Airline and Travel News

Due to high demand Monarch Airline plans to extend some summer services into next winter 2007-08, providing year-round service with budget fares. www.flymonarch.com. Additional flights include:

• Manchester to Murcia - up to four flights per week
• Birmingham to Palma de Mallorca - up to four flights per week
• Luton to Almeria - up to five flights per week
• Luton to Larnaca (Cyprus) - up to three flights per week
• Gatwick to Murcia - up to four flights per week
• Manchester to Jerez - up to five flights per week

Zoom Airlines will be starting flights twice a day from Gatwick to Bermuda in June, in direct competition with BA. They also plan to start low fare flights between Gatwick and New York in early June. www.flyzoom.com.

A new budget airline, Flyforbeans, will be operating flights from Cardiff to European destinations by the end of the year. Initial plans are for 12 flights a day to France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Eastern Europe. www.flyforbeans.com.

BA now flies new routes from Gatwick to Newquay, Trinidad and Tobago, Dresden and Sarajevo. www.britishairways.com.

Qatar Airways has started routes from Manchester and London to Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, and Chennai (Madras). www.qatarairways.com.

The new City Jet for Air France has started flights between London City Airport and five cities in Europe. Their services are mainly aimed to fly business travellers to major cities, with flights directly to Madrid, Geneva, Zurich, Nice and Belfast. www.cityjet.com.

Qantas apparently wants nothing to do with it, but we saw a report that Australia’s Virgin Blue airline is contemplating having seats which face backwards on its 777 planes. The new design allows for additional passengers on board and more leg room. Having more leg room sounds good… However, I’m not sure how I feel about having to fly backwards while spending the entire flight staring at the passenger in the seat next to me. Personally, I hope this trend doesn’t catch on… www.virginblue.com.au.

Lastly, the government has a new website which appears to be useful. It offers a free online journey planner plus travel information and updates: www.transportdirect.info.

Worried about Home Security while Travelling?

When travelling you have the security of knowing you have travel insurance in case of theft or other problems.  However, you may not have the same peace of mind about leaving your home unattended.  We recently saw a report about this useful new device which seems a really good idea.  In case you haven’t heard about it yet, new mobile phone technology has been developed which will allow you to use your mobile phone as a surveillance device.

You will be able to keep an eye on your home while you’re away and monitor it from anywhere in the world - subject to network coverage.  The camera is small and so can be placed undetected in any location such as your home, office, car or boat.  You’ll be able to check on your property via live footage using your mobile phone and the images can be stored for 30 days.  You can also use a setting for a motion detector to send an alert to your phone if an intruder is detected. Once alerted to a problem, you can use your mobile phone to check whether you really have an intruder or if it was an authorised person or just the cat.

Your phone can be used to access the camera and check on things at any time plus you can register to have as many cameras operating as you want.  Another feature is that you can time- and date-stamp video to be used for court purposes.   All you have to do is plug the surveillance camera device into the mains and obtain a monthly phone contract.  Check it out on the website: www.3rdisecure.tv.

We’re waiting for a mobile phone which can also do the hoovering and washing up via remote control.

Concert for Diana and Memorial Service

The new Wembley Stadium will be the venue for the ‘Concert for Diana’ to celebrate the late Princess Diana’s birthday. It will be a star-studded event which should be marked on your calendar.

The two handsome young Princes, William and Harry, are planning the concert for their late mother. The concert, aptly named ‘Concert for Diana’ will be held at Wembley Stadium on the Princess’s birthday, Sunday July 1st, when she would have turned 46. It’s anticipated that a crowd of over 60,000 will attend. William stated he wanted the concert to be ‘the best birthday present’ ever given to his mother.

The line-up of stars is not complete yet, but will include many of her favorites such as Elton John and Duran Duran as well as Bryan Ferry and Joss Stone. There will be a performance by the English National Ballet, and Andrew Lloyd Webber will put on a medley of songs from his famous West End hits.

Proceeds from the concert will go to some of the late Princess’s favorite charities. See ‘The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund’ (www.theworkcontinues.org). A portion of the proceeds will go to Centrepoint (www.centrepoint.org), the homelessness charity, of which William is patron, and to Harry’s charity, Sentebale (www.sentebale.com). To obtain tickets for the concert (if there are any left) visit www.concertfordiana.com or Ticketmaster.

William and Harry, aged 24 and 22 respectively, also plan to hold a commemorative Memorial Service and tribute to their mother which will take place in London on Friday, August 31st - the 10th anniversary of her death – to the day – when she died in a car crash in Paris. Their stepmother, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has been invited to the service, along with the Royal Family and the Spencer family. The venue has not yet been announced.

Don’t worry if you can’t get tickets for the concert, it is expected that both events will be televised. No doubt tears will again be shed by millions around the world for ‘The People’s Princess’. We say hats off to those two wonderful brave young princes.

Live Earth Concert Set for 070707

Wembley Stadium will be the London venue for a line-up of pop stars on July 7th at a 24-hour ‘Live Aid’ type concert named ‘Live Earth’ to raise awareness of the threat of climate change.  The concert is just one of a world-wide series of Live Earth concerts being planned which will span seven continents.  Other venues include Johannesburg, Sydney, Shanghai, Japan, the U.S. and Brazil.  The concerts will be aired live on TV, radio and online.  If you plan to attend a concert in another part of the world, don’t forget to purchase your travel insurance right here!

More than a hundred acts are expected to appear, and the line-up so far includes favorites such as Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, Alicia Keys, Razorlight, Keane, Duran Duran, the Black Eyed Peas, Genesis, Snow Patrol, Beastie Boys, Bloc Party, James Blunt and John Legend.   The concert series will kick off in Sydney, Australia and the final segment of the concert will be held in New Jersey and include The Police and Bon Jovi.

The world-wide concert forms part of a publicity drive on global warming and climate change, nicknamed SOS (Save Our Selves) headed by the former U.S. Vice President, Al Gore, who is also Chairperson of The Alliance for Climate Protection.  It is hoped that the concert will encourage corporations and governments to become more involved in helping to stop global warming. www.liveearth.org.

Invisibility Cloaks for Pilots?

Harry Potter fans - as well as airline pilots, drinkers and ASBO teens – will be happy to hear that a breakthrough has been made with inventing invisibility cloaks.  Scientists have now come up with the mathematical equations needed to bend light around objects.  Engineers at Purdue University in Indiana are using the calculations to develop a device which could soon make objects as big as planes disappear!  Among it’s many potential uses, the military could use it for serious situations such as protecting soldiers from being spotted with night-vision goggles.  No doubt airlines will buy a few to hide the embarrassing behaviour of some of their pilots…

A flight from Las Vegas to Detroit was cancelled recently because boarding passengers heard the pilot cursing on his cell phone in the plane’s toilet.  He then swore at one of the passengers who dared to confront him about his unprofessional behaviour.  The potty-mouthed pilot was questioned by police but released after they decided a sobriety test was not necessary. Northwest Airline cancelled the flight anyway and provided inconvenienced passengers with hotel accommodation and meals and promised they would receive additional compensation.

Last week the captain of a New York-bound Virgin Atlantic flight was taken from the cockpit of his plane in handcuffs at Heathrow and arrested on suspicion of being drunk.  The flight was delayed while a replacement pilot was located.  Security staff had suspected the pilot of drinking after they smelt alcohol on his breath.  It was later reported that a breathalyser test showed the pilot to be over the limit, but then a blood test apparently was negative.  Less than a week later the pilot has been reinstated to his duties and charges dropped.  His diet is being blamed for causing the increased levels of acetone which caused his breath to smell like alcohol…

I don’t know about you, but I wonder what kind of diet that pilot is on…  It could provide a too-convenient defense for those stopped by the police for loud and disorderly conduct or suspected of drink driving.  Anyway, the prison overcrowding problem could  become a thing of the past and the police and court systems made obsolete once ‘invisibility cloaks’ go on the market.

Happy Easter Break and Safe Travels!

Here at TIA we are all looking forward to the long Easter weekend, especially as the weather gods are smiling on us.  We hope you all have safe and trouble-free travels, wherever you go.

Unfortunately, delays are predicted for most major UK airports, with queues and slow check-in at peak times expected.  We’d advise you to get an early start and plan to get to the airport well ahead of your flight time.  Cheer up though, BAA has announced they are working to reduce waiting times to five minutes at all its airports, but it probably won’t be happening in time for the Easter rush!  You may find that they have set up marquees for passengers to wait outside the terminals.   Heathrow is reported to be one of the worst in terms of waiting times, congestion and queues.  Their new Terminal 5 building is scheduled to open in about a year from now.

BAA’s future plans are to spend about £40 million on additional security personnel and extra security lanes, along with other improvements at its UK airports, which include Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southampton, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.  They also have plans for a multi-billion pound program to improve and update all its existing terminals and facilities which should be in place in time for the 2012 London Olympics.

BAA (British Airports Authority) owns and operates seven UK airports and several other airports wordwide.  www.baa.co.uk.

Surfing in London? Learn or Perfect your Skills!

Surfing is not a sport which is typically associated with the UK, and with budget travel so readily available the top surfing beaches of the world are all within reach.  However, that could all change soon with surfing coming to London.  Don’t forget to make sure you have the right travel insurance coverage if you plan to engage in any kind of potentially dangerous sports.  Many activities are automatically covered under your policy, but you may need to take out additional coverage for some. If you are unsure check for details on our website or in your policy, or call us and ask. 

