TravelGenius

Air Asia X New Business Class Seat

2010-06-24T12:21:00.003+01:00

Long-haul budget airline Air Asia X has just unveiled its new business class product to the UK travel press. The airline flies from London Stansted airport to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Onward connections are possible to Australia (Perth, Melbourne and Gold Coast) plus destinations in China, India and south-east Asia.

The new seats are installed on the carriers Airbus A340 and A330 aircraft in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats are angled lie flat with 77" pitch when reclined and are 20" wide.

With prices available from £649 one-way this will be a significant discount on standard business class from main airlines. However Air Asia X premium passengers get no air miles / alliance benefits and no lounge access. Catering is included but it is an economy meal. A hand-held IFE is available for hire.

Competitor on the London - KL route: Malaysian Airlines; or with a connection - Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates.
Possible future competitor: (Qantas) Jetstar which plans to serve Europe from its Singapore hub sometime in the future.

Expedia vs Orbitz vs CheapTickets.com

2009-02-20T11:08:00.001Z

In the previous online agent test Expedia vs Travelocity we saw Expedia come out on top. Let's continue the head to head by pitting Expedia against Orbitz and CheapTickets.com.

US/North American Domestic - once again flight prices were exactly the same on all agents.

International flights:

Washington - Paris
Expedia $563, Orbitz $567, CheapTickets $567, All Lufthansa / United.

San Francisco - Tokyo
Expedia $870, Orbitz $874, CheapTickets $874, All Asiana

Atlanta - Buenos Aires
Expedia $689, Orbitz $693, CheapTickets $693, All United

Toronto - Johannesburg
Expedia $1,105, Orbitz $1,109, CheapTickets $1,109, All Northwest/KLM

Boston - Mexico City
Expedia $457, Orbitz $457, CheapTickets $457, All American

New York - Hong Kong
Expedia $773, Orbitz $777, CheapTickets $777, All United

London - Sydney
Expedia $901 Etihad, Orbitz $1,150, CheapTickets $1,150 Virgin

Los Angeles - Auckland
Expedia $973 Air NZ, Orbitz $1,037 Qantas, CheapTickets $887, Air NZ/United

Some conclusions:
Orbitz and CheapTickets.com have almost identical web interfaces, having the same owner. They came back with identical results except for the LAX-AKL flight where CheapTickets found an Air NZ / United Airlines flight via Sydney for $150 less than Orbitz's Qantas flight.

(Now once again we are purely comparing price, whether you would want to fly via Sydney, or use United's relatively inferior long-haul economy product is another matter...)

Expedia quoted Etihad's competitive London - Sydney fare, $249 cheaper than Orbitz/CheapTickets Virgin fare.

On many of the fares Expedia comes out $4 cheaper - this looks like Expedia is charging less fees than its competitors.

So the winner in this short test is Expedia.

Expedia vs Travelocity - Lowest Airfare

2009-02-19T22:04:00.000Z

Let's again test out the online travel agents in a head-to-head challenge to see who has the cheapest economy airfares. We have selected some routes and travel dates at random and have checked prices at Expedia and Travelocity. We will not worry about non-stop flights, just the lowest ticket price.

Flight Test - US Domestic

New York - Los Angeles
Both Expedia and Travelocity returned the same results, a fare of $266 available on American, United, Virgin America, Delta and Northwest.

Dallas Fort Worth - Anchorage
Both $596 with Northwest.

Chicago - Orlando
Again both $190, with United.

So on these domestic flights both agents are returning exactly the same fares. Let's widen the net to international flights worldwide:

Washington - Paris
Expedia $563, Travelocity $567, Lufthansa flight operated by United.

