Mobissimo

Delta Airlines has been cleared to exit bankruptcy.  Good new, perhaps now they can pay us.  But regardless, looks like hard times for the US legacy carriers is turning around.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. bankruptcy court on Wednesday gave Delta Air Lines Inc. (Other OTC:DALRQ - news) the go-ahead to exit Chapter 11 on April 30, ending a year and a half in bankruptcy.

"I will sign the confirmation order," Judge Adlai Hardin said at a hearing in U.S. bankruptcy court in New York.

Delta, the No. 3 U.S. carrier and one of the largest bankruptcies in U.S. history, was relieved to finally be exiting Chapter 11.

"We're free at last," said Chief Executive Gerald Grinstein. "I feel elated."

What exactly does this mean?  Basically a filing status, but it clears the way for them to erase debt, most likely issue new stock, and most of all, appease investors and Wall Street. 

Listen, we've been telling you about low-cost airlines all over the world, and Mobissimo searches the most, by far than anyone else.  Low-costs are the way most people travel around the world.  Old school - book a flight on a legacy carrier, United, British Airways, Air France, Alitalia, Air India and fly once a year, maybe once every decade.  New school - fly every weekend on Ryanair, SpiceJet, AirAsia, ClickMexicana, GOL.  And to show you how good the deals and destinations are, here's a little piece from the NY Times.

Normally, I would have shrugged off the looming discomfort as I did the attendant’s warning about my overweight baggage. But I was halfway through a weeklong jaunt around Europe, traveling solely via low-cost carriers, the budget airlines that have multiplied across the Continent like unnecessary E.U. regulations, and the perpetual motion was getting to me. Where had I just been? Where was I going? I wasn’t really sure anymore — all I knew was that getting there wouldn’t cost much more than my sanity.

We hear you.  Again, only Mobissimo searches many low-costs, 3 bajillion at last count.  Forget about saving up your pennies to take that trip, skip a couple au laits this week and fly to Paris for the damn weekend!

As far as P.R. stunts, this one is pretty good. At least for Mark Schatzker, the guy that is getting paid to travel around the world and blog about it for Conde Nast. Furthest we travel here is to the corner store, and even then we have to pay expenses. Not as cool as Matt, the guy who got paid to travel around the world and dance, but it's Conde Nast. Not the purveyors of cool that they used to be. What does that mean? No idea but it's a blog and we have to be provocative. Taking a look through the blog at Around The World In 80 Days, the writing is solid. Not MobiBlog quality but good none the less. Kind of mainstream and Aunt Emmish, but again Conde Naste. But here's a little tip Mark, for next time. Write more. You're not doing anything but traveling and all you can manage is a post or two per day? Com'on now, this isn't print. Give us the play by play. Make it engaging. Make us want to come back. A post or two a day? Sheesh. Like watching grass grow. 

Our good friend at AirTran are having another sale, if you've never flown them, now's the time, all destinations are on sale, which means cheap flight domestically and to the Caribbean.  Wowie, click here for the full details.

Unless you're one of the monied or frequent flyered class, sleeping on an airplane is a bit like trying to get comfortable in a closet. No matter how many different positions you try, it always SUCKS. We've tried everything here at Mobissimo, neck pillows, face pillows, Vicodin, Percocet, and the numerous little bottles of alcohol made available to us during int'l flights. The best we've done is black out and wake up naked in toilet. The worst we won't share with you today. Regardless, we're always on the look out for something that might work and our good friend Will Volk over at Gadling pointed us in the direction of yet another tantalizing product promising sleep, the 1st Class Sleeper. From the picture though, we're thinking it's not going to be much use in today's cattle car space challenged airplanes. But we're willing to try one out. Anybody use one before? Let us know.

Dinner at Mastro's?  Floor seats at the Staples Center?  Private table at Privilege?   All the spots where Vince and Ari hang, you can toucan.  The HBO Series Entourage which tales of the rising fortunes of a rising young star and his buddies from home hits all the cool spots in the LA area.  While mostly confined to the Hills and West LA, the show follows real-life places, not fictional ones like the Regal Beagle from Three's Company fame, or perhaps the Peach Pit from BH 90120.

