
points beyond | News OK
points beyond

How to make life easier when flying out of OKC
Will Rogers World Airport and the TSA will host a Pre-Check enrollment event this month.

In search of Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is a haven for GOT fans looking to connect with the show.

The Troubles, Bloody Sunday and the other side of Ireland
A trip to Ireland usually includes tourist spots like the Ring of Kerry or Dublin's Guinness Storehouse, but there's more to...

Hawaii gets serious about sunscreen
Hawaii's state legislature has passed a bill that would ban the sale of most common sunscreens in the state by 2021.

60 Minutes report dings airline serving OKC
Allegiant Air flies from OKC to Las Vegas, among other destinations.

All hail the EU: An airline passenger's story
EU law covers passengers in the event their flights are canceled or delayed, but Americans don't have much in the way of...

Sleeping in the cargo hold? It may soon be an airborne reality
Passengers might be able to opt for berths on A330s as soon as 2020.

Don't be that guy: Five bad scenes on airplanes
Air travel can be stressful, but don't be "that guy" when it comes to viral videos of unruly passengers.

Frontier to begin OKC-San Diego non-stop service Saturday
Round trip flights can be had for as little as $100 if passengers time it right.

Does Cancun have a murder problem?
Murders are becoming a growing problem in the popular resort spot.

AAA plans Ireland travel sessions
The organization will be holding presentations about Ireland on March 15 at its locations around Oklahoma.

Five ways to get ready to travel
Getting started off on the wrong foot can doom a perfectly good vacation.

Disney is raising their prices. Again.
Disney is upping the prices for tickets to its theme parks.
American Airlines has a Christmas problem
The airline is facing a pilot shortage because of a scheduling glitch.

United says aloha to the 747
United Airlines will say goodbye to the Boeing 747 today in a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu Tuesday. The airline had been...

Frontier to kick-off service from OKC
Frontier Airlines will kick off its service from Oklahoma City this week and will initially serve Orlando and Denver from Will...

Beach cam provides glimpse of Irma's power and fury
Maho Beach is a well-known spot on the Caribbean island of St. Martin. Tourists often gather there to get up close and personal...
Oklahomans traveling over Labor Day, but not far
According to a recent survey sponsored by AAA Oklahoma, 66 percent of Oklahomans responding said they were traveling 50...
Warnings for popular Mexico spots
Cancun is mentioned in the State Department's latest assessment of safety concerns in Mexico.

Silver Dollar City's new roller coaster is bananas
Silver Dollar City unveiled its plans for the new Time Traveler attraction at the Branson theme park. The $26 million roller...

The friendliest cities in the United States
Conde Nast has put together a list of the friendliest American cities.

Is there too much tourism?
Tourism has become big business in just about every corner of the world. Here at home, foreign visitors come to see Disney...

Five challenging travel spots for the disabled
Travel can be challenging for those without physical limitations, but it can be downright maddening for those who have them....

Has the ever-shrinking airline seat met its match?
With the swipe of a pen a federal judge has mandated that the Federal Aviation Administration look into the ever-shrinking...
Six travel apps for your next trip
Apps have become a part of travel for many people. Here are some that developers hope will get used.

OKC is getting a new airline, who is it?
Will Rogers World Airport announced late Friday afternoon Oklahoma City will soon be getting an new carrier and new non-stop...

Woman dies from jet blast at popular tourist spot
There's nothing quite like Saint Martin's Maho Beach. As beaches go it's not much. But it's what happens above that has made it...

South Africa journey Part V: Cape Town or bust
The monitor inside King Shaka International Airport in Durban listed the day's headlines in South African news. As I scanned...

South Africa journey Part IV: Phinda delivers
Travel brochures are made to trick our eyes. A cruise ship room usually looks cavernous online or in a brochure. Those people...

South Africa journey Part III: On safari (finally)
(Writer's note: My wife and I recently returned from a two-week trip to South Africa. The following blog entries chronicle that...

South Africa journey Part I: The trials of the stranded traveler
We were just outside London Heathrow's Terminal 5 when the angst began to take hold. This wasn't how a trip to South Africa,...

