Economy Class & Beyond

MAJOR French Railways (SNCF) Rail strikes ahead!

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As if Air France workers going on out on strike isn't a thing, it seems that workers at the French Railway - SNCF are also going out on strike too. The first strike kicks off this evening (2nd April) and will run through to Thursday morning. The cut-down service pattern is a severe cut to the SNCF network - with one in eight TGV (High speed) trains operating … [Read more...]

Airplane Art – British Airways Airbus A380 at Heathrow Airport

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It's Easter Sunday, so it must be time for some Airplane Art. This week - on tow to the maintenance areas is a British Airways Airbus A380 at its home base of London Heathrow Airport. British Airways operate a fleet twelve Airbus A380 aircraft, used on its long haul routes, supporting the Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER and Boeing 787 long haul … [Read more...]

SNAPSHOT: British Airways 296 Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow

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Time for another snapshot - this time focusing on the long haul service on British Airways 296 between Chicago and London Heathrow Pre-departure. Check-in for the flight was from Terminal 5 at Chicago O'Hare International. Bags were accepted and tagged through to Heathrow. Wait time for TSA screening and clearance: 31 minutes Lounge The British Airways Terraces … [Read more...]

Air France strike today (and more in the pipeline)

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If it's a holiday weekend, or if the day ends in a Y, it must be time for another Air France strike... especially on Good Friday. Air France Airbus A318 at Hamburg Airport - Image, Economy Class and Beyond With another strike effecting pilots, ground staff and cabin crew, and timed for the Easter holiday period in Europe (with requests from the unions for a 6% pay … [Read more...]

Heathrow Express to hand over services to GWR – long term changes ahead

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With the Elizabeth Line/Crossrail starting to arrive at Heathrow Airport in the near future (May), Heathrow Express is relaunching how it conducts business. Currently, it operates its own trains, staffing and such. That's going to change soon, with Great Western Railway (who are owned by FirstGroup) to operate the Heathrow Express service from August 2018. Heathrow … [Read more...]

Has the British Airways Economy Class breakfast improved?

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One of the things that have really annoyed me is the annoyance that is the breakfast in Economy class (World Traveller) on British Airways. Mostly because of that dreaded ambient basket pass... which whilst reducing costs - it gave a really poor passenger experience with a choice of a muffin top or a granola bar. BA breakfast circa October 2016 - Image, Economy Class … [Read more...]

Emirates to double Prague Service

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Emirates seems to be continuity expanding its network, with the announcement of a second daily flight between Dubai and Prague. Emirates Boeing 777-300ER departing Dublin - Image, Economy Class and Beyond The new flight will start from the 1st July 2018, with a 360 seater Boeing 777-300ER being deployed on the Dubai-Prague route. EK137 DEPART DXB 15:30 ARRIVE PRG … [Read more...]

Airplane Art – Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i departing Chicago O’Hare

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It's Sunday again, so it must be time for some more airplane art. The week, we have a Lufthansa Boeing 747-8i climbing out of Chicago O'Hare International as it heads back to its home base of Frankfurt-am-Main International. Lufthansa operate a fleet of 19 Boeing 747-8i aircraft in their long haul fleet - with this plane - D-ABYG - "Baden-Württemberg" shown … [Read more...]

Travel Technology: Back to film with the Holga 120N

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Time for something different this week in Travel Technology - we're going Lo-fi. And I mean lo-fi. Most of you know that I shoot with Canon kit and autofoucusing lenses. All things that allow for photos to be done quickly and allow you to knock out quality pictures. But sometimes, a Digital Camera is the poorest tool in the world to learn with. Why? A digital camera … [Read more...]

Smurf-tastic! The Smurfs now fly with Brussels Airlines with Aerosmurf

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Brussels Airlines - as well as being knowing for its red dots on the tails of their planes - love to paint their planes in different schemes. Today, the airline unveiled its newest livery - celebrating "The Smurfs" with "Aerosmurf". The AeroSmuf revealed - Image, Brussels Airlines The AeroSmurf - Image, Brussels Airlines The Smurfs and Brussels Airlines … [Read more...]