For years I have been flying a lot. In fact, during my lifetime I have flown almost 1.7 million miles on American Airlines alone.  When you fly that often, lots of things can happen. From mechanical delays to people watching, it really is like a reality show every day of the week.

In the past 18 months I have had a few things happen that were a little different:

1. On takeoff from O’Hare, we hit a flock of birds and lost our left engine. We needed to make an emergency landing. We were greeted with 5 fire engines and other emergency vehicles back at O’Hare 5 minutes later.
2. Our flight in Ft. Lauderdale was forced to abort landing (we were about 500 feet from landing). The pilot made an announcement after we went vertical and said it was weather related.  
3. I had another aborted landing in Atlanta a few weeks ago. This time we were less than 400 feet from the ground (as I am leaving the flight I always ask the pilot how close we were) and again went vertical this time even more quickly.

These situations happened very quickly and there is little time to freak out. Because I was traveling with my son during the Ft Lauderdale flight, I had a little more reason to pause and think about what happened.

The question is, am I lucky or unlucky?

I am really curious how people view this. I can argue both sides of the coin. Wow this happened 3 times clearly you are unlucky with the other side of the coin is yes it happened but I landed safely and not one person got hurt so that makes me lucky.

From my standpoint I would say I am lucky. In fact, very lucky!

Typically I am pretty positive about things and wonder if there is a direct correlation between people who would view my experiences as unlucky to being pessimistic in nature and people who would view them as lucky being optimistic most of the time?

Just a thought.

So I ask you….

• Am I lucky or unlucky?

I look forward to reading your comments.

A few weeks ago I was boarding a plane to Las Vegas and as with most flights, the plane was sold out. Actually, it was over sold. The announcements started with “we are over sold and looking for volunteers to take another flight about 90 minutes later and were giving a $300 travel voucher.” Well, apparently not enough people thought that was an appetizing offer so 10 minutes later the offer was raised to a $400 travel voucher.

When I was younger I may have jumped at both of their offers – but today, no way! I want to get where I am going and as fast and easy as I can. I don’t like being part of any delays and more importantly I don’t want to create a delay for myself for $300-400 travel voucher.

Funny I am not sure I am alone – I watched and very few people rushed to take the offer.

• So I ask you what are your thoughts?

• Do you have a price that you would take a later flight?

• How would you feel if you took the $300 travel voucher and 10 minutes later they were offering $400?

I look forward to reading your comments.

I remember growing up with my 2 sisters and taking a very long trip up to Montreal to visit my mom’s family every 3 or 4 months. During the 6 hour car ride one thing was for certain, we would ALL fight for the armrest. Back in the day, that was the trophy in the car, the Holy Grail and the thing we all coveted most.

Speed up 35+ years. I guess the same thing is true but this time you are playing the game with strangers, in fact most of the time total strangers. Have you gone to the movies recently and sitting on your left side is a person (stranger) who is hogging the armrest? He/she got there before you and they have the inside position and aren’t moving an inch? Or what about when you are sitting on a 4 hour flight in a row of 3 people and have 4 armrests – who gets what armrest? Does the left rule? Is the 1st to arrive the king/queen?

I know most of you are laughing and thinking I am 100% nuts, but seriously…….what do you do?

So I ask you:

• How do you handle the situation when you need to share an armrest?

• Does the situation change when you know the person sitting next to you?

• What is the protocol?

I know this situation has happened to everyone but the question is what do you do?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Like most readers I travel a fair amount. My travel involves client meetings, industry presentations, board meets for associations I am on, sporting events or just sitting on a beach trying to relax. All of that is great, enjoyable and productive. The problem is getting there! Traveling these days just isn’t as much fun as it used to be. Maybe it is the travel delays. Maybe it is the challenges of changing a ticket without giving up your first born. Maybe it is the lack of information you get from gate agents so you can’t make an informed decision on your traveling schedule. Maybe all of that adds up to a lot of frustrated people at the airport who seem to be becoming very inconsiderate and perhaps rude. Here are just a few things that happened on my last few flights:

• When they made the announcement for First Class and Executive Platinum, the only person who didn’t try to board the plane was a 4 year old.

• Prior to take off the person behind me was speaking very loud on her cell phone I truly believe she thought she was a celebrity who was on her own private plane.

• No one buys food on a plane anymore. Instead, they bring their own. I must admit some of the smells are tough to take on a two hour flight.

• The oversized bag routine – frankly I could go on for 4 pages alone about this one.

What are your thoughts?

• Have the delays, the extra charges for everything forced people to be self centered and very rude?

• Have you noticed the same things?

• What is the worst thing you have ever seen?

• What bothers you most about traveling?

I look forward to reading your comments.

A few weeks ago I tried to estimate the number of times I have been to Las Vegas. It’s probably around 35 times. I like Las Vegas within the right time frame. Which to me, means about 3 ½ days. Any more seems to be too much.
 
