LAX - SYD is the definition of the long haul route. For years Qantas and United have dominated this route, but VAustralia has jumped into the fray and is attempting to redefine the way we fly to Australia. How did they do? The full flight review is after the jump.
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So my Chile trip began late due to LA traffic (not because of my personal tardiness of course).
Typically you are supposed to arrive to the airport at least 2 hours before an international flight. I arrived a bit less an hour and a half before my LAX--Lima(LIM)--Santiago(SCL) . ]]>
With the majority of their flights landing there and a new terminal on the way, it's pretty clear that JetBlue loves itself some JFK.
But the carrier has slowly started adding flights to Orlando International Airport as well, and beginning early next year, MCO will see a new JetBlue flight to Bogotá. If the service on this new offering is similar to the carrier's other international efforts, then we're in for a treat.]]>
Throughout all the bankruptcies, fuel cost woes and airline travel nightmares this year, the only noise out of Porter Airlines has been the addition of flights to Chicago. But it seems that no news is good news, as the carrier stacks up positive reviews.
Several Flyertalk users continue to praise the airline, including this one:
]]>I just flew Porter for the first time down to EWR for a business meeting in NYC.... Check in and the departure lounge are great. The departure lounge is as good as the AC Maple Leaf Club in Pearson or one of the new UA Red Carpet Clubs in the US. The flight was about half full. We were the only flight at US Customs in EWR.
I do a lot of business-related traveling between Toronto and BOS so I'll be buying Porter passes as soon as Porter starts BOS service.
Airplanes without jet engines aren't for everyone, but great service is--and that's apparently what Porter Airlines is all about. We've shed light onto their unique business model before, and now the New York Post has done the same.
Best part of all is that the Porter "experience" is far better than anything currently available on this route [Toronto City Centre to Newark]. Come to think of it, I don't know of any commuter service (Porter uses sleek, but still turbo-prop, Bombardier Q400's) that has a sense of style and offers free sandwiches, free quality booze (Niagara wine! Belgian beer!) and its own-brand bottled water from some no-doubt-verdant valley in Quebec.
The real joy, though, is arriving in and departing from Toronto, where they've kitted out their very own terminal. The departures lounge is just like a business class lounge anywhere else--espresso machine, free internet, snacks, a help-yourself cooler of soft drinks.
Frugal Traveler Matt Gross also enjoyed his recent trip with Porter.
Here's hoping they stick around. But if not, we pray that someone else buys the swanky lounge so we can still get buzzed on triple lattes and use the free WiFi.
Related Stories:
· Porter Airlines [Official Site]
· First Look: Porter Airlines [NYP]
· Porter Airlines coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: veggiefrog]]]>
Ryanair may have a smokin' hot cabin crew but that does little to placate the increasing number of Treviso-bound passengers who are being re-routed to other airports to land.
The main excuses are fog, rain and low visibility. Instead of landing at Treviso, flights are sent all over Northern Italy and then passengers are bussed back. The most frequent detour seems to be to Brescia (2 hour bus ride away).
University of London student, Patrick Kendrick, gives us the play by play from his recent $125 London to Treviso (to Brescia) flight: ]]>
Chicago Tribune reporter John Hilkevitch recently braved sampled Skybus' service--now once-daily to Greensboro, NC--from Gary Airport "outside of Chicago" (in Gary, IN). The Trib's got two of his videos up, plus a written review. Just like Skybus itself, Hilkevitch's praise is simple and to-the-point.
He knows that the shilling onboard is, in fact, ridiculous (though he has a "soft spot for the beef jerky"), but was pleased enough, given the low fare and early arrivals:
On the day I booked the airfare on the Internet, the same non-stop itinerary to Greensboro from O'Hare International Airport was $756.48 on United Airlines and $1,118.97 on US Airways. And neither of those serves beef jerky.
It also didn't hurt that both my outbound and inbound flights landed 20 minutes early—and the two United flights to O'Hare were listed as delayed.
So what's in the trip to Greensboro for tourists from the Chicago area? Sayeth the report: "There are some connecting flights [in Greensboro] to places that people may actually want to go..." Hee. (He does later call Greensboro "beautiful.")
Related Stories:
· It's no flight of fancy... [Chicago Tribune]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]]]>