Tag Archives: international flights

Where not to fly?

With the shoot down and crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH 17 that was traveling at 33,000 feet over eastern Ukraine on a long range flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, many international passengers are now wondering where not to fly when they travel on long range international flights. The amount of international conflict areas, i. e. war zones, is increasing. Of course, the introduction of sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons is now a major concern in some of these conflict areas.

Do you know where your flight is being routed, especially between Europe and Asia?

For guidance, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has advised U. S. carriers to not fly in these dangerous areas. The Washington Post has produced this excellent map and report on the most dangerous overflight areas in the world.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Southwest Airlines starts international flights today

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) today (July 1) launched an international service by inaugurating service to three Caribbean destinations from three of its US gateway cities. Southwest Airlines’ first international departure, flight WN 1804 from Baltimore/Washington to Oranjestad, Aruba, departed on time at 8:30 am EDT, closely followed by Southwest flight WN 906 to Montego Bay, Jamaica, where its first-ever scheduled international arrival was planned for just after 11 am EDT. A midday flight from Baltimore/Washington to Nassau/Paradise Island also brings Southwest Airlines to The Bahamas.

Customers on the carrier’s inaugural international flights from Baltimore/Washington joined those in two other gateway cities of Atlanta, and Orlando who celebrated alongside Employees with commemorative beach balls, snorkels and masks.

At the Company’s corporate headquarters in Dallas, Employees staffed a command center in the pre-dawn hours to monitor operational performance and new technology systems developed in partnership with Amadeus, a leading technology provider to the global travel industry. Its Altea suite of technology solutions is powering Southwest’s reservations, inventory, and departure control functions for international flying.

Read the analysis by Bloomberg Businessweek: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8H4 N8633A (msn 36905) with the new Aviation Partners Boeing Split Scimitar Winglets arrives at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

Southwest Airlines:

Delta introduces new “sleep kits” for economy passengers

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has introduced new sleep kits and several updated amenities for passengers seated in the Economy cabin on long-haul international flights. Sleep kits will be offered to each customer by flight attendants and will include individual eyeshades plus earplugs to help customers get better rest when travelling between continents.

In addition, on all trans-Atlantic flights of 3,850 miles or less from the U.S. to Europe, customers in the Economy cabin will receive a full-size bottle of water following meal service and updated snack offerings for morning and afternoon/evening arrivals. A mid-flight ice cream service will also be offered on these flights returning from Europe to the U.S. These service improvements will expand to longer-haul international flights in early summer.

This summer, customers flying in domestic First Class as well as the Economy cabin on domestic and international flights will be offered newly upgraded earbuds that will be theirs to keep for use with Delta’s seatback entertainment systems. Delta is the only U.S. carrier to offer personal, on demand entertainment at every seat on all long-haul, international flights.

Delta Air Lines:

Virgin Australia celebrates 10 years of international flying, announces new codeshares

Virgin Australia Airlines (Brisbane) today celebrated 10 years of international flights, announcing eight new international codeshare services.

The airline’s first international flight, DJ 007 departed from Christchurch, New Zealand at 11 am on January 29, 2004 for Brisbane, Australia.

Since then, the airline has grown from offering one international destination to offering over 400 destinations worldwide. Virgin Australia operates to 16 destinations internationally and through its strategic alliance partners, offers 386 codeshare and interline destinations across the world.

The eight new international codeshare services include Seattle/Tacoma and Boston with Delta Air Lines, Zurich, Minsk, Medina and Rome with Etihad Airways and Athens and Brunei with Singapore Airlines.

Copyright Photo: John Adlard/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Virgin Australia). Airbus A330-243 VH-XFB (msn 372) departs the runway at Sydney.

Virgin Australia:

Transaero Airlines to offer “Discount Class” starting on January 14

Transaero Airlines (Moscow) will offer a new low cost product called Discount Class.

Starting on January 14, 2014 Transaero will offer Discount Class of travel on its flights from Moscow Domodedovo airport to a number of popular destinations including those to Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, Vilnius, Milan, Rome, Tel Aviv, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Kemerovo, Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Novy Urengoy, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Stavropol, Tomsk, Ufa, Khanty-Mansiysk, Kiev, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Astana, Almaty, Karaganda and Yerevan.

Transaero will operate Boeing 737-300/400/500 aircraft on the mentioned routes.

Discount Class tickets will include from 10 to 20 kg free luggage allowance, the amount of luggage allowance will depend on the ticket fare.

The low cost services in Discount Class will be provided in accordance with the Federal Aviation Rules of the Russian Federation and will include free onboard meals and drinks which will vary depending on the flight duration (the maximal duration is up to four and half hours). In particular, on all Discount Class flights all passengers will be served refreshing drinks, tea and coffee. On flights lasting no longer than two hours passengers will be served sweet snacks in addition to drinks. On flights operating up to four hours passengers will be served cold meals. On flights with duration longer than four hours passengers will be able to choose among two options of hot meals.

As the airline will operate aircraft in standard two-class configuration, passengers with Discount Class tickets purchased at highest available airfare can enjoy air travel in the Business Class cabin or in the Economy Class cabin with a vacant seat next to his/her seat. They also will be invited to purchase a ticket to the airline’s business lounge at Domodedovo airport at discounted fare.

Discount Class ticket refunds will be made in accordance with the norms and rules set in the Air Code of the Russian Federation.

Discount Class passengers will be offered a choice of free newspapers. The airline will also offer for sale duty free goods on its international flights.

The new product by Transaero Airlines will guarantee the reasonable balance of comfort and affordable ticket prices.

Apart from Discount Class flights Transaero Airlines will continue offering full service on all of its flights operated from Moscow Vnukovo Airport including Imperial, Business, Premium, Economy and Tourist classes of service.

Copyright Photo: Arnd Wolf/AirlinersGallery.com. Transaero Airlines Boeing 737-4Y0 EI-DDY (msn 24904) taxies at Salzburg.

Transaero Airlines: