#transcontinental first class air travel

[privatejetgeeks]

Private Jet Charter Dallas: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxury Air Travel

In a city renowned for its cosmopolitan flair and thriving business environment, Dallas stands tall as a hub of commerce, culture, and sophistication. For discerning travelers seeking the pinnacle of luxury and convenience, private jet charter services offer an unparalleled level of comfort and flexibility. Whether you're jetting off for a high-powered business meeting, a lavish vacation, or a special event, chartering a private jet in Dallas provides a seamless travel experience tailored to your exact needs.

Why Choose Private Jet Charter in Dallas?

Dallas, with its bustling economy and vibrant social scene, attracts a diverse array of travelers, including corporate executives, celebrities, and leisure seekers. For these individuals, time is of the essence, and efficiency is paramount. Private jet charter services in Dallas offer a host of benefits that set them apart from commercial airlines, making them the preferred choice for those who demand the best:

Flexibility: Unlike commercial flights that operate on fixed schedules, private jet charters allow passengers to depart and arrive at their convenience. Whether you need to schedule a last-minute flight or make sudden changes to your itinerary, private jet charter companies in Dallas can accommodate your needs with ease.

Privacy and Security: With private jet charter, you'll enjoy complete confidentiality and discretion throughout your journey. There are no intrusive security screenings or crowded airport terminals to contend with. Instead, you'll have access to exclusive private terminals and lounges, ensuring a seamless and stress-free travel experience.

Luxurious Comfort: From spacious cabin interiors to personalized amenities, private jets offer a level of comfort and luxury that is simply unmatched by commercial aircraft. Whether you're flying for business or pleasure, you'll have ample space to relax, work, or socialize, all while enjoying first-class service from your dedicated flight crew.

Time-Saving Convenience: Private jet charters eliminate many of the hassles associated with commercial air travel, such as long security lines, flight delays, and layovers. With direct flights to thousands of destinations worldwide, you can reach your destination faster and more efficiently, maximizing your productivity and leisure time.

Customized Experience: When you charter a private jet in Dallas, you're in control of every aspect of your journey, from the type of aircraft to the onboard amenities. Whether you prefer gourmet catering, high-speed Wi-Fi, or luxury ground transportation, private jet charter companies can tailor every detail to suit your preferences.

Types of Private Jets Available in Dallas

Private jet charter companies in Dallas offer a wide range of aircraft options to suit every need and budget. Whether you're flying solo or traveling with a large group, there's a private jet to accommodate your requirements:

Light Jets: Ideal for short-haul flights and small groups, light jets offer a cost-effective option for business travelers and small families. With seating for up to eight passengers and a range of approximately 1,500 to 2,500 miles, these nimble aircraft are perfect for quick getaways and regional travel.

Midsize Jets: With greater range and cabin space than light jets, midsize jets are well-suited for longer flights and larger groups. Featuring luxurious amenities and comfortable seating for up to nine passengers, these versatile aircraft are popular choices for both business and leisure travel.

Heavy Jets: For transcontinental flights and large groups, heavy jets provide the ultimate in comfort, performance, and luxury. With spacious cabins, plush seating, and state-of-the-art amenities, these aircraft offer a truly premium flying experience for discerning travelers.

Ultra-Long-Range Jets: When distance is no object, ultra-long-range jets deliver unparalleled speed, range, and comfort. With nonstop capabilities to destinations around the globe, these elite aircraft are the preferred choice for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, celebrities, and heads of state.

VIP Airliners: For larger groups requiring extra space and amenities, VIP airliners offer the epitome of luxury and exclusivity. With multiple cabins, dedicated crew quarters, and customizable interiors, these private aircraft redefine the concept of private air travel, catering to the most discerning clientele.

Top Private Jet Charter Companies in Dallas

When it comes to arranging private jet charter in Dallas, choosing the right charter company is essential to ensuring a seamless and memorable travel experience. Here are some of the top private jet charter companies serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area:

Jet Linx Dallas: With a focus on personalized service and attention to detail, Jet Linx Dallas offers a comprehensive range of private aviation solutions for both business and leisure travelers. From on-demand charter flights to aircraft management and jet card programs, Jet Linx delivers unparalleled convenience and luxury.

Clay Lacy Aviation: As one of the largest and most respected private jet charter companies in the world, Clay Lacy Aviation sets the standard for excellence in private aviation services. With a diverse fleet of aircraft and a commitment to safety and reliability, Clay Lacy offers a seamless and stress-free travel experience for clients in Dallas and beyond.

Flexjet: With a reputation for innovation and customer service excellence, Flexjet is a leading provider of fractional jet ownership and private jet charter services. Whether you're flying for business or pleasure, Flexjet's fleet of luxury aircraft and personalized concierge services ensure a truly exceptional travel experience.

Sentient Jet: Recognized for its industry-leading safety standards and transparent pricing, Sentient Jet offers on-demand private jet charter services with no long-term commitments or membership fees. With access to a global network of aircraft and experienced flight support team, Sentient Jet provides a seamless and stress-free travel experience for clients in Dallas and beyond.

NetJets: As the world's largest private jet company, NetJets offers unmatched expertise and resources in private aviation services. From fractional ownership and jet cards to on-demand charter flights, NetJets provides a flexible and cost-effective solution for travelers seeking the ultimate in luxury and convenience.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Travel Experience with Private Jet Charter in Dallas

In a city known for its opulence and sophistication, private jet charter services offer a level of luxury and convenience that is simply unmatched by commercial airlines. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, chartering a private jet in Dallas allows you to enjoy the ultimate in comfort, privacy, and flexibility. With a wide range of aircraft options, personalized amenities, and top-tier service providers to choose from, the sky truly is the limit when it comes to private air travel in Dallas. So why settle for ordinary when you can experience the extraordinary with private jet charter? Contact one of the top charter companies in Dallas today and elevate your travel experience to new heights.

[gothamundernightlight]

So, I’ve already written a little bit on this subject, but seeing so many people bring it up really gets me excited about the topic! Therefore, in this essay, I will discuss my theory on the political structures in the Earth Kingdom, and the relating issues of economic and geographical influences.

WARNING: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER. If you do not wish to be spoiled, DO NOT READ!

Starting off with referencing the map (which is the image featured above, with relative locations labelled, as well as the path of the original GAang as they travelled through the Earth Kingdom), the Earth Kingdom is huge. It is legitimately the largest landmass in the universe on a geographic scale.

The main continent itself is divided by some pretty extensive geographical features, including the canyon/The Great Divide, the swamp, and the Si Wong desert, as well as the mountain range in the northernmost section of the continent, which is home to the Northern Air Temple. That’s not even mentioning the massive river and lake that subdivides the continent into three separate landmasses, segregating the main city of Ba Sing Se from the rest of the Earth Kingdom.

So how does politics fit into all of this? Well, we know that there is in fact an Earth King, although it was made excessively clear that he does not know the extent of what he is king of, thanks to the Dai Li. That, combined with the isolationist views of the capitol city of Ba Sing Se would have meant that for the most part, the remaining Earth Kingdom would have been pretty self-sustaining, despite the refuge that the city provided. So, for the most part, the best comparison I can draw is that the remaining Earth Kingdom was effectively divided into states, much like America, or Austrailia, or poleis like in Ancient Greece, and authority structures, and land divisions were devised based on that.

Another problem is literally the geographical makeup of the continent in the first place. Most of the population of the Earth Kingdom is closely proximated to the capitols and/or water, or live on the massive archipelagos that border the continent. This makes sense giving people’s natural desire to settle near bodies of water, and also makes it easy to understand why the small Earth Kingdom settlements on the West coast were the first to feel the wrath of the Fire Nation’s slow invasion. The large river, featuring ferry traffic would have stunted consistent foot traffic and trade travel (Only exports from Ba Sing Se, no imports. NO CABBAGES!!!) Omashu was similar, meaning the only transcontinental trade was circulating mostly between other villages, or they were all self-sustaining from local water sources and farmlands. Again, this is reinforced by the existence of dams, which would have meant a large water source for large populations in rural areas. The desert, swamp, and mountains would have also prevented travellers for the most part (unless you happened to have a boat or a flying bison)

My theory is is that the Earth Kingdom has been like this for a long while, since the reign of Chin the Conquerer in fact, from Avatar Kyoshi’s time, or even prior to that during Avatar Kuruk’s era. While Ba Sing Se is the utmost legal and cultural authority of the Earth Kingdom, it’s own policies would have prevented it from effectively ruling anything outside of it’s own walls. This is somewhat backed by Aang never confirming that he had been to Ba Sing Se, despite saying he had been “everywhere”. (*A.N. I thought at one point Aang had confirmed he had never been to Ba Sing Se, but I couldn’t find the quote)

With a total unwillingness for government to travel out to enforce any legal authority, and near impossible geographical conditions to get in, the Earth Kingdom would have had to divide, even if no one was going to actually confirm it by forcibly taking it until the Fire Nation showed up.

So, with that in mind, the idea of an additional monarchy forming in the Earth Kingdom, especially in Omashu, is not only plausible, it’s likely. The large city would have needed a solid government, especially with the extensive military structure that was present (Book 2, Episode 1).

Omashu would have had more contact with local villages than Ba Sing Se, but they were also isolated by geographical features, like the mountains, so the towns would have not interacted much with any government on a national level. Local authorites, like gangs (Book 1, Episode 10 | Book 2, Episode 7) or “police” would have been in charge there, and the Fire Nation was all too happy to fill the gap, especially because of their proximity to the Fire Nation’s expanding borders (Book 1, Episode 6)

Even Aang’s personal childhood friendship with King Bumi solidifies the idea that the monarchy of Omashu was legitimate. Avatars in the past have been known to closely connect with monarchs, and area authorities; Aang with Bumi and Zuko, Roku with Sozin and Gyatso, and so on, because of their political influence. Connections like these would have been vital, and are similarly reflected in the interaction of foreign nobility building connections during the 14th-18th centuries in Eurasia. (**A.N. This is where I could segue into my theory on Sokka and Katara being related to Avatar Kuruk based on the similar characteristics between him and Hakoda, but that comes later.) The monks would have pushed for Aang to make strong political connections, even before they told him he was the Avatar. This does make me wonder about the political or economic class status of Kuzon, Aang’s friend from the Fire Nation, and whether or not he was related to Zuko in any way.

In conclusion, the idea that the Earth King as a title is less legitmate than Bumi’s reign, making it more of monokier than anything else. The government and geographical structures would have made ruling the Earth Kingdom as a whole incredibly difficult, if not impossible, due to the massive obstacles that were literally in the path of effective government. This is backed by the clear absence of any authority that would have prevented the invasion of the Earth Kingdom, making the divided continent easy to disable at their own fault.

Let me know what y'all think, if you agree or disagree, or have any sources that would warrant a revision or addition to this theory. I’d love to hear them!

[mikejryan]

Transcontinental First Class...

Given my usual subject matter, this will be an unusual post, but it fills a need.  In all my web searches, sites visited and pages read, I found all the major sites and even many minor ones lacking in helpful details comparing transcontinental first class services.  

I have flown American Flagship First Class service from Los Angeles to New York on the Airbus A321T [1-1 seating]  

I have flown Delta One First Class service from Los Angeles to New York on the Airbus A330  [1-2-1 seating].

I have flown Air Canada’s Business Class [which is their version of First Class] from Toronto to Los Angeles and Los Angeles to Toronto on the Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 [1-2-1 seating].  

The service on United’s Polaris does not measure up at the time of publication [January 1, 2019] because it does not have a dedicated single seat service from coast-to-coast, opting instead for the side-by-side lie-flat seating [B757 to EWR is 2-2 seating, B777 and B787 seating 2-2-2].  Since I prefer a window seat, I found Poiaris sub-par because you have to dive into a gymnastics routine to maneuver over the other seat to go to the restroom if your neighbor is asleep.  Also, I found the seats more cramped than AA or AC, even though there is not much difference in the measurements.  Overall grade is a B- so not in the same ballpark as the other three in my estimation.  

Ground Experience at LAX

#1 is American Airlines and their Flagship First at LAX.  Even though you check in with the rest of the priority passengers, the proximity of security is better than both Delta and Air Canada.  American’s system through security can be its own problem, but once through you have a dedicated lounge, separate from the rest of the priority travelers.  It is clean, well stocked with a wide selection of food and beverages, from fine wines and spirits to bottled water and various juices and sodas along with finger foods and an assortment of finer dining choices.  Between American’s Flagship food, beverages and lounge, there is simply no comparing the other two.  American wins this one hands down.  The passenger agents inside are truly dedicated agents who work tirelessly to ensure your trip goes smoothly and happily.  American’s lounge at JFK was not separate from its regular lounge when I traveled, so it was crowded, not the superior fresh selection of foods like at LAX and not the reading selection to match its west coast partner.  

Grades...  

