Making the Most Out of Your Next Flight

Are you planning on taking a vacation this year? Whether you are vacationing alone, with your family, or with your romantic partner, it is almost a guarantee that you would want to enjoy your trip. You can plan your vacation as much as you would like; however, there is a way that you could spoil your vacation, even before you get off the ground. That way is by having a bad experience at the airport or aboard your airplane. To prevent this from happening, you are advised to know how to make the most out of your next flight. Doing so will help to ensure that your vacation is filled with joyous memories.

The first step in making the most out of your next vacation flight, it is to familiarize yourself with all of the air travel rules. This most commonly includes items that are prohibited in airports and aboard airplanes. Unfortunately, many individuals are unaware that many of the items in their carryon luggage are actually prohibited. Bringing prohibited items aboard an airplane could lead to your items being confiscated, you missing your flight, or even being detained by airport security.

The best way for you to go about learning what items are and are not allowed aboard an airplane is to review the restrictions that your airport and airline has. You can do this by contacting the airline or airport directly or by visiting their online websites. You should be able to find these websites by performing an internet search. In your search, you will likely learn that a large number of items are banned. These items include, but are not limited to, most liquids, sharp objects, most sporting equipment, and flammable items.

Family Who Took Different Flights Torn in Half by Air France Crash

A family who took separate flights from Brazil to France has been torn apart after one of the planes crashed into the sea, killing everyone on board.

Swede Christina Schnabl, 34, and her five-year-old son Philipe boarded Air France Flight 447 which plunged into the Atlantic Ocean on June 1.

Meanwhile, her husband Fernando and three-year-old daughter Celine had landed safely in Paris after flying with a different airline.

They were waiting in Charles de Gaulle airport for the other half of their family to arrive when they learned the heartbreaking news that the Air France plane had disappeared off the radar.

It is thought the Schnabls, who were based in Rio, had chosen to fly separately because they were frequent fliers and had saved air miles giving them discount tickets for Air France and another carrier.

They were on their way to Sweden via France to visit Christine Schnabl's relatives when the tragedy struck.

What are Wine Flights?

Wine flights can also be a part of an extended tasting, in which a number of flights are combined to provide an overarching theme. Extended tastings usually take place over two or more hours, and can be made up of three or more flights. Each flight in this case will focus on a specific aspect, such as varietal, vintage, or appellation, and stand alone in its own right. The flights will all work together to create a synthesis, however, highlighting similarities and differences between different aspects. An extended tasting might, for example, consist of a flight of five 2001 Alsatian Rieslings, followed by a flight of five 2002 Alsatian Rieslings, and a flight of five 2003 Alsatian Rieslings, demonstrating the vintage difference in that region and varietal. Or a tasting might consist of a flight of four mixed-vintage and region Rieslings, followed by four mixed Gewurztraminers, followed by four mixed Viogniers, highlighting the similarities and differences between these varietals.

The possibilities with wine flights are virtually endless, and a well-designed flight can be a remarkable opportunity. Many restaurants offer extremely affordable flights, anywhere from $12 US Dollars (USD) to $50 USD, depending on the number of wines offered and the quality of those wines. Wine flights exist at restaurants throughout the country, but if you’re really looking for one the most likely candidates are wine bars, which usually offer a number of different flights and extended tastings at different price points.

Two Different Flights, Same Flight Number -- Impact to Traveler?

My regular route includes two different flights, with an hour and a half connection. They have always had different flight numbers in the past. The flight numbers are changing in the future and now these two flights will have the same flight number, but everything else about the two flights except the fact they have the same flight numbers will still be the same.

I have three questions:

1) The NW website won't let me select a different seat for each flight anymore once the flight numbers are the same. That greatly reduces the number of seats to pick from since the seats I have available to select from have to be available on both flights. It leaves me with really crappy seats to pick from. Is there any way around this phenomenon?

2) Is it possible for an upgrade to clear for one of these flights and not the other or is it a one shot deal, all or nothing, once the flight numbers are the same? My experience with these same two flights with different flight numbers is that one never clears and the other always clears. I am worried that the one that always clears won't clear anymore if it is an all or nothing situation.

3) Is it true that the miles and segments earned will decrease on these flights even though nothing has changed but the flight numbers?

answers:

1.)No That is considered a direct flight so the seats you have from the intial origin will be to the final destination.


2.) See above. The EAU will consider it one flight and will upgrade accordingly. "most likely" if there are first class seats on the second leg an attentive gate agent or flight attendant will invite you to move forward.

3.) You will earn miles for the direct flight but not the segements. You can send a TTU and call but they still will count it as one segment which is irritating but unavoidable.

Most likely it is the same plane continuing on but probably either different pilots or flight attendants.

India Domestic Flights

Jet Airways: Based in Mumbai, Jet Airways is the largest private sector airline company operating domestic flights in the country. The airline covers more than 50 domestic destinations along with six international ones. With more than 330 flights operating daily, Jet Airways is giving stiff competition to Air India. Recent milestone in the business expansion of Jet Airways is the acquisition of Air Sahara in 2007. Once owned by Sahara India Parivar, Air Sahara merged with Jet along with its fleet of new generation Boeings 737-700s, 737-800s and Classics 737-400s.


