Economy Class & Beyond

BMI “trys” practices double entendres

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Oh dear. It seems BMI is getting into the viral advertising and practising its double entendres (Safe for work) ... Of course.. they're talking about Rugby. Why... what did you think they were talking about? ;) Seems as though BMI need to get a bit further from the playground to do their advertising though.... … [Read more...]

Once again – BBC and Odius Little Man Lock horns

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It's turning into straight BBC vs O'Liar fight now, thanks to the growing spat. For those in the UK - watch http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_8285000/8285260.stm. Of course, there's arguments of editorial bias, and downright arguments - FT Alphaville posted a wonderful transcript of the letter which Ryanair posted themselves (PDF)... One page this … [Read more...]

Train Travel… and they wonder why they’re loosing revenue hand over fist.

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So muggins had to make a mission of mercy trip to London on Tuesday, and of course as time was short - I needed to catch the fast trains and pay the idiot fares to London. Not that the fast train helped to be honest - we were 21 minutes late due to line problems near Birmingham airport. And nor that it help on the way back (as the slow lines were closed to a point, a slow … [Read more...]

Where BA goes, Aer Lingus Follows – Up to 800 jobs for the cut.

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It seems the year of woe is continuing in the aviation industry with Aer Lingus now being forced to make cuts to their staff in an attempt to save £90 million over the next year. In basic terms, 100 staff have already been told their when their contracts end, they will not be renewed. In addition new IT systems and modified working practices mean that another 676 … [Read more...]

**Breaking**: 1700 BA jobs for the cut

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Hitting the wires right now is very bad news from BA with 1700 jobs for the chop from long and shorthaul crews. Basic coverage at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8293536.stm -- updated 12:15, 07/10 -- So, yes - to cover the still falling revenues, they're pulling out the stops to save more money. They will be looking for 1000 cabin crew taking voluntary … [Read more...]

Soapbox: United… WHY? (Put the booking engine back to how it was!!!)

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You know, I think airlines are turning more into confusopolyies these days (According to Scott Adams of Dilbert fame, a confusopoly is where a company or companies gains monoploistic powers by being too darned confusing for mere mortals). And United Airlines seem to be taking this to an extreme. For example, I'm pricing out a mileage run whilst I'm stateside next so I hit … [Read more...]

**BREAKING – Going TATL? You probably won’t be – Problems at Shanwick Control – CLEARED **

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Breaking news off the BBC News wire - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8288313.stm "All transatlantic flights from the UK are grounded because of an air traffic systems problem in the Shanwick airspace area, says BAA. Delays could be as much as three and a half hours, it is thought.  The problem concerns Shanwick Oceanic Control, which is the airspace area for the north … [Read more...]

The Friday News Roundup

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It's Friday, and I've been under the weather with a cold, so lets do a roundup before I go for another bucket full of lemsip... Qantas - From Bad to Worse to Bad Qantas is having one hell of a rough time it seems, with the latest traffic numbers down again by 1.4% year on year. Things are slowly improving, but it's a hard road for the flying Kangaroo TUI Group cancels … [Read more...]

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