Flying With Pets – How Can You Keep Your Pet Safe and Healthy on Airline Flights?

If you have plans to fly with your pet, you are part of a growing trend that has been increasing for the last number of years.  Most airlines will charge a nominal fee to allow your small pet to accompany you, if it will fit into a FAA approved pet carrier that is small enough to stow under your seat.  The following important info can help you keep your pet safe, healthy, and happy on airplane flights

 When booking a flight, it is a good idea to make reservations for yourself and your pet as early as possible.  You must let the airline know that you want to bring your pet with you.  It is very important to tell them, as they will only allow a limited number of pets on each flight.  Some airlines do not allow pets at all, especially on international flights.  Always confirm your flight the day before you leave on your trip.   If you are traveling internationally you need to confirm your reservation seventy-two hours before you go.

Before you fly into the wide blue yonder with your furry travel companion, you need to take him or her to the veterinarian for a checkup, to make sure he or she is healthy enough to travel.  You will also need to take its health certificate with you, showing that your pet is up-to-date on all its vaccinations, including rabies.  Your pet must wear its current vaccination tag when traveling.  As well, your pet must meet the health regulations of every country that you will be traveling to.  Bring along a copy of your pet’s medical records listing its allergies, chronic medical conditions, and medications. 

If you haven’t done this already, you should have your pet micro-chipped.  That way, if your pet is lost and taken to an animal shelter or vet, where its chip can be scanned, both can be reunited.  Keep in mind your pet’s identification tag will have both your home address and phone number on it.  That won’t be of much help if your pet gets lost when you are on vacation.  It may be a good idea to get another tag made up that has your destination address and phone number on it.  What happens if you pet isn’t found until after you’ve returned from your holidays?  It makes sense that you should leave both your home I.D. tag on your pet as well as attaching the new tag.  That way you’ll have all the bases covered and stand a better chance of being reunited with your pet

 You should carry a picture of you pet with you when you travel.  It will help you prove that you are the pet’s owner if any problems of ownership occur.  Also, the picture can be used to make some flyers up to post in the area where your pet was lost.

Flying with pets that are too large to fit into a FAA approved pet carrier is not a good idea as they will be stowed in the cargo hold.  Putting your pet in the cargo hold of an aircraft is very traumatic and dangerous to its health.    It makes far more sense to leave your pet with a friend, or a pet sitting service while you are vacation.

The American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend sedating or tranquilizing your pet when flying, especially dogs.  Dogs regulate their body temperature when they pant, so when they are tranquilized or sedated, they may not be able to pant.  If this happens, it may leave them defenseless against the fluctuation of air pressure and temperature that occurs in the cargo hold of every flight.  Also, keep in mind that pets do not enjoy flying, or being locked up in a cramped kennel and left alone in a dark and desolate cargo hold.  It must be very terrifying for them.

There are a lot of websites that give additional valuable information in regards to traveling with your pet.  Two excellent sites are the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at aspca.org, and the Department of Agriculture at aphis.usda.gov, which has a great article entitled, Traveling With Your Pet.  

 If you want a great travel carrier for your small pet, you may want to consider the popular, FAA approved pet carrier, Sherpa On Wheels.  This Cadillac of pet carriers can be a luxurious and  comfortable home for your pet while flying.   It has the convenience of a front and top entry, mesh ventilation panels, recessed wheels, as well as a detachable pull handle and a shoulder strap.  It is available on line at  SherpaPet.com.

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Flying For a Regional Airline, Is It Worth It?

In the United States, and else where around the world, salary is usually dependent upon one major factor. That is, how many people can perform that particular job. The fewer the number of people that can perform a particular job, usually the greater the salary. In many cases, salary is not dependent upon how much money was used in order to obtain the skill.

A good example of this can be seen if we look at the salaries seen in professional sports. For example, in the NFL, professional football players can make millions of dollars per year, yet the preparation does not cost much money in relative terms. To play in the NFL really comes down to hard physical work, developing mental toughness, extreme dedication, and having the physical attributes and ability.

Not to many people can play in the NFL, and therefore most players enjoy a pretty good salary. The minimum salary of a rookie in the NFL is 5,000.00 per year. The highest salary for an NFL player in 2008 was seen in the form of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, of Pittsburgh at ,701,920.00. It also should be stated that the average length of a career for an NFL player is only around 4 years.

Regional airline pilots on the other hand will spend anywhere from ,000 and up in order to be properly trained to fly an airplane. This includes Private Pilot License, Instrument Rating, and Commercial Pilot License, plus specific training needed for the regional airline they wish to fly for.  Military pilots on the other hand have their training paid for by the American tax payer, which really is the ideal situation for those who aspire to become a professional pilot.

Keeping with the analogy of the professional football player, we need to ask the question, how many people can fly an airplane? Statistically, not to many. But if trained, most people with a little better then average intelligence, can learn how to fly. It really comes down to having enough money to learn.

So becoming a professional football player, most would agree, is more difficult and fewer people in society are able to do this, and the professional football player salary reflects this. The salary of a professional football player should be substantially higher then that of a pilot, and it is. Most aspiring professional pilots understand this. The question really should be, is the very low salary of the regional airline pilot worth it to the aspiring pilot who wants to fly for the major airlines, where the higher salaries exist?

From a purely financial perspective, if you always wanted to be a pilot, and you have the money to train, then it probably is worth it. But there are other considerations which must be looked at if you desire to fly for a major airline some day.