South Africa journey Part II: The arrival
(Writer's note: My wife and recently returned from a two-week trip to South Africa. The following series of blog entries...
Send us your summer travel photos!
Summer is in full swing. Whether you're headed to Broken Bow or Borneo, we'd like to see your travel photos in The Oklahoman's...

Send us your summer travel photos
Memorial Day is here, and with it comes the summer travel season. Whether you're headed to Broken Bow or Borneo, we'd like to...
Airline quality rankings released
The 2017 Airline Quality Ranking is out and despite a spate of bad publicity domestic carriers have improved their performance...

BBC features the Wichita Mountains
The BBC featured Oklahoma's own Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on the travel section of its website. The photo laden homage...

M/S World not your typical cruise ship
People like cruises. The industry is worth tens of billions annually worldwide. But not everyone likes the hustle and bustle of...
Another crazy airline incident
If you thought the David Dao incident on United was crazy, this dust up on an ANA flight from Tokyo to Los Angeles is another...

Passenger sues United over seat switch
United Airlines has had a rough month starting with the very pubic dragging of a passenger off a plane in Chicago. Since then...

Cruise itineraries: Buyer beware
Unless you're traveling on one of Royal Caribbean's 220,000 ton behemoths chances are when you book a cruise you're doing so at...
Contest: Send us your summer vacation photos!
The summer vacation season is fast approaching. And we're holding a contest. Whether you're heading to Broken Bow or Berlin or...
Airline rankings: United has bigger problems than passenger incident
United Airlines has made news this week after a passenger was dragged off a plane -- quite literally -- igniting an media and...

To DFW, or not to DFW?
I'll be heading out on a long trip to another continent next month and while that's fun and exciting the hunt for the airfare...

PBS travel guru Rick Steves to speak at Oklahoma Christian
Tickets are still available for Rick Steves' travel presentation at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Oklahoma Christian University's...

Budget carrier serving OKC experiences frequent mechanical woes
A Florida paper takes a long look at mechanical problems of Allegiant Airlines, an airline that serves Oklahoma City.

KOA offers fall promotions
Summer's just about over but if you're interested in squeezing in a fall camping trip before the weather gets too cold,...

Is the era of the Super Jumbo winding down?
I'm a bit of a commercial aviation nerd. I like to follow what airlines are buying as far as planes and how they're evolving...

Priceline ends 'Name Your Own Price' airfares
As more consumers move from desktop and laptop computers to mobile devices, Priceline's original reason for being, "Name Your...

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives at sea?
Well sort, of. Fieri is another in a long-line of celebrity chefs. His show highlighting America's best (unhealthy) and...

25 museums to visit before you die
Popular Mechanics has a look at 25 museums people should visit before their time on our planet is up. Some of them are pretty...
Travel delay: Computer problem plagues Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines plagued by computer problem in St. Louis.
What's the world's best airline?
Farnborough, England (CNN)The world's best airline for 2016 is Emirates, according to a survey of millions of airline...
Travel + Leisure's world's best cities - CNN.com
(CNN)Southern charm is a force to be reckoned with as far as Travel + Leisure readers are concerned. Charleston, South...
Fancy a trip to the UK? Now is a good time
The UK is leaving the European Union. Depending on your perspective, it's either a darkest day since the Beatles broke up or...

Will Star Wars tourism mess up Ireland?
Time takes a look at the impact of film crews working on the next Star Wars movie around Ireland. It seems moving 300 or so...

Delta: Free entertainment for all
The 21st century travel experience has been marked by airlines cutting amenities to passengers, not adding them. From snacks to...

A look at Allegiant's new OKC service
The beaches of Destin will be within easy reach to Oklahoma City based travelers as Allegiant Air adds nonstop service...

Survey says: Europe still a hot travel destination
My inbox typically runneth over with pitches from various PR entities whether it's the latest hot product or the opening of a...

Nine Mile offers different view of Jamaica
When people go to Jamaica they're usually headed for its sandy beaches, or to take a walk up the ultra touristy Dunn's...

