Low Cost Airline Companies in Asia

By Albert William

Airlines are an obvious component of traveling overseas. How many people do you know who travels overseas via boat? That's right; barely any. The trickiest part of being a business traveler is having enough money to travel. Essentially you're making money for the sole purpose of traveling to make money.

Therefore, it's nice to be able to save a little extra cash for times when you genuinely need it, and that's why low-cost airlines can be so inviting. No, you aren't going to be paying an arm and a leg to travel; but your arm and leg might fall asleep from the little leg room in the cabin.

That's right. Do not expect luxury and extravagant amenities from a low-cost flight. There are no frills like drinks and dinners. This is about maintenance, not a pleasure. These airlines will get you to where you need to go in one piece, much like an older car that you take to go to the market. They're reliable craft that are also less expensive to operate than the super, new jumbo jets. The bottom line is: They do their job well within cost-saving parameters. That cost savings is passed on to you, the paying passenger.

Due to the amount of international business done in Asia and the Pacific Rim, low-cost flights have become more popular for localized Asian travel. In the passing years even these no-frills flights are becoming more comfortable and more reliable than the giant carriers.

Adam Air, Air Asia, and Lion Air, serves the Asian Pacific region, including Indonesia and Singapore. The Philippines offers one of the best low-cost flights with Cebu Pacific Air. In China, Macau Viva provides service to Macau, Maldives, and Indonesia.

The words "Middle East" and "airlines" might have a negative connotation to some, but their low-cost airlines are some of the best in the world. Nas Airlines flies within Saudi Arabia, while Air Arabia and Aero Asia offers flights within Pakistan, as well as to other areas of the Gulf region.

Travelers flying within India and to the countries surrounding it, like Pakistan, can fly SpiceJet, Kingfisher Airlines, or and Paramount Airways. You can cover most of the country quickly and economically.

On the other side of the continent, flights within Japan can be easily affordable on Skymark and Skynet Asia Airways. Finally, travelers within Australia don't need to take the reliable kangaroo across the Continent. With JetStar and Virgin Blue making flights within Australia, and Freedom Air flying between them and New Zealand, they won't have to get their feet wet anymore!

We've talked about boats and kangaroos, and clearly the only way to travel fast and far is by air. There can be no price on a cost-efficient way to get to a destination in as little time as possible. And since you'll be saving money on your ticket, you can tip your flight attendant properly, even if you didn't get a drink.

Another way to save on your travel expenses is arranging for a serviced apartment in lieu of an expensive, sterile hotel room. Especially for long-term stays, companies like MoveansStay.com can provide you with serviced and self-catered apartments that feel more like "home".
http://www.moveandstay.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Albert_William

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The Most Prestigious Airlines in Asia

By Albert William

We've covered low-cost airlines and their no-frills approach to air travel. But, more often than not, when stuck in the same seated position for more than an hour, you tend to "stiffen" a bit. And then there's the baby girl who's wailing as her 2 year-old brother laughs maniacally kicking your seat with both feet. There's no room. Too much noise; there's no way out!

Sorry, but sometimes leg room is more than just a perk; it's a necessity. Besides that, for long flights of four or more hours, your throat gets parched, or you get a little tired and need some coffee. Liquor is nice, too. Some things become a luxury only when they're not available. There are times when cash is tight, and discomfort is worth the price of the ticket. But a serious traveler demands a comfortable trip.

Standard coach seats in just about any major airline will be relatively cramped, and the typical problems of the crying baby behind you, and the fat, bald man drooling on your shirt will persist. But even there you'll find a level of service excellence that is absent from coach in many other airlines. Everything from the way the flight attendant sees that everyone is comfortable to the on-flight entertainment is simply better with the most prestigious airlines.

* Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is based in the country of Singapore, not the ghost town in the Michigan. There are certain amenities that come to all passengers as part of the flight. Their amenities include meals, complimentary drinks and in-flight entertainment. They also have an on-flight "radio" service. By plugging in the ear phones and picking a channel, you can listen to anything from classical music, to R&B.

* Qantas Airlines

Australia gave us Forster's Beer and Crocodile Dundee, but they didn't stop there. After dominating the leisure and entertainment worlds, they tackled air travel. Qantas is the national airline of Australia and rivals every airline on the planet in terms of the service you receive from the flight attendants and pilots. But the food they serve, even to coach customers, is cuisine. They are rated in the top 10 airports in the world in arriving and departing on time. The Aussie's have made air travel a pleasure again.

* Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific has the pretense of being refined and cultured, one of the finest ways to travel; and it is! But the online customer ratings in comfort were higher in economy class than in both business and first class! The widest praise was on the friendliness and hospitality of the flight staff, as well as incredibly high marks for on-flight entertainment.

* Qatar Airlines

From now on when you think of the Middle East and Airplanes you'll immediately remember the exquisitely comfortable accommodations, world-renowned service, and cuisine-quality meals that have made Qatar Airlines the best in the region. In fact, they have set the standard of excellence airlines around the world must judge themselves against.

A standby joke for any lame comic is to lament airplane food. Online reviews for long-haul trips gave Qatar 5-star ratings on both the meal and on the plane's cleanliness and comfort. Quite simply, they know how to make you happy.

* Thai Airways

There is a legend that out there in the East there is a place where you can sip a cocktail and get a massage; all while flying 30,000 feet above Mongolia. If that's never happened to you, then you've never flown Thai Airways. They are an official 4-star airline, and has a first-class that features a spa, massage service, and on-demand dining.

No, you don't need a massage to have a good trip. Nor does the food have to literally sing to you from the plate. But if you know you'll be taking a long flight, and you understand that at some point you're going to need to sleep-because that baby will not stop screaming-then spend a little more to get the most out of your trip.

If it were only possible to live in the air, then we'd all be birds...

Getting there is only half the battle. Once you arrive you'll need a place to stay. Serviced apartments are the best option for those who understand completely the idea that comfort does matter. These apartments come completely furnished with amenities like washer and dryer, or dishwasher, already installed. There are complete listings on Moveandstay.com, a site with a comprehensive guide to finding self-catered apartments in every major city around the world.
http://www.moveandstay.com/index_serviced_apartments.asp
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Albert_William

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Top Six Reasons to Fly With Emirates

By Mark T Brown

There are a number of reasons to fly with Dubai-based Emirates. They're one of the best airlines that provides service to and from Australia, offering competitive rates and an extensive route. These are the top six reasons to fly with Emirates.

Highly awarded - Emirates is one of the most highly recognised airlines with numerous awards in service, cuisine and entertainment. The airline has won the 'Business Traveller Middle East Award' for best airline, best regional airline, best first class and best frequent flyer programs, all this year. They were also awarded the best in-flight entertainment award this year from 'Skytrax Airline Excellence Awards'. In 2008, Emirates won 25 awards, including 'Best Airline of the Year', 'Most Popular Airline', and the 'Most Creative Business Cabin Food' & 'Beverage of the Year'.

The A380 - The A380 promises an entirely new travel experience, delivering First Class shower spas, a large on-board lounge, and an in-flight entertainment system with over 1,000 music, movie and game channels on-demand. The Business Class on the A380 lets you enjoy a massage seat, wireless entertainment control, your own mini-bar and an exclusive onboard lounge. First Class flyers can experience a private suite, complete with an on-board lounge and Shower Spa....which is simply amazing.

Stopovers in Dubai - Emirates passengers that are travelling through Dubai can enjoy a stopover for $57 per person per night for a two night stay. Enjoy tours, safaris and a completely unique Dubai experience.

Extensive Route Map - Emirates serves over 100 destinations on six continents. Enjoy flying with Emirates to Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok, Cairo, Casablanca, Cape Town, Los Angeles, Dubai and more.

CitiBank Emirates Card - The new Emirates Citi Platinum card lets you take your travel to the next level. Your Emirates Citi card earns you exclusive benefits and rewards, like 1.5 Skywards Miles for every dollar you spend, earning up to 50% more miles than most airline cards. You'll also earn Skywards points with Virgin Blue. You can redeem all miles with Emirates' hotel and car rental partners, letting you save even more. Enjoy complimentary Chauffeur service, lounge access, international travel and purchase insurance and more with your Emirates Citi card.

Competitive Rates - Booking online with Emirates lets you enjoy the Best Price guarantee. When you book a flight with the Best Price symbol you can be sure that you won't find a better Emirates fare anywhere else. Emirates offers first class seats for prices you can't find with any competitors, allowing you to enjoy your trip free of worry.