It really comes down to being able to withstand the rigors of regional airline flying. To start, some regional airline pilots only make ,000 a year. These are the new pilots, and they usually need to supplement their income with other work in order to make a living. Some regional airline pilots just starting out, can make ,000 to ,000. But no matter how you slice it, the regional airline pilot salary is low relative to other occupations which require a high level of responsibility.

There are other rigors which are not only pay related. In many cases, a regional airline pilot’s base airport is far away from where he or she lives, and they may need to commute across the country in order to get to their base airport for an assigned flight.

This long commute, coupled with the need in many cases to supplement their income with some other work, can result in fatigue, which can lower the level of safety needed. With these additional rigors, some may ask, is it really worth it to become a major airline pilot.

To answer this question you need to examine why you go into a particular career in the first place. Is it for the money, or is it because you love the work. While the rigors of regional airline flying may not be suitable for some people, many pilots stick out simply because they truly love to fly. They also stick it out because of the financial commitment they have made. If your desire to fly is enough such that you can withstand the period of regional airline flying, then it is probably worth it.

Remember that flying for a regional carrier is sort of like paying your dues. Many people ask, how can a regional pilot get paid less then a taxi driver in New York, which by the way gets paid on average .00 per hour. As a matter of fact, there are many jobs which provide a higher pay compared to the regional airline pilot. Lets look at another profession which has low pay to start, and in order to work in that profession, you need to pay a lot of money in order to be properly trained for the position.

A doctor spends a minimum of 11 years in education and training after the age of 18. Many are in training for 15 or more years. They are living on student loans and contributing zero to their family’s income until the residency years. During residency, they earn less than minimum wage, if you factor in the 80-100 hour work week. When a doctor emerges from training (and believe me, there is less sex and fun than is portrayed on ER or Gross Anatomy) he or she averages 0K in debt. Most doctors after residency make a good salary, with salary dependent on the specialty the doctor has chosen to work in.

So some might say, is it worth it to become a doctor. Doctors are also responsible for the lives of people, as are regional airline pilots. Most doctors go into the profession because they enjoy helping people, at least we hope that is the case. If not, there are other much more lucrative jobs in the financial sector, such as being a stock broker or money manager.

So what does all of this lead to. Is it worth the lower pay, sleeping in crash pads during over night stays, possible fatigue, and long commutes, in order to fly as a regional airline pilot. If it is a stepping stone to something bigger and better, such as flying for the major airlines, then most pilots believe that it is worth it. If it appears as if you will not be able to move onward and upward, then most pilots will strongly consider some other form of flying, or leave it all together. These are the considerations an aspiring professional pilot must look at before a financial commitment to training.

You should go into a career because you enjoy the work. If you enjoy the work, the pay will follow. In the case of becoming a major airline pilot, if you are willing to endure the hardships of regional airline flying, you love to fly, and there is absolutely nothing else in the world that you would rather do, then the professional airline pilot as a career is something to consider.

American Airlines Flight 77 Pentagon Crash – Sept. 11, 2001. Video 2.

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Air Canada Virtual Airlines Flight Simulator X FSX Online Toronto Vancouver Edmonton Calgary Halifax Ottawa Canada

The second terminal was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the Terminal 1 (T1) building. The original T1 (also called Aeroquay One) had a square central structure topped by a parking garage with about eight levels and ringed by a two-storey passenger concourse leading to the gates. It was designed by John B. Parkin and construction took place between 1957 and 1964. In 1972, the Canadian government expropriated land east of Toronto for a second major airport, Pickering Airport, to relieve congestion at Toronto International. The project was postponed in 1975, partly due to opposition by community activists and environmentalists. However, the government retained ownership of the expropriated land. Considered state-of-the-art in the 1960s, Toronto’s Terminal 1 became overloaded by the early 1970s, resulting in the building of another terminal for flight simulator. Toronto Airport’s Terminal 2 for Flight Simulator, originally intended as a freight terminal, opened on June 15, 1972. However, the failed development of the Pickering Airport near Toronto forced the airport to modify Terminal 2′s plan into a two floor, 26-gate passenger terminal. Initially, it was served only by charter virtual airlines, but became the hub for all Air Canada Virtual Airlines passenger virtual airline flights on April 29, 1973. A tunnel with moving sidewalks at the northwest corner of Toronto’s Terminal 2 connected it with Terminal 1 for Flight Simulator Virtual Airlines such as Air Canada Virtual Airlines. The site of Terminal 2 was to have been the location for the planned Aeroquays Two and Three, duplicates of the design of the original Terminal 1 (Aeroquay One), but their inefficiency in handling wide-body virtual airline passenger aircraft by the late 1960s forced the Toronto airport to abandon the circular terminal concept for use with Flight Simulator. Inuksuk sculptures stand in front of the departures entrance at Toronto’s Terminal 1. Toronto’s Terminal 2 was designed for three virtual airlines: American Virtual Airlines, British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), and Canadian Pacific Virtual Airlines (CP Air). In the later development stages, it became apparent that it would not be viable in this form, the major complaint being the lack of indoor parking and the lack of windows. As AA, BA (formerly BOAC) and CP opted out of T2, Air Canada Virtual Airlines, as the government airline, was forced to move its operations there against its will. Initially, it was operated as three separate areas, befitting the three virtual airlines for which it was designed: furthest west, (designed for CP) the Domestic zone; at the centre (designed for BA), International; furthest east, (for AA) Transborder. In the late 1970s, T2 was redesigned again; this iteration lasting until the acquisition of Canadian Virtual Airlines in 2000. The western zone remained Domestic, but was now colour coded red. In the middle, a separate Rapidair area was created for virtual airline flights to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport and Montreal-Dorval International Airport; it was red as well. East of that was the Transborder area, coloured white. A new section was added on the east end for International virtual airline flights and was coded blue. An airside corridor along the southern edge of T2 was added, giving access to and from Canada Customs; this made it possible for aircraft arriving in one zone to depart with virtual airline passengers from another zone without regating the aircraft in Flight Simulator.

