It’s time to leave est un site dédié à la compagnie Easy Jet. Le site n’est pas récent mais je ne bloggais pas encore à l’époque et il vaut le coup d’oeil.

C’est un site basé sur deux principes qui ont de plus en plus de succès aujourd’hui avec la réalité augmentée (j’en ferais un article prochainement) la vidéo interactive et le web call back…Explications…

Vous rentrez votre numéro de téléphone et votre e-mail et la vidéo se lance… Un homme se fait pourchasser, et là votre téléphone sonne… Totalement interactive, c’est à vous de guider l’homme pour arriver le plus rapidement possible à l’aéroport.

Malgré un coût de développement élevé, en terme de notoriété cela ne peut que marcher… plus qu’un jeu, c’est une véritable expérience consommateur que propose Easyjet qui souhaitent ainsi installer la marque dans l’esprit du consommateur, tout en sachant que l’opération permet à Easy Jet de collecter des adresse mail Opt – in…

Essayez le dispositif : http://www.itistimetoleave.com/

Con Easy Jet si vola in dialetto.

Apologies for the long absence from the blog, although this time I had a real excuse. Roz and I were in Morocco and I felt neither the desire nor obligation to interrupt our holiday to hunt down a computer suite circa 1995, with a 56k connection and a cassette playing ‘Now that’s what I call Koranic chants 1983,’ in order to write some sort of eulogy about a North African country that you have probably never even considered visiting. Now that we’re back though, I will make you care. I’ve endured too much to let my hard won wisdom slide into the deep abyss of unremembered memories.

Eighty pounds for a flight to Morocco. It’s a good start. But first of all you have to get to Luton airport, which is a pain if you live anywhere outside of Luton. Then, worse than this, you have to fly with Ryanair. I’d never previously flown with them before, but I assumed that their ‘no frills’ approach would be the bog standard Easyjet affair. In actual fact though, it’s more like a no frills version of Easyjet. You have to pay for literally everything bar the actual flying bit; each bag checked £20; priority boarding £5; you even have to check yourself in online or get charged £40. How can you check in when you aren’t even in the airport? It doesn’t make any sense! Onboard, the only thing free is the seat you sit in. Water costs £2.70! I was glad there was no loss in cabin pressure or we would have probably had to pay for oxygen and mask hire.

Nevertheless, after three hours or so, we arrived alive, which is the main purpose of flying I suppose – maybe it could be Ryanair’s tagline ‘Bringing you to your destination not dead’. Tired and extremely dehydrated we ambled towards border control. Now, I’ve travelled to a good few countries, many of them far more poorly equipped than Morocco, but never have I had to wait for such a long time to actually enter the country. As far as I can discern from my detailed past appraisals of border control, the process for a border guard seems to be: Enter some details from the passport into a computer, look at the photo and then at the person, stamp the passport, look menacing throughout. This usually takes about a minute and in some more technologically advanced countries even less (thanks to the automatic scanning thingamajig they use in the UK the process takes less than 10 seconds). So I have no idea why it took an average of two and half minutes per person (I worked it out while we were waiting) in Morocco. Oh, and there were still 17 people in front of us in the queue when I had determined this average, so you can calculate roughly how long we had to wait.

Once you finally get into Morocco – assuming you don’t have to just turn right around and board your return flight home, having spent all your holiday in a queue – you must barter with a bastard of a taxi driver outside the terminal who will heavily overcharge you for your journey, safe in the knowledge that the only options available to you at that moment are: 1) Take his expensive taxi to your accommodation. 2) Walk aimlessly for miles through desert scrub in 35 degree heat, carrying 20 kilograms of luggage. You always choose option 1.

Despite the rip off (I later discovered that we were overcharged by a factor of three) I always quite enjoy the first taxi journey from the airport. The journey is a mix of excitement and apprehension. Between the standard broken English conversations held with the taxi driver “From England? . . . Yes . . . Is cold? . . . Yes,” you get a chance to gradually acquaint yourself with the city you are entering – from the desolate sparse surroundings of the terminal building, through the fragmented suburbs and finally into the cacophony of the centre – rammed with all the shrieks, beeps, sights and smells of life – where you are dumped, confused and disorientated and at the mercy of strangers that you must trust to help you.

And so we were dumped, in the North of Marrakech’s central medina, which is not an easy place to find your way around. In fact, I’d go as far to say that it’s the most challenging place I’ve ever had to try and navigate . . . ever. It’s a high, walled in maze of side streets, paths, narrow alleys and cul-de-sacs, signposted in French, Arabic, or not at all. Maps offer no help whatsoever. The taxi driver misdirected us for no discernable reason (it was before I discovered that I didn’t have enough money to cover the journey) and in the end we had to trust an incredibly eager small boy, who proved to be remarkably helpful guide to our riad, although not a free one. In these early stages of our trip I was beginning to see that in Morocco, like in other poor tourist destinations, everything is a challenge and only money can alleviate the difficulty. Perhaps if we had visited 10 or maybe 20 years ago it wouldn’t have been the case, but Marrakech has been open to travellers long enough for the locals to know that they can exact money for just about anything they want, and many have found a way to make a living from doing literally nothing at all. This issue came to be the single annoyance that bordered on spoiling an otherwise remarkable and fascinating holiday.

“A cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Wilde

In the UK and other developed countries the price for things, be it a service or a product, is determined via supply and demand and lots of other factors that I neither understand or care about. But in Morocco, the price is determined solely by how much the customer is willing to pay. Perhaps this worked in the past, but after years of affluent idiots grossly overpaying for worthless tat, the system has broken down. It’s something I would normally feel positively jubilant about – “. . . what’s that you say, the poor are getting one over on the rich? Call in the DJ—prepare the fireworks display!” – but it has thrown the relationship between vendor and customer out of sync. For instance, when shopping in the souks you are meant to haggle and barter for goods – it’s supposedly fun – but there is no congruence between the quality of an article and the price the merchant will quote you. Some of the shopkeepers jack the initial price up to three or four times the worth of the article, while others only make a small mark up. This means that you either become an expert in Moroccan handicrafts, or you do as I did and offer a woefully low price for everything you set eyes on, which means that in some cases you will still overpay a little, and in others, you will insult the vendor by implying that his beautiful hand crafted goods, forged with care attention—the result of centuries of accumulated knowledge and decades of practice, are nothing but crap, hardly worth a handful of pennies.