Check in [through security]: B

Lounge - LAX Flagship: A-

JFK Lounge: B

#2 is Delta Airlines and Delta One.  Yes, it does have the dedicated check-in for Delta One at the eastern most edge of Terminal 2 [it’s the first door], the signage for it is not as helpful as you would hope for this latest  additional service.  It was also not quite what it says it is.  Delta’s on-line promotion says you can sit back and the agents will take care of your bags and check in while you sit back and enjoy a snack and drink.  First you have to pass the first ground agent who makes sure you are eligible to use Delta One.  Once inside, the agents are behind the counter, just like at all the other check-in kiosks/counters in the airport, and although they are arguably more attentive and personable, you still cart your bags around and up to the counter.  It’s not that big of a deal, except the way Delta makes it sound, you walk away, they do all the work, and you get your documents and they guide you to security.  None of that happened.  I did get a snack in the small lounge area, and that was nice, but there was no special service to security, and the walk from the lounge was not long, but it was longer than the walk at American’s terminal.  Now, once inside and off to the lounge, it is for every priority passenger, and even though it was well stocked and the personnel were attentive and brought drinks to you, it was still crowded and just part of the regular first, business or top frequent flyer experience, so nothing overly special, although Delta’s Sky Club does a better job than United or Air Canada.  They offer a fairly wide selection of real food, hot and cold, and an adequate supply of beverages. My one complaint, other than the crowded facility was that the restrooms were not very clean and were actually out of toilet paper.  When I went into the terminal, the restrooms there were actually cleaner than the Sky Club.  Reading material was slight.  They were obviously spending the money on the food.  

Grades...

Check in: B+

LAX Lounge: B

#3 is Air Canada’s Business Class.  Yes, it’s a new lounge at LAX, so it’s going through some growing pains.  Check-in is like American, with a check in for all Priority Passengers.  It’s about the same distance to travel from check-in to the security that you experience with Delta.  The LAX lounge can be a little tough to find, but seasoned travelers who read and pay attention will be properly rewarded.  Inside, Air Canada doesn’t do a great job on food and beverages in its lounges.  It’s usually the basics - breads, fruit, cereals, snacks foods, water, sodas, juice, wine and beer with light spirits.  In Toronto, well, it’s the same.  Lot’s of room, but also always busy and the elevator can get busy depending upon the time of day and day of the week you travel.  Air Canada does beat the other two airlines in one thing: reading choices.  There’s always a huge selection of magazines and newspapers.   

Grades...

Check-in: B

LAX Lounge: B-

YYZ Lounge: B

On-Board [from stepping onto the plane to exiting once the plane arrives at the terminal] Experience

First, all aircraft flown have lie-flat seats that are either one row on either side in the case of the A321 or 1-2-1 seating on the B787, B767, and A330.  

- All three offered drinks before take-off, however, here I would give the nod to American and Delta because they used regular glassware and kept refilling your drink up to the last possible moment before take-off.  Air Canada just got us one drink from a plastic container.  All three greeted you in a friendly manner and helped you to your seat if needed.  All three provide a pillow, duvet and amenities kit, to varying degrees of excellence.  

#1 - American Airlines A321T  - Attentive in-flight crew, menu was varied and like all American First or Business you can select your menu items before your flight.  You can select the time you want to eat.  The food was served at the proper temperatures, in a timely fashion, and was very tasty.  The lie-flat seat was comfortable and any adjustments were easy to make.  The amenities kit was simple yet sufficient for the flight and beyond.  It remains tied with Delta One’s amenities kit.  I am 6′7″ and the seat was comfortable and reasonably spacious.  I did not feel cramped in any way.  Since there are only 10 First Class suites, you get more personal attention that on Delta or Air Canada, and they made you feel welcome and at ease from stepping on board to walking through the door off the plane.  Pillow was standard size and duvet was comfortable.  The difference maker here is the slightly more personal care on board.  TV screen is stowed in the back of the seat in front of you.  

Seat Comfort: A-

Amenities: A-

Food, Beverage and Overall Service: A-

#2 - Air Canada B787-9.  Not quite as good as American but close and just a hair’s breadth above Delta One.  On all my flights here, the flight attendants ensure Business Class passengers exit the plane first, which is an added perk.  The amenities kit is small but sufficient - not of the same caliber as American or Delta.  Seat comfort was great, fully adjustable and easy to manage - even the firmness was adjustable.  Seat cover, duvet and pillow were typical but the pillow was smaller than standard size.  TV screen is mounted at an angle and can be watched easily at all times.  Food was quite good, but on board service was slightly below and less attentive than American and on par with Delta.  The food was the same menu served each time, but a selection...  Beverages served throughout, and a small bottle of water awaits when you board.  

Seat Comfort: A-

Amenities: B

Food, Beverage and Overall Service: A-

Difference-maker?  It’s the 787 and its quiet ride, ambiance, and overall feel.  

#3 - Delta Airlines A330/B767. Close to Air Canada...  On board services on par with Air Canada, but the Amenities kit was closer to and likely equal to American  The meal and snacks were rather good and you could choose your menu options shortly before a few days before your flight, and beverage service was on par with all the other carriers.  Seat was reasonably comfortable and fairly easy to maneuver and adjust.  Overall very little to distinguish it from the Air Canada flight except the plane itself and the amenities kit.  Duvet and pillow were comfortable and standard size.  

Seat Comfort: B+

Amenities: B+

Food, Beverage and Overall Service: A

If your business takes you to New York and you will spend some time on the ground, American is your choice.  If your travels take you to Canada then Air Canada’s 787 service is your answer.  American allowed access to the lounge before and after the flight, whereas Delta allowed it only before [as least as far as all notifications stated] on a layover.  Air Canada did not require a visit when landing, and I’m not sure if they would allow you access.  

[jourenyyworldd]

Lufthansa airlines business class number 1-8883030478

Lufthansa airlines business class number 1-8883030478  

 Lufthansa airlines business class seats

Lufthansa airines business class seats nuber

Lufthansa airlines business class 737

Lufthansa airines business class review

Your Guide to Lufthansa Business Class

 If you want luxury while jetting off across the country or across the world, you should know about business class. Lufthansa Business fares include a long list of perks and benefits you don’t get with an economy ticket. Read more to learn how Lufthansa Business class works and how to land a business class seat for your next travel adventure.

What is Lufthansa Business?

Lufthansa Business is a premium travel class from Lufthansa Airlines. This class of service is available for flights between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, in addition to some transcontinental flights.

With a business class ticket, you’ll likely have a more comfortable and convenient experience from the check-in counter to baggage claim. Here are the details on what to expect and how to book a flight on Lufthansa Business.

Lufthansa Business airport experience

An upgraded experience starts the moment you walk into the airport, as Premier Access amenities are part of being a Lufthansa Business passenger. Instead of heading to a long check-in line, you’ll go straight to the Premier Access line for the fastest service. If you have bags to check, you get up to two standard bags at no additional charge.

Premier Access moves you through the security line swiftly, too —  you’ll use a fast-lane around economy passengers. You’ll also have a Group 1 boarding pass and be among the first to board.

When you deplane on the other end, in addition to being at the front of the plane and getting off first, you’ll get your bags quickly. Priority tags tell baggage handlers to put your luggage at the front on the line and Premier Access designates that your bags should be among the first to show up at baggage claim.

Lufthansa Business in-flight experience

In the air, you’ll get a far more luxurious experience in business class than in the back of the plane. Business class features larger, more comfortable seats. The leather chairs come with electrical outlets, in-arm storage space (which fit books and laptops), a mobile device holder, and a bigger tray table area with room for drinks, a meal and space to do a little work or watch a movie at the same time.

Some Lufthansa flights, including the 767-300 configuration, feature a large section of lie-flat seats.

The routes between these cities offer premium transcontinental service:

·         Los Angeles and New York or Newark.

·         San Francisco and New York or Newark.

·         Boston and San Francisco.

These seats turn into a fully flat bed with six feet of sleeping space and your own 15-inch entertainment video monitor.

Depending on the plane, you’ll get some level of private screening. That means you'll be able to use a seatback screen or your personal device to watch shows on your own schedule. Business class also includes complimentary DirecTV service in the air. Wi-Fi internet still costs extra, however.

Alcoholic beverages are included, as well as premium snacks and meal service, depending on the route. Lufthansa works with a select group of chefs to create unique in-flight meals.

Overall, this is a great way to travel, but it doesn’t come cheap. Here's how you can make your way into Lufthansa Business class for your upcoming trip.

Booking Lufthansa Business class

Some of the best values for miles and points can come from a premium booking on Lufthansa. You can book with cash or points, or upgrade to Lufthansa Business.

·         Paid fares: The easiest way to fly business class is to pay for a Lufthansa Business ticket. This may be quite a bit more expensive than an economy fare, so it’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth the added cost.

·         Lufthansa MileagePlus awards: If you have enough miles in your MileagePlus account, you can log in to Lufthansa to book an award flight in Lufthansa Business class. While it uses more miles than economy, you often get the best value per mile when booking in a premium class of service.

·         Lufthansa Business upgrades: Lufthansa MileagePlus elite members, some Lufthansa credit card holders and other regular Lufthansa customers can get into a Lufthansa Business seat with an upgrade. Some customers qualify for free upgrades because of their status with the airline.

Rescheduling your Lufthansa Business class flight

If there’s a chance you’ll need to reschedule your flight, booking with Lufthansa in almost any class of service — whether Lufthansa Business or economy — provides flexible travel options. As of August 2020, Lufthansa doesn't charge change fees for most premium cabin tickets (as well as economy tickets) for flights within the U.S.

If your new flight costs less, you’ll be able to change for free but won't receive a refund of the fare difference. For example, maybe you really want an earlier flight and your flight was booked in business class. If a seat is available in economy but not business class, you can have the economy seat — but you’ll still have to eat the full cost of the business class flight. Similarly, if your new flight is more expensive than the original one you booked, you’ll have to pay the additional cost.

Additionally, Lufthansa will allow you to join the standby list for free starting Jan. 1, 2021, if you want to take an earlier Lufthansa flight on the same day.

MileagePlus Premier members have even more flexibility. Rather than try to fly standby, MileagePlus Premier members can request a same-day change for no extra charge, as long as the new flight is within 24 hours of the originally scheduled flight and has the same origin and destination with the same fare class is available. If you make a change to a more expensive flight class, you’ll have to pay the difference.

If you’re looking to book an award seat with Lufthansa, it helps to have a Lufthansa credit card. Having one linked to your MileagePlus account gives you access to award seats not open to the general public.

 Frequently asked questions

What does business class mean on Lufthansa Airlines?

Lufthansa offers two business class products: business class and Polaris. Lufthansa Business class is available on flights between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, as well as some U.S. transcontinental flights. Lufthansa Polaris is the carrier’s new business class product on long-haul international flights, offering a luxury experience with spacious seats, Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, restaurant quality dining, lie-flat beds, a separate cabin and more.

 Is Lufthansa Business class the same as first class?

Lufthansa First is available only on flights within the U.S. and Canada. Lufthansa Business class is available on flights between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, as well as some U.S. transcontinental flights. The first and business class offerings are quite similar.

 Does Lufthansa have lie-flat seats in business class?

It depends which business class product you’re flying because Lufthansa has two business class offerings: business class and Polaris. Lufthansa Business class is available on flights between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, as well as some U.S. transcontinental flights, and on these flights, there are no lie-flat seats. Lufthansa Polaris is the airline’s new business class product on long-haul international flights and the seats extend fully into lie-flat beds.

 Is all Lufthansa Business class Polaris?

No, because Lufthansa offers two distinct business class products. Lufthansa Business class is what you’re flying when traveling between the U.S. and Latin America or the Caribbean, as well as some U.S. transcontinental flights. Lufthansa Polaris is the airline’s business class product on long-haul international flights.

 The bottom line: Is Lufthansa Business class worth it?

If you can afford the added luxury of business class, it is a much nicer travel experience. Saving time in lines, enjoying a few complimentary drinks in the air and reclining in a lie-flat seat are all good reasons to choose business class.

Of course, that premium seat comes with an added cost. For many people, that makes business class with any airline a no-go. But if you have the means, Lufthansa Business class may be completely worthwhile.

[airtripsadvisor]

Reservations Support Desk for American Airlines- Explore the Skies as never before

Know all the information and handle bookings for American Airlines

American Airlines guarantees its passengers daily service with nearly 200 weekly departures served by the youngest fleet carriers in the US. It is the only carrier that has been providing three-class transcontinental and undeniably unrivaled land and air operation for more than eight decades now. American Airlines is the premier carrier for overseas and domestic destinations in Southern California. In over 55 countries, it serves 190 domestic and international destinations. Dallas, Hartford, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Bueno Aires are common routes served by American Airlines. You can fly to the rarest of destinations by making aa manage booking.

Reservations from American Airlines

Why Pick Reservations for American Airlines?

You should suggest American Airlines if you are planning on taking a trip to a destination that is difficult to access. It promises fares without putting a dent in your wallet to the rarest of destinations. You need to change your arrangements according to the flight date and time when making American Airlines reservations. The value is that you will benefit from discounted prices and discounts on booked flights. Beforehand.

In addition to delivering excellent deals and rewards, American Airlines also allows passengers to enjoy luxury and convenient facilities such as a manage booking

Convenient online booking and cancellation of seats before the departure of a train.

Quick updating of chairs.

Amazing baggage allowance deals.

Benefits of American Airlines membership.

Outstanding seats for power outlets and AC owners.

Impressive opportunities for in-flight entertainment.

Headphones and noise-canceling.

Dedicated reservation app for American Airlines Tickets.

Flawless in-flight facilities and amenities kit.

