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#Alitalia Airlines Morning Flights
williamanderson112 · 4 years
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Contact us at +1(844)313-7010 in Alitalia Airlines Morning Flights and get very Cheap Flights rate on your booking from us. Offer limited avail soon.
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sohmariku · 5 years
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Hello Riku-san, I know this sounds totally random but as other people usually ask you about stage play, I'd like to ask something else. From your experience, may I ask you to give us a little review of the airline(s) that you have flew on before when you went to Japan XD Thank you for the answer and I wish you health and happiness in the year of 2019. Happy New Year ^_^
Hey Anon,
that’s indeed a pretty random request, but I don’t mind answering it. So far I’ve flown with a couple different flight companies, KLM, Alitalia, Lufthansa, Swiss and ANA.
Let me break it down for you. 
KLM (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018)The Royal Dutch Airline. So far it’s probably the company I’ve flown with most often. It’s the online flight company that offers a direct flight to Tokyo from Amsterdam and the other way around. No stopovers/layovers is nice, but... you definitely can tell from your ticket price. Unless you book very early or during special discount periods, you’ll easily pay €800-1000 for the worst seat on the plane a.k.a. standard economy class seats. The seats aren’t too bad though. Not super comfortable, but decent enough. Unless you’re a giant, leg space shouldn’t be a problem. On long haul flights you have your personal touchscreen entertainment system to keep yourself entertained and the possibility to charge your phone using USB. The flight staff is nice and friendly. While the pilot’s foreign language abilities aren’t always the best, the staff is well versed in Dutch, English and Japanese. The quality of the food is variable. I had some really delicious meals, I’ve also had some horrible meals, but maybe that’s my personal taste butting in. In my experience, they are pretty punctual. The only time I experienced a noteworthy delay, this was caused by a broken toilet that needed to be fixed before we took off. All in all, I think I’d rate them a 7.5.
Alitalia (2014)I have only flown with this company. It was a code share flight with KLM from Rome to Tokyo. My memory is a little fussy, but from what I remember the seats were all right. Pretty much the standard thing. The flight staff was all right. They didn’t give a very friendly vibe, but they did their job. Sort of, their English was not very impressive to be honest. It was often intelligible, so... I simply listened to the Japanese announcements, because I understood those better. ^^;;  The food though, absolutely delicious! I got a really nice pasta and I was pleasantly surprised to be served bread in the morning, instead of a hot meal. Punctuality though, I’m not sure about. My flight was delayed nearly an hour and I have no idea why. As I mentioned before, the Italian’s English isn’t the best and the announcement regarding where unintelligible. All in all, I’d give them a 7.
Lufthansa (2015, 2017)It feels like I’ve flown with this flight company more often than I actually have. The first year I booked tickets with them, they had strikes going on, so my return flight was actually cancelled and I ended up flying back with KLM. That said, Lufthansa’s Japanese staff was very accommodating booking me a new flight. My reasons to fly with Lufthansa are actually quite simple. First, ticket prices. Depending on when you book, you could get yourself a return trip for about €500-700. Secondly, Lufthansa allows two pieces of “free” checked luggage on flights to/from Japan, which is a big plus to me. Seats are the standard fare, with a decent amount of leg space on both short and long haul flights. On short haul flight the seats are a little tight and you preferable don’t want to sit next to a squire-built person. On long haul flights, you get more space, thankfully. What’s also a plus, on some of the long haul flight planes, you’ll find 230V power points to charge your laptop, even in economy class. They are somewhat hidden away though, so it’s hard to find them. You also have your own personal entertainment system. The flight staff is all right. I don’t remember them as overly friendly, nor as rude. Their English language abilities are good enough to serve non-German/Japanese passengers. When it comes to the food, I’ve never been disappointed. On the long haul flights I genuinely liked the food I was served. I also like how they hand out menus, so you can read in advance what’ll be served. On short haul flights they’ll either serve you some kind of cake during (after)noon flights or sandwiches on evening flights. If there are no strikes, this flight company is pretty punctual. I only experienced one delay, which occurred as we were already up in the air. Due to unknown reason we arrived late in Germany, Thankfully, it didn’t affect the rest of my journey.All in all, I rate them an 8.
ANA (2017)I’ve only flown with ANA once, from Zürich to Tokyo. You get to bring two pieces of “free” checked luggage up to 23kg each on flights to/from Tokyo. It’s probably been one of the best flights I’ve head seat-wise. The ANA seats have a fixed shell. In short, when you recline your seat, it’s not the backrest that moves, but the seat surface of the chair. It means you won’t bother anyone when you recline and no one bothers you when you recline. The downside, you do lose leg space when you recline your seat, but... I’m short, so I don’t care about leg space. Another feature I really loved was the in-built foot rest that could be raised if wanted. To top it off, they gave power points to charge laptops to all economy seat passengers! It was bit of a search to find it, but it’s there. Of course, you also get your personal entertainment system. The flight staff was really nice, their foreign language abilities were decent enough. The food was also good. I’m not sure what else to say. It’s a company I’d gladly fly with again.All in all, I give them a 9.
Swiss (2017)I only flew with Swiss once, it was a short haul flight from Amsterdam to Zürich on a code share with Lufthansa. You can bring two pieces of “free” checked luggage, if the next/previous part of your journey allows two pieces of “free” checked luggage and both parts are under the same booking. The seats were the standard fare you get on short haul flights, I think. I don’t quite remember. At least nothing noteworthy I guess. Flight staff was friendly. Their English was good. No entertainment systems, because short-haul. What I remember most is the food/snack. Since it was a pretty early flight, we were actually served fresh croissants! Moreover, anyone who wanted could get a second one, because they had leftovers. Near the end of the flight, they also handed out chocolates.All in all, it’s an 8.5.
And that’s it, I hope this information was somehow useful to you.
I wish you a Happy and Healthy New Year too!
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businessflights · 2 years
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Cheap Flights from Chicago  to Miami (CHI-MIA)
How to Find a Cheap Flight from Chicago to Miami
Businessflights is the place to find cheap flights Chicago to Miami! We offer best fares on all airlines, with low-cost or no-cost flights available. We update search results every 15 minutes to make sure you get the best deals. The best way to find a cheap flight is to research different sites and compare their rates, but the internet can be a frustrating experience if you're not careful. However, many people are making the switch to AI-powered software because it's cutting down on time spent looking for a good deal. So whether you're new or just looking for a refresher, take a look at this article and see how a program called Skyscanner can help you get your next great travel deal!
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Best Ways to Find Cheap Flights
One of the best ways to find a cheap flight is through the airline's website. Airlines like United, Southwest, and British Airways offer sale prices for flights regularly. When looking for a less expensive flight, pay attention to when you want to go by looking at the calendar on their website or app. If there are any promotions that you can take advantage of then it is worth checking out. If you are trying to save money for your next trip, one of the best things you can do is search for a discount flight. There are many websites that allow you to find and purchase discounted tickets. You might also want to try searching the phrases "cheap flights" and "discount flights." These websites typically provide deals on vacation destinations. Another way to search for a cheap flight is by doing a Google Flights search. This will show you all of the places that have the cheapest flights in their section of the world.
Best Websites for Finding Cheap Flights
Choosing the best travel website for finding a cheap flight can be difficult because there are so many to choose from. A good place to start is by searching for "cheap flight." Using these key words will narrow down the list of search results to sites that might not be as highly regarded but also have cheaper fares. To find the cheapest flight possible, use websites like Orbitz, Kayak, and Google Flights. When looking for a cheap flight, keep dates flexible so that you can see the most options. There are many websites that can help you find a cheap flight from Chicago to Miami. While it is best to try and find a flight mid-week, it is also important to check the website before you buy your ticket. Sometimes the prices on these websites will be significantly lower than what you would pay at the airport.
Have a Look at How Fares Vary by Time of Day
One of the ways to find a Cheap Flights From Boston To Orlando (BOS - ORL) is by looking at how fares vary by time of day. By checking the website for Alitalia, you will be able to see how much cheaper their flights are during different times of the day. A flight in the morning would be cheapest and a flight at night would generally be more expensive. If you're looking for the cheapest possible flight from Chicago to Miami, it's important to know your options. You should look at when fares are the lowest in order to find a good deal. Most airlines have cheap flights during the day, but they can cost much more at night.