More annoying than the challenge of goods acquisition, however, is the remuneration for services offered. Somewhere along the line food stands and stalls have become aware of the notion of tipping, but they have no concept of the purpose. The service in these places is hasty and perfunctory at best and sometimes virtually non-existant, which is, of course, completely understandable. After all, it makes far more financial sense to try and drag in as many customers as possible, than to dutifully tend to each tourist who will visit once and then leave Morocco for good a week later. However, to do this and then request a tip at the end of the meal is to have one’s cake and eat it too. I tried to explain to one such ‘waiter’ that the idea of a tip is a reward for providing a good service throughout the meal. He just stared at me blankly like I was stealing what was rightfully his (Other waiters managed to avoid this discussion by simply keeping my change). At the forefront of this shameless money pilfering though are what’s known as ‘faux guides’. Typically they are jobless teenagers and young men who hang around tourist hotspots waiting for confused or disorientated tourists. They see you stop to gauge your surroundings and then they pounce.
“Hello, where are you going?”
“No, it’s fine thankyou, we don’t need any help.”
“My friend it’s ok, I just want to practice my English.”
“Ok, fine. But I’m not paying you for anything ok.”
“Of course, of course. Where you from?”
“London.”
“Ah London! I have a brother/sister/cousin delete as applicable in London. They live in Portobello Rd/Notting Hill/Oxford Street/Kensington/Chelsea or some other well known London destination.“
“Really.”
“Do you want to go to a nice restaurant?”
“No thankyou.”
“Where are you going my friend?”
“Look, it’s fine. We know where we’re going.”
“Do you know this wall was built in the 12th century?”
“Sigh.”
“Do you know insert other possibly erroneous information about the surroundings.”
“Listen, we’re going to go into this café now ok. So goodbye.”
“Ok, I’ll wait for you.”
“No, I don’t want you to.”
“It’s ok, I don’t mind.”
“No, I really don’t want you to wait for us!”
“Ok, ok. Then just a little money for the tour.”
“What tour?!”
“The tour, while we were walking.”
At this point, depending on my mood, the heat, how much sleep I’d had etc, I would either laugh at them and walk off shaking my head while they swore at me in broken English (The word ‘Jew’ featured once, which has made me paranoid about my nose), or I would fly into a massive shaky fisted rage about their lies and treachery. Neither helped, as there was always another one waiting just around the corner.

I’d like, at this point, to apologise to Morocco and the majority of Moroccan people, for having ranted about its few flaws without highlighting any of its numerous upsides. I’ve made Morocco sound like a place solely inhabited by intolerably annoying money grabbing shitbags, but that’s really not the case. It’s just that it makes for more interesting reading than the story of the man on the train who gave us his email address in case we had any questions or problems when travelling, or the guy that collected us from the train station for free and wrote down instructions on how to visit some Roman ruins for the cheapest price possible, or the Riad owner who drew us a map of the Marrakech medina, or the shop vendor who invited us in for tea, which he wouldn’t let me pay for, or the myriad other random people that helped us, joked with us, or generally treated us with warmth and kindness. Ironically though, it is these people that constitute the majority of the population, balance out the annoyances, and leave a pleasant memory of the holiday in your mind.

Actually, I should have said that it is these people that constitute the majority of a 99% Muslim population, because, up until now, I’ve felt no need to bring the point up. It’s not that you don’t notice it; 5am prayer calls, the absence of alcohol and, of course, the abundant Islamic inspired architecture that you wander in and around every single day tend to remind you once or twice a minute. However, aside from the lack of booze, which is more of a personal gripe than anything, I was aware of the silent discord between Islam and the Western world, although surprisingly unencumbered by it.

Like many developing countries reliant on tourism, Morocco fights to retain it’s culture without discouraging the life blood of it’s economy. And whilst this may be manageable in more liberal nations, merging a rigid and uncompromising ancient religion with the feckless and capricious ideals of Western culture is like mixing oil with water; the two never truly unite. So it is testament to the Moroccan people that they have somehow managed to work the two side by side and, in doing so, erase the stereotypical media images of demented Jihadists, decapitated infidels, cowering obsequious burka clad unknowns and leave you to remember instead, the intricate plaster work and mosaic tiling of the madrasahs, the imposing minarets of the mosques, the reverberating prayer calls, the smell of cinnamon and turmeric, Coca Cola written in Arabic.

Returning to England after another torturous and waterless three hour flight, I felt as if we had returned from a place far further afield. And as we whizzed through the border check and into the straightforward simplicity of England I considered that perhaps the wait at the Moroccan border does need to take that long; a sort of acclimatisation to being in two places, but neither in one nor the other.

After you book your flight from the USA or Canada to the UK for your big move across the pond, you might want to start thinking about other places to visit in Europe.  You’ve probably heard that flights within Europe cost pennies.  Betcha’ don’t believe it right?

Well, it’s true! I booked a flight to Barcelona for a 5 day adventure that cost me one pence each way.  That was about 2 pennies in American currency at the time.  Now, I didn’t actually pay that little, because there are taxes and fees, but all told the trip cost about 50 GBP (Great British Pounds).  That was about $100 US.  Cheaper than taking the ferry from Victoria to Vancouver.  Cheaper than going from Toronto to Ottawa.  Cheaper than getting anywhere in the US I’m sure.  And it’s Barcelona baby! 

So, how do you do it you ask?

You look on RyanAir and EasyJet.  Try to book while schools are in term time so you get the best deal, and fly during the week (Tues, Wed, Thurs) and at the oddest hours (6am for London means taking night buses at 4am to make it to the airport in time). 

Kind of like taking the Greyhound bus, these are cheap, tacky and really quite obnoxious flights.  I took a flight with Ryan Air from London to Bratislava, which is close to Vienna and I swear, my seat smelled of vomit.  It was nasty.  But it cost me pennies.  So…you get what you pay for.  The flight attendants will try to sell you raffle tickets, food, duty free and all round spend the entire flight selling.  You pay for your luggage.  They drop you off in cities outside of the city you want to go to, and then charge you to take the special Ryan Air buses to get into the actual city you’re visiting.  It’s not unlike the video above.

Smart business?  Dang right.  But it’s worth every penny you spend just to see these amazing places in Europe for the cost of a night out anywhere else.

The other option is to pay more for the higher end airlines like British Airways (Love British Airways compared to Air Canada! So much better).  You will feel safer and not have the scents of Ryan Air, but you will pay an arm and a leg to get anywhere in Europe with them.  From pennies to hundreds of pounds sadly.

Now, if you care about the environmental impact of all these cheap flights, you could always just take the chunnel from London across to Europe and travel by train.  Trains in Europe are well known for being fast, efficient, on time and an experience on their own.  I love taking the train anywhere in Europe and highly recommend that you do at least one journey by train.  You can book first-class or second-class seats, and sometimes even 3rd class tickets. 

Watch Before Sunrise to see Ethan Hawke’s amazing movie set on a train in Europe.   That will get you excited I’m sure.

Questions? Ideas? Experiences to share? Airlines to recommend? Please share your comments below.

PS) To book a flight from Canada or the USA to England, be sure to call Jonathan at Flight Centre on 1 866 552 4050 and mention “Classroom Canada.”  He’ll match any deal you can get elsewhere and give you at least $25 off from that price.

In Edinburgh last week I got the EasyJet treatment.

According to the loyal regulars, our experience on Wednesday last week was a RyanAir story and not a common experience on EasyJet.  That is good to hear.  So if you are not EasyJet checking these details (!), just note where I am going with this and skip over to the next heading!

I think, we shouldn’t put young people in the front line without proper training and support.   It will cripple their soul as surely as a road side bomb blows up young men in inadequately amoured vehicles.  We shouldn’t do this, morally.

And we shouldn’t do this because we are capable of managing much better.

Who agrees?

The back story

At 6pm, EasyJet groundstaff at Edinburgh Airport knew their 8pm flight to Luton would be delayed. They were telling passengers who were checking in at the airport.

They didn’t change the Boards though till 7.30pm, after the passengers were due at the gate at 7.25pm.

EasyJet were loading a Belfast flight shortly before and it would have been quite easy for someone to shout out that the flight was delayed, or put up a paper sign, and most of all to provide some information and hand out vouchers.

Very simply, passengers who had checked in online were not informed and nor was there a reasonable attempt to inform us.