For more information on Emirates Citi Platinum card and other credit cards that offer rewards for traveling, check out the Australian based Credit Card Compare website.
http://www.creditcardcompare.com.au/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_T_Brown

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Why Airlines Need Competition

By James Post

The airline holds a virtual monopoly for intra-Caribbean flights, and it shows. Once they canceled a flight because of "technical reasons". Most people realised that the real reason was economy as the flight was poorly booked. No apology, let alone compensation. Another time I almost missed a flight because it left half an hour early. Since I only had hand luggage it was so convenient to kick me out. On numerous occasions my luggage was lost and in most cases I had to go to the airport myself. Another time I was refused boarding although I had a confirmed booking even though I could show the itinerary printed by a travel agent.

Today I was on a flight to St Maarten. While in transit in Antigua I was given a boarding pass for a late afternoon flight, while I remembered having booked a 5 hours earlier morning flight. Initially the check in agent said the flight was full, but later it appeared there was a free seat. The Antigua supervisor on duty, only wanted to put me on the earlier flight without a penalty if I could provide evidence that I booked the earlier flight. She also acknowledged that it could have happened that the reservation was changed because the earlier flight was full and admitted that it would have been illogical to book a flight with a 6 hour transit time. Only by paying a penalty I was allowed on the earlier flight. However that flight did not depart because of engine problems.

Time after time the flight was delayed with consecutive announcements that the flight would leave in half an hour. When we were called in to go to the gate we were asked to wait in an assembly line. We all had to stand for 20 minutes. Upon arrival in St Maarten after waiting 40 minutes for my bag it was not there. There was no agent to deal with baggage complaints; other agents said there was nobody fromthe airline around and I would best go to the ticket office. They in turn referred me to the (only) check-in agent. After waiting in line for passengers to check in a note was made on a minuscule piece of paper. After arrival of the later flight I called all their numbers in St Maarten; none of the phones were answered. Later, when I took a taxi to the airport, I was told that this happens when they are busy with an incoming or departing flight. After spending some time chatting to passengers who missed their international flights because their Liat flight came in late -they were waiting for hours without any care-, I finally got my luggage at 4:45 pm. My afternoon was ruined.

On the return trip there was only an hour delay but again: no luggage. Two days later I finally got it.

The attitude of their staff is generally friendly, but there are exceptions that I would not call rude, but are clearly not interested in providing fair service to their customers. Possibly they are instructed by their management to avoid complimentary services at any cost.

After their only major competitor dropped out,they drastically increased their prices. Some time ago, they hired all pilots of a small competing airline -all at the same time-, driving that airline practically out of business. As sad as it is, there is no alternative for Intra-Caribbean travel, except the boat, which -at times- can be faster and In the Northern Caribbean where several small regional airlines are active.

Tourists arriving in the Caribbean with intercontinental flights usually have 2 free baggages. As this airline does not participate in checking through to final destination anymore (there seem to be no arrangements anymore with other airlines to issue intercontinental tickets including theirs), passengers have to check in again. And get presented with hefty luggage charges which are never waived as far as I have observed.

On the positive side,they provide comprehensive Intra-Caribbean flights throughout the whole region which are a necessity. The moral of this article: Be careful when you fly on routes ruled by one airline only. The lack of competition is not good for their commercial and service attitude.

James Post moved to Grenada after a career in the high tech electronics industry in the Netherlands, where he was called the "Ultimate Frequent Flyer". In 2000 he felt it was time for a change and moved to the Caribbean to realize his dream: to build a small, sustainable resort (http://www.paradisebayresort.net).

He considers Grenada to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world, which was an important reason to select this island, in addition to friendly, peaceful people.
Now, James is involved in wind energy consultancy and promotes wind energy in the Caribbean, which made him a frequent flyer again.

He encourages readers to ask questions; he can be reached per email at jamespost@spiceisle.com
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Online Airline Reservations

By Wasim Ahmad

Planning for a holiday or vacation needs a lot of preparation. There are many things to take into consideration. First of all, one needs to decide on a destination. Then there is the mode of transportation to think of, usually via airplane. If it is possible, others choose to travel by boat or car. You will need to look for a place to stay.

In every decision, there are a lot of options presented to you. And soon you will realize that it is not all that easy. And to top all these, there is a budget to consider. Knowing what you want is very different from actually being able to afford it.

Nowadays, this kind of planning has been made a whole lot easier because of online airline ticket reservations available. Online means they are accessible through the internet. These online websites offers not just the plane tickets reservations, they also offers great hotel accommodations and suggested tours for visitors to visit.