San Francisco - Tokyo
Expedia $870, Travelocity $881, Asiana

Atlanta - Buenos Aires
Expedia $689, Travelocity $693, United

Toronto - Johannesburg
Expedia $1,105, Travelocity $1,109, Northwest/KLM

Boston - Mexico City
Expedia $457 American, Travelocity $513 Continental

Miami - Vancouver
Expedia $387, Travelocity $387, American

New York - Hong Kong
Expedia $773, Travelocity $801, United

London - Sydney
Expedia $901, Travelocity $904, Etihad

Los Angeles - Auckland
Expedia $973, Travelocity $977, Air New Zealand

So the winner here is...EXPEDIA which was lower on all international fares we tested and equal on all North American fares. While this is only a small test (ideally we would need to consistently test thousands of airfares) it does give a rough idea at airfare pricing.

Next time we will pit the winner up against agents Orbitz and Cheaptickets under the same test conditions...

Air Asia X to Fly to Perth, Australia

2008-05-19T09:47:00.003+01:00

Low cost long-haul airline Air Asia X will start flying from Kuala Lumpur to Perth, Western Australia from November 2008. The airline is awaiting delivery of new Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

Air Asia X already flies from KL to Gold Coast, Australia and Hangzhou in China.

For more detail about the airline: Air Asia X

Online Agents: Expedia vs Travelocity vs Orbitz

2008-02-13T08:40:00.002Z

Here are updated articles for 2008 from AirTravelGenius looking at the price differences between major online agents for various international flights.

For US agents :
Expedia vs Travelocity vs Orbitz

For UK online agents:
Expedia vs Lastminute vs Opodo vs Ebookers

The articles conclude you should always get multiple quotations to get the best airfares.

Maxjet Closes All-Business Flights London - New York

2008-01-07T18:15:00.000Z

Please note that all-business class airline Maxjet ceased flying from December 24th 2007. The carrier had served London Stansted to New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
More info here : Maxjet Stops Flying

You can still fly all-business with Silverjet and Eos on the London - NYC route.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Winter Sale

2007-12-12T11:34:00.000Z

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is running a winter sale for flights from London Gatwick to Hong Kong. Economy flights are available for £337 all-in return and Oasis Business Class from £1197.

Flights from Vancouver to Hong Kong are also on sale - business class is priced from CAD 1714 return all-in, economy from CAD 714. (CAD = Canadian Dollar)

You should book by 15th December 2007 and travel is for 6th January to 12th March 2008.

For more info on the airline click here: Oasis Hong Kong Airlines

EOS Airlines: Free Companion Ticket Last Day

2007-09-05T10:54:00.000+01:00

EOS Airlines is offering a free companion ticket to anyone who books a ticket (fare code SRT7CMA) by the end of today.

The ticket costs £2,495 / $4,999 plus taxes and charges for a roundtrip which can be taken between now and November 30, 2007. You will need to enter the promotional code 'BOCO1'. Note, the 2 passengers must travel together.

EOS has essentially a first class only cabin (48 seats on a Boeing 757) and flies between London Stansted and New York JFK.

So if you are looking at flying first class trans-Atlantic this autumn for around £1,300 / $2,600 each then get booking today!

Maxjet Airline Discount Promo

2007-09-04T08:50:00.000+01:00

All business-class airline Maxjet currently have a discount offer on their flights if booked the first week of September. You need to apply the Maxjet promotional code 'MAXLON' to the booking to get the discount, which is will give you around 15 - 20% off.

Maxjet currently flies between London Stansted to New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas and Los Angeles at prices little more than that of an economy ticket.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines Offers

2007-02-27T14:39:00.000Z

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines are offering university students half-price economy travel between London and Hong Kong if booked through STA Travel. Offer available until February 28th 2007. This means flights priced as little as £37.50 each way plus taxes and charges, which should be around £200 all in.

Oasis also have a kids fly free offer - an adult flying Oasis Airlines is entitled to bring for free 1 child under 12 into the same travel class. You would only have to pay taxes and charges for the child. Book before March 11th 2007.

Air Asia free flights

2007-01-15T10:52:00.000Z

Air Asia, Asia's largest budget airline has a 1 million free seats special offer - you only pay taxes and charges. This deal is available until Friday 19th January for travel between 1st April and 27th October 2007 for 70 routes across South-East Asia.