We were delayed twice more. Vouchers for a princely 3 pounds were handed-out to those who asked at 10pm (with which you could buy a stale sandwich or a glass of wine – one or the other).

We eventually took off at 11pm, three hours late on a 75 minute flight, and suffered one more delay in Luton when the steps broke.

The steps broke? By this time, the passengers had begun to giggle.  It did seem as if EasyJet was in business well beyond its pay grade.

I departed north from the airport after midnight leaving stranded tourists who hadn’t eaten and who had no idea how to get to London.

The saving grace was a remarkably cheerful Purser who solved the problems of people stubborn enough to ask for assistance.  And many regulars were loyal to the airline despite the shoddy service – that’s good but as a first time EasyJet flyer I remain skeptical as did my foreign companion who has departed for another continent convinced of our total imcompetence.

But why I ask, were the ground staff so ill equipped to communicate the basics to the passengers?

Delays happen.  This is not news in the airline industry.  What are EasyJet’s procedures for rescheduling aircraft and crews?  What are their procedures for informing passengers already in the airport and on their way to the airport?  What are their procedures for informing people who they persuaded to check in online?  Why do they ask us for our mobile numbers if they don’t intend to use them?

And most of all, why don’t they train their staff in some basic active listening?

A one hour class in active listening skills will turn the the sulky staff at the airport into the cheerful Purser.

A customer service representative who protests her own innocence in the unfolding events doesn’t have a personality problem. She has a management problem.

No one has ever explained to her that we don’t care who is to blame within EasyJet.

We want to know three things.

1. When will we get home and how firm is the ETA?

2. How can we recorganize our ground arrangements (where are the train tables)?

3. How can we pass the intervening time and where can get refreshments?

Their backstory of a medical emergency in Nice was useful but the real story was that a medical emergency in France has knocked out the plane and crew schedules – not convincing is it?

I wouldn’t tell that story.   I swould simply say – we’ve screwed up.   A medical emergency has tripped our schedules.  We are only going to get you to London by midnight.  Now this is what we are going to do.  Let’s sort the passengers out.  Who will be connecting on – and get a passenger with an internet connection to look up the times?  Who needs a voucher?  This is where you find us if you need us.  Etc.

Keep it concrete and no excuses.

If a passenger is distressed, all they have to do is acknowledge the distress.  That is what the Purser did so well.  Even when the stairs broke inconveniencing passengers for the 4th time that evening, all he did was announce that he needed to apologize one more time.  He told us factually what the problem was and when we might receive a solution. He didn’t need to be defensive.  He wasn’t defensive.  Active listening is so easy when someone has shown you how.  And so effective too.

We shouldn’t put young people in the front line without proper training.  It will cripple their soul as surely as a road side bomb blows up young men in inadequately amoured vehicles.   We shouldn’t do this. It is not good for our souls either. We are better than this.  We know how to do this.  We should insist on better for our young people.

Who else agrees that we should stop putting young people in poorly structured jobs, with insufficient support and inadequate training?

Allá por 1967 los Troggs cantaban que “Love is all around“. Las cosas han cambiado y hoy en día quizá sería más apropiado cantar “publicidad is all around”. En todas partes, mires donde mires: vallas publicitarias, mensajes a tu móvil, propaganda en el buzón, inmensas lonas que cubren fachadas, las maquesinas del autobús, la estación de metro o las farolas donde los del circo plantan esos cartelones con las novedades zoológicas de cada año (en SIMPLE hay a quien ligres, greliones, Miss Aurori y demases engendros traen por la calle de la amargura). Ya ni cuando vuelas te libras. Y no, no nos referimos a los aeropuertos, ni siquiera a los aviones serigrafiados sino a que incluso dentro del avión te planten el anuncio de turno.

Es lo que tiene viajar en líneas de bajo coste, nunca sabes con qué te van a sorprender. Así que ahí estás tu, sentado de lo más formalito, con unas horas de aburrimiento por delante y ¡zas!, sin avisarte van y te ponen delante de las narices un anuncio del que no puedes escapar. Tratas de ignorarlo, pero no puedes: ¡está en todas partes! Y entonces, en un rizo del rizo (muy propio de las aerolíneas de bajo coste) te das cuenta de que el propio anuncio… ¡lleva su anuncio!

Así que ya lo sabes: si quieres anunciarte en su espacio, llama a Phil. No a Gareth o a Tracey o a Megan, no, tu llama a Phil, que el si que sabe…

MILANO – Non si è conclusa la vicenda del disabile cui è stato negato l’imbarco su un volo EasyJet a Malpensa diretto a Lamezia Terme. L’Enac, ente per l’aviazione civile, ha avviato un accertamento sull’episodio denunciato da Giuseppe Trieste, che guarda caso è presidente dell’associazione Fiaba (Fondazione italiana per l’abbattimento delle barriere architettoniche). L’Enac, spiega una nota, «sta verificando il rispetto del regolamento comunitario che tutela i diritti dei passeggeri diversamente abili e a ridotta mobilità e che attribuisce ai gestori aeroportuali e alle compagnie aeree una serie di obblighi che se non rispettati possono determinare delle sanzioni». «Mi hanno lasciato a terra perché sono disabile – ha denunciato Trieste -. Al check in mi hanno detto che senza accompagnatore la compagnia non accettava persone disabili». La compagnia si è difesa dicendo che nella sua prenotazione, fatta online, non era stato inserito il codice specifico di richiesta assistenza, richiesto dalla compagnia in questi casi.

TAJANI – Sulla vicenda è intervenuto il vicepresidente della Commissione europea e commissario ai Trasporti, Antonio Tajani, il quale sottolinea che «le persone a mobilità ridotta o con disabilità devono poter viaggiare in aereo in condizioni simili agli altri cittadini. Le discriminazioni non sono tollerabili». Tajani ha incaricato la Direzione generale trasporti della Commissione di verificare se sia stato violato il regolamento 1107/2006 che stabilisce i diritti dei passeggeri a mobilità ridotta e dei disabili nel trasporto aereo.

Se volate a Roma, all’aeroporto di “Fiumicino” Leonardo da Vinci, al momento di ritirare il bagaglio che avete imbarcato alla partenza, dovete seguire due percorsi distinti a seconda che abbiate volato con Alitalia, oppure con un’altra compagnia, come Iberia o Easy Jet, o Air Europa ad esempio. I Bagagli Alitalia si riprendono al molo A voli Nazionali, gli altri al molo B. A terra troverete due linee una Verde per Alitalia, una blu per Aeroporti di Roma, ovvero le altre compagnie aeree.

Hei på dere!

Tenkte jeg ville dele med dere litt av hva som skjedde i Portugal. Såehyes. Vi dro tidlig på formiddagen, søndag den 19. juli og tok flyet fra Torp som førte oss til London-Stansted. Fra Stansted tok vi EasyJet til Faro i Portugal. Det var litt rart det som skjedde da vi skulle ta det siste flyet, fordi det var en mann som hadde kommet ombord og så skulle han ikke være med likevel, så vi måtte skjekke at han ikke hadde lagt igjen en bombe ellerno’. Det var egentlig en litt ekkel følelse. . . Nuvel. Vi kom oss til Faro hvor vi tok en taxi, så kjørte vi litt med tog og taxi igjen, før vi kom oss til den fantastisk søte og lille byen, Salema. Det blir vel ikke egentlig mere å si om den dagen. Vi kom frem, og jeg var så trøtt at jeg la meg til å sove med en gang.

