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After emerging as the world's pioneering long-haul
low-cost airline with the launch of its Hong Kong-London route last October
Oasis Hong Kong has launched today its new long-haul route.

Oasis' 12-hour
non-stop flight from Hong Kong International Airport will bring travelers to Vancouver six days a week.

To service their passengers going to Canada
Oasis Hong Kong has purchased three additional Boeing 747-400s from All Nippon Airways (ANA)
and have expanded their in-flight resources by 200 cockpit and cabin crew members.

Stephen Miller
chief executive officer for Oasis Hong Kong Airlines said in the airline's press release: "Vancouver is very appealing to Hong Kong people as both a business and leisure destination
and there is a high demand for flights to Vancouver out of Hong Kong. We are pleased to be able to respond to our consumer's needs by offering this super value service."

The great value offered by Oasis is easily judged by the price of their economy class return tickets
starting at as little as HK$3
980
(US$509) and HK$18
0
($2
303
return for business class.

Ticket prices are available via their website and are nearly 50 percent cheaper than that offered by Oasis' direct competitor.

In addition
for at least one year
the airline also guarantees that it will provide 10 percent of economy class seats on every flight at HK$1
990
($255) one way.

The Vancouver route is expected to follow the success story of Oasis' first international destination London
with tickets starting at HK$1
0
($128) one way. To date
the budget airline has flown more than 100
0
passengers on that route.

Miller said the response from customers on the London flights had been overwhelmingly positive.

We've had tremendous feedback from our customers. The people of Hong Kong have really embraced us, for whom we are grateful,
he said.

The compliments we have received, especially from our business travelers, have given us the encouragement to now extend the same superior product and service experience to the much awaited Vancouver route.

Now in operation for eight months
Oasis Hong Kong is quickly gaining nods from global travelers by providing premium services that are unusual in budget airlines
such as online check-in
free hot meals and personal in-flight entertainment.

On the Internet
fans call Oasis Hong Kong "a very solid airline with much better service than short-haul budget airlines"
praise its "fantastic value" and "friendly cabin crew"
while a travel blog dubs it "the best travel newcomer of 2006".

Over the next five years and with a projected 25 aircraft
Oasis Hong Kong plans to fly to more leading aviation hubs in Europe and North America
including Chicago and San Francisco in the United States
as well as Milan and Berlin.

It seems the world is becoming a bit more accessible in an amazingly affordable way.

Recently I got invited by my daughter to visit her and her family in Las Vegas and watch her husband at work. Well..Las Vegas
who could say no to that invite. Under ordinary circumstances that would have been enough. But not this visit!!

You see my son-in-law Steve goes by another name- “Dallas”. Steve is Major Steve Horton the #4 slot pilot for the United States Air Force Flight Demonstration Team-“The Thunderbirds”.

The occasion was the Approval show-the very first show of the season but open to only friends and family of the whole team and several high ranking Generals with pen and paper taking notes on every move. Approximately 1000 got the honor of seeing the new 2006 team do their stuff over their home at Nellis AFB under overcast skies. The crowd is so small by comparison to a normal show of 200
0
attendees that it feels like a private audience with the Pope. The biggest ever crowd was at Coney Island on 4 July1987 -a mere 2.25 million watched in awe that day.

And if that wasn’t enough the following night it was the annual show season kickoff dinner
which at least partially celebrates the end of a grueling training schedule. This year the dinner was held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in beautiful downtown Las Vegas.

That gave me the opportunity to meet some of the new team members “up close and personal” including LTC Kevin Robbins Commander/Leader
aka “the boss”; MAJ Ed Casey
Opposing Solo; CPT Nichole Malachowski
Right Wing aka “FiFi”; and CPT Tad Clark
Narrator. “FiFi” is the first female Thunderbird flight team member-a tribute to her ability as a pilot-was the subject of a “Good Morning America” story that very morning.

As you might imagine this very elite group of 6 flyers
6
other officers and a support team of 135 outstanding young men and women are
simply put
the very best in the world. All that talent
energy
dedication
teamwork
pride in what they do and how they do it-I am humbled to be in their presence but so proud to be an American.

In a nutshell the Thunderbird mission is primarily to support recruiting and retention programs and as you might imagine public relations. The team probably spends as much time at meet and greets as they do flying. They are a PR machine-and not a bad machine at that.

The Thunderbirds have a very demanding schedule that runs from March to November every year with usually 65-75 shows in upwards of 30 states. Check out www.nellis.af.mil for more information and a show near you. It is an experience you won’t forget and well…it is AWESOME!

