air travel (85)

12932033459?profile=RESIZE_710xDaniel Gillaspia

Luxury abounds in the arena of commercial aviation, luxury abounds, from comfortable, stylish cabins to gourmet dining to private accommodations, all complemented with superlative service. These airlines are the standouts which routinely appear on the annual surveys of the world´s best, and which make the journey itself a big part of the pleasure of travel.

Air France

Attention to detail at of course its unmistakable Gallic flair make France´s flag carrier one of Europe´s most

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3 Helpful Air-Travel Tips for Seniors

Seniors can enjoy travel as a way to explore new places, visit loved ones, or simply relax. However, it can also present its own set of challenges but still traveling is good therapy for seniors. You can stay young in spirit by traveling. Ofertas de vuelos para personas mayores make it happier and easier than ever to travel for seniors. 

Choosing Senior-Friendly Airlines

One of the first steps in planning a trip is selecting an airline. There is no such thing as a perfect airline, particularly w

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by José Miguel Rodriguez

Most of the time we find ourselves passing through expansive airports with amenities and services galore, and nice, wide, long runways. And then, of course, there are the other airports. The ones that make for great cocktail-party tales of harrowing landings amid spectacular settings. Today we take you on a quick tour of some of the most dangerous airports in the world: 

Courchevel, France

Located at the renowned French Alps ski resort of the same name, Courchevel po

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Where Does Fear of Flying Come From?

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One of the safest things you could be doing right now is flying. According to solid research, 3 miles on an Interstate highway puts you at the same risk of fatality as does a coast-to-coast flight. Every time you drive 3 miles on an Interstate highway (or about 1.5 miles urban) you have placed yourself at the same risk as taking a flight.


This statistical analysis was developed when traffic deaths rose sharply after 9/11, as people switched from flying to driving. Researchers Michael Sivak and Mi

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El Al - What an Airline

El Al Plane

photo: Ziv Bok

by Myrna Katz Frommer and Harvey Frommer

 

A massive undertaking planned for the Frommers: Four months in Israel researching and interviewing for our book, an oral history about the miraculous nation as told by those who lived the experience. Very long trip from New York to Tel Aviv.

In our long travel writing career, we have flown all over on different airlines, some exceptional, some not so exceptional. We checked around for the most exceptional airline to accommodate our bountiful

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by José Miguel Rodríguez

You think your job is stressful? Imagine, for just a moment, being an air traffic controller. Have trouble imagining? We invite you to read this quick overview through to the end and then tell us: Could this be a job for you

Admittedly, air traffic control is not for the faint of heart. Though very much behind the scenes and (as it were) under the radar, this work has different aspects depending on the individual unit where it’s carried out. In a given tower there will be

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You’ve got your flight to Costa Rica booked, your hotel reservations or tour itinerary set. Now what about getting around?

transportationmap-300x199.gif?width=300There are many choices, from in-country flights to renting a car, hopping a local bus or hiring a private shuttle or tour bus complete with bilingual driver. It all depends on how fast you want to get somewhere, how many places you want to visit, what you want to see and, of course, how much money you want to spend.

While Costa Rica is small, comparable in size to West Virg

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Airline Maintenance Secrets Revealed

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by Javier Pedreira

That
air travel is the safest form of transportation going is not mere happenstance but rather due to rigourous maintenance of equipment and exhaustive training of personnel.

Although in 2010 Iberia added a major maintenance hangar at Barcelona airport, since the 1970s the primary maintenance facilities have been headquartered adjacent to Barajas Airport in a suburban Madrid industrial zone called La Muñoza. This 220,000-square metre (54-acre) is where aircraft engines constantl

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For an industry in which everything seems to be getting smaller, at least one thing is bucking the trend: the overhead bin. The AP reports that major U.S. airlines are making overhead bins larger in order to accommodate bulkier luggage and an influx of carry-on bags.

