Wednesday, November 30, 2011

UK Public Sector Strike: What Is Your Flight Status

Aviation is perhaps one of the biggest markets that are going to be affected by the UK’s public sector strike that is set to rock the country on Wednesday, 30 November.

The participation of the UK border agency staff and airport immigration officials in the protests will mean hard time for the travellers who will be facing long delays at airports. To avoid such inconveniences, few airlines have cancelled flights to the UK while some are offering free flight changes to encourage passengers to change flight dates.

British Airways, considered the largest operator at Heathrow, is surprisingly not affected by the strike as far as flight schedule is concerned. BA is, however, providing free of charge flight ticket changes to travellers.

Delta Air Lines has axed some flights to and from the UK. Travellers who wish to have a ticket reissue must do so on or before Dec. 2 for a travel no later than Dec. 7, as per the airline’s website.

Ryanair and EasyJet, both budet airlines known to offer cheap flight tickets, hope to operate an unaltered schedule on the day. It sure is good news for travellers with cheap flights on these two airlines. However, travellers must be fully prepared to face long delays at the UK airports.

Indian airline, Air India has cancelled a total of four flights to the UK. These flights are Amritsar-Delhi-London (AI-115), London-Delhi (AI-116), Delhi-London (AI-111) and London-Delhi (AI-112).

Similarly, Emirates and Singapore Airlines have cancelled some flights to and from London.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Buddhist art festival coming to Delhi

People catching flights to Delhi in the next week or so may find the Buddhist arts and culture festival taking place between November 28th and December 1st of interest.

Hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to commemorate the 2,600th year of enlightenment of Lord Buddha, the event will see cinema screenings from places like Nepal and Sri Lanka put on, as well as performing arts groups appearing in public spaces, the Times of India reports.

Those getting off flights to Delhi to coincide with the festival will have the chance to familiarise themselves with the influence Buddhism has had on performing arts and traditions.

News Reference

Monday, November 28, 2011

UK Strike: Turmoil Expected at Airports on Wednesday

Passengers arriving at UK airports on Wednesday are advised to get their magazines, iPods and everything else that may assist them to kill time as it is going one hell of a wait for passengers as only a handful of immigration desks will be manned at airports.

 

Industrial action, called by public sector employees, is sure to engulf and impact international airports all over the United Kingdom. And if reports are to be believed, the waiting time can well extend up to 12 hours to clear immigration! So much for the cheap flight tickets that you picked up on flights to UK!

 

London Heathrow will be most affected airport as it is the busiest one. Then certain experts believe that the airport's flight pattern is such that it sure is going to add fuel to the industrial action fire. Even airport authorities acknowledge the massive challenge it faces and that is why Normand Boivin, Chief Operating Officer of Heathrow has written to the airlines to cut down their passenger load by 50 percent in order to trim down the chaos.

 

Different airlines have reacted differently to the situation. While most airlines that offer flights to UK are offering flight changes for the day, Etihad has been most proactive and has cancelled London-bound flights for that day.

 

Airlines like Qantas, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are offering free of cost flight changes for passengers. Easyjet, a popular budget airline known for offering cheap flight tickets, has warned travellers of the impending strike and advised them to make their travel plans keeping in mind the long delays.

 

Qatar Airways and Gulf Air also cautioned travellers.

 

Singapore - Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2011

Singapore continues to rank among the most preferred holiday destinations for many travellers across the world. A tour to Singapore is desired by travellers of all interests for a trip to its myriad unique sightseeing attractions, or to indulge in glamorous shopping or for tasting its scrumptious cuisines, or just pampering oneself with the finest of hospitality in its ultra luxurious or cheap budget hotels.

Tickets on cheap flights to Singapore seem to have a short shelf life; they are sold as soon as they are announced. Yet epicureans vie for cheap flights to Singapore and book tickets months in advance. The tiny city-state is as popular among the regional tourists as it is with the global holiday makers. Flights to Singapore from adjoining countries in the region are as popular as flights to Singapore from across the Pacific or Atlantic oceans. This popularity has caused Singapore’s Economy to grow at a rapid rate adding to elements like country’s GDP and employment.

World Travel & Tourism Council aims to capture travel and tourism’s indirect and induced impacts on economy through its annual research. It reveals that travel and tourism’s total contribution is far greater than its direct contribution to Singapore’s economy.

Its recent report revealed that the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP, including its wider economic impacts, is forecast to rise by 5.8% pa from SGD25.6bn in 2011 to SGD45.1bn by 2021. The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, is forecast to rise by 3.2% pa from 197,000 jobs in 2011 to 268,000 jobs by 2021.