Departing from Chicago to Miami
The best way to find a cheap flight from Chicago to Miami is to use multiple websites, such as Orbitz, Expedia, and CheapTickets.com. This will give you access to the lowest fares available. You can also save money by buying your ticket early. Another option if you want a cheaper price for your trip is flying with American Airlines. You won't get the cheapest price for that one, but it will be more than what you would have paid on other companies.
Conclusion
To find a cheap flight, we searched all of the major airlines to see what their lowest rates were and gathered the results in one place. We found that Southwest Airlines had the most affordable rates and Hertz had the lowest prices in general. Using Kayak and Skyscanner, you can find cheap flights. You also have to take into account the airline you pick, as some airlines are cheaper than others. You should look into these factors when searching for a cheap flight. To find the cheapest flight from Chicago to Miami, I searched for tickets on different websites. After narrowing down the search, I found the cheapest flights were offered by Delta Airlines.
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euroman1945-blog · 6 years
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The Daily Tulip
The Daily Tulip – News From Around The World
Wednesday 29th August 2018
Good Morning Gentle Reader….  The week has reached the middle, and the slope towards the week end is almost here, but we have Wednesday to contend with first and the sea mist is back again, and I saw the temperature as I left the house indicating 22c with a high later in the day of 32c .. I’m sure this mist will burn off and the beaches will be full of people… but now as Bella and I walk the town is quiet, all we can hear is the sound of the street cleaners spraying water onto the sidewalk and the occasional sound of snoring emitting from an open bedroom window… we cross over the main boulevard and walk by the ocean for a moment, hardly a wave, a single fishing boat is pulling his nets in and in the distance a supertanker sails silently by heading towards the Middle East.. we turn, things to do, places to be and coffee to drink…
500+ PEOPLE ILL IN US AFTER EATING MCDONALD’S SALAD…. McDonald’s stopped the sale of salads at 3000 restaurants last month. Federal health officials say they have confirmed more than 500 cases of people who became sick with an intestinal illness after eating McDonald's salads. The illnesses reported earlier this year are linked to the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhoea, intestinal pain, nausea or tiredness. The Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that 507 cases have been confirmed in 15 states and New York City. McDonald's stopped the sale of salads at 3000 restaurants last month until it could find a different supplier. The FDA says it is still investigating the supplier of romaine lettuce and carrots. States with cases include: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Officials also said people sickened in Connecticut, Florida, New York City, Tennessee, and Virginia had travelled in Illinois and Kentucky.
NEW RESEARCH THROWS WATER ON DRINKING’S ‘HEALTH BENEFITS’…. While some studies in the past have found that “moderate” drinking can have positive health effects, a meta-analysis of nearly 1,300 sources and studies indicates that even one daily drink can increase risk of premature death, cancer and other conditions. Alcohol, the study found, was the leading risk factor for people between the ages of 15 and 49 and linked to 3 million deaths per year. “If everyone cut their consumption in half,” said lead author Max Griswold, “We could save one million lives globally.”
LAB-GROWN MEAT COULD MAKE IT TO MARKET…. Can they meat in the middle? Food technology firm Memphis Meats and the North American Meat Institute have asked the White House to settle a regulatory tussle and allow cell-cultured meat to finally reach the American market. Under the plan, the Department of Agriculture, favored by major meat industry groups, and the Food and Drug Administration, which also seeks jurisdiction, would jointly monitor the foodstuff grown from animal cells to avoid slaughter. But it’s unclear whether other industry leaders, which hate culturing firms’ “clean meat” label, will support the plan.
POPE TO BE OFFERED SODA BREAD ‘TASTE OF IRELAND’ ON FLIGHT HOME…. The Pope will be offered a final taste of Ireland if he samples soda bread on his flight home to Rome. Chefs for the Republic's flag-carrier airline Aer Lingus will provide a traditional menu on EI2408 from Dublin on Sunday evening. Even the mozzarella cheese will have an Irish twist as it is produced by Co Cork company Toons Bridge Dairy. The butter is also sourced from the southern-most county, from Glenilen farm. The pontiff can choose between baked smoked salmon with braised savoy cabbage or a more Mediterranean basil pesto risotto with summer vegetables. A passion fruit mousse will be offered for dessert. The papal delegation travelled to Ireland with Alitalia. Aer Lingus provided the quick hop from Dublin to Knock airport in Ireland's west, where the pontiff is visiting Knock shrine on Sunday. Altogether, 16 cabin crew will service the Aer Lingus flights, led by Joan O'Neill and Jackie Bailey, who joined the airline in 1979, the year it carried Pope John Paul II on his trip to Ireland. A papal coat of arms has been applied to the plane's exterior, divider curtains installed as well as loud speakers for an onboard press conference to be held on the fight back to Rome. The papal flag and Irish tricolour will be flown from the cockpit for push back and landing in Dublin and Knock. The papal and Italian flags will be flown upon arrival in Rome. Papal blessings will be made as the delegation enters new airspace. The flight will accommodate 126 guests, including key members of the Vatican, security staff and journalists. Aer Lingus will present Pope Francis with a model of the airline's first aircraft, a De Havilland DH84 Dragon EI-ABI, a replica of the Celtic Crucifix of Athlone, which was on board the aircraft which carried Pope John Paul II in 1979.
SPAIN APPROVES PLAN TO DIG UP FORMER DICTATOR FRANCO…. Spain's centre-left government says it has approved legal amendments ensuring the remains of former dictator General Francisco Franco will be dug up and removed from a controversial mausoleum. Deputy prime minister Carmen Calvo said the minority Socialist government is certain that parliament will endorse the decision, probably next month. The amendments to Spain's Historical Memory Law of 2007 grant the government power to exhume Franco's body. That change aims to thwart legal efforts by Franco's descendants and supporters to block the exhumation. Removing the remains from the Valley of the Fallen, a mausoleum Franco ordered built 30 miles north west of Madrid, would be a momentous event in Spain which still bears social and political scars from the 1936-39 civil war.
Well Gentle Reader I hope you enjoyed our look at the news from around the world this, morning… …
Our Tulips today are suggesting you follow the yellow tulip road... wonder if there are any red slippers at the end?
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A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Wednesday 29th August 2018 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…
All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in
Be safe out there…
Robert McAngus #Travel #Tulips #News #Estepona
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deniscollins · 5 years
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Passengers Are Stranded as Another European Airline Collapses
On Monday night, after 14 years of operations, Primera Air, a low-cost airline, failed to get an agreement for a short-term loan from its bank and was unable to fund operations, which consists of 15 airplanes, any more. If you were an Primera executive, what would you do regarding the hundreds of ticket holders who show up at various airports on Tuesday morning: (1) inform passengers but not staff airline desks and let them rearrange their trips; (2) staff the desk and help them rearrange their trips? Why? What are the ethics underlying your decision?
Primera Air, a small low-cost airline that spent the last year expanding its reach from northern Europe to hubs in North America, filed for bankruptcy and ceased flying on Monday night, leaving passengers stranded at airports on both sides of the Atlantic.
The airline had been jostling for a toehold in the crowded European market, where consolidation and the fierce battle for customers have led to the collapse of several airlines in recent years, including Air Berlin, Alitalia and Monarch in Britain.
But Primera’s finances started to erode as it continued to offer new routes while contending with higher fuel costs, delayed airplane deliveries and issues like corrosion on its aircraft.
On Monday night, after 14 years of operations, the company said it had failed to get an agreement for a short-term loan from its bank.
“Without additional financing, we do not see any possibility to continue our operations,” Primera’s board said in a statement.
The abrupt end left many hundreds of passengers stranded at airports. At Dulles International Airport outside Washington, Pavithra Selvakumar, a 24-year-old student, was stuck trying to get back to Britain after her Primera flight was canceled.
There was no staff at the airline’s desk, she said Tuesday, and she was among 30 to 40 people trying to sort out their journeys. Some of them canceled their vacations.
“I could see a girl crying here, there were old people, people with kids,” Ms. Selvakumar said. She was waiting to see if her family and friends might be able to transfer her some money for another flight.
At Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, flights for about 370 Primera passengers were canceled, officials said. One of them, Eric Jetner, a 33-year-old singer and actor who had a ticket for a Monday night flight to Newark, said what was going on was unclear to even the staff at the desks.
