Nudity can be put to good use.Air New Zealand has found no clothes is one way to ensure passengers actually watch the flight safety video: its program shows the pilot and cabin crew wearing only body paint. And a British firm introduced Naked Friday last week to boost staff morale with a show of skin.
Air New Zealand’s body beautiful video is playing on its Boeing 737s and has become a YouTube hit, though the camera angles keep the focus on the safety message. Expect more of less from Down Under. The airline had earlier peddled reduced fares by showing chief executive Rob Fyfe in brush-and-buff.
But the most daring bare must go to British design firm onebestway. After six of its staff were sacked because of the downturn, the Newcastle company asked business psychologist David Taylor to perk up its employees. His advice: strip off your inhibitions and you’ll all be more open and honest to each other.
After a week of persuasion, nearly all the staff shed their clothes at work last Friday. Only two wore underwear. One female staffer was quoted as saying that while it was initially “nerve-wracking” it soon became “totally comfortable.”
“It may seem weird but it works. It’s the ultimate expression of trust in yourself and each other.” he said.
Nearly 250 airline passengers landed safely at their destination after the captain of the plane died mid-flight.
The Continental Airlines Boeing 777 from Brussels to New York landed as scheduled at Newark airport shortly before 1200 (1600 GMT).
Two co-pilots took control and landed the plane, authorities said.
The 247 passengers knew someone on board had been taken ill but were not told that the pilot had died. Many praised the calm conduct of the crew.
The captain apparently died of natural causes, the airline said.
He was a 60-year-old man with more than 20 years of service.
'Distressing'
There were two co-pilots on board - the regular co-pilot and an additional relief co-pilot - when the pilot passed away.
viation writer from the UK - told BBC News the plane would have been difficult to land with only one pilot at the controls, as might have been the case on flights manned by only two pilots.
"You could, I gather, land a 777 single-handed - but it would require a lot of effort and it would appear [in this case there was] a very young co-pilot - so if there was another one, that would help.
"It would be very difficult, very distressing. I don't know if this [scenario] is carried out on simulator training or not.
"It's very, very rare - and it would appear that the surviving crew member carried it out very well indeed."
Passengers' surprise
Passengers say they were not told about the events in the cockpit during the flight, though there was an announcement asking if doctors were on board.
Many praised the conduct of the crew when they learned of the unusual circumstances of the landing.
"I think this crew deserves a lot of credit for remaining as calm and as professional as they did," an unnamed passenger told Reuters news agency.
"There was no sign of any concern, no sign of any trouble - we had a picture-perfect landing in horrible weather here in New Jersey and I think we ought to be hailing these people as heroes - I mean they did an outstanding job."
Others said they were surprised to see so many emergency services lined up on the runway on landing.
When the crew asked if there were doctors on the flight, Dr Julien Struyven, 72, a cardiologist and radiologist from Brussels, went to the cockpit and examined the pilot.
"He was not alive," Dr Struyven told AP. There was "no chance at all" of saving him, he said.
Dr Struyven said he suspected the pilot had suffered a cardiac arrest. He said he used a defibrillator to try and revive the pilot, but it was too late.
Pilots are subject to rigorous medical checks which increase in frequency with age.
Cheap airfare offers on the Internet that are ridiculously cheap should not be taken seriously. Never give out your credit card information to any cheap airfare provider unless you are sure that they are truly affiliated with the airline they claim that they represent. Cheap airfare scammers are numerous online and should be avoided diligently.
The recent years has seen a slight drop in the rate of air passengers because of the 9/11 incident. In a bid to constantly reassure their customers enough to come back, airlines offer special deals or packages. Special deals or packages are airline's way of luring customers to their services.
Sometimes, you maybe pressed for time and you will be unable to search for cheap airfare you can call a travel agent to help you source for cheap airfare information if you are too busy. Cheap airfare information is like gold to air travelers.
Using the internet to search for cheap airfare is easy. Simply use search engines such as google, yahoo or ask to get cheap airfare information on the internet. To make successful use of the internet to find cheap airfare, you must know the right tools to use.
One thing that will make your search for cheap airfare successful is time. if you do not have ample time to find the best sources of cheap airfare, you will not be able to find it. Before you embark on any search for cheap airfare, make certain that you have the time to pursue it.
Your family vacation trip need not be such an expensive adventure thanks to cheap airfare.Cheap airfare is a great source of extra money for many travelers and allows them to travel in relative serenity. You don't have to worry your head about airfare because you can get it cheap.
Everyone is looking to save money on airfare. Flying can be terribly expensive and getting the best deals can help you to cut back on airfare costs. Whether you are planning a vacation in Chicago or Spain, saving on airfare is a great idea.
Getting cheap airfare isn't a walk in the park but it is worth it at the end of the day. With the right sources you can be enjoying cheap airfare in a long time to come. Cheap airfare is a brilliant way to save cost on flying.
The strangest thing happened to me the other day. I received the nicest email from an airline sales representative, who introduced himself to me and told me that if I ever need anything just to let him know. Say what?