Five great travel movies
Summer is on the horizon and that means people are getting ready to hit the road, skies and water in pursuit of recreation. But...

The strange world of 1970's air travel
YouTube is one of those internet places where it's easy to go down a rabbit hole. Like the blue links on any Wikipedia entry,...
Delta drops "live person" fee
The internet has changed a lot of things that were once a part of every day life. Being able to talk to live people when an...
Video

Best burger? You don't have to go far
If you're in the Oklahoma City area and want the best burger in the country, you need only head to the nearest Tucker's Onion...

Go karts at sea? New ship has it covered
The Norwegian Joy is going to be a big ship at 168,000 tons and a passenger capacity of 4,200 spread out over its 20 decks. Big...

World's busiest airports (and OKC)
Anyone who has flown out of Will Rogers to other, larger airports knows it's relative nirvana compared to DFW or...

State parks spring into activities
Springtime in Oklahoma has arrived. That means the ever-annoying Bradford Pears are in bloom, tornadoes are coming and the...

Terrorism and its effect on tourism
A USA Today story confirms the obvious, people are worried about traveling to Europe in the wake of attacks in Paris and...

RIP, Bayport Cruise Terminal
Going on cruises is a remarkably convenient thing for people who live in a landlocked state to do if they want to kill a few...
Disney Cruise Lines returns to Galveston
After a year away the Mouse is coming back to Galveston beginning in the fall of 2016. DCL announced the move in a video on its...

Oklahoma's boutique hotels
TravelOK.com has a look at some boutique hotels across the state. While some don't quite fit the image of the traditional...

Five forgotten airlines that once served Oklahoma
There are six airlines that currently serve Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport and about the same that fly in and out of...

Disney's Star Wars at Sea debuts
Disney owns the Star Wars franchise and the company is not wasting a second when it comes to featuring the franchise across its...

Top spring break party spots
Foxnews.com has a list of the top spring break party destinations of 2016. Most are predictable spots like Panama Beach or...

Travel: Oklahoma's Amish and Mennonite communities
TravelOK.com has a look at Oklahoma's Amish and Mennonite communities near Chouteau and Clarita, among others: Chouteau Amish...

Oklahoma winter pastimes: Eagle watching and fiddlin'
Oklahoma's winter has been typically mild, but we're still a few months away from summer weekends on your preferred lake. But...

Feds: Renew your passport now or face delays
When the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was rolled out in 2006 it led to a lot of people getting passports. Now, those...

Gathering of Nations: Another fun thing to do in New Mexico
New Mexico is a fairly popular draw for Oklahomans looking for trips relatively close to home. Santa Fe is a cool city. There...

Oklahoma's most beautiful places
Travel Oklahoma has compiled a list of the most beautiful places in Oklahoma. Beauty is of course subjective, but for those...

What travel destinations are Oklahomans craving?
Even though the winter of 2016 feels more like early spring, the doldrums are upon us and that has many Oklahomans thinking...

Best airline mileage programs
CardHub has released its latest study on airline loyalty programs. The findings offer a picture of who gives the most to its...

Bigfoot is still fairly big business in Oklahoma
NPR's State Impact has a nice package on its website about the wonders of Bigfoot and how the furry one impacts travel to the...

Airline bans bags on European flights
Malaysian Airlines recently has been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the last few years and the airline is making...

Travel trends for 2016
TripAdvisor has the results of surveys the organization conducted attempting to analyze travel trends for 2016. The study...

The Cotswolds: One of the best parts of England
The what? That's one of the most common responses I get whenever I bring up the Cotswolds to people who aren't familiar with...

Ireland scenes: Dublin, AKA Rowdy Town
Dublin is completely awesome. Dublin is crazy. Those are the lingering thoughts I have from my visit to the Republic of...

Airlines ban hoverboards
If you're flying out of Oklahoma City this holiday season, leave your hoverboard at home. All airlines that fly out of Will...

Star Wars locations people can visit
Yahoo Travel has put together a list of Star Wars locations people can visit, if they are so inclined. The list doesn't include...

