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How nervous flyers can increase their sense of control whilst flying

FG TradeOne of the key causes of anxiety and stress for fearful flyers is their perceived lack of control. This in turn can make them avoid air travel – limiting their lives considerably – and if they do get on a plane, cause them suffering.While it’s true that as passengers we have no control over the flight itself (fortunately), this doesn’t mean that there’s nothing anxious flyers can do to feel that they do have some control over the situation. And here are five simple ways you can do…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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Airline pilots and their extremely rigorous training

Rathke A few of you may have had the privilege of visiting the flight deck of a commercial airliner, and found yourself fascinated by the myriad levers, buttons, and other mechanisms surrounding the captain and co-pilot. After seeing that instrument panel, have you ever wondered what kind of training a pilot has? Of course, they must have a flight license, but how do you study for it? How long does it take? Are there other requirements along with flight training itself? Here's a quick…

Started by Iberia Airlines

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6 tips for finding cheap airline tickets

Travelers who are passionate about wandering to new destinations often put a hold on their exploration owing to expenses. In order to fulfill all their travel wishes, and to save money for their next trips, they need to cut down flight expenses. If your someone who wants to save on travels, cutting down on flight booking cost is one of the ways to reduce your expenses. Flight tickets costs vary depending on the day of the week, time of the week, and holidays. Follow these simple tricks to…

Started by Tripatini

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Epic EFIS: the modern cockpit's Electronic Flight Information System

ASMR The cockpits of old – with a bewildering multiplicity of levers, buttons and analogue displays – are long gone, phased out beginning in the 1980s in favour of digitised systems known as EFIS, comprising a bewildering multiplicity of liquid-crystal displays along with and joysticks and soft keys to manipulate them. read post

Started by Iberia Airlines

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Ed Wetschler September 5, 2010 at 6:13pm

To us, Jools, even BritRail is fabulous. I guess it's all relative.

Max, here's the problem with the airlines, especially the American legacy carriers: They've fired thousands of staffers, downsized the peanuts, created fees for everything from carry-on bags to Coca-Cola, and crammed every seat, yet they're still a lousy investment. They don't dare treat us better without fomenting a revolt among the shareholders.

Moreover, they don't have to. They've learned that when we have to get from A to B, we have to get from A to B.

So it still comes down to this: How much more $ are we willing to spend to get a more civilized flight experience?
Jools Stone September 5, 2010 at 5:40pm

I agree with you all the way to Aunt Sadie's Max. It's a crying shame that whole swathes of yr country are inaccessible by rail. I haven't experienced it yet, but I've read as much before. UK is not so great compared to western Europe really, but fares are plain silly. You can cross Russia cheaper than you can, say Scotland. At least we can train it to Paris from London faster than the speed of a flying erm bullet plane, or something. There needs to be price parity, I think it will come eventually, maybe not in our lifetimes though.
Max Pesling September 5, 2010 at 5:24pm

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! Thanks, Jools, your suggestion just made my day. Train service in our country is a joke. Albania probably has better train service than we do, thanks no doubt to the powerful automobile and airline industry lobbies. Yes, Amtrak is worse, sometimes more expensive, and most importantly, for the most part NOT THERE. With some notable exceptions, like the Northeast Corridor (Washington to Boston), most of this country is vastly underserved by rail service, to a degree unimaginable to people lucky enough to have access to Europe's excellent train system. Do you realize we don't have a single high-speed train in this country like Spain's heavenly AVE? If I could take the train to Florida to visit my aunt Sadie (that really is her name!) and be there in 7 hours instead of 20-something, I would happily do so. The one time I took Amtrak to Florida I swore I'd never do it again.

IMHO when rail travel is good it is the BEST way to travel, bar none. We just have some catching up to do, that's all.

And Ed, how much would I be willing to spend for a more civilized flight experience? I don't think I should have to. I think the airlines should provide it now, with what I'm paying now.
Jools Stone September 5, 2010 at 5:07pm

@Max, true enough, so why not take the train instead? Or is Amtrak worse, just too expensive etc...I'm in Europe myself
Ed Wetschler September 5, 2010 at 5:06pm

Jools, the distinction Max makes seems to address your question as well. To Jools and Max and everyone else: Maybe the right question for me to ask is, How much more $ are we willing to spend to get a more civilized flight experience?
Max Pesling September 5, 2010 at 4:57pm

Ed, we're a nation of complainers, so let's start there. That being said, you're right, 15 cents per mile doesn't seem like so much to fly through the air, something our ancestors couldn't even imagine. Personally, I don't think airfares are usually outrageous. What I do think is outrageous is the treatment we get, starting with the airport experience; rude personnel; shrinking legroom; no more free snacks -- and what they do offer for inflated prices is outright mediocre. And let's not even talk about all the add-on fees! So, while prices are, in my view, acceptable, the experience and service are not.
Jools Stone September 5, 2010 at 4:40pm

What's your view on flight comparison sites, if you were blogging for one, what type of story would interest you? I'm one of the new bloggers for Flightster.
Why not give me your views at:
http://joolsstone.wordpress.com/2010/09/05/blogging-engines-sorta-r...
Ed Wetschler September 5, 2010 at 4:36pm

Today's New York Times reports that even though airfares have gone up, the average charge per mile per passenger is about 15 cents per mile. Does this mean we complain too much?
Anil August 29, 2010 at 5:21pm

The good thing is that CO had agreed to give up about 17 ? slots/gates to SouthWest, which means extreme pressure on CO/UA in their EWR hub to slash prices. It will kind of bring trickle down effect in the area. However, international fares will remain high. In markets that UA is currently dominant, it will just eliminate on carrier.
Darryl Musick August 29, 2010 at 4:56pm

Had some real unpleasantness on Continental in May that seemed to be built into their policies...can't see how the merger would help that. Big opening for the more nimble operators like Southwest and JetBlue to take advantage of the slack, which I'm sure they will to some extent.

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