Travel Bug

The controversial transatlantic tie-up between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia has won final approval from the US Department of Transport, some 14 years after it was first proposed.
The green light clears the ways for the three carriers to jointly set prices, sell tickets and schedule flights through their Oneworld alliance, exempt from antitrust rules, the DoT said in a statement.
The decision follows last week’s approval by the European Union, and comes after two previous refusals by the regulators.

Separately, the DoT has also granted antitrust immunity to fellow oneworld members Finnair and Royal Jordanian.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of BA, described the transatlantic decision as “fantastic news”.
He said: “This is a great day for all three airlines and the oneworld alliance. We’ve waited 14 years to bring the benefits of the trans-Atlantic joint business to our customers and level the playing field with the other two global alliances.”

“As we have argued all along, the EU-U.S. market is highly competitive and Heathrow’s liberalization in 2008 opened it up even further. We are delighted that the U.S. and EU authorities have recognized this.”

However Virgin Atlantic’s Sir Richard Branson branded the DoT’s decision a “monster monopoly,” saying that the US regulator “has decided to put the interests of BA and AA before those of the flying public.” Read the rest of this entry »

The tally of plane orders by the close of third day of the Farnborough Airshow has passed the $25 billion mark, as a resurgent commercial aviation sector offset severe cut backs to government defence expenditure.

Though the show remains a long way off the record-breaking $88.7 billion of bookings announced at Farnborough in 2008, sales are well above the $7 billion placed at last summer’s sister airshow in Paris.

Airbus enjoyed the bulk of today’s bookings, including Thai Airways making a commitment to buy seven A330-300s worth around $1.5 billion, as well as sales to Berlin-based Germania, which signed a contract for five Airbus A319s.

Indonesian flag carrier Garuda has purchased of six long-range A330-200s, worth $1.1 billion at catalogue prices, to expand its new premium service “to more international destinations in a profitable and efficient way.”

Boeing’s sales included Air Austral ordering two long-range 777-200s, worth $501 million at catalog prices. Qatar Airways had ordered two 777-200LRs for the same price. Read the rest of this entry »

Boat passengers in the European Union are to see their rights enhanced in the event of delay or cancellation following a decision by the European Parliament.

At present ferry passengers have the right to a refund or a space on a later sailing if their journey is disrupted. However, airline customers get more protection, such as compensation if a flight from a European airport is affected.

The new rules are designed to bring consistency to the arrangements.

From 2012 when a regular passenger boat or ferry service is cancelled or over 90 minutes late in departing, the passengers will have the right to be rerouted (in order to reach the destination earlier) or to receive back the ticket cost and not to travel (or else to return to the initial port of departure at the company’s cost).

This will not apply in the case of weather delays or other conditions outside the operator’s control. Read the rest of this entry »

New measures go into effect at midday Tuesday that will let planes fly at higher ash densities than currently permitted.

As flight disruptions continue due to the ash cloud from an Icelandic volcano, the measures — announced by the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority on Monday — are designed to ease the backlog.

Flights that operate in the so-called Time Limited Zone will be subject to time limits and stricter maintenance policies, the CAA said. Airlines must provide a safety agreement from their aircraft and engine manufacturers to receive clearance to the zone.

British airline Flybe will be the first to use the new zone starting Tuesday, the CAA said.

Major European airports reopened Monday after being closed for six hours due to the ash cloud.

The Monday cancellations were the latest in a round of weekend closures of airports across the United Kingdom and into continental Europe. Read the rest of this entry »

Nowadays, Poltava city has a wide range of the accommodation options, both Poltava hotels and private apartments. There are many rental management agencies that offer houses and apartments for rent. In case you prefer to put up at a hotel rather than any private apartment or house these companies would be willing to reserve a hotel room or suite you pick, and to provide you all the related information about Poltava hotels placed on their websites. There are two four star luxury hotels, Gallery and Palazzo, and several budget ones. The former ones are. Read the rest of this entry »

No matter what time of year that you decide to visit the wonderful city of Dublin you can be assured of a great time no matter what the weather is like. If you have to choose, you’ll want to be in Dublin either just before summer starts, or just after winter ends, since these are the times that Dublin is the cheapest to visit as well as when many of the celebrations and festivals take place. The most important holiday and festival in Dublin is St. Patrick’s Day, and if you plan on being in Dublin during this time you’ll need to make sure that you have reservations!

Dublin is well known for its extensive shopping areas, such as Temple Bar, Nassau Street, Henry Street, O’Connell Street, St. Stephen’s Green, and Grafton Street. The Brown Thomas department store on Grafton Street is a great place to check the local styles and Irish designs.

