KLM celebrates its 90th birthday with its own tulip

by Scott Carmichael on

If you have ever flown into Amsterdam airport between April and May, you have probably seen the massive tulip fields surrounding the airport.

I’ve always found it one of the most beautiful airport approaches in the world, filled with vibrant colors.

So, it makes sense that KLM decided to celebrate their 90th birthday with something special – their own tulip.

The KLM “tulipa” is a cross between a China Pink and a tetraploid tulip, developed for the airline by the leading Dutch agricultural university.

The tulip can even be ordered online for your own garden, but the retailer currently only ships within Europe. Later this month, you’ll be able to order your own Tulipa bulbs from Colorblends.com.

Another way to see Tulipa is at the temporary Keukenhof tulip gardens set up inside Schiphol airport and of course, at the “real” Keukenhof just 20 miles from the airport.

Dubai plans to cut up the Concorde like the QE2

by Jamie Rhein on

Dubai has a thing for buying British vessels and cutting them up. Not long ago, it snapped up the retired cruise ship the QE2 with plans to cut it in half, add a section to the middle, and turn it into a floating hotel. The latest buy it and slice it plan is with one of seven British Concorde’s.

A Dubai consortium wants to place the Concorde–sans wings, near the altered QE2 as part of its fake island creation, the Palm Jumeirah.

Even though the Concorde hasn’t flown since 2003, thus doesn’t need its wings, there are some who think that cutting off the wings is a real slap in the face to British aviation. With people upset about the QE2 alteration project, this must seem like adding insult to injury.

Granted, there’s something a bit Sci-fi about a man-made island appointed with altered British vessels. But on the other hand, it could be seen as a compliment that vehicles that aren’t being used anymore for their original use are being given another lease on life, one with clipped wings and the other with an altered body. [Mail.Online]

Flight attendant blocks man from using bathroom – has him arrested

by Scott Carmichael on

We’ve probably all heard the stern warning at the start of our flight telling us to use the bathroom in our own cabin.

The separation of the classes means only business class passengers are allowed to use the business class bathroom, and coach passengers need to use the smelly porta-potty in the rear of the plane.

But what do you do when you really have to go? Like after a meal you had in Honduras that isn’t sitting too well with you?

This is the dilemma faced by Joao Correa on his Delta Airlines flight back home last week.

The coach bathroom was blocked by a drinks cart, and when he politely asked a flight attendant if he could use the front bathroom, he was told “no”.

He tried to hold “it” in, but when things got too much, he sprinted up front and attempted to enter the bathroom. It was at this point when the flight attendant/bathroom cop stuck her arm in front of him and blocked the door.

The rest of the story has become part of a federal investigation, Mr Correa claims the flight attendant put her hand on his shoulder, and that he grabbed her arm to keep his balance, her side of the story claims he pushed her arm down and twisted it.
The flight attendant then called the pilot, who probably rolled his eyes and told her to let Mr. Correo just use the bathroom. He then returned to his seat and was quiet for the rest of the flight.

Upon landing at Atlanta airport, he was arrested and locked up for 2 nights before appearing before a judge.

Mr. Correa says he is “devastated’ by the whole incident, and I can’t blame him, it’s one thing to keep your plane secure and prevent people from walking into the wrong cabin, but when the other bathrooms are clearly blocked, and one of your passengers really has to go, you just let him go.

To actually put your arm in front of the bathroom door and block a passenger is pathetic, and I hope Delta Airlines realizes this. That said, if Mr. Correa really did injure the flight attendant, he should face the charges, but I’d say that 2 nights in jail is about the extent of what he should be punished with.

What do you think?

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2008 Airline Quality Report says Hawaiian is nation’s best carrier

by Grant Martin on

The annual Airline Quality Report (AQR) was just published, ranking 17 of the nation’s airlines by timeliness, number of denied boardings, mishandled bags and customer complaints. The top four?

1. Hawaiian
2. Air Tran
3. JetBlue
4. Northwest

Though commendable, Hawaiian’s top score is pretty easy to predict, as customer complaints and mishandled bags obviously go down when the weather is perfect every day. Air Tran, JetBlue and Northwest, operating out of Atlanta, New York City and the Midwest, respectively, all deserve praise as well.
And the bottom?

17. Atlantic Southeast
16. American Eagle
15. Comair
14. Mesa

That is, mostly feeder airlines for the legacy carriers. Typically these carriers have smaller aircraft and a higher number of cancellations, so it’s not uncommon to see them at the bottom of the quality list.

The most heartwarming news in this year’s AQR is actually not specific to any airline but rather to the entire industry. As a whole, airline quality is improving, with more on time arrivals, fewer denied boardings, fewer last bags and less complaints. Considering all of the airlines that went out of business last year, I’m sure this is welcome news for those remaining.

You can read your very own full copy of the AQR in PDF here.
Dude, how many times do we have to tell you? If you’re going to Hawaii, use sunscreen. Do NOT be like the guys in the gallery below!

“For more galleries like this, visit Asylum. Be sure to check out their list of 26 places every man should visit!”

JetBlue to cut (profits) back in Long Beach?

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you haven’t taken advantage of JetBlue’s cheap flights between San Francisco and Long Beach, you may want to act quickly. The low-cost airline is considering scaling back service through the latter, which is its hub on the west coast. The slow pace of improvements at the airport, which is city-owned, is the driver behind this decision.

There’s no cause for alarm just yet. JetBlue doesn’t have any formal plan to make the move, but it has announced that it is considering reducing or shifting Long Beach flights. Los Angeles International Airport is among the possible winners, as it would pick up some traffic from the changes.

Of course, Long Beach Airport is protecting itself. Spokeswoman Sharon Diggs Jackson said last Thursday that JetBlue hadn’t indicated that it was heading for the exits. In fact, she noted that the airline is planning to add another flight in May.

Three million passengers pass through Long Beach Airport every year – and JetBlue has the largest presence there. It’s also a profitable spot for the airline.

So, we’re clearly looking at a battle over leverage. Only time will tell the victor.