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Posts Tagged ‘Air Tickets’

Virgin Airlines

January 22nd, 2010 No comments

Owned by Virgin Group and Singapore Airlines, Virgin Airlines is well known for its decidedly British feel. Its main hubs are located at two London airports, Heathrow & Gatwick. It also has a secondary hub at Manchester. The airline provides service from the United Kingdom to North America, Africa, Caribbean, Australia, Asia and the Middle East.

Virgin Atlantic serves about 30 destinations worldwide with its fleet of more than 35 aircraft. It further extends its network through code-sharing relationships (agreements that allow airlines to sell tickets on each other’s flights) with other airlines including Air China, Continental Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Australia-based sister company Virgin Blue.

Plans for two routes, one from London to the Falkland Islands in the aftermath of the Falkland War, and the other from London Gatwick to JFK Airport, were either scrapped or rejected. Plans were in the works for a route between London Gatwick and Newark Liberty International Airport, when it became necessary for the company to secure additional funding.Virgin Atlantic and its sister companies got their start in’82 when American Randolph Fields teamed up with pilot Alan Hellary to launch British Atlantic Airways.

Fields and Branson struck an agreement after tortuous discussions which led to the formation of the airline currently known as Virgin Atlantic starting its first flight between Londan and Newark in June’84. (Fields was later bought out.) A combination of funding from sister company Virgin Records and the timing of the agreement within the peak summer travel system allowed the company to make money in its first year of operation.

This move led to BA’s so-called “dirty tricks” campaign against Virgin Atlantic which included libel lawsuits, and an out-of-court settlement on BA’s part after lawyers found evidence of the extraordinary efforts BA was taking to “kill off” Virgin Atlantic.Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have been rivals since the company’s inception. The competition became even more intense when the UK government began allowing Virgin Atlantic to operate from London Heathrow airport in January’91.

Virgin has never been shy about taking on its competition through its advertising. Some examples: Mine’s Bigger Than Yours – painted on the back of the Airbus A340-600s because they are the longest passenger aircraft in the world

Avoid the Q – Advertised Virgin’s London to Hong Kong to Sydney route in opposition to Quantas which was operating the same route; also promoted Virgins online check-in literally allowing passengers to avoid the queues.

Upper class is the equivalent of business class since the airline does not offer a traditional first class cabin service. Virgin Atlantic claims its Upper Class seat is the largest fully flat bed when compared with any other airlines’ business class seating.No Way BA/AA – Expressed Branson’s displease with a proposed British Airways/American Airlines partnership.Virgin Atlantic currently offers three cabin classes: upper class, premium economy and economy.

Premium Economy passengers have their own check-in and get to board before Economy passengers. They enjoy greater seat width and legroom. Most planes have undergone upgrading to provide Premium Economy seats that come with power supplies for laptops. Economy class now includes free drinks and upgraded seats with adjustable back support in all aircraft.

Personal televisions mounted in the seat backs are available on all of the planes flown by Virgin Atlantic. Audio and video on demand systems are also installed on some of their aircraft. In addition, Virign Atlantic has various sister airlines. These are Virgin America, Virgin Blue, Virgin Express, Virgin Galactic, Virgin Nigeria Airways, Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer and V Australia.,

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes Virgin Atlantic Airlines amongst others.

Low-Priced Travel Ideas – 6 Ways You Can Save on Travel

April 6th, 2009 No comments

Are you enthusiastic to go on a great trip but facing the issue of limited finances? Well, budget is always a problem when one plans to go for trip yet it is vital to have a break once in a while. A holiday not only gives you a break from job but also refreshes you and as a result you are in a better position to come back to the standard routine of life psychologically as well as physically.

A tight budget many times stops people from having a great holiday. Most people think that it is not worth going on vacation if you do not have enough money. Well, there are many ways you can have a wonderful vacation and travel to some worthwhile places even if you do not have millions to spend. Here we have six cheap and easy ways for you to help you travel as well as have a great recreational time.

1. Do research. In order to have a fabulous but low-cost trip, you must do some research online. There are various such marvellous destinations that have low-cost family vacation packages. You can make the best of such packages and visit some astonishing places to have a wonderful time in your limited budget.

2. Stay at home. If one cannot afford to go out of city of state, a great way to have break from the tiresome routine of life is to stay at home. There are many such places in one’s own town or city which we fail to see because of lack of time. You can take days of from work and hang around at these places with your family and friends. It is easy way to have some fun and also gives you a vacation in the cheapest way.

3. Go to close by places. As air tickets are extremely expensive, it is great thought to travel to some close places for holiday. It will save you the chief expenses of travelling and proffer some great time. You can go to various close-by towns or hill stations where you can reach by train or car.