100+ Club Admirals.

Check-in on the internet, check-in via kiosks, and check-in counters.

By booking their tickets through the official website of American Airlines, clients can take advantage of the latest discounts and deals. If you book your tickets via their website, you will be able to manage the alternative for your booking and change your travel itinerary at every time before the flight's departure. No official involved, no advance payments to be made, choose from a plethora of offers and deals available on their website. What could be better than making reservations with American Airlines through their official website?

How to make reservations with American Airlines?

You should focus on American Airlines if you are looking to fly to a destination where no other airline covers. They deliver some of the best offers to make your travel easy and relaxed, including low-fare flights, accommodation, rental car, and trip advisors. Follow the instructions given below to make your American Airlines ticket reservations:-

Visit American Airlines' official website.

Tap on the choice 'Find flights'.

Pick the choice of 'Round trip,' 'One way,' or 'Multi-city.'

Join your airport of origin / famous destination.

Join the destination to which you want to fly.

The number of flying travelers, Adults and children included.

Mention the day and date to which you would like to fly.

On the phone, a list of flights will appear along with a travel class, choosing one choice that matches your time.

Fill in your particulars, including your first and last name, age, proof of address, address, gender, date of birth, and email ID.

Once done with it, before clicking on the continue tab, check your info.

Pick your favorite choice for payment and make your payment online.

You will get a confirmation email containing your booking reference number and ticket information after the payment is made. When flying, please carry the mail with you. If you are unable, somehow, to make an online booking,

Ask American Airlines Reservations for tickets Desk

American Airlines allows its customers to file their grievances via email, speak, or directly contact the support desk for customer service. For the ease of travelers, questions relating to online booking services, handling one's travel itinerary, flight termination, seat upgrade, or something related to American Airlines reservations can be answered via their customer support department, which runs round the clock.

The booking experts will go the extra mile to help you break a bargain to get the thing done, whether you are trying to adjust your travel itinerary or making ticket reservations with American airlines. Whilst affiliated with

You will never go above your dreams, American Airlines.

Why pick the App for American Airlines?

Yeah, we're not trying to deny the fact that the submissions are usually much cooler than the official website itself. The American Airlines app, in which you can snatch great prices and discounts before any other co-passenger, is a related example. The user interface of the program is user-friendly and helps you to monitor the itinerary of your flight and make advance reservations with American Airlines, which can be canceled any time prior to the departure of the flight. You will get early notice linked to discounted deals arriving shortly, apart from the simpler reservation process. What could be better than booking your property? Are the lowest fares available on the market for tickets? Use their American Airlines app to make your American Airlines ticket reservations today to enjoy a convenient and luxurious service on board.

American Airlines Booking- Travel to your dream destination in an economical way

The days when patrons used to wait long hours for their airline tickets to be booked are gone. One can do it from anywhere in a few seconds with the use of advanced technologies. Booking for American Airlines is now a quick three to four-step process. There is no reason for passengers to go through any trouble while purchasing flight tickets. America still aims to provide its clients with the right services, Passengers are the airline's highest concern. In order to buy flight tickets at competitive prices, American Airlines continues to announce the newest and unique for its passengers. If you don't know how to book airline tickets, you can simply type "Book a flight with American Airlines" over the internet to find the related results. Look for the right flight that fits your budget and pick it.

How does American Airlines make reservations?

American Airlines is the biggest carrier in the country, supplying its customers with seamless services. Its services are currently being provided by the carrier to 305 destinations. With their flawless customer service, beautiful interiors, American Airlines has played a notable part in the aviation industry with tasty food and beverages during journeys. The airline provides you with plenty of options to conveniently book flight tickets. After booking flights, you can also click on the American Airlines manage booking option to manage your entire booking process.

Mobile app by American Airlines

Your loyal fellow traveler is the smartphone application of the airline. At any point in your trip, this app will help you. On your smartphone, download the software and use it for better performance. You will get everything you need right where you need it with this smartphone app. To make your reservation, open the app and click on the flight option. You should make use of the software when making bookings with American Airlines, check-in, cancellation of tickets, receiving a boarding pass, etc.

The official platform of American Airlines

The most popular way used by passengers to buy flight tickets is via the american airline seat confirmation. Visit the web to make reservations, check-in procedures, refund and cancelation, baggage policies, etc. with your American Airlines. On your web browser, open the official website of American Airlines and click on the 'find flights' link. Fill in all the necessary fields after this to progress further in the booking process. Tap on the search tab after filling in all the fields, and see all the available flights.

American Airlines Boarding phone number

For the comfort of travelers, the airline's phone number is available 24/7. This dedicated number was made solely available to its passengers. And at unusual hours, do not hesitate to call the number. Concerning your American Airlines booking, you should call them. The airline agents are going to guide you do the same thing. To communicate with the airline official, call the airline's phone number and obey the speech instructions. Share the troubles and get the best possible answer. Make your reservation using any of the three methods with American Airlines today. Book it quickly or regret it later. American Airlines range for the next one perfect alternative will be a travel venture.

Manage booking by American Airlines-Be updated for your entire travel

If you are inquiring about often asked questions such as "Manage my booking with American Airlines," then here are some easy measures.

Open the official website of American Airlines and log in after your credentials have been filled in.

You can see the "My Trips" link on the airline's home page, then click on it to handle your entire booking.

After this, you have to fill the mandatory areas, such as passenger first name, passenger last name, and booking reference.

Tap on the 'Find Reservation' tab now. Your reservation opens on your computer.

You can also check-in online in this section, You will even check-in online in this segment to eliminate any last-minute inconvenience.

You will also track your reservations for American Airlines on the airline's smartphone app. You should ask airline agents for urgent assistance if you want to know something relevant to your air travel. They're just a call away. Book tickets and visit your favorite destination now. american airline seat confirmation

In the "My Trip" portion, what are the modifications one can make?

Passengers can need to be checked with their whole reservation after getting the booking completed. If they need to make some adjustments to their booking with American Airlines, they can visit this site. Upgrade of travel class- After buying American Airlines tickets, passengers can also upgrade their travel class. You can see the option to upgrade your travel class, and click on it to make the appropriate adjustments.

Book-in-American Airlines encourages its travelers to conveniently check-in online. In the lengthy check-in wait, many travelers do not want to stand; that's why they choose to check in online. If you just want to check-in before the flight's scheduled departure, you can do so by visiting the "My Trips" site, where you can track your booking with American Airlines.

If there is some unexpected change in your travel schedule and you wish to make adjustments to your reservation, you must move to the "My Trips" portion. Make all the necessary modifications and have a fun ride.

Choosing a favorite seat is as important as choosing low airfares for your trip as choosing an ideal seat for a journey. Choose your favorite seat until your flight departs and make your ride relaxed and easy.

Use the coupon codes and seasonal promotions of American Airlines to save on your reservation with American Airlines. Without hitting hard on your wallet, book a decent fare.

Reservations from American Airlines: Contact for Booking Assistance

Travelers who make up their minds, whether for company or pleasure, for a short trip or a long-haul journey; we recommend that you book American Airlines so you would be more affordable relative to booking flights from any other US-based airline. So, get yourself equipped and book an American flight to every destination in the world without thinking about travel prices, as the air carrier gives you the finest airline deals at the most affordable rates that you wouldn't find else.

Reservations for American Airlines can be made online via the official website or a dedicated airline app. For final bookings, passengers who are able to book a flight can review the fares online. A lot of tempting discounts and incentives are flooded into the airline's official website so that everybody can make their travel dream a reality. One can also access the dedicated booking agents by calling on American Airlines reservations support desk for flight booking assistance. In addition, travelers who are not pleased with the deals and offers reported on the website of the airline contract will communicate with the members of the airline and access inexpensive undisclosed deals.

Book a flight with Grab Offers on American Airlines

Whichever nation you plan to fly in the world, American Airlines would be your best choice. AA has been leading the way in the aviation business since 1936. AA is currently responsible for the maintenance of more than 3500 daily flights. In terms of fleet size, destination served, passengers transported, and passenger-kilometer flown, it is still the world's largest carrier. In certain cases, however, individuals face some problems while American Airlines reserves a flight phase. That's why the carrier has launched a range of modes for booking airline tickets.

Because of the world-class amenities available both on the plane and at the terminal, millions of individuals make American Airlines bookings every year. AA not only has comprehensive air access to all areas of the globe but also offers welcoming policies for travelers so that passengers can enjoy a hassle-free flight.

The airline acknowledges that it can be a tiresome job to locate the desired flight booking offers. That is why AA publishes on the official site of American Airlines an enticing selection of flight offers. In addition, individuals may also ask an advisor to take advantage of a designated airline agent for the appropriate offers. Telephone link with American Airlines.

Book an American Airlines Flight

AA provides lucrative travel booking packages if you want to make an American Airlines reservation for a round-trip, last-minute flight booking, and multi-city flight. American Airlines will take you there to find American Airlines domestic flights available to your favorite destination, from small towns to major cities.

AA made it all too easy for you. Any person may make reservations for American Airlines flights using the various methods provided by the airline.

Official AA Website

The airline's official website is the best portal that a person can use to book tickets since it includes all the flight booking offers that are going. People may take advantage of lucrative travel discounts and other facilities, such as online check-in, booking management, etc. If you are looking to fly on flights with AA, follow the steps below to book a flight with American Airlines.

Go to the official American Airlines website, i.e. aa.com On the home page, you'll see a travel search engine. In the 'BOOK' section, click on the 'Flight' button open.

Then you need to pick the sort of flight on which you would like to book an American Airlines flight.

In the 'Depart' area, insert the desired travel date. If you have selected a round trip, then pick a return ticket date as well.

Following your given information, you will be led to the page listing all available flights.

Pick all of the flights that fit your budget and travel schedule.

The next page will show you the preview of the chosen flight ticket. Your AA account has to be signed in. Tap on the "Log in and continue" button and enter the correct credentials for your account.

Tap on the 'Continue as a Visitor' button if you don't have an account.

On the next tab, you will be requested to provide details about passengers. Create. Make, make.

Be sure to enter the right data and proceed to book a flight with American Airlines.

In order, to complete the flight reservation process, you need to take the appropriate steps and obey the on-screen directions.

The measures mentioned above will help you quickly book AA flight tickets. If you do not want to manually book a ticket or are unable to locate the desired flight prices, then choose another mode to complete the booking process for American Airlines.

Reservation Figure for American Airlines

AA makes a reservation that is available on the airline's official website. This dedicated number will be used by people in need and to communicate with an airline officials number is available round the clock, and you can get the expert's timely assistance. To communicate with a specified professional, dial the dedicated number and obey the speech prompts. Ask the American Airlines booking assistance specialist and provide the necessary information, such as date of flight, destination, etc. The professional may also be asked about the desired flight offers.

Mobile App from American Airlines:

AA recognizes the need for the market, so American Airlines has released a smartphone app that can be downloaded from Google Play Store, Apple Store, and the official website. Download and update the dedicated mobile app and control AA resources at your fingertips from the chosen platform.

These are the three approaches provided by AA that individuals should use to book a flight with American Airlines. If you are ever unable to book a flight, you can talk to a professional in the customer service department.

In addition to the effortless flight booking process, American Airlines also provides traveler-friendly policies to improve the experience of travelers as much as possible. All the facilities offered by the airline are created specifically for one reason, and that is the comfort of a flyer, from a robust luggage policy to cancellation by American Airlines.In addition, if you have any questions about AA services, you are free to dial the number of the helpline listed on the official website of American Airlines and address your question in no time.

Cancellations by American Airlines

Policy on Cancellation by American Airlines

Travel schedules can be uncertain; things don't happen the way we expect and hinder the plans sometimes. Flight cancellation is a critical point when it comes to air passengers, and most airlines apply high flight cancellation charges. As this is not the case for American Airlines Cancellation. The carrier is known for delivering flyer-friendly policies internationally. AA has always put passenger satisfaction as their key focus.

In comparison, in terms of fleet size, passengers transported, sales, destinations served, and passenger kilometers traveled, American Airlines is the world's largest airline. Because of the best airline services, the airline has gained quite a reputation in the aviation industry and among individuals. About any part of the world is provided by the AA with world-class inflight facilities and robust flight connectivity.

If, however, you have booked a ticket with American Airlines and want some cancellation advice, then you are at the right spot, we have covered any point relevant to the cancellation policy 2020 of American Airlines.

Read Also: air canada booking | british airways flight booking

[bigyack-com]

Air Canada Takes Delivery of First Airbus A220-300

Air Canada has taken delivery of its first Airbus A220-300. Designed, built and delivered from the Mirabel A220 programme facilities in Canada, the aircraft will enter service in January 2020. Air Canada is the first airline to operate the A220-300, formerly the Bombardier CS300, in North America. The A220, the first of 45 that the Montreal-based airline has on order, has a dual-class cabin that seats 137 passengers - 12 in business class and 125 in economy class.

