Fly in style with V Australia

By Payless Flights | Published: October 23, 2010

Ever noticed that air travel has become some what dull and boring in recent years. Well, Sir Richard Branson certainly has and this is why his newest airline is  customer orientated. We are talking about V Australia. The new Virgin member has a short history but is already making a very good impression to passengers through out the whole Pacific region. The main reason for this is the goal that Branson set in his new company – to make flying great again. But lets see what V Australia actually offers us.
For starters, the company`s fleet is based on several brand new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft packed with all the modern bells and whistles of a modern plane. Not only that but V Australia`s new planes are more fuel-efficient than most of the other crafts flying today and they leave less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Another great part of the company`s planes is the three separate classes that are available to the passengers – International Economy, International Premium Economy and International Business.
What V Australia promises to its passengers are the largest and most comfortable seats in economy class. You will also have aces to the plane`s on board entertainment system called Red. Red includes more than 50 blockbuster movies, 100 tv shows and countless games with single and multi player campaigns. And if you get hungry or thirsty, don`t worry. V Australia`s personnel will keep you fed throughout your flight thanks to the gourmet dishes. If you are traveling in International business class than your food will be prepared by Australian Chef Luke Mangan. There`s also a boutique bar for exclusive customers.
And don`t forget the most important aspect of the company that Richard Branson holds firmly to. All of the staff of V Australia has one main goal – to make the carrier`s customers feel like rock stars with exclusive services and all star treatment.
V Australia will take you Down Under for as much as $ 569 from LA to Sydney, Melbourne or Brysbaine in a one way flight or $ 838 for a round trip.

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Why in-flight meals are tasteless – science has an answer

By Payless Flights | Published: October 15, 2010

Many generations of travelers have been tortured with the plain and rather tasteless meals served on-board many airlines. Notice that you`re food doesn`t got any taste? Well science has the answer for this modern day phenomenon. According to latest research results it`s not the food that`s tasteless… it`s you. According to scientist, people can loose partially their sense of taste when listening to the so called “white noise” inside the airplane`s fuselage and this explains why people eating in the air use far more salt, sugar and other spices in the air, than on the ground.
This study comes in support of a well known theory that sound can actually change people`s perceptions. Part of the experiment was a special dish made from the famous Chef Heston Blumenthal. It was served to people who were listening to different sounds while dining. According to Ellen Poliakoff of Manchester University, the study gave very interesting results. Certain sounds affect the perception of taste and some of them can alter our comprehension for sweet and salty. Not only that, but noise can affect the perception of the food`s freshness and palatability.
The white noise that can be heard onboard every plane can actually distract our sense of taste and this might be the answer to the mystery why plane food is…plain. After d-r Poliakoff`s experiment ended the collected data showed, that people who listen to white noise while enjoying their meals radically lose their sense of taste and ask multiple times for more salt and sugar. Another part of the study has showed that people listening to pleasant music or calming sounds, think their food is tastier. No wonder many restaurants play ambient music to their customers.

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Virgin Galactic` s SpaceShipTwo completes maiden manned test

By Payless Flights | Published: October 13, 2010

Sir Richard Branson dream of taking people on the edge of space and than flying them back safely on the ground made another step towards reality. After months of preparing, on Sunday, the vehicle SpaceShipTwo made its maiden manned flight. The craft called Enterprise, was launched from a mothership at almost 45 000 feet above the ground. Several minutes later, Enterprise landed safely at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
There were several goals for this flight and they were all achieved. Those included a release from the mothership airplane and a flight back to base. This gave Virgin Galactic tones of valuable information to look in to.
The bold project has attracted more than 370 enthusiasts who have prepaid their trip to the starts which in numbers is about $ 50 million. All flights with Virgin Galactic will depart from New Mexico`s Spaceport America, which will have its runway presented for the first time on October 22.
According to Pete Siebold the brave test pilot, who first tool the controls of the Enterprise, the craft is a real joy to fly. His opinion is that the ship is able to go to speeds that reach Mach 3.5 and is capable of going to space. Not only that but Siebold reckons that this will be the world`s highest altitude glider.

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Concorde

By Payless Flights | Published: October 9, 2010

The Concorde is the only Supersonic airplane to successfully make commercial flights. Supersonic means that the concord flies faster than the speed of sound. If someone blasted music toward a certain point,  the Concorde would rich that point before the music was heard! You could fly from New York to London in less than 3 hours.

Concorde

Concorde

The Concorde was built by France and Great Britain in the 1960s. After promising start, the ultra fast Concorde eventually fizzled out because it used as much jet fuel as a Boeing 747 but carried far fewer paying customers.By 2000, it cost almost $ 9000 to fly from Paris to  New York! Still, the Concorde is an important icon of flight history.