Kingfisher Airlines: A well-known name in the luxury airlines in India, it is based in Bangalore. Owned by the United Beverages Group, it became functional in May 2005. The airline operates flights to around 34 destinations. Joining the M&A (merger & acquisition) band wagon, Kingfisher acquired considerable number of shares in Air Deccan in 2007. Air Deccan, once touted as the flight for every Indian, is likely to redefine its target customers after this marriage.

Deccan: An initiative of the Deccan Aviation Company, Deccan is one of the leading private airlines operating in India. Established in 2003, Deccan has a fleet of 23 ATR Turboprop airplanes and 20 Airbus A-320 aircrafts. This domestic airline of India has bases in all metropolitan cities including Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai and Bangalore. The airline also connects comparatively smaller cities like Tuticorin, Hubli, Kandla, Belgaum and Vijayawada. The affordable rates of Deccan airline make it popular among all sections of travelers.

Jet Lite: After becoming a part of Jet Airways, Air Sahara was renamed Jet Lite and became operational in April 2007. A fleet of 20 aircrafts operating under Jet Lite connects 32 destinations across the country. About 141 daily flights connect cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Allahabad, Chennai, Goa, Mumbai, Ranchi, Indore and many others. Kathmandu and Colombo are the two overseas destinations connected by Jet Lite.

MDLR Airlines: An endeavor of MDLR Group, MDLR Airlines has been functional since 2007. A fleet of 4 Avro RJ aircrafts connects 5 destinations in India namely Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Ranchi and Jodhpur. Goa and Kullu are also to be connected soon via the flights operated by MDLR Airlines. It is the only domestic airline in India offering an all-vegetarian cuisine to passengers.


Paramount Airways: Set up by the Paramount Group, Paramount Airways is one of the leading airlines connecting different parts of South India with each other. Operational since 2005, this airway is based in Madurai and has a hub at the Chennai Airport. The Embraer aircrafts connect destinations like Chennai, Madurai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, Cochin, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.

GoAir: This domestic airline, based in Mumbai, is owned by the Wadia Group of Bombay Dyeing fame. Established in November 2005, today GoAir has to its credit a fleet of 4 Airbus A 320-200.

Jagson Airlines: The first private airline to avail the benefit of Open Sky policy of Government of India, it commenced its operation in 1992.

Pawan Hans Helicopter Limited: Incorporated in 1985 under the name of Helicopter Corporation of India Limited, it provides services mainly to the petroleum sector including ONGC, Oil India Limited and Hardy Exploration at Chennai. Located in New Delhi, it also operates in hilly and far-flung areas of the country and provides chartered flights for the promotion of travel and tourism.

No engine or control damage found in crashed Citation at Biggin Hill

This is despite a crew radio call reporting "a major power problem" before the aircraft hit the ground, according to an initial bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

The aircraft did not have a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, says the investigator - they are not required for aircraft in that category.

The 30 March accident happened within 3min of take-off, reveals the bulletin, and the aircraft crashed into a temporarily unoccupied house in Romsey Close, Farnborough village, while the crew was attempting to fly a left-hand base leg to return to runway 21.

The AAIB says the aircraft had been cleared to taxi to the holding point for runway 21, and cleared for a Lydd 2 departure. The latter entails a right turn after take-off, passing overhead of the airfield and taking up a south-easterly heading at 2,400ft (730m).

After he cleared the aircraft for take-off at 13:33 (see diagram) the tower controller reported that nothing appeared unusual. But a minute later the co-pilot called: "We're making an immediate turn to return to the airport."

The controller asked what the problem was and the co-pilot responded that he did not know, but that "we're getting engine vibration".

The AAIB reports that the aircraft was overhead of the airfield at 1,200ft (the airfield elevation is 517ft) by this stage, and the crew was "heading toward the end of the downwind leg for a left hand circuit to runway 21".

From this point, the bulletin says, the aircraft began a continuous descent, and the co-pilot's last transmission at 13:36 stated: "We have a major problem, a major power problem, it looks as if we're going in."

AirAsia launches flight to Bangalore

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia launched its inaugural flight to Bangalore, carrying 15 children with congenital heart disease who need open heart surgery.

The children will undergo surgery at the Narayana Hrudayalaya Heart Institute in Bangalore, whose chief Devi Shetty is a familiar name here as he regularly performs surgeries, The Star reported Friday.

AirAsia group commercial regional head Kathleen Tan said the airline was excited about the launch, adding that the service was expected to promote medical tourism in India.

Headed by ethnic Indian Tony Fernandes, AirAsia sees a huge demand from the health sector with patients seeking medical assistance from institutions based in Bangalore.

"The daily service is also expected to cater to significant traffic including business and leisure travellers and students to and from the technology hub in southern India," Tan said here Thursday.

With the launch, Bangalore has become the seventh destination in India for AirAsia after Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Tiruchirapalli and Mumbai.

The carrier, which will be using its brand new Airbus A320 aircraft on the Kuala Lumpur-Bangalore route, recorded a 100 percent load on its inaugural flight.

AirAsia is also offering fares as low as RM25 ($7.5) to those travelling from Bangalore as part of its recently-announced promotion of one million free seats.