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Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Hawaiian Lava
Monday, November 17, 2014
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Monday, November 10, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Crabs That Fly
Last month, my wife and I flew from New York to Milan, Italy, on Emirates.
We booked our shoulder-season tickets back in April, paying less than $1,400 combined for our economy-class tickets. Emirates allowed each of us two free checked bags of up to 50 pounds apiece. We checked a total of three suitcases between us, though we only needed two of them to carry our belongings for an 11-day trip. (Even then, we always overpack.)
On the outbound leg, we each tossed a couple of days' worth of necessities into the third suitcase, just in case one of the primary bags happened to go astray. It's a lesson I learned years ago while sitting in a Barcelona hotel, waiting for Delta to deliver an overdue suitcase. On the way home, the third suitcase was instead stuffed with souvenirs, primarily tins of French cookies that you can't find here in the States. We have our priorities.
Overall, Emirates deserved high marks - though not straight As - for service, as well as for value. Even though our fare was hundreds of dollars less than those offered on that route by Emirates' U.S. rivals, we flew in a spotless Boeing 777 with average-sized coach seats and a good entertainment system. The latter did my wife more good than it did me on our overnight outbound flight; I sleep well on planes. My wife, however, does not, and she appreciated the wide range of films available in a variety of languages. The food was pretty good for coach, and the flight crew was amply staffed to serve the 260-odd passengers a Triple Seven can carry.
We arrived at JFK, per our custom, a good four hours ahead of our international flight's departure, but there was nobody at Emirates available to check in coach passengers until three hours prior. The one clerk available when we arrived handled only first and business class. Still, even with the wait we had enough time to clear security and enjoy a decent dinner at a restaurant in the terminal before we made our way to the gate. Overall, our experience was not only relatively economical, but pleasant too.
Big U.S. airlines have recently begun to complain about Emirates, along with its fellow Gulf-based carriers Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. As recently reported in The Wall Street Journal (1), executives at legacy carriers like Delta and United have argued that government support for Gulf airlines means an unequal playing field, and that the foreign carriers benefit from subsidies and cheap fuel, claims which Gulf-based carriers have denied.
The big U.S. airlines don't appreciate the competition from Emirates and other Gulf-based carriers because they never appreciate any competition at all.
United and American are at the bottom of my preference list when I fly anywhere. Their approach to their business is to charge the most they can collect while delivering the least their customers will accept. That is their prerogative, but I go out of my way to avoid flying them, either domestically or overseas. Delta is a similar legacy carrier and it has a broadly similar business model, but it manages to annoy me significantly less often, while flying more routes that I really want to fly. I therefore use Delta more than United, which I fly rarely, or American, which I scarcely use at all.
On trips abroad, I try to fly foreign-flag carriers when I can. This includes TAM on flights to Brazil, where I travel fairly regularly, and Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and especially Virgin Atlantic on flights to Europe. Emirates has now earned a place on that preferred international roster. Here in the states, my carriers of choice are JetBlue and Southwest.
Fees for checked baggage particularly annoy me because they encourage travelers to drag anything smaller than a steamer trunk into the cabin, where I often end up helping an undersized woman hoist her oversized bag into the overhead compartment. This is partly because I am a gentleman and partly because I am afraid someone will be maimed by a falling anvil, thus delaying everyone's travel. JetBlue gives me a free checked bag on every flight. It gives my wife two free checked bags, because somehow she qualifies for their Mosaic preferred customer program and I don't. (I don't mind, however, because I have been married long enough to know that if only one of us is going to get preferred treatment, it is better for all concerned that it is her.) Southwest offers two free checked bags to everyone.
Besides charging more on the New York to Milan route, the domestic carriers offer only one free checked bag on an international route and charge $100 for a second. This would have meant taking only two bags to Europe - and, crucially, fewer French cookies to give away when we got home.
Legacy U.S. carriers want Washington to do their dirty work by negotiating limits on the routes the Gulf carriers fly. This is based on their questionable claim that these government-owned carriers are unfairly competing, but mostly on their belief that our Open Skies treaty policy should benefit U.S. airlines but not U.S. travelers.
