Posts Tagged ‘travel’

Holidaymakers hate to pay for excess luggage

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

A recent survey by travelsupermarket.com revealed that British travelers can be very inventive when it comes to avoiding excess baggage fees. Forty percent of travelers are careful to check their baggage weight before heading out to the airport and making adjustments to lighten the load.

Bob Atkinson, spokesman for travelsupermarket.com, warned: “I can’t stress enough how important it is for travelers to weigh their hold and hand luggage before they turn up at the airport to avoid a confrontation at the check-in desk or gate. Many airlines have become much stricter about checking in overweight baggage, particularly in light of rising fuel costs.”

The survey polled over two thousand adult travelers, more than fifty percent of whom reported that they are packing fewer clothes now than in the past when airlines neglected to charge for extra weight.

An astute 35% pack their heaviest articles in carry-on bags which are often not weighed by airlines at all. Another 25% of respondents said that they always wear their heaviest shoes instead of packing them. Almost a quarter of the people reported that they aren’t packing toiletries at all, but buy them at their destination instead.

The survey also looked into some regional differences and discovered that the people in the north east of England are really not concerned about the issue of excess baggage. Demographically, women are the ones who pack less because of the rules.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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Pneumonic plague threatens China

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Health authorities from Qinghai province in northwest China have reported an outbreak of the highly infectious disease pneumonic plague.

So far there has been one confirmed death attributed to the disease. A herdsman from the Tibetan area of Ziketan has died. The time of death remains unclear. Besides the herdsman, eleven others from the man’s family are reported to have pneumonic plague, but they have been hospitalized and are recovering.

Chinese authorities are taking no chances and have ordered the entire 1000 square mile area with a population of approximately 10,000 quarantined. A medical team of experts are traveling into the region to monitor the outbreak.

Pneumonic plague is an air born disease that is transmitted between humans by coughing.  It is related to the infamous bubonic plague of the Middle Ages that killed millions. Both deseases originate from the same family of bacteria.

Modern antibiotics can easily treat the old bubonic plague, but pneumonic plague, as found in China, is very difficult to treat and is deadly in many cases. The World Health Organization warns that this particular strain can cause death in as little as 24 hours in most humans.

This is the second occurrence of the disease in China this year. The last case also struck in the Tibetan area and two people died.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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Tea and croquet on the high seas

Monday, August 3rd, 2009

Those who love cruises and want to experience the very best in life will want to book a cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox cruise ship, which is being launched in the UK this year despite pressure from global recession bites. This is the only cruise ship to be launched in the UK this year, and is currently in Southampton dock for an extravagant naming ceremony and celebrations.

After ten straight years of growth the number of cruise ship passengers has stalled this year. However, there are plenty of people willing to set sail.  However, the owners of the Celebrity equinox still seem sure of success.

As Robin Shaw, Spokesman for ship owners Royal Caribbean said in a recent press statement: “For the UK to be hosting the inaugural celebrations of Celebrity Equinox demonstrates the importance of the British and Irish markets. The reaction of UK consumers in terms of bookings is strong with sailings during all peak holiday periods sold out.”

The ship’s maiden voyage will take place on July 31st, when it sets sail for an eight-night Norwegian Fjords cruise.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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British senior citizens taking more “econocations”

Friday, July 31st, 2009

A recent survey by the Post Office revealed that 38 % of Brit’s over the age of 65 are saving money on their holidays this year by staying with family and friends. Additionally, 11% will avoid heading abroad and will remain in the UK while on holiday.

The findings are a result of the economic downturn in keeping with the national trend of spending less and holidaying closer to home. The Post office coined a new term, referring to the stay-with-family holidays as “econocations”. Seniors are also cutting down on the length of time spent on holiday with 4 % taking shorter breaks.

The findings also pointed out that thrifty-minded seniors have trouble getting affordable travel insurance. In fact, 20% of the seniors who were polled reported problems obtaining travel insurance.

In response the Post office has designed a new travel insurance product specifically designed for travelers over the age of 65.

Rachel Croft of the Post Office said, “We have extended the age limit on our annual travel insurance policy to cater for this new breed of traveler. However, whatever your age and whether you plan to pay for accommodation or not, it is essential to get comprehensive travel insurance to give you peace of mind.”

They recommend getting a cheap policy even if you’re staying with family while on holiday. The policy will cover such unexpected things as illness, crime, and disrupted travel.

Thanks to www.prweb.com for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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British backpackers arrested in Brazil

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Two British law graduates at the end of a nine month around-the-world backpacking holiday have been arrested in Brazil on charges of insurance fraud. The women are looking at a possible sentence of five years in a Brazilian prison.

Allegedly, Rebecca Turner and Shanti Andrews of Kent went to police in Rio de Janeiro claiming that their laptop, their ipod, and their camera had been stolen.  The value of the items was placed at £1,300.

After the two reported the items stolen, police searched the hostel where they were staying and found the items safely locked up the pair’s locker. At that point, the arrest was made.

Police are accusing them of perpetrating an insurance fraud scam commonly practiced by tourists in Rio. The tourist claims items to be stolen, which in fact are not, and then collects insurance funds. Police complain that the scam wrongly inflates Rio de Janeiro’s crime rate.

Simone Headley, Shanti’s mother, stated, “There has been a misunderstanding. Shanti and Rebecca are two hardworking young girls, never been in trouble. We hope the Brazilian justice system will see it as a misunderstanding and the girls will be able to come home safely. We are asking them to please show the world fairness and leniency.”

The Foreign Office is providing assistance.