“The front desk attendants said they were trying to call the president of the company and nobody was answering the call,” Mr. Jetner said. Later, a letter was handed out explaining that the company had ceased operations, but there were not enough copies for everyone.
“We had to take a picture of it,” he added.
At London’s Stansted Airport, 400 travelers were affected.
Primera had been growing at a furious pace. Over the last year, it regularly announced new flights from different airports in Europe, like Stansted, to airports in the United States and Canada. It tried to attract customers with trans-Atlantic fares as low as 149 pounds, or about $193, and flew narrow-body planes, like Boeing 737s. These aircraft were also used for shorter flights in Europe, keeping costs low.
Still, the fleet was small. The company, based in Latvia and Denmark, had only 15 aircraft, according to its website, and one of the planes had problems with corrosion. One tangled with a Ryanair aircraft on a runway in May. And a delay in the delivery of planes from Airbus this year forced the company to cancel routes from Birmingham, England, to New York and Toronto.
Despite low prices and new trans-Atlantic routes, the company could not grow fast enough to outpace rising oil prices, said Andrew Charlton, managing director of Aviation Advocacy, a consultancy. All low-cost airlines “have to live on the edge of their cash flow to get big enough to get the scale to be successful,” Mr. Charlton said.
As the summer holiday period came to a close and bills started to pile up, the company decided to fold.
Other European airlines have done the same in recent weeks. The Swiss airline Skyworks filed for bankruptcy at the beginning of September, while VLM, a Belgian airline, went into liquidation in August. Small Planet Airlines Germany, which tried to take the part of the market once occupied by Air Berlin before it went bankrupt last year, started restructuring in September.
And other low-cost airlines could follow as they also struggle with the narrow margins, Mr. Charlton said. “Even if you take two or three routes from them, that will tip the balance,” he explained.
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shikungigi · 5 years
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After getting lost in Madrid, I came back to my comfort zone for a week then headed out the next Saturday to Marseille. I was very anxious about this trip to France because it was going to be loooooong. When I say long, I mean very long. Why? Because cheap is expensive. As a newbie, I am not an expert at looking at the best flights with the shortest layovers, neither was my friend. Plus we let these flight booking sites trick us with their cookies. So much so that we later discovered that people who booked different flights months after, all got even cheaper rates and better flights. SMH. So it’s not even a matter of cheapness, it’s inexperience.
Anywho, the day came and I got relieved a bit. Etihad Airways is a cool airline with female and male cabin crew that sport very striking lipstick and perfect hair cuts respectively. And it was my first time on such a large plane. I sat next to this American girl who was quite chatty at the beginning, with some braids on her blonde hair. LOL. Total hippie. Plus since we booked these flights via Alitalia originally, I could not book seats in advance so I ended up next to the lavatories. LOL. So you keep hearing that loud vacuum flushing all the time. I can’t seem to remember what I watched during this leg. I think it was The 15:17 to Paris. I had to Google the title now. I was not sleepy yet, the best was yet to come. I got to Abu Dhabi at some minutes to 9. A few minutes into walking into the terminal, I met up with this other Kenyan who had an even longer layover, but we lost each other at the security check.
Abu Dhabi International Airport is a real swanky airport. They have poured a lot of their abundant money into making it the airport of choice for layovers. I was going to spend 6 hours here, so I decided to find the best seats in the terminal of my next flight. If I was sleepy, these would have been very helpful. I was not. Yet. I grabbed something to eat and chat up my people. I am not exactly sure what I did for the rest of the six hours. What I remember is too much a/c and people running across the terminal to their flights. I finally moved down to my gate about an hour to my flight. I was obviously starting to get real tired, so I did not like the next flight much. But hold that thought.
Real nice, right?
I think this is when I watched The Greatest Showman in my utter fatigue. And even then, I was so enraptured by the movie, even in this poor airplane quality amidst that continuous annoying drone, I cannot stop playing the soundtrack album now. A Million Dreams is playing in my ears right now, while I’m in the belly of a different drone — a hairdryer. I will not deny I watched it on and off, between dozing off, trips to the loo and munching some bits and pieces of Etihad supper. That notwithstanding, I really had to fight off my tears, an endeavour I failed at miserably. I ended up with a serious lump of pain in my throat by the end of it. If you’re into musicals or looking for a movie you can watch with little ones, I think this is it. I am definitely rewatching it in better quality soon.
Off to Fiumicino, Aeroporti di Roma (Rome) a.k.a. Leonardo da Vinci, my last and longest layover before Marseille. And the 8 hours were tortuuuuuure. I got there some minutes to 7AM, Sunday. And let us not forget crossing time zones just makes it even more confusing. Abu Dhabi is an hour ahead of us. Rome is 2 hours behind us. I think. And remember, I have not really slept since 8AM, Saturday. We all squeeze into the transfers hall which seems a bit too cramped for my liking and I already know I will not like my stay at this airport. The only flashy things that could not help me one bit were the luxury stores across Terminal E on two floors. I was in Italy, after all. Dolce&Gabbana. Pandora. Gucci. Burberry. The seats were not going to help in my sleepy misery, so I just sat there and played with my phone until my flight was finally displayed on the screens. I went through passport control as I was now really entering the Schengen area and went on to more shops and uncomfortable chairs. Try as I might, I could not sleep. So, again, I do not know what I did with those 8 hours. This is also mixed with the fact that I could have sworn I watched Modern Family for hours on Netflix but I can neither confirm this from my watch history nor from searching on Netflix. I was definitely not day-dreaming because my Google history tells me I was on Netflix all afternoon. But the other Google says Modern Family has never been on Netflix. Wacha tuachie hapo kwanza. What I am sure about is that I finally found myself inside a small Alitalia flight to Marseille in the early evening. I sat next to a polite boy who was all Bonjour on me. That was the first time I acted like I learnt French from my mum.
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———————————————————— Marseille is definitely hot. It’s a coastal town. I have never been happier to alight from anything in my life like I was when we did at Marseille. I just wanted to sleep! The immigration lines were so long I almost gave up. But since I had already got the stamp in Rome, the guy did not look at my passport twice. I ventured out into the Arrivals hall to wait for my people to get me. We headed out into the Alps (Alpes in French) some minutes after that. This is where we were going to spend most of the time in France. Destination, a little village called Saint Jacques. Why? Wedding Bells!!!!! How? All under the auspices of my dear loving friend Leilah and her very beautiful family. Just writing this almost made me tear up, so let me stop and will pick that up later. In private. Where no peering eyes are wondering why this crazy black girl is crying on a plane. LOL. I have clearly written this post for many days in different places and spaces, so don’t even try to envision my writing pattern.
So from Marseille, the capital of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region (south-East France basically), the roads are a delight. They literally pay for them highways at toll gates. Cars stick to the right here too. I will never get used to that. The drive was a feast for my sore eyes as we drew nearer to the Alps. I temporarily forgot I was tired and sleepy. My new road trip friends offered some very sweet bread too. I mean, how else was I to really know I was in France? There was a bit of a drizzle too. Darkness had covered the mountains by the time we got to the village. And that is to say a lot considering the sun goes down late. Again, a warm welcome awaited us as the family ushered us into the most ageless home I have ever walked into right next to a church. I remember walking in and commenting on how I smelt history around. And great food! And books! And French! Oh my goodness. Was I not supposed to be sleepy btw?
After the warm dinner, mamé walked us to what we would call home for the next few days. I was in awe. This was the second most antique home I had ever walked into. She showed us everything and kept apologizing because she believed this was not good enough for us. I was confused. Why was she apologizing? This was like walking through a dream for me. Like walking into one of those fairy tales I had read as a kid. Red Riding Hood, perhaps. Or living inside the set of Once Upon A Time. Just look at these pics and tell me I am wrong?
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Anyway, I finally got over my awe and slept like a log. I think we woke up at 11 the next day. On a Monday. I mean, what else would I want in life than to wake up like that and open wooden shutters into the most awe-inspiring view of the Alps outside. Sigh. I want to go back.
Monday was chill, with more bread, cheese, chicken and sausages. We had lunch outside in the luscious green compound outside the main house. Then we attended mass in the church. Legitimately the most ancient church I have walked into. The experience was made all the more exotic because most of the mass was in French. I could not wait for the next day, wedding day!
