I have shared my peeves about taxi rides from Hell before. Nothing prepared me for the taxis of Beirut. When I arrived at Lebanon’s Beirut airport, my pre arranged transport did not show (I found out later that someone forgot to book it!). My cell phone did not work and I could not find a working pay phone in the airport. So I stupidly headed to the door of the airport hall following a sign which said “taxis”! (Any other city, this would be logical). There appeared to be no order or logic to the line up of…
Trip Report: Royal Jordanian
Royal Jordanian are the Flag Carrier for the Kingdom of Jordan, a country between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Founded by the Jordanian king in 1963, it is now a privatised company. Royal Jordanian is the first (and only) Arab airline to join a major airline alliance being part of One World. I have now flown eight of the 12 airlines in One World (although one of them, Mexicana Airlines has suspended its operations and I wonder how long One World can keep saying they are a One World member). Finnair, JAL and S7 remain for me to…
Images of Beirut March 2011
Some pictures of Beirut. Building shelled in the civil war towards the Mediterranean I assume new tower because of war damage Display in shop made out of soap glassware I have no idea why these boys were dancing on the Corniche In downtown Beirut fountain where i was told not to take more pics Woman feeding cats on the Corniche costumed waiter Roman ruins near Martyr Square
I have just flown ONE MILLION MILES
Dawn in the air In the film: Up in the Air, George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a guy with the goal of earning one million miles with the one airline. Today, I reached the milestone of one million miles in the air (1.6 million kilometres). My life does not completely rsemble Clooney’s movie character, however. Unlike him, I actually love being home and I like people. I now have elite statuses with the following carriers: United Airlines Gold Virgin Blue Gold Qantas Platinum I measure my air life at a great flight tracking tool called FlightMemory. My…
My 717th flight!
Yesterday, I flew my 717th plane flight from Houston, Texas to Columbus, Ohio. I had hoped for a 717 but I got a beautiful 737. I am such a geek!Continental upgraded me to First Class which included amazing service and a very edible meal.
Fellow Passenger destroys my bag
I don’t check my luggage in for a number of reasons- one of which is avoiding having it damaged by the airlines. Yesterday, a gentleman was trying to get what looked like a very heavy and large bag into the aeroplane locker near me. It went in with a very loud bang. When I was getting off the plane, I discovered that he must have been shoving his bag in on top of mine. It was so heavy it distorted my bag and broke the handle off. I never could have imagined it. Thank you fellow…
Annoyed at steep fare rise
I had to book air travel to a client’s city for a presentation I am making. I found an airfare five weeks ago of around $250 but was told not to book it because the client’s corporate travel department would book it at a corporate rate thus “saving money”. Fair enough”, I thought. Anyway, corporate travel department finally got back to me today to book it myself. Only the fare is now $700-$800. So much for them saving money. I hate seeing money wasted!
Airports with Wireless- where to find them
In today’s modern world, it is infuriating the inconsistency in wireless internet access in airports. There are four types of airports in my experience: Airports with no wireless internet (mostly regional) Airports with free wireless internet (these are airports I like) Airports with one internet wireless carrier that you have to purchase airtime from (these are airports I dislike a lot) Airports with multiple internet carriers that allow you to choose a carrier you may have a monthly plan with The third option is frustrating because you have to sign up a new carrier for…
Indian Fake Pilots
Last month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation revoked the licence of a pilot, flying for IndiGo, after she caused damage to an Airbus A320 by landing the plane on the nose wheel instead of the rear wheels. She was found to have forged papers to get her airline transport pilot licence. The DGCA then found two more pilots with forged qualifications flying passenger planes. Another reason, why I am nervous to fly in India. Give me Indian Railways every time!
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