Event | modhop Turns 5!

5 years ago today, modhop.com was born from anger (as many of my more successful ventures are). To think if seatguru.com had properly labeled 19F aboard a Delta 757-200 (75E) with a “Yellow” rating, this site might not exist. But it does. So cue the dream sequence effects and let’s look back at our notable moments…

Delta 75E- The Beginning:  Incensed by an improperly labeled seat rating at seatguru.com, I took a picture (right) of my feet jammed into the protruding exit slide that kept me from getting full leg extension. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with the picture other than to text it to friends, complaining “Can you believe this [explative]!”.  Luckily my anguish maintained it’s fire enough that I was motivated to do more in the days that followed. I did a little research and started a website that’s sole purpose was to show bad seats that were supposed to be good…this one.

First Video Seat Review: An upgrade to business class aboard a United Airlines P.S. transcon flight had me in a much better mood, so I decided to start sharing better experiences alongside the letdowns.

First Hotel Review: Mrs. modhop liked this Embassy Suites in Montreal so much that I decided to expand the website to include hotels. It’s never become a huge part of the site, but hotel reviews remain important, particularly in and around airports. Our first video review was of the Hotel Solamar in San Diego, CA.

First Lounge Review: Lounge reviews are a big part of what we’ve become and while the quality of the videos has improved greatly the idea is the same: To show which lounges are worth the price of membership or admission. This one was a tiny lounge so it was an easy, circular pan around the room and it was done. The former Northwest WorldClub turned Delta SkyClub at New York LaGuardia (This location is now closed).

First and Last Review aboard a Singapore Airlines 747: Not long after I reviewed the extra legroom exit seats aboard this Singapore Airlines 747, the airline discontinued it’s use in favor of more efficient aircraft. They didn’t say goodbye to the old birds without some fanfare, so I’m retroactively honored to have flown in one before it’s retirement.

Finally, A nicer camera. – Our hop aboard an Alaska Airlines flight was one of the first to be shot with our just slightly less than pro video camera. I clearly had no technique in shooting  video (still don’t, really) but this was the start of better quality video without embellishing the product (as you might see on the airline, hotel or lounge’s own websites).

Hurricane Sandy: Sandy took care of my extensive airline safety card collection.  Punishment for disobeying the “Do Not Remove From Aircraft” warning, I guess. Also, because we suddenly had to move the “modhop Travel Cave”, we were knocked out for a month and a few days. Luckily our smart backing-up of files kept our collection of plane, hotel and lounge videos in-tact.

Welcome Boarding Area: Late last year we joined the good folks at Boarding Area and it’s been a stellar alliance to date.  modhop’s video reviews and features paired with some of the best mileage and biz-travel blogs out there provide a very strong toolbox for planning comfortable travel and the best use of your travel points and dollars.

Now: modhop continues to grow as rapidly as I and our contributors can travel, shoot and type. New efforts like “[my] modhop” let YOU upload  your own seat, lounge or hotel room videos and pictures to share with others in our community. Plus, new features like “Airport Zen” and “Ask Jake” offer new travel options and ideas for less stressful, more comfortable air travel.

Thanks You for reading and supporting modhop. We look forward to many more years of sharing our reviews so that you can travel more comfortably and more often.

Cheers!

Jake Redman

Founder & Host