Taking off: London City airport’s £16m lounge revamp May 26, 2015 London City airport, a favourite with travellers who abhor long check-in queues, snaking lines for security checks and yearn for a respite from traditional public lounges, is giving a £16m revamp to its western pier which houses 70 per cent of the departure gates. New shops, restaurants and watering holes, quiet areas with mobile-device charging [...]
British Airways continues Israel flights as US and European airlines suspend operations July 23, 2014 British Airways is one of the only major European airlines still flying into the Israeli airport Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv. A number of major US and European carriers have suspended flights to the country after rockets from Gaza were fired closed to the airport raising safety concerns. BA’s twice daily flights to the destination [...]
British Airways “happiness blanket” tests in-flight experience June 30, 2014 British Airways has been testing out a “happiness blanket” on customers to see how they feel about the in-flight service it offers. Passengers involved in the experiment conducted on flights from London to New York, had their brainwaves monitored and displayed through a blanket made of fibreoptics. Turning blue when customers are content and red [...]
From Bangkok to Phuket, Thailand is a country of contrasts that’s full of surprises June 10, 2016 What are you missing?” the chef asked. I looked down at a soggy pile of noodles, looked back up and replied, “More soy?” “Sugar!” he barked, then he dumped an entire saucer’s worth into the pan. “Now that’s pad thai.” As someone with severely savoury tastebuds, I was appalled. I was in Issaya Cooking Studios, [...]
The right credit card can slash holiday costs: Air miles cards are popular but fees and rewards vary considerably May 26, 2015 Competition has become fierce among credit card providers and many are having to raise their stakes when it comes to perks for new customers. Air miles are the latest area of growth for credit card companies. While they may not have the best annual percentage rates (APRs), these cards will act as an extension [...]
Ireland agrees to sells it Aer Lingus stake to IAG for €1.36bn May 26, 2015 After much anticipation the Irish government has finally agreed to sell its 25 per cent in Aer Lingus to British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines (IAG). The Irish airliner's board recommended IAG's proposed €1.36bn (£961bn) offer in February but it still needs support from the other main shareholder, Ryanair. Market sources previously speculated that a deal between [...]
EasyJet strike 2015: Cabin crew ballot for action could cause summer travel chaos for holidaymakers and a new headache for budget airline July 7, 2015 Strike action by EasyJet staff could disrupt thousands of holidaymakers preparing to jet off for the summer holidays, causing a further headache for the low-cost airline. British cabin crew staff are planning to walk out over pay after talks between unions and the airline broke down following months of negotiations. EasyJet has said it is confident [...]
Apple Pay in the UK: These are the retailers and restaurants signed up for the July launch June 9, 2015 Some of the UK's biggest retailers are lining up to start accepting Apple Pay when it launches in the UK next month. As well as being able to use your iPhone or Apple Watch to seamlessly glide through ticket barriers on the Tube, the Silicon Valley giant has its finger hovering over the button [...]
British Airways settles sleepless passengers with 7-hour train film June 24, 2014 British Airways is adding an unusual film to its in-flight entertainment designed to help weary travellers drift off in the confines of a cramped cabin. Part of the so-called “slow TV” genre, the film is a seven-hour-long Norwegian epic, but it's no Scandi-noir thriller box set. The film is a minute-by-minute recording of a train [...]
Virgin Atlantic’s London Heathrow to New York plane VS25 forced to return midflight after laser obscured pilot’s vision: Met Police now investigating February 15, 2016 Metropolitan Police are investigating an incident in which a plane was forced to turn back to a London airport mid-flight, because a laser was being pointed the cockpit. Virgin Airways flight VS25 from Heathrow to New York turned back to the airport because the laser was obscuring the pilot's vision, causing him to feel unwell. There were [...]