If the person next to you looks excited to be in the air during a commuter flight, he could be a plant! UK discount carrier Flybe was facing a $550,000 bill from Norwich International Airport for not making passenger quotas, so they hired 172 people to pose as passengers on their Dublin-Norwich runs.

At less than $80 a head, this subterfuge saved the airline about $545,000--but now Norwich officials have found out, and they're angry.

We'd love to interview the evil genius at Flybe who came up with this plan: We'll be suspicious of our fellow passengers forevermore.

Related Stories:
· Airline Hires Temps to Fill Plane [Reuters, via Yahoo]
· Flybe: A Budget Airline with Its Own Credit Card [Jaunted]

[Photo: kpmarek]]]> egw 2008-04-01T14:15:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2006/10/4/1633/55350
Looking for a quick weekend getaway in the Northeast this fall? Don't bother with the Long Island vineyards or the apple orchards right now. It's peak season, and trust us, the parking there is worse than Times Square around Christmas time.

Head to the quaint Norwich Inn in Connecticut. Yes, also known as the Spa at Norwich Inn, it's an old-style weekend place reminiscent of Funny Farm, except everything works here. Located on 42 acres in eastern Connecticut, the inn has 100 guest rooms, suites, and private villas, with features like fireplaces and balconies. The spa has all the facials, creams, massages, and anti-aging treatments any girl could ask for, and for the boys? If the indian summer cooperates, they can hit up the neighboring Lake of Isles Golf Academy to tune up with PGA professionals. Dining options include a pub, as well as a full-service restaurant with full-fat options for the guys and no-fat options for the ladies.

If you're a non-car owning city dweller, hop on Amtrak to New London, CT and a cab will get you to the inn in about 20 minutes. As for that Long Island getaway you were eyeing...what does one do with 2 bushels of apples, anyway? They always just end up going bad, unless we get sick of eating them first.]]> sedona 2006-10-05T11:05:02-05:00 41.501744 -72.096496 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/