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European Vacation for Single Parents

By Payless Flights | Published: September 30, 2010

If you are a single parent than it`s very likely you have very little or even no time for holidays and leisure activities. But daily stress must be siphoned away at a point so touring agents got the idea to make exclusive holidays made especially for single parents and their children. It appears that Europe is a perfect destination for such families as offers to them many interesting activities that will keep the kids and their parents occupied all day. There is a very big choice of family vacations and we can split them into two types – summer and winter holidays.

Summer holidays include many destinations in Europe such as Spain, Austria, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. Some of those destinations offer an adventure type of holiday (Austria), but the main accent of those trips is the seaside. Offers include resting in a beautiful resort on a Greek peninsula whit a private beach and luxury facilities. Hotels do offer children’s clubs where your little ones will have fun and you can socialize with the other single parents. Many resorts run theme weeks where they offer special discounts for single parents. Or if you like exploring something new, you might prefer sleeping in an 18-century windmill, which is transformed in a cozy family hotel in the beautiful Spanish city of Andalusia. How about travelling to Turkey for a week filled with loads of sea adventures on board a traditional gulet boat? If you like sports, than a trip to Andorra for seven days of cycling, walking and rafting in the beautiful Pyrenees mountains.

There are many offers for a winter trip to the Austrian Alps as well. You can visit the beautiful winter resort Schladming and enjoy a perfect ski holiday with your children. What`s more, there will be people just like you, which will get to know in the evenings in the family hotel. This is what these special holidays for single parents are made for. They try to bring together children and adults whit a friendly and warm surroundings and team activities.

If you already like what you`ve read, you will be delighted to know that, than it`s time to start planning your next holiday. What`s more, there are hotels that give a discount on your holiday price if you are a single parent. At PaylessFlights.com we also offer 25% discount on international airline tickets for children 2-12 years old, and for infants 90% off the adult fare.

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Lufthansa’s A380

By Payless Flights | Published: September 23, 2010

Lufthansa was one of the first airlines that took advantage of the world largest airliner the Airbus A380. Since the 19-th May 2010, the A380 is the flagship of the Lufthansa air fleet. Given the code D-AIMB, the A380 is regularly used for flights from Frankfurt to the rest of the world. The pride and joy of the German airline is actually the largest and heaviest aircraft in the wold. The plane can carry 526 passengers at once across the globe. It also features fuel efficiency systems and noise reduction materials, making your flight more comfortable and quieter.

Lufthansa`s A380 offers three types of flight experiences. First Class is the most expensive and comfortable way of flying in the Superjumbo. The First Class Saloon offers some incredible innovations in passenger comfort such as the automatic air humidifiers that condition the cabin perfectly, making your flight a lot more pleasant. There are also sound-insulated curtains on every seat and sound insulating carpets that eliminate the sound of footsteps. The A380`s First Class can accommodate up to 8 passengers which will be very pleased with the new automatic seats and personalized media centers in front of each seat.

The second type of flight experience is the Business Class. It`s stunning design may take you by surprise at first glimpse, but the 91 seats in the Business Class cabin are made with high quality materials and very stylish and futuristic design. Personal space is at its best and every passenger can benefit from the fully adjustable seat, and the remotely operated entertainment system in the back of each seat.

The last but certainly not least way of flying in the A380 is the Economy Class. A lot of us will see only this deck of the A380 but there`s nothing wrong with that. Engineers have given their best efforts in enhancing personal space onboard the Lufthansa`s flagship. They are offering passengers a new type of ergonomic and slim type of seat, which is described as ”the best economy seat you`ve ever sat on”. Not only that but there`s a media center in front of every passenger that will make anybody`s flight much more pleasant.

But where can we travel with Lufthansa`s A380? Well the airplane itself has for home airport the company’s hub the Frankfurt Airport. Its regular flights feature a route from Frankfurt to Beijing and Tokyo as well as Johannesburg. From the beginning of October, the aircraft will make a number of exclusive flights from Frankfurt to the Balearic Islands and mainly to Majorca. Lufthansa has ordered a total of 15 Airbus A380s.

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India’s premium golf course

By Payless Flights | Published: September 11, 2010

The Indian economy is growing at a huge pace. Middle class affluence is expanding. Attitudes are changing. Especially about what people want in terms of lifestyle and from their homes. Many what is easily found in California, Paris or London; seclusion, privacy and style. Or simply the opportunity to mix and be with one’s own kind.

No wonder that Jaypee Greens’ new 452 acre Greater Noida development in Delhi NCR, India, is attracting such a huge amounts of interest. This place is something that you won’t find anywhere else in India. Emerald green spaces, exclusive club houses, conference and banquet facilities plus a host of recreation and entertainment options just a few minutes walk from your apartment. Despite the peace and stunning grounds, there is also a huge energy about this place. It is a place for people who want the best. It’s about quality of life that tempts many people and many Indians that returns from overseas.

The integrated course at Jaypee Greens’ Greater Noida is designed to push the thinking golfer to his limits. It’s designed by Greg Norman and is India’s first championship golf course, though there is plenty of playability for all skill levels. It is the longest golf course in Asia. The Jaypee Greens Clubhouse is located just a short distance from the first tee with magnificent views of the course as well as the whole resort.

