Flight sale… up to 50% off UK and European FlyBe flights

Don’t miss out on fantastic autumn and winter flight deals!

With the cooler days and darker evenings drawing in, now is a great time to treat yourself and discover some of the best events happening across the UK and Europe this autumn and winter. There is no better time to book your flights than this weekend as FlyBe have slashed their prices to offer up to 50% off selected flights. Be a part of one of these fantastic events or discover many more of your own across the UK and Europe with up to 50% off Flybe flights. Sale ends midnight Wednesday 30th October so book now at Flybe.com to take advantage of the best deals.

Delta airlines: Business Class promotion London Heathrow to NYC (non stop): £ 999 rtn/inclusive

London Heathrow to New York (non stop) for only £999 is just one of the special fares currently on offer from Delta, Air France & KLM

Alternatively, you could fly in Economy for under £300. These and more great fares to destinations all over the world are available now.

The promotion ends on 5th October but these fares won’t be around for long to act now and don’t miss out.

Delta / Air France / KLM Promotional Fares>>

VIP Lounge Access Every Time You Fly

Priority Pass is the world’s largest independent airport VIP lounge program.

Now bigger and better than ever with more than 600 lounges throughout the world available to all our members. The newest lounges available to Priority Pass members are:

Colombia
Cúcuta Camilio Daza Int’l (CUC) - Avianca Sal VIP, Terminal 1

Ecuador
Cuenca Mariscal La Mar (CUE) – Sala VIP Corpac

Spain
Barcelona El Prat (BCN) – Sala VIP Colomer, Terminal 1

UK
Birmingham Int’l (BHX) – Flybe Lounge, Terminal 2

Exeter Int’l (EXE) – Flybe Lounge

As with all the other lounges, they offer holders a place relax and unwind away from the chaos of the airport, and enjoy a range of complimentary refreshments. Most lounges offer phone, fax, email and internet facilities, some even have conference rooms.
Excellent value for money

There are three membership plans designed to offer you VIP airport lounge access at competitive rates no matter how frequently you travel.

More Info / Join Priority Pass

Fly BMI Better For Business Sale Continues

There is just over 2 weeks left of the bmi better for business sale. Fantastic sale fares are available on a huge range of bmi destinations around the world.

Fares from London Heathrow to:

* Glasgow – £35 one way
* Dublin – £38 one way
* Amman (Jordan) – £349
* Brussels – £42 one way
* Edinburgh – £35 one way
* Aberdeen – £40 one way
* Cairo (Egypt)  – £249 / £449 Premium Economy
* Tel Aviv (Israel) – £254 / £469 Premium Economy
* Dammam (Saudi Arabia)- £329
* Aleppo (Syria)- £318
* Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) – £359
* Tehran (Iran) – £365
* Moscow (Russia) – £215
* Kiev – £178

All fares are available until 30 September 2009 and for travel up to 25 March 2010.

Book now>>

Are you a member of the BMI Diamond Frequent Flyer Club?  If not, sign up now>>

Ski Offers and New Routes From Easyjet

Thinking of going skiing this winter but want to know the best deals? Why not check out the fantastic Easyjet flight deals such as Geneva from only £23.99.

Plus, Easyjet are also pleased to announce that Santorini and Mykonos from Gatwick will be on sale from 21 September for Spring 2010! Flights are now available for travel until the 29 June 2010 from only £36.99. So, what are you waiting for…

You can book you flights along with hotels and transfers with Explorer Travel at http://www.explorerdirect.co.uk

Don’t forget, you can also save 5% when booking online with Explorer Travel by using the Promo Code “SEPT09“. Offer expires at the end of September 2009. Conditions apply.

Exclusive 6 day seat sale from Qatar Airways

Be the first to know about Exclusive offers from Qatar Airways! Book to Bangkok, Colombo or Dubai. Fares start from 224GBP* return including all taxes and fees. .

Hurry, these offers expire on 22nd September 2009.  Book today, fly tomorrow!!