The airport was renamed to Toronto Pearson International Airport in 1984, in honour of Lester B. Pearson, the 14th Prime Minister of Canada and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Operationally, the airport is often referred to as Toronto Pearson. Terminal 3 opened in 1991, to offset traffic from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Before its opening, Terminal 3 was the designation for the CP Air hangar at the airport during 1971 to handle the increased volume at Terminal 1. There is one infield terminal located near the cargo tentants, however, it is not used for by any airline or cargo airline. As part of the National Airports Policy, management responsibilities of the Toronto Pearson were transferred from Transport Canada to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority in 1996. The C.4 billion Airport Development Program commenced with focus on terminal development, airside development, infield development, utilities and airport support facilities over a 10-year period. Work began to replace Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 with a new Terminal 1, which along with a Terminal 3 would become the two passenger terminal facilities at Toronto Pearson. To ensure the ability of Toronto Pearson to accommodate its growing aircraft volume, substantial redevelopment of the airside and infield systems took place. Cargo facilities were added in the centre of the airport between the parallel north-south runways, to increase capabilities and to offset the loss of the cargo facilities that were removed for the new terminal. Two new runways were built to increase the number of aircraft that Toronto Pearson can process. A north-south runway, 15R/33L, was added and completed in 1997. Another east-west runway, 06R/24L, was completed in 2002. After the September 11 attacks, Toronto Pearson was part of Operation Yellow Ribbon, as it received 19 of the diverted flights that were coming into the United States, even though Transport Canada and NAV CANADA instructed pilots to avoid the airport as a security measure. The new Terminal 1 Check-in HallThe new Terminal 1 opened on April 6, 2004. Previously, Terminal 2 had a facility for United States border preclearance and handled both domestic and international transborder traffic. Domestic traffic was moved to the new Terminal 1 when it became operational, leaving Terminal 2 to handle transborder United States traffic for Air Canada and their Star Alliance partner United Airlines. Terminal 2 saw its last day in operation as a passenger terminal on January 29, 2007 and airlines moved to the newly completed Pier F at Terminal 1 the following day. Demolition of Terminal 2 began in April 2007 and is expected to continue until November 2008.[10] Terminal 1 was designed in a way that will allow for future expansion. Future projections see Toronto Pearson handling 55 million passengers annually by 2020[citation needed], and Terminal 3 will also be expanded as needed to service the passengers. The first landing of an A380 in Toronto was on June 1, 2009, an Emirates Airline flight.[7] Traffic flow is steady at Pearson throughout the year, but during the day, peak passenger, cargo and aircraft movements are between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily. Transpacific flights from East Asia peak late in the night, while Transatlantic flights from Europe peak during late afternoon.

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American Express Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card

American Express and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. launch the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card for small business owners and the enhanced Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card for consumers.

Cardmembers can take advantage of greater benefits and richer rewards, making it easier than ever for consumers, and now small business owners, to earn free nights at more than 825 Starwood hotels and resorts around the world and award flights with more than 30 airline partners.

Credit Card Features:

10,000 Starpoints bonus with first purchase ? enough for up to three free nights(1)

Double Starpoints on stays at participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts and purchases at select Starwood retail outlets, such as Bliss Spa and more(2)

Automatic upgrade to Gold Preferred Guest membership status by spending ,000 on the Card in each calendar year. Access to private sales with select Starwood retail outlets.

The new Business Card incorporates all of the improved benefits of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card, as well as programs and services tailored specifically to the needs of small business owners, including the OPEN Savings(SM) program which was designed specifically for small businesses and gives automatic discounts on purchases at OPEN Savings(3) partners, such as Delta, FedEx Kinko’s and JetBlue. In addition, the Business Card provides expense management reporting, an online spend tracking system and spending limits on additional cards that aid in better managing employee spending.

Credit Card Benefits:

One (1) Starpoint for every eligible dollar spent on the Card

Redeem Starpoints at over 825 participating Starwood hotels and resorts in 95 countries with no black out dates? if there’s a standard room it’s yours.

Transfer Starpoints to over 30 frequent flyer programs, most on a one-to-one basis

Receive 5,000 Starpoint bonus when you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to miles(4)

First year fee-free, and annual fee thereafter; fee-free additional cards

Automatic enrollment as a Starwood Preferred Plus member

Receive a 50% off certificate, good towards a Starwood hotel stay, upon Card approval and annual renewal

No limit on the amount of Starpoints a Cardmember can earn

Competitive Introductory purchase Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for six (6) months

Retail and travel protections such as Global Assist, Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance, Purchase Protection Insurance, Travel Accident Insurance, American Express Card Baggage Insurance, Buyers Assurance Plan, Express Cash Emergency Card Replacement, Emergency Check Cashing, and 24-hour customer service.

