So in 2010, I flew 90 times with my 90th flight for the year on 31st of December 2010 bringing my total air distance for the year to 202 000km (120 000 miles). I feel that gives me some qualifications for the following subjective rankings. Best Airlines I have confessed a few times in this blog that my favourite airline in the world (out of the 70 I have flown) is now Emirates. Emirates – all round amazing customer service product- friendly, amazing food, attention to detail Air New Zealand, an efficient and friendly operator-…
Monthly Archives
Monthly Archives for December 2010.
When Enhancements alienate a customer
I have flown Qantas a lot. A real lot. Up to now I have been on Qantas 356, 745 miles 574,125 kilometres 14.33 times around the world for 32.2 days inside their planes! Their reward to me has been to name me a Platinum Frequent Flier – Thank you Qantas. Recently Qantas sent me an email which said: We’ve made a variety of changes in the last few years to give you a broader, more rewarding program. The coming months will see further changes, including enhancements for most frequent fliers…You’ll find highlights …. Now to me, an…
I love a train ride!
I am taking The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide in Australia nexy Thursday. This is a 828 kilometre trip – about 500 miles. These two capitals are almost twice the distance as the Eurostar which is 495km, just over 308 miles. The Overland takes about nine hours to do its journey and Eurostar 2.25 hours! It is a long slow trip with great scenery, a nice dining/lounge car. I plug my laptop into the onboard power, fire up my 3G internet card and I can work and play all the way! The train started originated as the Intercolonial…
Happy Christmas Qantas- some things are not your fault.
The 2010 Qantas Christmas card doesn’t show metres of snow or faulty engines. Image: Copyright AP Photo/ Steve Parsons taken from Herald-Sun Difficult job being in Qantas PR this year. I do wish people would stop blaming them for the snow delays though. And think! 8 stranded jumbos. Thats 3200 people on them and at least 3200 people waiting for them. Every 24 hours they are delayed is another 6000-7000 people. If they all called Qantas simultaneously and spend 5 minutes talking to an agent 70 000 minutes of calls or 10 000 hours -every 48…
Help! Sorting out luggage fees and weights
In an extraordinary admission, the, President of US Airways, Scott Kirby stated that the airline’s profit for 2010 will come entirely from “ancillary revenue” or fees as we passengers know them. This is the reason why everywhere you turn now when flying, you seem to pay another damned fee. And its so confusing! I am planning a flight from Los Angeles to JFK in 2011. Here are two of my options: Virgin America JetBlue Fare $139.00 $162.00 Luggage $25.00 50lb- Free Entertainment Free and for-pay entertainment Free Meals and Drinks Drink included-snacks to buy Drink included-snacks to…
Qantas A380- 75% useless
The bad news for the Qantas A380s continues. This blog post by Brett Snyder describes why the A380s are almost useless to them.Qantas cannot use the existing engines on their route between Australia and the USA. They need engines with as much thrust as possible to get the plane up in the air with very full fuel tanks. They need that fuel to make it across the Pacific. There is a way out – operate the plane with 80 passengers instead of 450…not an economic proposition. Brett outlines the issues and dilemmas well.
Lighter Luggage 2: Reducing your load:
Today, I want to challenge you to reduce your luggage load by 25 kilograms (55lbs). This follows on from my last blog post where I encourage people to switch to carry-on only. Take less Clothes because in reality, you don’t need everything you want to take. My rule is to pack and then reduce by half the number of clothes you have packed. The reality is most people overpack. Choose clothes that will all combine. eg for men, make sure your ties and shirts will all work together. Taking 3 shirts and 3 ties creates 12 combinations.…
Lighter Luggage Part 1: Switching to Carry on
Its getting to travel season for many. My eyes boggle at the amount of luggage, people take with them. Its hard work, its nerve wracking sometimes and if you are over your weight limit, its expensive. I travel with two bags. One is on wheels and is designed to be checked if I have to. My aim is not to check anything in because: its faster at check in- no luggage means a check in at home and straight to the gate (time saved 15-60mins). I fly about 90 times a year- time saved is between…
Police confirm dead teen fell out of plane
The residents of Milton, Mssachusstes reported On November 15, 2010, reported hearing a loud “crashing noise” at around 9pm. The body of a 16 year old Delvonte Tisdale was found lying in the street at 930pm. The boy was found with massive injuries so a hit and run was suspected. he had no shirt and no shoes Authorities, however, could not explain how the boy had ended up so far from home and what had been done to him. The boy had been seen in North Carolina where he lived, at 130am that day. He had been missing…
Thank you to those who brought their brain with them today
For some reason, a number of other passengers irritated me yesterday! I want to affirm those who didn’t annoy others yesterday. So a big thank you to all those passengers who Bring Manners- yes travelling can be stressful but its your choice. Glad you were not obnoxious to your waiter/check in assistant/husband/daughter/son/stranger Are Prepared– You realise that Passport queue means you need your passport! At the Check in counter, you have some sort of ID and you know which airline you are traveling on Give yourself time-avoiding the stress of missing a plane or train by…
Recent Comments