Tips and advice on getting cheap airline tickets from an ex travel agent
Have a look at this:
A fired travel agent reveals how to get dirt cheap airfare tickets!
“I was fired by the airlines, so this is my revenge! “
This angry ex-travel agent will reveal the deepest, darkest secrets of the airline industry so you can obtain tickets at ridiculously low costs!
Just click here to find out more.
Here is a piece from PlaneTalking - the words of a pilot who was hitching a lift on the Airbus that landed in the Hudson.
If you want to hear the radio conversation between the Airbus and the Air Traffic Control just click here.
The following is an exclusive account for our members from one of our pilots who was onboard US Airways Flight 1549 when the pilots made a successful emergency ditching into New York’s Hudson River. First Officer Susan O’Donnell is a La Guardia-based 767 pilot. She resides with her family in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Susan is a former Navy pilot, hired at AA in February 1990. She has flown the 727, F100, A300 and now the 767.
The following is her account of the flight, the rescue and recovery response, as well as the support she experienced afterward. This is intended to give each of you a unique insight into the event. We also hope that the crew’s tremendous effort to take care of each other and the nearly instantaneous support of US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA) and APA responders become “takeaways” for our pilots to use when faced with an emergency.
“I was a jumpseat rider seated in First Class on Flight 1549 from La Guardia (LGA) to Charlotte Douglas International (CLT), which successfully ditched in the Hudson River. I’ve been asked to share a few of my experiences on that day. Although it was a stressful incident, the successful outcome and the assistance and support I received afterwards have been truly humbling and inspirational.
“After introducing myself to and being welcomed aboard by Captain Sullenberger and First Officer (FO) Skiles, I was offered seat 3D, an aisle seat in the last row of First Class. I was in my uniform. Another jumpseat rider took a seat in row 6. These were the last empty seats on the airplane. I wasn’t paying much attention to the flight until, climbing out, there were several loud thumps occurring roughly simultaneously along both sides of the aircraft. “Bird strikes,” I thought. A few seconds later, there was a bit of smoke and the stench of burning bird that seemed to confirm my guess. There was a turn to the left, and I assumed we were returning to LGA.
“The passengers were concerned but calm. I couldn’t see any part of the aircraft out the window from my aisle seat. Although I didn’t hear much that sounded encouraging from the engines, I expected we would have at least partial thrust with which to limp back to LGA. We rolled out of the turn, and I could tell we were not maintaining altitude. Then we heard the PA: “This is the Captain. Brace for impact.”
“Obviously we weren’t returning to LGA, and I could see enough out the window to realize we’d be landing in the river. The flight attendants (FAs) began shouting their “brace” litanies and kept it up until touchdown. The descent seemed very controlled, and the sink rate reasonably low. I believed the impact would be violent but survivable, although I did consider the alternative. The passengers remained calm and almost completely quiet. As we approached the water, I braced by folding my arms against the seat back in front of me, then putting my head against my arms. There was a brief hard jolt, a rapid decel and we were stopped. It was much milder than I had anticipated. If the jolt had been turbulence, I would have described it as moderate. Thinking about it later on, I realized it was no worse than a carrier landing.
“After landing, the attitude of the aircraft was slightly nose high, but not far off a normal parked attitude, and there was no obvious damage to the cabin or water intrusion where I was. No one was hurt or panicked. We all stood up. I could hear the doors open and the sound of slide inflation. There was a verbal command “Evacuate;” people were already moving towards the doors. I exited through the forward right door and entered the raft. The evacuation up front was orderly and swift, and we were not in the water long before being picked up by various boats, which were extremely quick to the scene. Many passengers were standing on the wing, going from feet dry to nearly waist deep as the rescue progressed. They were of course the first to be picked up by the arriving boats. I was picked up by a large ferry boat, climbing a ladder hanging from the bow. It didn’t take long to get all passengers into the boats and to the ferry terminals.
“Once at the terminal, we were met by police, firemen, paramedics, FBI, Homeland Security, the Red Cross, Mayor Bloomberg, and more. Captain Sullenberger continued in a leadership role in the aftermath, talking with the passengers, assembling his crew and including myself and the other jumpseat rider as members of his crew. I was impressed to note that he had the aircraft logbook tucked under his arm. When the Captain asked me if I wanted to join the crew at the hotel, I told him I would really appreciate it as I had lost my wallet. He immediately pulled out his wallet and gave me $20. His concern for me when he had so much else to worry about was amazing.
