Mobissimo

Seems like a lot of service issues lately in the airline sector.  Forcing a person to sit in a toilet, not hanging up your phone when asked to, not allowing customers to fly because of inappropriate clothing.  Here's a story about one airline flight attendant who said, 'burn it all, burn it all' and tried to set fire to his airplane.  More here via Yahoo!

FARGO, N.D. - A flight attendant angry about his work route set a fire in an airplane bathroom, forcing an emergency landing, authorities said.

The Compass Airlines flight carrying 72 passengers and four crew members landed safely in Fargo on May 7 after smoke filled the back. No injuries were reported. The plane was flying from Minneapolis to Regina, Saskatchewan, authorities said.

Honestly don't know how this even happened.  One passenger, one seat has always been the 'law' as far as I could tell.  How this passenger was even allowed on the plane is a major, major violation of some FAA rule.  Expect more to be said about this and this guy get a huge settlement and JetBlue to face a huge penalty.  More here via the AP.

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man is suing JetBlue Airways Corp. for more than $2 million because he says a pilot made him give up his seat to a flight attendant and sit on the toilet for more than three hours on a flight from California.

Gokhan Mutlu, of Manhattan's Inwood section, says in court papers the pilot told him to "go 'hang out' in the bathroom" about 90 minutes into the San Diego to New York flight because the flight attendant complained that the "jump seat" she was assigned was uncomfortable, the lawsuit said.

Mutlu was traveling on a a "buddy pass," a standby travel voucher that JetBlue employees give to friends, from New York to San Diego on Feb. 16, and returned to New York on Feb. 23, the lawsuit said.

Sometimes things are very important and you can't be bothered by hanging up the phone just because a plane needs to take off.  The ubiquitous mobile phone is indeed a boon ... and a curse.  Here's more about one guy who didn't take no for an answer.

 An Austin businessman was charged with disorderly conduct after he allegedly refused to stop using his mobile phone on a flight Monday from Austin to Dallas Love Field.

Dallas police met the plane after the pilot radioed ahead to the Love Field tower. They cited Joe David Jones, 50, president of an Austin-based environmental start-up company called Skyonic Corp., with the Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The earth is not getting any bigger and the places that are 'unexplored' are fewer and fewer.  Parts of the former Soviet Union are figuring out ways to make money and yes, they are reshaping themselves into tourist destinations.  Enter Kyrgyzstan, mountains, lakes, cheap.  Read more here via Travelbite.

Kyrgyzstan is the perfect off-the-beaten-track adventure holiday destination with stunning scenery and hospitable people. Here are the top five adventure activities recommended by travelbite.co.uk for a great holiday in Kyrgyzstan...

Virgin Airlines seems to like dwelling on the sexy theme.  From the youngish models in their ads, to the omnipresent 'fun and irreverent' attitude the airline wants to convey, Virgin espouses the swashbuckling persona of its leader Sir Richard Branson.  As part of its message to hook up and fly, Virgin is offering inflight texting capability.  More here via Budget Travel.

If its ad campaigns are any indication, Virgin America has big plans for its in-flight instant messaging service. The airline is apparently convinced that passengers will while away the hours gossiping, discussing breaking news, sharing musical recommendations—and, of course, finding true love only a few (previously inaccessible) aisles away.

Croatia has been a new destination for those seeking pristine beaches and good value.  So much of the Balkans is beautiful, but unfortunately inaccessible because of strife.  Bosnia-Herzegovina has experienced the growing pains of an emerging Balkan nation and is moving well into becoming a worthwhile travel destination.  Read more here via CNN.

 (Tribune Media Services) -- These days Croatia's Dalmatian Coast is inundated with tourists -- and understandably so. But after a visit to Dubrovnik, the "Pearl of the Adriatic," I'm in the mood for a good Balkan adventure and decide to drive directly inland ... to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

While most of Europe is doing away with border formalities, just the opposite seems to be the case in this part of Europe -- a new set of borders pop up each year. The border station between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina feels like the bleak frontier post between two nations that less than two decades ago were at war. It also feels like the gateway to the perfect antidote to Dubrovnik's tourist crowds.

Flying first class is expensive, no doubt. I've flown Lufthansa and Thai and can attest to their special service. On a connection from Geneva to the states via Frankfurt, a Benz was waiting for me on the tarmac to take me to my LH flight back to the states in Frankfurt. Small touch, but so, as Ron Burgundy would say, 'classy.' Regardless of the service, airline food, at least to me remains horrible. It's not really cooked, it's just reheated, and those cookies you smell are just heated as well. I would rather see Inga back the in the galley making them from scratch, but whatever, I always bring my own food anyway. Food is also getting an upgrade as top flight chefs and sommeliers are making the airlines the new battle ground. More here via CNN.

(AP) -- First-class airline passengers can say goodbye to mystery meat.

Prepared airplane meals are on display at the Delta Air Lines Gate Gourmet facility in Erlanger, Kentucky.

While complimentary meals have all but disappeared for most coach flights, there's a whole new culinary landscape for first class. In the latest effort to lure customers and create buzz, airlines are serving up gourmet menus cooked up by celebrity chefs.

Travelers flying to South America or Japan on United Airlines can feast on award-winning chef Charlie Trotter's appetizer of sauteed prawns and crispy short rib wontons with organic Thai barbecue sauce and chilled sweet-and-sour cucumber relish. Going to Europe on American Airlines? Try the rosemary-scented shrimp drizzled with garlic sauce and served with lemon rice and artichokes.

I like this idea, good thing actually.  Wikis are getting much press for their ability to offer 'unbiased' information about a subject because of the moderation.  Travel wikis can be a huge asset, travelers can chime in on what they like and don't like.  While on paper this sounds great, let's wait a bit, one person's Shangri-La could be another's Detroit.  Read more here via a travel wiki Travellerspoint.

We first discussed the idea for Travellerspoint in a MSN Messenger session in the middle of 2002, while Samuel was living in the Netherlands and Peter was living in Australia. What started as a mere discussion turned into serious planning: just three months later we launched Travellerspoint. Amazed, we found our humble little website turning into a rapidly growing travel community, getting great reviews and attracting thousands of new members.