Tag: qantas

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Put Down the Kindle and Pick Up a Qantas-Published Novel

Where: Australia
May 21, 2013 at 12:28 PM | by | Comments (0)

Put down your Kindle and stow your iPad, because Qantas wants you to actually turn the pages of a real book on your next flight. The Aussie airline's newest in-flight entertainment option will allow you to curl up at your seat with a series of published novels.

The initiative, called "Stories for Every Journey", offers frequent flyers the opportunity to settle into engrossing tales specially written for the airline and tailored around all flight durations. Not only are reads perfectly suited for a 2-hour flight or a 23-hour multi-leg journey, but they'll look good in any seatback pocket with original cover art designed by Paul Belford.

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Hot Pink and Hot to Trot: Qantas' New Uniforms Shock in Sydney

Where: Australia
April 16, 2013 at 8:10 AM | by | Comments (0)

Qantas' new Uniforms are hot. They're also hot pink in places, and so hot that the airline just unveiled them with a full-fledged runway show and livestream during Sydney Fashion Week, starring Aussie supermodel Miranda Kerr.

Kerr catwalked along with the rest of the Qantas crew models to show off the 35 uniform styles to be worn by 12,600 staff starting in 2014. The looks, consisting of 15 different fabrics (including fine Australian Merino wool, Italian leather and a knit trilby hat made from recycled bottle tops) were designed by Martin Grant and paired with the unmistakably scarlet soles of Christian Louboutin shoes.

The Louboutins completed the head-to-toe peeks of red in the uniform, but hold up—remember the saying "if it's too good to be true, it probably is." Such is the case here. The shoes were special only for this runway show, a fact verified by our friends at Australian Business Traveller, who were in attendance at the event. Qantas crew won't be donning the French designer's shoes, which regularly retail for $700 and up; it's normal black shoes after today. Boo hiss.

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What You Should Know After Qantas and Emirates Hooked Up This Weekend

Where: Australia
April 1, 2013 at 11:25 AM | by | Comments (0)


Photo: Bernard Proctor/Qantas & Emirates Facebook

Easter Sunday in Australia was not only filled with egg hunts and chocolate bunnies, but it was the launch of the official partnership between Qantas and Emirates. The day signified the first flights for each of the airlines under the new friendship, all commemorated by each airline sending an Airbus A380 to buzz over Sydney Harbour at around 1,500 feet.

Alliances like this one are becoming a bit more commonplace in the industry, and they're pretty passenger-friendly in terms of more options for flying around the globe and for racking up frequent flyer miles.

Here are the immediate benefits of the Qantas-Emirates partnership for you:

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All Aboard 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show Express' Qantas A380 at LAX

March 21, 2013 at 2:23 PM | by | Comment (1)

Yesterday, Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia De Rossi were spotted arriving at LAX to catch a Qantas flight to Sydney, Australia for their Oprah-esque Trip with one very lucky studio audience.

As Ellen boarded her flight she was given more than just first class treatment#&151;they actually named the plane after her.

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The World of Wild & Crazy Airplane Paint Jobs

March 15, 2013 at 11:00 AM | by | Comments (2)

We find it exciting to walk through an airport and catch a glimpse of a specially painted airplane gliding by the windows, or even sneak a peek at vibrant liveries while taxiing to our gate in a foreign land. Thankfully the airline world is chock full of super quirky, stand-out airplane designs and, while some make us raise an eyebrow and tilt our head, all bring a smile and make us reach for our camera.

Here are some of the more flamboyant aircraft paint jobs::

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Is 'Koalaing' the New Planking?

March 12, 2013 at 11:10 AM | by | Comments (0)

We know Ellen Degeneres is heading off to Australia very soon after she "pulled an Oprah" and surprised her audience with tickets down under. Now, it seems the talk show host is trying to start a new trend. Koalaing!

Planking has come and gone, "owling" has come and gone, and now we are witness to a new craze of making like the cute and cuddly Australian marsupials. Just like a koala hangs out in gum trees, one person latches on to another with all 4 limbs; wrapping arms and legs around the person. It looks ridiculous, but we imagine it would make for great photo ops. (side note: koalas are not as friendly as they look).

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The Little Things: Celebrating a Birthday on Qantas

Where: Australia
March 8, 2013 at 2:15 PM | by | Comment (1)

In the midst of the bustle of travel, it's all too easy to overlook the details. We're talking about special touches others have stressed over just so you can enjoy a unique experience, whether you know it or not. Every so often we'll highlight The Little Things like this, so now you will know.