“This is a highly anticipated moment for Air Canada as we welcome this game-changing aircraft into our fleet, the next step in our fleet modernisation,” said Michael Rousseau, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Air Canada. “It will not only allow us to transport our customers in comfort, but also further our environmental commitment with its improved efficiency. The A220 will enable Air Canada to strengthen our position on transborder and transcontinental markets and will be key to our continued growth. Our customers will benefit from the A220’s innovative design features, including a choice of two spacious and comfortable cabins, larger overhead bins, bigger windows and a quieter experience in flight.” Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines, the A220 will allow Air Canada to fly Montreal to Seattle as well as Toronto to San Jose, as of Spring 2020. “This delivery is a historical moment and makes all of us at Airbus Canada extremely proud. In just a few weeks, Canadians will be able to fly on board this Canadian-designed and assembled aircraft for the first time in Air Canada’s distinctive and emblematic Maple Leaf livery that symbolizes Canada around the world,” said Philippe Balducchi, CEO, Airbus Canada Limited Partnership and Head of Country, Canada for Airbus. The first Air Canada A220 will be unveiled to the public and media during a ceremony at the airline’s headquarters in Montreal on 15 January 2020. See latest Travel News, Interviews, Podcasts and other news regarding: Air Canada, A220-300, A220. Headlines: Vietjet Takes Delivery of Two More Airbus Aircraft  Two Executive Appointments at Bombardier Aviation  Air India No Longer Available on Sabre GDS  Thailand Targets Tourism Revenue of 3.18 Trillion Baht in 2020  Pictures from Ascot United vs Banstead Athletic on 4 Jan 2020  Gen Z - Airbnb's Fastest Growing Market for Experiences in Asia Pacific  Air Canada Takes Delivery of First Airbus A220-300  AirAsia Launches Flights Between Kuala Lumpur and Dalat, Vietnam  Cebu Pacific Orders 15 Airbus Aircraft, Including Up To 10 A321XLRs  American Airlines and Royal Air Maroc to Codeshare  New Immigration Requirements to Help Solomon Islands Fight Measles  Vietjet Launches Danang - Singapore Flights  American Express GBT Forecasts Stable Air Prices in 2020  Etihad and Kuwait Airways to Codeshare  PAG and Inmark Purchase Grand Hyatt Seoul  British Airways and Iberia Achieve IATA NDC @Scale Certification  Air Caraïbes Takes Delivery of First A350-1000  Aman Signs Fourth Resort in Japan  Hamilton to Host HSBC New Zealand Sevens 25-26 January 2020  Thales' New Touchscreen Cockpit Displays Now Available on Airbus A350s  Mongolian Airlines to Expand Network with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner  British Airways to Trial AI-Powered Robots at London Heathrow  Dusit Thani Resort Opens in Shuangyue Bay, China  Six Senses Signs First Hotel in UK  Mandarin Oriental to Take Over Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi  Cebu Pacific Offering Passengers Roaming WiFi Kits  Air France Orders 60 Airbus A220-300 Aircraft  Sindhorn Midtown Hotel in Bangkok Appoints Jee Hoong Tan as GM  British Airways to Launch LHR Flights to Portland, USA  Braathens Takes Delivery of First of Five New ATR 72-600s  Cebu Pacific Joins IATA  Thailand: Airbnb Adds Saraburi to Beyond Big Cities Campaign  New International Rugby Sevens Competition to be Launched in February  Sindhorn Midtown Hotel in Bangkok Appoints Nicha Ruenthip as DOSM  Qatar Airways to Launch Flights to Santorini and Dubrovnik  British Airways Signs Joint Business Agreement with China Southern  Air Canada Rouge Completes In-Flight Wi-Fi Installation  Saab Wins Order for Digital Air Traffic Towers in Netherlands  Whitbread Secures Fourth Premier Inn Hotel in Dublin, Ireland  Amman to Host CAPA Middle East & Africa Aviation Summit 2020  Boeing to Suspend Production of 737 MAX  Cathay Pacific's Inbound Hong Kong Traffic Down 46% in November  Singapore Airlines to Launch Flights to Brussels, Belgium  Wego Signs Retailing Agreement with ATPCO  GTR Opens Air Cargo Hub at KLIA Air Cargo Terminal 1  Bombardier Uses SAF to Deliver Challenger 350 to Latitude 33 Aviation  Swiss-Belhotel Signs First Hotel in Malaysia  Czech Air Force Orders Two More Airbus C295 Aircraft  New Boeing-Built Satellite to Orbit Over Asia Pacific  Third Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Opens in Malaysia  Hong Kong Airport Reports Further Drop in Pax, Cargo and Flights  Air Canada Launches Flights Between Vancouver and Auckland, New Zealand  Andaz Macau Appoints Chikako Shimizu as GM  Cathay Pacific to Take Over Air New Zealand's Auckland-Hong Kong Service  Four Seasons Opens Second Luxury Resort in Megeve, France  Ireland's Department of Defence Orders Two Airbus C295 Aircraft  Best Western Plus Opens in Nairobi, Kenya  Qatar Airways Launches Flights to Gaborone, Botswana  Korean Air to Revamp SkyPass Frequent Flyer Program  Embraer E175-E2 Performs Maiden Flight  Charlie Sullivan Joins CWT's Air Distribution Team  Marriott Opens Third Sheraton Hotel in Beijing, China  Radisson Blu Opens Resort in Cam Ranh, Vietnam  Qantas Chooses Airbus A350-1000 for Ultra Long-Haul Flights  Executive Appointments at Banyan Tree  BA to Launch LHR Flights to Six New European Destinations in 2020  Korean Air to Revamp SkyPass Frequent Flyer Program  Embraer E175-E2 Performs Maiden Flight  Charlie Sullivan Joins CWT's Air Distribution Team  Marriott Opens Third Sheraton Hotel in Beijing, China  Radisson Blu Opens Resort in Cam Ranh, Vietnam  Qantas Chooses Airbus A350-1000 for Ultra Long-Haul Flights  Executive Appointments at Banyan Tree  BA to Launch LHR Flights to Six New European Destinations in 2020  How Technology is Shaping Airports of the Future  FCM and Flight Centre Achieve NDC Level 4 Certification  Dusit Rebrands Luxury Resort in Philippines  Emirates Launches Flights to Mexico via Barcelona  Air Canada's First Airbus A220-300 Completes Maiden Flight  FAA Certifies ExecuJet MRO Malaysia to Work on Dassault Jets  AirAsia Launches Snap  Air France-KLM Orders 10 A350-900 Aircraft  Bundeswehr Takes Delivery of First Airbus H145 SAR Helicopter  Drew Crawley to Join American Express Global Business Travel as CCO  Cape Town 7s 2019 to Take Place 13-15 December  Congo Airways to Replace Dash 8-400s with Embraer E175 Aircraft  Ascent Solutions Installs Two E-Gates at NAIA 2 Departures  Michel Poussau Appointed GM of Rugby World Cup 2023  Wetherspoon to Invest £200 Million Developing New Pubs and Hotels  IATA Asks EU to Support Sustainable Aviation Fuel Transition  Boeing Delivers First Modified MV-22 Osprey to United States Marine Corps  Marriott Signs Six Hotels in India  Accor to Rebrand Hotel in Queensland, Australia  MHG Signs Two Hotels in Doha, Qatar  Vietjet Launches Flights to New Delhi from Hanoi and Saigon  SKY Signs Purchase Agreement for 10 Airbus A321XLRs  British Airways Trials 3D Printing  SAS' First A350 to Enter Long-Haul Service on 28 January  Air Italy and Oman Air Sign Codeshare Agreement  ACH and Aston Martin to Unveil 'New Creation' in January  Qantas Signs FFP Agreement with Air France - KLM Group  Malaysia Airlines Launches Shuttle Fares on Flights Between KL and Singapore  Accor to Open 125-Room Mercure Hotel in Canberra in January  Openings Push Australia's Hotel Inventory to Over 300,000 Rooms  Alban Dutemple Appointed Cluster GM of Two Hotels in Bahrain  Air New Zealand Trials Edible Coffee Cups  Manchester Airport Unveils Details of £1 Billion Transformation  South Africa Beat New Zealand to Win Dubai Sevens  Aviation: RPKs Up 3.4% in October 2019  China Airlines to Launch Flights Between Taipei and Cebu, Philippines  Marriott Adds North Island Seychelles to Luxury Collection  Trenchard Aviation Appoints Neil Watkins as Group DOSM  J. Scott Kirby to Succeed Oscar Munoz as CEO of United Airlines  Vietjet to Launch Hanoi - Bali Flights  London Stansted to Host CAPA World Aviation Outlook Summit 2020  JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok Completes Renovation  Air Freight: FTKs Down 3.5% in October; APAC Down 5.3%  Carl Volschenk Joins Sheraton Grand Danang as GM  American Airlines Adds Passport Chip Scanning to Mobile App  TCEB Partners Thai Airways to Launch APAC MaxiMICE Campaign  United Airlines Orders 50 Airbus A321XLR Aircraft  Four Seasons Signs First Hotel in New Orleans  Aman Venice Appoints Norbert Niederkofler as Consultant Chef  Bombardier to Relocate Global Aircraft Production  Airbus Appoints New Communications Leadership Team  Malaysia and Turkish Airlines Sign Codeshare Agreement  Marco Violano Joins Four Seasons Jakarta as Executive Chef  World's First Zest OK Youth Hotel Opens in New Zealand  Dubai Sevens Set to Kick Off 2020 Season  Boeing to Give $48 Million to Over 400 Global Charitable Organizations  Dusit Thani Hua Hin Completes First Phase of Renovation  British & Irish Lions' Itinerary for 2021 Tour of South Africa  Airbus Signs Global Support Contract for Tiger Helicopters  Over 400 Now Connected to Travelport's Rich Content and Branding  Qantas Opens First Class Lounge at Changi Airport in Singapore  British Airways Empowers Airport Staff to Solve Issues on the Spot  Next Story Group Launches New Hotel Brand  Air New Zealand Launches Flights Between Christchurch and Singapore  Vietjet to Launch Saigon - Pattaya Flights  India and Colombia Certify Mi-171A2 from Russian Helicopters  Qatar Airways Cargo Unveils Major South America Expansion  CWT Meetings & Events Restructures Leadership Team  Air France to Operate Flights from San Francisco Using SAF  Four Seasons Seychelles Appoints Kevin Lopes as Exec. Pastry Chef  Vietjet to Increase Flights Between Vietnam and South Korea  Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor Opens Khmer Restaurant, 1932  Airbus Celebrates 100th A220 Aircraft Produced  CINZ Appoints Lisa Hopkins as Chief Executive  Amadeus to Upgrade Travel Experience at Perth Airport in Australia  Travelport Makes First API-Connection Bookings for Qantas Using NDC  Sustainable Success for Ocean Marina Pattaya Boat Show 2019  Air Corsica Takes Delivery of First Airbus A320neo Aircraft  Bangkok Airways Partners Krungthep Limousine in Trat  431-Room Novotel Hotel in Perth to Soft Open on 19 December  Malaysia Airlines Launches New In-Flight Services  GICC Macau Appoints Joey Pather as Senior Vice President - MICE  Renaissance Hotel Opens in Xiamen, China  Finnair Partners Chef DeAille Tam for New Business Class Menu  Simon Barnett Joins Four Seasons Singapore as Hotel Manager  FCM Achieves TMC Elite Level Within SAP Concur Partner Program  Club Med to Open Kota Kinabalu Resort in 2022  SAS Takes Delivery of First Airbus A350-900  Seaplanes in Thailand? Interview with Dennis Keller, CBO of Siam Seaplane  Asia Pacific Airlines Carried 30.7m Int. Pax in October  BA and Aston Martin Celebrate Concorde with Ten Very Special Cars  Premier Inn to Eliminate Unnecessary Single-Use Plastics by 2025  Gold Coast Airport to Enhance Security with New CT Screening Systems  China's Airlines and Airports Investing in Chatbots, Biometrics and Blockchain  Marriott Bonvoy Partners Tennis Australia  Executive Appointments at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto  Korean Forest Service Takes Delivery of K7 S-64 Air Crane Helicopter  First of 353 Airbus A321neos Enters Service with AirAsia  Two Lagoon Sixty 7 Catamarans Sold to Customers in Far East  Novotel Partners Calm to Enhance Sleep Experience for Guests  SpiceJet Appoints APG as GSA in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and Switzerland  Slow Travel and Micro Escapes Becoming More Popular with Singaporeans  Mandarin Oriental Signs Hotel & Residences in Tel Aviv, Israel  Bombardier's Montreal Facilities Receives First Sustainable Aviation Fuel  Executive Appointments at British & Irish Lions  Jared Green Joins Six Senses Fiji as DOSM  Seaplanes in Thailand? Interview with Dennis Keller, CBO of Siam Seaplane  Accor Opens Novotel Christchurch Airport Hotel  Air Astana to Launch Almaty - Paris Flights  Subhas Menon to Become AAPA Director General in March  Airlift Takes Delivery of First Airbus H145 Helicopter  Inge Kotze Joins Singita as GM - Conservation  Teleport Signs Interline Agreement with Lufthansa Cargo  British Airways Opens Refurbished Airport Lounge in Geneva  CAE to Deploy Bombardier Global 7500 FFS in Dubai  Simpson Marine - Interview with Howard Prime, Country Manager Thailand  Finnair to Cancel About 257 Flights on Monday  Boeing Unveils First 737 MAX 10  Hyatt Signs Two Hotels in Saigon, Vietnam  PHG Appoints Angeline Hon as Group Marketing and Communications Director  Airbus Delivers First of Two H145M Helicopters to Luxembourg  Ghana Signs MOU with Boeing for Three 787-9 Dreamliners  IHG Opens Second voco Hotel in Oxford, England  Air Senegal Signs MOU for Eight Airbus A220-300s  Emirates Converts Boeing 777 Order for 30 787-9 Dreamliners  Erik Lannge Appointed GM of Villa de Pranakorn in Bangkok  Seven HD Videos from IATA Airline Industry Retailing Symposium 2019 in Bangkok  Vietnam Airlines Signs EngineWise Service Agreement with Pratt & Whitney  Future of Airline Distribution and NDC - Interview with Yanik Hoyles, IATA  Cambodia Airways Interview with Lucian Hsing, Commercial Director  HD Videos and Interviews  Podcasts from HD Video Interviews  Travel Trade Shows in 2019, 2020 and 2021  High-Res Picture Galleries  Travel News Asia - Latest Travel Industry News  Read the full article

[47burlm]

August 26, 1974

Charles Lindbergh, the first man to accomplish a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, dies in Maui, Hawaii, at the age of 72.

