This is Kerwin with Passrider.com and I wanted to do a video thank you.

This is a video to say Thank you for your support in 2011 and hope to have more fun in 2012.

And if you’re traveling this Holiday season I hope you have your backup plans get your tickets.

Use the web site to find your different schedules and hopefully you won’t get stranded anywhere out there.

And if you guys see me in the airport please come up and say hello.  I appreciate that.  I like to press the flesh with the folks that use the website.  I’m really happy that you guys have used the web site and you’re enjoying it.

So this is Kerwin with passrider.com wishing you Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanza, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

And again, thank you very much for your support in 2011 and all the previous years and I;m hoping to have moor fun and a lot more functionality for the web site in 2012.

Have a great Holiday.

Here is a mapping of the route.
Have you ever taken this flight? Please leave a comment below.

When planning a trip, there are so many things we have to thing about before we depart. Here are 12 Things to bear in mind:

1. Camera with charged batteries and empty card
   • Gotta do it, record your adventures, but be prepared, take extra cards and remember to charge those batteries beforehand
2. Charged Mobile Smart Phone
   • Simple, but we forget to do all the time
3. Backup Routings
4. Backup Tickets
5. Applicable Airline Phone Numbers
6. Applicable Airline Websites Bookmarked in Mobile Phone
   • With some airlines you have to list online, so its so much easier to bookmark the web sites.  Also for flight status, it makes it easier.  You can also download their mobile applications.
7. Check Loads
   • All too often we forget this one and get stranded someplace.  This helps you to look for alternate airports as well
8. Check-in Online
   • Ensures you get on that standby list 24 hours in advance as  it improves your priority of others with your same pass class
9. Change for Local Bus
   • This is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get around so ensure you do some research and are prepared
10. Passport (if applicable
    • Ensure your passport is at least valid for 6 months after the date of your arrival and have a few blank pages for the passport/visa stamp.
11. Visa (if applicable)
    • If you are a U.S. citizens there are still a few country where a visa is required such as Argentina (on arrival), Australia (online), Brazil (prior to departure), Chile, (on arrival) People’s Republic of China (prior to departure) and Russia (prior to departure) to name a few.
12. Pen and Paper
    • You’ll need this to jot down flight information as well as other local information, plus filling out immigration forms if traveling internationally.

What other things would you add to this check list?  Please leave a comment below and share with fellow passriders.

You Know You’re an Airline Geek When:

1. You get in your car, buckle up and wait for the safety video to begin
2. You set your alarm clock to:
   1. 7:07, 7:17, 7:27, 7:33, 7:34, 7:35, 7:36, 7:37, 7:38, 7:39, 7:44, 7:47, 7:52, 7:57
3. You take bus number 767 to work
4. Your favorite number is 380 or 777
5. You’ve ridden all the buses numbered with the Boeing series in the U.K. airports
6. You get upset when you can’t listen to Channel 9 on United Airlines
7. You fly 2,500 miles in the other direction just to log a new aircraft type
8. You’r e on a bus and is upset there is no in-seat video
9. Your favorite TV chair at home is a fully functional Business class airline seat
10. Your door bell rings and you start to prepare for landing

If you have any additional reasons, please leave a comment below

First and foremost, always say “Bonjour” [hello] or “Bonsoir” [good evening] to everyone as it will make your trip so much better; trust me.

• Airports
  • Which Terminal does your airline use at CDG and ORY?
    • The Aeroports de Paris Web site has a comprehensive listing
  • 
    
  • Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris France (CDG)
    • Ground Transportation
      • Take the RER B from Terminal 3 Roissy Pole or Terminal 2 into the center of Paris and beyond.  Decide the fare you will pay based on the number of days you are staying and how you plan on getting around.  Its pretty pricey, but taking the RER B into the city is the most inexpensive way to do it.
      • You may also take the Air France bus from outside Hall F, which will take you to just outside the Arc de Triomphe.  Show your airline ID on entry as you may get a discount.
  • 
    
