Tagged With "Vista class"
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Re: Qantas eyes more UK-Oz nonstops
After sitting on an airplane seat for 12 hours it's an absolute pleasure to ride an exercise bike in Kuala Lumpur Airport - before my onward journey to Oz. Just for 20 mins so the lower part of my body regains the will to live. I thought a few minutes jogging would help me - until I realised I had presented myself as a moving target to the Airport Police. The thought of a 17 hour direct flight in cattle class is awful. Maybe travelling in business class - with room for my arteries to...
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Re: Brooklyn Museum: Depth, Variety, Whimsy
This looks like a World Class Museum. Worthy of a few days - at least. How lucky you are to be on the doorstep of such a magnificent collection of American History.
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Re: Sept. 10, 2016: Farewell to an era?
What I like best about the Downton Abbey series is not its portrayal of class struggles, but of how beautifully characters of all types are developed and how their appreciation of people of all types is portrayed. The estate owners genuinely like and looked after their employees. The employees were loyal and genuinely like and looked after their employers.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar. 19, 2014: Bouillabaise
A number of times we've found dishes or cooking methods that have become part of our routine at home--but I'll pass on this one because (among other things) the particular fish needed are only available here at prices that would make you think they flew first-class! But we have continued to make the meat-stuffed zucchini we learned in our Bologna cooking class two years ago. No shortage of domestic zucchini!
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Re: TSA Pre-Check: first experiences
Paying more to beat the lines still sounds a bit elitist to me. Like those who paid "First Class" getting preferential treatment. And those who get a Theme Park Ticket that allows them to jump to the front. I've done the VIP treatment. It was very pleasant not to have to wait in line. But I too felt a bit guilty.
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Re: AA "new tail" wins in close employee vote
Heavy sigh. Good taste seems always to be a minority attribute. I may be forced to rethink my frequent flyer situation, unless they opt to promote the minority to lifetime business class. It seems only fair.
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Re: Please Don't Squeeze the Passengers: Airbus
If this standard were adopted, it might be the single greatest improvement in quality of travel in economy class. 17 inches is alright if no one is beside you, a rarity today. On an Transocean flight, it make sleeping very difficult indeed. I'm glad to see Airbus take this proconsumer stand.
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Re: Finishing college. Need help planning trip to U.K,
Here's a link to the current rates: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty The rates are based on distance from London to capital of the other country; for U.S., that's 3661 miles and the rate converts to about $108, twice that for any class above cattle class. The APD particularly bites for Caribbean people living in UK; they're in the next band up and that means a family of 4 visiting home pay about $750 round trip on top of the tickets!
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Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other. (Part 5) The Elephants of Pinnawala
Thanks, PortMoresby! And we've not even been to the sacred tooth relic in Kandy, the medieval ruins of Polonnaruwa, the beautiful hill country filled with tea plantations and "The World's End", a wildlife safari at Yala National Park, nor any of the nice beaches (but keep reading -- reports on these are coming). Sri Lanka is a great destination, especially now that the civil war is over. I was doubly lucky to not only be able to visit a dear friend there but to have time to leisurely explore...
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Re: The Worst Train in the World
Jill, one thing I didn't think to say when I wrote this report is, consider buying 2nd class seats. I could see into the next car, as it swayed in the opposite direction from ours, and it was fitted with wooden benches, presumably bolted down and consequently a less harrowing ride. It may be more crowded but also more interesting.
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Re: Capital of Culture Series: Liverpool
Here's a good quote Paul PORTRAIT OF AN UNHEALTHY CITY - NEW YORK INTHE 1800'S by David Rosner Columbia University When a horse died, its carcass would be left to rot until it had disintegrated enough for someone to pick up the pieces. Children would play with dead horses lying on the streets. In addition to lacking street cleaning, the city also had no sewage system and no flush toilets. Garbage--which included both human and animal waste--was basically thrown out windows and onto city...
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Re: United's Award Chart: Premium Award Cost Goes UP
Not sure I agree with the "burn 'em" philosophy. At the premium class end, there's certainly been a lot of creep, but not so much in coach, which is more price-sensitive, even for awards. True, summer awards to Europe have generally gone from 50K to 60K, but on the other hand, off-season at American went DOWN to 40K--and with the flexibility of taking one-way awards and combining them in interesting ways...it's actually a better situation. Also, there are some card-linked sales on flight...
