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American Morning
Interview With Mark Orwoll
Aired November 08, 2002 - 07:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk home for the holidays. Travel experts say Thanksgiving is unique among holidays. They say it's because it is such a family-oriented time that people will do whatever it takes to get together with loved ones.
But since September 11 raised concerns about flying, more travelers are getting behind the wheel instead of heading to the airport. So, how can you take the hassle out of the holiday?
Joining me now with some tips on that, Mark Orwoll, managing editor of "Travel + Leisure" magazine.
Good morning.
MARK ORWOLL, "TRAVEL + LEISURE": Good morning.
KAGAN: Happy early holiday to you.
ORWOLL: Same to you.
KAGAN: One thing that we know about the holidays, like Thanksgiving, amateurs get out in the airports.
ORWOLL: Everybody wants to travel.
KAGAN: Everybody does.
ORWOLL: That's right.
KAGAN: People who aren't used to being out there, and certainly haven't been out there a lot over the last year.
ORWOLL: And things have changed in the last year.
KAGAN: Boy, have they ever.
ORWOLL: You better believe it. And most of the changes are going to mean money out of your pocket.
KAGAN: Plus luggage.
ORWOLL: OK, luggage. Well, now, we all know that airlines have had limits on how much luggage you can bring. But you know what? They used to just kind of let it slide.
KAGAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). ORWOLL: They are now cracking down. Jet fuel is about 27 percent more expensive now, which means that every pound on that airplane costs a lot more money to fly it.
So, if you're going to bring more than two pieces of luggage, be prepared to pay anywhere from $40 to $180 for the extra luggage.
KAGAN: Wow!
ORWOLL: If any of your checked luggage weighs more than 70 pounds, be prepared to pay more money. Don't think you're going to sneak it on as a carry-on either, because they are really clamping down on the two carry-ons per person rule.
KAGAN: And that folks who don't travel a lot sometimes feel more comfortable with paper tickets.
ORWOLL: Yes.
KAGAN: You might want one, but you're going to pay for that, too.
ORWOLL: The airlines that didn't used to charge for paper tickets are now charging 20 bucks. The ones that used to charge $10 have raised their price up to $20 for each paper ticket. You're choice now is to get an electronic ticket, and you just get a printed receipt...
KAGAN: Right.
ORWOLL: ... or pay $20. For a family of five, that's 100 bucks. I think a lot of people are going to forego paper tickets from now on.
KAGAN: Also, if you're traveling with kids or just by yourself, something I was reminded about as I flew up last night, they're cutting back on food. I kept waiting, when is the snack coming?
ORWOLL: You know, I just got back from a flight, Daryn, from Fort Lauderdale to New York. We left at 11:00 in the morning, got to New York at 1:30 in the afternoon, a perfect time for lunch, right?
KAGAN: Yes.
ORWOLL: I got a bag of peanuts and a cup of coffee, and that was it.
KAGAN: Yes.
ORWOLL: And that is becoming more and more the norm, so get used to it. In fact, I read a report in the "Arizona Republic" newspaper that Continental Airlines is even getting rid of the plastic forks that they -- plastic knives that they use for their breakfast eggs, when they do serve eggs, to save $80,000. So, they're cutting back...
KAGAN: Yes.
ORWOLL: ... all sorts of the ways in reference to meals.
KAGAN: Bring your own snacks. All right, since we're talking money, let's talk about saving some of our own. There are still some deals out there.
ORWOLL: There are.
KAGAN: OK.
ORWOLL: Let me give you a couple of quick examples. U.S. Airways, which, as we know, has a great on-time record, they have come up with a new sale for the Thanksgiving weekend. Take a look at their Web site. They've got great city pairs -- Greensboro up to New York for $118, Pittsburgh to San Diego, $289, Boston to Pensacola, $208. Those are just a couple of examples of what U.S. Airways has.
I think the other airlines are going to be coming out with some good Thanksgiving sales, too, at the last minute.
KAGAN: What about going online?
ORWOLL: Well, online is the best way to go to find out what deals are out there. Don't give up on travel agents, so they also have inside information on what some of the latest deals are. So, check with the travel agents.
Some good hotel deals that they'll find for you might include, for example, down in Orlando, there is a new place called the Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort, where they have things going on right now for $159, three and four room suites for the family.
