How about a little Bavarian Flash Mob action from Munich?  While you're watching, check out the different fast-food vendors... and then there's the McDonald's.  No matter where you go, there's always a little bit of home nearby.

Jimmy Buffet had it right:  Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes

I’ve spent the last couple of years commuting from Moose Landing, nestled in the tranquil and beautiful Pacific Northwest, to New York to fly domestically as Captain on the MD-88, a 150 seat narrowbody jet.  It’s been a truly enjoyable, challenging experience… a new airplane I had never flown before with new routes north and southbound along the east coast, and lots and lots of takeoffs and landings… and now that era of my flying career is coming to an end.

I came to the conclusion early on that while the flying was good and the people were great, the commute from the upper left corner of the map to the Big Apple was extremely time consuming, exhausting and difficult, and that I could not do it forever.

So now the time has come to return to west coast flying, international routes, and an easier lifestyle that doesn’t include a transcontinental commute.  Starting in June, I’ll train on the Boeing 767 and begin flying out of Seattle.

And while leaving the MD-88… affectionately known as the MadDog... is bittersweet, there are adventures in my future that really get me excited.  The MD-88 is my first Captaincy, and it’s sad to put that venerable airplane, the wonderful flight crews and the fun flying in my rearview mirror, but tomorrow is a new day, and the entire globe awaits.

The flying out of Seattle is some of the best in the world, and I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.  Europe, Asia, Hawaii, and the entirety of the United States are going to be my backyard playground again, and I couldn't be more excited.

So stick around, and check my blog often.  I’ll be talking about travel, offering tips, tricks and techniques for cheap, exciting travel, and I’ll also be shooting videos from the road to share my adventures with you.  I welcome your feedback, and I’d love to hear from you! 

I want to hear about YOUR adventures in travel.  I want to hear about your plans, your challenges, and your accomplishments.  Tell me what you’ve done and what you want to do on your next Adventure Layover.  Share your own tips and tricks, your own adventures, and send me feedback about what you’ve learned.

The Adventure is about to begin anew, so get ready to start planning your next Adventure Layover!

Happy Travels!

Moose

Guerilla Travel:  TheTrip of a Lifetime, or a Lifetime of Trips?

I grew up watching TV shows about travel.  And movies.  Although Rick Steves and James Bond inhabited different ends of the masculinity spectrum, they both showed us the world in ways that stoked our wanderlust, and made us dream of seeing the world.  In my case, I also wanted a tuxuedo, an Omega watch and an Astin Martin. 

Most Travel TV is really only about stoking that wanderlust.  I noticed long ago that it isn’t about actually going anywhere.  And the how of travel is often left out.  It’s pretty pictures in a magazine.  It is simply intended to titillate your Travel Bone and make you wish you had unlimited money, unlimited time and no responsibilities so that you could go and see the world, too.   Of course, it's not real life.  It's a fun, entertaining diversion, nothing more.

It’s Travel Porn… not that there’s anything wrong with that.  But it’s simply not real.

And the ‘normal’ way to travel is this:  Save, for years.  Maybe even your whole life.  Then, in your later years, spend thousands upon thousands of dollars buying a prepackaged tour, or a cruise, or even following the path of a travel book.  And spend those thousands of dollars, and that lifelong dream in one big, extravagant, roll-of-the-dice trip to that one destination that you’ve had your heart set on forever.  Spend a month abroad, break your bank, exhaust yourself, and in the end, be really, really, really ready for it be over, and to be home once again.

They call it ‘the Trip of a Lifetime’ because it’s such a huge endeavor that you can’t afford the time and money to ever do it again.   It’s expensive, exhausting, and really, in the end, takes a lot of the fun out of seeing the world.

That’s the classic method of travel.

