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Kevin Costner Shills For Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines wants you to feel like a flight attendant is always hovering over your shoulder on your next flight. The Star Alliance member tapped Kevin Costner for its latest commercial, which features the "Field of Dreams" actor making significant eye contact with an attendant who then serves him dinner and puts in his bookmark (not a euphemism) as a bouncy tune suggests he "feel[s] like a star." Let's just hope he didn't show her the business in gratitude.

We saw this spot over and over on CNN International last month and never once registered that it was Costner. (In fact, we didn't even remember the airline name, just the tune as heard through a haze of jet lag.)

That said, doesn't his presence actually undermine the claim that anyone flying Turkish Airlines will feel like a star, considering Costner was an A-lister at one point and is still pretty famous. Maybe they teamed up with him because of his long and happy history with turkeys from "Waterworld" to "Swing Vote." Costner has actually been to Turkey before, though, on a world tour with his country band, Kevin Costner and Modern West.

Turkish Airlines recently suffered a nasty crash outside Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in February in which nine died as the plane broke into three places in a botched landing.

Related Stories:
· Kevin Costner Rounds Out The Wacky Crowd At Tribeca Grand [HC]
· Turkish Arlines Jet Crashes Outside Schiphol Airport [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Tragedy / Turkish Airlines / Disasters / AMS / Chesley Sullenberger / → All Tags

Turkish Airlines Jet Crashes Outside Schiphol Airport

A Turkish Airlines 737 carrying 134 passengers from Istanbul crashed into a field outside Amsterdam Schiphol Airport today.

After initial reports that all of the passengers and the crew survived comes the news that nine people have died in the crash. Twenty people are also reported to be seriously injured. From the NY Times:

Candan Karlitekin, the chairman of Turkish Airlines, said most of the injured were seated at the back of the plane. “There was nothing extraordinary about the weather conditions, vision capability was 4,500 meters. Around 500 meters away from the landing strip, the plane landed in a field. The plane was broken into three parts, as you all saw in pictures.” ”

No one is sure yet as to why the plane crashed with Turkish Airlines saying the pilot was one of their most experienced pilots on staff. Investigations are obviously underway to determine what could have brought the plane down just three miles away from the airport runway.

Further shaking our faith in the aviation industry is Flight 1549 hero Capt. Sully who told U.S. Congress yesterday that the best airline pilots are quitting the commercial aviation industry because their pay and pensions have been slashed. We can't have that so let's pray that 2009 begins to turn around for airlines...quick.

Related Stories:
· 9 Dead as Turkish Plane Crashes in Amsterdam [NY Times]
· Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger Says A Good Pilot's Getting Hard to Find [WNYC]

Tags: Turkish Airlines / Airport Security / Onur Air / → All Tags

Dumb Travel Ideas: How To Not Miss Your Plane

A loving Turkish wife tried to help her hubby out this week but only succeeded in landing them both under arrest. Since her husband was running late to catch his Onur Air flight, she called in with a bomb threat to try to delay the flight.

Of course, everyone got a bit of a fright, but soon figured out that it was a hoax. Instead of having to make an emergency landing in Ankara, the Istanbul flight continued on to Diyarbakir, where the husband missed the flight anyhow because he was busy with the police. We recommend simply getting to the airport on time or, in an emergency, finding a known bomber to make a more realistic hoax call. No, really, just get to the airport on time.

Related Stories:
· Onur Air [Official Site]
· Fake Bomb Alert No Help to Husband [CNN]

[Photo: iambigred]

Tags: Travel Deals / Airlines / Turkish Airlines / → All Tags

Turkish Airlines Honors Teachers

Looks like it's a good day to either be a teacher in Turkey or someone with a genius plan to impersonate one.

In the age of non-sales and crrrazy discounts that somehow still leave us with $5,000,000 in extra taxes and fees, Turkish Airlines is truly slashing its prices. Of course, because of this particular sale's limited conditions, one can't quite pit them against other wimpy airline deals. For domestic travel in Turkey between November 24 and 30, or international travel on November 24 only, Turkish is providing a 50% discount to teachers and retired teachers. That means 50% off economy class or even business. November 24 is Teacher's Day in Turkey.

Because the deal does not appear on the airline's USA-specific site, we're assuming that you must be teaching in Turkey in some capacity to qualify. Those taking advantage of the discount must have papers to prove their status. Tough parameters, sure, but what a deal!

[Photo: Planero]