You will have to pay two fees when making reservations. The first one you will pay is the airline fees. This is your plane ticket to ride. The second you will pay will be the commission's fee. This is a fee you are paying to the company.

Most of the online websites offers airline reservations on both domestic and international airlines. They have lots of contacts to both international and domestic airlines. They provide not just a wide choice of which airlines to ride buy also consolidated fares of the major airlines in the world.

Vacationers pay different commission fees for domestic airlines, international airlines or both. The commission fee for domestic airlines is definitely cheaper than the commission fee of international airlines. If the vacationer reserves for both domestic and international airlines, they would pay a percentage from the airline's rates as a commission fee.

The delivery of the airline's tickets is done by express mail delivery. The most common express company used id the FedEx though there are many other companies available, this is the common all over United States. The delivery service charge is also paid by the vacationer. The rates would depend on the services used and destinations. These airline tickets are delivered to either the home or office of the vacationer only after the full payment of the ticket.

The usual payment form is done by bank transfer. We all know that bank transfer services also have a certain charge. The bank transfer services are paid by the sender of the money. The online airline companies have nothing to do with its rates because it is not catered by their services. Airline tickets or reservation can also be paid through credit cards, cash or a US check.

But what if the vacationer wants to cancel his vacation; he does not want any vacation anymore? Can he be refunded of what he has paid? There are certain rules on the return of the tickets. If the vacationer would return the ticket more than 24 hours before the scheduled flight, no cancellation fee will be applied. But, if he returns the ticket in less then 24 hours of the scheduled flight, there are certain cancellation fees that applies. These cancellation fees depend on the time when the ticket is being returned. The earlier the ticket is returned, the smaller the rate of cancellation fees.

The money will be returned to the vacationer 30 days after the flight has taken off. This will be returned at the place where such ticket was purchased. Only the airline tickets are refundable. Commission fees are not refundable. The vacationer must know that in any time. Airline companies may change the term of returns for their tickets.

For more information on Car Hire Reservations and Cruise Reservations please visit our website.
http://airline-reservations.us/airline-reservations-car-hire.php?pname=airlinereservationshotelscarhire
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Airliner Aircraft Manufacturers; 2009 Industry Observations

By Lance Winslow

It's obvious that the airlines need better performance in their aircraft; better fuel efficiency, and better load capabilities. The critical time for a major breakthrough has passed; we need more fuel efficient and better performing aircraft now. And let's not even get into safety, as we've had some pretty serious and in my opinion unacceptable accidents lately.

Not long ago, an industry observer stated; "I Hope that Airline Manufacturers and Commercial Jet Aerospace Engineers get their act together?"

Yes, good point, and yet, somewhat doubtful, look at the A380 that France Built, talk about bureaucracy building an airplane? Someone asked me what I thought of that? I told them I thought it was "Big" and they laughed. Incidentally, my dad who is retired Continental Airline Pilot flown 727, MD 80, DC-10, 747, 757, 767, 777 thought that the A380 was the stupidest thing anyone would ever try to build. Indeed, to me it seemed like a bit of "small man syndrome" trying to build the largest airliner; but why?

Indeed, I must say the Airbus push to revolutionize airliner transportation failed, and another thing; most people do not realize this, but when the A380 aircraft de-planes, it jams up the airport with passengers all at once, completely in-appropriate, and two of those at even LAX, SFO, deplaning at the same time, or loading up would cause traffic jams for cars, taxi cabs, shuttles, limos, and screw up ground transportation.

What about Boeing? Sure, what about the Dreamliner and 787? Well that's a real problem too, look at all the delays, and cost over runs, the aircraft is too expensive, and although saves fuel the cost to service the debt is also a huge consideration. Indeed, Boeing didn't do so hot at Paris this year, more lay-offs are coming plus the unions are having a tizzy.

Luckily, as far as the company's growth, I guess Boeing is getting some play off its C-17s, but this has been a tough couple years for airline aircraft sales, no matter what side of the pond you are on. Airbus is not breaking the sound barrier either. What about China? Yes, good question.