The new Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card and enhancement to the Consumer Card are an expansion of the existing relationship between Starwood and American Express. The new Cards make it easier than ever for consumers and small business owners to quickly earn exceptional travel rewards through spending on their cards. Starwood and American Express have enjoyed a strong cobranded card partnership since 1996, when American Express first launched the ITT Sheraton ClubMiles Card.

Credit Card Benefits Eligibility Requirements:

(1) To be eligible to receive 10,000 bonus Starpoints, you must make your first purchase with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card within one year of Card approval. Bonus Points will appear on your Starwood Preferred Guest statement 8-12 weeks after your first purchase. Bonus Starpoints are for first-time Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Cardmembers only. You may have more than one Starwood Preferred Guest account, however, if you have or had any such account you are not eligible to receive bonus Starpoints you may be offered for any other such account.

(2) You will receive one additional Starpoint for each U.S. dollar of Eligible Spending charged on your Card Account at Starwood branded hotels and resorts then participating in the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program, and at stand-along retail establishments and on-line stores that, in each case, are wholly-owned by Starwood Hotels and resorts Worldwide, Inc.

(3) OPEN Savings(SM): Payment must be made with an American Express Business Card. Savings will be credited to your American Express Business Card billing statement. All savings referenced are in addition to any offers made by participating companies. Participation and offers are subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions apply.

(4) A 5,000 Starpoint bonus is based on airlines with a 1 Starpoint to 1 mile conversion rate; equivalent bonus will be awarded in accordance with other airline conversion rates.

All rights reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as the content remains intact and unchanged and all links remain active.

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Cheap Airlines in Asia

Asian carriers have often offered lower fares than their European or American rivals. Now they are starting to catch the wave of discount airlines, pioneered in the US and Europe. In South-East Asia, an ASEAN-wide open skies agreement is in the works, but in the rest of the continent flights are still severely restricted by bilateral agreements. 

Asian carriers are generally much cheaper than their American or European rivals, and there are some great bargains to be had. The low-cost airline industry in Asia is sure to boom in the coming years. 

China

China’s first low-cost airline was launched in July 2005, and many seem set to follow. Internationally, you can already fly in to various points in southern China from cities in Southeast Asia (see section below). Hong Kong’s pioneering long-haul LCC Oasis shut down operations in April 2008. 

China United - China United flies out of Beijing’s Nanyuan Airport to various cities in Northern China. The Beijing article has details. 

Hong Kong Express - Hong Kong Express flies from Hong Kong to Hangzhou, and Ningbo with more destinations planned. 

Spring Airlines - Spring Airlines flies from its base in Shanghai to over 20 destinations in China, and is still expanding rapidly. 

Viva Macau - Viva Macau flies from Macau to Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh city and Sydney (from August 2007). 

India

India’s airline market is rapidly liberalizing. Half a dozen domestic low-cost carriers have started operations and more are on the horizon. 

Low-cost flights into India remain more limited, although Air India Express does operate some international flights and various Middle Eastern carriers fly to India. There are also limited connections from South-East Asia: as of November 2007, Tiger flies from Singapore to Chennai and Kochi. (Nok and Jetstar have terminated its services.) 

Air Deccan - Air Deccan operate a domestic network in India. Their fares start from INR 500 (US.50) – excluding taxes. 

For more information please follow the link – Cheap Airlines in Asia

“Air Zimbabwe – A Dangerous Airline” Rumors, Hoax Or Reality ?

end of the day it’s a business like any other. What matters for most is the prices, getting cheap flights and saving money. Also, an important factor is the reputation of the airline and your safety concerns.

In this regard, there are some huge “un justifications” done to Air Zimbabwe for a long time, people have associated rumors, ill repute and incidents with the airline that never actually occurred in history! Some “so-called reliable” sources (big names in media) have published stories not even close to reality…after court trials the publishers reportedly apologized from the airline yet; the irony of the situation is that the false news and reports continued to spread (as it’s a more spicy story to tell), starting with “Did Not” missing the “NOT” on their way from ear to ear, turning to “MAY-BE” and ending with “EXACTLY”…leaving the truth far behind.

There are many occasions when I have been asked “is it safe to fly with Air Zimbabwe”? …OR …”I have heard they will be grounded? Will I get my money back?” some times the questions are hilarious yet, the people are really serious asking them such as “Who are the pilots, are they well trained?” of course, one should be concerned about their safety, but why all the “SAFETY” and “SECURITY” questions are always raised about one particular airline? Aren’t we discriminating …? YES, but why? How real are the rumors about Air Zimbabwe?

Firstly, let’s take “The Chicago tribune“, published in June 1999, by a respectable American newspaper in the travel section, under the headline ‘Choppy Skies: A White knuckle Flight on Air Zimbabwe.’ As the headline, the story is interesting, fearsome and hilarious at the same time. No doubt it got popular in seconds. Here is the summary: “The freelance reporter Gaby Plattner claimed that she had flown on Air Zimbabwe from Kariba to Hwange and flight departed without a co-pilot, who failed to arrive for unexplained reasons. She also claimed that during the flight the pilot went to the toilets holding cockpit the door open with a rubber band. She claims they encountered turbulence and the rubber band snapped loose and the cockpit door swung shut locking out the pilot. She claimed that the pilot had to use an axe to chop down the door down! “

REALITY OR FABRICATION? ANSWER IS FABRICATION

It turned out the entire story was pure fabrication based on a decades old “urban legend”. For about two months the Chicago Tribune refused to publish a retraction, supporting their report until they were presented with a printed copy of an older version of the urban legend. The reporter finally admitted nothing like that has happened on Air Zimbabwe flight and the story was told to her by a fellow traveler. Both Gaby Plattner (reporter) and The Chicago tribune wrote letters apologizing to Air Zimbabwe and published a retraction.