American legacy carriers are like crabs in a bucket, trying to pull down anyone that tries to climb out of their wet, dank, crowded hole, by which I do not specifically refer to United and American's economy cabins, though I won't argue if someone else does. Passengers are just parcels to them, to be delivered intact and on time but with as little additional fuss as possible. It's a fair business strategy and they can pursue it if they want to. But they ought to do it without the help of our government, which should act in the interest of the public that flies, rather than the crabs and other airlines that fly it.
We booked our shoulder-season tickets back in April, paying less than $1,400 combined for our economy-class tickets. Emirates allowed each of us two free checked bags of up to 50 pounds apiece. We checked a total of three suitcases between us, though we only needed two of them to carry our belongings for an 11-day trip. (Even then, we always overpack.)
On the outbound leg, we each tossed a couple of days' worth of necessities into the third suitcase, just in case one of the primary bags happened to go astray. It's a lesson I learned years ago while sitting in a Barcelona hotel, waiting for Delta to deliver an overdue suitcase. On the way home, the third suitcase was instead stuffed with souvenirs, primarily tins of French cookies that you can't find here in the States. We have our priorities.
Overall, Emirates deserved high marks - though not straight As - for service, as well as for value. Even though our fare was hundreds of dollars less than those offered on that route by Emirates' U.S. rivals, we flew in a spotless Boeing 777 with average-sized coach seats and a good entertainment system. The latter did my wife more good than it did me on our overnight outbound flight; I sleep well on planes. My wife, however, does not, and she appreciated the wide range of films available in a variety of languages. The food was pretty good for coach, and the flight crew was amply staffed to serve the 260-odd passengers a Triple Seven can carry.
We arrived at JFK, per our custom, a good four hours ahead of our international flight's departure, but there was nobody at Emirates available to check in coach passengers until three hours prior. The one clerk available when we arrived handled only first and business class. Still, even with the wait we had enough time to clear security and enjoy a decent dinner at a restaurant in the terminal before we made our way to the gate. Overall, our experience was not only relatively economical, but pleasant too.
Big U.S. airlines have recently begun to complain about Emirates, along with its fellow Gulf-based carriers Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. As recently reported in The Wall Street Journal (1), executives at legacy carriers like Delta and United have argued that government support for Gulf airlines means an unequal playing field, and that the foreign carriers benefit from subsidies and cheap fuel, claims which Gulf-based carriers have denied.
The big U.S. airlines don't appreciate the competition from Emirates and other Gulf-based carriers because they never appreciate any competition at all.
United and American are at the bottom of my preference list when I fly anywhere. Their approach to their business is to charge the most they can collect while delivering the least their customers will accept. That is their prerogative, but I go out of my way to avoid flying them, either domestically or overseas. Delta is a similar legacy carrier and it has a broadly similar business model, but it manages to annoy me significantly less often, while flying more routes that I really want to fly. I therefore use Delta more than United, which I fly rarely, or American, which I scarcely use at all.
On trips abroad, I try to fly foreign-flag carriers when I can. This includes TAM on flights to Brazil, where I travel fairly regularly, and Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and especially Virgin Atlantic on flights to Europe. Emirates has now earned a place on that preferred international roster. Here in the states, my carriers of choice are JetBlue and Southwest.
Fees for checked baggage particularly annoy me because they encourage travelers to drag anything smaller than a steamer trunk into the cabin, where I often end up helping an undersized woman hoist her oversized bag into the overhead compartment. This is partly because I am a gentleman and partly because I am afraid someone will be maimed by a falling anvil, thus delaying everyone's travel. JetBlue gives me a free checked bag on every flight. It gives my wife two free checked bags, because somehow she qualifies for their Mosaic preferred customer program and I don't. (I don't mind, however, because I have been married long enough to know that if only one of us is going to get preferred treatment, it is better for all concerned that it is her.) Southwest offers two free checked bags to everyone.
Besides charging more on the New York to Milan route, the domestic carriers offer only one free checked bag on an international route and charge $100 for a second. This would have meant taking only two bags to Europe - and, crucially, fewer French cookies to give away when we got home.