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Re: Irish Ferries cancels schedule for new ship
The Ferries provide an overnight stop on your journey to France and Spain. Leaving in the evening and landing at dawn near to your destination. Many tickets include a cabin for 4 people for the family. Or First Class recliner seats in economy. Many travellers still hate the thought of flying and keep the ferry alternative alive and thriving.
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Re: Alitalia: No money, but new uniforms
I'd suggest that, designer duds aside, Alitalia has arrived at this point in the company history because someone, or someones, has their head you know where. I was on an Alitalia flight this past Thursday and for those hours I was unable to put my knees together, so stingy was the leg room (aka "pitch") for my steerage-class seat. I had to place my feet on either side of the seat-back pocket and there they stayed. I'm a mere 5'6" in height and I felt for the tall guy next to me who was...
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Re: Bumped up to Business on Turkish Airlines
I remember once my wife and I waiting in the boarding area when an airline assistant was walking through the lounge just looking at travelers. My wife and I always wear "dressy" clothes when traveling rather than "athletic relaxed" clothing. She stopped in front of us and asked for our boarding passes. Disappeared for a while then came back and handed us upgrades to Business Class.
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Re: Bumped up to Business on Turkish Airlines
I agree. Dressing up helps tremendously. That is so cool the employee just walked up and surprise...Business Class!! :-)
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Re: Bumped up to Business on Turkish Airlines
George G, considering what I've seen in business class while walking through, I think the gate agent was trying to upgrade Business Class by upgrading you!
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Re: Bumped up to Business on Turkish Airlines
On my last London - San Francisco flight I was in my Sunday best clothes and managed to score 2 First Class seats. I asked the Flight Attendant why are we having smoked salmon sandwiches with afternoon tea. We've already had salmon for lunch. He replied : "Someone has made an awful mistake putting salmon on the Menu twice on one flight. Ask for a complaints form - then ask for half your money back" " On what I paid " - I told him - " half my money back wouldn't cover the cost of the sandwiches"
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Re: Terry Fox Monument, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thanks for sharing this story with our audience, Ottoman. I remember Terry Fox well. His run across Canada became an important news story, and the image of him hoping on his good leg before stepping with his prosthesis has always remained with me. He was a remarkable brave young man, and it's sad that he didn't live to see the profound influence that one life can have. A reminder how how cancer can strike anyone. No age, no sex, no race, no social class is immune from its reach. I really...
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Re: Is it time to regulate airplane seats? Chris Elliott thinks so!
I'm not sure if "mandating" certain seat sizes would do anything but raise prices, but it might be nice if they introduced a simple grading system. "A" for business/first class, "F" for the sardine can seating in the most cramped airlines. If I was less than 5 ft tall and weighed less than 100 lbs the current seating system would work fine for me. For most folks it's much too crowded, especially on long flights. All the worse if you have to have your bag under the seat in front of you. Let's...
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Re: Good News for US Carriers/Bad News for Consumers?
The consumer advocate Chris Elliott has a interesting commentary out today about the airline mergers and what it means for the steerage class. http://elliott.org/blog/two-cheers-airline-mergers/
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Re: Charleston's Grand Mansions: Aiken-Rhett House
I've enjoyed your guided tour through Charleston's elegant historic homes. This piece is an excellent way to end the year with a bit of style and class! Happy 2015, PM!
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Re: Charleston's Grand Mansions: Middleton Place
I was interested to note (aside from the alligators!) the fact that the house at Middleton was never restored after the Civil War. I noted that at Magnolia plantation, not far away, a small cottage was moved in to replace the original house...and it left me wondering. While the planter class certainly reclaimed power after Reconstruction, they must have taken quite a while to overcome the economic damage they brought on themselves.
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Re: Coming soon: Adjustable-width airline seats?
Looking at the picture, it appears to me that the business class option is a far cry from the direction upper class has been going of late, more and more comfort. Does this mean it will be more comfortable than currently is the case for economy passengers or less comfortable for business class? Maybe the arc has peaked for upper class comfort and this indicates the start of a slide down the other side.
