Flights | Digital Crosstalk

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Brian and team, who work for a digital marketing agency run this Digital Crosstalk blog.
Occasionally we might blog about companies and people we work with but for the most part we'll simply be blogging about stories and events which we find interesting.

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16th
FEB

Smith vows never to fly Southwest Airlines

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Cover of Chasing Dogma

Jay & Silent Bob director Kevin Smith has vowed never to fly with Southwest Airlines again, after the airline pulled the film director off a flight on Saturday because of his bulk.

Smith was removed from a flight at Oakland International Airport, California to Burbank, California after the flight captain deemed Smith’s ample frame to be a ‘safety risk’ to other passengers. The eviction led to a Smith-led Twitter storm against the airline.

Smith had fallen victim to a Southwest Airlines booking guidelines for a “customer of size” which say that passengers who are unable to lower both armrests when seated should book another seat because of complaints it has received from customers whose comfort has been ruined by the “encroachment of a large seatmate”.

Smith claims he had no trouble in fastening his seatbelt or lowering either armrest. “I am not fat enough to eject off a Southwest flight,” he said.

Tags: aeroplane, air, flights, jay and silent bob, kevin smith, southwest airlines

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10th
DEC

TAP Portugal builds sports tourism ties

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

TAP Portugal, the world’s leading airline to South America is rumoured to be in advanced discussions with World Sport Destination Expo – the first global exhibition dedicated to the booming sports tourism sector – to become an Airline Partner.

BreakingTravelNews.com reports the potential move will see the airline partner with WSDE in time for the final week of the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa and comes as TAP attempts to raise its sports tourism links ahead of the 2010 World Cup and 2016 Olympics which are both being held in Brazil.

Graham Irwin, UK Marketing Manager of Tap Portugal, said of the proposed partnership:

“We will need to be diligent in selecting the right projects which fit our flight operation commitments, given the airline flies to eight out of ten football host cities in Brazil. These are exciting time for us which we hope will enhance our company record of passenger service.”

TAP Portugal was recently voted the world’s leading airline to South America at the World Travel Awards and flies to eight destinations in Brazil from 30 cities around Europe, with 57 flights per week. In 2008, TAP Portugal carried more international passengers to Brazil than any other airline according to statistics released by the National Civil Aviation Authority.

Tags: brazil, flights, sport, tap portugal, world cup

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11th
AUG

It’s a Dog’s Life: Pooch flies with owner in Business Class

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

Not content with walkies, Pedigree Chum and a cushion to sleep on, one pampered pooch travelled in comparative luxury on a fight between Paris, France and Tel Aviv, Israel when its owner forked out $32,000 to have it fly alongside her in business class.

In a report featured in the Telegraph online, the owner – known only as ‘Rivkah’ paid the sum for an entire compartment on the flight to allow her, along with her boxer dog named ‘Orchuk’ and a veterinary surgeon make the four hour flight. The airline, El Al, had to remove several seats to make room for the dog’s cage.

Rivkah told reporters she couldn’t bear to place the pooch alongside the flight cargo, and having paid the princely sum declared any price would have been worth paying to have her ‘baby’ alongside.

“I didn’t think for a minute to leave Or, my little Orchuk, with the cargo,” said Rivkah afterwards. “I’ve been raising him for eight years and four months in France. I also didn’t mind having other passengers sit next to us. All that mattered to me was to have my baby with me during the flight so that I can take care of him.”

“He is my child, not a dog. And he deserves the best.”

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Rivkah’s request was the first of its kind experienced by the airline, but upon hearing about the special bond between pooch and owner was happy to allow the pair to fly together after Rivkah expressed her willingness to pay the additional cost.

What isn’t clear, however, is what Orchuk thought of the in-flight meal.

Tags: el al, flights, israel, paris, rivkah, tel aviv

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16th
JUL

2nd Ashes Test score could see cheap flights to Australia

Posted by Brian | Filed under air

: Image via Wikipedia

An article in the Telegraph claims that England’s performance in the upcoming second Ashes test will set a limited availability reduced fare for flights to Australia by both British Airways and Qantas after the airlines announced a special Ashes-related promotion. Depending on the outcome, holidaymakers looking to jet off Down Under could enjoy record savings.

The fare price will be set according to Australia’s first innings score in the second npower Ashes Test at Lord’s cricket ground, while the number of seats available at the special rate will be determined by England’s reply in their respective innings, although the minimum return fare will be £125. The seats will also only be available between certain travel periods and only in economy class cabins.

As an illustration, if Australia are bowled out for 280 runs, and England score 350 runs then there will be 350 seats available at £280. With a typical fair weighing in at around £700, cricket fans – English cricket fans, at least – will be hoping Flintoff and co. can net them a bargain flight by limiting the Aussies to a low number of runs, although bookers will have to be quick if they want to take advantage of the offer.

The limited availability seats will be made available from July 21st, but the last time BA offered a similar offer – for the final test of the 2005 Ashes – the seats sold out within 30 minutes!