Archive for July, 2008

Jul
31
    

Travel + Leisure recently published a list of the strangest jobs you may get if you want a decent career in the sector.

Some of the most offbeat jobs include Falconers who are working hard in Italy to keep pigeons from freckling monuments with their droppings Engineers who help protect guests from falling coconuts. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed by Maria on 31-07-2008


Jul
28
    

Emirates is axing its in-flight publications in a bid to cut costs to help offset spiralling aviation fuel prices. The airline says the measure will save one tonne of weight on every “superjumbo” jet flight.

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed by Maria on 28-07-2008


Jul
27
    

Here are the results of a recent research based on the prime question that bothers us all lately: how airlines minimize fuel consumption on airplanes

  • One airline saved over 17 gallons/year per pound of weight per airplane after shedding inflight phones, ovens, excess potable water, and some galley equipment on an older fleet
  • In removing seatback phones from its MD-80s and B737-400s, another airline shed 200 pounds per airplane, translating into 3,400+ gallons saved annually
  • Alaska Airlines (ALK) indicated in March 2004 that removing just five magazines per aircraft could save $10,000 per year in fuel; also, the airline has reduced the weight of catering supplies
  • Air Canada considered stripping primer and paint from its 767s to save 360 lbs. per plane
  • JetBlue (JBLU) and US Airways (LCC) and others have moved toward a paperless cockpit
  • By removing six seats, JetBlue reduced A320 weight by approximately 904 pounds
  • Airlines have been able to remove ovens, trash compactors, or even entire galleys, due to the elimination of hot meals on selected flights; others are using lighter seats; they have also removed magazine racks and replaced hard cabin dividers with curtains
  • AirTran ordered carbon fiber Recaro seats for its 737-700s to shave 19.4 pounds per row, resulting in estimated fuel savings of $2,000 per year per aircraft
  • Alaska’s new beverage cart, at 20 lbs. lighter, could save $500,000 in annual fuel costs
  • Some airlines flush lavatories during extended ground delays to minimize takeoff weight
Filed by Maria on 27-07-2008


Jul
24
    

The video from the previous post reminded me of my stay in EastSide hostel in Budapest. It lasted exactly 20 minutes and was one of the most miserable hostel experiences ever.

There were three of us that in a rainy day get off the boat in Budapest and after not-so-healthy late lunch in Subway headed to the hostel. We had our reservations made through HostelWorld for about 3 weeks or so and we were pretty confident that we won’t have any problems with the reservations because in addition HostelWorld charged us some money for the reservation. Quite naiive!

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed by Maria on 24-07-2008


Jul
22
    

Well, one of our readers submitted this video but somehow it went into the deep spam filters until accidentally I saw it and here it comes, hot and funny, just for you!

Filed by Maria on 22-07-2008