“The USAPA representative was on the scene very quickly, and again included the other jumpseat rider and myself with the rest of the crew. I didn’t see a flight attendant representative; USAPA took care of the FAs as well. The USAPA representative escorted the entire crew to the hospital (we rode in a NYFD fire truck), where we were joined by other USAPA reps and the USAPA lawyer, all of whom continued to consider me as one of the crew. At the hospital, I had finally called the APA “in case of accident” number on the back of my ID badge for APA. I had not initially thought of that as applying to my situation, as a jumpseater on another airline, but I called anyway. I spoke with APA LGA Vice Chairman Captain Glenn Schafer, who departed immediately to come assist me.
“After a routine evaluation, they transported us by police car to a hotel, where rooms were waiting. The USAPA version of our Flight Assist was also there, and they spoke to me and offered me whatever assistance I needed, again as if I was one of their own. The USAPA reps also brought all of us some clothing and toiletries that they had purchased. Captain Schafer arrived at the hotel, bringing me some necessary items. He stayed overnight at the hotel, making flight arrangements for me to go home the next day and escorting me to the airport. Captain Mark Cronin from the AA NY Flight Office met me at the departure gate, again offering assistance and support.
“I am grateful for the many calls of concern and offers of help I have received, from fellow pilots, union representatives and the company, and I am grateful for and proud of the response and assistance of both USAPA and APA. I would hope that our union would treat another airline’s crewmember as kindly as I was treated. USAirways has also been superb, treating me as if I was a paying passenger. I am also thankful for the professionalism and capabilities of Captain Sullenberger, FO Skiles and FAs Dent, Dail and Welsh. They certainly did our profession proud, and they saved my life.”
Computers, computers, computers…..and Jumbos!
I am sure we have all been there – you have a slight problem with your PC or Mac and it seems to take hours, if not days, to sort the little problem out. In the end all you had to do was tick a box or reset something but the simple fix is never simple to find.
Now I am lucky enough to know a few intelligentpeople who I would have thought could do better with computers but intelligent and common sense do not always go together hand in hand.
The calmest of people can so easily be wound up by a computer issue and this was oh so apparent yesterday when a good friend of mine could not get his printer to work.
He is not one for too many gadgets, has never been a friend of computers yet at work he relies on them to do his job correctly. Not only does he rely upon them but he has to know how to use them. I forgot to mention his job, he drives a Boeing 747.
So yesterday I had a call from this friend of mine who was trying to get his printer to work. It was no ordinary printer but a wireless version, an option I would not have thought this particular person would have bought.
This particular model seemed to provoke an almost instant attack of torrents syndrome as I held the receiver to my ear. It was easy for me to have a little chuckle as I tried to help him out:
“paper?” “check”
“power? “check”
and so it went on.. in the end I thought this particular peripheral was going to depart right through the window as I listened to the banging, crashing and verbal abuse that was continuing down the phone line.
In the end this particular jumbo pilot called an end to my “assistance” as he needed to re-evaluate things. within hours an email arrived to confirm he had managed to print off something so all was well.
…….something his passengers I am sure will be happy about today as they fly off to warmer climates.
The last thing you need is a grumpy pilot who can’t work a computer!
I am a celebrity…….give me a break!
So you need to know someone who knows someone famous, be unable to pronounce words and letters correctly, have been on a soap, sung on a record, slept with a footballer, had plastic surgery or just want to advertise frozen food.
What is it that makes someone want to spend a few weeks in Australia just to maybe go from “z” list to maybe “y” list celebrity?
I guess they want fame and fortune and have spent their lives failing. Once they have tasted that little bit of fame they can’t earn a crust in the normal way.
At least the tv can be turned off!
VAT reduction……..what about Airport Tax!!
So in the UK today we get a reduction of VAT for 13 months. But is the 2.55 going to make any difference to the situation?
The cost of re-labelling everything is going to be a pain fo rany retail outlet. Not just the financial cost but all the time it is going to take but then it may keep people in a job for an extra day of so.
But no change in fuel costs as although VAT has dropped the normal fuel tax has just been increased. Thanks Darling! And with exchange rates all over the place, especially the dollar to pound rate, will there be any increase in air travel? I doubt it.
Take a loook at flight prices to the USA. The basic economy flight to New York by a UK carrier for a week in November is £100 or less – sometimes as low as £47. The taxes, fees, charges & surcharges amount to £237.30.
It wasn’t long ago that these extras where around £60. Now fuel prices have gone up and there is a pound or two for security tax but wouldn’t it be a good idea for the Government to reduce this tax to help the travel industry and business?
I’d best put my cards on the table and say that I am looking to book a flight in the not too distant future and would appreciate any drop in prices!
Anyway I would appreciate any comments for or against this, maybe we could even get a petition going!!