Heck even China is building jet airliners now, and they just built one that looks like a DC-9 with some modifications, they plan on taking the entire airliner manufacturing industry, and I am certain they will too, give it ten years. Airbus is showing them how right now, as they are building Airbus Components in China, and Boeing has been building wings there, hoping to convince the Chinese to buy more of their aircraft. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired franchisor - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is formerly the CEO of WashGuys family of franchises for instance one of Lance Winslow's favorite companies on the team; http://www.windowwashguys.com/links.shtml/.
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More Will Perish in Airbus A330s in the Future - Black Box to Fatal Flight 447 Crash Not Found

By Lance Winslow

The terrible crash of the Air France Airbus A330 flight number 447 that took off from Brazil and was in route to France and it traveled through severe turbulence. The black box was not recovered and the signal is now unavailable, yet we know something went terribly wrong, and now it appears, to even the average observer that something is being hidden to prevent liability from massive lawsuits.

That is to say, many believe there is a cover up, that something is insidiously wrong with the Airbus A330's electronic speed control sensors. Is it so? Many pilots believe so, many Air France Pilots in fact. The FAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency have not declared directives to fix the problem even though a problem exists. Even if the speed sensor problem was not the exact cause of the crash, it very well may have been a contributing factor.

The Airbus Crash yielded 640 pieces of wreckage that were found floating in the ocean, they will be analyzed but still these aircraft are flying every day while it is known there is a problem. So what can an air traveler do? Ask which type of aircraft you will be flying on when you book your ticket.

If it is an Airbus, ask which model, if it is one of these popular A330s, ask for another flight or book with an airline that can offer you a flight on a Boeing Aircraft that clearly does not have this problem. This is a serious issue and your safety is important for you and your family, so please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired franchisor - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is formerly the CEO of WashGuys family of franchises for instance one of Lance Winslow's favorite companies on the team; http://www.windowwashguys.com/links.shtml/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

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Most Economical Airlines Round the World

By Annie J Smith

This article will present an overview about the top airlines with their features and merits. First and foremost let's me brief you about the topmost UK airline company EasyJet based in London Luton Airport but it runs flights from both the places Gatwick and Heathrow. EasyJet has been known for its Low budget airlines that fly outside Europe. Easy Jet is known for operating across 387 routes almost between 104 destinations throughout Europe and North Africa and it is now listed as a public company in the London stock exchange. It is one of the most convenient airlines and the booking is easy and completely done online basis.

There is reference numbers handed out to the passengers as an alternative to tickets. It is one of the most convenient strategies that are followed by a number of other carriers soon after it was brought into effect by EasyJet. EasyJet has a single class with grays, brazen oranges that are used throughout the crowded aisles, it is the cheapest airline that provides you with a good business travel solutions and they say the apt time when they depart because these days service does matter a lot. Thus, EasyJet is a cheap, cheerful and single-handedly bringing a lovely experience travel to the masses, thus EasyJet is the No.1 budget airline.

The second most budget airlines is Air Asia of Malaysia, It was founded by Tony Fernandes in 2001. Air Asia is known for single handedly locking the traffic of Asia. Its attractive bright red aircraft's are known to fly in almost in 48 destinations right from Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Macau, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Philippines. It is known as the first and foremost carrier to fly through the domestic routes with different business class, executive class flights at cheap and discounted airfares. It is very surprising to know that almost 35 million people have already taken to the skies through Air Asia. Air Asia is known for steadily climbing up the ladder to the second spot for the most economical airlines.

Next in line is the automatically associated United Arab Emirates and the Air Arabia is known for offering cheap seats to the flyers at decent prices. It is based in Sharjah and operates in almost 32 places in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and the subcontinent of India. With just four year experience Air Arabia offers the feature to visitors of Sharjah International Airport for a direct access to Dubai, a super-fast check in process and service with a rejoicing smile with cheap business class air tickets. Once seated in the flight the passengers enjoy more legroom than any other airline in existence. In its future it is planning to move to Europe to offer its cheap and economical service.

The next in line is the Ryan Air of Ireland, in spite of the fact that this airline was rated as a bad service provider, but today it has proven to the European markets for its cheap and economical service. It is a Dublin based carrier that operates in almost 516 routes across 26 countries with 25 bases. The airline has expanded at a frightening pace after its start in 1985. It has remained committed to provide good service at low fares within the scope of the airline policy.

Ifly business specializes in first class discount, business flights, business travel, business class tickets, cheap business class, first class, business class flights, Business airfare, first class travel.
http://www.iflybusiness.com/
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Revised Law Makes Air Travel More Accessible For Disabled Passengers

By Candy Harrington

According to a 2005 study by the Open Doors Organization of Chicago, 84% of disabled travelers said they encountered obstacles when flying; while 82% reported access problems at airports.