Dublin offers several department stores that will keep you busy for hours. St. Stephen’s shopping mall offers the largest department store. This area of Dublin gets busy in the summer with plenty of hustle and bustle. Plan on making reservations at restaurants to save on lengthy waits in line. Read the rest of this entry »

When people think of London they think of the Royal family, the Parliamentary government, and years old tradition. If you plan on visiting London, be sure to stop by these must-see attractions for their history, their beauty, and their regal stature.

The Tower of London is almost a thousand years old and is home to the crown jewels. Make sure to plan ahead and get tickets to the Ceremony of the Keys, a 700 year long tradition of locking up the Tower at night. Tickets are free but you’ll need to get them 6-8 weeks in advance. Because the Tower of London is a hot tourist spot, lines are hours long. To avoid the long lines, buy tickets at any Tower Hill tube station. With your tickets in hand you can bypass the line and walk right in.

Buckingham Palace is probably London’s most famous building, and still a working Palace and home to the Queen. If you go in the summer months when the Queen is in Scotland you can get a tour of the staterooms. Buckingham Palace is also where the famous “Changing of the Guards” takes place. You can see this every day at 11:30am. Read the rest of this entry »

A city with a strong historical tradition, Amiens is one place in France where many tourists congregate, to experience its ancient cathedral. This is one of the reasons that Amiens is on the map.

Located about 120 kilometers from Paris, Amiens is the prefecture of Somnes department. The city was pounded mercilessly during World War II, and the pockmarks on the buildings still tell the tale to people passing through the city. The traffic is heavy, and most of the city is like any other city today. The landmarks from history are what make Amiens worth going to.

Sights at Amiens – The Cathedral

There is a lot to be seen and experienced from the days of yore at Amiens. The most famous landmark and a must-see for anyone visiting the country is the cathedral in the city. The cathedral at Amiens, called the Cathédrale Notre Dame, has been declared a World Heritage Site. Under the supervision of architect Robert de Luzarches, it was built in the classical Gothical mould way back in the 13th century, and remains the biggest structure of its kind in all of France.

The earlier cathedral was consumed by a fire in 1220, and a new one was constructed in its place. The new cathedral was ready in 1247. Full of architectural beauty, the first thing that you will notice is the triple-tiered elevation in the interior. The principal façade is lined with intricately detailed gothic sculptures. Keep your eyes out during your tour through the cathedral, and you’ll notice the sculptures turning up in other parts such as the labyrinth, and the south transept. Read the rest of this entry »

Choosing to visit Germany can be an educational and historically enriching experience for the whole family. Four must see cities in Germany are Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg.

Stopping in Berlin

A famous Berlin landmark is the Berlin Wall. This stop will provide for an education about Germany’s history and how the dismantling of the Wall has affected the German people. Other exhibits in Berlin are the Jewish Museum, the Perganon ancient history museum, The Brandenburg Gate monument, the Atlas archaeological museum, The Story of Museum history exhibit and the Klusor Wilhelm Memorial Church ruins from bombings during World War II. The New Synagogue of Berlin features an exhibit of the Berlin Jewish culture. Wintergarten Variete showcases a world famous cabaret show. The Berlin Cathedral is a beautiful Protestant church and will delight architecture lovers visiting Berlin. The art lover will not want to miss the National Gallery featuring eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century art, and the Tacheles hosting works by trendy German artists. The Ritz Carlton Berlin offers rooms at an average of $348 a night, the Swissotel Berlin for $168 per room, the Movenpick Hotel Berlin at an average of $177 , and the Hotel Pension Bregony provides rooms for about $87. All these hotel are highly recommended by other tourists. Read the rest of this entry »

Visiting a foreign country overseas can be exciting and even a little intimidating. The unfamiliar can be both a great adventure and a potential disaster. Here are a few places of interest and trusted lodging places recommended by other travelers.

Staying in Friendly Copenhagen

Copenhagen is one of Denmark’s most popular destinations for tourists. It features the Trivoli Gardens, a combination theme park, amusement park and scenic garden that provides fun and entertainment for the whole family. The Round Tower observation deck is also popular for its panoramic views and spectacular scenery. Glyptotek is an interesting statue of The Little Mermaid erected in 1913, commemorating the Hans Christian Anderson story of the same name. Frederiks Church is also popular with visitors this large marble Baroque church stood unfinished from 1770 until 1874 and was finally completed in 1894. Popular lodgings while in Copenhagen are: The Hilton Copenhagen, Copenhagen Marriot Hotel, Avenue Hotel, Radisson SAS Scandavic Hotel, Radisson SAS Royal Hotel Copenhagen and The Square. Read the rest of this entry »