Scotland scenes: Loch Ness and the highlands
One of the biggest things on "to do" lists for those visiting Scotland is a trip into the highlands and often to see Loch...

Air France takes $55 million hit in wake of Paris attacks
The Paris attacks killed 130 people and have scared many more away from plans to visit that city in the coming months. ...

Scotland scenes: Edinburgh gray, grimy and great fun
Trying to fit as much as possible during two weeks in Europe is an exercise in temptation. It's easy to try and squeeze in too...
Despite terrorism fears Paris is still expensive
Whenever there is a natural disaster or terrorism at an international destination there is often the school of thought that...

Owe the IRS? Your passport could be cancelled
A piece of legislation that has passed the house and senate that would allow the State Department to suspend or cancel...

Grounded: Airline will no longer fly pets
Delta Airlines has announced that it will no longer fly animals on its planes beginning March 1. This only applies to animals...

Egyptian tourism poised to take a big hit
A bomb may have brought down a Russian airliner this week and while authorities are still trying to sort out exactly what...

Fall foliage beginning to peak in Oklahoma
Fall foliage is peaking across Oklahoma and this weekend might be the most ideal time to check out some of the cool colors in...

Ireland scenes: The Cliffs of Moher, an acrophobic's nightmare
No visit to Ireland is complete without a visit to the fabled Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. So I was told. This...

Ireland scenes: The Dingle Peninsula
Fungie the Dolphin is a big deal in Dingle. For reasons unknown, the 500 pound animal has been prowling the waters of Dingle...

Ireland scenes: The Rock of Cashel and the Ring of Kerry
I've always had an interested in old buildings and structures that are in a ruinous state. As a kid I can remember driving past...

Ireland scenes: Kilkenny a good place to start a visit
We knew the reputation of the Irish before touching down at Dublin's airport on a sunny Saturday morning earlier this month....

China an emerging market for Carnival
Carnival Cruise Lines is sailing to Chine beginning in 2017. Where and on what ships? The line hasn't announced yet. But...

Passport delays coming in 2017
For those in the passport business, 2007 was a banner year. In that 12 month period about 18 million passports were issued,...

Group wants Concorde flights to resume
Former pilots, aviation enthusiasts and past passengers are part of a new group that hopes to keep the legacy of the Concorde...

Who's up for an 18 hour flight?
Air India would fly passengers on what would be the longest non-stop flight in the world if it follows through with plans to...

Selfies can be dangerous, and deadly
Planking was a big deal a few years ago. The act involves people taking pictures of themselves in front of famous landmarks...

Delta Airlines to offer employees something unusual
Some would say airline employees can be cranky from time to time. But since they deal with the public all day long, it's hard...

Fall foliage could disappoint
Those visiting New England to see the region's world famous fall foliage might be in for a letdown this season thanks to some...

How to get along with flight attendants
Not long ago I struck up a conversation with a Delta flight attendant on a flight from Atlanta to OKC about her day and where...

A state by state guide to sunsets
Yahoo! Travel has put together a guide to sunsets in all 50 states. There are some predictable locales, including Cannon Beach...

Knoxville: Plenty to offer visiting OU fans
Last week OSU fans hit the road for Mount Pleasant, Michigan. This week, OU fans will be headed east to watch the Sooners...

Football travels: What's there to do in Central Michigan?
Oklahoma State kicks off their 2015 season against Central Michigan Thursday night on ESPN and while most fans will be watching...

Road trip: New Mexico is awesome
New Mexico is our neighbor, and for whatever reason it can often be forgotten as a great place to enjoy a long, or short, road...

Oklahomans love Las Vegas, especially in the summer
What could be better than getting out of Oklahoma's stifling hot summer weather? Apparently going to a place where it's even...

Airlines ranked by on time arrivals
The Department of Transportation is out with its on time, or not, report of the country's air carriers. Whatever Hawaiian...

New eats: Cross Grain Brewhouse to open at Will Rogers World Airport
Some things just get a little tired. If you've traveled much you'll see many of the same offerings in airports from Maine to...