Friday, November 25, 2011

New Zealand to Host 3 Major Events in 2012

Had plans for holidays in New Zealand during Rugby Match 2011 but couldn’t make it? No worries, as New Zealand is enlivening again in 2012 with three big events. The country is hosting the International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship Series Grand Finale in Auckland, New Zealand International Arts Festival in Wellington and American Express Queenstown Winter Festival.

Cheap flights to New Zealand are already a rage among travel buffs from far and wide, but due to the grand events of 2012, the island country is enamouring the hearts of triathlon aficionados, art maniacs and music fanatics also.

ITU World Championship Series Grand Final, 2012

New Zealand is set to host one of the most honoured racing events from 18-22 October 2012. Eminent sportspersons from 20 nations will participate in the four-day event taking place at Queens Wharf, located in the heart of Auckland. It indeed is a perfect reason for laying hands on tickets on flights to New Zealand.

2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival Wellington

Biennial New Zealand International Art Festival is world-renowned for its virtuoso art performances. The fun episode, entailing dance performances of choreographers from UK, New Zealand Opera and other major events, is beginning from 24 February to 18 March 2012 in different venues of Wellington.

American Express Queenstown Winter Festival

Another big event of the country and treat to adventure enthusiasts, American Express Queenstown Winter Festival will take centre stage in Queenstown from 22 June to 1 July 2012. The 10-day winter festival is packed with mind-numbing street parties, fine art performances and plenty of other activities.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Mass wedding celebrations seen in Mumbai

People taking flights to Mumbai at the start of the week could have witnessed hundreds of wedding ceremonies taking place across the city.

Many couples decided to tie the knot on Monday November 21st as the date marked a particularly auspicious alignment of the planets, the Times of India reported.

Around 20,000 weddings are thought to have taken place across the city during the day, which was Margashirsh Krishnapaksha Ekadashi.

Some other ceremonies carried over to November 22nd, with predictions made that the number of weddings on those two days were up by 80 per cent compared with the normal amount taking place during the month.

News Reference

Delhi Metro Rail network to be extended

People coming into India on flights to Delhi in the future may well find travelling around the country easier, thanks to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which is extending its network by 103 km.

Kamal Nath, union minister for urban development, noted that this is the biggest infrastructure development that has ever been permitted in the country, comprising three extensions and two new lines and taking in 67 new stations, Rail.co reports.

"As urbanisation is taking place, there is an immediate need for better mobility services, such as Delhi Metro for safe public transport system," the official added.

News Reference

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Qantas, Unions Fail To Reach Agreement

The stage is set for the Fair Work Australia to wield its wand and take the pain away from Qantas Airways, unions and the travellers. That’s right! Qantas and the warring unions are unable to reach any peaceful accord within the stipulated timeframe and now the Australia's industrial umpire will flex its muscle and offer an obligatory settlement.

Late on Monday, negotiations between Qantas and the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) were unable to bring forth any pleasant result. As a result ALAEA is forced to join pilots, baggage handlers and caterers in opting for a resolution to be determined by Fair Work Australia.

If industry insiders are to be believed then this is perhaps the best case scenario for Qantas Airways, an airline whose name perhaps comes to the mind first when people think of booking flights to Australia. No side can take industrial action while the arbitration is ongoing. The airline would be comforted that there can be no more travel disruptions, at least in the near future. In October, Qantas was forced to ground its entire fleet resulting trouble for domestic as well as international travellers on flights to and from Australia.

Following the episode, Qantas tried every trick in the book to attract travellers - be it offering cheap flight tickets or even free air tickets! While cheap flight tickets were offered in general, free tickets were provided to those affected by fleet grounding.

With peak holiday travel season coming up, it becomes all the more prudent for the airline to woo customers.

News Reference

Christmas events come to Perth

People on flights to Perth in the coming weeks do not have to miss out on any festive celebrations, as a host of fun events are to be staged at the Perth Cultural Centre.

The centre is set to join forces with the Department of Culture and the Arts to celebrate the festive season with the Illuminites event.

Taking place on December 9th and 16th, the event will begin each evening on 17:00 local time and run until 22:00, with the building illuminated as part of the city's Festival of Christmas.

As well as the lights, the centre will also host a supper club, markets and family activities, which could make it a great evening out for all members of the family.

News Reference

Monday, November 21, 2011

Qatar Airways to Offer Several New Routes in 2012

Continuing its aggressive expansion policy, Qatar Airways will be including several new routes to its global network in 2012.

On Friday at Dubai Air Show, Qatar Airways announced its plans to start new flights to regions like Australia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Flights will be offered to Perth (Australia), Helsinki (Finnish capital), Zagreb (Croatia), Gassim (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Zanzibar (Tanzania), Kigali (Rwanda) and Mombasa (Kenya).