And it came! A beautiful summer morning with everyone getting ready for the occasion. Leilah looked exquisite! She has always had a way with elegant gowns. Speaking of elegance, the wedding was the epitome of admirable simple-elegance. Sorry, what did you say? I can’t make up words? Not today. It made me rethink my whole wedding dream. I do think that the fact that we were already in a naturally beautiful place that needed no expensive and unnecessary decor contributed to this. And the people who streamed in to share in this joy. What else do you really need? Nothing. It was a lovely ceremony which included the baptism of the couple’s adorable baby girl. You should have seen me singing along to French hymns! 😀 You would have thought I had been there for months.
After the church ceremony, we spent some time out in the sun on some drinks and snacks. We then headed out to the wedding party. It was an intimate affair, not much different from the Kenyan ones we know with speeches and good food. Let me not talk too much about this from here. I will let the pictures do that for us.
The evening was wonderful! I never thought I could dance in public until this night. I guess I was still in a dream. We danced for hours in the open to all kinds of tunes, from African to pop, to reggae and samba. Suffice to say, my limbs were in pain the next day. I got over that real quick though as we headed out for a little hike in the Alps that afternoon. The views here are to die for, even when you’re not into climbing stuff. Worry not. You can just come here to stare.
The weather has a funny way of communicating, because after all the sun, the Alps decided it was time for rain on Thursday. So we tucked in and spent the rest of the day just making some Kenyan noise and eating. I could have sworn I had gained many kilos during my stay here but I actually didn’t.
We headed back to Marseille, with a short stopover at Gap. A little town that left nothing imagination, especially after experiencing dreamy Alps, but I did love these!!!
I got to experience Marseille for a few hours when the temperatures had dipped a little this time. The sights from Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde were amazing, including the sunset.
I also got to feast on the biggest burger I have seen in my life. Generally the short experience in France encouraged me in my quest to learn French. And to experience the love of a people brought together by love that supersedes all the many unnecessary complications we insist on bringing upon ourselves. The next time I am back there (because there will be a next time), I will have more to say about the city. Or maybe even drop by Paris. No, not maybe. Definitely. By then, I will be a master of French.
For now, I bow out, with a dreamy smile on my
&nface. À bientôt, mon amis!
An Alpine Affair After getting lost in Madrid, I came back to my comfort zone for a week then headed out the next Saturday to Marseille.
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ericfruits · 6 years
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Why Qatar Airways has bought 9.6% of Cathay Pacific
THIS morning’s news that Qatar Airways, a national carrier with global ambitions, has bought nearly 10% of Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag-carrier, came as a shock for financial markets. Shares in Cathay Pacific dropped in value by around 5% in the minutes after trading resumed first thing today. But the fact that Qatar Airways was in the market for another acquisition came as no surprise for analysts in the aviation industry. Since 2015 Qatar has acquired 20% of IAG, a European group of airlines that flies 100m passengers a year, 10% of LATAM, Latin America’s biggest carrier, and 49% of Meridiana, an Italian outfit. It has even been invited by the Indian government to start up a new airline there with 100 jets. So why has Akbar al-Baker, Qatar Airways’ outspoken chief executive, gone on a shopping spree worth billions of dollars? 
On the face of it, such a strategy does not look wise. Etihad, a rival to Qatar Airways based nearby in Abu Dhabi, attempted to do the same a few years ago, buying stakes in Air Berlin, Alitalia and Jet Airways. The idea was to use the carriers to feed passenger traffic from Germany, Italy and India via its hub in Abu Dhabi. But the strategy came unstuck this year with the bankruptcy of Air Berlin and Alitalia, the collapse of which some sources estimate may have cost Etihad as much as $4.5bn in losses. Following this path would bring Qatar few rewards especially as, in the words of Greg Waldron of Flightglobal, an online trade journal, “Qatar seems to invest in far flung assets with no clear synergies.”
But Mr Baker has no intention of repeating Etihad’s errors. The search for partners abroad is not simply an attempt to drive passenger traffic through its base in Doha. Instead, it is a search for allies in the face of hostility from its neighbours in the Middle East. As Gulliver writes in this week’s print edition:
Since June, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Qatar, banning its flag-carrier’s jets from their skies. That has resulted in the cancellation of over 50 daily flights to these countries, costing the airline a tenth of its business and $500m in profit this year, calculates Diogenis Papiomytis of Frost & Sullivan, a consultancy. 
But even before the blockade Mr Baker surely knew that there were limited growth opportunities in the Middle East. The forces that caused passenger traffic through the region to sky-rocket over the past decade are unwinding. Terror attacks and geopolitical instability have reduced the attraction of transiting through airports such as Doha. Low oil prices have sapped demand for business-class travel from energy companies in the region. Cheaper fuel prices, combined with the introduction of fuel-efficient aircraft such as Boeing’s 787 jetliner, have improved the economics of direct flights between Europe and Asia that do not require a stop in the Middle East.
And so buying up other airlines in the oneworld alliance—of which Qatar Airways, IAG, LATAM and Cathay Pacific are members—seems more sensible than throwing more aircraft and investment at its Doha base. So far the strategy has worked: the share prices of IAG and LATAM have surged since Mr Baker first took stakes in the duo. Cathay Pacific also looks like a good bet. Its shares have been performing poorly since it revealed its first annual loss since 2008 earlier this year. But if its managers play their cards right, the Hong Kong-based carrier should be able to benefit from the rapid rise in outbound tourism from mainland China.
Whether this increase in Qatar’s influence in the aviation industry is good for consumers is another question. Most airline bosses Gulliver has met in recent months predict privately that within the next five or ten years, the long-haul international travel market will be controlled by three massive airline groups. This, they predict, will be the result of the members of today’s alliances—oneworld, Skyteam and Star—buying stakes in each other. The Cathay Pacific deal adds more evidence to the argument that Mr Baker wants Qatar Airways to be the leader of one of these future goliaths of the aviation industry. So far, the only major oneworld carrier to refuse Qatar’s advance point blank is American Airlines, a determined enemy of the Gulf carriers, which Mr Baker tried and failed to buy 10% of earlier this summer. With the global airline business moving towards consolidation, however, how much longer it can resist its rival’s courtship remains to be seen.
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We are officially on our way to Italy...on Alitalia Airlines. We got on the same flight thanks to a great Delta customer service agent in Detroit and @ttturner. Now we just sit back and relax for a few hours. See you in the morning! #italymodel #italymoda #portraitphotography #bruceturnerphotography #signature #milan #lakecomo #florence #tuscany #switzerland #detroitphotographer #model #rushsoccer #ruid #rushselect #rushselectitaly #soccer #teamboris (at Terminal 1 - John F. Kennedy International Airport)
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vsplusonline · 4 years
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Indians at the covid epicentre: Locked out, confused & waiting to come home
New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/indians-at-the-covid-epicentre-locked-out-confused-waiting-to-come-home/
Indians at the covid epicentre: Locked out, confused & waiting to come home
NEW DELHI: Some stories of Indians stuck in the locked-down Covid-19 epicentres of Italy and Iran read like a cruel turn of fate. Their wait for the Indian government’s evacuation operation gets agonising by the day, the problem compounded by their sheer numbers, which makes it difficult to get the requisite medical clearances to return, and results in information fog.
Many students ET spoke with feared they would be left to the mercy of the already-overburdened Italian healthcare system if they test positive.
The ministry of external affairs, though, confirmed regular evacuations. On Sunday, 218 Indians — including 211 students from Milan — landed in New Delhi, according to the ministry, all of whom will be quarantined for 14 days.
On Saturday, 234 Indians stranded in Iran too had returned, including 131 students and 103 pilgrims. “In the next few days, we are evacuating again from Iran and Italy,” an external affairs ministry spokesperson told ET late on Sunday.
One among the Indians stuck in Italy is a pregnant woman, who spoke to ET but declined to be named. The woman, who is in her first trimester and in severe pain, fears she may lose her baby. Fear of exposure to Covid-19 and long queues at hospital emergency rooms is keeping her from hospitals. She said she is uncertain when she will be able to return.
