Airlines in India have continuously blamed the price of jet fuel for their losses. And with Singapore Airlines latest quarterly results showing a 53% drop in profits on the back of high jet fuel prices, I’d sure believe them now! Aviation fuel taxes are a state subject in India, and some states charge up to 40% tax on jet fuel, considering it a luxury to fly and making it pricier. That, added to the high price of fuel already, took airlines to the brink. Kingfisher Airlines, in the throes of pain, asked for a concession from the government to be able to buy and import its own jetfuel from outside India. Looks like the politicos decided to have some fun with…
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“Nobody goes hungry on a MegaDo!”– Randy Petersen
It has been a week or so since I have come back from my first MegaDo, and apart from the many airline moments we had, there was a whole bunch of gastronomic delights lined up along the way. When not flying, we were sampling some very good food which I am assuming airline catering departments were told to keep from interfering with I can promise you these were not GateGourmet or SkyGourmet catering which we get on our flights. The title statement was made by Randy on the MegaDo blog in the planning stages, and I thought I’d test it out during this MegaDo. Let’s take a peep into all the interesting food on the ground! Monday, 23rd January, we…
Travel anywhere in India for INR 2999 ($60)! [Updated]
Last night I posted about a good deal to book air tickets in India for INR 2,500 only. Looks like overnight they did enough business with the INR 2,500 tickets that they have now decided to up the price to INR 2,999 (all-inclusive). So, last night a few readers sent in comments to tell me the deal changed overnight. Here is the new deal: Even with $60, the pricing is very cheap I say. I will be making use of this promo as soon as my family decides on their travel plans. I hope this stays for a while to come. Here are the promo details: INR 2,999 per coupon for one-way adult ticket in India (all-inclusive) Buy as many…
Now fly anywhere in India for INR 2,500 ($50)
Via.com, a travel portal which used to work the backends for many travel agents and has now gone direct to customers, is offering a promotional offer where you can purchase domestic flight tickets in India for INR 2,500, all taxes inclusive. Here is how it works. Via.com is selling coupons online , which are valid for a year from purchase. Once bought, log into your Via.com account, plonk the details of where you want to go and when (remember, at least 7 days in advance!) and at what time of the day, and you will get a ticket in your mailbox within an hour’s time. The tickets are valid for bookings on most sectors in India, and there is the complete list of…
Air India’s Flying Returns now has some frequent flyer benefits!
I have been a dormant Air India Flying Returns member for the longest time. Air India was my first business travel airline, since it was the preferred carrier for my employer then, and back in the days I did fly a lot on them till other airlines such as Jet Airways found their way into this monopoly. At that point of time, I was a novice in the points game, and for my life could not figure out the perks of being loyal to an airline, except for collecting miles on my frequent flyer account. With Air India, the elite perks were always not very well defined, and it was a mystery how the guy next to me got preferential…
Kingfisher Airlines entry to oneworld ‘on hold’
Kingfisher had announced to the world that it was going to be a oneworld member, and then, a familiar scenario happened which reminded of Air India stopping short of joining Star Alliance last minute. In a not so surprising move, Kingfisher Airlines entry to the oneworld alliance, which was supposed to become a full-member as of 10th February 2012, has been put on hold. What this means is that the airline and alliance have agreed to postpone the entry into OW till the time Kingfisher could find a way out of its financial mess. While the whole situation around Kingfisher was known long back, I cannot figure out what takes such decisions to come out at the last minute? This…
The MegaDo Bounty winners are out, 5 of them!
If you guys have been wondering where did I go away with all your prizes after getting back from the MegaDo, you’ll be surprised. I am right here, except that a few hours after landing back home from a 24 hour bout of flying and airports, I got working on a project that has had me working 2-3 days flat out with no breathers. Apologies for the delay in reaching out to all of you for the winners of the prizes. Here we go with the correct answers: a) Which airline would you like to see join oneworld next? No one right answer…it’s your choice after all b) Where am I based out of? Mumbai, India c) Where all is…
The MegaDo Bounty got bigger, and 72 hours more to get it!
I’ve been on the road and in the air many a times, but on a party flight, it was my first! I’m waiting to get the few hours of sleep time which I can eat into and post all I want to tell you guys here, and it shall happen soon. But for those who want to gather all the live action, Gary Leff from View from the Wing is blogging all at www.megado.com/blogs! So go ahead and find out about the party in the air which happened DFW-SEA-LAX. Including a 2-hour tarmac delay when we all boarded SEA-LAX and the flight needed a new part to fly next segment. AA was a gracious host, the beverages were flowing and…
Some Pictures of the new American Airlines B777-300
Revealed at the OWMD was the new cabin of the Boeing 777 that will be taken up by AA soon. All I can say is this is going to be swanky! The entrance to the B777300 with a self serve galley An improvised first class flagship suite with a 17 once IFE The new biz class More comforts in coach!
Spending time at the British Airways HQ in Waterside, LHR
After a lovely welcome by American Airlines, a little party in the Flagship Lounge at JFK, a shower at the American Airlines Arrivals Lounge in LHR, we were all set to go over to British Airways. We received an interesting email a few days ago from BA, which had a boarding pass in a PDF file. I got seat 2A, I am sure they looked me up from my handle on MilePoint and Flyertalk which is A2A! Some of us wanted to check out if we could check in at Terminal 5, LHR. Here is what they got But we sure did manage to check-in on the staff bus of British Airways and find our way to the Waterside HQ…
A day at the American Airlines Arrival Lounge at London Heathrow
The American Airlines flight AA 104 was uneventful at the back of the plane, with a largely empty cabin which accommodated a lot many passengers from the MegaDo bunch onto their own fully flat seats by occupying a whole row to themselves. All the action was in the First Class where there was a special dinner on-board for a chosen few flying F, with the new president of AAdvantage, Suzanne Robin. We were lucky to have arrived in LHR an hour early, with the tailwinds in favour (the same Atlantic ones which came in my way to arrive at JFK from Brussels after a fuel-stop). Here is a little bunch of pictures from the back of the plane: Yeah, it…
