Chris A. Brandlehner BLOG - Category : Travel

Cool Paragliding Video

Christian Brandlehner — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:59:17 +0200

I found this cool video on YouTube with lots of impressions of the Pre-European Paragliding Championship in Abtenau.
See more information on the European Paragliding Championship 2010 page or on facebook.

Once in a lifetime

Christian Brandlehner — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:14:53 +0200

This is a interresting story about a dairymaid living in Annaberg which is the village just next to Abtenau where I grew up.

The Walt Disney World and Swan hotel - first negative experience

Christian Brandlehner — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:10:07 +0200

Sorry but I have to rant again. Sure, it is Lotusphere and I will be there, so why complain?
The problem is, I had a reservation at the SWAN but they are overbooked so they relocated me to antoher hotel in the area for some days. As there is no Lotusphere shuttle bus service I have to go by Taxi and the worst thing: the Swan is NOT paying the extra costs for needed transportation.
Update: I just checked out and found that I was not charged for the days being relocated. Asking at the check-out desk confirmed that these days are for free due to the relocation. I really wonder why they did not tell me before, this would have prevented me from ranting.

Travelling from Vienna to Orlando

Christian Brandlehner — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 19:21:10 +0200

I travelled to Orlando to attend Lotusphere at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida.

ICE, now also from Salzburg to Vienna

Christian Brandlehner — Thu, 4 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0200

I was using the ICE highspeed train from Salzburg to Vienna, it is not only faster but also very nice equipped with leather seats in the first class wagons.

Ticket problems with Austrian Railways

Christian Brandlehner — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 17:25:22 +0200

ÖBB, the Austrian Railways, have a quite good B2C web page where you can search for public transportation from and to any address in Austria easily. Features include even an online ticket, you pay using your credit card and print the ticket.
I experienced a problem in Vienna: ÖBB recommends to use a commuter train (S-Bahn) and the underground railway (U-Bahn) to go to Vienna main terminal and another train from there to my final destination Salzburg. The page states a price and you can buy your ticket online BUT the page DOES NOT state that the ticket for the underground in not included in the fare.
I called their call-center for verification and talked to two diffent agents:
First statement: The fare includes only ÖBB trains and no underground or commuter train even if the ticket states the name of a station not serviced by ÖBB (and the price is higher than from Vienna)
Second statement: The fare includes ÖBB and commuter trains (as they are operated by ÖBB) but do not include the underground.
Given that the second statement is true, I found a linger route without using the underground at all. I confronted the call-center with that option and they explained that the fare is still not valid, as I have to use the shortest route and this is by using the underground.

So why is it, that ÖBB is still not customer friendly?

Like to give it a try? http://www.oebb.at/vip8/oebb/en/index.jsp

fewer benefits with Lufthansa Miles and More

Christian Brandlehner — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 14:04:58 +0200

Miles & More the customer loyalty program of the Star Alliance Group is continuing to cut services for frequent travellers. Starting with April 2006 all frequent travellers can't have a guest when using the business lounges.
Source: Miles & More.

Wireless Networks in Boston

Christian Brandlehner — Tue, 1 Nov 2005 19:13:49 +0200

I am currently in Boston and as you can see on the screenshot, the number of wireless networks visible from within a hotel room is higher than you may have ever expected. Some of these networks are not encrypted by WEP or WPA but they ask you to log on on a website. Some others are just open to the public and do not require any authentication at all.
What I am concerned about is that the WiFi standard 802.11b is limited to a very small band of frequencies. In fact, when choosing any channel between 1 and 11 you choose between overlapping channels. Without overlapping, you have just three fequencies to use.

IBM Lotus LSM Seminar, Boston

Christian Brandlehner — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 07:50:07 +0200

I am going to attend the IBM Lotus LSM Seminar in Boston, October 29th to November 2nd.

Vacation in Tyrol

Christian Brandlehner — Fri, 2 Sep 2005 00:00:00 +0200

I would like to recommend Hotel Interalpen Tyrol. I am here with my wife for vacation and we really enjoy it.
The hotel is at an altitude of 1.300 meters above sea level surrounded by fantastic mountains.
http://www.interalpen.at

StarAlliance (Lufthansa) changed their frequent flyer conditions again

Christian Brandlehner — Fri, 8 Jul 2005 07:47:02 +0200

As a cardholder of the gold card (Senator status) you have been able to book reward tickets worth more miles than you had in your account. Previously it was possible to spend 160000 miles more than you have. Now, this has changed