American Airlines looking long term with Cuba charters?
News this week that American Airlines will be offering charter flights from Los Angeles, Tampa and Miami to Cuba beginning in...
Watch: Miming flight attendant entertain passengers
Southwest Airlines flight attendants are known for their occasionally irreverent pre-flight safety announcement creativity....

Conde Nast Traveler shows some love for Oklahoma panhandle
In the "doesn't happen everyday" file, Conde Nast Traveler has written a little bit about the Oklahoma panhandle for a feature...

Houston Bayport terminal loses Princess, NCL
News this past week that the fairly new Bayport Cruise Terminal in the suburbs of Houston will be without tenants after both...

Watch a Boeing 707 do a barrel roll at 490 mph
As a commercial aviation geek I'm always interested in what kind of plane I'm flying on whenever I take to the friendly skies....

An Airbnb for the water?
Since it launched in 2008 Airbnb has gradually gained steam as a player in worldwide lodging, though not without some...

Legends in the house
The Michael Jackson impersonator from the Legends in Concert show in Branson was at The Oklahoman to promote the show. Branson...
Delta Airlines won't ship exotic animal trophies
Delta Airlines has joined a group of foreign carriers who will no longer ship trophies from big game hunters. The move is a...

Grand Lake staple turns 75
Grand Lake is a popular place to spend summer weekends. While Texoma is big with people in OKC there are still plenty who...
Rick Steves offers a travel perspective on Iran
Iran has been in the news a lot lately because of a proposed nuclear treaty with the United States. My earliest memories of...

Vacation reboot highlights travel movies of years past
Ed Helms’ Vacation film opens this week in theaters and while it may not be a cinematic achievement worth watching, it does...
KLM 777 landing is a thriller
Anyone who has flown even a little has had their share of rough flights. Sometimes it's turbulence, other times it's the bad...
Travel apps ranked by Forbes
Forbes has a list of some of the best and worst travel apps out there. And as is the case with all lists it invites debate...

Hotel to be run by robots
A new hotel in Sasebo, Nagasaki is moving into SkyNet territory by making much of the guest experience...

Got the Astronomy bug? A visit to the McDonald Observatory is a worthwhile trip
Pluto has been in the news this week as the New Horizons space probe passes the planet and sends back some cool images for...
Survey says! Social media can influence travel plans
PR Week has news of an interesting survey that says 34 percent of people on social media have changed their travel plans based...
Weather portal an interesting addition to travel experience
In the "why didn't I think of that" department comes the weather simulator at Stockholm's Arlanda Aiport. The climate portal...

Walking Dead cruise coming next year
Fear the Walking Dead will debut this summer and of course the mother ship will be back in the fall for yet another season of...

Alaska crash highlights buyer beware when it comes to excursions
Alaska is full of natural beauty and for those that are fortunate enough to visit this gigantic state it's well worth...

Travel behavior: Don't be "that guy"
Travel, even short distances, can be stressful. We've all seen someone who has melted down, or come close to it and in...

It's a Breeze: Carnival to change ships in Galveston
Carnival, a major player in the Texas/Oklahoma cruise market, is switching up its ships leaving from Galveston next...

Service lifts otherwise messy sightseeing day in London
The Tower of London was a mild dissapointment. Yeah, the Crown Jewels were cool, and just being on the grounds is pretty...

Airlines could shrink carry on bags
Rick Steves devotees beware: You’re life is about to get a lot harder. For those familiar with Steves, he’s the PBS...

Dogs and cats in airlplane cargo holds, a bad idea?
USA Today has a piece about traveling with your dog, attempting to dispel some of the myths associated with dogs and airplanes....
Student gets creative to avoid fee
I wrote a little bit about my experience with Ryanair last week in this space. To review: I booked a one-way flight from...

Carnival Live Concert Series hits Galveston
Carnival is bringing its popular Carnival Live Concert Series to Galveston this summer. The July 26 sailing of the Carnival...

