Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for airlines
Stansted to Share No. 2 Spot
By Linda Tancs
Despite some opposition from environmentalists, Stansted’s airport expansion is set to move forward, making it Britain’s second largest airport along with Gatwick. The move means an increase in passenger travel from 23 million to 35 million. The number of planes allowed to fly in and out will increase from 241,000 to 264,000. Currently, 184,000 planes use the airport. The expansion follows a study showing a shortage of runways in the Southeast. Whether the move will mean a shift in passengers’ airport of choice remains to be seen.
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Saving the Airlines
By Linda Tancs
A recent report stated that 20 or more airlines face bankruptcy due to fuel costs and other economic issues. Maybe it’s time to pull a page from Hawaiian Airlines’ playbook. They’re reportedly set to shave $4 million off their fuel costs by taking actions such as ordering lighter seats and food carts, washing the engines more often and slowing air speed. A penny saved is a penny earned.
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Do CPAP Machines Cause Baggage Woes?
By Linda Tancs
Statistics indicate that over 12 million people in the U.S. alone suffer from sleep apnea, an obstructive sleep disorder. So it shouldn’t be surprising that travelers want to take their CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines onboard to use during long flights or at their final destination. Needless to say, one must determine in advance of flight whether the device will be considered part of normal carry-on items. FAA regulations, for instance, permit medical devices as an additional piece of carry-on luggage. But if you can bring it on board, can you use it? International carriers’ policies can vary widely on the subject. Some airlines may permit, or prefer, battery-operated devices and not require medical clearance. Others may require medical clearance by their experts in advance of flight regardless whether the device is powered electrically or by battery. Best not to leave this one up to chance, as any delay in flight arrangements may not be recompensed by insurance when it’s the passenger who is delayed rather than the plane.
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Going, Going, Gone
By Linda Tancs
It was only a matter of time before an airline took its case to eBay. Now you can bid on your favorite journey via JetBlue’s eBay store. Adventurous travelers will love the “mystery” packages. In some instances, all you’ll know in advance is that you’ll get an oceanview room. So pack happy and start bidding.
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Continental Adds to Shopping Cart
By Linda Tancs
No doubt a good move from a privacy and security perspective, Continental Airlines now allows customers to pay for most services purchased online (not gift certificates, TravelBank credits or travel certificates) with PayPal. For the uninitiated, PayPal (which is owned by eBay) is an online shopping cart allowing customers to pay for goods or services via credit card, bank account debit or PayPal account balance through PayPal’s site. The vendor never sees or handles the financial data. Continental and PayPal, perfect together. Will other airlines follow suit?
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Bag That Laptop
By Linda Tancs
In a move to be embraced by many, the Transportation Security Administration is allowing “checkpoint friendly” laptop bags through screening without the need to remove the laptop. Acceptable bags include butterfly, trifold and sleeve designs. Nix the accordions and backpacks. If these (hopefully) accelerated measures have the absent-minded leaving their bags behind, don’t discount the lost-and-found department at TSA. Like the airport police, TSA maintains its own department at airports to catalog and safekeep lost items, usually for 30 days. Thereafter, it’s likely to get donated. Harried travelers, take note.
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Aircraft Bling
By Linda Tancs
Luxaholics will no doubt feel like they’ve died and gone to heaven after an experience with Air Emirates’ A380. For those who have been sleeping, the Airbus A380 is the largest passenger airliner in the world. Its girth isn’t the only thing that’s supersized, though. This super jumbo has enough amenities to make old Concorde look like budget travel. Just ask the folks at Telstar Logistics, who wrote an eye-popping account of their invitation to scope out the digs. Photos included. Reminds me of Shakespeare’s observation: “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy.”
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Hitchhiking Goes High Style
By Linda Tancs
Brother, can you spare a–flight? You know times are tough when even luxe travelers find ways to cut corners. A new service matches charter flyers with potential partners to reduce the costs of private flights. Prospects must join a social networking-type site (sort of like a LinkedIn for flyers) and then check for any flights of interest. Who knows, with commercial carriers taking hits left and right, this could become the preferred method of getting from A to B.
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OpenSkies Opens New Route
By Linda Tancs
OpenSkies, British Airways’ premium-plus sub, slowly but surely is building its routes. In addition to the New York/Amsterdam route, the acquisition of French airline and codeshare partner L’Avion adds additional routing to Paris via Newark Liberty International. L’Avion seats business-class only, which nicely complements OpenSkies Prem+ configuration boasting 52″ pitch seating. Need a tour round The Golden Bend? Don’t fret–the airline’s concierge services will take care of the details for you. You can get there for a very un-businesslike fare if you book by August 21. You can even purchase carbon offsets towards your journey, the proceeds of which benefit carbon emission projects. Is this a new era in travel? Time will tell. As playwright Arthur Miller said, ” An era can be said to end when its basic illusions are exhausted.”
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Hassle-Free Flying in Toronto
By Linda Tancs
Short-haul flyers in Toronto can’t speak highly enough about Porter. Situated downtown within easy reach of Union Station, this start-up offers flights between Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Ottowa, Halifax and Newark, New Jersey, with more U.S. destinations to follow. Consider this list of features and benefits: free ticket changes, free lounge access (leather seating) with complimentary wireless access, a free business center and all-you-can drink coffee, tea and soda. A porter is defined as someone employed to carry burdens. Sounds like they’ve taken a load off to me.
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Travelrific® Travel Journal 