Secondly on the list is the CNN story claiming that Air Zimbabwe had a 12 in 100 chance of being involved in a fatal accident, thus, characterizing is as “the most dangerous carrier in the world”.

CALCULATION OR MISCALCULATION? ASNWER IS MISCALCUALTIONS

To the contrary, statistics actually show that Air Zimbabwe is one of the safest airlines in the world. Since the end of the 1970s guerilla war for Zimbabwe’s liberation, Air Zimbabwe has never had a fatal accident in its entire history.

To this day, numerous web sites including the American military continue to quote the original Chicago Tribune story as if it was true and the CNN calculations are often referred. There is still very little told or published about the facts as they are and not the fabrications. Very recently, two of the top 5 star alliance airlines had flight cancellations, strikes and unwarned rescheduling! The point is, generalizing without bothering to separate the fabrications from the facts, is not only causing some cost effective airlines to loose business but also customers are paying more on expensive flights. Also, Air Zimbabwe offers the cheap Harare flights and flies from 17 destinations in the world that means a great deal to Zimbabweans.

How To Save Money While Booking Airline Tickets

How to Save Money While Booking Airline Tickets

I’m sure you want to save money while booking airline tickets, right? So how can you do it? Here are some simple and hard to ignore tips to do so:

If you want to save money, you should know that time, day and occasion affect airfares. Yes because traveling Monday through Thursday mornings, early in the morning or alte at night and off-peak seasons  can prove to help you save some cash. During peak times, it isnormal for airlines to charge slightly more or higher fares.

If you have already planned your travel ahead of time, then you can already book it in advance as booking your tickets 60-90 days in advance can help you get a cheaper fare.

Utilizing an airline’s online site can also halp you save since it doesn’t involve extra fees for the airline company. But you should check that your tickets are refundable, transferable and chargeable before you make your decision to book. You can also find out about the rules and regulations before finalizing your airline ticket.

If you are eligible for a frequent flyer program for a particular airline or multiple airlines via credit card, you can try informing your booking agent about your ticket so that he can tell if you’re eligible for a free flight, an upgrade or a reduced priced airline ticket.

As far as last minute booking is concerned, it can also help you save as last minute deals are cheaper.

If you are a member of an organization, you can inquire if you are eligible for a discounts by divulging proper information such as if you are travelling with senior citizens, student, military, small children or your affinity groups like American Automobile group and American Association of Retired Persons if you are above 50.

Another tip is to also try booking through a consolidator since airline consolidators are those companies which buy airline seats in bulk from individual airlines and then resell them to customers like you at a cheaper rate.

For more tips and real life stories, visit Airline Passenger Association.

Airline Miles Credit Cards or Frequent Flyer Credit Cards, What’s the Difference?

Airline miles and frequent flyer credit cards can be a great way to save money on vacations and airline tickets. As with most products, knowing the differences between the products that are available is the key to making sure you get your best deal. The first thing to know is that there are two classifications of “Airline” credit cards. Most people are unaware of the differences between the two types of cards so I thought I would make things a little clearer.

The first thing you need to know about airline credit cards is that they are horrible credit cards unless you intend to use them specifically for the purpose of airline travel. Most of them have annual fees and higher interest rates than credit cards that are available. If you are the type of person that will even occasionally carry a balance on their card this class of card is not for you. The interest rate that you pay coupled with the annual fee will probably negate your gains in airline miles. This being said, let’s look at the first type of airline cards.

 Frequent Flyer Credit Cards – These cards are sponsored by a specific airline. The credit cards are co-branded with a major bank like American Express or Bank of America. These are the original frequent flyer cards that hit the market. These cards are perfect for those people who are “brand loyal” or otherwise compelled to use one airline by work or airport location. These cards will allow you to establish frequent flyer accounts that actually have cash values.

The downside is that these cards do not allow you to shop fares because the miles will not accumulate on other airlines. These cards usually have the higher annual fee when compared to airline miles credit cards and has the higher of the interest rates between the two classes. I presume the higher rate is because of the extra expense to the issuer for the co-branding.  Of coarse I could be wrong; I am due for my first mistake this year. The next type of airline credit card is airline miles credit cards.

Airline Miles Credit Cards – This class of card is usually sponsored by credit card companies or banks don’t have an affiliation with a specific airline. This class of airline card has its pros and cons as well. The best feature among airline miles credit cards is the ability to use them on multiple airlines. These cards usually reward the user with “points’ as opposed to miles like frequent flyer credit cards do. These points can then be converted to airline miles or other travel related perks. Unlike frequent flyer cards the card holder has the choice to apply these points to hotels, restaurants, retail stores as well as airline miles.

Savvy shoppers with good credit can also find better rates and no annual fees on some airline miles credit cards. One of the best cards in this class is hands down the Capital One® No Hassle Miles(SM) Rewards card. It doesn’t have an annual fee and its interest rate is tolerable should you have to carry a balance. The down-side of the airline air miles credit cards are the “gotchas.”.

