Up, up and away! Who has in-flight Wi-Fi?

Story by Nif Leder
Photo: Getty

In-flight Wi-Fi has steadily been gaining ground -- or sky -- these last few years, so here's a quick round-up of airlines that offer it (and at what prices).

Once your plane hits cruising altitudes of 10,000 feet or above, Wi-Fi  can be activated safely. Whether you have a laptop, PDA or just a smartphone with internet access, you are set to go once you check which system your airline works with. We all hate working on vacation, so finish up last minute tasks before you land!

It’s simple and fast to sign up for a Gogo wireless account, which most airlines are using to facilitate the service. Before that, check that your specific route offers an in-flight Wi-Fi program. Some shuttles or connecting flights may lack the service that makes your office mobile.

Southwest was the first to introduce the concept, and remains among the simplest systems in use. Like connecting to any other network, simply find the “Southwest Wi-Fi” router and hit connect.

American
3+ Hour Flights: $12.95
Less than 3 Hours: $9.95
Handheld devices (PDAs/smart phones): $7.95 (regardless of flight length)
Note: Power sockets under your seat (possibly two)

AirTran Airways
Laptops:
Flights under 3 hours: $9.95
Flights over 3 hours: $12.95
Handheld Devices (iPhone, Wi-Fi Blackberry): $7.95 (regardless of flight length)
Note: Access on every flight through Gogo.com

Delta
3+ Hour Flights: $12.95
Less than 3 Hours: $9.95
Note: Service available on all domestic flights in US through Gogo.com.

JetBlue Airlines
BetaBlue program: FREE
Note: Only instant messaging and e-mail services are available for access.

Southwest Airlines
Special Feature: In testing phases, so prices range from $2 to $12.

Virgin America (updated: thanks jez, for the reminder!)
Laptops:
Under 1.5 Hour Flights and red-eyes: $5.95
1.5 to 3 Hour Flights: $9.95
3+ Hour Flight: $12.95
Handheld Devices (Blackberry, iPhone, PDA/smartphones:
Under 1.5 Hour Flights: $5.95
1.5+ Hour Flights: $7.95

Damron Vacations

Images Courtesy of Damron Company
Story by Joseph Alexiou

The good folks behind Damron Gay and Lesbian Travel Guides (their slogan: "The First Name and Last Word in Lesbian and Gay Travel") has teamed up with Certified Vacations Group to operate a new brand of LGBT travel operator, Damron Vacations.

This fantastic new resource for gay travelers offers "one stop travel research, planning, and purchase." A human being-operated call center (yes, it is possible!) was also established to help travelers with their choices. Because Damron has access to all of the insider information from some 40+ years of reporting on gay and lesbian vacation spots, planning your stays with Damron Vacations is an obvious move to make. The call center's number is 1-888-850-6585. Reservations can also be made online by visiting their website.

We were lucky enough to speak with Damron president Gina Gatta, who considers the partnership with Certified Vacations an "obvious choice" because of their innovation and experience in the industry.
Because Certified so excellently met the needs of what Damron needed in creating a travel operator, "Damron Vacations is more than just a booking engine," according to Gatta. "We're putting packages together for everyone. We'll always be able to help our travelers who need to get to the gay-friendly places in quaint small-town Kansas to New York City, but we're also putting together packages together for those who have done all of the gay stuff and are looking for something new."

Sounds kind of like "post-gay" travel to us!

Gatta agrees; "This is travel for those of us that want to experience something fresh and new, but still within our comfort zone when we need it to be."

Much expanded since its humble beginnings in 1964, Damron travel guides produces five titles annually: Damron Men's Travel Guide, Damron Women's Traveller, Damron Accommodations, Damron Amsterdam, and Damron City Guides, with listings for the best gay businesses in cities around the world.

You’ve Got Mail -- From 35,000 Feet

Photo: Getty Images
Story by McCarton Ackerman

In a recent article for gay.com, gay travel writer Damon Brown talked about his experiences with technology while traveling and how even the most remote areas of the world are now becoming e-accessible. However, the rapid advance in technology with the airlines that take us to these worldwide destinations is just as impressive.