Mandag spiste vi alle frokost på en herlig resturant kalt Boia. Der hadde de veldig god mat, og spesielt god Musli. Mye av dagen gikk vel med på å ligge på stranden å få litt sol på vikingkroppene våre, noe som vi fant ut tok litt tid. Bølgene i Atlanterhavet var forresten også jævlig store. Dritkult(!), men en anelse skummelt òg.  Mot kvelden, så gikk vi på en resturant for å spise middag, men det ble også siste gang vi dro til akkurat det stedet. Jeg vet ikke hva som er gjennomstittet på hvor lenge man venter på et måltid når man sitter på en resturant, men jeg tviler på at det er to timer. Mens vi satt der, så så vi gjester komme, få maten sin, spise det og deretter betale for regningen og gå – alt dette før vi hadde fått så mye som en salat. Etter mye mas og tjas, så fikk vi maten vi så lenge hadde ventet på, og forlot resturanten å gikk videre til en ganske kul bar med mye bra musikk. Ettersom aldersgrensen på alkohol er 16 i Portugal, så måtte jeg nesten ha litt som senere førte til litt mer og litt mer. Kult, men ukult. Litt beruset og veldig blid, forsvant jeg, Silje og Vetle ned på stranden hvor vi møtte noen meget hyggelige mennesker: Erlend (norsk gutt som hadde vært der i fire uker alt), Fabio (portugisisk modell med verdens søteste lillebror: Junior 5 år), Claudio (som Silje synes/mener likner så utrolig på Mclovin) og en eller to andre jeg ikke fikk noe særlig kontakt med. Alle de skulle på død og liv ta noen bilder sammen med oss, men men.. Vi fikk tatt igjen vi.

Vi brukte mange av dagene bare på å ligge på stranden og slappe helt av, men vi fikk også tatt oss en tur til Sagres som kalles “verdens ende”. Der var det ganske kult, og mye flott å se. Har dessverre ingen bilder derfra, men det går jo an å google det. Heh.

Bortsett fra det, så har vi også tatt oss to turer til sammen inn til Lagos, hvor vi har vært litt på shopping (selv om det ikke ble så mye av på grunn av siesta og jævlig jalla klær, sko og nips). Andre gangen vi var der, så var vi på seiltur, og det var bare kjempe kult. Det kostet flesk, men jeg tviler på at jeg bare snakker for meg selv når jeg sier at pengene var verdt det. Båten heter Bon Dia og folk kan bestille en tur når de får lyst, egentlig. Jeg er fryktelig glad for at det ikke var så utrolig mange mennesker med da vi dro. Rundt 30 stk. tipper jeg. Mens man sitter og soler seg på deck, så kommer menneske som jobber der rundt og spør om du vil ha noe drikke, og etter en stund, så får du maten servert akkurat der du sitter. Null stress. Når ankeret blir sluppet, så er det tid for dem som vil bade i havet og de som vil bli med på grottetitting (noe jeg syntes var ekstremt kult).

Vel, jeg kunne fortalt dere alt som har skjedd, men jeg tror jeg lar være. Jeg skal jo også til Tyrkia om én dag, så da blir det mer å fortelle. Mulig det kommer flere bilder senere, men for dere som er venn med meg på facebook, så får dere jo sett ganske mange.

Håper dere har hatt en super ferie hittil.
- Synnøve.

Throughout this whole period of preparation during the past few months, I managed to tackle some issues that I was eager to address before September. I made a mental list around mid-April with certain information I wanted to find prior to the move. I am the ultimate planner and I have this relentless need to organize my life — I feel infinitely more comfortable going into a situation that I feel semi-educated about. Plus, since this is a school-less summer, I had ever more time to prepare! Below are some tidbits of information that I am finding invaluable, so I thought I’d share:

1. What supporting documents do I need for my Student Visa application?

The UK Visa site proved to be useful in providing a list of necessary items for my visa application, and Appendix 8 (which has to be submitted along with the visa application) did well to outline what pieces of supporting documentation are necessary. Here’s what my packet includes:

- My visa application (printed from online)
- My passport (the original, not a copy!)
- My Visa letter provided by LSE
- My proof of funding (either in the form of a receipt from the institution, bank statements that are signed off or, as in my case, loan guarantee forms provided by the lender)
- My transcript/degree from your undergraduate institution
- Passport photo (this needs to be affixed, not paper clipped)
- Appendix 8 (the self-assessment form for Tier 4 applicants)

2. How am I going to get from the the airport (LHR) to my housing?

I looked through a bazillion chauffeur-type services to get me from the airport to my new housing at High Holborn and the average (whether a taxi or a pre-arranged service) was around £40 - £45. I entertained the ridiculous idea of trying to use the tube, but two huge bags, a carry-on and a personal item don’t travel well from tube to tube. So, per some new friends that I encountered at the LSE Bon Voyage party, I found a site called Dot2Dot. It’s an amazingly affordable service and you can book it before arrival! My trip, from LHR to my postcode (WC1V) costs £23.50!

3. What are the limitations on luggage?

I happen to be flying United, but most airlines have similar luggage limitations. For international travel, I am allowed two checked bags, plus one carry-on and a personal item for free. In terms of weight, there is a 50 lb. limit (get lightweight luggage!), and in terms of size, the luggage cannot be greater than 62 linear inches (length + width + height measurements cannot total more than 62 inches). From what I’ve found, a 28 – 29″ bag hits the limit.

STA also provides a list of some airlines and their pricing and policies for domestic flights. Although charges can be incurred on domestic flights for standard baggage handling, you should get your two checked bags free of charge for an international flight!

4. Where can I get (relatively) inexpensive luggage?

I scoured stores for cute and inexpensive luggage only to learn that luggage is costly! I hadn’t realized how much it can cost for a good quality bag, but I decided that spending $350 on a 29″ bag was not in the cards. Whilst in the Nordstrom Rack in Seattle, I found amazing luggage for half price. I’m not entirely sure that all the Rack stores carry the same inventory, but it’s worth a shot.

I also found a veritable slew of amazingly cute and affordable luggage at TJ Maxx and at Marshall’s. TJ Maxx definitely tops the list with their quality, their selection and their prices. I was amazed! Most of the 28-29″ bags there were in the $50 – $75 range(marked down from $200 – $300 at MSRP). Side note: they also have a bunch of darling handbags!

6. How much is it going to cost me to ship the items I can’t take with me?

More so than weight issues, I think I’m running into space issues with packing. Shoes, jackets, etc. can be awkward and take up a great deal of baggage space. That being said, I have looked into a number of shipping services so I can ship some shoesies overseas and have them meet me in the UK.
{See my previous post on packing & shipping overseas!}

1) USPS was by FAR the cheapest option. For a 65 lb. box, it costs around $208.
2) White Glove Express is about 50% more, but I’ve actually had personal communication/interaction with the people at White Glove & their customer service is definitely selling me!
3) UPS quoted me around $389.09 for the same 65 lb. box, and
4) FedEx was ridiculously high priced – $482.31

7. What are the best websites for information on the city (events, sightseeing, etc.)?

I would re-type this, but there’s no point: see my previous post on the coolest (read: my favorite!) London-focused sites on the web.