The atmosphere of Greater Noida is certainly a world away from the chaos and atmospheric bustle of New Delhi. The peaceful feeling of seclusion and security is something everyone notices when they pass through the entrance of the Jaypee Greens compound. The outside world is left behind, but your own world opens up. It’s a wonderful feeling of ease and tranquility.

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Emirates to Provide Mobile and Internet Access on A380

By Payless Flights | Published: July 22, 2010

Emirates, Middle East’s largest airline, announced it will be adding mobile and internet access to its fleet of Airbus A380 by 2012.

The airline has chosen OnAir as their provider, with customers being able to browse the web, check emails and do work via their phones, laptops and other portable electronic devices. Emirates believes this will add to the already award winning in-flight entertainment on the airline’s planes.

Tim Clark, president of Emirates commented on the new technology that will be featured soon on their A380 air crafts: “Our decision to install a full set of in-flight connectivity services is part of our ongoing effort to provide customers with the real-time access to information that they demand.”

Currently the A380 is used on flights to Dubai from London Heathrow, as well as service to Sydney, Seoul, Auckland and other destinations from the Middle East. The jumbo jet will start flying into and out of Manchester in the fall.

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US Passport Fees to Rise…Soon

By Payless Flights | Published: July 8, 2010

Passport prices jump in just 4 days. Can you beat the deadline?

In 4 days a new adult passport will cost $35 more than today. (The price jumps from $100 to $135). A minor’s passport  (under age 16) jumps from $85 to $105. Currently, you would pay $75 to renew a passport but on July 13, the price jumps to $110. Just need extra visa pages? You don’t have to pay for them now, but after July 13, they will cost $82!

If you’ve been planning on getting a passport, but have yet to do it, or you need your passport renewed you may want to consider getting help from a passport company that can expedite the service up to 24h.

Passport Prices Jump Significantly in Just 12 Days -You Can Beat the Deadline

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United Waives Upgrade Co-Pays for Elites

By Payless Flights | Published: May 21, 2010

With planes packed and free coach awards harder than ever to come by, upgrades are one of the best uses of frequent flyer miles.

We still refer to them as mileage upgrades because, not so long ago, miles were all it took to upgrade. No more. The trend is toward requiring a cash co-payment in addition to miles, at least for upgrades from the cheaper coach tickets that most travelers normally purchase.
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American, for example, now charges 15,000 miles plus $50 each way for upgrades from discount coach fares on domestic flights. And for Europe flights, the cost to upgrade is 25,000 miles plus $350 each way.

Continental charges 15,000 miles, plus a co-payment between $50 and $150, for domestic upgrades, but the cash surcharges are waived for elite members of its OnePass program.

While Delta does not currently impose cash surcharges for upgrades, neither do they allow upgrades from cheaper fares. So you might have to purchase a pricier ticket to use miles, which amounts to an unpublished surcharge.

US Airways has no co-pays for domestic upgrades, but upgrading on Europe flights costs 30,000 miles plus $300.

And United charges between $50 and $100, in addition to 15,000 miles each way, for domestic upgrades from discount coach; and Europe upgrades cost as much as $500 each way, plus 20,000 miles.

In what may turn out to be a sub-trend to the industrywide spread of upgrade surcharges, United has announced that, effective immediately, elite members of Mileage Plus will be exempt from cash co-pays when using miles to upgrade on flights within the continental U.S., Alaska, and Canada, including United’s transcon p.s. service.

The new policy applies to Premier, Premier Executive, 1K, and Global Services members, as well as any travel companions included on the same reservation.

Good News, Bad News

For Mileage Plus members who routinely use miles for upgrades, the waiver adds significant value to elite membership.

But there’s a troubling downside to the new policy as well. One of the featured benefits of elite membership is “unlimited complimentary” space-available upgrades on domestic flights.

Waiving the cash fee for mileage upgrades—which are confirmed before complimentary elite upgrades—will certainly result in more elites using their miles to upgrade. And that can only mean fewer first-class seats available for elites hoping for a comp upgrade.

With so few available first-class seats, it’s a zero-sum game for upgraders. So United is giving with one hand but taking away with the other.

No doubt United is well aware of both the positive and negative effects of the change, and is betting that, on balance, Mileage Plus elites will be more favorably disposed to the new approach than to its predecessor.

What must also have factored into United’s decision was the beneficial effect on the airline’s books. Frequent flyer miles are recorded as a contingent liability for accounting purposes, and more elite members redeeming more miles for upgrades will reduce that liability.

Whether the real-world result will be a liability or an improvement for United’s best customers remains to be seen.

Reader Reality Check

It’s too soon to judge whether and how much this will add to the difficulty of getting a complimentary elite upgrade, but I can only imagine waitlists getting longer, especially for lower-level elites.

Do you agree?

Will the new benefit offset the downside?

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