  • Paris-Orly, Paris France (ORY)
    • Ground Transportation
      • You can find information on all access modes here (there are many)
      • If in a hurry,  take the ORLYVAL shuttle train to the RER B stop, Anthony then take the RER B into the center of Paris. Note this is the same train that takes you to CDG.
  • Paris-Beauvais, Tille France (BVA)
  • Ryanair (FR), Blue Air (0B) and Wizzair (W6) are the primary tenants at Beauvais
    • Ground Transportation
      • There are several ways to get to/from Beauvais. More details on a shuttle service is located here.
• 
  
• Hotels
  • There are many hotels in this fine city.  Start your search at www.kayak.com or your favorite hotel Web site.  Once you find where you want to stay, contact the hotel by phone.  Try to stay somewhere that is close to public transportation.  Remember to ask for an airline discount when you call.
• 
  
• Museums
  • Paris is the home to many museums; the two most famous are the:
    • Louvre
    • Musée d’Orsay
• 
  
• One suggested route
  • Start at the Musée d’Orsay, then head for the Louvre, then walk across the Jardin de Tuileries, across the Place de la Concorde, down the Champs-Elysées atop the Arc de Triomphe, then down to the La Defense (take the train ) climbing to the top.  Here is a map of your route.

So go, enjoy Paris!  Please leave a comment below.

Why don’t you share what you pack for your trips with your fellow travelers? Please leave your comment below. We are all looking forward to your words of wisdom.

Don’t forget to share on facebook as well.

This is the first installment of “Why I Love To Travel.”

Here you will learn about your fellow passriders and what makes them tick when it comes to travel. It is our goal that you will learn from each other and also be interviewed by passrider.com. First up is Roxanne from North American Airlines.

Quick Fire Questions

Which Airline Do You Work For?
North American Airlines.
Favorite Destination?
Barbados.
Favorite Airline?
JetBlue, they are so personal & kind to me.

–

How Many Countries Visited?

Germany, Africa, many Caribbean countries.

Years in the Industry?

6 years.

How Did You Get Started in the Aviation Industry?

Downsized from JPMorgan Chase bank in 2004, then my curiousity took me to the airline industry.

What is Your Current Function in the Airlines?

Dispatcher.

What Do You Love About the Industry?

The perks, the rush of excitement, people you meet.

How Often Do You Travel?

About every 2-3 months to Barbados, every mid-year annual vacation.

Why Do You Love To Travel?

Break from the corporate world, get to see family, beautiful weather, release stress, free to do whatever.

What Tips Can You Offer Your Industry Colleagues?

Make sure you take your vacations annually. It helps to relieve stress and rejuvenates you.

Which Airplane is Your Favorite and Why?

I do not have a favorite airplane, however, I prefer turbojets over turboprops

Which Hotel is Your Favorite Hotel in the Whole Wide World?

Hilton Barbados and New York.
Barbados is still beautiful.  I am 100% American but Barbados has become my second home!

Have You Ever Been Stuck Anywhere Due to Flight Loads? If so, how did you get out?

I have yet to be stuck anywhere. I always check the loads the day before the flights and if they run out of seats, they stick me in the F/A jumpseat.

Any Closing Comment You’d Like to Add?

I am glad to be in the airline industry enjoying the many perks & meeting people from all over the world. I will always encourage everyone to take vacations yearly. It’s so rejuvenating to the mind, body & soul.

—
Please leave a comment below for Roxanne.

In addition to this, several airlines offer mobile options.  Some of these tools allow you to check your position on the standby list (American and Continental), download timetables in PDF format, check-in and check flight status among other things.

For each of the various apps

1. Android-based phones – Go to the Android Market and search for the airline name
2. Apple products (iPad, iPhone, iTouch) – Go to the ITunes Store and search for the airline name
3. Blackberry Apps – Search for it on your Blackberry device in the Blackberry App World

Here’s my stab at it.

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know of anything I missed:

* has a Windows Mobile App as well.

Congratulations Maria.

You can see the final standings at http://passrider.com/mileage-competition-leaderboard/ and all the flights taken at http://passrider.com/mileage-competition-flights-taken/

Thank you all for your participation.

Watch this space for more passrider.com competitions.

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We’ve just launched a new competition for the most mileage flown in the month of November, 2010.

Go to ==>> http://passrider.com/mileage-competition/ to check out the details. You could win a 1/500 scale model airplane.

Please encourage your friends to participate.

Good Luck.