Economy Class & Beyond

Train Travel Saturday. Talk about cramming them in…

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Alas, I've had need to go down to London this weekend. And unlike a lot of people - I actually can't stand the place. Far too busy, people rushing and rude (I lived in Essex - a county near London for 20 years - enough to put anyone off London) - but as a I need to build up my "other" Photographic portfolio's, needs must. Now there are 4 viable ways to get to London from … [Read more...]

Safety Video Saturday – China Airlines

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It's Saturday again, so it's time to put your seat back in the upright position and stow your tables as China Airlines show off their safety video for their Airbus A330's. Another safety video next week.... and I'll try and find some fresh content. If you see one that you like, why not Tweet me @Ghettoife or email blog@ghettoife.com ... or leave a comment for me to … [Read more...]

Idea… Video Trip Report/Video Review…

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So I'm idly thinking of the next trip report, and I'm seeing the current fashion to do video trip report/review. First up - good or bad idea? And Secondly, apart from my bad camera work, what would you want it to contain? Thoughts welcome as I think about this... what I'm thinking could be a suspect idea at best.... … [Read more...]

SkyTeam to expand again – Xiamen Airlines to join

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News from China and SkyTeam that Xiamen Airlines is set to join the alliance, and will become a full member towards the end of 2012. In some ways this isn't surprising at all as Xiamen Airlines is  60% owned by China Southern Airlines - who also happens to be sponsoring their entry into the alliance. Xiamen Airlines currently operates a mostly China domestic programme … [Read more...]

Lion Air puts in an order for up 380 737’s… wha?

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This is one I've been trying to get my head round since I first read it on Flight earlier. And that is Lion Air of Indonesia has ordered 29 Boeing 737-900ER's and 201 737-MAX's (being the second operator confirmed to operate the new 737-MAX series, with options for another 150 aircraft. That makes a grand total 380 aircraft possible on the order books, at a list price of … [Read more...]

The saga of Comtel Airlines

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If there is a "How not to run an airline guide", it seems that Comtel Airlines seem to fit the bill right now. Comtel Airlines started up a route between Birmingham Airport and Amritsar in India and commenced the route a few weeks ago using wet-leased 757's by Mint Lineas Aeras. But it seems travel agents didn't pass all the money onto the airline, as when they landed in … [Read more...]

Airlines band together to fight Air Passenger Duty rises

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What do British Airways (IAG), EasyJet, RyanAir and Virgin Atlantic all have in common? It seems  they all have a genuine hatred of Air Passenger Duty (APD), and have called for the UK Government and want it scrapped. APD was originally a "Green" Tax, that strangely by the government of the day - not ring-fenced. Since then, further administrations have tried to greenwash … [Read more...]

Europe Bans Airport Body Scanners For “Health and Safety” Concerns

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Here's a big news breaking from the European Union, Forbes and The Economist. And it's to do with Nude-o-scopes - or Backscatter/Millimetre Wave Scanners. And to be blunt - the European Union is not happy about them in the least. The big line from the release it is this: In order not to risk jeopardising citizens' health and safety, only security scanners which do not … [Read more...]

Pan Am on tonight!

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For UK people, it's that time where we see the romanticised images of a bygone age on when Pan Am takes to the skies on BBC2 tonight Image - BBC/ABC/Guardian It's on a 21:00 and 21:45, with the first two episodes. For those who missed as well tonight, Come Fly With Me (The Story of Pan Am) with Honor Blackman will be repeated Of course, these are also available on BBC … [Read more...]