Chip fat to fuel our planes? January 23, 2012
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Travel, Travel technology, Travel tips & trends.Tags: airlines, aviation, biofuel, green travel, Qantas, Travel, Virgin Atlantic
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If there’s something we can expect to see a lot of this year, it is airlines talking up their green credentials. From chicken fat to algae, carriers are busy looking for new ways to fuel their planes and reduce their emissions.
Several airlines have already claimed “world-first” initiatives such as the first commercial biofuel flight, the first scheduled biofuel flight and the longest distance biofuel flight, and Qantas has announced its intention to operate Australia’s first biofuel flight early this year.
IATA has declared work on biofuels to be a major priority for the industry in the year ahead, with the association’s chief executive, Tony Tyler, saying it is “one of aviation’s great challenges” to reduce its carbon emissions. ”Sustainability is our licence to grow,” Tyler says.
The problem with biofuels and other green initiatives is that they… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Is Tiger Airways here to stay? August 22, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Australia, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: airlines, aviation, budget travel, cheap travel, flying, Tiger Airways, Travel
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The low-cost carrier has convinced authorities its planes are safe to return to the skies but there is work to be done to repair its service reputation.
Not only will the safety question float in travellers’ minds for some time; the airline has an awful lot of work to do on its service reputation if it wants to convince us it is here to stay. I can place my trust in the Civil Aviation Safety Authority when it comes to the safety aspects but I would still take a lot of convincing to book a ticket.
I took my first flight with Tiger just before it was grounded and experienced, like so many others before me, the blunt end of the airline’s “customer service”.
I booked an overnight trip between Sydney and the Sunshine Coast and it was certainly cheap, with fares of $39.95 each way, although the total bill came to $104.90 by the time I had paid $5 each way to choose my own seat and another $15 “convenience fee” because I didn’t have an “Australian-issued MasterCard debit card” (I wonder how many people do?).
Still, at about $50 a flight, we’re definitely talking cheap. And this is, of course, Tiger’s main selling point, as it has been keen to remind consumers.
But then came the catch… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Stepping aboard the Dreamliner July 11, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: 787, aircraft, airlines, ANA, aviation, Boeing, Dreamliner, flying, Travel
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Will the long-overdue Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft really “change the way we fly”? It certainly gets points for trying.
If you sat down and made a list of the things you hate about flying – from jet lag to not being able to find any space in the overhead bins – you would find Boeing is a step ahead of you on most of them. The manufacturer has addressed many common gripes in the design of its long-awaited Dreamliner, which is finally ready to take off after numerous production delays.
The first 787 has been delivered to its launch customer, the Japanese airline ANA, for final testing and Boeing claims it will represent the start of a new era of flying. The environment will certainly benefit from significant reductions in fuel use and emissions. But there will also be noticeable changes for passengers, in a concerted bid to bring back the enjoyment of flying.
“We as human beings are fascinated by flight but we don’t like to fly today,” says the regional director of passenger satisfaction for Boeing, Kent Craver. “The big, big goal of this [Dreamliner design] philosophy is really to reconnect people to the magic of flight.”
The most noticeable change for passengers stepping into the Dreamliner will be… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Best airlines for families April 26, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: airlines, Asiana, Cathay Pacifiic, Emirates, Etihad, family travel, flying with children, flying with kids, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Travel, travel with children, travel with kids, Travel with Kidz
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Apart from a large glass of wine, what makes the most difference when travelling long-haul with children? Is it the inflight entertainment, the attitude of cabin crew, well-thought-out activity packs, or stress-savers such as being able to skip the check-in queue? Offerings for families on international airlines range from virtually non-existent to very generous, making it both important and difficult for parents to choose.
The executive chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Peter Harbison, sat on a panel to select finalists for the 2011 Family Friendly Airline Award and says it was a very tough job. The award, organised by the US-based Kids First Fund, was won by North American carrier Air Transat, which offers families dedicated airport counters, children’s welcome kits, prize drawings and on-board birthday celebrations. Services offered by other finalists in the awards included kids’ zones in airport lounges, inflight magazines for kids, the opportunity for children to make inflight announcements and even staff training to help autistic children.
“It was very hard to differentiate between airlines,” Harbison says. He says he looked for evidence that airlines really cared about families, such as by having priority check-in and quality entertainment.
