We’ve mentioned other deals recently on Emirates flights, but when it comes to flights to Africa (read: typically expensive) this one is worth circling in red ink.
For today and tomorrow only, the first 500 people who book a flight from the US to Africa get $500 off Business Class airfare, or $150 off Economy Class airfare.
Emirates offers travel to 16 African cities on sale: Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Cairo, Cape Town, Casablanca, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Entebbe, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Lagos, Luanda, Nairobi, Tripoli, and Tunis.
Buy the tickets online between July 14 at 12:01 a.m. (EDT) and July 15 at 11:59 p.m. (PDT). Travel through June 13, 2010.
Last month, we told you about Air New Zealand’s new in-flight safety video that features the flight crew in nothing but body paint. That, of course, came on the heels of their new ad campaign featuring their staff in – you guessed it – nothing but body paint. We thought the in-flight video and television commercial were innovative and quirky examples of an airline showing some actual personality. Sadly, not everyone has what we here at Gadling call “a sense of humor.” Some people are offended by the videos and they’re starting to speak up. According to news.com.au, many Kiwis who have flown national airline recently think that the risque videos are inappropriate. “Enough is enough, this is our national airline, not a strip joint! I for one won’t bother booking with you again,” one perturbed passenger said. Another Kiwi lodged a complaint with New Zealand’s advertising watchdog. The complaint stated, “All genital areas were hidden but they left nothing to the imagination and (it) conjured pictures that none of us needed.”
Air New Zealand is defending their campaign, which they say “highlights the transparency of the airline’s all-inclusive domestic airfares.”
I, for one, agree with the airline. Lighten up, people. It’s kitschy. It’s creative. It’s devoid of any “genital areas.” The television commercial is better than what most companies throw out there. And the in-flight video beats listening to a bored flight attendant phoning in the delivery of the safety spiel because she’s done it a million times before and just can’t muster up the energy to care anymore.
Just to stick it to the prudes who can’t seem to accept that life is too short to complain about everything, I’m slapping the in-flight safety video in this post. Watch it again for the first time.
Leaders at the G8 summit called for a coordinated approach by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to guide aviation’s contribution to to reduce global emissions by 50% before 2050.
The commercial aviation industry has agreed to three sequential targets: 1.5 per cent average annual improvement in fuel efficiency between now and 2020; carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and a 50 percent absolute reduction in aviation emissions by 2050 compared with 2005.
The International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) director general and chief executive, Giovanni Bisignani, welcomed the G8’s declaration. “The G8 Summit declaration is absolutely aligned with the aggressive targets that aviation has set.” Bisignani said. “Commercial aviation is the first global industry to commit to a carbon-neutral growth target by 2020. We have a solid track record of meeting our targets.”
So while standing-room only might soon be a reality on certain flights, let’s hope that airlines don’t make the stretch to include treadmills or stationary bicycles to help cut down on emissions…
TGIF! Really. Thank goodness. Another summer week has passed us by and there are, as usually, tons of great travel reads to keep you occupied through the weekend. Here’s the latest:
Delta is under fire from its new partner Northwest Airlines due to what they claim is weight discrimination. Delta’s signature bright red dress, which debuted on the NY runways in 2005 and hit the airways in 2006, only comes in up to size 18.
“Red is a color that attracts attention and someone, somewhere has made a decision that they don’t want to attract attention to someone in a dress that’s larger than a size 18,” says Patricia Reller, vice chair of the Northwest flight attendants’ union’s grievance committee. “I’m very offended by it,” she adds.
The committee also filed complaints in regards to Delta’s “requirement that flight attendants who wear orthopedic shoes must wear slacks and not a skirt or dress. Those that wear the orthopedic shoes must obtain a doctor’s note,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Designer of the red dress, Richard Tyler (pictured), was reportedly envisioning the flights of yore, when everyone dressed up to fly, and well … apparently when flight attendants wore heels and were under size 18. Delta, whose flight attendants have no union, claims that there are plenty of options for fuller figured employees, including slacks, skirts, and other dresses.
Because Northwest’s flight attendants have a union, this merger may mean a lot of changes for Delta.
Check out this video of Delta giving the Northwest Airlines employees their fittings:
“We rolled out the red carpet in Minneapolis / St. Paul to celebrate the completion of our style clinics for our Northwest flight attendants. The clinics gave attendants a first hand look and feel of Delta’s uniforms: The Richard Tyler Collection. Celebrity designer, Richard Tyler, was on-hand to provide custom style consultations to the flight attendants.” — the YouTube caption, via DeltaAirLines.