I’m here to tell you that there is a better way.  And while we are not going to live the life of Rick Steves (none of us can, not even Rick Steves himself), you can travel.   Inexpensively.  Often.  Your goal should be to travel in a way that others will envy… not because you’re a jerk and crave the attention, but because if you can look at your own travel life and tell yourself “yeah, that’s really cool,” you know you’re not wasting your opportunities and your precious time on earth.

Let’s talk about brass tacks.  Let’s talk about “how to.”  My travel blog isn’t about sweeping vistas and pretty pictures, although I will share some of those.  I’m guessing you already know where you want to go, so I’m not going to spend a lot of time right now emphasizing the where of travel.  I’m going to emphasize the what, the why, and most importantly, the how of travel.  I’m going to show you how to see the parts of the world your heart longs to see without crippling yourself economically or waiting your whole life for that one trip.

It’s not about the ‘trip of a lifetime,’ it’s about a lifetime of trips.

Planning.  The KEY.

I am as spontaneous as the next guy, and maybe even more so.  It’s really normal for me to see that I have a 3 or 4 day gap in my schedule coming up and pack my backpack or rollaboard before I even know where I’m going to go... and then head to the airport without a clear idea of where I'm headed.  Of course, as an airline pilot, I have access to free or very cheap transportation to pretty much any destination in the world, so I have a rather large advantage over most travelers.  But there are ways that the thoughtful traveler can also access free or reduced rate transportation with some effort and some prior planning.  Seriously.  I’m not kidding.

I will say right off the bat that there isn’t a free lunch here.  You will have to make a plan, execute it properly, and stick to it in order to access many of the methods for free or reduced cost travel that are out there.  It will take time and effort.  But it is absolutely doable.

The same is true for free or reduced rate lodging, and the method for attaining that is very much the same as it is for gaining access to free or cheap transportation.

The Branded Rewards Credit Card

Every major Airline in the world and every major hotel chain in the world offer credit cards that accumulate points for the use of their credit cards.  When you spend money using one of these branded credit cards, the credit card company gives you reward points based on how much you spend.  Those points are then used to “buy” free airline travel or free hotel stay nights at the “branded” Airline or hotel company.

“Oh my god you want me to get a credit card!!”  Yes, I do.  But you absolutely have to approach this in a very rigid and regimented way.  Because the secret here is that you have to pay off your balance every single month.  Do not, under any circumstances, carry a credit balance on your account.  Use  the card for everything you buy… groceries, gas, movies… everything you normally buy every month, you should buy using that branded credit card.  And every month, like clockwork, you must pay the bill in it’s entirety.

Over time (and not a very long time!) you will accumulate points for use at airlines and hotels.  Some cards let you use the points for both airlines and hotels, and even for other things.  But if you do this as I’ve described, you will quickly find yourself with enough points to fly for free and stay for free… without spending a dime more than you would have otherwise.

You must decide whether you are dedicated and controlled enough to use these cards properly, without carrying a balance month to month.  Realize that many people can’t or won’t so this, and that’s how the credit card companies can give these perks away... because they are paid for my those who carry a balance.  The people that pay off their balances every month are considered “deadbeats” by the credit card companies… because these smart consumers reap the benefits of the points and miles without paying a dime for them.

Your Research Project

One of the most important aspects of this plan is that you pick one or two credit card plans and stick with it. When you do this, you accumulate the most points and miles towards your travel.  It also means, however, that your travels can end up being dependent on one or two airlines, and one or two hotel chains.

Realize that as much as I’d like to tell you that anything is possible, the truth is that one of the most important tasks we have is to recognize our limitations.  Whether they are financial, familial, chronological, or something else, we all have limits.  Find out what yours are, and work within them.  Just don’t let them stop you!

For instance, perhaps you have bad credit.  Well, there is no easy fix for that, but it is fixable.  Or you have family obligations, work obligations, or severe financial constraints.  That’s really, truly, totally okay.  The secret sauce in this is to address your personal limitations, and work with them, not against them.  Don’t let them stop you.