For over 20 years, the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) has offered disabled travelers protection from discrimination. That protection was further strengthened when the Department of Transportation (DOT) amended this major piece of US access legislation in 2008.

The most recent revisions (effective May 13, 2009) serve to strengthen the law even more, and offer greater protection to disabled travelers. Highlights of these changes, which will drastically improve air travel for disabled travelers, are listed below.

·The updated law legally extends coverage of the ACAA to all commercial flights to and from the US, including those operated by foreign air carriers. This means that foreign air carriers can no longer deny boarding to disabled passengers on flights to or from the US.

·Foreign airlines operating flights to or from the US must also ensure that disabled passengers can move through the terminal facilities at foreign airports.

·The law was edited to require the "prompt" deplaning of disabled passengers. The Department of Transportation (DOT) further defined prompt as "no later than as soon as the other passengers have deplaned." This means that disabled passengers will no longer be left on planes well after the flight crew has departed.

·Employees or contractors providing airport wheelchair assistance are now required to make a brief restroom stop (upon request) if the restroom is located along the path of travel to the gate.

·The law also requires airlines to allow the on-board use of all FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators, ventilators, respirators and CPAP machines. The DOT placed the burden of testing these devices on the manufacturers, not the airlines.

·The updated law specifies the dimensions of the on-board wheelchair storage space as being 13 inches by 36 inches by 42 inches. This eliminates ambiguity and will help passengers determine if their assistive device will fit in the limited priority storage area.

·If a service animal is unable to fit comfortably at the assigned seat location, the airline must now offer the passenger the opportunity to move to any open seat in the same class, that can safely accommodate the animal.

·Airline personnel are now required to assist disabled passengers at inaccessible ticket kiosks.

·Finally, although the new law stopped short of requiring airline websites to be accessible, it requires airlines to offer disabled passengers web-only fares that appear on inaccessible websites, by phone or another accessible reservation method.

Candy Harrington is the author of Barrier-Free Travel; A Nuts and Bolts Guide for Wheelers and Slow Walkers, which is available from your favorite bookstore or at http://www.BarrierFreeTravel.net Visit Candy Harrington's Barrier Free Travels blog at http://www.BarrierFreeTravels.com for more helpful access tips, travel news and information for disabled travelers.
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American Airlines Adds Boeing 757-200ERs to Overseas Routes - Is This a Good Deal?

By Tony Guerra

A May 8th story in a nationwide daily newspaper highlights the fact of American making a decision to go with narrow body Boeing 757 aircraft types on certain overseas routes. The airline joins Northwest (soon to be Delta) Airlines, for one, in using 757-200 aircraft that have been retrofitted with winglets (they increase a plane's life and enhance fuel economy) and certified for what's called ETOPS ("Extended-Range Twin-Engine Operations") flights to destinations overseas. In the airline biz, we refer to ETOPS as "Engines Turn, OR Passengers Swim." Just a joke, folks, just a joke!

American states it'll be flying to a number of Latin American and European destinations using the 757-200ER. It's already kicked off the experiment, placing this aircraft on its New York (JFK) to Brussels, Belgium (BRU) route. Cabin configuration will be 16 seats "up front" (First Class) in a 2 and 2 (2 nice seats on each side, with an aisle separating them) and 166 seats "in back" (Coach or Economy Class) in a 3 and 3 arrangement.

Having had to "work" (turnaround) these ETOPS 757-200s on the ground, I'm don't know if they're the greatest aircraft in the world to use on very long routes such as these. For anybody who's ever had to fly for several hours in the center seat on a 757, let me just borrow a phrase from Bill Clinton and say that "I can feel your pain."

And for "below wing" (those employees loading, unloading or refueling and otherwise working outside on the aircraft while it's in the gate) folks turning this plane around...well, I hope you're doing plenty of low-back exercises and more than a few biceps curls because this plane can be a crusher without enough staff put on it to work it.

Still, it's economical enough to fly, with two fuel-efficient engines. And if the leadership at American is smart (a point worthy of debate), it'll cut its customers a price break on the tickets. I doubt it, though. Airline economics being what they are these days - and with the price of jet fuel ("Jet A") going up and down like a roller coaster car -- most airlines are desperate to squeeze economies out of any flight they operate while simultaneously inching the cost of a ticket upward over time.

Tony Guerra is a former airline manager and current author and freelance writer who writes on the airlines and their comings and goings at: http://airlineinsiders.com
He can also be reached at tony.guerra@tonyguerraonline.com
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