KAGAN: Really?
ORWOLL: Yes. They're great with -- they've got karaoke for the kids, they've got train rides, free dinner for the parents, kids under 12 eat free, free breakfast. But I think you could actually make a profit if you stay in one of these places.
KAGAN: They pay you.
ORWOLL: That's right. Go on to Expedia.com is another way of finding good hotel deals. The Wyndham Chicago downtown you can get a room there over Thanksgiving for only $75 a night. Expedia also has deals out in San Francisco at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, $99 a night. Some great, great deals, and these are on the Thanksgiving holiday when you would expect prices to be jacked up. So, there are great deals going on.
KAGAN: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) let's head for the high seas and a cruise deal.
ORWOLL: Oh, yes. There's a -- cruising on Thanksgiving may sound nontraditional, but give it some thought, because there's some great deals going on. One example, Norwegian Cruise Lines has people call it NCL. They have a ship called the Norwegian Majesty, it goes on three-day cruises to the Bahamas. You can get one over the Thanksgiving weekend, it leaves the day after Thanksgiving, only $249.
KAGAN: Per person?
ORWOLL: Per person. Now, that's less than $100 per day per person. And if you want to wait until December 6 for the next sailing, you can get prices for as low as $169 per person.
KAGAN: Wow!
ORWOLL: So, a lot of options for you this Thanksgiving. But as I said, be a smart traveler, be aware of what the new rules are. That's just as important as where you're going to go.
KAGAN: Absolutely. Is your family traveling or staying home?
ORWOLL: We're going to stay home. In fact, we're cooking Thanksgiving dinner in my kitchen.
KAGAN: Oh!
ORWOLL: And I'm going to even help, I think.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Where's the invite?
KAGAN: Bill, we're going to Thanksgiving at the Orwolls'.
(CROSSTALK)
ORWOLL: Have you ever tasted my turkey? I don't know.
HEMMER: I prefer the drumstick.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: I took that same flight from Florida on Wednesday. I was stopped three times by security before I got on the plane.
KAGAN: Well, look at this...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: I even shaved that morning. Thanks, Mark.
KAGAN: Mark, thanks so much -- appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired November 8, 2002 - 07:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk home for the holidays. Travel experts say Thanksgiving is unique among holidays. They say it's because it is such a family-oriented time that people will do whatever it takes to get together with loved ones.
But since September 11 raised concerns about flying, more travelers are getting behind the wheel instead of heading to the airport. So, how can you take the hassle out of the holiday?
Joining me now with some tips on that, Mark Orwoll, managing editor of "Travel + Leisure" magazine.
Good morning.
MARK ORWOLL, "TRAVEL + LEISURE": Good morning.
KAGAN: Happy early holiday to you.
ORWOLL: Same to you.
KAGAN: One thing that we know about the holidays, like Thanksgiving, amateurs get out in the airports.
ORWOLL: Everybody wants to travel.
KAGAN: Everybody does.
ORWOLL: That's right.
KAGAN: People who aren't used to being out there, and certainly haven't been out there a lot over the last year.
ORWOLL: And things have changed in the last year.
KAGAN: Boy, have they ever.
ORWOLL: You better believe it. And most of the changes are going to mean money out of your pocket.
KAGAN: Plus luggage.
ORWOLL: OK, luggage. Well, now, we all know that airlines have had limits on how much luggage you can bring. But you know what? They used to just kind of let it slide.
KAGAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE). ORWOLL: They are now cracking down. Jet fuel is about 27 percent more expensive now, which means that every pound on that airplane costs a lot more money to fly it.
So, if you're going to bring more than two pieces of luggage, be prepared to pay anywhere from $40 to $180 for the extra luggage.
KAGAN: Wow!
ORWOLL: If any of your checked luggage weighs more than 70 pounds, be prepared to pay more money. Don't think you're going to sneak it on as a carry-on either, because they are really clamping down on the two carry-ons per person rule.
KAGAN: And that folks who don't travel a lot sometimes feel more comfortable with paper tickets.
ORWOLL: Yes.
KAGAN: You might want one, but you're going to pay for that, too.
ORWOLL: The airlines that didn't used to charge for paper tickets are now charging 20 bucks. The ones that used to charge $10 have raised their price up to $20 for each paper ticket. You're choice now is to get an electronic ticket, and you just get a printed receipt...