8. What are my best options for Euro travel?

I suppose travel can be divided into a few categories: by plane, by train or by bus. For airfare, I’ve found the best deals on Ryan Air and on EasyJet. After talking with one of my friends who backpacked across Europe, I learned that although RyanAir’s prices are pretty unbeatable (£1 and £5 deals pop up frequently), they tend to fly into places that aren’t central to the city; they tend to be in the outskirts which spawns other transportation questions/issues. From what I’ve seen of EasyJet, the flights are a little more standard — normal, central airports at a great price. Also, I don’t think anyone should underestimate the power of Expedia (the UK version). I searched for random flight deals on their site (to Portugal, Greece, Egypt, etc.) and they had some unbeatable deals!

For trains, the only site that I really ever peruse is National Express, primarily because I found some pretty good deals on tickets while I was in Europe earlier this year. From what I’ve seen, trains can be worth it for medium-length trips if you get a good deal, but all in all, there are some amazing flight deals to be had which semi-nullify the idea of trains in my mind. Also, the Virgin Train site is worth a look-see as is the First Great Western site. They post some serious deals occasionally. 

As for buses, I’m not a fan and I haven’t looked into pricing. I know they’re sort of a necessary evil, but they tend to evoke images of psychotic drug users for me. Perhaps I will get used to them next year, at which point I will update this with relevant information, but for now I shall steer clear.

9. Where do I buy my stuff? I can’t possibly cart my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. overseas!

There are a few staple stores with average deals and locations scattered all throughout the country:

1) Sainsbury: There’s a location that’s going to be super close to me and they have bits of everything: food, drinks, sporting goods, home and garden and random necessities.

2) Tesco: Groceries, wine, electronics… their website isn’t all that pretty, but they’re pretty averagely priced.

3) Marks & Spencer: Food, wine, skincare, hair products, accessories… posh Target, anyone?

4) Lidl: So, this kind of reminds me of the Grocery Outlet of the UK. Awesome prices, off-brand stuff; probably a good place for students to shop. Downside: I don’t think there’s a store near me. Boo.

10. Where can I snag a not-so-expensive hair cut &/or color?

The thought of going months without a root touch-up or a trim is a little foreign and would probably be very frightening… and not just for me. Unfortunately, hair cuts, color and highlights got really expensive at some point! On the bright side, I did find a Toni & Guy at 75 New Oxford Street that serves as a training academy and has pretty sweet deals (£5 haircuts?!). Of course, these deals involve student cosmetologists but they do have a licensed professional overseeing everything. The reviews that I have read are mixed, but tend to lean towards the positive end of the spectrum. Perhaps worth the risk?

11. What phone plan is going to work best?

There’s O2, 3, Vodafone, T-mobile… so many to choose from. After checking out pricing & weighing my options, I decided that the O2 SIM Simplicity plan was best for me! I purchased my phone on eBay: an unlocked, jailbroken iPhone. With the Simplicity plan, I can purchase just the SIM card on a 12-month contract for 19.88 GBP per month. It includes 800 minutes, 1600 texts & a bolt-on of your choice (I’m choosing unlimited web!). The plan definitely works for me and fits into my budget perfectly. O2 also has an iPhone plan that’s 44 GBP per month (18 month contract) wherein they give you the phone in the package plus loads of minutes, texts & unlimited web. Lots of deals to be had! Click here for more of the lowdown on my decision.

12. What bank account should I opt for?

After scouring the internet for different bank accounts, I opted for HSBC’s passport account. Firstly, HSBC has a branch that’s two minutes away from my new housing. Secondly, I was able to actually submit the application online! I had it approved within two weeks and now I just need to pop into a location with my CA Driver’s license & my passport to officially open shop! Check out my previous post on different banks & their fees. FYI, they ALL charge fees. Lame, but true.

13. Are there any relevant London-focused apps for my sweet new iPhone?

Oooooh, hellllllls yeah, my friends. There are a load to download from the App Store, but there are three that I found that are actually semi-awesome. If you are a fellow iPhone user/Mac convert, check these out:

1) TubeMap: It’s just that — a tube map, but tads cooler. Here’s why: you get to input your information, including your “home” tube station and it allows you to check the tube station status, map from point A to point B and so much more. It’s seriously awesome. And it’s free! FYI, all my apps are free. I don’t believe in paying for such things.

2) London Highlights {Way2GoGuides}: A sweet little app with audio “tours.” There’s information on location highlights: The British Museum, Kew Gardens, The London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the like!

3) What’s On (London): This app basically uses Time Out London as it’s basis for information. It’s a cool way to navigate and find events you’re interested in. You can view events by category: pubs/bars, opera, theater, art, around town, etc. and see what the haps is in your area.

 There are so many other cool sites I’ve found that are so awesome and so relevant, but I don’t want to overload!

Much love,

Throughout this whole period of preparation during the past few months, I managed to tackle some issues that I was eager to address before September. I made a mental list around mid-April with certain information I wanted to find prior to the move. I am the ultimate planner and I have this relentless need to organize my life — I feel infinitely more comfortable going into a situation that I feel semi-educated about. Plus, since this is a school-less summer, I had ever more time to prepare! Below are some tidbits of information that I am finding invaluable, so I thought I’d share:

1. What supporting documents do I need for my Student Visa application?

The UK Visa site proved to be useful in providing a list of necessary items for my visa application, and Appendix 8 (which has to be submitted along with the visa application) did well to outline what pieces of supporting documentation are necessary. Here’s what my packet includes:

- My visa application (printed from online)
- My passport (the original, not a copy!)
- My Visa letter provided by LSE
- My proof of funding (either in the form of a receipt from the institution, bank statements that are signed off or, as in my case, loan guarantee forms provided by the lender)
- My transcript/degree from your undergraduate institution
- Passport photo (this needs to be affixed, not paper clipped)
- Appendix 8 (the self-assessment form for Tier 4 applicants)

2. How am I going to get from the the airport (LHR) to my housing?

I looked through a bazillion chauffeur-type services to get me from the airport to my new housing at High Holborn and the average (whether a taxi or a pre-arranged service) was around £40 - £45. I entertained the ridiculous idea of trying to use the tube, but two huge bags, a carry-on and a personal item don’t travel well from tube to tube. So, per some new friends that I encountered at the LSE Bon Voyage party, I found a site called Dot2Dot. It’s an amazingly affordable service and you can book it before arrival! My trip, from LHR to my postcode (WC1V) costs £23.50!

3. What are the limitations on luggage?

I happen to be flying United, but most airlines have similar luggage limitations. For international travel, I am allowed two checked bags, plus one carry-on and a personal item for free. In terms of weight, there is a 50 lb. limit (get lightweight luggage!), and in terms of size, the luggage cannot be greater than 62 linear inches (length + width + height measurements cannot total more than 62 inches). From what I’ve found, a 28 – 29″ bag hits the limit.

STA also provides a list of some airlines and their pricing and policies for domestic flights. Although charges can be incurred on domestic flights for standard baggage handling, you should get your two checked bags free of charge for an international flight!

4. Where can I get (relatively) inexpensive luggage?

I scoured stores for cute and inexpensive luggage only to learn that luggage is costly! I hadn’t realized how much it can cost for a good quality bag, but I decided that spending $350 on a 29″ bag was not in the cards. Whilst in the Nordstrom Rack in Seattle, I found amazing luggage for half price. I’m not entirely sure that all the Rack stores carry the same inventory, but it’s worth a shot.