IIT-Delhi alum Nand Kumar Kurup went to SDA Bocconi School of Management, Milan, in 1997 for an MBA. He never returned – and now can’t leave. In 2007, he chose the financial capital of Italy to set up his own B2C fashion business. Today, Milan and the province of Lombardy where it is located, are the epicentres of the country’s Covid-19 outbreak. Kurup is also cut off from his family as his wife is visiting India and daughters are studying in London. He says many thousands of Indian students in Italian universities are waiting to be evacuated.
On March 10, Covid-19 certificate was made mandatory to travel from Italy to India, delaying many students flying by Air India. However, several other airlines — such as Emirates, Alitalia and EgyptAir —may not have strictly enforced this. Students aboard such flights made it back, while those travelling by Air India were held back for the certificate.
In Rome, Masters student Poorna Chandrakanth spoke of two friends who were told by the embassy that they could “probably” leave.
On the morning of the journey, despite Air India’s message that the flight was delayed by two hours, the students reached the airport. But there, Air India officials said they would not be allowed to fly back without a Covid-19 certificate.
The students, many of whom had given up their accommodation, remained stranded at the airport until the Indian embassy arranged accommodation. They fear the exposure may have left them infected.
“We just want to come back to our homeland, not even our homes. We are ready for any quarantine wherever you want. If we get infected here, nobody will take care of us,” said Chandrakanth.
On March 13, the Indian embassy arranged for samples to be taken from these students, though the results may take a week.
“There’s a huge rush among students in Milan and Rome to get the mandatory medical tests done and then get airlines bookings to go back,” says Abhishek Lokhande, a postgraduate student from Hyderabad enrolled at the University of Sapienza in Rome.
“The Indian government’s medical team is due to arrive in Milan soon to evacuate several students who are stranded at the airport,” said Phaniram Varma from Hyderabad, who is a postgraduate student of industrial automation engineering at the University of Pavia, some 30 km from Milan.
“Pavia is in lockdown. The only trips are to the supermarket, where we have to wait in queue with 1 metre distance between us. Only 10 people can enter the store at a time,” said Varma, whose two Indian flatmates left Italy before the lockdown was declared on March 9. “It’s impossible to get a medical certificate here since doctors and hospitals are hard-pressed treating hundreds of patients.”
Northern Italy has a large Indian population — agricultural workers from Punjab, Gujarati business families and university students. The total number of Indians in Italy has been estimated at 200,000 by the ministry of external affairs, which is the largest Indian diaspora in Continental Europe. Sukhdev Singh Kang, who runs a languages translation agency in Brescia since 2009 and is a Sikh community leader, feels unhappy because the local gurdwara, a hub for the Punjabi community, has been shut down, along with all other religious establishments.
Prashant Kachave, son of a Maharashtrian farmer and a postgraduate student in petroleum science at the University of Perugia, near Rome, came on a scholarship. He has another worry. “I fear I will be ostracised if I return to India from Italy now,” he said.
Chetan Abhishek, another postgraduate student at the University of Sapienza in Rome, was waiting for his degree in product design on March 10 and hence didn’t join many of his friends who were leaving.
“But now, things are looking bad and many are stranded at the Rome and Milan airports; it may be a week or two before I can leave,” he says.
“I was waiting for some important documents from the Italian government and hence couldn’t leave when my three Indian flatmates left early this month. Now, there’s a huge rush among students in Milan and Rome to get the mandatory medical tests done and then get airlines bookings to go back,” says Lokhande.
Thousands of miles away, in Iran, the Indian community, though only around 6,000-strong, is deeply impacted. Bhai Ganga Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Tehran, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had offered prayers during his visit of 2016, is deserted. “No one has been coming here for the last few weeks. I’m the jathedar and my duty is to stay on guard so I’m the only person here. All other members of the Sikh community are forced to stay at home by government order,” says Nirbhaya Singh.
Indian passport holders, many of whom travel to Tehran and other cities in Iran on business trips, along with students, find themselves stuck as flights have been cancelled.
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tripstations · 4 years
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I fly a ton, but this flight made me feel like a novice
As TPG’s journey critiques editor, it’s my job to, effectively, journey.
Predictably, I rack up a whole lot of miles within the air — I’m on tempo to achieve no less than 160,000 miles for the 12 months. And I’m accustomed to routings that might make any sane individual quiver. Critically, although, you must see the appears to be like on individuals’s faces after I inform them that I flew from New York to Sydney by the use of Toronto, Atlanta, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei.
Being primarily based within the U.S., a current journey to Europe was shaping as much as be like simply one other one in every of my loopy journeys, this one in pursuit of invaluable Medallion Qualification Miles with Delta. Lengthy story quick, I used to be in Barcelona flying Alitalia in enterprise class dwelling to New York-JFK. Normally, flying up entrance implies a seamless, fulfilling expertise. Despite the fact that I’ve flown premium lessons rather a lot by now, I nonetheless have visions of breezing by the airport, nonchalantly sipping Champagne and munching on elegant snacks in a very uncrowded lounge earlier than settling into my throne within the sky.
This journey day, nevertheless, all of these visions of grandeur have been quashed in a cascading sequence of unlucky occasions. And it was just about all my fault.
My first mistake was trusting myself (and Alitalia) to make a one-hour, 20-minute connection in Rome (FCO). After I booked the ticket months in the past, it didn’t even cross my thoughts that it’d be a difficulty, since I used to be blinded by the prospect of incomes so many miles that nothing may have gotten in the way in which of me reserving that ticket.
Positive sufficient, although, on the morning of my flights, I awoke round 3:30 a.m. in Barcelona to an incredible thunderstorm, a kind of that seemingly shakes complete buildings. Residing in New York, I do know that thunderstorms wreak havoc on airport operations, and I used to be immediately full of dread that my first flight of the day could be delayed, resulting in complications for the entire day.
For the subsequent hour earlier than I needed to go away, I checked FlightAware. Each time I did, my flight confirmed “en horario” (“on schedule”), so I headed to the airport as deliberate.
However then was handed two boarding passes with a distinguished “SSSS” on the backside — the acronym indicating particular, further screening. There’d be no additional screening in Barcelona, the place I had loads of time, however moderately in Rome, the place I had little or no. Nice.
My first flight boarded on time, however as quickly as we pushed again, the storms obtained worse, and we spent about 40 minutes taxiing and ready for our flip to take off. We ended up touchdown solely 12 minutes after the scheduled time, although that meant that there have been solely three minutes between my first flight touchdown and scheduled boarding for my flight to New York. I used to be going to must hustle.
Issues took a flip for the more serious as quickly as we landed in Rome. As we taxied after touchdown, I rapidly discovered we’d be parking at a distant stand. I ready myself for an extended look ahead to the boarding stairs to seem (I used to be proper), an extended wait on the bus earlier than it obtained transferring (additionally proper) and a seemingly interminable crawl to the terminal constructing (proper once more). I’d misplaced a whole lot of invaluable minutes at this level, and I nonetheless needed to clear immigration and Secondary Safety Screening Choice all in about 25 minutes. It was going to be shut, however I used to be positive I may make it.
(Photograph by Nick Ellis / The Factors Man)
I used to be very pleasantly shocked to study that Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport employs an automatic passport management system, so I didn’t must face the infinite immigration traces and was by in only a few minutes. Now all I needed to do was discover my gate. Easy, proper?
Not for me, apparently.
My boarding go for my FCO-JFK flight solely had “E” listed as my gate, as one hadn’t been assigned after I’d checked that morning. And Alitalia’s app isn’t what I’d name user-friendly, so I did issues the old school manner and rushed over to the departures board to seek out the gate for my flight.
In a rush, I situated a flight (“a flight” is vital right here) to New York-JFK departing from E11. I knew the place I needed to go — or so I believed.
Most of the concourses at FCO are box-shaped, so I sprinted round nook after nook. Simply as I believed I used to be taking one remaining escalator as much as my gate, I noticed I needed to take a tram to yet one more concourse to get to E11. The look ahead to the tram was solely a minute and a half, however I didn’t have many minutes to spare, so I used to be anxious. I figured I’d make it, although — I nonetheless had about 10 minutes till the boarding doorways would shut.
The tram arrived on the station, and I burst out as quickly because the doorways opened, ran down the steps and all the way in which to Gate E11 … the place I noticed not Alitalia’s green-and-white shade scheme however the grey, pink and blue of American Airways.