Qatar is not exactly an airline doling out cheap flight tickets but it is known to justify its travel fares by providing incredible set of in-flight services. And who knows there just might be some kind of introductory offer providing cheap flight tickets on the new routes.

The new routes will be operated from the Qatar Airways’ hub in Doha and will become functional over the next few months.

Flights to Perth will be second route for Qatar in Australia after it launched operations to Melbourne two years ago.

Addition of Helsinki and Zagreb in 2012 will strengthen airline’s presence in Europe. In 2011, the airline started seven routes to the continent.

The launch of three new routes to Africa is equally important and strategic step for the airline. Kenya’s Mombasa and Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean are two fast emerging hot holiday destinations and flights on these routes will surely mean good business for Qatar. On the other hand, Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali is likely to attract business travellers.

Last but closest is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the airline will be launching fifth route to the country in 2012.

News Reference

Haunted places for Paranormal holidays in India

India is an ancient land full of interesting and thrilling stories. A land full of myths, mysteries and enigmas, India lures ghost hunters and enthusiasts from around the globe to book flights to India.


India, with its rich and long history, is full of mysteries. Flight ticket to India offers a sneak peek into cryptic secrets that are yet to be unfolded. This wonderful country offers ample opportunities to ghost hunters as well as regular thrill-seeking travellers who love chasing down the paranormal on their holidays.

Let’s take a quick tour of some haunted places to visit in India that invoke a sense of mystery and enigma, and entice people to book flights to India

Forts of Bhangarh, Rajasthan

Mighty forts of Bhangarh arouse a strange sceptical feeling in the atmosphere and cause restlessness and anxiety among visitors on their tour to this fort. If rumours are to be taken seriously then people here have even went missing! These folklores have added immensely to the popularity of cheap flights to India with many wanting to check out the most haunted place in India. With an utmost enigma to be unfolded, Bhangarh Forts promise to thrill tourists who travel to this haunted destination.

Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel, Kota

The 178-year-old Brij Raj Bhavan Palace in Kota, Rajasthan, which was converted into a heritage hotel in the 1980s, has a resident ghost! The gentleman ghost of Major Burton is said to be harmless.

Delhi Cantt, New Delhi

India’s capital city of New Delhi has its own share of ghosts and ghost stories! Most leisure travellers taking flights to India land up in this city as Delhi is well connected with other parts of the country via road-links, rail networks and airways. Therefore travellers do not face many hassles in an effort to meet Delhi’s most famous ghost or more appropriately ‘ghostess’! The area around Delhi Cantt is said to be haunted by a vengeful spirit of a lady, clad in white dress, who asks motorists for lift and then suddenly disappears!

Dumas Beach, Gujarat

The Dumas in Gujarat is a haunted cremation site where many locals have complained to have heard weird voices. Especially at night people have heard strange whispers warning of the danger around the proximity of this beach. It is believed that this Hindu crematorium is lurking full with spirits of dead people!

Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad

A big ticket draw for ghost hunters and ‘ghost lovers’, Ramoji Film City is said to be haunted by notorious ghosts of dead soldiers. This film city is built on the war grounds of Nizams and if locals are to be believed then this place is haunted big time!

Rajeev Gandhi International airport

The rumour that has been doing rounds is that Rajeev Gandhi International Airport located in Hyderabad is haunted by the spirits of those who were killed during the airport’s construction. No wonder, anyone with even a mild interest in the paranormal can be seen haggling hard for cheap flights to India that land up in Hyderabad.

Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai

This top Indian hotel has welcomed almost every major global celebrity who has taken flights to India. But the luxurious environ and top of the line services do not devoid the hotel of its spookiness! The hotel is said to be haunted by the ghost of its architect.

Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune

A mighty fort built by the rulers of Peshwa Dynasty contains many bone-chilling stories within its walls. None is as heartbreaking as what happened hundreds of years back at this mighty fort. A prince, heir to the royal throne, was killed on his close relative’s orders. It is said that visitors taking a trip to the fort after nightfall can still hear his cries for help.

The Savoy, Mussoorie

This holiday hotel dates back to 1902. It is said that the corridors of this hotel are haunted by the ghost of Lady Garnet Orme, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Friday, November 18, 2011

New Chennai road to be completed by April

Travellers taking flights to Chennai could be able to use a new road if they arrive in the area next spring as the completion date has been confirmed.

The new four lane road will span 1.6 km and will run to Chennai Port, with the most recent predictions for a completion date stated to be April 2012, the Hindu reported.