Thanks to www.guardian.co.uk for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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Aeroflot looking for attractive stewardesses

Friday, July 31st, 2009

In a bid to attract new customers and to shed its out-of-date communist era image, the Russian airline, Aeroflot is scrapping its soviet made planes for Boeings, hiring prettier girls to be flight attendants, and dressing them up in fancier clothes.

The airline’s requirements for the new recruits specifies that the woman should be no bigger than a British size 12 and they are specifically looking for “very striking, very eye catching girls” along the lines of a professional fashion model.

Aeroflot’s executives have apparently been consulting with some psychologists who have told them that they need a new color scheme for the flight attendant uniforms. According to these experts, the old ones were revolting to passengers. For the new color the company has chosen blue and orange and they’re having a contest among 40 designers to see who can come up with the best design.

The company’s CEO, Vitaly Savelyev, remarked, “We’ve looked at the uniforms of other major carriers. My son sent me a wonderful video clip of Virgin Atlantic – all of their stewardesses are in bright red uniforms and look like professional models.”

The airline also wants to train the new girls to be more customer-friendly. A group of the old stewardesses have reportedly been fired because they were too rude with passengers. The new recruits are being sent to Malaysia to be trained by the experts at Singapore Airlines in customer care.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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Hertz offers online check in

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Those who like to hire cars and are often in a hurry will appreciate the new online check-in service, which is being piloted by Hertz Australia. The aim of the new system is to cut the amount of time customers need to move to their respective rental vehicles from the check-in counter.

The new system allows customers to simply log in to the specified site and submit their personal information, which includes their name, telephone numbers, address and driver’s license details. This can all be done online from the comfort of the customer’s home, meaning that check in will be completed before they arrive at their chosen Hertz office. Once there, customers can simply collect the keys for their chosen vehicle and drive away in style.

As Wayne Burgoyne, director of sales and marketing of Hertz Australia said in a recent interview: “Waiting time is wasted time. Both business travellers and leisure travellers want to get going as fast as possible to maximise either their working day or their holiday time. By enabling our customers to provide personal details online before they start their journey we can cut the time it takes customers to collect to their cars and help them to get on their way.”

If the new system should prove to be successful, it shouldn’t be long before Hertz sets up the system in the UK branches and in other countries around the world.

Thanks to www.ebookers.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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British Airways eliminates free meals on short flights

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

In a bid to reduce £400 million in losses, British Airways is cutting back on in-flight food service on flights out of Heathrow. The new policy will be implemented starting in August. From then on, BA won’t be serving meals after 10:00 am on short flights of less than a 2.5 hour duration.

BA has already implemented the plan on flights out of Gatwick where passengers only get a biscuit or, in some cases, a snack food such as pretzels. The new fare is more in line with discount service providers like Ryanair and easyJet.

Besides the cut backs on BA’s short flights, long flight passengers will also be noticing some changes such as no more free bottled water. Also, business class passengers will be served a skimpier second meal before landing.

A spokesperson from BA defended the move by saying, “When you fly with British Airways the in-flight catering is top class and, unlike some other airlines, it is free. It is not unusual to make small changes to avoid waste and save money where it makes sense and it meets customers’ changing tastes.”

The reductions in food and beverage service are supposed to save around £22 million a year for the struggling airline. Employees have been critical of the plan.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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Cambodia and Vietnam partner in airline venture

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

A new airline, Cambodia Angkor Air, was successfully launched on Monday by the Cambodian government in cooperation with Vietnam Airlines. It currently has only two planes and offers service to the country’s two main tourist destinations, Wat Angkor in the north and Sihanoukville on the coast.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said,”The government is investing to facilitate the company’s flight operations to carry tourists for competitive fares, to attract more visitors,”

The airline began operations with two ATR 72 twin-turbo prop aircraft.  A 185-seat Airbus A321 jetliner is expected to be added to the fleet sometime in September.

Cambodia’s last attempt at a national airline failed in 2001 with the loss of more than $25 million in the Royal Air Camboge bankruptcy. There has been no national airline ever since that time.

Cambodia’s fledgling tourist industry supplies approximately 13 % of the GDP and has been growing steadily according to statistics from the International Monetary Fund. More than 2.2 million people visited the country in 2008. The government hopes that the airline venture will help these numbers to increase.

As with all foreign joint ventures in the communist country, the Cambodian government owns a 51% stake in the enterprise. The partnership represents a rare agreement between Vietnam and Cambodia who have traditionally been rivals.

Thanks to www.business24-7.ae for the above quote. For more information on this article please visit their website.

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Thomas Cook offers sun lounger reservation service

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Thomas Cook Group, one of the largest tour operators in the world, has launched a service which enables holidaymakers to pre-book a lounge chair at the beach or at the pool.

A Thomas Cook spokesperson said, “As part of a promotion to holidaymakers in Germany, pre-bookable sun chairs are being offered as part of an upgrade package following positive feedback to a successful initiative by a small number of hotels.”

The move is an effort to eliminate the morning ritual of holidaymakers the world over of hurrying down to the beach in the morning and plunking down a beach towel on a chair in an effort to reserve it. Thomas Cook agents refer to the time honored ritual as the “beach towel wars”.

Under the new pre-book system, holidaymakers will be able to reserve a beach chair and umbrella for an entire day at a cost of €3. The chairs can be booked right along with an entire Mediterranean package tour before the traveler even departs. Payment is made in advance and the lounge’s spot is guaranteed.

The service is currently only available on Mediterranean package tours booked from Germany as part of an upgrade. So far, Thomas Cook has enlisted nine different hotels into the program. The option is available in the Canary Islands, Turkey, and Egypt.

Thanks to www.telegraph.co.uk for the above quote. For more information about this article please visit their website.

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