While it struck me as odd that a rep from a major U.S. carrier would take the time to send such an email to an independent agent at home like myself, it also came as quite a pleasant surprise. After all, I do book many tickets on this particular carrier—often in the front of the plane and often overseas. So that most likely was the reason for the personal introduction, which occurred when he learned of my alignment with one of his top accounts.
The myth that agents cannot make money selling airline tickets officially been debunked. In an ever-tightening economy, one in which we’re all working harder than ever to provide our clients with the best service and the most for their money, it’s essential that we look at all potential revenue streams. As I noted in a previous column about my decision to switch host agencies, researching the best host for your needs is more important now than ever.
One of the key things you need to ask when interviewing a potential host is this: “What kind of airline commission contracts do you have?” If the host agency you’re considering looks at you like you’re crazy when you ask about airline commission contracts, chances are pretty good they’re not getting any of the “just checking to see if you need anything” emails from the major airline reps.
I bring all of this up for one reason—money. The truth is, if you align yourself with an agency that produces a high share of revenue for an airline, you can be looking at some serious income. In fact, something I didn’t know until very recently is that airlines not only still pay agents commission, but they also pay more than what used to be the standard 10 percent. But they certainly don’t pay these commissions to every agent or every agency out there, as used to be the case. The top-dollar commission contracts are reserved for the airlines’ best agency partners.
Trust me when I tell you I earned more booking one business-class ticket to London the other day than I did on a week-long honeymoon that took months to plan.
Granted, I’m not suggesting that all home-based agents should affiliate only with the biggest hosts or those that book a ton of flights (often for major corporate accounts). But if you find yourself in a situation where airline commissions aren’t part of your host agency’s compensation package, you might want to ask the agency owner to consider forming an alliance with one of the big agencies that does benefit from airline bookings.
Smaller agencies or independent, unaffiliated agents that take the time to approach the bigger agencies as potential partners will likely find that such a partnership will benefit all involved. I regularly hear agents and agency owners discussing this—and have learned that a number of such partnerships already exist.
How does this work? The smaller agency processes its airline tickets through a point person at the larger agency, and the higher bookings dictate the outcome. The airline is happy to have the business from one of its key partners, the larger agency can keep a percentage of the commission earned, and the smaller agency or independent agent earns money they’d otherwise have never seen.
Common sense dictates that the more revenue share that’s booked, the higher the commissions that are typically paid. But you end up benefiting by earning commission from a source you thought had cut agents out of the loop long ago.
To be honest, that’s what I thought ever since hearing the words “commission cuts” back in the mid-1990s. But take it from me: there’s serious money to be made booking international and sometimes even domestic airline tickets, though of course it varies by carrier. There’s even more serious money if you book premium-class tickets.
In this economy, we all need to get serious about finding new revenue sources, and partnering with host agencies that major airline reps actually take time to email and visit on a regular basis is one way to start.
The best time of the year to visit Antarctica is during the summer months of December to March. The weather is much better during this period as compared to the rest of the year. Plus, you get to experience how it feels like to have the sun shining down on you 20 hours of the day, not to mention a the opportunity to see a “midnight sun”.
A typical Antarctic cruise lasts for less than two weeks and you’ll be quite surprised at how fast the days fly when you’re actually there already marveling at the wonders of this isolated continent.
So what can you expect from a travel to Antarctica?
Not much but rather plenty! You’ll never get enough of the scenery, the landscape, and the wildlife. There just too much going on in this spot in the world. Don’t let the vast expanse of the snow-covered landscape fool you. The biodiversity in the Antarctic continent will surprise you.
During the early summer months, you can bear witness to awesome penguin courting rituals as well as elephant and fur seals starting their breeding territories in the ice. By midsummer, the ice and snow are melting allowing for more exploration closer to the land. Also, the days are longer permitting for some wonderful opportunities for photography. In the late summer, whale watching is at its best as these gentle giants begin their arrival from their annual migration trips.
Make sure your ship or your tour company is a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). It is a volunteer organization which promotes a safe and environmentally responsible Antarctic experience. Behaviors when disembarking at various landing sites as well as the sizes of the vessels allowed to enter the Antarctic waters are laid out for guidance of the operators and the passengers.
To make your travel to Antarctica a journey like no other, book yourself into a cruise or ship with passengers of less than a hundred. Only 100 individuals are allowed to be landed at one place at a time. So with bigger groups of tourists, the experience of landing on Antarctic is less when compared to a smaller vessel with a smaller number of passengers.
A travel to Antarctica aboard an icebreaker ship may be a little more expensive but it will be worth it since the ship is better equipped to navigate and explore in some areas where an ice-strengthened ship can’t go. Zodiac boats are also available for a more up-close and personal experience of the Antarctic life. There are also cruises which allow diving into the icy cold waters of the Atlantic and discover the hidden treasures underwater.