Charles Augustus Lindbergh, born in Detroit in 1902, took up flying at the age of 20. In 1923, he bought a surplus World War I Curtiss “Jenny” biplane and toured the country as a barnstorming stunt flyer. In 1924, he enrolled in the Army Air Service flying school in Texas and graduated at the top of his class as a first lieutenant. He became an airmail pilot in 1926 and pioneered the route between St. Louis and Chicago. Among U.S. aviators, he was highly regarded.

In May 1919, the first transatlantic flight was made by a U.S. hydroplane that flew from New York to Plymouth, England, via Newfoundland, the Azores Islands, and Lisbon. Later that month, Frenchman Raymond Orteig, an owner of hotels in New York, put up a purse of $25,000 to the first aviator or aviators to fly nonstop from Paris to New York or New York to Paris. In June 1919, the British fliers John W. Alcock and Arthur W. Brown made the first nonstop transatlantic flight, flying 1,960 miles from Newfoundland to Ireland. The flight from New York to Paris would be nearly twice that distance.

Orteig said his challenge would be good for five years. In 1926, with no one having attempted the flight, Orteig made the offer again. By this time, aircraft technology had advanced to a point where a few people did believe such a flight might be possible. Several of the world’s top aviators—including American polar explorer Richard Byrd and French flying ace Rene Fonck—decided to accept the challenge, and so did Charles Lindbergh.

Lindbergh convinced the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce to sponsor the flight, and a budget of $15,000 was set. The Ryan Airlines Corporation of San Diego volunteered to build a single-engine aircraft to his specifications. Extra fuel tanks were added, and the wing span was increased to 46 feet to accommodate the additional weight. The main fuel tank was placed in front of the cockpit because it would be safest there in the event of a crash. This meant Lindbergh would have no forward vision, so a periscope was added. To reduce weight, everything that was not utterly essential was left out. There would be no radio, gas gauge, night-flying lights, navigation equipment, or parachute. Lindbergh would sit in a light seat made of wicker. Unlike other aviators attempting the flight, Lindbergh would be alone, with no navigator or co-pilot.

The aircraft was christened The Spirit of St. Louis, and on May 12, 1927, Lindbergh flew it from San Diego to New York, setting a new record for the fastest transcontinental flight. Bad weather delayed Lindbergh’s transatlantic attempt for a week. On the night of May 19, nerves and a newspaperman’s noisy poker game kept him up all night. Early the next morning, though he hadn’t slept, the skies were clear, and he rushed to Roosevelt Field on Long Island. Six men had died attempting the long and dangerous flight he was about to take.

At 7:52 a.m. EST on May 20, The Spirit of St. Louis lifted off from Roosevelt Field, so loaded with fuel that it barely cleared the telephone wires at the end of the runway. Lindbergh traveled northeast up the coast. After only four hours, he felt tired and flew within 10 feet of the water to keep his mind clear. As night fell, the aircraft left the coast of Newfoundland and set off across the Atlantic. At about 2 a.m. on May 21, Lindbergh passed the halfway mark, and an hour later dawn came. Soon after, The Spirit of St. Louis entered a fog, and Lindbergh struggled to stay awake, holding his eyelids open with his fingers and hallucinating that ghosts were passing through the cockpit.

After 24 hours in the air, he felt a little more awake and spotted fishing boats in the water. At about 11 a.m. (3 p.m. local time), he saw the coast of Ireland. Despite using only rudimentary navigation, he was two hours ahead of schedule and only three miles off course. He flew past England and by 3 p.m. EST was flying over France. It was 8 p.m. in France, and night was falling.

At the Le Bourget Aerodrome in Paris, tens of thousands of Saturday night revelers had gathered to await Lindbergh’s arrival. At 10:24 a.m. local time, his gray and white monoplane slipped out of the darkness and made a perfect landing in the air field. The crowd surged on The Spirit of St. Louis, and Lindbergh, weary from his 33 1/2-hour, 3,600-mile journey, was cheered and lifted above their heads. He hadn’t slept for 55 hours. Two French aviators saved Lindbergh from the boisterous crowd, whisking him away in an automobile. He was an immediate international celebrity.

President Calvin Coolidge dispatched a warship to take the hero home, and “Lucky Lindy” was given a ticker-tape parade in New York and presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. His place in history, however, was not complete.

In 1932, he was the subject of international headlines again when his infant son, Charles Jr., was kidnapped, unsuccessfully ransomed, and then found murdered in the woods near the Lindbergh home. German-born Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted of the crime in a controversial trial and then executed.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Lindbergh became a spokesperson for U.S. isolationism and was sharply criticized for his apparent Nazi sympathies and anti-Semitic views. After the outbreak of World War II, the fallen hero traveled to the Pacific as a military observer and eventually flew more than two dozen combat missions, including one in which he downed a Japanese aircraft. Lindbergh’s wartime service largely restored public faith in him, and for many years he worked with the U.S. government on aviation issues. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve. He died in Hawaii in 1974.

[taswhapstuff]

Industrialization vs Imperialism

The Industrial Revolution began in the 18th century in Britain when the process of making goods start the involving of mass production with the introduction of the cotton gin, transcontinental railroad, electricity and other inventions that permanently changed society. The process has transform human society from an agriculture to an urban and industrial societies. Following up with Industrialization is a new process called Imperialism. Imperialism arose during the 19th century. The demand of raw material, new markets, high revenue investments, and global influence power triggered this process. However, which one has negative effects on the society, and which has positive effects, or both? Uhmmm.................................................................................................................

The first big positive consequence of the Industrialization is raising the society’s living standard. There is no doubt that industrialization altered all aspect of the society since 20th century: from the way works are done, goods are produced to people’s life. This change can especially easy to be seen in middle and upper-class. New big operations such as Ford and American Tobacco were established and monopolized the whole market, from there, the wealth was emphasized than ever before. Technologies and machines are able to replace human in a dangerous and high physical demanding jobs. In the 2018, most simple jobs can be found to be replaced by machines, such as cashiers, telephone operations, and even travel agents. This changes have given human more leisure time. Also, most dramatically was for the lower class, where goods became more affordable and accessible. With the rise of factories and new machines, goods from clothing, household goods, tools, and food started to drop their price and make it easier to access. The introduction of factories full of machines made it’s possible to produce items faster and much cheaper than it is made by hand. The rise in the supply of various items with a better price allow everyone, in every class, to enhance their quality of life. The ability of raising people’s standard of living means the level of wealth, comfort, material goods, and necessities available have increased and people are enjoying their life more.

Another benefit that we, humankind, own industrialization is its important role in the rapid evolution of medicine. Besides the ability to increase the production of goods, the developed technology and machines able the development of advanced medicine. The Industrial Revolution was the engine behind carious advances in the medical fields as new technologies such as scalpels, microscope lenses, test tubes, and other equipment’s were developed. Along with the ability of opening boarder experiments, there were five medical achievements that changed people’s life for the best: Small pox vaccination, discovery of the anesthetic, discovery of x-rays, invention of aspirin, and blood transfusion. According to the statistics, the population in England and Wales has increased from over 6 million people, before the Industrial Revolution, to over 25 million people in 135 years. Another consequence of advanced medicine is the lower death rate and people are able to live longer for example, the average living age in the United States rose from 70 to 80 from 1950 to 2018.

If human are supported life in many ways: higher living standard, better health, and better supply of food, Industrialization has killed the environment. Activities produced by the Industrialization have leaf a negative mark on both land and in the atmosphere. But, what it has contributed to the climate change is the most profound. The raw materials used in factories as fuel to produce manufactured goods consistently release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as their byproduct. This byproduct then be trapped and formed a Carbon Dioxide Blanket around the earth, which prevent the heat on earth from escaping. As the result, global warming occurs. Before, in 1750, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air was 275 to 290 parts per million by volume (ppmv); in 2017, the number is 400 ppvm. With the current population growing rate, the more factories will be built to meet the high demand, which means the more CO2 is produced and released into the atmosphere. More and more, the biosphere will be changed amorously. That is the effect of Industrialization on the earth’s atmosphere, there is also the destruction of land through the endless human activities on exploiting the earth’s materials for dwindling stock for plants and animals and raw material such as gold, silver, or diamond.

Similar to Industrialization, Imperialism also placed both positive and negative consequences on humankind. The Imperialism gave benefits to both the colonial empire and colonies. For the colonial empire, Imperialism gave the imperialists a new market, a new labor force, a new supply of raw materials. Since the colonies were mainly undeveloped nations, low wages labor force and abundant raw materials were the biggest attraction for the industrialists in the colonial empires. Vice versa, for the colonies, the living standard of people there is also increased under this new process imperialism provided improvements and construction of local infrastructure, such as roads, highways, schools and. Especially is the efforts put in improving education and sanitation by Europe to colonize weak. Countries such as African was so desolate that they needed proper education facilities. More and more, with its effort, the literacy rates came up. In major parts of the world, the education system being followed was set up by the imperialists themselves afterward.

Besides many advantages, there are also many disadvantages have been created to the colonial regions by Imperialism. One of the direct effects was the loss of lands of native people and were under the control and suppression of their colonizers. As the result, they did not have a place to call one’s own. Colonial empires were subjected to heavy taxation policies, draining them of their wealth. Natives had no role in the government which was pathetic. No power was left in the hands of the natives. They were just puppets in the hands of colonizers. Loss of culture and customs was another issue and the process was evitable. When the colonizers took over, they made a lot cultures and customs illegal. It led to the loss of rather rich and artful customs that are lamented even today. For example, when British captured India, they destroyed their native culture. This change in culture also lead to the feeling of discrimination and prejudice was increased. The loss of nationalism in the natives and their suffering under the control of imperialists have a long-term effect that last until now.

From the arguments mentioned above, we can see that either Industrialization or Imperialism has positive and negative effects on the societies in the history. In another words, both processes’ effects satisfy the metaphor of “two sides of the coin”. We don’t know which side they lean more toward, but we did know that both Industrialization and Imperialism have altered our human societies in various ways.

[tripstations]

Which private jet is best for my trip?

With over 7000 private jets available to charter worldwide, choosing the right private jet for your trip can often be a difficult decision. Here is an overview of the most popular aircraft types available, making sure you choose the best private jet for your trip.

VLJ (Very Light Jet)

A Very Light Jet (VLJ) also known as an entry-level jet is the smallest private jet category, seating 4-5 passengers. They are cheaper to run than their standard private jet counterparts making them a more cost effective choice for short-haul journeys of up to 2 hours. They can also use smaller runways. However, there is limited cabin space and baggage capacity is often restricted on these types of jets.

VLJ examples: Citation Mustang, Citation M2, Phenom 100

Light jet

The light jet is a very popular private jet within the marketplace. It has a  flight range of up to 2.5 hours with seating for up to 8 passengers. It is a very economical choice making it an ideal choice for short to mid-range city hops. This jet category also benefits from being able to land at smaller airports, getting you closer to your destination. Light jets have been a popular option since the launch of the business jet market about 50 years ago.

Light Jet examples: Citation CJ2/CJ3/CJ4, Citation Bravo, Learjet 40, Premier 1 

The super light jet category offers even more cabin and luggage space compared to a light jet. They are a popular choice, appreciated for their speed, comfort and performance. With a flight range of up to 4.5 hours, enabling non-stop flights between cities such as Paris and Moscow.

Super light jet examples: Learjet 75, Phenom 300, Citation XLS

Midsize jet

The midsize jet category offers a sleeker, more comfortable stand-up cabin, with greater luggage capacity.  There is seating for up to 10 passengers, with some models offering flight attendant services. With a flight range of up to 5 hours, it makes it an ideal choice for longer range  travel or for travel with larger passenger capacity requirements. A pressurized cabin makes at-altitude travel comfortable; all models have a lavatory and some models are WI-FI enabled, making in-flight work possible.

Midsize jet examples: Hawker 800XP/900XP, Learjet 60XR

Super midsize jets are luxurious aircraft with upgraded amenities such as galley kitchen, bathroom facilities, in-fight entertainment and beds. These private jets jets are fast and fuel efficient, with the ability to climb high, making this category a good choice for longer flights.

