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Posts Tagged ‘Comparison Shopping’

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.

Uk Flights To Basel

January 28th, 2009 No comments

If youre considering Basel as a holiday option this winter, youll be happy to hear that low fares and flight availability are in good supply. Because Basel has established itself as a growth center for budget airlines, carriers such as Easyjet are establishing major bases there in favor of the more expensive Zurich Airport. Fares start below 100 and go up to the mid 200s and flights depart from London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glascow, Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester.

The second biggest city in Switzerland is Basel which offers a tradition of scholarship and art since the days on the Renaissance. Prior evidence of this is that the city offers more than 24 museums for 200,000 residents. Basel’s location is on the Swiss border with France and Germany and both cultures influenced it.

Not a traditional Swiss ski town, Basel is filled with options for vacationers. As the cultural capital of Switzerland, you can and enjoy the art and culture, and the Dolls House Museum on Barfusserplatz or the Swiss Architecture Museum in Steingberg or The Karikatur and Cartoon Museum are just a few of the many options.

There are many sights to see and you will not run out of options. The most noticeable is the Cathedral with its twin towers and red sandstone walls. The Cathedral is quite old as the structure was built in the year 900 AD. After the destructive 1356 earthquake, the current Gothic cathedral was finished.

The Marktplatz is open everyday except Sunday selling fresh vegetables, fruit and flowers. It is dominated by the Town Hall (Rathhaus) the seat of the government since the 14th century.

Observe the Rhine as you traverse the Mittlere Brucke (Middle viaduct) that was sponsored by church possession sales in 1125. Its among the earliest Rhine pass through. Tinguley Fountain characteristics funny machine statues and is believed to be a figure of the towns distinctiveness.

Explore Basels Old Town on foot so you wont miss any detail of the 15th century buildings as they mingle with modern works of international architects. Spalentor (Spalen Gate) is the most imposing of the three surviving city gates that date back to the 1400s.

Basel also offers official city tours and christmas in Basel will enchant you with lights, trees, angels and stories of old Basel traditions.

The Roman Town of August Raurica will introduce you to the formerly bustling Roman town through imposing ruins and museum treasures.

When sightseeing in Basel, you can also go shopping for luxury items such as Louis Vuitton and Rolex. You can find books, fashion, shoes, and other specialities in antique shops, small boutiques, and high end department stores.

If youre a fan of night life, Basel will not disappoint you. Youll find everything from cozy bars to wild parties and clubs.

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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 Zurich

January 16th, 2009 No comments

Swiss and British Airways are a good place to start shopping for flights from London. Swiss also offers direct flights from Manchester and Birmingham. Lufthansa, Alitalia and KLM offer indirect flights, and budget airlines like Easyjet have flights to Zurich departing from London, Gatwick and Luton.You can find great prices on flights from the UK to Zurich. Fares on budget airlines start below 99 and top out well below 200.

Just 12 kilometers north of Zurich you’ll find the airport, ZRH. You might want to use Swiss Rail’s trainsinto the city, since they leave for Zurich every ten minutes, and other places, too. You could also take a public buz, hotel shuttle, or cab, or use one of the many car rental companies there.

Zurich is a great holiday destination, offering breathtaking scenery, top-notch quality shopping and full night life. Summer is the best time to fly to Zurich. July and August provide the best weather. Spring and autumn are also good times for a holiday excursion, but winter is cold, cloudy and damp.

Spend the days wandering Zurichs quant cobbled streets, visiting museums, shopping at flea markets or gathering samples from its chocolate factories. During the day, Swiss neatness and exacting manner may convince you that Zurich residents are uptight. But, at night, youll find more bars, clubs, restaurants and a host of street parades and festivals to meet the needs of the most devoted partiers.

Following is a list of popular Zurich tourist attractions.

The enduring anthology of The Swiss National Museum consists of The Celestial Globe of Jost Burg, historic wheels and Swiss weapons. It also incorporates Stone Age artifacts and current records of Swiss history. It is built in a castle like architectural style that gives one the chance to look at the Swiss national history in an interesting and satisfactory way.

To take in the scenery, hop on board the Polybahn or Ridiblick Funicular for panoramic views of the city and Lake Zurich. The first Polybahn was opened in 1889 to transport students from central Zurich to the University of Technology. It continues to transport students and tourists to the Polyterasse viewpoint.

There are 14 th century buildings in the old town of Niderdorf district. There are small plazas with restaurant and music. There are fashion stores, bookshops and antique stores. Sample the famed cheese, wine and pastries. Niederdorf is one of the Zrich’s best nightlife venues.

Visit more than 2,200 animals, more than 260 different species at the Zurich Zoo. Dedicated to nature conservation and protecting animal species, the zoo has many reintroduction projects in the wild. You can see endangered species like the snow leopard and red panda. Guided tours and in-depth information tools make the Zurich Zoo a great learning experience.

The thin blue spire of Fraumunster Church is one of the most distinctive of the many spires in the Zurich skyline. The church was founded in 853 and its main attractions are its beautiful stained glass windows added to the church in 1970.

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