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Indian Airline Fires Overweight Flight Attendants

CitizenSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:07:58 -0800

India's government-run Air India airline has dumped 10 female fight attendants who were grounded last year for being overweight. A report says the firings occurred after the cabin crew was warned about meeting minimum physical fitness standards (as in, not being thin enough, apparently) and given "sufficient time to lose weight." The report also says the flight attendants were offered alternative ground assignments, which they understandably refused.

Last year, the airline won the right to prevent attendants from taking flight for carrying on extra weight after Air India cited contract clauses that barred stewardesses from flight duties if they put on too much weight. The company is up against private airlines (who don't clothe their employees in saris) and seems to focus their competitive efforts on their employees' looks. At a recent recruitment drive the airline refused applicants with acne or bad teeth.

Source

The Scoop: JetBlue Unveils JetPaws Program

PetSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:30:54 -0800

JetBlue wants your furry friends to fly the friendly skies! The airline (which saddened us by raising prices earlier this year), just announced a brand-new program for jetting with your pet. In addition to a downloadable Travel Pettiquette guide, as part of the new JetPaws, customers will receive two TrueBlue customer loyalty program bonus points for each trip – that way your furball can help you earn frequent flier points, whether or not they're invited next time! Also noteworthy is JetBlue's new pet product line – they've got a travel carrier and separate kit (blankie, bone, and travel dish) co-designed by the founder of Jazzy Park Avenue Dog products (and New York Post columnist), Cindy Adams, and some pretty adorable pet shirts, too.

Pampered Pals: Jet Setter For Your Jet Setters

PetSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:15:58 -0700

At first glance, I thought this carrier was waaaay to big to fit as any airplane carryon, but I was wrong! This Jet Setter ($170 and up) rolls upright and, when laid on the side, slides right under the seat in front of you. Meant for pets up to 15 pounds, this bag weighs only about three pounds with the wheels removed. It comes in a rainbow of colors (I like the camo and titanium best), materials like rugged canvas and ballistic nylon, and offers lots of ventilation for your lil guy – there's even enough pockets to serve as your personal item, too. What's more is that it easily straps into a seatbelt for a safe trip to the airport for your high-flying pets. . . it's time for takeoff!

Front Page: Spanish Plane Crash Possible Cause, Pakistan Suicide Attack Kills 60, Rice Surprise Visit to Iraq

CitizenSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:56:58 -0700

Spanish Plane Crash Possible Cause:
The plane that crashed in Madrid yesterday and killed 153 people, including two babies and 20 children, had reported an overheated air intake valve before the first attempt at takeoff. The problem was reported and the equipment turned off to fix it. It's not known if this is the only factor in Spain's worst air disaster in almost 25 years.

Pakistan Suicide Attack Kills 60:
Killing 60 and wounding dozens more, a suicide bomber attacked Pakistan's largest military munitions plant. The Pakistan Taliban has claimed responsibility. The violence comes amid political uncertainty in the country following the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf earlier this week.

Rice Surprise Visit to Iraq:
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice surprised Baghdad with a visit to discuss the future of US forces in Iraq. Amid negotiations over the timing of the final withdrawal of US forces, reports suggest that a compromise draft agreement of the plan is being considered by both governments. RIce will meet with Prime Minister Nouri Maliki during her visit.

Source

149 Dead in Plane Crash at Madrid Airport

CitizenSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:25:50 -0700

149 Dead in Plane Crash at Madrid Airport A Spanish airliner bound for the Canary Islands at the height of the vacation season crashed, burned, and broke into pieces Wednesday while trying to take off from Madrid, killing 149 people on board, officials said. There were only 26 survivors in the midafternoon crash, said Spanish Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez, whose department is in charge of civil aviation. It was Spain's deadliest air disaster in more than 20 years.