In my panic, I hadn’t checked the flight quantity and even the airline of the primary flight to New York I noticed on the departures board and despatched myself to the fallacious gate. I had simply dedicated the cardinal sin of journey, one which I’d anticipate solely probably the most inexperienced vacationers to make.
“Fool!” I believed to myself.
I darted over to the closest departures board I may discover, double- and triple-checked my flight and noticed that the place I actually wanted to be was Gate E33. In the very same place I’d simply come from.
I sprinted again towards the tram, previous all the individuals I’d raced by simply moments earlier than, and again up the steps to attend one other 90 seconds for the tram that took me again to the place I’d simply left in such a rush.
After one other dash down the steps from the tram, I bumped into yet one more hurdle: safety screening. I hadn’t gone by safety after I first landed on the airport, so I used to be not sure why I needed to do it at this level. However, once more, this was all the results of my carelessness, so I didn’t ask questions and proceeded to take off my sneakers, my belt, my jacket, the laptop computer out of my backpack and every thing out of my pockets. At this level, I had simply minutes earlier than the doorways have been supposed to shut, so I didn’t even hassle placing my jacket (I used to be sweating profusely by now) or my belt again on. I simply grabbed every thing and ran.
After zigging and zagging previous the slower walkers and round many corners, I noticed my shining beacon on a hill: Gate E33. Out of breath and dripping sweat, I arrived on the gate and virtually flung all my belongings on the brokers doing the secondary screening. With puzzled and barely condescending expressions on their faces, they accomplished the screening and have been blissful to shoo me onto the airplane.
(Photograph by Nick Ellis / The Factors Man)
Nonetheless out of breath and definitely nonetheless sweating, I made my solution to Seat 2A, previous a lot of the business-class cabin, the place passengers have been sipping glasses of prosecco and now additionally judging me for my raveled look and labored respiratory.
The boarding door shut moments after I sat down. I used to be the final individual on the airplane, and we have been on our manner.
(Photograph by Nick Ellis / The Factors Man)
“Due spritz, per favore.”
I felt like I had earned a drink. Or two. And that I’d by no means schedule so tight a connection once more.
The post I fly a ton, but this flight made me feel like a novice appeared first on Tripstations.
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hildaagular · 5 years
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Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos.
On Tuesday, Italian airport staff staged a 24-hour walkout. Passengers are left in a chaotic situation in the midst of the airport strike.
The Italian airports’ strike could majorly affect Britons traveling to European countries. The industrial action witnessed hundreds of flights getting canceled by prominent airlines including Alitalia, Ryanair, and EasyJet.
[This post contains video, click to play]
Italy airport strike: A disruptive industrial action
Italy airport staff strike has affected hundreds of flights and millions of passengers are left helpless. Italian airport staff has walked out in a 24-hour spate of disruptive industrial action on the pretext of disputes over working conditions and pay.
EasyJet as reportedly canceled 30 flights so far of its routes to and fro from Italy. It came following the launch of a coordinated demonstration by the airport, airline, and air traffic control staff.
EasyJet spokesperson said:
“Although this is outside of our control we would like to apologize to customers for any inconvenience and would like to assure them that we are doing all possible to minimize any disruption as a result of the industrial action.”
Meanwhile, six flights between Milan and London City Airport flew unaffected.
Alitalia scrapped over half of the scheduled flights
National carrier Alitalia canceled half of its flights on Monday, Tuesday, and some will scrap some on Wednesday morning as well.
An estimation of over 300 Alitalia flight departures has been grounded.
The Italian airline rolled out a statement,
“Alitalia has taken special measures to mitigate customer inconvenience by operating bigger aircraft on domestic and international routes.”
Followed up by another statement,
“We recommend to all customers departing from an Italian airport on Tuesday 21 May to allow extra time to pass through airport security as queues may be longer than usual.”
After Italy airport strike, Portugal, Spain, and Luton are coming up next.
After Italy airport strike, Portugal, Spain, and Luton are affected by the staff walkouts.
An airport Insider advised passengers to check with their individual airline while respecting the course of action. Airport authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation to keep the passenger information ready for future flights.
Passengers who have tickets of flights which are not officially grounded yet are urged in particular.
The industrial action has prompted fears of “no food on board” among the passengers taking long trips.
The post Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. appeared first on Hiptoro.
Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. published first on http://www.hiptoro.com/ Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. posted first on http://www.hiptoro.com/
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claytoncoughlan · 5 years
Text
Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos.
On Tuesday, Italian airport staff staged a 24-hour walkout. Passengers are left in a chaotic situation in the midst of the airport strike.
The Italian airports’ strike could majorly affect Britons traveling to European countries. The industrial action witnessed hundreds of flights getting canceled by prominent airlines including Alitalia, Ryanair, and EasyJet.
[This post contains video, click to play]
Italy airport strike: A disruptive industrial action
Italy airport staff strike has affected hundreds of flights and millions of passengers are left helpless. Italian airport staff has walked out in a 24-hour spate of disruptive industrial action on the pretext of disputes over working conditions and pay.
EasyJet as reportedly canceled 30 flights so far of its routes to and fro from Italy. It came following the launch of a coordinated demonstration by the airport, airline, and air traffic control staff.
EasyJet spokesperson said:
“Although this is outside of our control we would like to apologize to customers for any inconvenience and would like to assure them that we are doing all possible to minimize any disruption as a result of the industrial action.”
Meanwhile, six flights between Milan and London City Airport flew unaffected.
Alitalia scrapped over half of the scheduled flights
National carrier Alitalia canceled half of its flights on Monday, Tuesday, and some will scrap some on Wednesday morning as well.
An estimation of over 300 Alitalia flight departures has been grounded.
The Italian airline rolled out a statement,
“Alitalia has taken special measures to mitigate customer inconvenience by operating bigger aircraft on domestic and international routes.”
Followed up by another statement,
“We recommend to all customers departing from an Italian airport on Tuesday 21 May to allow extra time to pass through airport security as queues may be longer than usual.”
After Italy airport strike, Portugal, Spain, and Luton are coming up next.
After Italy airport strike, Portugal, Spain, and Luton are affected by the staff walkouts.
An airport Insider advised passengers to check with their individual airline while respecting the course of action. Airport authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation to keep the passenger information ready for future flights.
Passengers who have tickets of flights which are not officially grounded yet are urged in particular.
The industrial action has prompted fears of “no food on board” among the passengers taking long trips.
The post Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. appeared first on Hiptoro.
Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. published first on http://www.hiptoro.com/ Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. published first on http://www.hiptoro.com/
0 notes
anawiliams · 5 years
Text
Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos.
On Tuesday, Italian airport staff staged a 24-hour walkout. Passengers are left in a chaotic situation in the midst of the airport strike.
The Italian airports’ strike could majorly affect Britons traveling to European countries. The industrial action witnessed hundreds of flights getting canceled by prominent airlines including Alitalia, Ryanair, and EasyJet.
[This post contains video, click to play]
Italy airport strike: A disruptive industrial action
Italy airport staff strike has affected hundreds of flights and millions of passengers are left helpless. Italian airport staff has walked out in a 24-hour spate of disruptive industrial action on the pretext of disputes over working conditions and pay.
EasyJet as reportedly canceled 30 flights so far of its routes to and fro from Italy. It came following the launch of a coordinated demonstration by the airport, airline, and air traffic control staff.
EasyJet spokesperson said:
“Although this is outside of our control we would like to apologize to customers for any inconvenience and would like to assure them that we are doing all possible to minimize any disruption as a result of the industrial action.”
Meanwhile, six flights between Milan and London City Airport flew unaffected.
Alitalia scrapped over half of the scheduled flights
National carrier Alitalia canceled half of its flights on Monday, Tuesday, and some will scrap some on Wednesday morning as well.
An estimation of over 300 Alitalia flight departures has been grounded.
The Italian airline rolled out a statement,
“Alitalia has taken special measures to mitigate customer inconvenience by operating bigger aircraft on domestic and international routes.”
Followed up by another statement,
“We recommend to all customers departing from an Italian airport on Tuesday 21 May to allow extra time to pass through airport security as queues may be longer than usual.”
After Italy airport strike, Portugal, Spain, and Luton are coming up next.