Air Asia X Flights from Kuala Lumpur to Australia and London

2007-01-09T12:14:00.000Z

Budget airline Air Asia has announced it is entering the long-haul market from November 2007. Air Asia X will fly from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) in Malaysia to destination cities in India, China and Europe, including one of the London airports. Prices will come in at around half the cost of the legacy carriers.

The first route is KL to the Gold Coast in Australia. A flight from KL to London is expected in late 2008.

More info here: Air Asia X

and more background / analysis on Air Asia X

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines - We Have Take-Off!

2006-10-27T17:04:00.000+01:00

Oasis Hong Kong, the first real long-haul budget airline completed its inaugural round trip: Hong Kong - London Gatwick - Hong Kong. Flight O8 707 arrived at Hong Kong airport at 18:49 local time today with a delay of 4 hours.

The outward leg to London was delayed by 24 hours after Russia refused permission for Oasis to fly through its airspace. However this problem seems to have been rectified.

Oasis has created a buzz in the commercial aviation industry by offering to sell flights from London to Hong Kong from as little as £261 return all in. This is sure to have an effect on the major carriers on that route (British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Virgin Atlantic) and we could see some good discounts hit the market.

Image AP

Tags Oasis Hong Kong Airlines

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines - London to Asia for £75 one way

2006-09-26T13:39:00.000+01:00

Oasis Hong Kong is a new start-up airline that will operate flights out of Hong Kong to Europe and the USA. From October 25th 2006, Oasis will start what will be a daily London Gatwick to Hong Kong service.

Prices will start at £75 each way plus taxes and charges, meaning a return flight will cost you just over £260 if you get the cheapest seats on both legs. This is the first time the low-cost budget airline concept has hit the long-haul market.

Oasis will offer a basic meal service and seats on their Boeing 747 will come in at 32" pitch, not bad compared to other players in the market. They will also offer business class flights from around £1070 return, as well as optional add-ons such as lounge access and gourmet meals.

In the coming year they plan to serve Oakland and Chicago in the US, as well as airports in Germany and Italy.

Image: 62Lofu from flickr

EOS Airlines - American Express Special Offer

2006-07-24T10:20:00.000+01:00

All Business Class carrier EOS Airlines which flies between New York JFK and London Stansted has introduced a special offer for those with an American Express card.

If you book a flight to London on EOS with your card before September 4th 2006, you get 4 times the membership reward points. This offer is bookable by calling 800.598.9120 or on the EOS website.

EOS uses Boeing 757s configured to just 48 seats and offers first class service at a biz class price.

For more on EOS, see this updated article: EOS Airlines

Tags: Air Travel | Business Class | EOS Airlines

MaxJet All Business Class - Autumn 2006 Special Offer

2006-06-14T10:01:00.000+01:00

All business class airline Maxjet has just introduced a "no excuses needed" autumn fare sale. A return ticket from London Stansted to New York JFK or Washington Dulles will cost $1199/£699. (the lowest regular round-trip fare costs $1499/£854 London to New York, and $1750/£999 to Washington)

These fares must be booked between June 12,2006 and July 14,2006 for travel between September 15, 2006 and November 10, 2006. You need to use the promo code "FALL06", (available on Maxjet's website) to get these lower fares.

(Image: prsman from Flickr)

Tags: Travel | Business Class | Maxjet

Air France Special Offer Business Class Fares ex-UK

2006-06-13T11:34:00.000+01:00

With the recent rise of Trans-Atlantic all-business class air carriers such as Maxjet and EOS Airlines, major airline Air France has recently reduced its ex-UK business class airfares over the summer - the summer months being a traditionally quiet time for business travel.

Flights from London to New York start at just £1226 return. You can also fly to Río in Brazil for £1705, Dubai for £1104 and Seychelles for £1328. There are 10 other destinations included on this special offer.