So far, the road has missed deadlines in October 2010 and January 2012 after it was hit by issues ranging from floods to local elections.

News Reference

Thursday, November 17, 2011

George Clooney 'enjoyed visit to Delhi'

Holidaymakers could be planning to book flights to Delhi soon after George Clooney voiced his praise for the city and its people.

The actor spoke the Hindustan Times about his new film The Ides of March and spoke of how he had visited the city some years ago.

Reflecting on his time in the capital, he commented that the people there were "warm and hospitable".

News Reference

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

India wins best destination award

More people could be looking to take cheap flights to India after the country was named as the best destination in the world at the World Travel Awards.

Union Tourism Minister Shri Subodh Kant Sahai picked up the trophy for best destination and best marketing campaign from Graham Cooke, chairman of the World Travel Awards, at the ceremony in London on November 8th 2011.

Mr Sahai said that it was a privilege for the country to be given the prize.

News Reference

Spooky Paranormal Adventures with Flights to India

India is an ancient land full of interesting and thrilling stories. A land full of myths, mysteries and enigmas, India lures ghost hunters and enthusiasts from around the globe to book flights to India.

India, with its rich and long history, is full of mysteries. Flight ticket to India offers a sneak peek into cryptic secrets that are yet to be unfolded. This wonderful country offers ample opportunities to ghost hunters as well as regular thrill-seeking travellers who love chasing down the paranormal on their holidays.

Let’s take a quick tour of some haunted places to visit in India that invoke a sense of mystery and enigma, and entice people to book flights to India

Forts of Bhangarh, Rajasthan

Mighty forts of Bhangarh arouse a strange sceptical feeling in the atmosphere and cause restlessness and anxiety among visitors on their tour to this fort. If rumours are to be taken seriously then people here have even went missing! These folklores have added immensely to the popularity of cheap flights to India with many wanting to check out the most haunted place in India. With an utmost enigma to be unfolded, Bhangarh Forts promise to thrill tourists who travel to this haunted destination.

Brij Raj Bhavan Heritage Hotel, Kota

The 178-year-old Brij Raj Bhavan Palace in Kota, Rajasthan, which was converted into a heritage hotel in the 1980s, has a resident ghost! The gentleman ghost of Major Burton is said to be harmless.

Delhi Cantt, New Delhi

India’s capital city of New Delhi has its own share of ghosts and ghost stories! Most leisure travellers taking flights to India land up in this city as Delhi is well connected with other parts of the country via road-links, rail networks and airways. Therefore travellers do not face many hassles in an effort to meet Delhi’s most famous ghost or more appropriately ‘ghostess’! The area around Delhi Cantt is said to be haunted by a vengeful spirit of a lady, clad in white dress, who asks motorists for lift and then suddenly disappears!

Dumas Beach, Gujarat

The Dumas in Gujarat is a haunted cremation site where many locals have complained to have heard weird voices. Especially at night people have heard strange whispers warning of the danger around the proximity of this beach. It is believed that this Hindu crematorium is lurking full with spirits of dead people!

Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad

A big ticket draw for ghost hunters and ‘ghost lovers’, Ramoji Film City is said to be haunted by notorious ghosts of dead soldiers. This film city is built on the war grounds of Nizams and if locals are to be believed then this place is haunted big time!

Rajeev Gandhi International airport

The rumour that has been doing rounds is that Rajeev Gandhi International Airport located in Hyderabad is haunted by the spirits of those who were killed during the airport’s construction. No wonder, anyone with even a mild interest in the paranormal can be seen haggling hard for cheap flights to India that land up in Hyderabad.

Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai

This top Indian hotel has welcomed almost every major global celebrity who has taken flights to India. But the luxurious environ and top of the line services do not devoid the hotel of its spookiness! The hotel is said to be haunted by the ghost of its architect.

Shaniwarwada Fort, Pune

A mighty fort built by the rulers of Peshwa Dynasty contains many bone-chilling stories within its walls. None is as heartbreaking as what happened hundreds of years back at this mighty fort. A prince, heir to the royal throne, was killed on his close relative’s orders. It is said that visitors taking a trip to the fort after nightfall can still hear his cries for help.

The Savoy, Mussoorie

This holiday hotel dates back to 1902. It is said that the corridors of this hotel are haunted by the ghost of Lady Garnet Orme, who was found dead in mysterious circumstances.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Delhi preparing for anniversary celebrations

There could be a rise in the number of people looking to take flights to Delhi next month as the city waits to celebrate its 100th anniversary of being named the capital of India.

King George V made the announcement on December 11th 1911 that the capital was to be moved from Calcutta to Delhi and the city is taking steps to spruce up some of its most famous landmarks to mark the event.