Super midsize jet examples:Challenger 300/350, Citation X, Citation Sovereign, Legacy 500

Large jet

The large jet category is the ultimate in private air travel. With a seating capacity for up to 18 passengers and a flight range of up to 6.5 hours, these private jets are ideal for transcontinental flights. All aircraft in this category have a fully enclosed lavatory and flight attendant services. High ceilings means comfortable movement around the cabin and lie-flat beds makes those longer flights much more comfortable. WI-FI on board most models also means you will never miss that all important work deadline. The Legacy 600/650 offers the largest baggage capacity in its class.

Large jet examples: Legacy 600/650, Challenger 850, Falcon 900EX

Ultra long range jet

The ultra long range jet offers the ultimate in luxury and style. These jets are ideal for intercontinental travel, with a range of up to 12.5 hours. , connecting virtually any two cities in the world. Arrive at your destination feeling refreshed and revitalised after a good nights sleep in a comfortable lie-flat bed or relax and enjoy the state-of-the-art entertainment systems. A well-appointed galley, means all your catering requests can be met and a flight attendant on-board  means your every whim will be taken care off. These private jets offer plenty of passenger and baggage capacity with seating for up to 16 passengers.

Ultra long range jet examples: Gulfstream G550, Global XRS, Falcon 7X

So when choosing a private jet for your next trip, ensure you have taken into consideration; the number of passengers travelling, the amount of luggage you will have, how far you are travelling and the amenities that you require on-board. If you ask yourself these 4 questions you should be able to make a more informed decision on which private jet is best for your trip.

Vickie Clark is Client Services Director at The Private Jet Boutique Ltd. The Private Jet Boutique Ltd. is a one-stop shop for private jet charter, helicopter charter, scheduled flights and luxury holidays.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The post Which private jet is best for my trip? appeared first on Tripstations.

from Tripstations https://ift.tt/2O7Xyd5 via IFTTT

[businessliveme]

Destination Oman

With a 20-year tourism strategy already bearing fruit, the Sultanate appears well on track to hit its target of 11 million tourists annually by 2040

For centuries Oman has been an important transcontinental crossroad, a trading hub between east and west and a popular stopover point between Asia, Europe and Africa. Once known as the Gulf’s hidden gem and home to stunning natural assets that include rugged mountains, pristine beaches with crystal-blue waters that define the word ‘azure’ and forts straight out of tales of the ‘Arabian Nights’, the Sultanate is now getting kitted out with massive tourism infrastructure, positioning itself as a magnet for business visitors and a must-visit destination for leisure tourists.

With an ambitious goal to attract 11 million visitors annually by 2040, the government has invested heavily in numerous projects to help boost the tourism sector. State-of-the-art airports, an ambitious national airline and a host of exciting new developments including a modern convention centre constructed to help the Sultanate compete for major conferences are set to help Oman reach its tourism goals. Oman is also sharpening its focus on niche tourism segments, from adventure travellers to group business and the meetings industry. Some of the most important objectives of the Oman Tourism Strategy include increasing the contribution of the sector to the GDP to 6-10 per cetn, creating 535,000 jobs in the sector, achieving social responsibility index of 850/1000, achieving over 11 million international and local tourists and achieving 14 million room nights.

Showing a significant progress in the implementation of the strategy, the performance indicators of the tourism sector in 2018 reflected a significant development compared to 2017. The number of hotels of all categories increased to 412 in 2018 compared to 367 in 2017. The direct added value of the tourism sector in 2018 rose to 912 million in 2018, compared to 728 million in 2017. The total contribution of the sector to the GDP stood at 9.2 per cent in 2018 compared to 6.2 per cent in 2017.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in a recent report revealed that the travel and tourism sector could provide additional employment to 260,500 people by 2029, the number is around 50,000 higher than the present figure of 209,900 people engaged in such activities. WTTC report said that in 2018, foreign inbound tourists contributed RO1.21bn to Oman’s economy. According to the report, India, which contributes significantly to the sultanate’s foreign workforce, also accounted for the maximum, 19 per cent of the total foreign tourists arrived in 2018, while neighbouring country United Arab Emirates came at the second place with just 11 per cent share in inbound arrivals.

As per the report, around 2.8 million visitors from different countries are expected to visit the sultanate this year. It also indicated that around 68 per cent of the total money spent by tourists is on leisure activities while business spending accounts for the remaining 32 per cent share in overall spending.

Getting a facelift

Oman is making great strides in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. The selection of the Sultanate as the official partner of ITB Berlin 2020- the world’s largest travel trade show is one of the recent achievements in this regard. This will increase Oman’s attractiveness before a global audience in 2020.

Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre boasts of 22,000 square metres of exhibition space and 55 meeting rooms. This striking complex has hosted a number of large international conventions already this year and has won several bids that will bring huge numbers to the Sultanate in the years to come. This property will complement Oman’s MICE sector growth, thanks to 1,200 square meters of functions space, two grand ballrooms and six meeting and board rooms.

The state-of-the-art centre has already hosted close 300 events since it opened two years ago and has significantly contributed to the Sultanate’s business sector’s growth. OCEC has already secured some large conferences, including SICOT 2019, World Hospital Congress 2019, and World Cancer Congress 2020 among many others. This will bring in more than 40,000 visitors until 2024.

The Oman Convention Bureau under the Ministry of Tourism is working hard to promote world-class offering and expects to see significant growth when it comes to attracting corporate visitors. There are a host of new hotels and resorts in the pipeline that will further strengthen Oman’s hospitality portfolio, making it a top choice among planners.

Additionally, it is now easy to visit Oman thanks to an online visa system and the major expansion works that were recently completed at Muscat International Airport. Oman Air is also growing rapidly and is expected to operate up to 70 aircraft and fly to 60 destinations by 2022.

And it is not just the capital that is drawing in visitors. Salalah now has an excellent selection of hotels and a modern airport that is receiving an increasing number of flights. With so much to offer, it is not surprise that tourist numbers are continuing to rise. With plans to further diversify the tourism sector and significantly expand its offerings, Oman is set to thrive in the years ahead.

However, these are far from the only ventures the Sultanate is undertaking as it is looking to attract 11 million international visitors annually by 2040. There are more than 50 hotels set to be constructed in the coming years, a new urban development is set to transform the face of Muscat and a new e-visa system has been introduced in order to make it even easier for tourists to visit the country.

With Oman set to welcome a growing number of visitors, the hospitality sector in the Sultanate is set to grow substantially. In terms of properties, 550 hotels are expected to begin construction or are currently being constructed within 2019 and 2020. They will add another 4,763 hotel rooms to the sector, with the opening of JW Marriot at Madinat Al Irfan at the OCEC.

Furthermore, Jumeirah Muscat Bay is another major hotel set to open this year, with its launch expected in the fourth quarter of 2019. The five-star property has been designed as a retreat on the waterfront, with the aim of offering guests luxury amidst nature. (see interview). There is also the150-room Mandarin Oriental Muscat and 155 residences at Mandarin Oriental, expected to open on 2021.

Muscat’s new downtown

One of the most important projects currently under development in Oman is the construction of Madinat al Irfan. Set to be built over 20 years at a cost of $12.9bn, the project will span across 4.5 million square metres of land adjacent to OCEC and is set to become a new downtown area for Muscat.

A joint venture between Oman Tourism Development company (Omran) and Dubai-based real estate developer Majid Al Futtaim, this mixed-use development will feature 11, 000 residential units, 100,000 square metres of retail space, 700,000 square metrers of office space and several cultural and lifestyle offerings.

The project is of extreme importance in the light of Oman’s national economic diversification agenda and reflects Omran’s strategic roles as a catalyst for investment that form robust partnership with developers. Such ventures will lead to the development of sustainable urban destinations and the generation of significant socio-economic benefits for the Sultanate. It is also expected to create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country.Madinalt Al Irfan is also expected to attract even more conferences and exhibitions in the coming years.

Aviation Oman’s aviation sector is playing equally important role in attracting record numbers to the country. The Sultanate’s national airline, Oman Air, has invested heavily in its fleet and is carefully identifying new flight paths, while $1.8bn was spent constructing a new terminal at Muscat International Airport.

This expansion helped the airport post record numbers in 2018 and increase the capacity to 20 million passengers per year. There is also the potential for a further expansion that would see the capacity rise to more than 50 million passengers per annum in the next decade.

The fact that the airport recorded more than 11 million passengers in the period of January through to September 2018, a 9.8 per cent increase over the same period last year is extremely encouraging. The government envisions the airport’s capacity to be adequate until 2028 as the new terminal is designed to accommodate up to 56 million passengers per annum.

The passenger numbers at the airport have been growing consistently since 2012 at an average rate of 13.3 per cent per year, including the first nine months of 2018. If this pace of growth continues, the new terminal will reach its capacity in 2028.

The government also expects easy connectivity and ease of travel to cement the airport’s position as a hub, in addition to encouraging more tourists. Oman Air has launched new destinations this year, connecting the Sultanate to Moscow, Casablanca and Istanbul, and the route network has so far been selective, with a special focus on the Middle East, East Africa, Southeast Asia and Western Europe. Ultimately, all of these developments will play vital roles in attracting more and more holiday-makers to Oman.

Heritage tourism

Alongside the large-scale developments taking place in the country, Oman is ensuring it still places an emphasis on its natural assets and cultural attractions. The recently developed Oman Tourism Strategy (OTS) has recognised and highlighted the importance of preservation and sustainability of the local environment as tourism develops at a rapid pace. Two aspects of the environment have been identified: natural and cultural.

Firmly rooted in its proud heritage and history of seafaring, trading and exploration, Oman’s long-standing traditions merge seamlessly with modern times, thus offering visitors a genuine blend of ageless Arabian tradition and modernism. Travellers can even see the latest fashion and electronics brands sold alongside traditional handmade crafts and jewelry at souqs around the country which reflects the diversity and richness of this culture.

Oman’s architecture is also reflective of this diversity. For instance, the Royal Opera House Muscat, Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and well-preserved villages and attractions like the National Museum, old forts and watchtowers like Bahla fort, and several UNESCO world heritage sites- are all icons that offer glimpses into the heritage and culture of this country. The fact that there is no dearth of attractions and grand cultural symbols help the Sultanate maintain a keen focus in promoting them in more appropriate ways.

Promoting the country as a diverse destination which encompasses everything from the beach and luxury to culture and adventure is helping to attract visitors. The Ministry of Tourism is participating in leading international trade of 11 million international visitors that was envisioned within the Oman Tourism Strategy 2040.

The Sultanate is keen on identifying and participating in trade show, which it utilises to create awareness of Oman’s varied tourism offerings. The country also organises familiarisation trips throughout the year, and these target social influencers, media and trade companies that eventually report their trips in their respective platforms and promote Oman in these markets.

This has proved very successful, as has the establishment of eight international representative offices in the GCC, Ireland, Italy, France, Switzerland, Holland, India and Germany. The government has also opened an office in Russia and is gearing up to explore new markets such as China and the United States.

The post Destination Oman appeared first on Businessliveme.com.

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2JsoizD via IFTTT

[hudsonespie]

Overland Express

Trucking dominates the business of moving boxes to and from container ports and has a big advantage: A truck can go virtually anywhere there’s a road. However, its flexibility comes with a price. Truck drayage is the least fuel-efficient method to move a container. Over long distances, it’s usually the most expensive. When combined with other modes of transportation in an intermodal network, on the other hand, it can be very cost-effective.

In the most common form of intermodal transport, the shipper uses a stretch of rail travel between the seaborne and truck-borne segments. At the port, the container is loaded onto a rail car and travels most of the distance to the customer's warehouse. Upon arrival at the rail terminal nearest the destination, it’s lifted onto a trailer chassis for the “last mile” dray. Intermodal can be cheaper than over-the-road trucking for distances over about 500 miles, giving it the advantage on long-haul routes.

In the U.S., intermodal has taken on special urgency due to changes in the trucking industry itself. American trucking companies today face a trifecta of structural challenges: a driver shortage that’s led to staffing problems and rising wages; strictly enforced hours-of-service limits for drivers; and the expansion of e-commerce, which has created soaring demand. Taken together, these factors have led to rising rates for truck transport, giving rail a wider advantage.

Serving Inland Markets

Since it offers cost advantages, an onsite intermodal rail facility makes a seaport more competitive for shipments to inland destinations. Rail can be cost-effective enough to open up markets on the other side of the continent, as the large U.S. West Coast ports well know. Despite the new, all-water route via the Expanded Panama Canal, the West Coast still handles the largest share of America's imported containers, thanks in part to its intermodal connections to the heartland.

The Port of Prince Rupert, British Columbia provides an extreme example of this long-distance model. Prince Rupert is located on the northern stretch of the Inside Passage, and there are few consumers in its own backyard. Virtually all of its imported containers travel by rail to Canada's interior and the U.S. Midwest, thousands of miles away.

The rapidly growing connector is driven by a combination of geography and efficiency. On a Great Circle sailing, Prince Rupert is closer than its competitors to Northeast Asia and benefits from a fast, affordable intermodal service across the Rockies. Shipping through Prince Rupert can shave days (and dollars) off the route from Shanghai to Chicago.