The city of Los Angeles is practically a cast member on HBO's "Entourage."

The popular comedy series, about the ups and downs of Hollywood actor Vincent Chase and his friends, draws on the experiences of industry insiders to illustrate the celebrity lifestyle. And it's shot in real-life watering holes, restaurants, stores and venues.

Key scenes in "Entourage" have taken place at Spago, Del Mar Racetrack, Canter's, Pink's, Book Soup, Jerry's Deli, Fred Segal and even a Valley theater, where Vince's movie is screened before the power goes out in 100-degree heat.

So while you can't be as hip and cool as Vince, at least you can eat there.  Or see and not be seen there.

A weak dollar is making it difficult for American travellers to visit the UK and Europe.  The British Pound Sterlin is now more than double an American dollar as the Euro has hit a 2 year high.

The rise of both currencies makes Europe more expensive for U.S. visitors, but shopping trips to the United States more enticing for Europeans.

You can blame Bush fiscal policy or Chinese controlling the float of the US Dollar (through Treasury Bonds) but the dollar has seen better days.  At least at Mobissimo you can save on your airfare.

Don Ho and Hawaii are synonymous. In fact Don himself once said, "Hawaii is my partner," and that gentle readers is why we pay tribute. The travel industry has lost a legend and he will be sadly missed. Rest in peace Mr. Tiny Bubbles. Via Washington Post.

As you recall, a Greek cruise ship sank with two French passengers still missing.  A remote controlled submarine has been used to find the missing black box.

ATHENS, Greece - Investigators using a remote-controlled submarine found a sunken Greek cruise ship's data recorder and planned to bring it to the surface Friday, authorities said.

The Merchant Marine Ministry said the recorder could reveal details of the sinking of the Sea Diamond, information they hope to use in the prosecution of crew members.

Two French tourists remain missing from the ship, which struck well-marked rocks April 5 and sank off the main port of the Greek holiday island of Santorini. Nearly 1,600 people were rescued, including hundreds of Americans and groups from Canada, Britain, Australia, France and Spain.

Lots of accidents on cruises these days, makes you wonder if they really are the tame, all you can eat, relax on a chaise lounge type holiday they are purported to be.

There are so many awards in the travel industry. Best Airline. Best Hotel. Best Place To Have An Illicit Affair. You know, the important stuff. We usually skip these  awards since they're just fluff. But this one caught our eye, because it's about the opposite. It's not about the fluff, at all. It's about, well getting naked. And there's not fluff there. Well, unless....Oh never mind. Back to the topic at hand, the world's best clothing optional resort, the Terra Cotta Inn. Some place in Palm Springs haunted by the ghost of Sonny Bono it appears. Don't be afraid, turns out clothing optional resorts are one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. And why not, you don't have the packing headache like you do with other vacations. Plus it's a very egalitarian environment:

The Terra Cotta Inn is called the most mainstream nudist resort in America and is perfect for couples trying nude sunbathing for the first time. This is why guests from around the world and especially from the U.S., Canada, England, and Australia fly there for their first clothing optional experience. Of course it also helps that Palm Springs has the best weather in America for nude sunbathing.

Who visits the Terra Cotta Inn? Everyone! You will see democrats and republicans, ministers, doctors, lawyers, nurses, police and firefighters, school teachers, military personnel, stressed out executives, retirees, and young newlyweds. You name the job and someone in that career has probably stayed at The Terra Cotta Inn. And all ages stay there too, from age 21 to the 80's.

They let Democrats in? Holy Moses. Military personnel? Sweet. Just want the doctor ordered. Getting naked in front of some guy that just spent 15 months in the Iraqi desert. Even worse, a minister.  Wooweeee! They might have skipped those two occupations in the press release. Also fire fighters. Too many hose jokes. High five!

In an aim to address an apparently under-represented segment, American Airlines is creating a special website for women.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - American Airlines, the world's largest airline, says it can boost revenue by $94 million a year by tailoring some of its services to the growing number of women travelers.

