My regular reader(s) knows of my obsession in planning as much as possible, as far ahead as possible. I’ve volunteered to help out at the World Road Race Championships in Melbourne 2010, and I’ll be going irrespective of whether or not they avail themselves of my services. The challenge is to find the lowest club class fare. Yes, I know economy would be way cheaper but I don’t do long-haul steerage. When I get on the plane for a long-haul flight I want to either go upstairs or turn left, never right.

I confess to having been spoilt many years ago while working in the internal audit department of an American bank. At short notice, they needed someone to fly over to Hong Kong to conduct an audit of the loans department. Bizarrely, I was the only volunteer and, even as a fairly junior member of staff, I got to travel FIRST CLASS.

I flew first class on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, cocooned in the lap of luxury, where I had a truly fantastic time, largely because I was on my lonesome and could do what I wanted, when I wanted; always my preferred state of affairs. I would travel to the office each morning in the (free) air-conditioned, hotel limousine as far as the Star Ferry and then board the ferry. Evenings were spent wandering around Hong Kong’s different districts and visiting lots of wonderful restaurants, which included having  afternoon tea at The Peninsula Hotel, something of an institution or rite of passage. I also visited China and Macau.

I was then asked to fly down to the Singapore office which was having problems accounting for futures and options. I flew there on Singapore Airlines, again first class and similarly luxurious. Regrettably, I had to fly back to Blighty on British Airways.

This was in the early eighties before Lords King and Marshal had worked their magic on the airline. Suffice to say that the difference between the oriental airlines and BA was so marked that I was moved to write a letter to Lord King with a few constructive criticisms as to how he might bridge the yawning chasm, which stretched over 5 pages. I firmly believe you get what you’re prepared to put up with. So, if you’re not happy, speak up! I received a delightful, hand-written note from Lord King thanking me for my thoughts and advising that they would be taken into consideration in the forthcoming re-launch of BA. And, so they were.

On the other hand, Richard Branson, oft-cited as a business guru, could not find the time to respond to my letter outlining my dissatisfaction with Virgin Atlantic, as a consequence, I have never darkened his door again. Plus, I shudder to think how many people I have told about my dire experiences on his airline.

Contrast this, if you will, with my experience of Easyjet who refunded the cost of my flight, after a delay of in excess of 4 hours, before I had time to apply finger to keyboard . So, while I’m happy to support both Easyjet and BA, neither of these are going to get me a cheap, business class fare to Melbourne. We had planned to use our Airmiles with Lufthansa but this took us on a round the world odyssey going out via LA and back via Bangkok. The best deal I’ve found to date is on Qatar airlines, via Doha from Milan. Of course, I’ve already booked the hotels.

Postscript: Booked two club class return tickets to Melbourne on Qatar Airlines for Euros 5,224 – bargain!

Eddie, Me, Connor and Dunny

Twenty-four hours, three plane rides and two surprisingly delicious airplane meals later I arrive in Doha and am met by a beautiful Qatari Airline woman outfitted in deep cranberry who personally took care of getting Danae and my visa’s while we waited in a lounge sipping Coca Cola light. 

Living Room!

Welcome to the swank life.
I’m now sitting in my new apartment…totally surreal, especially because my body doesn’t know what time or what day it is. It’s a one bedroom, two bathroom (one shower) and is equipped with a full kitchen, washer and dryer. 
My bedroom is technically the living room (although we can only get internet in the bedroom right now) and I set my favorite picture of my brothers and me, and my good luck travel Dunny by my bedside table. 
Looks like I’m home.

Both Qatar Airways and SIA splashed big adverts today in the papers.

What’s the difference?

1. I took the trouble to read Qatar Airways’ advert, and ignored SIA’s.

2. Qatar  points out that theirs is “Minimum 1 to go” (a pointed jibe at SIA’s 2-to-go?)

The essential point here is that I might be a potential customer of Qatar.

You may accuse me of disloyalty in not supporting the national carrier. Friend, it’s not my fault when they purposely slam the door in my face with their ridiculous 2 to go tickets. Even more preposterous is the requirement that the 2 passengers must also return together!