I also found a veritable slew of amazingly cute and affordable luggage at TJ Maxx and at Marshall’s. TJ Maxx definitely tops the list with their quality, their selection and their prices. I was amazed! Most of the 28-29″ bags there were in the $50 – $75 range(marked down from $200 – $300 at MSRP). Side note: they also have a bunch of darling handbags!

6. How much is it going to cost me to ship the items I can’t take with me?

More so than weight issues, I think I’m running into space issues with packing. Shoes, jackets, etc. can be awkward and take up a great deal of baggage space. That being said, I have looked into a number of shipping services so I can ship some shoesies overseas and have them meet me in the UK.
{See my previous post on packing & shipping overseas!}

1) USPS was by FAR the cheapest option. For a 65 lb. box, it costs around $208.
2) White Glove Express is about 50% more, but I’ve actually had personal communication/interaction with the people at White Glove & their customer service is definitely selling me!
3) UPS quoted me around $389.09 for the same 65 lb. box, and
4) FedEx was ridiculously high priced – $482.31

7. What are the best websites for information on the city (events, sightseeing, etc.)?

I would re-type this, but there’s no point: see my previous post on the coolest (read: my favorite!) London-focused sites on the web.

8. What are my best options for Euro travel?

I suppose travel can be divided into a few categories: by plane, by train or by bus. For airfare, I’ve found the best deals on Ryan Air and on EasyJet. After talking with one of my friends who backpacked across Europe, I learned that although RyanAir’s prices are pretty unbeatable (£1 and £5 deals pop up frequently), they tend to fly into places that aren’t central to the city; they tend to be in the outskirts which spawns other transportation questions/issues. From what I’ve seen of EasyJet, the flights are a little more standard — normal, central airports at a great price. Also, I don’t think anyone should underestimate the power of Expedia (the UK version). I searched for random flight deals on their site (to Portugal, Greece, Egypt, etc.) and they had some unbeatable deals!

For trains, the only site that I really ever peruse is National Express, primarily because I found some pretty good deals on tickets while I was in Europe earlier this year. From what I’ve seen, trains can be worth it for medium-length trips if you get a good deal, but all in all, there are some amazing flight deals to be had which semi-nullify the idea of trains in my mind. Also, the Virgin Train site is worth a look-see as is the First Great Western site. They post some serious deals occasionally. 

As for buses, I’m not a fan and I haven’t looked into pricing. I know they’re sort of a necessary evil, but they tend to evoke images of psychotic drug users for me. Perhaps I will get used to them next year, at which point I will update this with relevant information, but for now I shall steer clear.

9. Where do I buy my stuff? I can’t possibly cart my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc. overseas!

There are a few staple stores with average deals and locations scattered all throughout the country:

1) Sainsbury: There’s a location that’s going to be super close to me and they have bits of everything: food, drinks, sporting goods, home and garden and random necessities.

2) Tesco: Groceries, wine, electronics… their website isn’t all that pretty, but they’re pretty averagely priced.

3) Marks & Spencer: Food, wine, skincare, hair products, accessories… posh Target, anyone?

4) Lidl: So, this kind of reminds me of the Grocery Outlet of the UK. Awesome prices, off-brand stuff; probably a good place for students to shop. Downside: I don’t think there’s a store near me. Boo.

10. Where can I snag a not-so-expensive hair cut &/or color?

The thought of going months without a root touch-up or a trim is a little foreign and would probably be very frightening… and not just for me. Unfortunately, hair cuts, color and highlights got really expensive at some point! On the bright side, I did find a Toni & Guy at 75 New Oxford Street that serves as a training academy and has pretty sweet deals (£5 haircuts?!). Of course, these deals involve student cosmetologists but they do have a licensed professional overseeing everything. The reviews that I have read are mixed, but tend to lean towards the positive end of the spectrum. Perhaps worth the risk?

11. What phone plan is going to work best?

There’s O2, 3, Vodafone, T-mobile… so many to choose from. After checking out pricing & weighing my options, I decided that the O2 SIM Simplicity plan was best for me! I purchased my phone on eBay: an unlocked, jailbroken iPhone. With the Simplicity plan, I can purchase just the SIM card on a 12-month contract for 19.88 GBP per month. It includes 800 minutes, 1600 texts & a bolt-on of your choice (I’m choosing unlimited web!). The plan definitely works for me and fits into my budget perfectly. O2 also has an iPhone plan that’s 44 GBP per month (18 month contract) wherein they give you the phone in the package plus loads of minutes, texts & unlimited web. Lots of deals to be had! Click here for more of the lowdown on my decision.

12. What bank account should I opt for?

After scouring the internet for different bank accounts, I opted for HSBC’s passport account. Firstly, HSBC has a branch that’s two minutes away from my new housing. Secondly, I was able to actually submit the application online! I had it approved within two weeks and now I just need to pop into a location with my CA Driver’s license & my passport to officially open shop! Check out my previous post on different banks & their fees. FYI, they ALL charge fees. Lame, but true.

13. Are there any relevant London-focused apps for my sweet new iPhone?

Oooooh, hellllllls yeah, my friends. There are a load to download from the App Store, but there are three that I found that are actually semi-awesome. If you are a fellow iPhone user/Mac convert, check these out:

1) TubeMap: It’s just that — a tube map, but tads cooler. Here’s why: you get to input your information, including your “home” tube station and it allows you to check the tube station status, map from point A to point B and so much more. It’s seriously awesome. And it’s free! FYI, all my apps are free. I don’t believe in paying for such things.

2) London Highlights {Way2GoGuides}: A sweet little app with audio “tours.” There’s information on location highlights: The British Museum, Kew Gardens, The London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the like!

3) What’s On (London): This app basically uses Time Out London as it’s basis for information. It’s a cool way to navigate and find events you’re interested in. You can view events by category: pubs/bars, opera, theater, art, around town, etc. and see what the haps is in your area.

 There are so many other cool sites I’ve found that are so awesome and so relevant, but I don’t want to overload!

Much love,

Pentru romani, Italia reprezinta una din destinatiile preferate atunci cand vine vorba de calatorii aeriene, indiferent daca ne referim la romanii care lucreaza in strainatate sau la cei care pleaca in concediu.

Prin urmare, foarte multe companii aeriene opereaza zboruri catre Italia, facand legatura cu principalele orase cum ar fi Roma, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Catania, Venetia, Verona sau Bari.

Iata mai jos o lista orientativa de preturi pentru companiile aeriene care efectueaza zboruri directe Romania – Italia cu plecare din Bucuresti. Perioada selectata este 15 sept. – 22 sept. iar pretul este pentru un bilet dus-intors.

]]> http://willykean.com/2009/07/17/non-admise-it-is-time-to-leave/ Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:25:26 +0000 willykean http://willykean.com/2009/07/17/non-admise-it-is-time-to-leave/

Renvoyée comme une malpropre.

Aujourd’hui je joue, je joue en racontant ma mésaventure, mais en juin 1986, je ne jouais pas du tout.

Non admise, c’est le titre de mon histoire. Pourquoi non admise? C’est l’étiquette qui m’avait été attribué il y a 23 ans.

Tout le monde aime voyager, tout le monde rêve un jour de visiter un pays étranger; pour certains, ceux qui viennent du nord, les démarches sont plus faciles. Dans le sens inverse, c’est une mission presque impossible.

En 1986 donc, je décide de venir étudier en France. Les problèmes ont commencé dès que ma soeur m’a informée de l’arrivée du billet.