United, American, US, and Delta are all jumping on the bigger-bin bandwagon. Some carriers are outfitting bins with tougher latches; others are replacing overhead-bin doors with ones that curve out, allowing for more space for passen

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What Planespotting Is All About

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by Jorge Guardia/VaDeAviones

Spectacular aircraft photos abound all over the Web these days–shots taken on runways, in hangars, taking off/landing, at cruising altitude. And many of us who glance at them, sometimes think, “how cool,” and move on.

And then… there are the planespotters, along with their closely related–and sometimes overlapping–cousins, aviation geeks (aka “avgeeks”). These gloriously obsessed souls are a dedicated breed in love with aviation and airlines, follow industry news an

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Bounce Around Asia on Air Asia

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Want to visit Asia?  Book the cheapest ticket you can find. Try getting low season tickets to either Paris or London, spend a day or two, and then hop on Air Asia for about $400 to Bangkok.  Air Asia has been voted the best budget airline for several years in a row.  It is only 10 years old and growing fast.  Yes, it is a budget airline but they do it nicely.  Meals are good and reasonable. They can be preordered at a reduced cost.  The best part is the cost. Once in Asia it is possible to fly

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With UK based budget airline easyJet offering service to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, more visitors from Europe have an opportunity to visit this exciting country, which today's New York Times Travelsection includes among its list of 45-places to visit in 2012.

When I saw Jordan on the listit stirred memories of my trip there a few years ago. I had less than a week so I did a quick hit of three important sites.

The River Jordan - There’s not much water left in the Jordan River and wh

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Finnair was named the Best Airline Northern Europe at the 2011 World Airline Awards, in a ceremony held in the French Air and Space Museum at the Paris Air Show.

The runners-up in this category are SAS Scandinavian Airlines taking 2nd place in the category, ahead of Norwegian in 3rd position.

Best Airline Northern Europe

1 Finnair

Finnair is the largest airline and flag carrier of Finland, with its main hub at Helsinki Airport. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate both the domestic and internation

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Drugging Kids on Flights

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Would you sedate your child on a flight? 
Are parents who do so wrong?


Not long ago, a Wall Street Journal  article  reported that many parents "drug" or sedate their kids on planes so they'll be less bothersome for the parents, flight attendants and fellow passengers.



The drug of choice seems to be Benadryl, and while it does calm kids, often putting them out for hours, it has awakened others to what might be an abusive practice.



The testy responses to an About.com (and other) postings on t

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How to Earn Air Miles for Free

Over the past year, I've visited 8 different countries, half of which I paid for my flights using airmiles. Here are a few useful tips for building up your air mileage for free.

There are many ways to earn air miles for free, and some of the best ways don’t require you to change your buying habits at all. So let’s start off with the most lucrative option, credit cards.

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#1 Airline credit cards

The quickest way to build a massive portfolio of air miles is to open credit cards that offer an airmiles b

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9296581658?profile=originalI'm not a travel hacker, not really. I enjoy the places, not the interfaces. And traveling in coach is just fine with me, thanks. As a matter of fact, I do much of my traveling BY coach—bus, that is. I went all over Mexico and Central America before I ever crossed an ocean thirty-five years ago. And the only time I've ever flown first class was when they bumped me up for free. Now don't get me wrong: I'm an avid collector of frequent-flyer miles, but I'd have to have an awful lot before I'd wast

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Consider the following:

 

>> Small companies operate the majority of business aircraft. Most companies with business aircraft have fewer than 500 employees.

>> Business aircraft users have a major presence in the business world. On average 92% are amongst the most innovative

>> Charter operators and general aviation serve over 5,000 airports in the USA. Commercial carriers serve about 400 which number is declining fast!

>> The business traveler saves up to three weeks per year by avoiding long lines

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How To Avoid Getting Sick On a Flight

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This post is courtesy of guest blogger Marybeth Bond, National Geographic Author and Founder of the popular website Gutsy Traveler.
If you’ve flown with me, you know I’m a germ freak. I wear an air purifier around my neck for ion technology clean air, and use a tissue to touch anything in the bathroom.

Charles P. Gerba, a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, swabbed airplane bathrooms and tray tables on eight flights to see what bugs might be lurking onboard. Four
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