Paris Transport Board Launches Campaign To End Rudeness

by Jessica Festa on

Often thought of as a rude culture, the French don’t have the best reputation when it comes to politeness. However, the Paris transport authority, RAPT, is attempting to put an end to this with a new poster campaign showing locals how their actions appear to onlookers.

According to news.com.au, the campaign features large posters depicting Parisians as animals, as the people around them stare in shock (shown right). To allow everyone to voice their frustrations, RAPT has also created a website where people can submit their own captioned photographs.

Are they creating this campaign completely based off stereotypes? Not according to data. A recent RAPT survey found that 97 percent of passengers had witnessed “uncivil” behavior on Paris public transport. This comes two years after a separate survey completed by tourists voted Parisians the rudest people in Europe. Additionally, in 2007 a report by the Committee for Modernization of the French Hotel Trade found that 25 percent of customer complaints were caused by rude service in France.

Do you think this campaign will help or hinder rudeness in France?

[Image via RAPT]

Top 10 Reasons Couples Argue On Vacation

by Jessica Festa on

Planning a trip with your sweetie, but nervous about potential trouble in paradise? Online travel agency latedeals.co.uk looked into the matter by surveying vacationing couples to figure out the top reasons lovers argued with each other on a trip.

For those who think their relationships are too strong to need to worry, the data shows differently. In fact, the study found over 75 percent of couples argue at least twice during a two-week trip. To help your relationship avoid becoming part of the statistic, read the following list and try to steer clear of these argument starters:

1. Men checking out other women at the pool or beach
2. Disagreements over activities
3. What to eat and where
4. Drinking too much
5. Driving and map reading
6. Packing
7. Women taking too long to get ready
8. Spending too much money
9. What time to get to the airport
10. Disagreements over currency

Have you and your partner ever had a disagreement while traveling?

[Image via Big Stock]

Olympic Athlete Kicked Out Of Olympics After Racist Tweet

by Jessica Festa on

July 27 will mark the first day of the Olympic Games, and participating athletes are certainly excited. Many are even taking to social media to express their feelings and, while mostly positive, some are having a bit of trouble watching what they say.

This was the case for Greek triple jumper and track and field athlete Voula Papachristou, who tweeted a racist comment in her native language about African immigrants. According to Digital Trends, the tweet translated to, “With so many Africans in Greece … At least the West Nile mosquitoes will eat home made food!!!”

After followers criticized the remark and called it insensitive, Papachristou deleted the comment and apologized on her Facebook page, saying she was “very sorry and ashamed” and “never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.”

Unfortunately, the apology was not accepted, at least not by Olympic’s officials, and the athlete has been banned from competing.

Papachristou’s coach, George Pomaski, does not agree with the punishment, stating, “It’s too much, the penalty should not have been so strict. She has already apologized for her remarks. This is a big disappointment not only for her but for her family and for myself, and anyone involved in the Greek team.”

Do you think Papachristou’s punishment was too harsh?

How Would You Like To Name Thomas Airways’ New Boeing 787 Dreamliner?

by Jessica Festa on

For those who have ever dreamed of naming a commercial airplane and having their creativity being broadcast in the sky for all to see, you may want to enter Thomson Airways’ new contest. The airline is reaching out to Twitter users for help naming their brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Britain. Beginning in May 2013, Thomson will become the first British airline to operate the plane.

Using the hashtag #nameourplane for entries, the airline is asking voters to tweet a suggested name for the aircraft, along with their reason for choosing it. Of course, this needs to be done in 140 characters or less. Additionally, if you happen to spot the contest’s signature hashtag-adorned plane (shown right), you should attach a photo to your tweet for “special consideration.”

According to The Age, entries will be judged by a panel that includes Thomson managing director Chris Browne, and the airline’s head of training and 787 test pilot, Captain Stuart Gruber.

“The arrival of the 787 Dreamliner will be an exciting time for Thomson Airways and our customers,” said Miss Browne. “It was only fitting to name one of these revolutionary aircraft in an equally innovative way.”

And the best part? The winner will also receive a free flight on-board their personally-named aircraft.

Click here to go to Thomson Airways’ Twitter page for updates.

11-Year-Old Boards International Flight Without Passport Or Ticket

by Jessica Festa on



With all the security and red tape most travelers endure at the airport, it’s surprising – and scary – that 11-year-old Liam Corcoran-Fort was so easily able to get by security, board an aircraft and fly internationally without a passport or ticket.

While shopping in Manchester with his mother, the boy decided to sneak off, hopping a bus to Manchester International Airport after finding a bus ticket on the ground. According to Corcoran-Fort, once he got to Terminal 1 he walked right through the body scanner, metal detector and boarding gate onto Jet2.com Flight LS791 to Rome, Italy.

“There were lots of people but I didn’t speak to anyone. I followed where people were going and then at the barrier I went underneath it,” said the boy. “I didn’t have anything on me and no-one asked me for anything. I just carried on walking.”

According to news.com.au, the boy claims he didn’t have the intention to cause harm, he simply wanted to use to the toilet; however, it ended up just being too easy. It wasn’t until passengers noticed the lonely boy talking about how he had wanted to run away from home that Corcoran-Fort was discovered.

There is currently a full investigation in progress to find out how a young boy could have passed through five security checks and boarded an airplane without showing a ticket or passport. So far, five Jet2 and airport staff members have been suspended.