Legacy U.S. carriers want Washington to do their dirty work by negotiating limits on the routes the Gulf carriers fly. This is based on their questionable claim that these government-owned carriers are unfairly competing, but mostly on their belief that our Open Skies treaty policy should benefit U.S. airlines but not U.S. travelers.
American legacy carriers are like crabs in a bucket, trying to pull down anyone that tries to climb out of their wet, dank, crowded hole, by which I do not specifically refer to United and American's economy cabins, though I won't argue if someone else does. Passengers are just parcels to them, to be delivered intact and on time but with as little additional fuss as possible. It's a fair business strategy and they can pursue it if they want to. But they ought to do it without the help of our government, which should act in the interest of the public that flies, rather than the crabs and other airlines that fly it.
Bangalore to Dubai With Emirates Airline
Emirates Airline is a Dubai based airline and it is the largest
airline in the Middle East, operating nearly 3,400 flights per week from
its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 142 cities in 78
countries across six continents. In the last decade or so, Dubai has
become one the most significant centres of trade and commerce in the
world. Likewise, Bangalore or Bengaluru, is developing into such a focal
point in India. These two cities have headquarters of many notable
firms and loads of people travelling between them for business purposes.
As the number of travellers between these two cities is rising, more
and more airlines have started operating Bangalore to Dubai flights to
cater them. These services may be non-stop, direct with stops or
in-direct. Non stop flying from Bangalore to Dubai takes 4 to 5 hours.
Presently, direct flights between the cities are few, but as the route
gains in popularity, more carriers may start the same service. From
Bangalore, all air travel happens from the newly-constructed Kempegowda
International Airport.
The Site
Until 2008, all air transportation in Bengaluru was handled by the airbase and testing centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). After long delays, the construction of the new airfield finally began in 2005 with an initially decided annual passenger capacity of 6.5 million. During the course of being built, its capacity was enhanced to accommodate 12 million travellers in a year. It has a single terminal, handling all international and domestic aircraft movements in its 170000-sq metre area. The terminal has 115 check-in counters, 20 aerobridges and 38 gates along with 45 bays parking bays, each with its own fuel outlet. The airport is slated for a major modification process that will include an increment in the present capacity along with building of a new terminal. At present only one runway, named 09/27, which is around 4120 metres long and 60 metres wide, handles all operations.
Stopovers
Many passengers may be taking in-direct flights to the UAE from Bengaluru or may be coming from somewhere else and using the latter as a stopover. Whatever may be the case, if the period between two flights is long, they may go for a flight plus hotel booking in India for increased ease. The best part about such a provision is that fliers do not have to look and pay for hotels separately as a single transaction as the deal takes care of it. This is among the reasons why online travel agencies (OTAs) that offer this service have become so popular in the country in the past 5-6 years. The airport terminal has a number of lounges, replete with bars, Wi-Fi connectivity, electric sockets at every table and other modern amenities. Beyond a certain point, a shuttle bus service takes people inside the premises and to arrival and departures area.
The Site
Until 2008, all air transportation in Bengaluru was handled by the airbase and testing centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). After long delays, the construction of the new airfield finally began in 2005 with an initially decided annual passenger capacity of 6.5 million. During the course of being built, its capacity was enhanced to accommodate 12 million travellers in a year. It has a single terminal, handling all international and domestic aircraft movements in its 170000-sq metre area. The terminal has 115 check-in counters, 20 aerobridges and 38 gates along with 45 bays parking bays, each with its own fuel outlet. The airport is slated for a major modification process that will include an increment in the present capacity along with building of a new terminal. At present only one runway, named 09/27, which is around 4120 metres long and 60 metres wide, handles all operations.
Stopovers
Many passengers may be taking in-direct flights to the UAE from Bengaluru or may be coming from somewhere else and using the latter as a stopover. Whatever may be the case, if the period between two flights is long, they may go for a flight plus hotel booking in India for increased ease. The best part about such a provision is that fliers do not have to look and pay for hotels separately as a single transaction as the deal takes care of it. This is among the reasons why online travel agencies (OTAs) that offer this service have become so popular in the country in the past 5-6 years. The airport terminal has a number of lounges, replete with bars, Wi-Fi connectivity, electric sockets at every table and other modern amenities. Beyond a certain point, a shuttle bus service takes people inside the premises and to arrival and departures area.
