Economy Class & Beyond

Lufthansa prepares for flight attendant strikes

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It seems Lufthansa and the UFO union have failed to agreed new terms after failure of negations over pay and working conditions. The discussions have been goving for more than a year, with neither side agreeing. The UFO union, which represents 18,000 Lufthansa flight attendants, said on Tuesday it would give only a few hours' notice for most strikes, raising the threat of … [Read more...]

Virgin Atlantic redemptions with BMI Diamond Club Miles – Ends 31st August

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Time for a little reminder of a partnership that is ending shortly between Virgin Atlantic and BMI Diamond Club. The key points are: If you want to make a redemption on Virgin Atlantic using BMI Diamond Club Miles, it needs to be booked and ticketed by 31st August You've got until 31st August to credit Virgin Atlantic flights to BMI Diamond Club You will not be able … [Read more...]

Lufthansa long haul sale from the UK

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It seems as we head into a Bank Holiday Weekend in the UK, sale fever has hit Lufthansa with a fair amount of Economy Class tickets going for reasonable prices. Lots of destinations to Middle East, CIS, Asia and South America with Asia destinations pricing up quite well, Destination From Abu Dhabi £339 Accra £469 Almaty £439 Amman … [Read more...]

Qantas abandons its first batch of 787-9’s – retains future options

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It seems making a loss for Qantas has really hit the airline hard. With CEO Alan Joyce forgoing his bonus and pay rise, and making a net loss of of A$244m ($256m; £161m) for the year ending 30 June, Qantas will be forgoing its first 35 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The move for cancelling the order is to reduce spending, with the impact of  high fuel prices, previous industrial … [Read more...]

LAN gets in the queue to receive its first 787

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Well it seems someone else is going to get a 787 before Air India and United Airlines. LAN Airlines (Part of the LATAM Group)  will be the 4th carrier to receive a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with a delivery date of 30th August. This will also make LAN  the South American launch carrier of the 787. The aircraft (Registration CC-BBA) was completed in July and will be … [Read more...]

Virgin Atlantic to commence UK Domestic services between London and Manchester

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It seems that Virgin Atlantic is preparing to build a short-haul network for feeder traffic after failing to buy BMI with the announcement today that it will commence flying between London Heathrow and Manchester (two of the hubs that Virgin Atlantic operate from). The slots to operate London to Manchester will be from Virgin Atlantic's current allocation of slots - a total … [Read more...]

Pssst! Wanna buy an airport? BAA puts Stansted Airport on the market

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Well this has been coming for quite some time with BAA battling tooth and nail to hang onto Stansted Airport. BAA has fought appeal and after appeal (and lost them all) from a decision in 2009 that BAA needed to sell the two of its London airports to promote competition, and has finally put STN on the sales block. BAA was originally told to sell off Stansted, Gatwick and … [Read more...]

Hong Kong Airlines abandons A380’s/787’s – switches to a regional focus

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Hong Kong Airlines is pulling back some of its grand plans to expand, with the announcement that is dropping its long haul expansion, and deciding to focus more regionally The carrier had orders in for 787's and A380's which have now been swapped around. The airline is to sell its two if its 737-300 freighters, whilst swapping the Airbus A380's for A330's and A320's. For … [Read more...]

Virgin Atlantic joins the fare sale party (so do AA… and Star at last)

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It seems sale season is in full swing with Virgin Atlantic joining the party. Like the British Airways sale, the main sale runs to the 25th September, with availability limited on various routes. There is also availability in Upper Class cabin on some routes - with different end dates to the Upper Class sale. I've noted them down for you in the notes section after each area … [Read more...]

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