A project which is seeing a lot of work is the city's Coronation Park, which has been in need of renovation work for many years.

News Reference

Flights to Bangkok – A Way to Hedonistic Heaven

Raucous, raunchy and apt for carousing - Bangkok is a place for living the life of unending hedonism!! With flashy neon-lights, bustling streets and jovial people all over, Bangkok knows nothing about the inkiness of night. The party capital of South East Asia truly makes even a hard man humble with its infinite offerings, including plenty of vivacious hubs, trendy clubs, gourmet restaurant and go-go bars.

No wonder, the everlasting zest of city’s nightlife entices millions to lay hands on inexpensive tickets on flights to Bangkok. Mind-numbing action of its popular streets including Patpong, Nana Plaza, Chidlom, Khao San Road, Chinatown and Soi Cowboy caress the senses of a first time visitor and tempts almost every one to return back. Holidays to the mesmerizing metropolis of Thailand are all about jollifying the life.

Grabbing cheap flights to Bangkok is way to indulge in flurry of exhilarating activities like shopping, clubbing, pub-crawling, fine dining and much more. The district of Patpong is a haven for bachelors and spinsters and a shopping paradise for shoppers. Pulsating ambience of this place will surely freak you out with its racy offerings. Don’t restrict yourself and make a beeline to extremely rowdy Nana Plaza for some exotic experience. Travel to brightly-lit Soi Cowboy and try bar hopping to experience its eclectic fervour. Khao San Road is another allure that satiates the travellers with its countless clubs and bars.

Essence of the capital lies in tripping the light fantastic toes and fuddling till dawn. Drink its glory and live the Bangkok moment!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Kingfisher’s Flight Cancellations - Travellers Left in Lurch

Problems keeps on mounting for Kingfisher Airlines and more so for travellers! Indian carrier, Kingfisher Airlines has grounded more than 30 flights on Thursday, 10th Nov.

The cash-strapped airline has cancelled flights for fourth consecutive day now, making it really hard for travellers all over the country. Airports witnessed scenes of utter chaos as passengers moved from pillar to pillar to gather some sort of reliable information in regards to their flights.

Budget travellers who book tickets in advance to net cheap flight tickets were perhaps the most disappointed lot as flight after flight failed to take off from different parts of the country.

There is no respite for Kingfisher Airlines as reports of more than 30 pilots and crew members of not reporting for duty in the past few days do the rounds. A section of Indian media also claims that some 100 pilots had quit the airline in past few weeks.

To add to the woes of the carrier, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has sent a show-cause notice to Kingfisher as to why the airline had not taken the regulator's prior approval before cancelling its flights. The DGCA has also asked the Indian carrier to furnish information as regards to steps taken by the airline to take care of the passengers affected by flight cancellations.

Flight cancellations have also triggered off a surge in air fares on popular routes. Cheap flight tickets are hard to come by for travellers in the current scenario.

Travellers are compelled to rebook on other airlines paying a premium of 20-40 per cent at the last moment.

News Reference

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Air France sees rise in traffic

People taking flights to India with Air France could be interested to hear that the airline saw a slight increase in passenger numbers last month.

Assessing its figures for October 2011, the carrier reported that it saw a 5.7 per cent increase in traffic over the four-month period.

In addition, the number of people who travelled with the company in the time frame also rose, with the 4.9 per cent increase meaning 6.76 million passengers boarded Air France flights.

Across its Asian network, it reported a rise in traffic of 5.8 per cent and a growth in capacity of 8.4 per cent.

News Reference

Alluring Fare Sale Started By Oneworld Alliance Members

With Christmas around the corner, American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia – Oneworld alliance members have organised a fare sale to celebrate the first anniversary of their joint business, as revealed by American Airlines’ recent news release.

The airline trio plans offering tickets as low-priced as $224 each way for round-trip economy class travel. However, to obtain cheap tickets passengers need to book the economy class tickets atleast seven days and business class tickets atleast 14 days prior to travel.

Interested flyers can log onto http://www.aa.com to find the detailed schedules and book cheap flights. However, these airline tickets would be non-refundable and non-transferable and may not be obtained on all flights. In addition, the federal excise tax, local airport charges, September 11th Security Fee and government taxes and fees are not included in these special fares.

Flyers interested in booking cheap flights under this scheme must procure ticket not later than 11:59 p.m. Nov. 15th 2011 (Central Time).

From Sundays through Thursday, special economy class fares for travel to the continental Europe are lowest. Economy class fares for travel to the UK would be lowest from Mondays through Wednesdays. However, discounted business class flights fares are valid throughout the week.