Tips for Flying on an Airplane While on Crutches
When you have to travel, there are plenty of obstacles that could get
in your way. When you're on crutches, everything is that much harder.
Getting to a new destination on a plane takes patience as it is, but
when you are on crutches, it feels almost impossible. Use these tips to
help you get through the flight with as much ease as possible.
Tip #1: Call the Airline
Before you embark upon the trip, call the airline and tell them about your situation. They can inform you of any special boarding areas and other things that you might be entitled to as a temporarily disabled person. You will then be able to plan ahead better as to what you need to do and where you need to be.
Tip #2: Pay for a Seat
Many airlines allow you to upgrade your seat for a better seat for a small fee. Usually, you wouldn't do this, but when it comes to additional leg room, you need it this time around. Make sure you do not sit in the exit row and choose a seat with extra leg room so you can prop your foot up a little during the flight.
Tip #3: Board Early
If the airline lets you board early, do it. It is easier to find a place to stash your crutches and to get into your seat when there are not a lot of people around you. Though you may not like sitting longer and waiting for everyone else to board, it is really the easiest way to go.
Tip #4: Get Off Last
Again, it is hard to wait for everyone to get off around you, but when you are on crutches, trying to get off while others are waiting behind you is aggravating for both you and them. Wait in your seat until those behind you are gone so you can take your time getting off the plane.
Tip #5: Get an Aisle Seat
When you are choosing your seat, it is a good idea to get a seat on the aisle even if you prefer the window seat. You can stick your leg out in the aisle for even more room and you don't have to try to crawl over the seat and possibly other people to get to the window area.
Tip #6: Arrive Early
You always want to arrive early for a flight, but when you are on crutches, it is a good idea to arrive even earlier for anything and everything you have to do.
Tip #7: Send Luggage
If you are staying away for any length of time, it is a good idea to send your luggage ahead of you in advance. There's no way you can drag your luggage behind you when you are trying to struggle through the airport on crutches.
Tip #:8 Alternative Mobility Devices
If you are really concerned about how you will get on and off the plane on crutches and even through the airport in your condition, it is best to look into alternative options. There are plenty of other mobility devices on the market that can help you navigate airplane travel and everyday life in a non-weight bearing state.
Tip #1: Call the Airline
Before you embark upon the trip, call the airline and tell them about your situation. They can inform you of any special boarding areas and other things that you might be entitled to as a temporarily disabled person. You will then be able to plan ahead better as to what you need to do and where you need to be.
Tip #2: Pay for a Seat
Many airlines allow you to upgrade your seat for a better seat for a small fee. Usually, you wouldn't do this, but when it comes to additional leg room, you need it this time around. Make sure you do not sit in the exit row and choose a seat with extra leg room so you can prop your foot up a little during the flight.
Tip #3: Board Early
If the airline lets you board early, do it. It is easier to find a place to stash your crutches and to get into your seat when there are not a lot of people around you. Though you may not like sitting longer and waiting for everyone else to board, it is really the easiest way to go.
Tip #4: Get Off Last
Again, it is hard to wait for everyone to get off around you, but when you are on crutches, trying to get off while others are waiting behind you is aggravating for both you and them. Wait in your seat until those behind you are gone so you can take your time getting off the plane.
Tip #5: Get an Aisle Seat
When you are choosing your seat, it is a good idea to get a seat on the aisle even if you prefer the window seat. You can stick your leg out in the aisle for even more room and you don't have to try to crawl over the seat and possibly other people to get to the window area.
Tip #6: Arrive Early
You always want to arrive early for a flight, but when you are on crutches, it is a good idea to arrive even earlier for anything and everything you have to do.
Tip #7: Send Luggage
If you are staying away for any length of time, it is a good idea to send your luggage ahead of you in advance. There's no way you can drag your luggage behind you when you are trying to struggle through the airport on crutches.
