Want to know how to travel in style, just like the pros? We check in with frequent fliers to find out how often they fly, their favorite destinations and what they never leave home without.
Name: John Lampl
Occupation: Retired VP, Corporate Communications British Airways Americas. Now freelance travel writer and PR consultant
Hometown: Los Angeles
Residence: New York, N.Y.
Website: johnlampl.com
Twitter: @johnlampl
Facebook: John Lampl
Short Bio: John W. Lampl is a senior airline executive with more than 41 years of experience with British Airways. In his most recent position, he served as Vice President Corporate Communications Americas, responsible for all corporate communications, media relations (traditional and social) and public relations in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
He supervised and managed the activities of public relations agencies in Western North America, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and numerous islands of the Caribbean and Bermuda. He managed the launch of BA services from numerous cities in the USA to the UK, including Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Baltimore, Charlotte, Las Vegas in 2009 and most recently in June 2011, San Diego. For over 27 years, he worked on promoting the BA Concorde – he lived with the Concorde, from its first commercial flight to its last commercial flight in 2003.
He has wide and extensive experience in media relations, with a vast array of media contacts in the USA and the rest of the Americas. He has experience in organizing and managing press conferences and one-on-one interviews, developing press releases and PR plans, creating crisis communications procedures and manuals, and conducting media training.
How often do you fly: As much as possible, several times a month. I’m also a student pilot and fly a small, single-engine aircraft.
How many countries have you been to: Lots – I must count them.
How many continents have you been to: Six
Favorite American city: A bi-coastal answer : LA and New York City
Favorite international city: Venice, Italy
Least favorite country: Nigeria, although I haven’t been and have no desire to go.
Favorite World Heritage Site: Turkey – the Cappadocia area
Favorite airline: Emirates
Favorite aircraft type: Concorde
Aisle or window: Window
Favorite airport lounge: T5, LHR
Favorite U.S. airport: Long Beach
Favorite international airport: Singapore, but London City Airport comes a close second.
Favorite hotel: The Ritz, London
Favorite cruise line: Seabourn
Favorite island: Oahu, Hawai’i
Favorite fancy restaurant: Jean George, NYC
Favorite hole in the wall: The Apple Pan, Pico Blvd., West LA
Favorite fruit: Pineapple
Favorite food: Mostly everything Italian
Least favorite food: Durian
Drink of choice (In the air and on the ground): Mojito
Favorite travel movie(s): Any James Bond film
Favorite travel show(s): Mark Bittman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mario Batali’s Traveling & Cooking through Spain
Favorite travel book(s): Paul Theroux’s books
Right now I am reading: The Snowman
Five things you bring on a plane: Shoehorn, reading glasses, a book, an ambien on a long flight, and my pc if I’m in the mood to work.
What do you always seem to forget: Ambien
What do you want your loved one to buy you from an airport duty free store? Wine gums
Favorite travel iPhone app(s): Facetime
Most embarrassing/worst travel moment: Having to travel with a drunk, now ex-wife.
What’s your dream destination: Tahiti and the South Seas Islands
Favorite travel website(s) – besides JohnnyJet.com, of course!: JoeSentMe
Best travel tips: 1. Carry a shoehorn 2. In a delay situation, call the toll free number of the airline and make changes through the call center. Don’t waste time standing in a queue to re-book.