Who qualify for SIA’s 2 to go tickets?

-twins

-clones

-wives who tell their husbands, “Wherever you go, I follow”

-inseparable pals

-those who can grab a stranger on the street to make up the numbers

Does SIA senior management know what it’s doing?

News.Opodo.co.uk reports:

Qatar Airways has boosted its fleet with a new Boeing 777-300 extended range aircraft and said that the development represents the end of a successful year.

The new plane is Qatar Airways’ fifth Boeing 777 and will help the carrier increase capacity on its operations in south-east Asia.

Doha international airport hosted the arrival of the aircraft on 23 December following a long flight from Seattle. The plane will be used to operate flights between Doha and Manila in the Philippines from January 2009.

The Boeing 777 features 42 seats in business class and 293 economy spaces, as well as an Oryx inflight entertainment system.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: ‘The arrival of the fifth Boeing 777 in Qatar Airways’ colours underlines the already strong and fruitful relationship that the carrier has with one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers.

‘Tuesday 23 December marked a day of celebration for the airline, its staff and all its loyal customers.’

Read the entire article here: News.Opodo.co.uk

I have not yet left the country but today, I have travelled further than any man has before – not necessarily in miles but in pain, frustration and stress. Shortly after I last left off I made my way to Qatar Airlines check-in desk where I was able to do the usual thing and chuck on my hefty suitcase; they check my passport and tickets etc. As I mentioned earlier I forgot my e-booking flight details, however this was in no way an issue – I had been told that all I needed to do was show them my passport and I’d get sorted.

As the serious blonde punches in my details and scans my passport, she asks me for the debit card I had used to book the flight. Not a problem, I take my wallet out of the back pocket, and give her my Lloyds TSB bank card. She gives it a swipe. After a short pause:

“Excuse me sir… this is not the card that the flight was booked on.”

“Errm… there must be a mistake… are you sure?”

“Sir… this is not the card that the flight was booked on.” she tells me again, in an annoying matterofact way.

“No…err…wait…errrm…I have my flight’s booking code number thingy?”

“Sir… this is not the card that the flight was booked on – I need the card so I can swipe it and validate your order.”

“Is there actually anything I can do?”

“You need to go to that ticket office under the yellow sign please.” she tells me smuggly as she rips off the tags that she had just placed on my suitcase a few minutes before.

So there I was. The time was 05:33, from that point the race was on. The mission was to get a bank card to the airport before the 08:15 deadline. The payment could go through onto the other card and then get refunded as soon as the other missing bank card shows up. I called my Dad and told him the score; he was on his way. I more or less spend the next two and a half hours pulling out my hair, biting my nails, scratching the skin off my arms, gouging out my eyes and generally being the most stressed I have ever been in my entire life.

• 6:00 – No Dad.
• 6:30 – No Dad.
• 7:00 – No Dad.
• 7:30 – No Dad.
• 7:45 – No Dad.
• 8:00 – No Dad.
• 8:05 – No Dad.
• 8:10 – No Dad.
• 8:12 – No Dad.
• 8:13 – No Dad.

• 8:14 – “RHOOODRIIII!” He made it. He couldn’t have cut it finer. One of the things that slowed him down was the fact that he thought I was in the South Terminal but I was in the North. Qatar Airways had helpfully moved their base one week ago, contrary to the information on my e-booking. When I walked through those departure gates I felt like the most blessed man alive. I’ve never appreciated something so much. I’d given up on this trip, and was dreading the long journey back home. Praise God that he does answer prayer, though he chooses to keep us reliant on him by doing things in his own time.

Breathe.

Just breathe.

Currently operating 218 flights a day across 38 domestic destinations Kingfisher Airlines is set to go international. September 3^rd sees their first daily; none stop flight between Bangalore and Heathrow-London.

As previously discussed, Kingfisher is expanding its network at a time when most airlines are trimming schedules. Chairman and CEO, Vijay Mallya outlines his strategy, “At a time when many airlines are rolling back their network, I feel that the carefully selected routes that Kingfisher Airlines will serve have growth potential….. I believe that the Bangalore-London route will exploit the latent potential that exists.”