Your job is to be master of the possible, and not be disheartened by the impossibilities that you can’t change.  Just be honest with yourself about what you can and can not do.

Your first step is to open up mileage/points accounts with all major airlines and hotel chains.  Yes, I said all of them.  Why?  Because while you will concentrate your efforts with the programs that will best meet your needs, often these programs will offer some very nice freebies for new or inactive members.  You definitely want to be in the game for these perks.

A great resource for airline and hotel points is The Points Guy. Check it out.  But don’t stop your research there!  Become a points expert, and get to know the programs inside and out.

So now you have your homework for this week.  Next blog is under construction, and you don't want to fall behind.  Get busy!

Cheers,

Moose

Here's a video I shot a few years ago in Dubai... I shot, edited and published this whole video during a 48 hour layover.  It just goes to show you how much you can do in a short period of time.  Enjoy this fun little trip.

Welcome to your Adventure Layover!

My name is Moose Weatherman, and I've had a crazy idea.

Why not talk about REAL travel in a way that REAL people can relate to it?  Unless you're rich, or retired, or both, travel has to fit into our lives in a way that makes sense.  In today's hectic lifestyle, travel can often be spur of the moment, hit and run, on a shoestring budget.  

Do you have a weekend off and extra airline miles to burn?  Why not take a trip somewhere you've never been?   Are you stuck in an airport when your flight home cancels?   Don't just 'wait around,' go hit the town!

Moose Weatherman's Adventure Layover isn't about prepackaged travel experiences, or following the well worn steps of a PBS travel guru, or even about hitting the "high spots" of a particular destination.  It's about true guerilla travel... 'hit and run, get in, get out, see it all' travel!  The kind that leaves you feeling like you've had an unforgettable experience.    I'm going to show you how to do it all, and see it all, quickly, efficiently and on a budget.

It's about how to get the most out of your travel experience using the time tested tips and tricks of the Worlds Most Experienced Travelers... Airline Flight Crews!

I'm  Moose Weatherman, and I'm a Captain for a major international airline based in the US.  In over twenty years as an airline pilot, I've been around the world... many, many times.  It's hard core, industrial travel... moving light and fast, and seeing the whole world cheaply and quickly.  It's getting out and back before most people even know you were gone.   It's living a life of experience and adventure.   It's an Adventure Layover!

I'm going to share with you the secrets and tricks all flight crews use while away from home to enhance your travel experience.   You'll see how to get in, get out, and see it all... on both a time and cash budget.  With a little preparation and forethought, your trip can be a positive, memorable one.  And it can leave you hungry and ready for the next trip, all without breaking your bank.

So check in with my blog often!  I'll be laying out everything you need to know and think about when planning your trip.   Thanks for reading, and have a great trip!

The Making of Moose Weatherman

I was a new Captain. And I was wound tight-tight-tight.  I was like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs... simply wound tight.

Sure, I had been flying commercially for years, more than a decade really, and the mechanics of flying from the Captain's seat were pretty much identical to the Copilot's seat.  It wasn't the mechanics of flying so much... it was the responsibility.  That responsibility was heavy, and it was new enough to me that I felt it's weight with every decision I made.  I realized that I held more than a hundred and fifty lives in my hands, and an error would be so very costly.  I felt the weight of every life every moment, every second.

That fateful day we were flying to Chicago.  It was a normal flight, without much in the way of excitement or adventure, and we anticipated a quick 50 minute turn on the ground before flying back out.   In every way, it was an average trip on an average day.   My approach and landing were uneventful, all the way up until I applied the brakes to slow the aircraft after a gentle touchdown.

With an audible "bang" and an immediate, violent shudder, the aircraft lurched to the left and headed for the edge of the runway at 140 knots.  It happened in an instant... there was no time to think, no time to analyze; 125,000 pounds of aluminum, jet fuel and humanity were moving quickly towards an accident.  I reacted without conscious thought, and tried to wrestle the aircraft back towards the center of the runway.