While the travel origination dates for economy class travel are valid from Nov. 8th 2011 through Dec. 16th 2011 or from Dec. 25th 2011, through April 1st 2012, the travel origination dates for business class travel are Nov. 15th 2011, through May 22nd 2012. However, the return travel for both classes should be competed by midnight June 15th 2012. For more information travellers can log onto www.aa.com.

News Reference

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Virgin Atlantic to Offer Vancouver - London Flights

Virgin Atlantic Airways is hoping to cash on the hoopla Olympic 2012 is set to make. The airline has launched a new seasonal route between Vancouver and London Heathrow Airport that is scheduled to operate four times in a day.

Vancouver - London flight will be operational from May 24th till Oct. 25th, and as per reports it is going to boost Vancouver’s tourism revenue by $54 million. Some 40,000 travellers will be take advantage of the new service.

Apart from the Olympics, the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne is another event that Virgin Atlantic is counting on sell tickets on the new route. Thousands are expected to travel to the UK during both these massive events.

The airline said that Airbus A340-300s will be plied on the new route. Upper Class, Premium Economy and Economy will be the three travel classes that will offered to the travellers by the airline. With more than 170 economy class seats available, passengers will be in much better position to grab cheap flight tickets.

Talking about cheap flights, Steve Ridgway, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Executive believes that the increased competition on the route will make sure that travellers get cheap tickets on flights as well as better services.

Virgin Atlantic also announced the launch of a second flight between London and San Francisco. This one will start operations from March 2012 and will run until October 2012. London - San Francisco will be a three times a week service (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays).

News Reference

Unleash the Nocturnal Charms with Air Tickets to Phuket

Phuket proudly brags its sandy beaches, extravagant shopping and multi-ethnic culture. However, one of the key draws of Phuket is its wild and fantastic nightlife. The nightlife in Phuket is loud and raunchy, and never fails to attract.

Nightlife has been the leading Phuket attraction for numerous party enthusiasts who are tempted to buy tickets to Phuket. Phuket witnesses a huge influx of returning travellers taking airline tickets to Phuket to spend exotic evenings exploring the exciting nightlife charms like beer bars, go-go bars, discos and karaoke joints.

There are heaps of Phuket nightlife entertainment avenues to opt from. Not without any reason numerous airlines provide several flights every week with cheap air tickets to Phuket!

Here are some key draws that lure night owls to buy airline tickets to Phuket.

Phuket Discos

The lure of clubbing overnight with hedonistically alive ambience and great music persuades party-enthusiasts to book cheap flights to Phuket. Countless posh discos like Tiger Disco, Banana disco, Tai Pan Disco and Safari club deliver unlimited fun and are hard to resist.

Phuket Beer Bars

The pocket friendly beer bars are the finest charm of Phuket nightlife for travellers. These beer bars exhibit soothing environment and serve ice-cold beers with some lip-smacking ethnic and global cuisines.

Phuket Go-Go Bars

Go-go bars are peppered throughout Phuket and are renowned for offering after-dark entertainments. These notorious go-go bars offer a gratifying experience of binging on incredible drinks, gorging on yummy dinner and enjoying the sensual dance performed by Thai girls.

Table Mountain 'could be named Wonder of Nature'

People taking flights to Cape Town could decide to help out one of the iconic local landmarks and vote for it to be named as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature.

Tourism Cape Town has called on all the people living in the city to vote for the mountain in order to ensure its place on the listing.

At present, it is rated outside of the top ten.

Bernard Weber, Founder-President of the New Seven Wonders of Nature campaign, said residents needed to find inspiration in Nelson Mandela.

"Every South African and those worldwide who admire Mr Mandela owe it to him to vote for Table Mountain, his mountain of hope," Mr Weber said.

News Reference

Monday, November 7, 2011

Qantas Airways Acts ‘Santa’, Give Out Free Flight Tickets

Christmas has come early for travellers who were left stranded by Qantas’ grounding late last month!

That’s right, after pain comes pleasure, and after travel disruptions come free air tickets! Well at least this is what Australia’s flag carrier believes in!

Forget free tickets, Qantas is normally miles away from even cheap flight tickets but the Australian airline knows that the last few months haven’t been exactly a good PR exercise for the company. Industrial action, delayed flights and then finally grounding of entire fleet is not what we call ‘brand building measures.’ Therefore the airline is all set to provide free flight tickets to the affected travellers. This is seen as the airline’s desperate bid to attract customers.

A free return economy flight within Australia or to New Zealand over a two-year period from Dec. 14 will be offered. While this announcement largely caters to regional travellers, a new announcement targeting overseas customers and frequent fliers is expected soon. It remains to be seen what ‘Santa Qantas’ brings for them. While free flights remain improbable, cheap flight tickets and other travel related incentives are expected.

