2011 wasn't a banner year for Japan, not to mention for any industry in the country. We saw the ripple effects of natural disasters throughout the aviation world with the Japanese earthquake and resulting tsunami topping the list. What can be more indicative of Japanese pride, but to quickly rebuild stronger and better? Fortunately for us, airlines are towards the top of the progress.

· Peachy Keen
Last year we talked about the introduction of ANA's budget carrier based out of Osaka, Peach. With only 3 destinations, the airline will draw business passengers, eventually moving into the leisure market. Flights are taking off in March and tickets are already to purchase.

Happy Peach Fares have no baggage allowance or advanced seat selection but are quite affordable at around $175 return to Sapporo. If you need the sweet little perks, cough up about $75 more. Happy Peach Plus fares allow you to pick where you park yourself on the plane and some space in the belly for your luggage. With a bright purple livery and cabin, Peach is on our short list! ]]> jetflyboy 2012-01-03T11:26:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/12/27/103135/46

And just like that, social photo sharing app Instagram is super hot. Sure it's only just celebrated its one-year anniversary as an iPhone app, but recent contests and exposure given to it by brands and influential figures in social media have pushed it over the edge. Heck, we jumped in head first! And we're freaking loving it. (Follow us by searching "jaunted" & "hotelchatter" in the app).

It's not just people posting images of their kids eating birthday cake or close-ups of kitty paws, either; Instagram seems to be spreading most rapidly among those interested in design, architecture, analogue photography, nature and—of course—the rest of the world. This is where travel images enter the game, and the airlines are paying attention.

We ran a fine-toothed comb through Instagram to find the airlines you need to follow now, and who else to watch: ]]> JetSetCD 2011-12-27T13:09:42-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/9/7/13180/20061

Just as the internet is always in need of more cute cat photos, similarly adorable drawn manga characters are just as well received online. Thus we feel crazy compelled to share a sweet little discovery the other day, while strolling though the Night Market of Hua Hin, Thailand.

We spotted, bought and devoured a Thai magazine named Take Off, which has such glossy centerfolds such as the Pokemon-painted ANA plane as well as in-depth reporting on other fledgling Southeast Asia airlines. It also has cute features like a whole page devoted to manga-like sketches of airline uniforms... ]]> JetSetCD 2011-09-07T14:30:03-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/25/75728/7823

If you didn’t book your tickets last week for Richard Branson’s in-flight drag performance, you might have a little more time to do so, as it looks like the charity flight will be delayed once again.

Originally things were scheduled for April 1 and then May 1, but now things are being pushed back until July 4. The problem this time is that there are just too many people flying in and out of London to celebrate the Royal Wedding—that’s this Friday in case you didn’t hear. So the flight should leave from London on July 4 on its way to Kuala Lumpur. ]]> kjb 2011-04-25T15:02:05-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/4/18/92512/9740

There’s less than a month to go until Richard Branson finally walks down the aisle—of an airplane—dressed head to toe as a flight attendant. We’re just wondering if he’s going to sport those snazzy new heels that are on their way to his ladies at Virgin Atlantic.

What happened was he lost a bet with Air Asia's CEO Tony Fernandes regarding whose F1 racing team would have a better 2010 season. Team Lotus did a little better, so now Richard Branson gets to dress in drag and serve drinks on an Air Asia X flight from Kuala Lumpur to London. We like that the man is true to his word and recognizes that a bet is a bet, but more so that he has a great sense of humor. ]]> kjb 2011-04-18T09:39:57-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/3/29/83350/1261

Do you enjoy seeing billionaires publicly embarrassed? Then have we got a date for you to mark on your calendar. May 1 is the reschedule date for the Air Asia X flight from Kuala Lumpur to London on which Sir Richard Branson will dress in drag and serve as a flight attendant. Of course this is due to him losing a bet with Air Asia's CEO Tony Fernandes over whose F1 racing team would have a better 2010 season. Fernandes' Lotus won the bet and now, instead of Tony as a Virgin Atlantic trolley dolly, Branson will don an Air Asia skirt suit (hopefully specially made).

You'd think this whole stunt would be best suited to April 1—April Fool's Day—but it's already been delayed. The original drag day was planned for February 21, but had to be postponed due to Branson breaking his leg (after another skier ran into him) on the slopes in Switzerland. ]]> JetSetCD 2011-03-29T09:32:40-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/10/13/13131/035
This Photoshop comes courtesy of Lotus Racing (Fernandes' team)

Okay, are you sitting down? Listen to this crazy news: Richard Branson made a bet with Air Asia CEO Tony Fernandes that could have one of them cross-dressing in a flight attendant uniform, to work for a day onboard the winner's airline. OMG. It all focuses around this Formula One racing season and the fact that Virgin sponsors a racing team as does Air Asia, so the CEOs are pitted against each other.

ESPN explains how all this funny business got started: ]]> JetSetCD 2010-10-13T08:44:47-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/