One condition is that travel must be booked 42 days before departure. For more information go to Air France UK and click on special offers and then select "business class" offers.

For more information on discount all-business operator Maxjet go to: Low Business Class Fares with MaxJet.

(Image: Caribb from flickr)

Tags: Travel | Business Class | Airfares | Air France | Maxjet

Airbus A350 vs Boeing 787 Dreamliner

2006-05-23T08:07:00.000+01:00

Looks like Airbus is losing this battle currently. With Boeing's 787 'Dreamliner' due to start service in 2008 and with around 300 orders, Airbus are going back to the drawing board for the A350. With only 100 orders booked (including 60 from Qatar Airways which is now being reviewed), Airbus will be redesigning the plane which will probably delay its entry to the market until 2011-12. It is rumoured that the BMW design unit will be modelling the interior.

However it's not all bad news for Airbus. With the giant jumbo A380 landing at London Heathrow for testing last week and with 159 firm orders, the 555 seat aircraft will enter service by the end of 2006 with Singapore Airlines on its London to Sydney route.

Read more here from BBC: More Turbulence Ahead for Airbus

Image: ANA Boeing 787 BBC

SilverJet Business Class Airline

2006-04-11T08:29:00.000+01:00

We have recently seen the likes of MaxJet and EOS Airlines establish all business class services from London to New York. Now yet another low-cost business class operation is hoping to enter the market - SilverJet.

SilverJet aim to raise approximately £25m by listing on the UK's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) to fund their initial operation.

Their first route is expected to be a twice daily service between London and New York. They will use London Luton (45 minutes north of central London) and Newark, New Jersey and this should be in operation by the end of 2006. The low-cost price management model will likely be used with early bookers getting the lowest prices (some say as low as £100). SilverJet have quoted a top price of £999 ($1750) for a return journey.

This will put them somewhere in the middle between low cost MaxJet and higher end EOS.

These are certainly interesting times for the business class passenger...

Helicopter Service From DownTown New York To JFK Airport

2006-04-05T11:07:00.000+01:00

This week has seen an introduction of a scheduled helicopter service which takes passengers from downtown New York to JFK Airport.

Operated by US Helicopter (in conjunction with American Airlines) the service costs $139 one-way, expected to rise to $159 in May. The trip will take less than 10 minutes and may be a welcomed by time-conscious business passengers who are used to taking a taxi ride of up to 90 minutes, depending on NY traffic.

The heliport will also include security screening so passengers flying AA will be able to check-in there and on landing will go directly to their boarding gate.

The Sikorsky helicopters will carry up to 8 passengers per flight on 26 scheduled services every day. The company plans to expand its operation to Midtown as well as starting additional services to La Guardia and Newark.

Expedia vs Orbitz vs Travelocity

2006-03-29T09:16:00.000+01:00

In this AirTravelGenius article, the major online travel agents Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz are put to the test to see who comes up with the cheapest flights...

Read the article here:
Expedia vs Orbitz vs Travelocity

Business Travel Tips

2006-03-27T08:19:00.000+01:00

Here are 10 tips for the frequent flyer business traveller, in this article from AirTravelGenius:

Business Travel Tips

EOS Airlines - Flying First Class Across the Atlantic

2006-03-24T08:33:00.000Z

We take a closer look at EOS Airlines, an all-business class airline flying between London Stansted and New York. Using a 48 seat Boeing 757, flying EOS is more like using a corportate jet rather than a commercial scheduled airline. And with prices starting at £1900 / $2950 return for a truly first class service, EOS could carve a niche for itself as the premier luxury flying experience.

Full article here:
EOS Airlines - A Closer Look

All Business Class Airlines - MaxJet

2006-03-23T09:03:00.000Z

The following article from AirTravelGenius.com discusses the new phenomena of all-business class airlines in the commercial aviation market. It takes a look at the new discount biz class carrier MaxJet which flies from London to New York and Washington DC.