Although I haven’t been to a bachelor party there, stolen a cop car or a tiger from Mike Tyson’s house, as they did in the movie The Hangover, I have had some great times.

Here are some of my favorite experiences – Most, if not all, are ‘G’ rated and very harmless:

• I sat in the front row at a Buddy Hackett Performance and was asked to go backstage by Buddy himself. Of course, yours truly was being an idiot and sat in Buddy’s special chair. He wasn’t very happy about that…

• Eating at Tao is amazing and anytime you get a chance you should go. The night club attached to it is a great place to people watch after a fantastic meal.

• Shooting a machine gun at a gun range.

• Driving 40 mph at an indoor track with my college roommate.

• The dueling piano bar at the New York New York Hotel is a guaranteed amazing time!

• Best gambling experience was with my buddy S.S. at the Wynn hotel.

• Best pool experience for me (so far) was at the Wynn. You can gamble, hang out in a cabana and check out the scene.

• One of the best concerts I have ever been to was in Vegas when I saw KC & the Sunshine Band perform. I know many are laughing but they rocked the house!

Your turn:

• Have you been to a bachelor/bachelorette party in Vegas?

• What was your favorite:

1. Bar?
2. Restaurant?
3. Pool experience?
4. Casino?
5. Night club?

Feel free to share any stories but change the names to protect the innocent!

I look forward to reading your comments.
]]> http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/27/what-happens-in-vegas-stays-in-vegas-just-not-today/feed/ 7 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/15/i-wish-i-could-find-reasonable-air-fare-here-are-a-few-ideas-to-make-that-happen/ http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/15/i-wish-i-could-find-reasonable-air-fare-here-are-a-few-ideas-to-make-that-happen/#comments Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:30:17 +0000 Merrill Dubrow http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/?p=3438

The cost of flying is a little out of control. Actually, some may say it is totally out of control. Fares seem to be changing quicker than the speed of light. A few weeks ago I was checking a flight to the East Coast and every single day the fare changed. Some days it changed over $400 in either direction. Like most, I like a good deal on flights. So here are a few tips that might help:
Recently, I read an article about a few amazing deals:

• If you subscribed to "news flash" emails from Travelzoo you could have gotten a $9-each-way flight from Boston to New York City.
   
• Airfarewatchdog recently highlighted a Los Angeles/Las Vegas fare for $18 round trip.

There are other price-finding sites abound, such as:

• CheapOair: You can set an "alert" for fares to specific locales.
   
• Yapta: This service tracks prices even after you book. If fares drop you’ll be advised how to apply for a refund. This worked for someone on our team and she saved hundreds of dollars on a recent trip!
   
• Bing Travel: Microsoft’s search engine combs through more than a billion airfares each day and forecasts whether prices will be going up or down soon. I have never checked this out but it sounds like I need to!
   
• Compete 4 Your Seat: Professional travel agents send you their rock-bottom itineraries.

Wow – lots of ideas for sure. Clearly another indication that technology can help you save money!

• Have you tried any of these sites?
   
• What tools are you using to get great deals?
   
• Have you gotten great deal recently?

I look forward to reading your comments.

]]> http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/15/i-wish-i-could-find-reasonable-air-fare-here-are-a-few-ideas-to-make-that-happen/feed/ 6 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/08/i-love-boston-what-about-you-here-are-a-few-tips-to-help-you-enjoy-the-city/ http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/08/i-love-boston-what-about-you-here-are-a-few-tips-to-help-you-enjoy-the-city/#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:30:54 +0000 Merrill Dubrow http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/?p=3450

Yes, I was born there; yes, I still have family there; and yes, I love Boston and always will. Here are some things that you might not know about this great city:

• There is no school on School Street

• There is no court on Court Street

• There is no dock in Dock Square

• There is no water on Water Street

• Back Bay Boston streets are in alphabetical order: Arlington, Berkeley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, etc. So are South Boston streets: A, B, C, D, etc.

• If the streets are named after trees (e.g. Walnut, Chestnut, Cedar), you are on Beacon Hill.

• If the streets are named after poets, you are in Wellesley.

• Massachusetts Avenue is Mass Ave. 

• Commonwealth Avenue is Comm Ave. 

• South Boston is Southie.

Confused about how to pronounce some of these cities? This guide will help:

• Worcester : Wuhsta (or Wistah) 

• Gloucester : Glawsta

• Leicester: Lesta

• Woburn: Woobun

• Dedham : Dead-um

• Revere: Re-vee-ah

• Quincy: Quinzee

• Peabody: Pee-ba-dee

• Chatham: Chaddum

A few definitions you might want to be aware of:

• Frappes are made with ice cream; milkshakes are not.

• Pop refers to DAD.

• The smallest beer is a pint.

• It is not a water fountain; it is a bubblah.

• It is not a trashcan; it is a barrel.

• It is not a shopping cart; it is a carriage.

