Get better service being stuck on the London Eye than on an airplane

by Jamie Rhein on

Here’s an observation by Mike Nezza at The Lede. Although, it was ruled by a federal court that airlines don’t need to provide passengers with comforts if they are detained while sitting in an airplane, passengers stuck on London’s gigantic Ferris wheel, the London Eye don’t have to worry about such trifles.

Just like Abha reported in her post, if you get stuck on the London Eye, you’ll get blankets, water, glucose tablets and a toilet. If you get stuck on an airplane, according to the law, you are not guaranteed water, a working toilet or fresh air. On the London Eye, you’ll also get a terrific view of London if you’re close to the top. On an airplane, if you look out a window, there’s the tarmac—maybe other airplanes, a runway or a building or two.

But, perhaps one might rather be stuck on the ground than up in the air. Those at the bottom of the London Eye may have been allowed to get off. If you’re out on a runway, there you are, and are, and are, and are.

400 people stuck on the London Eye

by Abha Malpani on

400 London Eye passengers were trapped for about an hour on the 135-meter high Eye yesterday. Apparently there was a technical fault with one of the tires that they thought best to fix before letting people off.

The process seems to have been dealt with quite well. All passengers were communicated with through intercom and were given access to the emergency blankets, water and commodes while they waited for things to be fixed.

The stories published in the media didn’t speak to any of the people who were stuck on there, however, an hour is a long time to be stuck on a giant wheel and surely the passengers (especially the ones at the top of the wheel) were scared if not petrified.

You may not be afraid of rides, but incidents like this can shake you up and are unforgettable. Anyway, there were no reported injuries, the wheel was fixed, and the passengers were given a hot drink and a refund when they stepped out. Good old British hospitality!

Oslo, London and Copenhagen: The world’s three most expensive cities

by Anna Brones on

If you’re planning a trip to Europe in the near future, you may want to consider the recent study conducted by Swiss bank UBS which ranked 71 world cities according to their costliness. Oslo, London and Copenhagen made the top three with Dublin coming in at a close fourth.

Thanks to a weak dollar, US cities like New York — which made the 18th spot — have moved down on the list compared to last year’s; in fact , compared to the same study in 2006, London was noted as 26% more expensive than the Big Apple. In Asia, Tokyo ranked the most expensive followed by Seoul, Singapore and Hong Kong.

So where do you go if you want the biggest bang for your buck? Kuala Lumpur, Buenos Aires, or Mumbai, which ranked the three cheapest cities for visitors.

New guidebook series: Eyes Open

by Jeremy Kressmann on

I love the idea behind the new guidebook series Eyes Open by design company Ideo. Rather than busy themselves with the rote regurgitation of sights of interest, restaurants and hotels, Eyes Open seeks to help travelers shift their attention towards really looking and immersing themselves in their surroundings. The series recently launched with its first two entries, New York and London, with additional cities to follow in the near future.

I had a chance to peruse the New York edition recently and came away with some interesting first impressions. The book is organized by four themes – ‘observer,’ ‘diner,’ ‘shopper’ and ‘mingler.’ Each theme is meant to represent a different “lens” by which we can view our destination. Within each category is a series of short travel narratives on a variety of topics, focusing on everything from secret eating clubs to unique small businesses to hidden earthwork art installations. As I resident of New York who is fairly well-versed in the city’s hidden amusements, I found the entries both surprising and informative. At the same time, this approach is sure to leave gaps for some travelers. Ideo makes no apology for the fact their Eyes Open guides are not comprehensive. Visitors looking for the basic practicalities of where to stay and a basic overview of neighborhoods will probably come away disappointed.

Then again, there is something to be said for curated guides like Eyes Open. As each of us travels, too often we get caught up in “checking off a list” of the must-see sights and locations. Eyes Open is the type of travel aid that can help us take a step back and experience a place through an entirely new perspective. Sometimes that’s worth the extra 20 bucks. Think of it as nice supplement to a more traditional guidebook.

Breaking News: Man runs onto runway at Heathrow

by Abha Malpani on

Heathrow airport is currently in chaos and on high security alert after a man with a rucksack jumped over the perimeter fencing and ran onto the runway.

20 emergency vehicles were sent, the man was arrested, sniffer dogs and explosive officers have been called in. No one is hurt and there isn’t any more information on the man yet.

Drunks, mentally unstable and protesters have done this before, but this case is particularly suspicious as tomorrow the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are due to open the new terminal 5.

Certain flights have been delayed or canceled, it is therefore advisable to call the airport should you have a flight today or tomorrow. You can watch and get constant updates on BBC.