Alan Joyce, Qantas Chief Executive Officer, said this is the airline’s way of saying “sorry”. It sure is an expensive ‘sorry’ as reports are doing the rounds that the move might cost Qantas as much as A$20 million.

Meanwhile, Qantas Airways met union members on Monday to start off the negotiation process. This was the first meeting of the two warring parties after the Australian carrier grounded its entire fleet.

'Scoot' Is the Reason to Smile for Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines, which was long relying on its top-spot in the long-haul first and business class market in the Asia to Europe routes and has finally found a reason to ‘Scoot’ around.

Singapore Airlines hopes to gain solid grounds in the burgeoning no-frills air travel market with the advent of its wholly owned subsidiary, Scoot. The airline might kick-start its services by June 2012. Scoot plans to operate four Boeing 777-200 jets by the end of next year.

Initially, the airline might route flights to five to ten hour destinations from the Changi International Airport. As per reports, the airline might start cheap flights to four or more cities in China and Australia.

Campbell Wilson, CEO of Scoot informed that the new long-haul budget market was rapidly germinating and Scoot hopes to increase the business for Singapore Airlines.

Wilson was also reported as informing that Scoot will initially offer two cabin classes, with approximately 40 percent cheaper tickets as compared to other premium airline’s tickets. Also the customers would be enabled to choose seats, meals and baggage options.

Additionally, Scoot also plans to offer various customized options to the budget travellers to offer a delightful flying experience.

Scoot plans to buy several Boeing 777-200ER planes to route regular flights to European and African destinations. The airline’s plans further include hiring 52 pilots, 250 flight attendants and 40 ground staff next year.

However, the new carrier might face challenges from Air Asia X and JetStar which already operate cheap flights in the region.

Analysts expect Scoot to add extra frills to beat the challenge.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Lufthansa Displays ‘Love’ for London Routes

Lufthansa seems to be smitten by the UK or so it seems! The Germany’s flag carrier has come up with a winter schedule and the schedule displays airline’s fascination with the British Isles.

Lufthansa has launched new routes to London Gatwick and Aberdeen. The airline has also increased the frequency of flights to London Heathrow. It seems that the new fourth runway at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has acted as the cupid and has facilitated these new routes!

One of Europe’s largest airlines, Lufthansa is offering a new double daily service from Gatwick and three-times-a-day service from Aberdeen. Travellers moving to and from London will now be inundated with choices as flight options are concerned. And it just might help travellers in landing up with cheap travel tickets on flights!

Gatwick Airport’s commercial director, Guy Stephenson welcomed the airline and hopes that the new flight service will strengthen the bond between financial centres of London and Frankfurt.

Gatwick has over 200 connections around the world and thus offer passengers a large choice of destinations to fly to.

BA to Buy BMI?

Away from the hullabaloo and celebrations of flight launch to Gatwick and Aberdeen, Lufthansa is working hard on deals and negotiations regarding the sale of group’s low-cost airline, BMI. And if rumours are to be given print, then British Airways’ parent company IAG is all set to take in BMI, an airline that is known for offering cheap flight tickets.

BMI has been in the red for quite some time now.

Top Shopping Attractions In and Around LAX

Airport stopovers are quite boring but one city that can make even a stopover turn exciting is Los Angeles. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the busiest airports in USA and caters many airlines including Southwest Airlines, US Airways, and US Airways Express. The endless shopping attractions in and around LAX are wonderful and may confuse even the veteran shoppers.

Travellers booking tickets on flights to Los Angeles never miss a chance to enjoy duty-free shopping at LAX. The airport features many duty-free stores and other private superstores that offer exciting goods like liquor, tobacco, fragrances, books, etc.

Travellers with long stopovers may plan a trip to the nearby shopping centres out of which the most popular one is the Promenade Mall. The mall bestows great shopping opportunities to the travellers and tempts them to book tickets on cheap flights to Los Angeles. The tourists visiting here love to indulge in shopping at the remarkable stores featuring brands like Nine West, Vera Wang, Lucky Brand, Ugg and Coach.

Moreover, travellers booking cheap flights to Los Angeles can include Westfield Culver City in their travel itinerary as the mall offers great shopping options at reasonable prices. The remarkable brands in the mall like Macy's and JC Penney, &M, XXI Forever, Coach, G by Guess and Express are marvellous and make flights to Los Angeles worthwhile.