Braking was minimal.  Steering was only marginally effective.  We were headed for the ditch to the left.  Running off the runway, I knew, would be a bad thing.  A very bad thing.  Significant aircraft damage was guaranteed.  There could be a fire.  There would certainly be an emergency evacuation.  People would be hurt, possibly killed.  

I could not let that happen.  

For fifteen seconds or so, I didn't know if I'd be able to keep the plane on the runway.  Reverse thrust worked, marginally at first, but then began to slow the aircraft.   Braking on the right side of the aircraft was unaffected, and began to help slow us down.  As we slowed, the aircraft began to respond to my commands, and I turned us back towards the center of the runway.   After several eternal moments, the crisis passed.

I slowed the aircraft as we turned on to a taxiway, and I could hear a loud roar of applause and cheering from behind me as I brought the aircraft to a stop.  I don't think my heart has ever beat that fast and hard before, or since.

In moments, we were surrounded by fire trucks and firemen, spraying foam on the left side landing gear.  Part of our left main gear had disintegrated when I applied the brakes, spraying the braking system with rubber shrapnel.  It damaged the underside of the wing and trailing edge flaps, as well.  I would find out later that the cost of the damage to the aircraft totaled over a million dollars. 

It took over an hour to make sure the landing gear was safe, and to get the aircraft towed to the gate.  There would be phone calls to make, paperwork to fill out, narrative of the incident to write.  I was not looking forward to the paperwork.

Part of being a Captain includes saying goodbye to our passengers after a flight, and it was especially important after this one.  I was standing in the door, alternating between saying “Thanks for flying Delta” and “Sorry for the inconvenience." Nearly everyone wanted to shake my hand, and many offered their thanks and gratitude.  

I simply wanted to apologize to these great folks, but every single one of them wanted to thank me for keeping them alive... it was truly a humbling experience.  I had no idea that one of the most moving moments of my life was about to happen.  

At the end of the line, a young mother and her son were waiting shake my hand and exit. The boy, tow-headed and about 9 years old, grabbed my hand strongly, looked me up and down and said, “Is your name ‘Moose?’”

I wasn't sure I had head him correctly, and I smiled at him.  He had a stuffed brown Moose with yellow antlers in his arms. 

"Is MY name Moose?" I asked. “Why do you ask, buddy?”

"Mmm hmmm."  he nodded vigorously.  "Are you 'Moose?'"


I looked at his mother with some confusion, then back down to meet his gaze.  "I'm sorry, buddy, I don't understand."


“My Grandpa gave me my ‘Moose’ because I was a little scared to fly."  He held up the Moose for me to see.   "Grandpa told me that my Moose would keep me safe and make everything alright. And then.... we landed and the tire blew up and the airplane skidded and everyone started crying and screaming, we were all so scared!”  A frown crossed his face as he remembered the terror of the landing.  

“But then the airplane slowed down and stopped, and it was okay. And then Mommy said that maybe the Pilot’s name is Moose, too!" 

"So," he said, "are you Moose?”

I thought about it for a moment.   “Well, of course I am!  Today, I’m Captain Moose, aren’t I?”

"Yay!"  He jumped up and hugged me, and offered the his stuffed Moose’s hoof for a Fist-to-Hoof bump, which I gratefully accepted. 

The boy's pretty young mother also hugged me, kissed my cheek and whispered "Thank you, Captain Moose!" in my ear as she hugged me.  As they walked off the aircraft, I watched the boy bounce up the jetway.  I could hear him singing at the top of his voice “Cap-tain-MOOSE! Cap- tain-MOOSE!” over and over again, until his joyful cries faded in the distance.


The Flight Attendant standing next to punched my arm.  "Wow," she said, laughing and wiping away a tear.  She handed me a tissue as well, which I accepted gratefully.


And that's why today, my name is Captain Moose Weatherman.    Safe travels, my friends.