Looking to tap in to growing visitor numbers, flying to and from India, London is a natural destination to begin with. Office of National Statistics, Travel Trends 2006, found 367,000 visits to the UK by Indian nationals in 2006, up 35% on year previous. With more planes ordered for 2011, other major international destinations will follow.

With launch, national advertising (image 1) appearing in yesterdays UK broad sheets, Kingfisher is looking to leverage its 5 Star Skytrax status (image 2), positioning the brand as a premium carrier. 5 stars, the highest ranking is awarded to trend-setting airlines in recognition of high standards of staff service in on-board and airport environments.

Image 1, Kingfisher Airlines advertisement, The Times, 27/8/08

Despite not being able to audit long-haul, 5 Stars were awarded on the strength of Kingfishers excellent domestic service, it now joins Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airlines as top tier airlines.

Image 2

Kingfisher aim to live up to lofty ambitions by providing passengers – 30 in Kingfisher First and 187 in Kingfisher Class – with meals supplied by acclaimed London restaurant Chutney Mary, a chef will attend to first class flyers.

Industry-leading in-flight entertainment includes live TV channels via satellite at every seat. Email, USB connectors and in-seat plug chargers will also be available to all. Illustrating an attention to detail, Kingfisher Class passengers can have jackets pressed and spectacles cleaned.

Customer service and leading edge technology are clearly major drivers for the brand. And, despite the fact UK passengers know the brand as a premium beer often found in Indian restaurants, Kingfisher is focused on creating  and sense of occasion and brand experience for its air passengers, whatever their class.

Iš kart pasakysiu: apie reklamą žinau tik tiek, kiek esu jos matęs.

Kaip turbūt pastebėjote per Lietuvos komercinius kanalus reklamos rodoma gana nemažai. Kartais jos būna tiek daug, kad net pamiršti ką pradėjai žiūrėti ir pabaigi žiūrėti reklamą, tik tam, kad atsimintum. Reklamos kiekis viena blogybė, tačiau yra ir kita – kokybė, tiksliau jos nebuvimas. Klausimas pamąstymui – ar bloga reklama yra geriau negu visai nieko?

Kokią turime reklamą užsienyje?

• Juokingą (Coca cola, Bud light,)
• Linksmą (Coca cola – džiaugiuosi, kad šią turime ir čia, Lietuvoje)
• Intriguojančią (Audi)
• Susijusią su kitais, mums gerai žinomais produktais (Coca cola)
• Seksualią (Axe)
• Įkvėpiančią (USMC)
• Gąsdinančią (Nike)
• Prabangią (Qatar Airlines)

Kokią reklamą turime čia, Lietuvoje?

• kvailą
• užknisančią.

Mano manymu pagrindinis reklamos tikslas yra informuoti potencialų produkto ar paslaugos pirkėją ir susieti jį su kokia nors nuotaika. Lietuvoje pavyksta tik informuoti, bet susieti su nuotaika nelabai, nors ir stengiamasi. Maksimos reklama su skraidančiom silkėm, na nežinau, kvailoka, gal vaikiškai laidelei ir tiktų, bet juk jų tikslinė auditorija ne ta. Asmeniškai mane ji nervina ir susieja su neigiamomis emocijomis, todėl, pastebėjau, kad vaikštau į kitus prekybos tinklus ir nesąmoningai stengiuosi išvengti Maximos. Labas reklaminė akcija ir nelabai pavykusi. Tokia (ale socialinė) reklama prieš kokius penkerius-septynerius metus, gal būtų mados viršūnėje, tačiau dabar atgyvena. Tele2 pasirinko teisingą strategiją susiedama savo siūlomą produktą su tam tikrais reklaminiais personažais, kurie mums jau yra gerai pažįstami. Daugiau… Mhm… daugiau net nepamenu ką reklamuoja (turbūt tiems, kas reklamuojasi, tai yra blogai)

Galbūt skyrus daugiau pinigų sukurti kokybišką reklamą, o ne tiesiog didinant jos kiekius būtų galima pasiekti geresnių rezultatų?

Dar keletas geresnių reklaminių siužetų:

Tube 1
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