85 Percent Want Kids-Only Sections on Airplanes — Do You?

CitizenSugar — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:00:43 -0700

Could "Kids or non?" be the new query akin to the smoking section question hitting airplanes soon? Judging by these results, lots would like that. In a survey of more than 10,000 travelers, 85 percent were in favor of special sections for parents traveling with babies or small kids. Oh man, maybe they should remake Snakes on a Plane with kids instead of snakes! Will it happen? Probably not. A spokesman for the Air Transport Association said kids-only sections would be "logistically difficult" to implement, and could result in an "adults-only" (not the XXX kind) passenger being bumped to the kids section in cases of overcrowding, which given the cutbacks in seats is increasingly common. The folks behind the survey, AirfareWatchdog, give some tips to cope in the mixed-age skies, including this one, which seems a little mean even if it is practical: "Take very early morning flights (5 a.m. or 6 a.m., if they're available). Parents can rarely manage to dress, feed, wash, and otherwise organize infants and toddlers in time to catch flights that early in the day." But the ultimate retaliation is a taste of their own medicine: "Just grin and bear it. Or start wailing, kicking and screaming yourself."Is the thought that kids are the ones causing problems an unfair assessment? After all, tons of famous (Naomi Campbell, Courtney Love, et al.) and otherwise adults are removed from airplanes for unruly behavior all the time. Do you avoid kids on planes? Is this a perfect solution, or does it make flying the skies less-than-friendly?Source

85 Percent Want Kids-Only Sections on Airplanes — Do You?

It's a perfect solution! It would make flying more comfortable for all parties! Let's do it.

It's a person's right to sit where they'd like. Having kids is not a crime, this isn't fair.

It could be an option on flights that head to places like Disney, but not a mandate.

Other. I'll tell you how I feel in the comments.

How Low Can They Go? Pilots Fly Without Enough Fuel

LibertySugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:59 -0700

The gas crisis has dangerous consequences, according to pilots who claim that airlines restrict airplane fuel to uncomfortably low amounts. Aggressive policies enacted by the financially struggling airline companies, attempt to reduce consumption and cost.

Three years ago NASA set up a confidential Aviation Safety Reporting System, which allows workers to anonymously report concerns. Some have reported that the airlines rank captains according to who can land using the least amount of gas.

Despite warnings from aviation workers, the FAA does not want to order airlines to keep fuel loads above the minimum required: enough for the trip, plus 45 minutes extra. The agency's spokesman says that the FAA can't "dabble in the business policies or the personnel policies of an airline." Thankfully, there hasn't been a low-fuel-related accident since the early '90s; but, do you think airline companies should listen to the pilots' growing concerns that the bottom line might compromise safety?

Source

Tons of Geeky Amenities on the Airbus A380 — Even in Coach

geeksugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:00:11 -0700

My pal Savvy mentioned what $14,635 can get you on an Airbus A380 flight from JFK to Dubai on Emirates Airlines (in first class, of course). But I'm more interested in the amenities I can get for only $1,500 in coach! A drop in the bucket, I know. Coach passengers on the 14-hour flight get to enjoy their own personal 10.4-digital widescreen display with over 500 channels to choose from, plus each seat has its own power source and USB connection. A gyroscopic cup holder keeps your drink level at all times, and in-cabin lighting simulates the time of day at your destination, so jet lag will be less of a problem when you land.

But the coolest feature I found in coach on the Airbus A380 is their ICE system. No, I'm not talking about chilling your drink; this ICE stands for Information, Communication, and Entertainment. To see more details on this cool system,

TSA Loses Laptop Containing All Data in Clear-to-Fly Program

CitizenSugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:45:55 -0700

The Transportation "Security" Administration might have to rethink its name after it misplaced a laptop containing all of the unencrypted data from 33,000 people who've enrolled in the TSA Clear program for over a week. The info in question includes names and passport, driver's license, and green card numbers — you know, the important stuff.

The laptop belonged to the private company Verified Identity Pass, which runs the program that allows passengers to pay a fee and register to clear security faster in 17 different states. The computer went missing on July 26, but the TSA wasn't notified until Sunday. All of the applicants have to be notified of the security breach. Obviously. The laptop has now been mysteriously recovered, hidden in a "not obvious" location. An investigation is underway as to whether the laptop was stolen and returned, or just misplaced.

Though they might have lost track of that data, they found a whole new (and personal) place to search. To see where,

Thinking of Taking a Trip? Some Airline Tickets Are on Sale

SavvySugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:00:51 -0700

While most airlines have supersized their ticket prices to cover rising fuel costs others have begun to reduce rates on certain routes in an attempt to bump up demand. The New York Times put together a sale list that highlights bargains that could spark a little wanderlust in any homebody. The best deals include:

American Airlines and its affiliate, American Eagle, have been offering some low fares to the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Mexico and Bermuda. The deals, which are good for travel between Sept. 2 and Dec. 10, include round-trip tickets as low as $152 from Miami to Port of Spain or Trinidad and Tobago. The prices don't include taxes and the sale ends today.

For some additional deals,