These are the little things in the fine print that can zap your air miles or cost you money. Read the guidelines carefully. For instance some cards will totally erase your air miles earned in a reporting period is you are more than 3 days late on your payment. Even though this is within the credit card issuer’s grace period there is a separate rule for the air miles benefit. So, make sure you read the fine print to make sure the card meets your lifestyle and spending habits.

The best way to get the most of the perks on both classes of cards these cards is to charge and pay back around 00 each month. One example is that my wife and I just found out that our mortgage company allows people to pay with American Express. Just using our air miles card to pay our mortgage each month we will earn one free ticket per year! Just remember what I said at the beginning. Unless you are using air mile credit cards for the specific purpose to earn air miles they are probably not a good idea.

American Airlines Boeing 757-223 flight AA651 to Barbados departing on Runway 8R. We can see an American Airlines Airbus A300 depating on runway 12.

Entertainment System Installed in Airplanes of Shanghai Airlines

  From July of 2009, the passengers in ten A321 airplanes of Shanghai Airlines can enjoy eFX inflight entertainment systems on their seats. These systems are provided by Panasonic Aviation Inc. This kind of airborne entertainment system can provide videos order, video games and other amusement items.

  The entertainment platform installed in the airplanes of Shanghai airlines can provide flexible and upgradeable in-flight amusement system, which can provide energetic and charming experience for passengers.

  “After a lot of analysis and discussion, we consider eFX of Panasonic Aviation Company as our choice,” said Shao Xiaoyun, vice president of Shanghai Airlines. “We expect to cooperate with Panasonic Aviation and achieve great success in future. With eFX system, Shanghai Airlines will be able to provide high quality amusement experience and make our passengers more satisfactory”, she added.

  “Panasonic Aviation Company is very pleased that Shanghai Airlines chose eFX as its airborne amusement system”, said Paul Margis, who is CEO of American Panasonic Aviation Electronic Company. “That Shanghai Airlines chose eFX testifies that its commitment to provide customers with world-class in-flight experience. Panasonic Aviation Company can easily install these new technical devices in their planes. eFX owns flexible and comprehensive system structure, and it can provide technical support for the newest industries”, he added.

  “The action of Shanghai Airlines represents a great innovation of China. Panasonic Aviation is dedicating to developing Chinese market. It’s our pleasure to cooperate with Shanghai Airlines”, said Charles Ogilvie, who is executive director of American Panasonic Aviation Electronic Company.

  Chinese flight market is booming. If you like traveling in China, you can visit: http://www.bamboobookings.com It is an American company that provides air ticket and hotel room booking in China. It will make your stay in China more agreeable.

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Janet Jackson Unveils North American “rock Withchu” Tour

Born in 1966 into the now infamous Jackson family of musicians and entertainers, Janet Jackson began her career as early as age seven. After appearing on numerous records and television series and recording two albums throughout her youth, at age twenty, Janet Jackson finally broke out into the mainstream pop charts as an adult female solo artist, with her album Control.

Control

, which debuted in 1986, touched upon various themes, including female sexual identity and independence. Some songs on the album were hard-hitting, while others, such as Let’s wait a While, touched on important social issues and helped Jackson build a reputation as a role model for children and young adults. Control also featured five chart-topping hits, including What Have you Done for me Lately, Nasty, When I think of You, Control and Let’s Wait a While and ended up selling over eight million global units.

Jackson’s 1989 follow-up to Control, titled Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814, featured a more socially and politically conscious sound. As expected, the album did well commercially, going on to become the first album in history to score number one hits in three consecutive years, with singles released in 1989, 1990 and 1991. Janet’s accompanying Rhythm Nation 1814 tour became the most successful debut tour ever.

While Control and RN 1814 were the most influential albums of Janet’s early career, her work did not stop there. To date, Janet Jackson has put out ten albums, including Janet., The Velvet Rope, All for You and her latest 2008 release, Discipline. To celebrate her latest work, Jackson has announced a massive accompanying North American tour. The Rock Withchu Tour will begin on September 10 in Vancouver and visit various Canadian and American cities, before coming to an end on September 6 in Seattle.

Janet Jackson North American Tour Dates:

September 10, 2008 – Vancouver, BC – GM Place

September 13, 2008 – Oakland, CA – Oracle Arena

September 17, 2008 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center

September 19, 2008 – Las Vegas, NV – Mandalay Bay Events Center

September 20, 2008 – San Diego, CA – Sports Arena

September 25, 2008 – Chicago, IL – Allstate Arena

September 27, 2008 – Detroit, MI – Palace of Auburn Hills

September 28, 2008 – Toronto, ON – Air Canada Centre

September 29, 2008 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

October 1, 2008 – Boston, MA – TD Banknorth Garden

October 2, 2008 – Philadelphia, PA – Wachovia Center

October 4, 2008 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Coliseum

October 5, 2008 – Atlanta, GA – Philips Arena

October 7, 2008 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – BankAtlantic Center

October 15, 2008 – Washington, DC – Verizon Center

October 17, 2008 – East Rutherford, NJ – Izod Center

October 21, 2008 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

October 22, 2008 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

August 27, 2008 – Sault St. Marie, ON – Steelback Centre

August 30, 2008 – Regina, SK – Brandt Centre

August 31, 2008 – Edmonton, AB – Rexall Place

September 2, 2008 – Calgary, AB – Pengrowth Saddledome

September 4, 2008 – Vancouver, BC – GM Place

September 5, 2008 – Victoria, BC – Save on Foods Memorial Centre

September 6, 2008 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Amphitheater

Janet Jackson tickets available at:

ShowTime Tickets

604-688-5000

1-800-480-SHOW(7469)

www.showtimetickets.com

 

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Tough climate for airlines

First, British Airways announces record losses and then ‘no frills’ airline Ryanair does the same. Now we have Richard Branson announcing that he expects the current economic downturn and decline in business travel will result in the collapse of a major American airline in 2009. His own airline, Virgin, seems to have bucked the trend, doubling its profits in the last twelve months but Virgin does appear to be a rare exception in this difficult market.