Tip #:8 Alternative Mobility Devices
If you are really concerned about how you will get on and off the plane on crutches and even through the airport in your condition, it is best to look into alternative options. There are plenty of other mobility devices on the market that can help you navigate airplane travel and everyday life in a non-weight bearing state.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Avoid the Hassles of the Airport and Arrange for Private Charter Flights
Imagine that you need to be across the country tomorrow for a
business meeting. Instead of dealing with all of the hassles that come
with the modern airport, why not look into private charter flights?
These services are for the go-getters who want to move fast and with
flexibility. You don't have to buy your own jet. Hire a captain and crew
and hit the skies. You won't miss the long security lines, public
restrooms, and the mass of people that come with a large international
airport. Need further convincing? Let's delve into all the benefits of
charter flights.
Personal Service
No matter what reason you have for traveling, you will receive personalized service from a private jet company. Inform them of what your needs are, and they will take care of everything else. Do you have a large business meeting and need to be able to focus on your sales pitch? The skilled staff will ensure you get the peace and quiet that you need to iron out the rest of your pitch. Are you traveling with the family on vacation? The service staff will provide homely service and make sure your kids have a fun and safe flight. You no longer have to worry about bringing the family onto a major airline again.
None of the Major Airport Hassles
You won't have to go through a security line that wraps around the building twice, search in vain for a little bit of space in the overhead compartments, or wait in a long line at your gate while you wait for your row to be seated. Air travel is a wonderful human innovation, but the airport is a stress filled place where your Constitutional rights are suspended. Don't crack that joke to loudly or you may end up in a TSA interrogation room. With charter flights, you will get in and out of the security line fast, and you will never have to search to find a space for your bags. It's your plane for the duration of the trip!
Flexibility
Have you ever tried to change the time or date of your ticket before? If you have, then you know that this is no simple task. Even if you do manage to get your travel time changed, you will have to pay large penalty fees, but not with charter flights. They understand that modern business moves at a breakneck pace. You can delay or move your flight up based on your needs. If you want to spend that extra night with your client to seal the multi-million dollar deal, you can reschedule your flight with no hassle or stress. Don't allow the major airlines to dictate when you can come and go. Take control of your own schedule and make time for the things you really want in life.
Charter flights are a great service for anybody that wants to avoid the hassles of airports and achieve maximum flexibility. Look into these services in your area.
Personal Service
No matter what reason you have for traveling, you will receive personalized service from a private jet company. Inform them of what your needs are, and they will take care of everything else. Do you have a large business meeting and need to be able to focus on your sales pitch? The skilled staff will ensure you get the peace and quiet that you need to iron out the rest of your pitch. Are you traveling with the family on vacation? The service staff will provide homely service and make sure your kids have a fun and safe flight. You no longer have to worry about bringing the family onto a major airline again.
None of the Major Airport Hassles
You won't have to go through a security line that wraps around the building twice, search in vain for a little bit of space in the overhead compartments, or wait in a long line at your gate while you wait for your row to be seated. Air travel is a wonderful human innovation, but the airport is a stress filled place where your Constitutional rights are suspended. Don't crack that joke to loudly or you may end up in a TSA interrogation room. With charter flights, you will get in and out of the security line fast, and you will never have to search to find a space for your bags. It's your plane for the duration of the trip!
Flexibility
Have you ever tried to change the time or date of your ticket before? If you have, then you know that this is no simple task. Even if you do manage to get your travel time changed, you will have to pay large penalty fees, but not with charter flights. They understand that modern business moves at a breakneck pace. You can delay or move your flight up based on your needs. If you want to spend that extra night with your client to seal the multi-million dollar deal, you can reschedule your flight with no hassle or stress. Don't allow the major airlines to dictate when you can come and go. Take control of your own schedule and make time for the things you really want in life.
Charter flights are a great service for anybody that wants to avoid the hassles of airports and achieve maximum flexibility. Look into these services in your area.
Open-Jaws: Enhancing Your International Flight Experience
I hope the last write-up on stopovers helped to enhance your
flying experience. Apart from savouring great inflight cuisine and
inflight entertainment options, stopovers give you an amazing
opportunity to visit an additional city on way to your destination.