After Italy airport strike, Portugal, Spain, and Luton are affected by the staff walkouts.
An airport Insider advised passengers to check with their individual airline while respecting the course of action. Airport authorities are reportedly monitoring the situation to keep the passenger information ready for future flights.
Passengers who have tickets of flights which are not officially grounded yet are urged in particular.
The industrial action has prompted fears of “no food on board” among the passengers taking long trips.
The post Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. appeared first on Hiptoro.
Italy airport strike cancelled over a hundred flights and created chaos. published first on http://www.hiptoro.com/
0 notes
mrcoreymonroe · 5 years
Text
A Millennial on Joon: Flying “Business Class” on the Airline for Millennials
A Joon Airbus A321 – Photo: Victor | FlickrCC
I was born in 1985, which puts me in the millennial generation. We are largely known for being technologically savvy, and having different tastes than previous generations. As such, many companies have been forced to adapt in order to do business with us. As our collective purchasing power grows, airlines are also adapting. Many have rolled out apps for smartphones and updated websites allowing us to purchase tickets, check-in for flights, and board planes with only a few taps of our fingers. Others are also advertising their involvement in social causes that Millennials care about. However, one European airline is taking a dramatic step to capture more Millennial travelers.
One of these things is not like the other: Joon’s Airbus 321-200 sticks out among the Alitalia planes at FCO
Meet Joon, a low-cost carrier created by Air France, designed specifically with Millennials in mind (for the baby boomers rolling their eyes, don’t worry, our own David Parker Brown [and his mom] designed an airline just for y’all). Joon promises many of the stereotypical products that appeal to us, including organic food options and craft beer. The overall flight experience, as I found out on a flight from Rome to Paris (FCO – CDG), is definitely designed to appeal to the younger Millennials.
FCO Airport – Photo: Rome–Fiumicino International Airport
My husband and I arrived at FCO in typical Millennial fashion, by taking the train from Roma Termini station to the airport. The train dropped us off close to Terminals 2 and 3. However, flights within the Schengen area are considered domestic flights, so we had to proceed to Terminal 1.
Inside Terminal 1, there are rows and rows of check-in counters all staffed by Alitalia. Monitors over some of the counters displayed different airlines, nearly all of them members of the Skyteam Alliance, but everyone was dressed in a green Alitalia uniform. Since we were technically flying “Air France operated by Joon,” we proceeded to the counter that displayed Air France on the overhead monitor. We checked our bags to Boston (BOS) and then proceeded to the Alitalia lounge since we were in business class.
Pastries, coffee, and other beverages are available inside Alitalia’s lounge at FCO
The Alitalia lounge is mediocre when compared to other lounges. They had pastries laid out for breakfast and a small seating area. The staff behind the bar were fixing all sorts of coffee-based concoctions. It was early in the morning, and I was craving my daily jolt of caffeine. I ordered a coffee but forgotten that in Europe that means a shot of espresso. While strong, the espresso shot wasn’t quite enough, so I went back and ordered an Americano.
Coffee in Europe means a shot of espresso. Strong but good, as were the pastries.
After I was sufficiently caffeinated, we proceeded to head to the security checkpoint. Business class and elite flyers have their own Sky Priority security checkpoint. The Sky Priority checkpoint enabled us to clear security in less than three minutes. We then headed to our gate where people were standing in lines labeled Sky Priority, Zone 1, etc. to board the plane, an Airbus 321-200, to Paris. We stood in line to have our passports and boarding passes scanned then made our way down the jetway.
Joon’s flight attendants wear stylish yet casual blue uniforms
As we reached the end of the jetway and boarded the plane, we were greeted with a smile by a young flight attendant in a stylish blue outfit, and then offered a moist towelette. We turned to the right and I noticed the business class cabin has a 3 – 3 configuration, like the rest of the aircraft. However, in business class, the middle seat was left empty. On the aisle and window seats were pillows, with colors alternating between a bright blue and a neon green. The seats themselves were black leather. Since this was a short flight, there were no virtual reality headsets. However, Joon’s long-haul flights offer this amenity for Business Class passengers.
All of Joon’s narrowbody cabins are in a 3-3 configuration, but the middle seat is left empty in business class
We took our seats, and one of the flight attendants came around to collect our used towelettes. We were also offered a pre-flight glass of champagne. When it comes to drinking, most people pair Millennials with craft beer. While the menu had a nice selection of craft beer, I was more than happy to drink the sparkly, fermented grape juice before takeoff.
Totally legit (an unhelpful) preview of domestic business class on Joon’s website
There were no in-flight entertainment screens, but the seat-back pocket contained the instructions for logging onto the wifi to use your own device to watch, listen, or read whatever digital content you desired. USB outlets to plug in the devices were available at every seat. Although I am a Millennial, I still read actual books when I fly. I had been reading Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle Between Marvel and DC by Tucker Reed, and I figured I would continue making my way through the book. However, after we took off, our flight path included amazing views of the sapphire blue Mediterranean followed by the snow-capped peaks and crags of the Alps. Thus I didn’t get much reading done.
Lunch was quiche, bread, and grilled vegetables plus fruit, pie and truffles
While we were over the Alps, it was time for lunch. A flight attendant came by to offer us hot towels and asked us what we wanted to eat. The Millennial staple avocado toast was not on the menu. I ended up having quiche with a side of fruit. The dessert was pie with cream and truffles.
We finished our meal as the Alps faded behind us. The flight attendants came by again to collect our dishes and see if we wanted anything else. We had quite a bit of time before landing, but I was content to just gaze at the countryside below.
We began our initial descent over the suburbs of Paris. Since Charles De Gaulle airport is north of Paris and we were flying from the south, as our descent continued we were soon treated to views of the center of the city. Famous landmarks including the Arc De Triumph, Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre were immediately recognizable as we flew roughly parallel to the Seine River. Our plane then banked to the right to begin its final descent. The landing was smooth as glass and after taxiing to the terminal we deplaned. We made our way through passport control and the security checkpoint in terminal 2E. Once we were through security, we visited the Air France lounge to wait until boarding time for our flight home.
Joon also has a few A340s in the fleet – Photo: Oliver | FlickrCC
In conclusion, Joon’s marketing and branding team have done a great job at making it seem chic millennial. However, the overall experience is not that different from any other legacy airline. The cabin service consisted of essentially the same rounds as on a U.S. domestic medium-haul flight. The food and drink selection was also similar to what mainline Air France would offer. The biggest difference I found was that the front of the plane did not feel nearly as formal as on other airlines. Part of that probably has to do with younger flight attendants in business casual uniforms.
I wouldn’t go out of my way to fly on Joon again, but if it is flying where I want to go, for the lowest price possible, I will be giving them my business. In the end, I think a good deal is appreciated by any generation.
The post A Millennial on Joon: Flying “Business Class” on the Airline for Millennials appeared first on AirlineReporter.
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Travel agent kiwi.com refuses to act after couple discovers flight home from Italy is cancelled
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A big online travel agent has apologised after failing to tell a British couple, one of whom is disabled, that their flight from Italy had been cancelled.
Teresa Davies and her partner had booked return flights from the UK to Reggio Calabria in southern Italy six months ahead, through Kiwi.com.
They were due to fly home on Tuesday 18 September, with the first leg on the Italian carrier Blue Panorama, which would fly them to Rome.
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But they were staying beneath the flightpath from the airport, and noticed on the previous Friday that the expected morning departure from Reggio Calabria did not take place.
“We became concerned and checked with the airline,” said Ms Davies. Blue Panorama confirmed that the flight had been cancelled and Kiwi.com had been informed. Yet the travel firm kept insisting that the flight would depart as scheduled.
“I spent approximately eight hours over four days trying to sort out the situation,” said Ms Davies. “I kept being told that we would get a response within four hours and to call back if we did not hear anything.
“After each call stating that there would be a response within four hours there was no communication, so I had to chase up and repeat the process again and again.”
The last few days of their holiday were ruined as they waited for Kiwi.com to sort out the disruption. The alternative flight from Reggio Calabria to Rome on Alitalia was gradually filling up. Eventually they abandoned hope that the travel agent would provide a solution, and booked seats on Alitalia themselves. Finally, on Monday morning, they were called by Kiwi and told that they had been re-booked on the very same Alitalia flight.