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Re: Coming soon: Adjustable-width airline seats?
I would presume the wider seat arrangement would more likely be "Economy Plus" rather than business class. Say two large people buying a 3 row seat and the third seat would get squeeze down by the wider adjustment of the above. International business class nowadays is almost universally lie flat bed seats. To not have these would mean a loss of this lucrative market for the airlines.
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Re: Coming soon: Adjustable-width airline seats?
Keep in mind that the picture is the patent model...tricked out with real upholstery it may look very different. Other than fitting big people better, I think this may mainly be used on smaller airliners that fly as one- or two-class, as British Air does on a lot of European flights....business class there is pretty much just empty middle. This would allow flexibility. Be my guess...
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Re: Luftahansa's premium economy class -- worth giving a second look
To tell the truth, I've seen business class on British Airways European routes that didn't look that good! That's a premium economy with an actual premium to it...
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Re: Iran: Friendliness, Culture, Modernity - So Far Away From The Clichés!
Hello Dr. Fumblefinger, Thank you for your Feedback! To answer your questions: 1) The infrastructure is good to very good, and it is extremely easy to travel within Iran: there are lots of buses and excellent trains, there is a wide range of hotels, from simple guesthouses to world-class 5 stars hotels, restaurants going from street food stalls to fine dining, ... I have read that with the very fast development of tourism, the high-end category of hotels is the one that might get overbooked...
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Re: The world's most expensive flights!
I enjoy first class travel - at budget prices. There's no better feeling than rubbing shoulders with someone who's paid a thousand more than me to travel in style. Getting an upgrade is an achievement - a sense of accomplishment ! Anyone can travel First Class ! It takes a Wiley Coyote to buck the system !
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Re: Franschhoek Motor Museum, South Africa
I would never have expected to find a World Class Motor Museum in this corner of the Globe. Fascinating display that I could stay in and marvel at it's magnificence. For days. Another wonderful display of Motoring history.
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Re: Lower oil prices disrupting some air routes
I suspect the "ruling class" of these countries will do fine, and that those who suffer are the average citizen. It was difficult to buy consumer goods in Venezula before the collapse in oil prices, so it must be impossible to find a sheet of toilet paper in that country now.
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Re: In the Cotswolds: Sezincote
I think the ruling class would have admired this monument to empire, source of wealth and employment for younger sons. And then there's the tradition of eccentricity among those of their class so I suspect no one thought much about it.
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Re: Flying Emirates Business Class: a review
A small taste of self indulgence. Reminds me of a TV ad. "Because I'm worth it" On a First Class BA flight from London - San Francisco the only problem I had was staying awake. Not paying all that money for a good sleep ! OK - I paid for a Round - the - World Ticket but the first flight was overbooked. It pays to be well dressed in economy. But I would have enjoyed the Black Forest Gateau you had instead of my French Champagne.
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Re: How do you buy your travel?
A reminder I used to post on other sites...when you book through an agency, with OTA or brick-and-mortar, the next step is to ask them for the airline locator number (that 6-digit string that goes on your reservation). With that code, go to the airline's site and search for your reservation...doesn't matter if you didn't book it with them directly, you'll be able to find it with the code and your name. If not, call the airline! The reason for all this is to make sure that the agency did its...
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Re: How do you buy your travel?
There's been no mention, that I noticed, of consolidators for multi-segment air travel. I've had great success over the years using Airtreks and now, after a number of bookings, have a "relationship" with an agent there. The only job of a consolidator is to find their clients the cheapest fares point to point and string them together to make a unique personalized trip. They use airlines with which they have contracts for the lowest fares so, short of a spectacular sale, will, as far as I can...
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Re: Jennifer Aniston "Nightmare " Ad Latest in Gulf vs US Airlines
The Emirates commercial made me feel bad for Jennifer Aniston. A beautiful actress making 5 million dollars as their brand ambassador, that's flying first class, in a lie flat bed, with showers and a bar on the plane and yet she still having a nightmare about being a budget traveler.
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Re: Mar. 17. 2016. Why did the Chicken cross the road ?
When you were a young boy DrF, were you made to stay back in class when the other kids went on a nature trip ? Did you ever pick flowers in the park and take them home? A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