4. Cooking on your own. When you plan to go to a certain place, try to cook yourself. You should seek hotels which offer this facility so that you can save on the huge amount which is spent on eating out.

5. Don’t shop extravagantly. Many people spend too much money on shopping. You should remember that you can have some great time even if you do not shop and visit the beautiful places. Having a vacation does not necessary imply shopping as well. So you should try not to shop and if you really have to then you should look for local brands or discount shops. This will help you have a great trip within your limited budget.

6. Plan a trip in off-season. Having a trip during the off season is also allows you to have an economical outing. You will be able to benefit from some cheap deals since during the off season the costs of lodging and travelling are not as high as in the main seasons.

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All About Swiss Airlines

January 20th, 2009 No comments

Swiss International Airlines Ltd., also called as Swiss is the dominant airline of Switzerland. In 2001, Swissair, a former flag carrier of Switzerland reported the bankruptcy and then Swiss was formed. Its flights cover the Europe, North America, and South America, Africa and Asia and its centre is situated at the Zurich Airport.

After initial trouble stemming from financial difficulties and the September 11 attacks, the airline attempted to attach itself to other airline groups. In 2005 Lufthansa bought a minority stake in Swiss and Swiss operations began to be integrated into Lufthansas. The takeover was complete in July 2007. By 2008, Swiss was half the size it was 10 years earlier and has still not returned to Swiss Air size, but with its new network, Swiss been able to carry the same number of passengers as it did in 2002.

Swiss is a member of the Star Alliance and has codeshare agreements with several other airlines, expanding its flight offerings. Swiss now flies to destinations in Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania, China, Japan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Israel, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Canada Mexico, US, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Chile.

Swiss has in its operation a fleet of 77 aircrafts of which 20 are operated by its subsidiary Swiss European Airlines. There is a variety of choices on offer for checking in either through the web or phone. The check-in is also accessible in more than 50 train stations to travelers flying out of Switzerland. On offer are three classes namely: Swiss First, Swiss Business and Swiss Economy.

In Swiss First customers have access to special lounges at the Zurich, Basel and Geneva airports, and a separate check-in counter. Seating features an ottoman and table for two that folds away when not in use. Gourmet a la carte meals are served on the customers schedule and, on long-haul flights out of Switzerland, Swiss specialties are also available. Telephone and network connections are available on Airbus A330 flights.

Swiss gives the excellent and luxuriant facility to their business travellers like priority boarding and departure lounges. Certain planes also provide telephones, Internet, and messaging services.

All classes of the Airbus A340 as well as A330 are equipped with facilities of watching films and television, music and games.

The frequent flyer program of of Swiss is Miles and More. It is possible for the customers to redeem miles on Swiss flights as also on othe Star Alliance partners and twenty othe affiliate airlines. Miles can also be earned or made use of by partner hotels, car hire companies and credit card purchases.

Swiss Air is committed to minimizing the negative impact of their operations on the environment. Setting the pace for others, the company has substantially cut CO2 emissions and reduced their fuel consumption to one of the lowest in the industry. The Swiss flight management system automatically optimizes aircraft performance to achieve maximum efficiency by making adjustments to airspeed and altitude based on current weight and atmospheric conditions. Swiss has also adopted numerous environmentally conscious operational procedures, including flying below maximum speed and early retraction of flaps, to help reduce both costs and emissions.

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Booking with Thai Airways

January 16th, 2009 1 comment

Thai airways is known as one of the best service providing airlines.It has won many awards including “Worlds Best Cabin Staff and stood second in 2007 in the Best Airline in the World. Suvarnabhumi in Thailand is the place where from, it operates most to different places to the world.Few other airports from where it has the non stop flights include Chaing Mai International Airport, Don Mueang International Airport and Phuket International Airport.

The Airway International Company Limited was formed in 1960 as a joint venture between Thailand’s domestic airline, Thai Airways Company and Scandinavian Airline System. It was after 17 years that the government bought SAS”s holdings which made it the sole owner of the airline.

The first flights began operations from Bangkok to nine destinations within the Asian region. The first intercontinental flights were to Australia, then Europe and North American by 1980. After a merger with the Thai Airways Company, the company experienced faster growth as Thailands only national carrier.

In 1997, Thai Airways was a founding member of the Star Alliance network through which member airlines codeshare with each other, expanding their flight offerings. Additional partnerships have allowed Thai Airways to expand its list of destinations to include Africa (ending Jan. 16, 2009), China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, and New Zealand. The airlines route from Bangkok to Los Angeles is among the longest non-stop commercial flights currently operated.