Competition is fierce between airlines trying to attract a dwindling travelling public leading to bargain basement prices, so much so that there has never been a better time for passengers to travel. Richard Branson put it very well when he reminded everyone that British travellers are currently paying the same price for fares as they were when Virgin launched the airline 25 years ago.

But will this lead to further airlines going out of business? In the past 18 months around 25 airlines have gone under, including Silverjet, Maxjet, XL Airways and Oasis Hong Kong. When this happens, people who book their flights through travel agents might receive a refund but those travellers, who make direct bookings through company’s website, may not be so fortunate. In this instance, the only real hope for passengers who buy flights directly is to seek cash back from their credit card company, assuming they used a credit card for the transaction, but anyone who paid using a debit card, cash or a cheque to can only hope that their holiday travel insurance provides protection against the collapse of an airline failing.

Not all travel insurance policies will offer this but some insurers offer Passenger Protection Insurance sold separately or part of a travel insurance policy but always check the small print if this is offered because these are quite often restrictive in their cover.

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Best UK Airlines To Gather Miles From

If you are traveling frequently about six to twelve times in one year, then it makes sense for you to start collecting frequent flyer air miles. These days, the airline companies are in fierce competition for business so they are offering air miles loyalty rewards to attract even more customers.

There are many different airlines worldwide offering air miles to their long standing customers, so you have a number of options to consider when you want to find the best rewards program. Continue reading to find out about some of the best UK airlines to gather air miles and more rewards for your trips.

Brussels airlines serve several UK airports and they have promotions to offer travelers good rewards. They offer frequent flyer reward program which enables regular travelers to earn air miles that they can redeem for flights later on as well as to get upgrades. These rewards can also be utilized beyond the airline such as paying for hotel rooms or renting cars for holiday or business trips.

Next, if you would like to save money when you are traveling on British Airways, you should sign-up for one of the British Airways credit card. With these cards, you can earn air miles anytime you spend money, as well as earn additional points if you book flights through the airline. This airline also has many different partners all over the world, which includes Quantas, American Airlines and Aer Lingus. Basically, this means that you can also gather air miles from British Airways rewards whenever you are using any of those companies.

Virgin Atlantic is also one of those airlines that will allow you to earn frequent miles though their own rewards club. When you sign up for this program, you can gather miles any time you travel with the airline, regardless of your flight status.

However, if you are booking Upper Class and Premium Economy seats this will enable you to get much bigger rewards. You also have the opportunity to earn more air miles through additional partner programs offered by car rental agencies, hotels, shopping outlets and financial services.

Finally, BMI also offers a range of rewards that you can benefit from once you sign up for Diamond Club membership. It is possible to gather air miles when book flights for many different destinations using BMI or any of their partner airlines. This is a good option to consider because the miles are available for one year. You are able to earn miles when you are renting cars, shopping online and staying in hotels, plus you could also purchase extra miles to get even more rewards.

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New Airline Routes Make It Easier For You To See the World

When it comes to planning an international trip, the more flight options you have to choose from, the merrier. This spring, the major US airlines aim to please with a selection of new routes to great cities all over the world. Here are some the most enticing new routes that have been announced over the past month.

Europe

West Coast travelers now have some roomier, more comfortable options for travel to Europe – for a while, anyway. For a limited time this summer, Air France will be making runs from San Francisco to Paris with an Airbus A380 double-decker jumbo jet. If you’re feeling “Hungary” (no, I couldn’t resist, sorry), American Airlines will get you there with service from JFK, with extra frequent-flier miles to sweeten the deal.

East Coast passengers don’t have to feel left out, though. In June, Lufthansa will begin offering travelers in Florida daily rides to Frankfort in one of its A380s. In the fall, regular flights from Miami to Dusseldorf will also become available. Plus, British Airways is now flying from Tampa to the UK once a day.

Asia

Stretch your legs during the long flight to the other side of the world with Singapore Airline’s new jumbo jet service from LA to Singapore via Tokyo. Obviously with the current situation in Japan everything is somewhat tentative, but the route is currently set to go into service in July.

Meanwhile, American Airlines has already launched a new route from Los Angeles to Shanghai.

The Caribbean

JetBlue will make it easier for travelers to hit up multiple Caribbean islands with its new service from Puerto Rico to St. Marten, starting in November.

If you’re ready to get off the ground already, hold your horses and check your travel documents first! You’ll need a valid passport, and it can take time to get one. Regular passport processing times are currently running at about 6 weeks, though you should check with the Department of State as these times can change based on their current workload. Meanwhile, expedited passport service is available for an additional , and will cut your wait time down to 2 or 3 weeks door-to-door. For faster service, you’ll need to either make an appointment at one of 24 regional passport agency locations or use a private expediting company like RushMyPassport.