Starting this year, several American airlines have been testing internet service on their planes. JetBlue is now offering free e-mail and instant messaging on one aircraft, while other companies like Virgin America and Alaska Airlines will soon offer a full web experience for about $10 a flight. American Airlines is also looking into having internet access on its flights.

This advance in flight technology could lead to limitless possibilities; imagine ordering your in-flight meal or duty free gifts with the push of a button. Still, most carriers say they have no plans to include phones as part of the package, so you won’t have to worry about endless business calls or chatty teenagers on your next flight.

Who knows? Within a few years, an airline without internet might seem as out of place as a hotel without a TV.

I do, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do: Getting married in Canada

Photos in order: Aefa Mulholland; Getty Images
Story by Aefa Mulholland

We’ve been getting a lot of letters asking about how to get married in Canada, so for those of you eager to get hitched north of the border, here’s how to do those I do’s.

1. Neither one of you has to be a Canadian resident, but you do need a province-specific marriage license – so first decide where you want to get married.

2. Apply for a marriage license. The most popular provinces for Americans to get married in are British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. Some provinces require just one person to apply (B.C., Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador), the others require both people to do so. All provinces require proof of divorce if either of the grooms- or brides-to-be has been married before. Each province and territory has different documentation requirements, fees, and wait times (from 24 hours to 20 days).

3. Arrange a religious or civil ceremony. Provincial websites have helpful details on how to go about finding marriage commissioners. Don’t forget to bring or organize two witnesses.

4. Get married!

5. Get a Marriage Statement.

6. Register marriage within 48 hours of the ceremony.

7. Receive a legal Marriage Certificate from the provincial Vital Statistics agency.

Sounds too complicated? Call up one of these top Canadian wedding planners.

Pensacola Memorial Weekend

Photos (2): Visit Pensacola
Story by McCarton Ackerman

Okay, I’ve got to admit: if I had to pick a place to spend Memorial Day weekend, Pensacola wouldn’t normally be at the top of my list. However, once I began to browse through the activities this pint-sized Florida city is offering, it was obvious that Pensacola’s GLBT Memorial Day celebration, held from May 22th-26th, might be one of the best-kept secrets out there.

Pensacola Beach is a 15-minute drive from downtown, where all the circuit events and nightclubs are, so it’s close enough to be accessible and far enough to escape from if you’re just looking to take advantage of the sugar-white sand. During the day, the beach becomes a huge gay tent city with all kinds of impromptu activities.

Emerald City and The Warehouse are hosting most of the dance parties with names that leave little to the imagination  -- Friction, Sweat, Climax -- but we’d make it a point to check out the Wave party that Friday, where renowned DJ Roland Belmares is spinning under the stars all night long.

The Hampton Inn at the Beach is one of the host hotels for the weekend, but if you’d rather be in the heart of downtown, we’d recommend the Crowne Plaza/Pensacola Grand Hotel.

Horton Hears a Pretty Queer-Looking Pancake

In order: Green Eggs & Ham with rainbow Who-Cakes; Beezlenut Juice.
Photos (3): Courtesy IHOP

In honor of the Dr. Seuss Horton Hears a Who! film, which opens nationwide today, that beloved American road trip accessory and hangover-helper, The International House of Pancakes, is opening up to the possibility of imaginary, rainbow food.

The Green Eggs and Ham, thankfully, are not a food-color dye-job, but the artful scrambling of spinach, eggs, and ham. I was sold at the rainbow stack of buttermilk Who-Cakes, dripping with boysenberry, blueberry, rainbow chocolate chips, and topped with a pink lollipop.

But while this may be a fun pit stop for the big kids, who would want to baby-sit the sugar-mad toddler who consumes all this?

Check out this little bonus of rainbow flavor with your classic Americana cuisine anytime from now until April 20th.

Horton Hears a Who!, incidentally, stars Steve Carell, who played the Proust-saturated, gay uncle in the campy road trip movie, Little Miss Sunshine (2006), which did not include any IHOPs.