best upcoming destinations from Necker Island with Richard Branson to the adventure capital of the world in New Zealand.

Reached by phone late this week, Mr DiScala had only excitement to express about the show, suggesting that "some destinations for this feature you would definitely expect - but some might surprise you." Either way, we'll be tuning in at Gadling Labs for the premier. You can watch the special at 9PMEastern on the Travel Channel or scattered across the schedule thereafter.

Johnny Jet feature premiers on the Travel Channel, January 1st originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/08/12--12:00: Need status on American Airlines? January is your month! (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Airlines, News

A combination of promotions on American Airlines makes January a particularly fruitful month for members who want to join their elite ranks. Usually, passengers need to fly at least 25,000 miles to reach gold status on the airline, but a double miles promotion (until the end of January) has reduced that to only 12,500. In addition to that, residents of Illinois, Texas and California can earn an additional round of double miles for flying select routes through the end of March, effectively earning some passengers triple miles.

This means that instead of the normal 3490 elite miles that one would accrue between Chicago and Los Angeles (round trip) a total of 10470 miles can be stacked up -- or 40% of the way to Gold Status. And once you reach gold status? A whole host of benefits are available.

For many, this elite status is what helps make traveling easier and justifies a full carriage of longer, more interesting travel in the years to come. Some even go out of their way to take a mileage run and accrue that status, though you should carefully consider your future travel plans (and balance sheet) before you make that commitment. For me, our Huffington Post offices and editors in California were worth making the trip to Los Angeles once or twice this month. And if it fits into the equation of your long term travels then it might be worth your time too.

Make sure you travel before the 31st of January for the global double miles promotion. You have until the end of March until the geographically based promotion runs out.



Need status on American Airlines? January is your month! originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/09/12--18:00: Engineers call for grounding of A380 after cracks found in wings (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, News

The Daily Mail reports this evening that cracks found in the wing sections of several Airbus A380 jumbo jets have led to deep concern among a group of Australian aircraft engineers. Calling for the grounding of all A380 aircraft, the group highlighted recent faults uncovered in the wing structures of several Singapore Airlines and Qantas jets in their complaint.

Acknowledging the cracks, the airlines and manufacturer claim that the faults are in non-critical sections of the wings and that an easy detection and repair method has been identified. None of the seven current carriers that operate the aircraft are planning on taking the equipment out of service.

Nevertheless, news of the cracks is a significant concern for Airbus, which has been struggling to compete in a market that's quickly moving towards smaller, more fuel efficient equipment. With the earliest delivery of their next generation aircraft slated for late 2013 2014, they need to rely on sales of the A380 to propel revenue. If technical difficulties keep plaguing the A380, it could significantly impact the future of the company.

[flickr image via Jlcwalker]

Engineers call for grounding of A380 after cracks found in wings originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/10/12--11:00: Photographs of the people of China via Erin Drewitz (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Photos, Asia, China



Our dear graphic designer and occasional photographer Erin Drewitz had a busy 2011, romping between San Francisco, Dallas, China and the far reaches of the planet. Her most recent series, collected between Hong Kong, Shenzen, Changsha and Zhangjiajie captures some of the everyday life experienced among the country's working class, from the street workers in the central provinces to the schoolgirls bashfully commuting to class. Check out a portion of the collection below or view the full set over at erindrewitz.com.



Gallery: The People of China by Erin Drewitz



Photographs of the people of China via Erin Drewitz originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/11/12--12:00: A traditional home stay in Seoul - by accident (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, South Korea, Hotels and Accommodations



Jin is waiting for me when I return from Yongsang, placidly sitting at the picnic table in the atrium and staring off into the distance. When I knock on the astroturf covered door he looks up and grins, then lopes over to the door to greet me.

It's only been one night at the MaMa guesthouse (18-12, Namsandong2-ga, Jung-gu) in Seoul, but I already feel like I belong. Between the Angok (Line 3) and Jeosan (Line 1) stops in the district parallel to Insadong, my discovery of the homestay was purely by accident. Walking toward my original hotel earlier the previous night, I saw the flashy sign of MaMa splashed across the traditionally-styled home and made a mental note: if things didn't work out with my current accommodations I'd return.

As usual, Jin Sung Jai was resting in his room when I first showed up, and through the front door window I could see his feet hanging out from the sliding doors of his room. He greeted me with enthusiasm - yes, there was a room available tonight, the "mother" room for only 60,000 Won - discounted 25% off of the normal rate.

It would be a traditional room, one not unlike those in a traditional Japanese household with a heated floor, a thin mattress in the center of the room and two linens on top. A sliding, rice paper door was the divider between the main atrium and my room, the same divider that went into Jin's and four other rooms around the perimeter of the atrium. For this and most other rooms here, the bathroom and living spaces would be shared.

In a way though, that's the sort of package that a solo traveler needs a foreign land - a small splash of traditional culture, a community space in which to reflect your thoughts and a shepherd to guide you through the process. In the morning I help Jin update his website as a meal of hard boiled eggs, toast and apples is delivered. He shows me through the stacks of paintings with a style that he's perfected with years of study across parts of Europe, North America and Korea. And with a handshake and a smile he sends me on my way to Incheon Airport. I would give a hundred stays in a big box western hotel in exchange for another night in a place like this.



Gallery: MaMa Guest House, Seoul Korea



A traditional home stay in Seoul - by accident originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/13/12--07:30: A collection of the world's best street artists (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Arts and Culture

One of the best things about discovering a new destination is in the life of the street. Our features editor Don George is famously good at reflecting on the cafe culture across the planet, and the simple act of walking through the city can impart loads of culture onto a traveler.

Street performers, or buskers, could perhaps be the diplomats of city culture, bring new forms of local art to the always-curious visitor. Whether this is the accordion player on the Paris subway or the acrobats on Barcelona's Las Ramblas, the visual art that we experience tends to stick to a destination, and there's a great deal of emotion tied to many of the performances. In appreciation of the art, the team at Gadling Labs thus rounded up a few of our favorite street performers to display for the world.

Got a favorite of your own? Post it in the comments.



Soccer player Iya Traore performs amazing soccer stunts overlooking the sprawling beauty of Paris. Check out more at IyaTraore.com

Continue reading A collection of the world's best street artists

A collection of the world's best street artists originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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01/19/12--20:30: Flight attendant pranks passenger by hiding inside of overhead bin (chan 1893096)

Filed under: Business, Airlines, News

Ever had a flight attendant surprise you from inside of a closed overhead bin? You may have if you were flying on Southwest Airlines. Twitter user Holly McNamara (@hollymac) captured a photo and video this evening of a flight attendant pranking a boarding passenger by hiding inside of an overhead bin and closing the lid. When the unknowing passenger opens the bin there's a noticeable stutter -- then he tries to close the bin again in confusion.

Southwest is known for its casual work environment and excellent relationship with its employees, which is why this particular flight attendant probably felt comfortable pulling off the prank. A video showing a rapping flight attendant on the same airline was was widely circulated back in 2009, and has since gathered hundreds of thousands of hits on Youtube.

As for this incident, Ms. McNamara reports that the prank was pulled off on a layover in LAX en route to Las Vegas. In the name of good fun, we tip our hats to the flight crew and the passengers who could take a good joke. Just don't tell Boeing that anyone is hiding in their overhead bins.



Continue reading Flight attendant pranks passenger by hiding inside of overhead bin

Flight attendant pranks passenger by hiding inside of overhead bin originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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