Ryanair booking an interesting experience
My wife and I will be traveling to Ireland and Scotland later this year. It’s a trip with a lot of moving parts. Trains, planes...
Can't travel? Follow your friends
A former colleague of mine who I’m friends with on Facebook is visiting Italy with a group of UCO students this month. I’ve...

Eiffel Tower: A pickpocket's dream
Word comes from France that there has been a temporary shutdown of the Eiffel Tower because workers are protesting the high...

Most travel friendly countries revealed
The World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index is out and it’s kind of interesting. This is not the list...

Air travel will be extra busy this summer
Summer is upon us which means it’s time to pack the kids and head to Orlando for a week to see Mickey and the gang and...

Drone footage shows of South America's beauty
Somtimes travel isn’t getting into a car and driving to a neighboring state, or getting on a plane and fyling to another...
Honey Springs getting a visitor center
Construction of the long anticipated visitor center at Honey Springs Battlefield is underway, Bob Blackburn, executive...
When AirBnb goes horribly wrong
I’ve used AirBnb once on a trip to Paris with my wife last year and overall it was a good experience. Yeah, it was a little...

Slow boat to Cuba: Ferry service to begin (eventually)
Lost in the news this week is one huge development for Cuban Americans living in south Florida, but also down the road,...

The royal baby and tourism
So the Duchess of Cambridge finally gave birth to a baby girl over the weekend, an announcement heralded not just in...

Terlingua, Texas: Visit before reality TV screws it up
I always enjoy the blank stares I get, even from some Texans, when I bring up Terlingua, Texas. Me: Hey, have you ever been to...

Nepal quake also a blow to landmarks, tourism
The earthquake in Nepal killed thousands and left the country reeling and entering a period of recovery that will...

Research is part of the travel experience
For me, one of the best parts about travel is researching different places I’d like to visit. Travel is often expensive, so...
Game of Thrones tours: All roads point to Winterfell
Ireland is one of the most popular overseas destinations for Americans with an estimated 900,000 visiting the Emerald...

The Tripadvisor 25 most loved desitinations list is out
Tripadvisor has become a go-to site for folks looking for information about hotels, destinations and everything in...
More everything! When airline food makes news
One of my favorite Seinfeld episodes is when Jerry finds himself in first class on a long flight. It lays bare the difference...

Fun stuff do in Oklahoma for Memorial Day weekend
Many people go to the lake on Memorial Day weekend. Some stay in town, content to grill in their backyards and have family and...
Ever wanted to stay in a hotel that has some history?
Historic Hotels of America has launched a new website in time for planning summer travel. Follow your American Dreams and...

Need a National Park fix? It's hard to beat RMNP
A list of the most visited national parks in the United States reveals something most Oklahomans already know — Rocky...

Retirement and travel not just a dream for one couple
One of the most under appreciated comedies of the 1980s is Lost in America starring Albert Brooks and Julie...

Cuba, the next frontier of American tourism
The Associated Press has a piece about how those interested in visting Cuba are getting to the Caribbean Island in hopes of...
Chickasaws launch travel initiative
The Chickasaw Nation has announced it will be launcing its Adventure Road travel initiative that will encourage Oklahomans, and...

Expired passport scuttles Oklahoma City woman's dream trip
An Oklahoma City woman recently wrote into Conde Nast magazine to tell of her experience losing out on a dream trip to Italy...

Low euro a benefit to US travelers heading to Europe this summer
One of the often overlooked aspects of traveling overseas is currency exchange. It’s easy to forget about it, or to...

Travel skills Tuesday: Seatguru.com as a research tool
My wife and I recently took our first trip to Europe. Up until that point much of our air travel had been exclusively on...

Oklahoma's quirky sleeping spots
Travel Oklahoma is promoting some of the more interesting places to stay in Oklahoma. While lots of folks like to get out of...

Galveston, Houston a good place to go for your cruise fix
Galveston and the newer Bayport Cruise Terminal in Pasadena, Texas just outside Houston have become popular with Oklahomans...

Museums of the world: Leave your selfie sticks at home
CNN has a story about the National Gallery in London banning selfie sticks. For the uninitiated selfie sticks are exactly what...