Click here for more:
All Business Class MaxJet

Business Travel to Amsterdam, Holland

2006-03-22T08:18:00.000Z

If you are planning on taking a trip to Amsterdam on business (or for pleasure), this article from AirTravelGenius gives you a few tips about travelling to the city and using Schiphol, one of the world's best airports.

Read the article here:
Business Travel to Amsterdam

Travel Insurance - Tips

2006-03-21T09:07:00.000Z

Many people travel internationally without adequate insurance cover. Here are 12 tips to consider when buying and using travel insurance.

1. Shop around for a quote
Always get a few quotations for travel insurance from different companies. Usually travel agents offer a bad deal so never purchase insurance directly with your flight until you have checked the market. There are a few price aggregator websites which can generate quotes from multiple sources.

2. Single trip or multi trip
If you plan to travel more than one time in the coming year it may be prudent to purchase a multi-trip annual insurance which can be very cost-effective, especially if you make a number of trips. Check how long you are allowed to stay away each trip - usually this is 1 - 2 months.

Read the rest of the article tips 3-12 here:
Travel Insurance 12 Tips

The 'Q Link' Pendant - Can it Help Reduce Jet Lag?

2006-03-20T08:00:00.000Z

The 'Q-Link' from Clarus is a pendant that is worn around the neck and claims to tune the body's "bio-field". This can possibly be beneficial to flyers and travellers in reducing the effects of jet-lag and give them more energy.

Read the article in full here:
Q-Link for Flyers

Australian Frequent Flyer Cards

2006-03-17T09:02:00.000Z

The following article from Air Travel Genius gives an overview of airline credit cards available for frequent flyers in the Australian market.

Click here for more:
Australian Frequent Flyer Cards

Qantas Results

2006-03-17T08:58:00.000Z

Qantas has just announced its passenger figures for January 2006. During that month they acheived a passenger load factor of 80.4% and passenger numbers increased by 5.2% compared to Jan 2005. However, high oil prices remain a limiting factor on profits.

Private Jets - Alternative to First Class

2006-03-16T10:10:00.000Z

Since September 11th, the use of private 'executive' jets has soared sharply among business travellers and high net-worth individuals. Jet charters provide superior comfort, flexibility and privacy than a normal commercial airline can offer.

Private Business Jets are discussed more fully in this article from Air Travel Genius:
Private Jets

AirTravelGenius Private Jet Directory

Flight Gadgets - Noise Cancelling Headphones

2006-03-15T09:27:00.000Z

Noise cancelling headphones are great for reducing the ambient noise from the aircraft engine when you are on a flight. They are useful for blocking out the droning noise at certain lower frequency ranges which can then help you rest easier, or enhance your audio listening while travelling...

You can read the full article here:
Noise Cancelling Headphones

which also reviews some products on the market.

How To Get the Best Seat on Your Flight

2006-03-14T13:32:00.000Z

The following article gives a few hints and tips at getting the best seat on an aircraft. It is always important to do your homework beforehand and find out which type of plane you will be flying on and how the cabin is configured.

Read the article in full here:
Getting the best seat on a plane

Frequent Flyer Credit Cards for UK Travellers

2006-03-14T13:17:00.000Z

This new article from Air Travel Genius takes a look at frequent flyer credit cards that are offered by major UK airlines. By using these types of cards to purchase flights, travellers can get more air miles for their money.

Other travel benefits such as free companion tickets, free flights and travel insurance are often included.

To read the full article, click here:
Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

How to get upgraded on your airline flight

2006-03-03T09:31:00.000Z

This article referenced below gives a few hints and tips to improve your chances of getting that elusive airline upgrade.

It discusses upgrade strategies such as elite frequent flyer programs, overbooked flights, companion tickets, flying premium economy class and also using all-business class discount carriers.

Read the article in full here:
How to get upgraded on your flight

Airport Tips

2006-03-02T09:09:00.000Z

This article from Air Travel Genius gives you 10 tips when at the airport. The first 3 are reproduced here:

1. The taxi-switch

Do the taxi switch - if there is a big taxi queue outside the flight arrivals terminal, walk over to the departure terminal entrance and pick up a cab from there. The taxi driver will be happy to take a quick pick-up fare.