These shopping centres are hardly 15-20 minutes away from LAX and can be accessed by hopping into a bus. So don’t let your stopover be a boring affair and make the best out of it to take your holiday pleasure to its very limit.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Medical Tourism in Pakistan: An Overview

It is well known that the mystical and richly steeped in history, Pakistan is a haven for historical buffs. Now, due to recent developments in medical sector, medical tourism has seen a sudden spurt in the country. Many travellers seeking medical care and rejuvenation plan holidays to Pakistan for low priced medical services.

The country features modern hospitals and boasts highly qualified doctors. This ensures that travellers get enough facilities and comfort here. Doctors have expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgeries. So if you are also making your mind to travel to this Asian country, then head to its capital city Islamabad which is replete with fully equipped hospitals and health care centres. Besides, the two provincial capitals Lahore and Karachi also offer number of health related options for visitors grabbing cheap flights to Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Health is endeavouring hard to meet the international standards of health and care. Travellers booking flights to Pakistan can opt for orthopaedic surgeries and joint replacement surgeries like knee and hip replacement surgery like at extremely low prices. Furthermore, effective hair replacement, cosmetic surgeries including liposuctions, Botox or face lift, dental surgery and heart surgery are among the other reasons that entice travellers to lay hands on cheap flights to Pakistan. And the best part is that there is no dearth of airlines offering tickets on flights to Pakistan. You can opt for airlines like Pakistan International and British Airways for travelling conveniently.

If you are facing difficulties in meeting those high priced health treatments in UK, then Pakistan makes for a fine alternative!!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Divine Cobwebs of Blissful Memories with Flights to Morocco

Tickets to Morocco are a doorway for exciting holidays to an historic land of illimitable escapades. The magic of charming Moroccan cities like Marrakech and Casablanca bequeath travellers with a heavenly treat to their senses.

While Casablanca offers everything from attention-grabbing monuments to exhilarating shopping options, different locations in Marrakech offer a perennial impression of a steeply-fusionist culture. Unsurprisingly, cheap flights to Morocco sell like hot cakes.

These family-friendly travel destinations promise to spoil travellers taking flights to Morocco with multitude of old souks, ancient ruins, wonderful airport facilities and felicitous festivals that showcase the artistic and cultural legacy of Morocco.

Families taking Marrakech flights can enjoy the air balloon ride to catch awe-inspiring sky vistas of different locations in Marrakech. On the other hand, different shopping locations in Casablanca promise to spoil travellers taking Casablanca flights with some finest shopping alternatives.

Celebrated in Casablanca, Jazzablanca is one of the many joyous festivals that tempt visitors into booking cheap flights to Morocco to partake and participate in the merriness. This jazz fusion festival attracts jazz-lovers from around the globe to book Casablanca flights around April every year. The Megarama Cinema is the key location in Casablanca where tourists taking flights to Morocco can share the fun of the festival.

The National Festival of Popular Arts held in Marrakech (June-July) tempts art-enthusiasts to start contemplating Marrakech flights to enjoy an off-beat yet exciting holiday. It is imperative for travellers to book tickets way before June to land with cheap deals and offers.

News Reference

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Normality Returns As Qantas Flights Take To the Sky

Qantas Airways says everything is normal! Yes, one of the world’s largest airlines that grounded each and every flight just two days ago says everything is normal.

The airline stated that its flight schedule was back to normal from Tuesday morning. It also said that the remaining backlog of travellers that ensued because of the fleet grounding is expected to be cleared up by afternoon.

Travellers around the world were left high and dry as the Australia’s flag carrier decided to put a halt to its operations on Saturday. Airports in Australia wore scenes of chaos as travellers pressed the panic button when they found that none of Qantas flight will take off. Those with cheap flight tickets with Qantas were perhaps most badly hit as budget travellers book much in advance with the airline that is not exactly known for offering cheap tickets on its flights.

Government interference and an Australian court ruling put an end to 48 hours of travel chaos.

On its part, it seems that Qantas Airways was fed up of the never-ending string of strikes that caused huge losses and huge embarrassment for the company in last few months. Unions representing pilots, aircraft mechanics, baggage handlers and caterers are engaged in a bitter dispute with the airline over off-shoring of jobs and other issues.

Qantas Airways hopes to turn the tide in its favour by attracting passengers by reducing airfares on its flights, as per reports.

The airline really needs to turn into a Santa if it wants its own Christmas holiday season to be a good one!

Shilpa Shetty to open spa in Goa

Travellers taking flights to Goa could soon be able to visit a spa which is owned by Shilpa Shetty.

The Bollywood actress, who achieved fame in the UK when she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, has announced her plans to open the resort in the famous tourist destination, the Hindustan Times reported.

"Goa is a known tourist hub. It would be fantastic if we manage to open our spa chain's outlet there before the festive holiday season starts," Shetty said.

News Reference