cheap flights’s news Blog

For decades it was the only way for business moguls, rock stars and the glitterati to travel.

IT’S news that will bring the international jet set down to earth with a bump; British Airways is ejecting first class.

But now the bite of the recession has forced the UK’s most prestigious airline to slash its premium facilities.

BA has removed first class accommodation from its new long-haul planes and is reviewing seating plans for other new aircraft.

During the post-millennium boom well-heeled travellers clamoured for access to designer cabins, free pyjamas and slippers, Michelin-class dining and some of the world’s finest wines on tap.

However, the credit crunch has seen demand for airline opulence nosedive.

BA’s chief executive confirmed the high life was being stripped back and reviewed.

The airline also confirmed that its new service from Heathrow to Las Vegas, a key destination for high rollers, would have no first class option when it is launched later this year.

Walsh claimed that the cost of ripping out seats in the existing fleet meant that first class would remain for now in older planes.

Willie Walsh said: “The long-haul aircraft that we take delivery of this year will not have any first class cabins in them.

“Longer term we will review the configuration of all new aircraft.”

As well as parachuting first class the airline has also slashed the price of business-class seats by up to 40 per cent in a bid to halt the free-fall in bookings.

The move comes after BA’s first and business-class traffic slumped by nearly 18 per cent in April, hot on the heels of a 13 per cent fall in the previous month.

North Atlantic routes, BA’s main source of profits, have been badly hit by the crisis in the banking sector.

The company’s rivals have fared equally badly, with executive travel slumping by nearly 20 per cent across the industry since the start of the year.

It ends a British business jet boom that saw flight numbers grow by around 14 per cent annually to 150,000 trips every year.

The crisis in the non-budget flight sector has led Walsh to confirm that he will work for no pay in July and urged members of BA’s 40,000 staff to take unpaid leave or work part-time until conditions recover.

BA recently announced a pre-tax loss of £401 million compared with a profit of £922m, the previous year

It sounds as if you have an amazing trip ahead of you, but you are wise to think about the impact on your bodies. You want to maximise your enjoyment, and aches and pains could mar the experience.

One of the first things to remember when flying long-haul is the need to keep up your fluid intake. The very low humidity levels within the pressurised cabin have the effect of dehydrating the body. Water is the best option, as alcohol, tea and coffee have a diuretic effect that will lead to further dehydration. Keeping hydrated will benefit your circulation, and your muscle health.

Take time to make yourself comfortable from the start; use a pillow to support your head and neck. An inflatable ring (available from pharmacies and travel shops) can help prevent your neck becoming stiff if you fall asleep.

Plane seats are not designed for comfort. Use a pillow or rolled up blanket to support the curve of the lower back. If you can choose a seat before check-in, go for two adjacent aisle seats as this will allow you to stretch out one leg at least. Do not place luggage under the seat as this will restrict leg room. Do make sure that you move around as often as possible – every 30 minutes or so.

You can also go to the back of the plane and perform a few simple mobilising exercises to keep your muscles and joints flexible; for example, put your hands on your hips and twist one way and then the other several times. Alternately, stand tall with your hands by your side, and then perform a downward stretch, first to the right, and then to the left.

You can also exercise without leaving your seat:

Hold the armrests, slowly lift your knees simultaneously, and hold for a few seconds. (Repeat 10 times).

Hold left knee and bring it up toward chest, hold it there for 15 seconds and repeat with right side. (Repeat 10 times).

Contract thighs and perform a sitting march on the spot for 30 seconds. (Repeat 5 times).

Lift foot, point toes outward and rotate foot in circular motion for 30 seconds. (Repeat 5 times each foot).

With heels on floor, lift toes upwards as far as possible, and hold for 30 seconds. (Repeat 5 times).

With the balls of your feet on the floor, lift up your heels as high as possible, and hold for 30 seconds. (Repeat 5 times). I hope this helps.

Airlines that lose your baggage could be fined under a private member’s bill proposed by a New Democrat MP to punish the companies for bad customer service.

Manitoba MP Jim Maloway plans to introduce his Passenger’s Bill of Rights next week.

Maloway said he believes airlines should be fined if they don’t provide passengers with specific and timely information about the whereabouts of their bags if they do not arrive on the passenger’s flight.

Maloway said airlines can do a lot to make passengers happy simply by keeping them informed of delays, cancellations and baggage issues.

The main thrust of it is to force airlines to compensate passengers between $500 and $1,200 each if their flight is cancelled, if they are bumped off their flight because it was overbooked, or if they spend more than an hour in the plane on the tarmac.

But after hearing from colleagues and members of the public since speaking out about his plans, Maloway has added ticket prices and baggage to the list of punishable offences as well.

It would require airlines to advertise ticket prices with the appropriate taxes and fees included. Right now, most airline fares are advertised without those added in, and the extra dollars can sometimes add significantly to the total price of a ticket.