2. Arrive early

Plan to arrive early. You then allow for any travel delays getting to the airport, you will feel less stressed and you should have a better choice of seating at check-in.

3. Free internet

Changi airport in Singapore has free internet terminals for use around the arrivals and departure area. Very handy for travellers. Usually airport internet access is prohibitively expensive.

Read the rest of this article here:
10 tips at the airport

One final tip: Don't forget your passport!

Budget Airlines & Property Speculation in Europe

2006-03-01T09:15:00.000Z

Investors are taking advantage of budget airline flights to access regions in Europe where the cost of a property is a fraction of that in their home country. This is especially true of UK residents, who are taking equity out of their UK residences in record numbers and purchasing a second home for holidays and even retirement. The discount airline carriers provide them with ultra cheap transportation to reach their new properties easily.

Read the full aricle here:
Budget airlines fuel property prices in Europe

Budget Airlines - help reduce your travel costs

2006-03-01T08:46:00.000Z

Budget airlines have opened up the world of short-haul air travel for millions of people in Europe and more recently in Asia. The cost of flying is now lower than ever and old monopoly carriers are having to fight for their place in the market. This article from AirTravelGenius discusses the budget airline flights phenomena and gives some tips on making the most from them.

Read the article in full here:
Budget Airlines

Asia has seen significant changes with the introduction of the discount carriers. From its bases in Malaysia and Thailand, Air Asia has risen spectacularly offering ultra low fares to the price sensitive Asian consumer. Yesterday saw the announcement from Air Asia's main competitor Malaysian Airlines (and Malaysia's national carrier) that it needed to raise around $1 bn to stay in business. Only 48 of its 114 international routes are currently profitable. Even worse, out of 118 domestic routes, only 4 were showing profit.

10 Cheap Flight Tips to Lower Airfare

2006-02-28T10:05:00.000Z

1. Flexibility

Be flexible with your travel dates and always plan ahead. Air flight ticket prices are dynamic and depend on demand and supply.

2. Know the air market

Monitor the airfares on your desired route and find out the lowest published fare. Get a feeling for 'value' for your airline ticket.

3. Know the season

Fly during 'off-peak' or 'shoulder' seasons and avoid flying at peak times of the year...

The rest of this article can be read here:
Cheap flight tips

Free Airline Flights?

2006-02-28T09:12:00.000Z

The following article talks about whether it is really possible to get flights for free. It takes a look at flights form low-cost budget airlines, many who advertise 'free' flights. Also considers the use of air miles redeemed for 'free' flights, free companion tickets given on some frequent flyer / credit card programs and free courier flights.

Read the full article here: Free flights

Staying healthy while travelling / flying

2006-02-27T10:52:00.000Z

It is important to try and stay as healthy as possible during your travels. Flying, jetlag, poor diet and lack of exercise can all help create that run-down feeling that many travellers get from time to time. Make sure you get as much rest as possible and drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated.

And with all this paranoia about bird flu, you should aim to keep your immune system in tip top shape by taking a good quality vitamin and mineral supplement.

The very best we have found is called Total Balance and contains vitamins with co-factors, essential minerals, trace elements, amino acids and herbal extracts. In our opinion, this is the world's best supplement and having used it we can say it is highly effective at keeping illness at bay. This product is excellent value and is available here.

For those taking a long-haul flight, this article from Air Travel Genius gives you 12 health tips on keeping fit and healthy on an airplane.

Reducing First Class and Business Class Airfares

2006-02-27T09:10:00.000Z

A new article at AirTravelGenius gives you a few tips on getting the cheapest first class and business class flights. This includes using the new generation of all-business class airlines such as Maxjet which flies from London Stansted to New York and Washington DC. Return fares can be as low as $1000.

Click here to read the article in full:
Cheap first & business class flights