These little touches are usually static details that are available to everyone, but this time it was the airline crew who went above and beyond to make us feel special when we flew on the birthday of our travel companion. The crew of this recent flight on Qantas took time out of their busy work duties to wish him a very happy day.

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The Newbie Traveler Takes His First Flight on an A380: An Illustrated Journey

February 22, 2013 at 3:19 PM | by | Comments (2)

What would your life be like if you hadn't yet traveled? If you'd spent years reading travel novels and fantasizing over guidebooks, but hadn't made the big leap? This is the case for Andy Miles, who in his late twenties has just embarked on trips to hit cities for the first time. He's walking us through the emotions and observations of a true Newbie Traveler.

Contrary to what I learned as a youngster growing up in Texas, everything is not bigger there. Truth be told, everything is actually bigger in France—Toulouse, France to be exact. The reason for this is because that's where Airbus completes final assembly of their massive A380 airplanes.

After years of waiting, I finally got the chance to experience one of these incredibly beautiful planes myself, on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles nonstop to Sydney, Australia.

Seeing as how I booked my first A380 flight six full months before the day of departure, I had a lot of time to tell my friends about it, i.e. brag incessantly. The thing I forgot about bragging is that in order for it to work, you have to be doing something others care about. Unfortunately for me, I did not hang out with many #avgeeks during this time, so my brags usually fell upon deaf ears and I just came off as "nerdy" for caring about something as uniquely marvelous as a two-story airplane.

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Sandcastle Airplane!

Where: Australia
February 18, 2013 at 4:30 PM | by | Comments (0)

While most of the the US is still shivering and donning scarves, it's the height of summer in Australia and Qantas will not let us forget it. In fact, they've set up the ultimate sand castle display right in Sydney's Circular Quay.

The 'Flying Kangaroo' recently (re)launched flights from Sydney to Gold Coast and wanted to draw some unique attention to it. Since the "glitter strip" is well-known for its beach culture —we're talking about the Surfers Paradise— what better way to turn some heads with a sculpture meticulously carved into the shape of a plane full of passengers heading to soak up the sun.

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Qantas' New In-Flight iPads are Boss

Where: Australia
February 15, 2013 at 9:32 AM | by | Comments (0)

Yesterday we talked about Qantas' comfy new black leather business-class seats, but the real champion of the overhauled airplane is the in-flight entertainment system. We have mentioned Q Streaming before and we're excited to get our hands on the technology.

Not for lack of trying, we have been on a few planes with the hopes of discovering an Apple iPad in the seat-back pocket all to be disappointed. As soon as we turned the corner to board the plane and saw the product logo right next to the door, admittedly, our heart skipped a beat. We can finally catch up on a few episodes of Modern Family directly streamed to the device over a WiFi network.

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One Very Good Reason Not to Steal Qantas' Cups

Where: Australia
February 8, 2013 at 11:00 AM | by | Comment (1)

Airline memorabilia collectors, beware! There's no need to longingly look at the china on your meal tray when flying, now that Qantas sells everything you need to complete your own premium class set-up at home.

Probably in an effort to curb the "5-finger discount," the Red Roo has begun selling their Marc Newson-designed tableware that is not only stylish, but quite practical on land as well. The bright white, modern bone china pieces would make a nice addition to any set table, not to mention their potential to start travel conversations over dinner.

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Inside the Oneworld Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport

February 7, 2013 at 4:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

You're at Los Angeles International AIrport and preparing to wing your way to another continent and you'll be spending those in-air hours in either Business or First Class. First off, that sounds like you planned an excellent trip—congratulations. Second, you'll want to hit up the lounge for a last-minute tipple or email check, and if you're traveling on a Oneworld alliance airline (like Qantas, LAN, Cathay Pacific, British Airways and Japan Airlines), then the lounge for you is on Level 5 of the Tom Bradley International Terminal.

As it's a combined lounge, the amenities here are generic but plentiful. This means more than 10 shiny Mac desktops, a long buffet bar with both and hot and cold food options, two extensive self-serve beverage areas plus a full bar with bartender, private shower rooms, and plenty of modern, comfy chairs nearby power outlets. The design isn't exactly revolutionary or even notable, but it is clean, modern and spacious.

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