Book now>>

From London to:
Bangkok from 347GBP*
Colombo from 425GBP*
Dubai from 224GBP*

*Terms and Conditions

* Offers valid on qatarairways.com/uk only
* The fares include taxes, fees and surcharges, which are subject to change due to currency fluctuations
* Seats are limited and are subject to availability
* Sales validity: On or before 22nd September 2009
* Travel validity: 18th September 2009 – 5th December 2009 (all travel to be completed by 10 Dec 09)
* Flight restrictions: Between London Gatwick – Doha – London Gatwick on QR76/75 only
* Minimum/Maximum stay: Saturday night/ 1 Month
* Other conditions apply, please review at the time of booking

United Airlines introduce baggage fees on some international routes

United Airlines on Thursday unveiled a second-bag fee for passengers on some international routes, following a trend set by US Airways and Continental Airlines.

Passengers flying trans-Atlantic routes will pay USD$50 for a second bag at the airport or USD$45 if purchased on the carrier’s website. This applies on routes going from the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean to Europe and back.

Travellers going from the United States to Mexico or the Caribbean will pay slightly less — USD$30 at the airport and USD$27 online.

“With the implementation of this new policy, United is matching other US airlines who have previously announced a fee for checking a second bag for trans-Atlantic travel,” the carrier said in a note to employees on Thursday.

In late August, US Airways added a USD$50 fee for a second checked bag, while Continental added a USD$50 fee for some economy ticket holders.

Bag fees have been one source of cash for US airlines as they attempt to counter the decline in passenger traffic in recent months. United Airlines reported a nearly 6 percent drop in traffic last month.

(Reuters)

Antarctica flight marks aviation first

A Qantas Airbus A380 super jumbo will operate a unique sightseeing flight to Antarctica on New Year’s Eve.

It will be the first commercial flight by an A380 over the south polar region, and the only aircraft permitted to do so on New Year’s Eve.

The flight, organised by Melbourne-based Antarctica Sightseeing Flights, will originate in Sydney and fly via Melbourne to reach Antarctica.

Passengers will be over the “ice” at midnight and be the first in the world to see the light of the new year.

The chartered A380 will fly figure-eight patterns above the polar terrain for up to four hours before heading back to Melbourne and Sydney.

Two other Antarctic flights are also planned for the southern summer – a second A380 service direct from Sydney on January 24 and a Boeing 747-400 from Melbourne on Valentine’s Day, February 14.

Senior Qantas pilots operate all flights.

“Antarctica is the world’s coldest, driest and windiest continent, and the fastest, most comfortable way to view it is from the air, which maximises viewing but leaves not a single footprint,” said Antarctica flights founder Phil Asker, whose company has operated 85 Antarctic flights from Australia since 1994, all with Boeing 747 aircraft chartered from Qantas.

Pricing from Sydney and Melbourne for the New Year’s Eve flight ranges from AU$999 for an Economy Class Centre seat to AU$6,299 in First Class.

The inaugural A380 sightseeing flight from Melbourne to Antarctica on New Year’s Eve will take about 11 hours and cover some 9,500 kilometres.

Egypt to gain low-cost carrier

A new low-cost carrier is to be established in Egypt serving Europe, Africa and Asia.

Air Arabia has signed a joint venture with Egyptian travel and hospitality group Travco to establish the carrier in the country.

The airline already operates from the UAE and Morocco flying to almost 60 destinations.

The new carrier, whose operations will be managed by the Air Arabia Group, will follow the low-cost model pioneered in the Middle East and North Africa by Air Arabia.

Further information on the joint venture will be communicated in the near future, a company statement said.

Air Arabia, which runs a fleet of 20 Airbus A320s, launched services from Sharjah, UAE, in October 2003.

In May this year, the airline estbalished its second hub in Casablanca, providing services to 11 destinations.

The airline has an order with Airbus for the purchase of 44 A320s.

Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani said: “At a time when the global aviation industry is witnessing serious challenges as a consequence of the worldwide financial crisis, we continue to move forward with our strategic expansion strategy, as demonstrated by this important announcement.

“Through this new partnership, we look forward to replicate the success Air Arabia has already achieved from its existing hubs.”

Aussie Dreams with Emirates

Visit Australia with these special fares from Explorer Travel and Emirates.

BRISBANE / MELBOURNE and SYDNEY

Departing – Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle or Glasgow

From: £580

PERTH

Departing – Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle or Glasgow

From: £503

These flights are available from Explorer Travel by calling 0208 816 8789

Travel Period: 20 Apr – 30 Jun 2010
Sale Period: 9 Sep – 30 Oct 2009
Subject to availability