The airline, a unit of AMR Corp., this week unveiled a version of its Web site for women (http://www.aa.com/women). The site aims to increase the number of women booking flights on American by 2 percent or more, said an AMR executive on Tuesday.

I don't understand what this really means, I never thought booking sites needed to be gender specific, but their pundits seem to think so.  Soon, there will be Spike Booking for men (like the TV show) or Nickelodeon Booking for kids.  Talk about segmenting your market.  Harhar.

Evidently you can hitch a ride on freighters setting sail for ports abroad at a fraction of the cost of your average cruise ship. But then, you're not getting the all you can eat buffet, shuffle board, and cheesy atmosphere they provide either. So it's a tradeoff. Typical costs range between $90 and $130 a day, and trips can last from 30 to 75 days. Specialty sites like  Maris Freighter & Specialty Cruises and Freighter World Cruises, Inc. can help you plan your trip. Via Gadling.

Car rental companies are sneaky. Very sneaky. If you don't read the fine print carefully you may find yourself stuck with a bill much higher than you ever imagined. Especially if you return your car late. The blog Upgrade: Travel Better provide a good overview of the different return policies for the US majors. All things being equal, you best bet seems to be Alamo if you tend to return your cars late...

• Alamo: “A grace period of 30 minutes applies to rentals within the U.S. Within the European Union, there is a 59-minute grace period, thereafter a further full day’s rental will be charged.” Even worse: “Daily/weekly rates may also retroactively increase from the start of the rental if the vehicle is kept beyond the agreed return date and time.”

• Avis: “There is a 29-minute grace period. If the car is returned within the 29-minute grace period there will not be any additional hourly rate. Beyond the 29-minute period, an hourly rate will apply until it equals the rate for an additional day. Charges for optional services such as LDW, etc. are charged as full days after the 29-minute grace period. If a vehicle is returned beyond the parameter associated with a specific rate code the rental may revert to a higher applicable rate.”

• Budget: “Vehicles are rented on a daily, 24-hour basis beginning at your pick-up time. There’s a 59-minute grace period for returns. After one hour late, hourly charges may apply. After three hours late, a full-day charge may apply.”

• Dollar: No grace period. “The renter will be charged for each hour and/or any part of an hour in excess of a rental day the renter keeps the vehicle until the vehicle is returned, up to the applicable daily rate. … Other rates will apply if the Vehicle is returned earlier than the original return date or if the Vehicle is returned later than the original return date.”

• Enterprise: No grace period. “For most rentals, Enterprise uses a 24-hour period to define a single rental day. For example, if you rent a vehicle at 11 a.m. on Monday and return it any time prior to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, you will be billed for one day. If you return the vehicle after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, you will be charged an hourly rate for each additional hour, or for a second full day, whichever is less. Hourly rates are usually one-fourth of the daily rate.”

• Hertz: “Vehicles are due back the same time of day as rented, Hertz will provide a 30 minute late grace period at no additional charge. Vehicles returned after the 30 minute grace period will be subject to an additional hour charge and/or an additional day charge.”

• National: No grace period. “Rates are subject to change if vehicle is not returned on the date and time agreed upon at time of reservation and rental.”

Thankfully the FCC has come to its senses and is rumored to be kiboshing the whole idea after testing showed that continued interference with terrestrial cell phone service. Thankfully. The USA Today reports on cell phones on the airplanes:

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is recommending the FCC drop its tentative plan to lift its ban on in-flight cellphone use, three agency officials say. They asked to remain anonymous because the proposal is still being considered.

Phew. That was close. We would have added cell phone talker to loud talker, fat passenger, and smelly guy as list of worst flying mates.

We love all things French here at Mobissimo. Their fries, scrumptious. Toast? Delectable. Onion soup? Couldn't live without it. And we're always happy to read that the French excel at something besides cheese, because really they've had a rough 100 years or so. But the new millennium is looking good for them. Even if there's rioting in the railways, they still managed to break the world rail speed record.  Granted the U.S. decided to give up on trains long ago, otherwise we'd own the record, but good for the French. Salut! Via NY Times.