The airline industry is in a constant state of flux. In 2005
Trans Meridian Airlines quit doing business while EOS Airlines and Maxjet Airways took to the skies. By early 2006
Independence Air quit flying and Virgin America announced that they were seeking U.S. government approval in hopes of taking their first flight. Beyond the U.S. borders
the Mexican airline industry is in the process of being revolutionized as the Mexican government divests itself of interest in two leading carriers. With this particular decision a handful of new carriers are set to take off south of the U.S. border. To keep track of the all the changes involves a ton of work
but I've done the hard work for you. The following list contains all of the current airlines serving the Canada
the United States
and Mexico. Stay tuned…more air carriers are certain to follow while some existing carriers may call it quits!

How many names do you recognize? Some carriers are strictly charter operators while others fly regionally. Still others are very small operators of Cessna aircraft
not what you might consider “airline” aircraft
but in the eyes of the Federal Aviation Administration they are:

• Aeromexico

• Air Canada

• Air Labrador

• Air Transat

• AirTran Airways

• Alaska Airlines

• Allegiant Air

• Aloha Airlines

• American Airlines

• ATA

• Avolar Aerolํneas

• Big Sky Airlines

• Cape Air

• Chautauqua Airlines

• Continental Airlines

• Delta Airlines

• EOS Airlines

• Frontier Airlines

• Gulfstream Int'l Airlines

• Hawaiian Airlines

• JetBlue Airways

• Maxjet Airways

• Mesa Air Group

• Mexicana Airlines

• Miami Air Int'l

• Midwest Airlines

• North American Airlines

• Northwest Airlines

• Pace Airlines

• Pen Air

• Primaris Airlines

• Ryan Int'l Airlines

• Shuttle America

• Simmons Air

• Song

• Southwest Airlines

• Spirit Airlines

• Sun Country Airlines

• Ted

• United Airlines

• USA 3000 Airlines

• USAirways

• WestJet Airlines

• World Airways

To keep the list simple
cargo carriers were omitted. Otherwise
operators such as UPS
Kalitta Air
and Emery would have been included.

Contact the carriers directly to find out what schedules they are keeping and airfare information. Perhaps you'll find a "bargain" in the crowd and be able to try out an all new carrier.

When people decide to travel
the last thing that in general crosses their mind has to do with airline tickets. In general
people are so anxious to take the trip that they establish the destination
choose the hotel
look for tourism packages and even sometimes rent a car and the airline ticket is forgotten.

Airline companies know about that and they can do many things just to create strategies to get the biggest profits they can from the buyer. The only way to prevent this from happening is to dedicate some time before travelling just looking for different companies that offer tickets to the destination you want
and comparing the prices.

Saving some money

Have you ever given up on a trip because the airline ticket was a fortune you couldn't afford? Yes
this is a pretty common thing and it happens more than we imagine. There are people that plan the whole trip
choose the place
the hotel
buy special clothes for the destination
and when it's time to buy the airline ticket
simply find out they cannot afford it.

In order to avoid that
rather than planning everything in advance and leaving the airline tickets for last
do the opposite. Airline tickets should be at the head of the list of things to do for someone who is going to travel.

It's important to have some guidelines to buy cheaper tickets and save some money to spend on the trip. Some useful things are:

- Write a small list of places you would like to go to. After that
start looking for airline companies that offer flights to those places.
- When this is done
it's time to check your budget and establish how much you are willing to spend. This is pretty helpful because it avoids frustration. It's easier to travel if you have more than one option because you can have different prices to choose from and see which one best fits in with your own budget.
- If you are used to travelling on business
you can check on discounts
either with a travel agency or with the company you are using.
- Sometimes
travelling with a tourist package is cheaper than planning your trip by yourself. This happens because agencies offer packages that include airline tickets
hotels
sightseeing
visits to landmarks
car rental and some other things.

Different prices - Same arrival

Since there are many airline companies spread through the world
people can find several prices if they look at different airlines. The competition in this market is so tough that the difference between prices can be enormous.

However
if you are used to always travelling with the same company
you probably have some sort of bonus program that offers discounts. In this case
it's advisable for you to check the deals that may be available to the destination you've chosen
before going looking for tickets with other companies.

Holidays and airline tickets

If you have all the details of your holiday settled
buy your ticket in advance. Besides avoiding a rise in the price
you don't run the risk of tickets for your destination being fully booked.

Long before
but especially since the 911 airline hijackings
people are weary of airline travel. A lot of people want to know they are riding on a safe airline. Airlines for the most part are safe
and the most dangerous factors usually include flying conditions (such as storms
or mountain terrain). Proper planning of destinations and good airline security lessens the chance of terrorists
bombs and hijackings. Of course there are always the rare occasions that something horrible will happen
but it is said to be 100s of times more dangerous to travel by car than it is by plane. That statistic should be comfort enough. The International Aviation Safety Assessment is a guide to which countries meet the airline safety checks
not the airlines themselves.