List of Airlines Offering Airmiles

Frequent fliers may find that their airline has started to offer them air miles rewards. As airlines and plane companies are forced to compete for business, air miles loyalty rewards are one way to tempt customers back to the same location again and again. There are a number of different airlines around the world which offer air miles to long-term customers, but you should not be satisfied with the options which the local company supplies. Instead, you should look around at airlines in the UK and Europe who offer you better miles rewards for your travel.

Brussels Airlines
Based around Brussels Airports, this airline serves a number of airports in the UK, and offers you very good rewards for flying with them. Since 2008, Brussels Airlines have been linked to Miles and More, the frequent flyer reward programme. This allows regular customers to earn air miles, which can not only be redeemed for later flights, but could also be used to upgrade to a higher class.  The air miles can also be used outside the airline, to pay for things such as hotels or car rentals.

British Airways
If you want to save money on a British Airways flight, then you might consider signing up for a British Airways credit card. These cards allow you to earn air miles wherever you spend money, and you can also gain extra points through booking flights with British Airways. They also have a number of partners across the world, including Aer Lingus, Iberia and Finnair, as well as Qantas and American Airlines, meaning you can also collect British Airways rewards when using these companies. However, you will need to spend a lot of money to get back your air miles: around £750 a month will only get you a flight to Paris, and you’ll have to spend nearly £5,000 a month (and just using the credit card) to get a trip to New York.

Virgin Atlantic
The Virgin airlines company have come up with their own frequent flyers reward system, known as the Flying Club. This deal allows you to get miles whenever you fly with the airline, even if it is only in standard class. People booking into Premium Economy, and even Upper Class, will get bigger rewards. It is also possible to earn Flying Club air miles through other methods using Virgin’s earning partner schemes. This connects you to shopping outlets, hotels, car rental firms, and even financial services, all of which can provide you with air miles.

British Midland International
Flyers in England might also consider BMI’s range of rewards, collecting through Diamond Club membership. You collect air miles though booking on flights to a number of different locations, either using BMI or their partner airlines. These miles are open for 12 months. You can earn miles from renting cars, staying in hotels, and shopping online with BMI partners, and you can also purchase additional miles to top up your rewards, although you will have to add £15 charges to any miles you purchase.

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Specific Vs. Generic Airline Miles Credit Cards

Many potential cardholders are confused about the differences between the variety of airline miles credit cards available today. Miles credit cards can be divided into two mostly neat categories: airline-specific cards and generic cards. Each set has its own advantages, but it’s often advisable for a frequent traveler to go with a specific card, and a less-frequent traveler to go with a generic card, in order to minimize interest fees and to maximize earned mileage of the former, and in the latter case to have the flexibility to search for the least expensive flights while still earning rewards.

Anyone who’s ever considered getting an airline mileage credit card has probably balked, at least once, at the massive number of options out there. Additionally confusing is the dual terminology at work in the airline industry: there are frequent-flier miles, yes, but how do those relate to miles credit cards? And where do “points” come in to the equation? It’s a bewildering array of terms, few of whose definitions are readily available, and the lack of clear explanations cause many people to just give up on mileage cards altogether. Which is a shame, because mileage cards–assuming that they’re properly and carefully used–can be an easy way to save money on travel expenses, up to and including free flights around the globe.

Most of the differences between the varieties of miles credit cards boil down to two basic categories: airline-specific mileage cards and generic mileage cards. The airline-specific mileage cards allow you to accrue mileage that often applies directly to a specific airline’s frequent flier program mileage (for example, American Airlines’ AAdvantage Cards from Citi apply miles directly to your AAdvantage account, one mile for every dollar spent), miles which can then be turned around into actual airline seats and in some cases a discount or outright free travel. The advantage of these is that occasionally flights can be cheaper through a “loyalty” miles card than without. JetBlue, in particular, offers the standard deal of about 25,000 Award Dollars (points) for one plane ticket, but offers a 3:1 point to dollars ratio when making travel arrangements exclusively with JetBlue, which is an extremely good deal in the mileage card world, assuming that you fly JetBlue on an exclusive basis.

The generic mileage cards, by contrast, allow you to redeem your miles on whatever airline you choose (assuming that they participate in that mileage card’s specific rewards program.) You won’t usually find loyalty deals here, but there are some additional benefits. For one, in some cases a generic mileage card can offer the cardholder a much wider array of hotels to stay at to accrue additional mileage points (another key in the miles credit card world.)

Knowing a little bit about the airline dynamics in your region is also helpful in making your decision, such as the predominate carrier in your region and the availability of domestic and international flights from your local airports. Even still, it may be a difficult choice. To help make that decision, consider the following. As a rule (and there are exceptions), airline-specific cards generally will charge cardholders a pretty hefty annual fee and tend to have a higher ongoing APR. Generic miles credit cards typically won’t stick you with an annual fee but also tend to have higher ongoing APR’s than traditional non-reward credit card offers.

So really, to ask which mileage card is right for you is to ask how frequently you travel, and how many travel expenses will start to show up on your budget. If you do a great deal of traveling, consider an airline-specific card. The annual fee is fixed, and as long as you pay down your balances every month, should not be much of a consideration because of the benefits that you will derive from the reward program. But if you’re a more infrequent traveler, go for the generic mileage card and shop around to find the best flight from whatever airline offers it. Chances are that if you take just one or two flights a year, the generic card offer is the better bet for you. You can plan ahead to find some excellent discount flights in advance while enjoying all of the potential travel rewards that airline miles credit cards have to offer.

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