Uncategorized

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The World’s Most Unsafe Airlines

I wrote recently about the safest airlines in the world according to Airline Ratings. My attention was drawn to the most unsafe airlines. Airline Ratings does not officially release a list of the least safe airlines. Numerous airlines have received one-star ratings, however, and those at the bottom of the one-star list are as follows: The flag carrier of Algeria, Air Algerie, has had a number of serious incidents. They at least get 3.5 out of 7 for customer service, which is more than many of their one-star compatriots. Customers are scathing: “travelling to Algeria…

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Australian Government won’t let citizens home

For the last few years, I have flitted between Thailand and Australia regularly with regular easy travel across Asia, the Pacific and other destinations. For the last five years, I have averaged 75 plane flights a year- (about 6 a month) for business and or recreation. Many of those trips are documented in this blog. I definitely took the privilege of travel for granted. My biggest inconveniences prior to February 2020 were usually dodging long immigration queues. It is an understatement to say CVID19 changed all that. For two months the furthest I went from…

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The USA

Watching the US protests, riots and with frustration, sadness and anxiety. So many places I know and so many people I know are being impacted by a the current events. I have travelled to 46 US states and three of their territories. I know the cities where activity is taking place now. My friends live in the heart of New York City through to rural communities from Vermont to New Mexico. Stay safe people. Please protect each other instead of fighting each other. May the USA find a solution that gives all citizens their democratic…

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What to do with Virgin Australia

Once upon a time in 2000, Virgin entered the Australian airline market as a low cost carrier challenger. Months after its arrival, it found itself in a unique position as one of the country’s two main airlines (Ansett) collapsed in the wake of 11 September 2001. Qantas expanded to fill the vacuum left by Ansett. Virgin Blue nipped at their heels for over a decade. Qantas even started a new discount airline Jetstar in 2003, to take on Virgin in the low cost market. In 2010, Virgin Blue became Virgin Australia, repositioning itself as a…

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Rainy season arrives in Bangkok

It has not rained for months in Bangkok. After weeks of build up the #first #rains of the rainy season  hit this week. , In one day, the city received  13.9mm  (just over half an inch) with most of the rain falling in just two hours Humidity reached 97%. Having grown up for part of my life in Africa, there is a deep longing for those heavy rains. Makes me want to go run in them!  

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SAS suspends nearly all operations

This is a weird time in the world. Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS), the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden shuts down due to the essentially non-existing demand for air travel from Monday March 16 and until further notice. The airline said “ Due to the coronavirus and the measures implemented by national authorities, the demand for air travel is essentially non-existent. SAS has therefore decided to put most of its operations on hold, starting Monday March 16 and until necessary prerequisites for commercial air traffic returns. To support our customers, we will in the…

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The most important question about American shutting frequent flyer accounts.

There has been alot of news and discussion about American Airlines contacting some AAdvantage frequent flyer customers to advise them they are closing their account and cancelling any unused award tickets.  The words is that American have been closing the  accounts where the holder has: Bought, sold or bartered frequent flier miles that they have got from “unofficial” channels online Applied for a very large number of multiple Credit Cards in a very short period of time for the sole purpose of gaining frequent flier cards   Created frequent flier accounts for non existent people…

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Living with the Tourists

I am currently residing part of the year in a country with 40 million tourists a year, most of which come to the city I stay in. Some behave well and some horrify me! It’s been a fascinating learning journey being on the « other side » of the travel equation? Are you living in such a situation? What is it like for you? What do you wish visitors to your city knew about customs and behaviour?

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In Solidarity with Somalia

Two bomb blasts rocked the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu this weekend killing over 200 people. The people killed were students, shoppers, restaurant customers and waiters, kiosk workers, taxi and bus drivers.Men, women and children. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and called for people to donate blood for the wounded. I understand that in a war, there are casualties. But anyone killing civilians is to be condemned. I call on all armies, all governments and all groups to first of all, find alternatives to war and secondly quit with killing the people through the…

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