78
the final word
the quirky side of travel - pigs - sky-high dining - slippery slopes -
P erhaps we've all
experienced that sinking feeling as we discover a slightly dodgy traveller seated next to us on a fl ight... but did you ever discover you were seated beside a pig?!
Well that is exactly what happened to travellers onboard a US Airways fl ight recently when a disruptive pig and its owner had to be asked to leave the fl ight as it was due to depart Bradley International Airport, Connecticut. Apparently the pig was legally allowed onboard the plane as it was a registered 'emotional support animal' but when it began squealing, moving around and defecating in the aisle, fellow passengers kicked up a stink of their own and the passenger and pig were ordered the aircraft before the fl ight would leave.
TUCK IN Long in the fi ring line for criticism and condemnation, it's great to note that infl ight catering just got the thumbs up from a leading public health expert in the US who reports a strong trend towards healthier airline foods. Charles Platkin, a public health expert at City University of New York School of Public Health has been analysing airline food for nearly 15 years. His annual airline food ranking of North American carriers this year puts Delta tops for including fruit and hard-boiled eggs for breakfast and vegetables and hummous wraps for lunch and dinner; while low-cost US airlines like
Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit ranked at the bottom, with food choices so limited and unhealthy that Plotkin advises fl yers on all three carriers to bring their own!
Also up there with the star performers was Virgin America, which puts nutritional information on its Travel Light menus, and Air
Canada for
top five... most delayed tourist flights
its food NutriCuisine with a focus on freshness and quality ingredients. Well done them and food for thought for carriers worldwide too.
LET IT SNOW Whoosh! Wintersports is back and it's gathering momentum fast. New research issued by ABTA shows that wintersports holidays are now the fastest growing travel market, with 18% planning a holiday in the mountains. This is up from 10% in 2012 thanks in part to good early-season snow in a number of resorts in Europe and North America.
HERE'S CHEERS... RAIL TRAVEL IS MOVING UP MARKET. ST PANCRAS
INTERNATIONAL HAS BEEN SERVING THE MOST EXPENSIVE MULLED WINE IN THE UK. TRAVELLERS GOT TO TOAST IN THE NEW YEAR FOR A MERE £60 A GLASS AT SEARCYS ST PANCRAS GRAND. ALONG WITH FAMILIAR MULLING SPICES, IT CONTAINED CHAMPAGNE, MUSCAT DESSERT WINE, CALVADOS BRANDY AND BORDEAUX. IT WAS MADE TO ORDER FOR ANYONE WHO COULD STRETCH TO THE PRICE TAG.
STPANCRAS.COM
THE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF SELLING TRAVEL WILL FEATURE: • Africa • Australia • Bulgaria • Dubai • Far East • Indian Ocean weddings & honeymoons • Malaysia
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Sick of client complaints about delays? Check out this list to avoid the most affected destinations and keep your clients happy. The stats come from
Refund.me which helps airline passengers claim compensation for delays, cancellations, missed connections and overbooking. They analysed on-time records for UK airlines (August -October) to get their results, one Virgin fl ight to Orlando was delayed by an astonishing fi ve hours and 13 minutes.
Thomson: Luton to Palma de Mallorca Virgin Atlantic: Gatwick to Orlando Thomson: Gatwick to Palma de Mallorca Virgin: Gatwick to Las Vegas Virgin: Gatwick to Miami
54% late 53% late 51% late 50% late 50% late
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