It’s a successful strategy. With 26 percent growth in container volumes in 2017, Prince Rupert is the fastest-growing port for trans-Pacific trade in North America and keeps expanding to handle the additional volume. At full buildout, its DP World-operated container terminal will have a capacity of 2.7 million TEUs with plenty of room to expand. On the land side, rail operator CN (Canadian National) is investing billions in track and service improvements to keep traffic flowing through western Canada.

Regional Networks

Florida's biggest container ports benefit from a rail system tailored to their needs – the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC), which runs between Miami and Jacksonville. All its trains are dual-powered by diesel or clean-burning LNG, and 80 percent of its business is dedicated to intermodal freight.

Thanks to recent public and private investments, FEC now operates an on-dock rail service at PortMiami and an intermodal terminal at Port Everglades. With onsite access to rail and a connection in Jacksonville to CSX and Norfolk Southern, these ports can reach two-thirds of the U.S. population within four days. “The state’s investment in on-port and intermodal facilities has shown that Florida can provide a cost-efficient way to bring in goods and transport them to the southeastern United States,” says Jessie Werner, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Florida Ports Council.

Ever since Port Everglades opened its intermodal rail terminal in 2014, its container volumes have grown. The business is driven by trade with Latin America and the Caribbean, and imported cargoes center on those nations' products, notably apparel and perishable goods. It’s among the largest ports in the nation for refrigerated cargo, and the rail terminal gives its reefer customers an intermodal option for northbound shipments.

FEC's new owner, Grupo Mexico, plans to capitalize on the reefer market. "We've been advised by Grupo Mexico that one of their key desires is to increase participation in the refrigerated sector,” states Jim Pyburn, the port's Director of Business Development. “They're planning to invest millions of dollars in refrigerated rail cars and other specialized equipment for FEC. Port Everglades is already the fifth-largest reefer port in the U.S., and Grupo Mexico's investment is likely to move our services further up the rankings."

Port Tampa Bay, on Florida's Gulf Coast, has a direct connection to the Class I railroad CSX. Working together with energy firm Kinder Morgan and CSX, the port built a large rail terminal to handle long “unit trains” for shipping ethanol. Its construction also gave Tampa Bay the first unit-train-capable, on-dock intermodal terminal in Florida.

Tampa Bay's container cargoes have historically been a small part of its business, but the segment has grown since the port purchased new gantry cranes in 2016. Now it’s ready to attract even more container services, ranging from the regional feeder vessels that serve Mexico's Gulf Coast all the way up to the megaships arriving via the Expanded Panama Canal. Tampa's fast, onsite intermodal connection with the rest of the Southeast is an additional selling point for potential customers.

Transcontinental Connections

Halfway around the world, in China, intermodal rail carries only a small percentage of domestic containerized freight. China's rail network is extensive and well-developed. But intermodal facilities are limited, and few of China's giant container ports are equipped with on-dock or on-terminal rail facilities. For example, the nearest rail terminal to Shanghai's new megaport, Yangshan, is on the far side of a 20-mile-long sea bridge.

Despite these challenges, intermodal volumes in China are poised to grow. Beijing is encouraging Chinese manufacturers and shippers to move away from truck transport to reduce pollution from diesel exhaust, especially during the smog-prone winter months. Its Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently announced a push to increase rail freight capacity by 30 percent over the next two years to meet this mandate.

The Port of Nansha, located across the Pearl River Delta from Shenzhen and Hong Kong, is among the first Chinese ports to fully integrate intermodal into its development. When completed in 2020, the Guangzhou Nansha On-Dock Railway will be the first of its kind in South China. Its 50-mile rail link will connect the port with Guangzhou manufacturers, the national railway network and the New Eurasian Land Bridge, an increasingly popular rail route from China to Europe. For a small number of westbound, high-value cargoes, the trans-Eurasian rail service is a good “middle option” between ocean shipping and air freight.

Once Nansha finishes its intermodal facility, the interconnections could open up novel possibilities. According to John Painter, President & CEO of Guangzhou Port America, one major footwear importer is thinking about shipping Vietnamese-made goods by sea to Nansha, then loading the containers onto rail cars and moving them overland to Europe.

The extra land-side connections will further support Nansha's ocean freight business, which is growing eight to ten percent annually. Nansha is rapidly moving up the ranks of the world's busiest container ports, buoyed by regional changes. 

"When Hong Kong grew more congested in the 1990s, many businesses moved out to the Shenzhen area,” says Painter. “Now that Shenzhen has become crowded too, many of those businesses are migrating out to the western side of the Pearl River Delta where costs are lower. Strategically, we are well-positioned to absorb these companies' cargoes, and with our on-dock rail capabilities we will help connect the hinterlands as manufacturing continues to push inland.”

Nansha's value proposition is simple. Producers on the west side of the delta can keep trucking their containers to the Port of Shenzhen, two hours away, or they can use the Port of Nansha, which is closer and less costly to reach. According to Painter, many U.S. retailers save 30-50 percent on their Guangzhou-origin drays when they switch to Nansha, helping the port generate rapid growth in cargo to North America.

The shift is reflected in the numbers. Today, Nansha has nearly 100 container services and 15 million TEUs of annual volume with busy routes to Europe, Asia and Africa. The port has four services to the U.S. West Coast, and Painter says the market is ready for an East Coast call by early next year.

A Green Solution

The container freight market is highly competitive, both for seaports and shipping companies, and small cost differences add up quickly when multiplied over thousands – or millions – of container moves. For ports with the right infrastructure, intermodal rail can change the equation for shippers and attract new business even if the final destination is far inland. 

And since rail emits much less CO2 per mile than trucking, intermodal is a straightforward way to reduce the carbon intensity of door-to-door shipping. As the industry looks for ways to meet ambitious emissions reduction targets, every extra contribution helps. – MarEx 

from Storage Containers https://maritime-executive.com/article/overland-express via http://www.rssmix.com/

[mrcoreymonroe]

Pilot Recounts Ride in Ford Trimotor

Subscribe today to Plane & Pilot magazine for industry news, reviews and much more delivered straight to you!

It’d been a very long time since I paid for an airplane ride. Standing in line by the BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE sign, I took a self-conscious look over my shoulder. I’d flown a bunch of planes, many of which folks graciously paid me to fly, and I had mixed feelings about ponying up a goodly sum of cash for a trip around the pattern as a passenger. It was the Sun ‘n Fun fly-in years ago in Lakeland, Florida, Amy had joined me for her first fly-in camping experience after our wedding. She and I had sat in the campground, watching the corrugated Ford float over our tent, and my poker face is terrible. She gave me permission to buy a ticket before I finished asking – she’d known that question was coming long before I began to form the words.

The Ford Trimotor was the first really successful airliner.

Waiting to buy my ticket, I was startled to recognize the man in line behind me. Jim Kimball, of Jim Kimball Enterprises, manufacturers of the Pitts Model 12 and restorers of numerous award-winning antique and classic aircraft, stood with cash in his hand.

In such company, paying money for an airplane ride didn’t seem so terribly uncool. Mister Jim was buying a ride for one of his employees, who’d grown up on an island in the Great Lakes. While her contemporaries on the mainland were riding to school in wheeled yellow boxes of corrugated metal, she rode to school in a corrugated metal vehicle with wings and three engines. The school bus from her childhood was the Ford Trimotor. He wanted to buy her a ride down memory lane on the EAA’s Trimotor. I got to join her.

There are plenty of arguments to make as to which design ushered in air travel as a viable means of transport across America. Many argue the DC-3 did the trick, others claim that air travel wasn’t really established before pressurized cabins, or even jet airliners graced the sky. There are many landmark designs that ushered in significant advances in air travel, so it becomes a rather subjective matter of choosing which advances appeal to the individual’s argument.

As an antique aircraft fan, though, I’m steadfastly in the Ford Trimotor camp. Before Ford’s “Tin Goose,” most airlines were actually airmail contractors who only begrudgingly took paying passengers. Their machines, such as the DeHavilland DH-4, were flying machines from World War 1 reworked to carry mailbags, and the occasional passengers rode with the sacks of mail. The Ford Trimotor, though, was designed from the outset for hauling people. Its reliability and “modern” amenities enabled a combination of air travel by day and rail by night, ushering in transcontinental air travel.

Designed by Bill Stout, the Stout Metalplane took wing in 1926, and soon Henry Ford took note and got involved. The Trimotor made a huge developmental leap over its predecessors. Curtiss fielded the Condor at about the same time, a large cabin biplane that had one foot in the past, while the Ford machine had a foot planted into the future. It was such a dynamic time in aviation, with new airframe and engine technology rapidly evolving, so that almost any design that took wing would be quickly outdated. The Fords saw service with Transcontinental Air Transport (Later TWA), American, Pan-American, Western, and a slew of other operators, but the design was soon eclipsed by the arrival of the DC-2.

Retiring from the frontlines, the flock of tin geese flew south, where they soldiered on, serving the mines and backcountry communities of South America. Some came back north eventually, where they served with Island Airlines as a bus system of sorts, connecting the island communities of the Great Lakes. Others flew sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon. They were slow and outdated, but these routes weren’t long. Between islands, their plodding pace left boats far behind; sightseeing passengers in Arizona needed a little time to soak in the amazing vistas. They excelled for these roles well into advanced age.

And then, they were done. Changing rules and evaporating stockpiles of parts made the Fords impossible to operate on a daily schedule, and by the time I had a chance to try one on, there was pretty much only the EAA’s bird hopping rides, and one in the desert where collectors of type ratings can go earn their Trimotor type rating, an investment that helps keep that tin goose in the air. Oh, there are others, sure, but those were the two most accessible ones. And at the time, a short ride was a heck of a lot more affordable than a full-on type rating. I paid the money, got a ticket, and came back later that morning for my ride.

As the props spun to life, I closed my eyes and stepped back in time. If I took off my glasses, the warbirds and antique/classics parked nearby were visible while the homebuilts and spam cans blurred in the distance. The aroma of half burnt fuel and the mist of oil blew through the cabin, sights and smells conspiring to take us back in time.

I’m certain there are louder cabins out there, but I was thankful for the modern foam earplugs I had, rather than the puffs of cotton passengers of yesteryear stuffed in their ears to dampen the drone of three radial engines and their propellers attached to a resonating metal cage. The regional jet I flew at the time could have flown circles around us. The Airbus I now work with could have carried the tri-motor aloft if it could­ fit through the door.  A fleet of logging equipment might burn less fuel and oil than a Ford Trimotor. But it was a glorious ride into the past.

The noise peaked and the wheels slowed to a stop as the runway slipped behind us. In the seat ahead of me, a young schoolgirl giggled and smiled, having apparently swapped seats with the middle-aged lady who’d been sitting there just moments before takeoff. She was dreaming of the day she’d grow up to work with a company that restores aircraft. She pointed down to the fields and orchards below, strangely familiar with the land where she would live decades later, once this lovely tin goose of a school bus stopped taking her to class, and life would force her to become a grown-up. We traced lazy circles over central Florida, enjoying a smooth ride before the sun was high enough to roughen our ride with the convective activity us southern aviators know all too well.

Our twenty-minute ride into the past stretched longer than expected. There was some operational reason, I heard, like an airplane stranded on the runway. Perhaps it was the Creator smiling on us, or maybe the guys up front looked over their shoulders and couldn’t bear to make the music stop so soon for those of us enjoying our surprisingly affordable ticket into the past. Either way, eventually our bird whistled and pop-popped its way down through the pattern. After we landed, my eyes came back inside to find the schoolgirl gone. The lady I’d boarded with was in the girl’s seat, and all of us aboard were a little sad the ride was over.

As we walked away, it was apparently how differently we’d absorbed the impact of the ride. Some of visted the past they’d lived while others had gotten a peek into a period we’d only known from history books. Both groups, it seemed, walked away with a lightness of step and a spark in our eyes not present when we’d first boarded. Most of what folks call magic is actually slight of hand, illusion and deception. But I can think of no better description of riding around in such a bird as the Ford Trimotor than pure magic. It was the closest to a time machine one can get without a highly modified DeLorean, or a British police call box.

Jeremy King is an airline pilot from Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife, Amy, are restoring a 1945 Piper J-3 Cub.

Want to read more adventures and get insights from working pilots? Check out our AirFare archive.

The post Pilot Recounts Ride in Ford Trimotor appeared first on Plane & Pilot Magazine.

from Plane & Pilot Magazine https://ift.tt/2xedqz8

[47burlm]

August 26, 1974

Charles Lindbergh, the first man to accomplish a solo nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean, dies in Maui, Hawaii, at the age of 72.

Charles Augustus Lindbergh, born in Detroit in 1902, took up flying at the age of 20. In 1923, he bought a surplus World War I Curtiss “Jenny” biplane and toured the country as a barnstorming stunt flyer. In 1924, he enrolled in the Army Air Service flying school in Texas and graduated at the top of his class as a first lieutenant. He became an airmail pilot in 1926 and pioneered the route between St. Louis and Chicago. Among U.S. aviators, he was highly regarded.

In May 1919, the first transatlantic flight was made by a U.S. hydroplane that flew from New York to Plymouth, England, via Newfoundland, the Azores Islands, and Lisbon. Later that month, Frenchman Raymond Orteig, an owner of hotels in New York, put up a purse of $25,000 to the first aviator or aviators to fly nonstop from Paris to New York or New York to Paris. In June 1919, the British fliers John W. Alcock and Arthur W. Brown made the first nonstop transatlantic flight, flying 1,960 miles from Newfoundland to Ireland. The flight from New York to Paris would be nearly twice that distance.