At that point they tried to get the travel agent to refund them for two of the four tickets that they had bought, but Kiwi refused. Their credit card company and travel insurer also declined to help. 
In addition, says Ms Davies, Alitalia sold their duplicate seats again but refused the couple a refund. 
Ms Davies spent a month trying to get recompense – and says that when she asked a Kiwi.com customer-service agent for the firm’s UK address, so she could write in, “they would not provide me with this information”.
Eventually she contacted The Independent.
The company then apologised, saying: “We acknowledge that on this occasion we did not deliver this to the high standards we pride ourselves upon, and as a result of not connecting with the customer in a timely matter, the customer ended up spending unnecessarily on replacement flights.
“We have apologised to the customer for the inconvenience and delay, we have provided a full refund which she will receive in the next 24 hours, plus an additional contribution as a gesture of goodwill.
”Excellent customer service, including the quick and streamlined resolution of issues via our Guarantee service, is a priority to us.”
Kiwi.com offers a flight-comparison facility, like Skyscanner. But unlike Skyscanner, which earns commission from online travel agents, Kiwi.com sells flights on its own account.
The company is based in Brno in the Czech Republic. “Our vision is to make travelling simple and accessible to everyone,” it says.
In normal circumstances when a flight is cancelled at short notice, passengers on European airlines are entitled to compensation. But because Blue Panorama gave Kiwi.com plenty of notice, the rules do not apply.
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italytravelmore · 6 years
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The Greek temples of Paestum in Italy are a Unesco heritage site. Don’t miss seeing the splendor of this 2,500 year old archeological site and spend some time at the nearby beach clubs.   The Paestum beaches follow miles and miles of coastline and offer both archeological treasures and modern hotels and restaurants.
Temple of Athena, c. 500 BC, Paestum, Italy
“Thus rocks on rocks in bulk enourmous rise:
And thus thy proud remains, O Paestum, here
Majestic now salute the wondering view […].
The Nobelist of the monuments of man,
Resplendent rose from his creative hand.”
– The Ruins of Paestum and other compositions in Verse (1822) by Henry Pickering 
Located south of the Amalfi coast in the Province of Salerno, Campania is the archeological site, Paestum. A 2,500 year old Greek settlement that was discovered behind an overgrown forest of trees and bush. After visiting the ruins of Paestum, I highly recommend a visit to the town center and the beachside resort along the coast.
The Glowing Glory of Paestum
The glowing honey colored columns of the Paestum stones reach for the heavens.
When Nigel and Dawn, our local hosts at The Pinelli Estate in Cilento told us about the ruins of Paestum, I was intrigued to learn that Greek temples were in Campania. I had heard of Selinunte in Sicily but really hadn’t grasped the history and expansion of the Magna Graecia.
Magna Graecia, which today is most of southern Italy, was settled by the Greeks between 600 BC and 450 BC. Essentially, where we find doric ruins in Italy were one-time Greek colonies. They occupied most of the territories we know today as Campania, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily.
Just 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Naples on the Gulf of Salerno, it is recognized as one of the most important cities of Magna Graecia. Paestum is the third largest Greek temple outside of Greece.
The three temples, modeled after the Parthenon in Athens are temples dedicated to Hera, sister of Zeus and queen of the gods, Athena goddess of wisdom, handicraft and warfare and Poseidon the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses.
In the mid-90’s I lived in Athens. (Well, I actually “got stuck” in Athens for eight months, but that’s another story altogether!) Sights like the Acropolis, the temple of Zeus and the Parthenon were part of my everyday landscape. If you have ever been to Athens or Greece, you will be overwhelmed with nostalgia and déjà vu when you see Paestum.
Glowing honey colored columns of stone reach for the heavens. The three dominating structures stand dominant in a vast garden of green. A truck with a cherry picker crane was parked nearby, ready for maintenance work. Seeing the modern equipment, I couldn’t help but wonder how they built this massive complex 2,500 years ago.
Upon discovery in the late 1700’s, Paestum quickly became a major landmark for anyone doing a grand tour of Italy and Europe. Today it is a recognized UNESCO Heritage site and must-see destination while visiting Cilento and the Amalfi Coast.
The Town of Paestum
The town center of Paestum hosts the museum, small shops and eateries.
Across the road from the temple site is a small town center. Apparently, in 1930 the civil engineer that build the road running along the temple grounds was fined and served jail time for malicious destruction of a historical site. There is a dedicated museum, ancient houses, modern cafes, pizzerias, a beauty spa offering buffalo milk treatments, souvenir shops, a hotel for clergy (yes, they exist!), and St. Annunziata a beautiful ancient church dating back to the 5th century.
Paestum is certainly something you must put on your itinerary while visiting Campania.
5th century St. Annunziata
The road through Paestum
The Beaches of Paestum
Lido Nettuno coast of Paestum
Just two minutes away from Paestum is the beach. The closest beach from the temple is the public beach at the very end of the road heading west.  All along the coast are beaches, restaurants and hotels varying from modest to luxurious.
Lido Nettuno We stopped for an aperitif at the beachfront restaurant Lido Nettuno. There’s a full service restaurant and beach front lounge for afternoon snacks or evening cocktails.  They have their own lido with chase lounges and umbrellas for rent.
Lido Nettuno outdoor lounge
Lido Nettuno local delicacies
Lido Nettuno Restaurant
Address: Lido Nettuno Via Laura Mare, 84047 Laura SA Tel. +39 0828 720009
Lido Ariston
The following day, we spent the morning swimming at the Lido Ariston, the beachfront of the 4 star luxury Ariston Hotel. There is also a waterfront restaurant and a long stretch of powdery sandy beach. The water is a deep blue and you can see the cape of Sorrento and the island of Capri in the distance. You can literally walk for miles up and down the coast of Paestum.
Lido Ariston Hotel Beach Club, Paestum
Ariston Lounge
Ariston Beach Restaurant
Lido Ariston Beach
Address: Lido Ariston Via Laura, 13, 84047 Paestum SA Tel. +39 0828 851333
I highly recommend a visit to the UNESCO heritage site, the temples of Paestum and spend some time at the nearby beach clubs.
How to get there
By Plane
Fly to Naples international airport (then private or public transportation.) Airlines that fly to Naples are: Alitalia, Easyjet, Volotea, Ryanair, Air Italia, Blue Air, Eurowings, Transavia, Jet2.com, Brussels Airlines, Finnair, Lufthansa, Vueling, Swiss, Air Cairo, Wizzair
Fly to Salerno-Amalfi Airport (then private or public transportation.) Airlines that fly to Salerno are Alitalia, AirDolomiti, Carpatair, Danube Wings, Air Alps, Air Vallee, Medavia
There is an airport train to/from Napoli Centrale station. A 15-minute airport train to the Napoli Centrale Station costs €5 (one-way).
Check flight deals and offers
By Car
The best way to get to the smaller towns along the coast is to drive. We flew into Naples airport and rented a car from Europcar and then drove. Paestum is 100 km from Naples airport which is about a 1 hour and 40 minute drive.
If you book a taxi, it may cost you more or less €165, about the same as a rental car.
Insider tip: If you drive from Naples airport, leave time to stop at other landmarks.  Herculaneum and Pompeii are also along the route.
By Train
Stazione Napoli Centrale – Naples has a large central station and can be easily reached by Milan, Rome, Florence, Bari and all major cities in Italy.
From the Naples airport, there is a 15-minute airport train to the Napoli Centrale Station and costs €5 (one-way).
To arrive at your coastal town, you will then have to get a local train.
From Napoli Centrale Station the train to Paestum takes about 1 hour 20 minutes and costs €6.50 (one-way).
Check train schedules and ticket prices
  Where to stay
Ariston Hotel
Il Rifugio at The Pinelli Estate
Grand Hotel Paestum
Savoy Hotel Beach resort
Many thanks to Il Rifugio at The Pinelli Estate for hosting us and sharing the colors and flavors of Cilento with us during our visit to Campania.
  Article and photos by Celia Abernethy
Swimming with Poseidon: Paestum Temples & Beaches of Italy The Greek temples of Paestum in Italy are a Unesco heritage site. Don’t miss seeing the splendor of this 2,500 year old archeological site and spend some time at the nearby beach clubs.   
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