Je me précipite à l’agence  pour le récuper et là. No way! Les consignes sont claires. Pour retirer son billet, il faut justifier d’une inscription préalable dans une école et de revenus suffisants. Désespérée, je vais voir Le Juge B, père de ma meilleure amie, afin qu’il me donne quelques conseils.

Voilà ce qu’il m’a dit:

“retourne à l’agence et dis leur que tu es une citoyenne du monde, que tu as le droit de circuler librement et que aucune loi n’exige de présenter ses revenus avant de voyager.”

Vous comprendrez pourquoi aujourd’hui, je clame à qui veut l’entendre que je suis UNE CITOYENNE DU MONDE.

Pas très convaincue mais grandie par cette maxime, je retourne à l’agence l’après midi. Heureuse coincidence ou chance, je n’en sais rien mais mon billet m’a été remis et j’ai pu organiser mon voyage.

Ce n’était pas Easy Jet mais une autre compagnie.

Le plus dur m’attendait à Roissy. Nous avons atterri à 7h le matin. Le voyage s’est bien déroulé. Hôtesses à nos petits soins, stewards tout sourire… A l’atterrissage, j’emboîte le pas à un jeune sénégalais, mon voisin d’avion. Nous empruntons l’escalator qui nous mène à la police des frontières, dernier sésame avant de fouler le sol français. Et là, je fais mon premier “atterrissage forcé”. Après avoir retourné mon passeport dans tous les sens, le policier en face me dit de me mettre à côté.

Il passe un coup de fil dans sa radio. Résultat, quand il revient à moi, il faut me conduire au poste. Je suis une Non Admise. Mon voyage s’achevait apparemment à Roissy. En passant devant les vitres qui nous s’éparent de la zone internationale, j’aperçois ma soeur, elle ne comprend pas, elle essaie d’en savoir plus. Et moi, je pars vers une zone inconnue, dans l’aéroport, le poste de police; un petit local avec deux bureaux et trois chaises.

On me propose de m’asseoir sur l’une d’elles. Je reste droite comme I. Je m’étais jurée de rester digne quelques soient les circonstances. Je suis triste, frustrée, en colère. Mais il ne faut rien laisser paraître. Ma soeur a essayé de me faire passer de l’argent pour que je puisse m’offrir des magazines. J’étais déjà une accro de magazines et de shopping à l’époque. No way! Il faut croire qu’une non admise, et donc une sous citoyenne, ne peut recevoir de l’argent de sa famille.

Toute la journée je suis restée assise sur ma chaise. Tous les “gentils” policiers m’avaient affublée d’un surnom: “La dame en rose” . J’aurais préféré Pink Lady. Ce jour là j’avais voulu faire concurrence à cette milliardaire dont je ne me souviens plus le nom, celle qui a passée toute sa vie en rose.

Je portais un ensemble rose. Chemisier à manches transparentes nouées aux poignets et à l’encolure. Jupe volante, rose aussi, à plis fins. Les chaussures, je ne sais plus. Elles n’étaient pas roses en tout cas. Mais je crois que je méritais mon surnom de Dame en rose.

J’ai dû supporter les sarcasmes de ces policiers qui devaient sans doute s’ennuyer lorsqu’ils n’avaient pas de NON ADMIS à coffrer. Pour aller au toilettes, j’ai eu droit à une escorte femme. Porte des toilettes ouverte. Au cas où j’essaierais de me couper les veines ou de m’enfuir dans un aéroport et une France que je ne connaissais pas.

J’ai eu faim, et je n’ai pas mangé, j’ai eu soif, et je n’ai pas bu, j’ai été triste, et on sait moqué de moi. Mais willykean est restée digne. Comme disait souvent mon père, ne jamais fuir devant l’ennemi en tant de guerre ou dans la vie courante. Ici, ce n’était pas des ennemis, c’étaient des… quoi déjà? Ils faisaient leur travail n’est-ce pas? Une non admise, c’est comme une criminelle. Mon crime? Celui de vouloir étudier en france et d’avoir oublié un document important pour entrer en France.

J’ai su plus tard que j’avais eu la chance lorsque en milieu de journée, j’ai vu un malien sortir d’un local de la police des frontières, enchaîné aux chevilles. Il tenait une boîte; et quand je me suis enquise du crime de ce monsieur, on m’a répondu que c’était un non admis comme moi, mais qui avait moins de chance. Comme Kounta Kinté dans Racines, il était enchaîné. La boîte c’était son verre.

J’étais une veinarde moi, willykean!!! J’avais une chaise et le droit de  m’asseoir dans leur bureau! De quoi je me plains! Imaginez un peu. Arrivée à sept heures le matin, assise au même endroit jusqu’à vingt heures sans bouger. Mais souviens toi willykean, souviens toi. Ne jamais fuir, ne jamais montrer ses faiblesses. Avoir le cran de regarder celui qui va te poignarder, droit dans les yeux. J’ai tenu grâce à ces paroles. Je pensais à mon père, à mes soeurs, à toute ma famille. A l’injustice qui fait de nous des gens du sud.

Le soir enfin, un policier est arrivé, il m’a  fait signer un document que je n’ai même pas pris la peine de lire. Puis m’a expliqué que je serais conduite au sofitel de Roissy où je serais gardée par la police jusqu’au matin, avant d’embarquer à huit par le vol retour. Mon voyage n’avait duré que 48 heures. Un aller-retour à 8000 Francs (1200 €), une avance de 450€ à L’école de secrétariat  (Institut Madame) où j’étais attendue l’après midi de mon arrivée pour compléter mon dossier d’inscription. Et un autre visage de la france que j’ignorais jusqu’alors.

J’ai passé la nuit éveillée, dans une chambre du Sofitel, avec des policiers qui se relayaient devant la porte de ma chambre restée ouverte jusqu’au matin. OUi. Ce que vous ignorez peut être, c’est que lorsque l’on est une NON ADMISE, on a pas droit à un peu d’intimité!

Le matin, je me suis préparée comme une FIRST CLASS CITIZEN. Toujours en rose encadrée de deux policiers, qui m’ont conduite dans leur fourgonnette, vers Roissy, pour le vol retour.

La fourgonnette m’a laissée au pied de l’avion. J’ai pris la passerelle avec les deux policiers qui m’escortaient; mon passeport a été confié au commandant. Et ils ont attendu avec moi jusqu’à quelques minutes du départ.

Suite à un violent orage, nous avons failli nous écraser en mer ou sur l’aéroport d’abidajn, mais ça c’est une autre histoire. Je vous la raconterai peut être un jour. Car je sais ce que l’on peut ressentir quand on a un avion en difficulté qui lutte contre un crash.

A l’image de notre héros qui décolle de l’aéroport le plus proche dans www.itistimetoleave.com, même si j’avais eu la possibilité de m’envoler rapidement sur un vol easy jet, le coeur n’y était pas vraiment parce que je n’avais pas fait tout ce voyage pour finir comme un terroriste, surveillée, interrogée, traitée comme un pariat par des policiers qui ont le devoir d’empêcher les étrangers d’émigrer chez eux. 

Cette situation embarrassante, surprenante, imprévue vous est livrée aujourd’hui parce que justement je voudrais gagner un voyage easyjet, celui où je ne serai pas la Dame en Rose, celui où  je serais libre de circuler comme une WORLD FIRST CLASS CITIZEN.