• It is not a purse; it is a pockabook.

• It is not a rubber band; it is an elastic.

The local sports teams:

• The Sox = The Red Sox 

• The Cs = The Celtics

• The Bs = The Bruins

• The Pats =The Patriots

Things you should know:

• Order the cold tea in China Town after 2:00 am and you will get a kettle full of beer.

• Bostonians think it is their God-given right to cut off someone in traffic.

• Bostonians think there are only 25 letters in the alphabet (no Rs, except in idea).

• Bostonians think three straight days of 90+ temperatures is a heat wave.

• Bostonians refer to 6 inches of snow as a dusting.

• Bostonians always bang a left as soon as the light turns green, and oncoming traffic always expects it.

• Bostonians believe that using your turn signal is a sign of weakness.

• Bostonians think that 63° ocean water is warm.

I hope these tips help.

• What is your favorite thing about Boston?

• What do you like to do when you visit?

• Do you have a favorite expression that Bostonians say?

• Do you like the accent?

I look forward to reading your comments.

]]> http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/06/08/i-love-boston-what-about-you-here-are-a-few-tips-to-help-you-enjoy-the-city/feed/ 6 http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/05/23/please-finish-this-equation-hotel-grand/ http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/2011/05/23/please-finish-this-equation-hotel-grand/#comments Mon, 23 May 2011 13:30:33 +0000 Merrill Dubrow http://www.marcresearch.com/blogs/merrill/?p=3374

Like most of you, I don’t have a ton of business meetings at some of the big, old, grand hotels. I wish I had more opportunities to see or stay in them and who knows, maybe some future conferences will end up in some of those hotels. I read an article last week regarding the Hotel Del Coronado and thought I would write a quick blog about grand hotels.

The Hotel Del Coronado is beautiful, rich in tradition and has GREAT pictures downstairs. I love reading about all the Presidents who have stayed there and the reasons they were there. Traveling over the bridge to get to the island has amazing views and holds a special place in my heart. I also love the Breakers down in Palm Beach. I love a lot of things about it but maybe not the $25 fruit cup! Yes, the hotel is expensive but I love walking out to the ocean and looking back at the hotel. I also love closing my eyes and thinking about who may have walked inside the hotel.

So today I ask you to finish this equation:

• Hotel + Grand = ?

I look forward to reading your comments.

No this wasn’t going to be just another flight. Most of the time I will work or listen to some music and don’t talk to anyone. I knew this flight was going to be different and yes I was excited to see who I was sitting next to on a recent flight.

Yes it was a baseball player, yes it was a pitcher, yes he is in the hall of Fame, yes he is still involved in baseball and yes he is none other than Nolan Ryan! Yes Nolan Ryan with his blazing fastball and yes the same Nolan Ryan who won a World Series with the Amazing Mets in 1969!

We spoke non-stop for hours and I listened to every word he said. He is a terrific person with a tremendous passion for life just not baseball. Some of our discussions were around:

• Baseball – no surprise there
   
• Work ethic
   
• Being a talent evaluator
   
• Family
   
• Being a rancher
   
• Business

And numerous other topics – I must admit I have been fortunate to meet and have lengthy discussions with a number of prominent people but he was at the top of the list for sure. He was intelligent, articulate, competitive and so passionate.

• Who would you like to sit next to on a plane?

The reason I ask is wouldn’t it be cool if American Airlines would grant me a wish and will allow one of you to sit next to whoever you want on your next flight.

• So I ask you – who are the top three people you would like to sit next to on a plane?

I look forward to reading your comments.

I guess the days of checking into a hotel, leaving the next morning for appointments and coming back to a clean room might be over? Or at least customers will have another option. Lots of hotels are trying to save money, energy and resources and looking at cutting housekeeping services as an option. Here is what a few hotels are doing:

Best Western asks guests to specify their choice of housekeeping: no service, replace towels/empty trash/quick vacuum, or full clean. Guests can check their choice and specify the cleaning hour on a card hung on the door knob. Since the program began late last year, about 40% of guests chose no or limited cleaning, says Ron Pohl of Best Western.

Some chains operated by Wyndham — Super 8, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Days Inn and Ramada — are adopting Wyndham Hotels’ practice of leaving linens unchanged whenever possible. Starting next year, all Days Inn hotels will reduce bed linen and towel changes from daily to every third day in occupied rooms.

Omni Hotels began asking customers last year if they want limited housekeeping, in which bed and bath linens are changed on request or on the third day.

Some hotels are giving financial incentives for less cleaning.

Where is this all heading?

• Don’t change the linen and save $10?
   
• If we don’t empty your trash you save $5?
   
• If you don’t take a shower and use the shampoo you save $9?

I realize hotel occupancy rates are lower than normal and they are fighting to be profitable but perhaps they need to look at ways to be greater customer service oriented which in turn will create brand loyal customers.

To me this just doesn’t feel right. What do you think?