London will soon have its own indoor surf park called The Surfdome!  The planned new park will feature a 75m pool which creates perfect waves for surfing and will be the first of its kind to reach Europe.  Presently a similar project is being developed in Orlando, Florida at the Rons Jons SurfPark.  The site for the London development has not yet been decided and will take about 18 months to construct. 

The wave machine will be capable of creating breaking waves of up to eight feet in height allowing surfers to ride a wave for about 60 metres non-stop.  The technology also allows for the wave shape and height to be changed constantly.  They plan on having a main surfing pool and two other pools for training, so the facility will be open for beginners and surfers of all levels.  Talks are in progress with the British Surfing Association and British Pro Surfers Association regarding hiring trained and approved instructors. 

This is a similar concept to indoor and artificial ski slopes, which are a great way to learn or keep those ski muscles toned for the next season.  The Surfdome will also include restaurants, bars, retail areas, viewing areas and a climbing wall.  With surfing being made so readily available it is hoped the sport will become as popular as snowboarding and encourage more people to take it up.  For more information about this proposed new development visit: www.surfdome.com.

Travel Insurance for China - It’s a Crazy World!

Planning a trip to China? Or maybe visiting for next year’s Summer Olympics in Beijing? No one expects the unexpected - which is a good reason to make sure you have the right travel insurance! Following on from yesterday’s blog about internet addiction, we just had to pass this along:

China’s annual Tomb Sweeping Day, or Qing Ming, falls on April 6th this year. Traditionally the Chinese visit the tombs of relatives and friends to sweep up and make offerings to honour their dead. The Chinese government is now encouraging residents to visit ‘online tombs’ of their deceased relatives instead in an effort to cut down on traffic congestion. Various online offerings can be made such as electronic messages, flowers, or burning incense online.

Another news report from China tells of one lucky woman who won’t be receiving her online offerings this year because her deadly plunge from a 6th floor balcony was broken by a huge pile of excrement! Her neighbours had just emptied the septic tank… It just goes to show you should always look on the bright side.

If you want to meet a truly optimistic person then during your visit to Beijing you could help fund your trip by catching flies… Yes, really… In preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics a retired resident is buying flies for two yuan each (about 13 p) from his savings in order to help clean up the city.

Carrying on the morbid theme, there are reports of Keith Richards snorting the ashes of his father along with cocaine. What can you say about it all really? My grandmother would turn in cyberspace.

Travel and Breakdown Insurance for Easter Break Getaway

Maybe you’ve already planned your Easter Break or are spending the time visiting with friends and family at home. We looked on the internet today and it seems there are still plenty of last minute deals to be snapped up if you’re undecided - and flexible on dates and locations in the UK or abroad. Don’t forget to purchase your travel insurance right here!

If you’re planning to hit the roads for a motoring trip, or taking the trailer or caravan don’t forget you’ll need Breakdown Cover. At Vehicle Rescue Direct, along with world-renowned AXA Assistance, we now offer car and motorcycle breakdown coverage, roadside assistance and recovery in the UK as well as Europe. We can take care of all your travel insurance and breakdown needs and save you time, money and headaches. For details on our excellent Breakdown services click on www.vehicle-rescue.com.

Can’t Travel without Email? 12-Step Help?

Technology is making it really easy to access the internet and our email accounts via all sorts of gadgets so no wonder people find themselves addicted. The problem is becoming increasingly widespread but help could be on the way. There are rumours about 12-step programmes being set up to help with this new addiction. Well, they have them for drugs, food and alcohol, so why not?

Company owners are realizing that emailing is costing businesses a lot of money in lost productivity and the extent of the problem may not yet be fully understood. Workers lose a lot of time out of the work-day checking and answering emails, personal or otherwise. Are you one of those who can’t resist walking past a computer without checking your emails? You could have a problem. Apparently some people have it so bad they refuse to go on holiday to any place where they cannot easily access their email account and even resort to sending themselves emails if their inbox is empty!

Until you can get to a group, the best advice seems to be to discipline yourself to checking your emails three or four times a day, or less, rather than every five or ten minutes. Try to keep your Inbox empty and handle emails immediately. Delete the spam and junk and create files for anything that can be dealt with later.

I don’t know about you, but I miss phone calls from friends. It’s nice to receive emails and the articles they forward (sometimes), and text messages. But I miss the personal contact, the voice on my answering machine. We are a generation in love with our computers. We stare into the screen and time just vanishes while we’re lost in cyberspace. For more information about email addiction just go online and… Oops! What was Step 1?