Economy Class & Beyond

The Rise of Bring Your Own IFE

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Many moons ago, I starting making and writing about Sickbag based In-Flight Entertainment Systems - or what I called "GhettoIFE Systems". A 2014 GhettoIFE system aboard an Air France Airbus A319 - Image GhettoIFE. The idea being that I could bring entertainment that I wanted to watch inflight, as opposed to IFE that 1) I didn't want to watch or 2) didn't exist. When the … [Read more...]

Air India to join Star Alliance on 11th July

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It's been a very long time coming, with two attempts to do it, but it seems that Air India will finally join Star Alliance on 11th July 2014. Air India Boeing 787 coming into land at London Heathrow - Image, GhettoIFE. At Star Alliance's Chief Executive Board meeting, Air India's membership of the airline group was approved.  This will make Air India the first Indian airline … [Read more...]

French Air Traffic Control on strike

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Well, it's not the trains, it's now French Air Traffic Control deciding they want to go out on strike too. One of the airports affected in the industrial action - Paris Orly - Image, GhettoIFE Originally, two unions were meant to go out on strike. This has been reduced to one - however, this is forcing a reduction of 20% of possible flights. Action will centre on Bordeaux, … [Read more...]

GhettoIFE on the Photoblog’s Front Page again!

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If you keep an eye on the bottom left of the blog, you'll see a thing called Kevincm's Photoblog. This is something I do every now and again. It allows me to sort and organise photos, put them into relevant sets, and act semi-planned. Or something like that. Occasionally, photos that are taken by users make the photo of the day. I've had this happen before with a photo in … [Read more...]

Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9s to launch on the London-Boston route

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As we're back up and running, let's get back to the news that you can use. Virgin Atlantic have celebrated 30 years in the air this weekend - when they first took on British Airways and other airline with their launch service between London Gatwick and Newark International Airport The Branson family on the VS001 inaugural between London Gatwick and Newark, New Jersey. Image, … [Read more...]

And… we’re back in the room!

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And... we're back in the room ladies and gentlemen. With a swathe of fellow bloggers, it's been fun and games this weekend - with some of us not being able to post. Well the bad news is the issue has been fixed, and I'm back to write lots of things that might be of some interest to you all. Such as this one! Like Lucky, I actually missed blogging this weekend, sharing … [Read more...]

Emirates to operate A380s to Houston and San Francisco

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The Emirates Airbus A380 fleet continues to spread its wings further, with plans under way to switch operations from the existing Boeing 777-300ERs that operates these routes. One of Emirates Airbus A380s turning onto the active at London Heathrow Airport - Image GhettoIFE Both services switch over in December, with San Francisco switching over on the 1st December, operating … [Read more...]

Tiger Mandala to shut down

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TigerAir has tried some aggressive expansion strategies, with the Singaporean Low Cost Carrier expanding across Asia and Australasia. However, it seems that one unit of the airline - Tiger Mandala of Indonesia- isn't performing, and after others sniffing around, and as of 1st July 2014 - Tiger Mandala is to cease operating. Tigerair Airbus A320 at Hong Kong International … [Read more...]

Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect strike (19th/20th June).

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Once again, Heathrow Express and Heathrow Connect staff will be going out on strike today (19th June 2014). The Heathow Express area of Paddington Station - Image GhettoIFE. The strike is due to run for 24 hours from 12:00 (Midday) 19th June 2014 to 11:59 20th June. Heathrow Express will operate the following: A 15 minute service between London Paddington and Heathrow … [Read more...]

SNCF (French) Rail Strike rolls into a second week

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For those of you who are going to and from France and its major transport hubs, you'll have noticed that getting around France on the train has been more vexing than not (as I found on Saturday when I was in Paris). The action caused by CGT and Sud-Rail has caused major interruption to services, impacting the TGV network, TER regional service and RER services within … [Read more...]