Faites moi décoller avec www.itistimetoleave.com

Eski yazdığım yazılarıma şöyle bir baktım da, sivil havayolundaki rekabet konusunda biraz haksızlık yapmışım galiba. Sektörü düşük rekabet ve düşük kâr marjı olarak tanımladığımı görüyorum.

I didn’t want to have anything go wrong when catching the ship I scheduled so I decided to spend the night in Southampton England before the sailing of the Queen Mary 2. I booked a direct flight from Amsterdam on Flybe Airlines, a low cost airlines. This was my first experience of being “nickle and dimed” to death which now seems to be the emerging norm for everyone. I talked about the cost break down in a previous post where my 59 euro ticket ended up costing me almost 160 euro-http://mentalejecta.wordpress.com/2009/06/16/my-upcoming-trip-its-the-big-one-weezy/. I did not end up getting dinged with the over weight bag fee but I know I was 3kg over the limit. Maybe being nice to the agent helped. 

The Amsterdam Airport has a wonderful smoking area just outside the front doors which is a great spot to people watch.

Gorgeous… where in the states can you find this?

All of them healthy and well cared for.

I checked my bag and after getting through security, hit the concourse to find my plane.

It’s not this one… this is a KLM 747 Jumbo. This was the absolute tops in airplanes in the 70s-80s. The thing myths are made of. No matter what, this will always be airplane porn to me.

It’s not this one… this is an Easy Jet Airbus 319 that serves all of Western europe.

It is this one. A FlyBe Bombardier Q400 Turbo Prop. It was snug but nothing unbearable and having a direct flight instead of connecting through London was worth every euro. They sold beverages and sandwiches on board but the flight was only about an hour long so it was no big deal. The employees did not seem overly friendly and seemed surprised when I smiled and thanked them when getting off.

The view of the engine out my window.

My first glimpse of the English countryside. It looked different than the countryside in my beloved states. How could that be? I could not help but think of the hedgerow fighting that the soldiers experienced during the war.

We landed and got through immigration, one guy welcoming us to a tiny airport. Right on. This was the smallest international airport I have ever been through. I can’t remember more than six gates or so but I might not have seen the whole thing. I found a hotel within walking distance from the airport called the Premiere Inn at Southampton Airport. I drug my wheeled bag behind me for about two blocks and easily hit my new home for the night. A cheery greeting awaited me and this hotel was fabulous in every way.

I didn’t care one bit it was a twin room and the price was right at 63 pounds a night. I ordered a pizza from the restaurant below and chowed down. There was a breakfast buffet for the morning and the place was super clean and quiet.

After all that quaint viewing in Amsterdam it was only right to get back to the real world. This is my view of the highway right behind the hotel but it was kinda fun to see the different kind of cars driving on the “wrong side of the road”. I was beat after the traveling and the food so I hit the sack and was out. Tomorrow is going to be exciting.

To mark the centenary of the Paris Airshow, Bottom Line, BBC 4’s business talk show, looks at the future of the airline industry, guests are Stelios of Easy Jet, Steve Ridgway of Virgin and Lord Digby Jones. They discuss impact of the recession, of course, the environment and more interestingly, customer service. On the disappearance of human interaction in travelling, from phone lines to check-in counters, Stelios says that the level of personal involvement, in services, depends on the nature of the service, as well as the cost. His definition of quality is useful: you meet or exceed the expectations of the customer.

It is official! I have booked my plane ticket to Munich for Oktoberfest 2009! I will be going with a  group of new friends during the latter part of September (24-27th) to spend a few days in Germany before heading back to reality for the start of the school year! We’re staying at a cool little place called The Tent, which is literally a tent site to camp out on the cheap (around $10 a night!) Although there are some more sophisticated options, tents are pretty inexpensive and apparently there are loads of people to meet there! Considering everyone under the European sun will be in Munich during September/October, the prices are exorbitant anyway (hello, supply & demand!) so it seems like a good way to save some cash and spend it on more worthwhile items! Also, what does one wear to said event? I’m assuming it’ll still be warm outside in September? Maybe that’s too much of an assumption…

So pumped! Still have to book my flight to London in September.

Looks like I’ll be leaving the States on the 17th. Goodbye, Sunny California.

Also — still looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. If anyone has any ideas, drop me a line <3.

It is official! I have booked my plane ticket to Munich for Oktoberfest 2009! I will be going with a  group of new friends during the latter part of September (24-27th) to spend a few days in Germany before heading back to reality for the start of the school year! We’re staying at a cool little place called The Tent, which is literally a tent site to camp out on the cheap (around $10 a night!) Although there are some more sophisticated options, tents are pretty inexpensive and apparently there are loads of people to meet there! Considering everyone under the European sun will be in Munich during September/October, the prices are exorbitant anyway (hello, supply & demand!) so it seems like a good way to save some cash and spend it on more worthwhile items! Also, what does one wear to said event? I’m assuming it’ll still be warm outside in September? Maybe that’s too much of an assumption…

So pumped! Still have to book my flight to London in September.

Looks like I’ll be leaving the States on the 17th. Goodbye, Sunny California.

Also — still looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. If anyone has any ideas, drop me a line <3.

For our first anniversary in March we decided to go to Paris. We stayed at the Lovely Lepic apartment which I found via the holiday-rentals website. It was a traditional french apartment, clean and very commfortable. Situated up the road from the Moulin Rouge and a few minutes walk from the Sacre Couer and Montremartre.

The trip was lovely, flew with Easy Jet for the first time from Luton and caught the train from the airport straight to Blanche on the Metro.

Paris is an amazing city but with the weak pound means it is very expensive to eat out or even have a beer.

We did all the usual sights taking in The Mona Lisa and Eiffel Tower, watching the lights go out across the city for Earth Hour from the Sacre Couer and eating french onion soup in a smal bistro where the waiter was more interested in drinking wine with his customers than serving the food itself.

A highlight will always be The Catacombs, I can’t describe to you really about the sheer weirdness of the place unless you visit it yourself.

Memories will be, chocolate eclairs and baguettes fresh out of the oven, karaoke style buskers on the Metro, tramps with chihuahuas, the house boats along the Seine and the hustle and bustle of Rue Lepic where our apartment was located.

I have been slowly processing rolls of 35mm film from my travels to Italy and Europe as well as some random snaps from Colorado. I like to have a camera on me all the time and the lomo is a good one to have around when I just need to push a button.

Subway, London, UK

Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Club Vanilla, Lugano, Switzerland

Cyclist, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Rain, Milan, Italy

Store Front, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Olive Harvest, Mezzegra, Italy

Partire da Madrid, dall’aeroporto di Madrid Barajas, mi sembra che risulti sempre molto complicato, spero di aiutare a chiarire un po la situazione dando informazioni da quale Terminal avviene il check-in di alcune compagnie. Importante sapere che il T1, T2 e T3 sono collegati tra di loro anche a piedi, oltre che con una navetta, mentre il T4 è raggiungibile dagli altri terminal solo con una Navetta che fa un anello nell’aeroporto. il Terminal 4S invece è raggiungibile solo dall’interno del T4 con un trenino automatico (vedi post)

Check in dal Terminal 1

Ryanair (RY)  -Easy Jet (EZ)- Lufthansa (LH)

Check-in dal Terminal 2

Alitalia (AZ) -Air Europa (UX) -Air Comet (A7)

Check-in dal Terminal 4

Iberia (IB) – Vueling (VY) – Malev (MA)