Really Shameless Self-Promotion

I've been quoted in Travel Agent on an article about Australia's Northern Territory!

AGENT ADVICE

Diva Jood of ______, CA-based Travel Agency, has been to the Northern Territory several times. “Whenever I leave the Northern Territory I weep like a baby,” she says. “It’s my spiritual home.”

If she had a client visiting the Northern Territory in search of an authentic experience, and cost wasn’t a factor, she’d begin with an outback camping trip led by experienced guides. She’d then book them into a stay at Bamurru Plains. Heading into the Central Plains, she’s a fan of Longitude 131°, a high-end property from Voyages Hotels & Resorts. South of Alice Springs, her clients would stay at Gunya Titjikala, an exclusive indigenous luxury tented camp resort within the traditional desert community of Titjikala. She’d wrap up her clients’ Northern Territory journey with a booking at Bullo River Station.

They got the order wrong, but still. I like to do a combination of Bamurru Plains with Bullo River - I like to send people camping with my friend Mike Keighley. But it's nice to be quoted.

London Heathrow, just in time for summer travel

I want to apprise you of new security restrictions at London Heathrow Airport.

When you are transiting, even from the same terminal (ie Terminal 3 to Terminal 3) you have to go through a full security check in again. You will have to allow almost 2 hours to do so. No more running from one place to another. If you are transitting to Terminal 1, 2 or 4, you go to the bus and you have to go through the same routine when you arrive at your designated terminal.

It is mass confusion as they implemented a procedure with no forethought or organization. (what a surprise!)

When you deplane, you are to go to a special line where you wait for more than an hour. No one is there to instruct or advise you. There is no signage, and the wait is interminable. When you finally arrive at the security gate, you are advised that you will only be able to carry on 1 piece of luggage (women, a handbag is your only carry on, and if you have another piece , you must consolidate.) People were panicked, and if you cannot consolidate, you will have to select which to bring on and then check in the additional piece. There are no tables to put your bags upon, no chairs, and no organization.

My client told me that there were people crying and asking for help as they missed their connecting flights. This nightmare is just in time for peak summer travel, and if you are going over, you MUST allocate enough time or else flights will be missed.

Good News for Air Travel

Virgin Atlantic is stepping it up a few notches. In addition to ordering 15 of Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner, Virgin Atlantic and Boeing are working to develop a new biofuel for commercial jets in order to reduce CO2 emissions. The 787 is the most fuel efficient plane in an industry noted for not being fuel efficient. This is a plane that has big-plane range while being mid-size - sort of like the Honda Civic of flying.

The 787 burns about 27% less fuel than the Airbus, largely due to its use of composite materials rather than metal. It's fast, it's light weight, and it's coming soon to an airline near you. While it will be at least five years before biofuels are available for commercial jet use, at least there are people and companies with money who are working on it! I have hope. Anything to make me not feel guilty for doing my job.

cross-posted at The Fat Lady Sings