Travel

AA Master Class – Upgrades

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Flying is not glamorous. You usually have to get up at an ungodly hour, drag a week’s worth of belongings with you in a tiny box to a giant airport where you will have (at a minimum) one of your civil rights violated; you’ll then be forced to find your way around a byzantine terminal, before you are finally herded into lines only to be unceremoniously squeezed into a giant metal tube, strapped to a chair, and hurdled through the sky at 500 mph. It is, however, the price we all must pay in order to travel and go on vacation. There are few ways to make the experience better, the main one being an upgrade. When you’ve been upgraded,  you’ll at least spend the last part of the ordeal strapped to a bigger chair, that in some cases even turns into a bed. You’ll certainly be fed, and provided a steady stream of [alcoholic] beverages. You’ll find room for your stuff, and the flight attendants will usually be more pleasant – reminding you that you are, after all, a human being. For the sake of being thorough, an upgrade entitles you to be seated in the next best cabin of service from the one in which you booked your ticket. If you booked coach, you’ll be seated in business; if you book business, you’ll be seated in first; and if you booked first, they will let you fly the plane! (not really) On international and transcontinental flights, upgrades also give you access to lounges, priority boarding, and additional baggage allowances. The goal of this post will be to discuss the main strategies for getting upgraded on flights booked with American Airlines (AA). This will require some level of status, since without it, there should be no expectation of an upgrade barring any extraordinary circumstances.

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Business cabin on flight to Hong Kong

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Photos of the Week: Grotto

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IMG_0919Tangier, Morocco

Tangier is a city located on the North African coast near the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic.  About a 15 minute drive from this northern city of Morocco is the popular Caves of Hercules.  The grotto has two openings, one on land and one out to the sea. Entering from the land opening, you descend into a cavernous area with multiple rooms and alcoves. The caves were expanded considerably over the years by Berber tribes. The opening facing out to the ocean looks like the head of a man.  When that same opening is viewed from the sea, it looks like a map of Africa. It is part of the local legend that Hercules stayed here and slept in this cave.

This sleepy seaside town is a great pit stop to grab lunch and admire the grotto. Inside, locals have set up stalls and are selling souvenirs. Outside by the waterfront, there are multiple shops and restaurants.  Make sure you don’t plan your trip around Ramadan, when the attraction is shut down for a few weeks.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Toronto: Graffiti

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Graffiti Alley in Toronto

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile (thanks for following!), you’ll see me periodically post pictures of graffiti art.  I’ve always liked art, but my love affair with street art didn’t start until I moved to New York.  To me, urban art is unexpected and sometimes quite beautiful.  On my short trip to Toronto, I made it a point to visit the widely known Graffiti Alley in the hip Queens Street West neighborhood.   In Toronto, programs such as Street ART Toronto encourage and promote street arts as a way to add character and pizzazz to the neighborhood. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Grooming

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IMG_0836Gibraltar

A few years ago on our trip to Morocco, we made a little side trip to Gibraltar, an oversea British territory. This rocky peninsula is located at the South of Spain where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic.  One of the main attractions was the Rock of Gibraltar, a giant rocky citadel. This fortress was once considered one of the Pillars of Hercules in ancient times.  

This picture captured an intimate moment between these monkeys as they groomed each other.  Climbing up the rock, one of the things you’ll notice is the abundance of wild monkeys lounging around the side of the road.  These Barbary macaques were descended from a North African breed and brought to Gibraltar over a thousand years ago. They continued to thrive in their new environment and have become a major tourist attraction.  They are extremely sociable and will fearlessly approach people for food.  It’s important to keep a safe distance (and a tight grip on your stuff) from the macaques because they are wild and can become quite aggressive if they perceive that you’re withholding food.  

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

Photo of the Week: Symmetry

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IMG_0533Casablanca, Morocco

I didn’t know what to expect when I visited Casablanca.  Based on the movies I’ve seen and books I’ve read, I expected a vibrant city full of marketplaces and interesting things, but what I saw was a dilapidated city, way past it’s prime.  Streets and sidewalks were broken down and every corner was filled with piles of rubble and garbage.  However, just when I was about to write off the whole city, we went and visited Hassan II Mosque, one of the most beautiful places in Casablanca.

It is one of the largest mosques in Morocco as well as Africa and 7th largest in the world.  The white marble structure rises above the Atlantic Ocean in this forgotten city. Contrasting with the rest of the city, everything here was clean and shiny, the facade glowed under the morning light. Inside, people spoke in hushed tones in deference to the religious significance of the mosque. There was a sense of serenity and quietness that settled over the area.  

This picture captured the elaborate doorway facing out to the Atlantic ocean inside the prayer hall.  The sunlight filtered through the titanium wrought door and reflected on the marble floor creating an interesting symmetry. Even though this photo was taken in color, the light and shadow resulted in a black and white effect.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

New Orleans: French Quarter

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Street performer on Bourbon Street.

The French Quarter is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and also the one most frequented by visitors.  We called it home for the duration of our stay in Louisiana.  The French Quarter is a mix of old and new, existing in perfect harmony.  Every corner is filled with art and music all day and night.  In addition to the many bars and art galleries, you’ll also see artists spreading out their wares on the street, hoping to catch the eyes of passersby.

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Photo of the Week: Atlantis

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IMG_9575Dubai, UAE

We went to the UAE earlier this year on a quick trip to Dubai, known for its extravagancies and 7 star hotels. The whole city rose out of the desert about 20 years ago, and continues to thrive while leading the world with their innovative architecture.

This is a photo of the Atlantis Resort at the Palm Dubai taken from the Burj Al Arab. The islands were made in the shape of a palm tree. The setting sun highlights the Atlantis rising out of the ocean reminding me of an ancient lost city.

Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home.  Most of my photos have little or no post processing.  If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.

New Orleans: Garden District

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We are New Yorkers; we walk everywhere.  Since we don’t have a car, we get a lot of mileage out of our legs.  So when we go to a new city, our inclination is to figure out how to explore that city on foot.  Touring a city on foot is the easiest and best way to get a feel for a new area and get in some exercise to work off the extra vacation food.  When we got to New Orleans, I was excited to walk around and see the historical cemeteries and beautiful garden district. Continue reading →