Orteig said his challenge would be good for five years. In 1926, with no one having attempted the flight, Orteig made the offer again. By this time, aircraft technology had advanced to a point where a few people did believe such a flight might be possible. Several of the world’s top aviators—including American polar explorer Richard Byrd and French flying ace Rene Fonck—decided to accept the challenge, and so did Charles Lindbergh.

Lindbergh convinced the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce to sponsor the flight, and a budget of $15,000 was set. The Ryan Airlines Corporation of San Diego volunteered to build a single-engine aircraft to his specifications. Extra fuel tanks were added, and the wing span was increased to 46 feet to accommodate the additional weight. The main fuel tank was placed in front of the cockpit because it would be safest there in the event of a crash. This meant Lindbergh would have no forward vision, so a periscope was added. To reduce weight, everything that was not utterly essential was left out. There would be no radio, gas gauge, night-flying lights, navigation equipment, or parachute. Lindbergh would sit in a light seat made of wicker. Unlike other aviators attempting the flight, Lindbergh would be alone, with no navigator or co-pilot.

The aircraft was christened The Spirit of St. Louis, and on May 12, 1927, Lindbergh flew it from San Diego to New York, setting a new record for the fastest transcontinental flight. Bad weather delayed Lindbergh’s transatlantic attempt for a week. On the night of May 19, nerves and a newspaperman’s noisy poker game kept him up all night. Early the next morning, though he hadn’t slept, the skies were clear, and he rushed to Roosevelt Field on Long Island. Six men had died attempting the long and dangerous flight he was about to take.

At 7:52 a.m. EST on May 20, The Spirit of St. Louis lifted off from Roosevelt Field, so loaded with fuel that it barely cleared the telephone wires at the end of the runway. Lindbergh traveled northeast up the coast. After only four hours, he felt tired and flew within 10 feet of the water to keep his mind clear. As night fell, the aircraft left the coast of Newfoundland and set off across the Atlantic. At about 2 a.m. on May 21, Lindbergh passed the halfway mark, and an hour later dawn came. Soon after, The Spirit of St. Louis entered a fog, and Lindbergh struggled to stay awake, holding his eyelids open with his fingers and hallucinating that ghosts were passing through the cockpit.

After 24 hours in the air, he felt a little more awake and spotted fishing boats in the water. At about 11 a.m. (3 p.m. local time), he saw the coast of Ireland. Despite using only rudimentary navigation, he was two hours ahead of schedule and only three miles off course. He flew past England and by 3 p.m. EST was flying over France. It was 8 p.m. in France, and night was falling.

At the Le Bourget Aerodrome in Paris, tens of thousands of Saturday night revelers had gathered to await Lindbergh’s arrival. At 10:24 a.m. local time, his gray and white monoplane slipped out of the darkness and made a perfect landing in the air field. The crowd surged on The Spirit of St. Louis, and Lindbergh, weary from his 33 1/2-hour, 3,600-mile journey, was cheered and lifted above their heads. He hadn’t slept for 55 hours. Two French aviators saved Lindbergh from the boisterous crowd, whisking him away in an automobile. He was an immediate international celebrity.

President Calvin Coolidge dispatched a warship to take the hero home, and “Lucky Lindy” was given a ticker-tape parade in New York and presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. His place in history, however, was not complete.

In 1932, he was the subject of international headlines again when his infant son, Charles Jr., was kidnapped, unsuccessfully ransomed, and then found murdered in the woods near the Lindbergh home. German-born Bruno Richard Hauptmann was convicted of the crime in a controversial trial and then executed.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Lindbergh became a spokesperson for U.S. isolationism and was sharply criticized for his apparent Nazi sympathies and anti-Semitic views. After the outbreak of World War II, the fallen hero traveled to the Pacific as a military observer and eventually flew more than two dozen combat missions, including one in which he downed a Japanese aircraft. Lindbergh’s wartime service largely restored public faith in him, and for many years he worked with the U.S. government on aviation issues. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed him brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve. He died in Hawaii in 1974.

[experiencetheskies]

Air Canada Ups Antes With Signature Service On Selected Flights (Part 1)

Air Canada enhanced its business class product with the new Air Canada Signature Service. The enhancement is available immediately for international travellers while introduced on selected transcontinental flights from June 1, 2018. In a North American first, the airline also announced a valet service for selective full price business class passengers in late 2018.  Find out the details below and the impacts it will have with its competitors.   

Air Canada

Air Canada currently operates to 64 airports in Canada, 60 in the United States and 98 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. In its announcement, the Montreal based airline brought the seamless premium experience introduced for its Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) to Vancouver (YVR) flights to the following markets: Starting today: All international flights Starting June 1: At least 12 transcontinental flights within North American operated by Boeing 767, 777, 787 and Airbus A330 aircrafts furnished with lie flat beds with have this new service. The city pairs and their frequencies (based on Summer 2018 schedule) include: Toronto-Pearson (YYZ) to Vancouver (YVR) , San Francisco (SFO) , and Los Angeles (LAX) Vancouver (YVR) to Montreal (YUL) and Newark (EWR) Three overnight red-eye flights will be served by the latest wide-body aircrafts. These flights used to be served by smaller Boeing 767s or Airbus A320s. Flight Departs Arrives Aircraft AC126 Vancouver 22:35 Toronto 05:55 + 1 day Boeing 777 AC788 Los Angeles 22:15 Toronto 05:52 + 1 day Boeing 787 AC754 San Francisco 22:45 Toronto 06:37 + 1 day Boeing 787  

Air Canada Signature Service

North America Transcontinental The premise of the enhanced Air Canada Signature Service is to provide a seamless travel experience for a customer travelling in business class. Qualified North American will have a consistent service including: At the Airport Expedited check-in at the airport with designated counters Priority security clearance Priority baggage handling and additional allowance Access to concierge services at Toronto-Pearson, Montreal and Vancouver airports on the day of departure for tickets in fare class J, C, D, Z, P Access to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge Priority boarding (Zone 1) On Board New generation business class seat that can convert to lie-flat beds, AVOD in-flight entertainment system with a minimum of 15" High Definition screens, A/C Power and USB port Updated onboard menu items from chef David Hawksworth, including for the first time on flights serving lunch and complemented by an expanded wine selection chosen by Air Canada sommelier Véronique Rivest New restaurant style dishware and glassware will be used on board New Air Canada Signature Cocktail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2rNE6usvDQ International Besides the benefits highlighted for the North American market, eligible international business class travellers will enjoy additional services including: At the Airport Access to Air Canada Signature Suite in Toronto-Pearson, featuring à la carte restaurant dining from a menu created chef David Hawksworth along with a selection of Moet & Chandon champagne, wines and premium cocktails Access to concierge service at the select airports including (availability may vary based on fare and departure location):

Concierge Service Locations  (Date provided by Air Canada) On Board Enhanced wine, spirits and Laurent-Perrier champagne Espresso and cappuccino served with dessert or a new cheese selection New amenity kits by Want Les Essentiels, with premium care products by vitruvi the South Asian flights to Mumbai (BOM) and New Delhi (DEL) will feature menu created by chef Vikram Vij  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqAqrPVghnY&t=2s  

Air Canada Valet Service

Starting in late 2018, Air Canada partnered with BMW Canada to offer customized valet sedan service for full fare business class customers. To qualify, the customer has to be originating in Toronto (YYZ) or arriving at the airport originating from a domestic flight with onward international travel. This would be especially useful for those customers with tight onward connections.

Valet Service at Toronto Pearson International Airport (Photo from Air Canada) Benjamin Smith, President of Passenger Airlines said on the new service that "Our new Air Canada Signature Service and Air Canada Signature Class brands reflect the ongoing refinements to our premium travel service. We know our premium customers travelling on longer flight itineraries place a high value on convenience and comfort when in airports or onboard an aircraft, and with Air Canada Signature Service we provide a level of service unsurpassed in North America on every widebody flight."

Impact

Air Canada is the first in the region to introduce a consistent premium product and service for North American transcontinental and international routes flown by widebody aircrafts. This is important as 46% of its 2017 revenue was derived from international passengers (up 3% from 2015). A significant number of them connect onward from the airline's key hub airports in Toronto-Pearson, Montreal and Vancouver or from Newark, San Francisco and Los Angeles where Star Alliance members have a big presence.

Revenue Mix By Passenger Group (2017) (Data from Air Canada) In the domestic market, the airline is marketing this new service in advance of WestJet's new international product to be introduced in late 2018/early 2019. Promoting a seamless high quality service with more flight connections may sway enough customers to pay higher prices and to stick with the airline over using a potentially lower priced but unproven new product with a more point-to-point operation. In the international scene, Air Canada is the highest ranked North American airline at no.29 on Skytrax's 2017 list and is the only one with a 4-star rating. While its brand value continues to improve (in a recent Brand Finance study, the airline moves up from 21st to 15th in 2017), there is room to grow as the airline expands further into secondary European, African and Australian destinations.  While the new service may not be revolutionary, it provides the airline new opportunities for its marketing department to use the rebrand to engage and build awareness to a wider audience.  As of this post's published date, a search of "Air Canada Signature Service) on Google generated almost 5,000 results and 500 news stories within one day of the announcement. It was also one of the more talked about topic on popular travel forums and blogs. In the next installation, we will discuss strategies on how Air Canada can further differentiate itself from other airlines using this new service as a launching point.         Read the full article

[stephenfouts]

You're more likely to get the flu from a sick flight attendant than a sick passenger: study

Air travel is often depicted as a spreader of diseases around the world, given that it squeezes lots of people into a small space. However, a new study shows that you're not likely to get the flu from a passenger seated more than 1 meter, or 3.3 feet, away from you. 

The study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, claims to be the first to rigorously test the spread of viruses — specifically influenza — that are transmitted via large droplets, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

Researchers from Emory University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Boeing employed teams of observers in pairs, sitting every five rows down in economy class in single-aisle aircraft during 10 transcontinental flights in 2012 and 2013. These observers watched and recorded the movements of passengers during the flight using an iPad app.  Read more...

More about Science, Health, Air Travel, Flying, and Influenza You're more likely to get the flu from a sick flight attendant than a sick passenger: study published first on https://eooke.tumblr.com/

[cheapfaresnews]

Find Cheap Airplane Tickets

The best way to plan an affordable trip is to thoroughly review cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discount travel deals, and cheap vacation packages.

The following are tips on how to save money the next time you purchase an airline ticket, according to Kitty Yancey:

·      Check out Internet travel sites, such as Cheapfares, so that you compare prices from multiple airlines in a single search.

 ·      Time your travel days to take advantage of the cheapest fares.  Flying on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday is usually cheaper because they are the slower days of the week when business travel is lighter.  Avoid traveling on peak days, such as the Sunday after Thanksgiving or any other time when seats are particularly scarce.  Consider taking a vacation before school is out for the summer.

·      Industry studies have shown that the best time to purchase a domestic flight is 21 to 112 days out.  54 days in advance, on average, is a good time to purchase. Sales tend to be available on Tuesdays. Be prepared to purchase your tickets right away when you see attractive ticket prices, since they are subject to change at any time.

 ·      Look into departing from alternate airports. Sometimes an airport farther from home or from your final destination can be hundreds of dollars cheaper.

 ·      Monitor prices of budget airlines, such as Allegiant, Icelandair, Frontier, and Spirit.  Budget foreign airlines traveling to and from the U.S. include Air Berlin, WOW air, and Norwegian Air Shuttle.  Low cost airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet offer great prices for travel within Europe, as do AirAsia and Tigerair in Asia.

 ·      Make certain that you factor in airline fees when considering which airfare to select.  These day most airlines charge for checked bags, better seats, priority boarding, and a few even charge for carry-ons.  If you will not be packing light or want a specific seat location, you could find the final price of a bargain fare going up steeply.

 ·      Consider signing up for airline credit cards.  If you tend to fly on a specific airline that offers lots of flights out of your preferred airport, it might make financial sense to carry an airline branded credit card.  Such cards come with sign up bonuses for as much as 50,000 miles, plus benefits such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and free foreign currency conversion.  

 Also check out credit cards that award you miles for every dollar spent and will allow you to choose from a long list of airlines.  Keep in mind that credit cards that award miles typically come with annual fees, which means that they may not be worth the cost for infrequent fliers.

 ·      One way tickets are sometimes substantially cheaper than purchasing a single ticket when flying to multiple cities.

·      Consider air and hotel packages which when bundled together can result in substantial savings.  In some cases, it is even cheaper to purchase a package and not stay at the hotel.

 ·      Trade in frequent flier miles for trips carefully. The ideal time to redeem your miles is when a ticket costs $450 or more.  Frequent flier tickets can really save the traveler money when he or she must fly unexpectedly such as to a funeral or when a return date is not set.

 ·      Consider redeeming miles to upgrade to business or first class on long transcontinental or international flights, where being upgraded can make long trips much more comfortable.  Be careful not to let your miles expire.  Usually you can keep them by purchasing something inexpensive such as a magazine subscription via an airline-sponsored website.

www.cheapfares.com