KAGAN: Right.
ORWOLL: ... or pay $20. For a family of five, that's 100 bucks. I think a lot of people are going to forego paper tickets from now on.
KAGAN: Also, if you're traveling with kids or just by yourself, something I was reminded about as I flew up last night, they're cutting back on food. I kept waiting, when is the snack coming?
ORWOLL: You know, I just got back from a flight, Daryn, from Fort Lauderdale to New York. We left at 11:00 in the morning, got to New York at 1:30 in the afternoon, a perfect time for lunch, right?
KAGAN: Yes.
ORWOLL: I got a bag of peanuts and a cup of coffee, and that was it.
KAGAN: Yes.
ORWOLL: And that is becoming more and more the norm, so get used to it. In fact, I read a report in the "Arizona Republic" newspaper that Continental Airlines is even getting rid of the plastic forks that they -- plastic knives that they use for their breakfast eggs, when they do serve eggs, to save $80,000. So, they're cutting back...
KAGAN: Yes.
ORWOLL: ... all sorts of the ways in reference to meals.
KAGAN: Bring your own snacks. All right, since we're talking money, let's talk about saving some of our own. There are still some deals out there.
ORWOLL: There are.
KAGAN: OK.
ORWOLL: Let me give you a couple of quick examples. U.S. Airways, which, as we know, has a great on-time record, they have come up with a new sale for the Thanksgiving weekend. Take a look at their Web site. They've got great city pairs -- Greensboro up to New York for $118, Pittsburgh to San Diego, $289, Boston to Pensacola, $208. Those are just a couple of examples of what U.S. Airways has.
I think the other airlines are going to be coming out with some good Thanksgiving sales, too, at the last minute.
KAGAN: What about going online?
ORWOLL: Well, online is the best way to go to find out what deals are out there. Don't give up on travel agents, so they also have inside information on what some of the latest deals are. So, check with the travel agents.
Some good hotel deals that they'll find for you might include, for example, down in Orlando, there is a new place called the Holiday Inn Family Suites Resort, where they have things going on right now for $159, three and four room suites for the family.
KAGAN: Really?
ORWOLL: Yes. They're great with -- they've got karaoke for the kids, they've got train rides, free dinner for the parents, kids under 12 eat free, free breakfast. But I think you could actually make a profit if you stay in one of these places.
KAGAN: They pay you.
ORWOLL: That's right. Go on to Expedia.com is another way of finding good hotel deals. The Wyndham Chicago downtown you can get a room there over Thanksgiving for only $75 a night. Expedia also has deals out in San Francisco at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco, $99 a night. Some great, great deals, and these are on the Thanksgiving holiday when you would expect prices to be jacked up. So, there are great deals going on.
KAGAN: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) let's head for the high seas and a cruise deal.
ORWOLL: Oh, yes. There's a -- cruising on Thanksgiving may sound nontraditional, but give it some thought, because there's some great deals going on. One example, Norwegian Cruise Lines has people call it NCL. They have a ship called the Norwegian Majesty, it goes on three-day cruises to the Bahamas. You can get one over the Thanksgiving weekend, it leaves the day after Thanksgiving, only $249.
KAGAN: Per person?
ORWOLL: Per person. Now, that's less than $100 per day per person. And if you want to wait until December 6 for the next sailing, you can get prices for as low as $169 per person.
KAGAN: Wow!
ORWOLL: So, a lot of options for you this Thanksgiving. But as I said, be a smart traveler, be aware of what the new rules are. That's just as important as where you're going to go.
KAGAN: Absolutely. Is your family traveling or staying home?
ORWOLL: We're going to stay home. In fact, we're cooking Thanksgiving dinner in my kitchen.
KAGAN: Oh!
ORWOLL: And I'm going to even help, I think.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Where's the invite?
KAGAN: Bill, we're going to Thanksgiving at the Orwolls'.
(CROSSTALK)
ORWOLL: Have you ever tasted my turkey? I don't know.
HEMMER: I prefer the drumstick.
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: I took that same flight from Florida on Wednesday. I was stopped three times by security before I got on the plane.
KAGAN: Well, look at this...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: I even shaved that morning. Thanks, Mark.
KAGAN: Mark, thanks so much -- appreciate it.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