The general manager of Travel with Kidz Newport, Uschi Howard, nominates airline scheduling, pre-seating policies and inflight entertainment systems as the top factors for smooth family travel. “Do not sacrifice… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
The duty free minefield March 8, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: airlines, airports, duty free, Travel
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You walk smugly out of the airport duty-free shop with a couple of bottles of cheap alcohol … only to have them taken away at the next security checkpoint.
Travellers are being repeatedly stung by confiscations of duty-free as the regulations are inconsistently applied at airports around the world. Passengers are losing duty-free purchases travelling into and out of Australia and at different stages of their journey, as they struggle to make sense of the system.
The Sun Herald receives numerous letters from readers bewildered at having fallen foul of regulations – and angry at being left out of pocket. One reader reported that duty-free alcohol purchased at Sydney Airport was confiscated in Singapore because shop staff did not put it in a sealed bag. Another reader bought a bottle of duty-free liquor at a shop near their boarding gate in Bangkok and had it confiscated minutes later as they boarded their flight to Australia.
Many travellers assume that they are free to buy duty-free once they have passed through airport screening but much of what is confiscated is being taken at secondary checkpoints. And while the staff in duty-free stores are supposed to advise travellers according to their destination, there is widespread confusion about the rules and how they should be applied.
Sydney lawyer Michael Cooper bought two bottles of duty-free whisky at London’s Heathrow Airport after he had checked in his baggage and cleared all the security checks. He had no problems when boarding his flight at Heathrow but… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
Buckle up for cheap flights to Paris February 22, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Asia, Travel, Travel tips & trends, UK & Europe.Tags: AirAsia, airlines, aviation, cheap flights, flying, Paris, Travel, travel deals
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When AirAsia recently promoted a “world domination sale”, it was as much a statement of intent as a catchy marketing line. From relative obscurity a few years ago, the no-frills carrier has become a significant player in the Australian market and plans to challenge the leisure business of leading airlines.
In a clever marketing ploy, AirAsia began flights to the “city of love”, Paris, on Valentine’s Day, allowing Australians willing to forgo a few niceties to fly to France at bargain prices. Australian travellers who booked during the launch sale were able to secure flights for well under $1000 return and, while these were special fares, ongoing pricing remains very low.
AirAsia says it sold more than 30,000 seats in less than 72 hours after it opened its Paris bookings, indicating huge demand for cheap access to Europe. “There’s never been a low-cost option between Australia and France before,” says the head of commercial for AirAsia X, Darren Wright. AirAsia X is a local offshoot of the Malaysian-based airline.
AirAsia is yet to secure rights to fly to Sydney; it claims it is being blocked by the Malaysian government’s protection of the national carrier, Malaysia Airlines. Even so, anecdotal evidence suggests some NSW travellers are heading to Melbourne or the Gold Coast to pick up cheap overseas fares.
Wright says 25 per cent of AirAsia X’s traffic from Australia is… (click here to keep reading this article by Jane E. Fraser)
When you win the Lotto… January 10, 2011
Posted by janeefraser in Airlines, Travel, UK & Europe.Tags: airlines, aviation, flying, Lufthansa, luxury travel, Singapore Airlines, Travel
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Two of the world’s best flying experiences, Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa Private Jet, have joined forces to create a seamless journey for cashed-up travellers to Europe.
Passengers can stretch out in Singapore Airlines’ first class suites on the A380 superjumbo – some of the most spacious first class suites of any commercial airline – then connect to Lufthansa’s private jet services to more than 1000 airports around Europe and the Russian Federation.
A ‘private jet event manager’ puts together a tailor-made itinerary, including limousine services, baggage transfers and personalised inflight catering. They even take responsibility for (more…)
Top 10 posts for 2010 December 22, 2010
Posted by janeefraser in Adventure travel, Airlines, Asia, Hotels, Spa reviews, Travel, Travel tips & trends.Tags: airlines, frequent flyer, hotels, Kuala Lumpur, London, shopping, Spa reviews, top 10, top ten, Travel
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These posts have been the most popular on this blog in 2010:
A cheap London hotel you could actually stay in
What to do about supersized airline passengers
The travel agents who come to you
Products I love: new luggage tags
Spa review: Stephanies Ocean Spa Noosa
Who really wins with frequent flyer programs?
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a safe start to the New Year. I’ll be back in January with more tips and tales.