Thai Airways has a fleet capacity that comprises 89 aircraft. The largest aircraft that they have in the fleet is the Boeing 767-400 that has a seating capacity of 389 passengers.

There are four travel classes that an airline may offer, which include Royal First, Royal Silk, Premium Economy, and Economy.

Passengers of Royal First class enjoy flat bed seats that also comes with touch screens, multi-media entertainment, and automated massage systems. There are over 20 meals to choose from. These options are usually available on Europe to Australia and some intra-Asian flights.

The royal silk travel class available in this airline is mostly like the business class which consists of angled, lie-flat business class seats that provides lumbar massage. And every seat has a 17-20 touch screens and AVOD and IFE.

Premium Economy Class is available on intercontinental flights from Bangkok and Los Angeles on the Airbus A40-500. Fewer seats are available on these planes to offer more room for the reclining seats and leg rests. These seats also come with 10.5 touch screens with AVOD and IFE.

There is less legroom in Economy Class seating, but in-seat audio/video on-demand is available.

Royal Orchid Plus is Thai Airlines frequent flyer reward program. It has more than two million members worldwide. The program has three tiers, member, silver and gold. Members can earn miles on Thai Airways flights, codeshare flights departing or arriving at Bangkok, Star Alliance flights and Jet Airways flights or at partner hotels.

Thai Royal First Class, Royal Silk Class and Star Alliance Gold passengers can visit one of the seven Thai Departure Lounges at Suvarnbhumi Airport. The Royal Orchid Spa offers traditional Thai massage, foot massage and spa Jacuzzi suites.

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Flights to Phuket

December 12th, 2008 No comments
by Tom Martens

Most flights into Phuket originate from Bangkok via several airlines: Thai Airways (also offering flights from the UK to Bangkok), Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Firefly and Air Asia.Thailand’s largest island, Phuket (roughly pronounced poo-get) is a popular holiday travel destination with beaches, night life and a rich melting pot of culture and religions.

Once you arrive at Phuket’s International Airport you will find that the shuttle bus will be the easiest and cost effective way to get where you would like to go. Local buses also run to all major beaches. Other traveling options include taking advantage of the minibus service or taxi.

Phuket high season is in general from November to May, though the island is hot and humid throughout the year. Summer monsoon season brings sunny, clear mornings and afternoons and rainy evenings. Locals consider May through October the “cool season.”

The island boast something for everyone from parents with children, beach bums and barflies, catering to all tastes, and budgets. Phuket’s 12 beaches are beautiful with white beaches and clear waters. The winding coastal roads offer stunning views and easy access to these fine beaches.

Karon Beach is a long stretch of beach offering a quieter environment than Patong without sacrificing a full range of dining and entertainment, including art and sports.Patong is known as the ideal beach to party and play with hundreds of restaurants, bars and discos centered around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road).

Kata Beach, just a few miles south of Karon Beach is popular with families thanks to its spectacular beach, restaurants and lively, but not wild, night life. Phuket’s other beaches are Mai Khao, Bang Tao, Surin Beach, Laem Singh Beach, Kamala Beach, Kata Nio Beach, Ao Chalong, Rawai Beach and Nai Ham.

While Phuket is sought after by tourists for its beautiful, and world renowned beaches, digging a little deeper beneath the surface one discovers that there is much more to see and do. Phuket is made up of 1 large main island as well as 39 additional smaller islands. And while it is referred to as an island, it is connected to the mainland by bridge. There are many destinations of interest, as well as amazing adventures to be had here, and half the fun is seeking them out.

Thai traditional myths are mixed with humor, fantasy into an increasingly amusing plotline. Simon Cabaret is probably the biggest “transvestite” cabaret in the area and features musical floor show performed by the world famous “ladyboys” of Simon Cabaret.Phuket FantaSea Show features aerial trapeze artists, elephants on stage and pyrotechnics in a Las Vegas style-show.

Enjoy sunrise and sunset views from many of the viewpoints east and west of Phuket. Promthep is a popular but spectacular example offering fabulous views over the ocean all the way to the island of Phi Phi on a clear day. Phuket town, the sleepy and provincial capital, offers funky shops to surprise and delight you. The blend of colonial and Chinese architecture highlight the Old Town’s quantness.

Bring your sense of humor and an open mind with you as you stroll after dark down Patong’s Bangla Road. Patong is known for its wild nightlife. Let’s just say it’s nothing like home. Wat Chalong is one of Phuket’s most important temples and hosts thousands visitors each year. As Phuket’s spiritual center, Wat Chalong has an interesting history.

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