Further enhancing your flying experience, this week's write-up is on open-jaws. As dramatic as it may sound, the term in airline lingo refers to a round-trip ticket in which the traveller does not arrive to the same city of departure he was supposed to take an international flight from and/or does not depart from the city where he first landed. The path-lines between the airports form an open angle, rather than a closed loop, and the angle resembles an open jawline, thus, the name. The traveller will use some other transport to travel between the airports.
Although stopovers let you enjoy a trip to a city that lies on the way of your international flight, open-jaws give you the freedom to wander into cities that were earlier not in the itinerary of your international flight.
Here are a few rules to make the best of the open-jaw scheme:
The basic idea: An open-jaw flight is an international flight that flies from Point A to Point B, then from Point C back to Point A. Points B and C are often neighbouring airports, or at least in the same general area.
Ideal for: Travellers who plan on covering a lot of ground during their trip and who don't want to waste time returning to their original airport. Perhaps you fly into San Francisco and then drive down the coast of California to Los Angeles; this option would allow you to fly home out of LAX instead of making your way back up to San Francisco.
Ideal airlines: Many airlines give amazing options for open-jaws. You just have to be proactive to make the best out of the opportunity. Lufthansa, for once, has very generous stopovers and open-jaws for its flyers. Apart from the lip-smacking inflight Indian cuisine and the inflight entertainment options that include Bollywood hits, Lufthansa boasts of an amazing cabin crew and flight staff members to enhance your flying experience.
Booking: Booking flights - and especially cheap ones at that - isn't difficult at all. The only part that differs about searching for an open-jaw flight from a roundtrip is that multiple cities can but put in for the destination. You can do that? Yes you can. Stick to the big airports to make things simple for yourself. It's often better to pick specific airports instead of putting in a generic city code. For instance I would use LHR, Heathrow airport, instead of LON, all the airports in London. International airlines such as Lufthansa provide a segment-by-segment international flight search making it easier for you to book flights.
So make the best of your vacation. From relishing on delectable Indian cuisine inflight to enjoying Bollywood hits, make a booking that lets you travel another city in the vicinity of your destination. Who knows, you might want to come back to the place again?
Further enhancing your flying experience, this week's write-up is on open-jaws. As dramatic as it may sound, the term in airline lingo refers to a round-trip ticket in which the traveller does not arrive to the same city of departure he was supposed to take an international flight from and/or does not depart from the city where he first landed. The path-lines between the airports form an open angle, rather than a closed loop, and the angle resembles an open jawline, thus, the name. The traveller will use some other transport to travel between the airports.
Although stopovers let you enjoy a trip to a city that lies on the way of your international flight, open-jaws give you the freedom to wander into cities that were earlier not in the itinerary of your international flight.
Here are a few rules to make the best of the open-jaw scheme:
The basic idea: An open-jaw flight is an international flight that flies from Point A to Point B, then from Point C back to Point A. Points B and C are often neighbouring airports, or at least in the same general area.
Ideal for: Travellers who plan on covering a lot of ground during their trip and who don't want to waste time returning to their original airport. Perhaps you fly into San Francisco and then drive down the coast of California to Los Angeles; this option would allow you to fly home out of LAX instead of making your way back up to San Francisco.
Ideal airlines: Many airlines give amazing options for open-jaws. You just have to be proactive to make the best out of the opportunity. Lufthansa, for once, has very generous stopovers and open-jaws for its flyers. Apart from the lip-smacking inflight Indian cuisine and the inflight entertainment options that include Bollywood hits, Lufthansa boasts of an amazing cabin crew and flight staff members to enhance your flying experience.
Booking: Booking flights - and especially cheap ones at that - isn't difficult at all. The only part that differs about searching for an open-jaw flight from a roundtrip is that multiple cities can but put in for the destination. You can do that? Yes you can. Stick to the big airports to make things simple for yourself. It's often better to pick specific airports instead of putting in a generic city code. For instance I would use LHR, Heathrow airport, instead of LON, all the airports in London. International airlines such as Lufthansa provide a segment-by-segment international flight search making it easier for you to book flights.
So make the best of your vacation. From relishing on delectable Indian cuisine inflight to enjoying Bollywood hits, make a booking that lets you travel another city in the vicinity of your destination. Who knows, you might want to come back to the place again?
Saturday, November 1, 2014
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