Don’t forget to bring your camera or camcorder. The Antarctic experience is a journey like no other and you’ll return from the trip a completely different person. Ensure that you get all the memories of the trip on record. One tourist described the travel to Antarctica as an adventure which “none of the books you read, photos you see, prepare you for actually being there in the most spiritual, beautiful landscape in the world!”
That says it all, doesn’t it?
Oh yes, one last piece of juicy information, there’s a post office in Antarctica. So why don’t you send a friend a really nice postcard? It would be a treat for anyone to get a postcard from Antarctica. What are the chances of that, right?
Therefore, pack up a good set of warm clothes, your camera, and be prepared. Plan your trip wisely and enjoy your travel to Antarctica because sooner you’ll find out it’s a journey like no other. It’s going to be a different adventure.
This package is currently: Available (availability subject to change)
June 19 - June 22, 2009
Long Island, New York
Items on this page:
Package Prices & Features
All prices are per person and include all state and local taxes - Please note: Prices do not include Air.
Extra Night rates include hotel, car and local taxes. All prices are in USD.
Package Price
Extra Nights
Double Occupancy
$1495
$200
Single Occupancy
$2195
$400
Triple Occupancy
$1395
$140
Quad Occupancy
$1295
$105
Land Features:
Three Nights accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Westbury
Tournament badges for Saturday and Sunday
Three Days Compact Car Rental
Breakfast Daily
All state and local taxes
Options
Option
Price Per Person
Badge for Thursday
$300
Badge for Friday
$300
Upgrade to Trophy Club PER DAY
$400
Hotel Information
Three Nights accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Westbury
Enjoy all the amenities of the hotel including the Great American Grill for breakfast and dinner and an indoor heated pool and Jacuzzi. The hotel is approximately 5 miles from Bethpage Black Golf Club and 20 miles from LaGuardia Airport (LGA) or 20 miles from New York Kennedy (JFK) .
Pull on your bathing suit for a climb up Dunn's River's magnificent 600-foot waterfall. Hear the gush of water below and let the fall's cool spray on your skin power your climb. When you reach the top, reward your legs and sit down in the shade of a leafy palm for a traditional hair-braid.
If the fall isn't the only thing watering, head for Ocho Rios Village Jerk Chicken Center and order up some icy Red Stripes and platefuls of jerk-seasoned chicken and spare ribs. After lunch, wash off your sauce-covered face and sticky hands with a snorkel session in St. Anns Bay.
When night falls, feel Jamaica's rhythm in your hips; swivel them on over to Reggae Strip, lined with houses painted in bright colors and where the sound of steel drums fills the air. End the evening with a mai-tai at Mahogany Beach, where people come together to down rum and dance on the beach.
Marriott Golf, golf operators and the golf management organization of Marriott International, Inc., introduced the “Fairway Furloughs” Military Golf Program, designed to honor the nation’s Armed Forces. In celebrating America’s military men and women, and in advance of National Military Appreciation Month in May, the new program provides active, reserve and retired military personnel with tremendous values at 26 acclaimed Marriott Golf courses throughout the United States. Members of the armed forces can take advantage of discounted green fees/carts, ranging from just $29 to $69. This program is available after 3 p.m. any day of the week, year round, at participating Marriott Golf courses. Tee times can be made up to three days in advance, and a valid military ID card must be presented. In some cases, select Marriott Golf properties will even extend the hours that the special offer is available, further enhancing the value of the program and enabling eligible military personnel to experience the company’s prestigious collection of championship golf courses.
The complete list of Marriott Golf properties participating in the “Fairway Furloughs” Military Golf Program includes Camelback Golf Club, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Desert Springs Golf Resort, Palm Desert, Calif.; Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Miami, Fla.; Grande Pines Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.; Grande Vista Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.; Hawk’s Landing Golf Club, Orlando, Fla.; Renaissance Vinoy Resort, St. Petersburg, Fla.; Shadow Ridge Golf Club, Palm Desert, Calif.; Starr Pass Golf Club, Tucson, Ariz.; The Rookery at Marco, Naples, Fla.; Wildfire Golf Club, Phoenix, Ariz.; Cattails Golf Club, Kingsport, Tenn.; Griffin Gate Golf Club, Lexington, Ky.; Kauai Lagoons Golf Club, Lihue, Hawaii; Stone Mountain Golf Club, Stone Mountain, Ga.; Crane’s Landing Golf Club, Lincolnshire, Ill.; Westfields Golf Club, Clifton, Va.; and Willow Crest Golf Club, Oak Brook, Ill. Members of the armed forces participating in “Fairway Furloughs” can also take advantage of Marriott Golf Links, the company’s golfer loyalty program that enables Marriott Rewards members to both earn and redeem points for golf. Members can earn Marriott Rewards points for rounds of golf and golf retail merchandise purchases. In addition, members can redeem points for rounds of golf, hotel accommodations, spa experiences, golf instruction, and more.
The “Fairway Furloughs” Military Golf Program, which cannot be combined with any other offer, is based on availability at participating Marriott Golf-managed courses, and certain restrictions may apply. This offer is valid for active reserve, and retired personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Coast Guard.