The majority of airline accidents occur on take off and landing
so you should try and book flights that don’t have a stop over destination. That’s a good preventative measure right there
not only that
but you wont have to sit and wait to change planes half way through your flight. Another good way to fly safer is to know that larger airplanes have stricter rules and the passengers have a better chance of survival if the plane should crash
so you might want to consider booking your flight with a large airplane of thirty or more passengers.

Like anything else
always be aware of the closest emergency exit
and consider keeping your seat belt on at all times while seated. This is especially true if you are nervous about turbulence; which is often unexpected and can cause injury. You should also keep anything too heavy out of the overhead carrier in case of turbulence. You don’t want anything to fall on you or anyone else. Also
allow the flight attendants to handle your hot drinks and food as they are trained to handle it and can safely manage giving it to you. You don’t want to be walking around with a hot cup of coffee in your hand and have some turbulence spill it all over you or someone else.

As far as airplane crashes go
they are very rare. However
if the incident should occur
try to remain calm and listen to the flight attendants. They know how to handle situations and keep you safe. Often the very front or very back of the plane is the safest. Sitting close to the wings is the worse place to sit. If the plane wings get torn off in a crash it could tear the fuselage and cause death to anyone near the carnage.

But don’t worry
airline travel is safe. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Just believe you will live and you don’t have anything to worry about.

Airline ticket rates can vary wildly for passengers on the same flight. One person can pay $250 for a seat
while the individual in the next seat may have paid $1000. There are many tactics to help your reservation resemble that of the first passenger
not the latter.

Book your flight as soon as you decide on travel plans. Airlines give discounts for reservations made at least 3 weeks in advance. The best rates often include a Saturday night stay and have travel dates during the work week.

Shop at the many online travel agents to compare the rates of many different airlines. Be sure to check at least 3 different sites
as each may have a different alotment of tickets
and service fees can also vary.

Be flexible about when you travel
since even changing the flight time on the same day can effect the reservation rate. Unpopular early morning or late evening flights tend to have lower rates. Also
try to avoid peak travel season
summer
spring break
and Christmas and New Years. The cheapest fares tend to be found during the off season and at other times when planes are filled below capacity.

If travelling to a large city
Check the fares for any nearby smaller airports
as it might be cheaper to fly into a neighboring city. Remember to allow for other costs when you considering this option
such as rental car or taxi fares. This might also extend travel time.

In some instances
splitting the trip with stopovers my bring savings. However
be sure the savings are large enough to justify the extra trouble of the stopover.

Look into booking your travel plans as a package deal. Sometimes it is possible to save money by reserving a hotel room and a rental car along with the airline ticket. If you are going on a cruise
ask the cruise company if they are affiliated with any airline. Some credit card companies also have discount agreements with some airlines. The reverse is also true : many airlines have agreements with hotel chains and rental car companies that can save you money on other travel expenses.

When dealing with a live travel agent
ask if this is the best rate that they have available or if there are any specials offering essentially the same itinerary when you are booking your reservation.

Apply any special discount programs for which you are eligible. Students age 16 to 26 are can get special discounts
and seniors may be able to get discounted fares through the AARP.

Belonging to
or travelling with a group
may get you a better deal on airline reservations. If you are a member of a club or service association
check whether they have a travel plan. If travelling with a group
ask for a group discount. Discounts are often available for government
military or corporate employees. Often
airlines will even extend these discounts even for non-business travel.

In the case of large groups
it is sometimes cheaper to charter a plane than reserve individual seats. This may save time as well as money
since the charter airplane will accommodate your schedule
and baggage can be managed for the entire group
with much less chance of loss of luggage.

When you reach check-in at the airport
ask if any special upgrade deals are available. Sometimes it is possible to upgrade to first class at a nominal fee
and this is definitely worth it on long flights due to the larger seats and extra leg room.

Want to escape for an exotic holiday without worrying about the airfare rates? Where airfares could have been a hindrance to your enjoying a wonderful holiday
presently it will not be. With too many travel companies upcoming these days
getting a cheap airfare is never a problem. Airfare is a fare that is charged by the airline from the travelers.

Airfare tickets are offered by the airlines companies who offer you to buy tickets at a fraction of a cost. But you should remember that cheap airfares are usually seasonal and available at particular time of the year. The price of the airfares will depend on the destination you want to visit and the type of airlines you want to access. Although airfares may vary from place to place
yet you are offered with better prices if you can book your seats in advance.

Ways to get cheap airfare

There are two main ways through which you will get discounted airfares. The first way is to stay in touch with the airlines. This will offer you to know when the airfares are available at a discount or other new schemes offered by the airlines companies.

The other way is to explore “bucket shops”. This means contacting airline wholesalers and consolidators who offer great online discounts. They purchase the tickets in large quantities from the companies and then pass them on to the consumers at discounted prices. But you should make sure whether the ticket for your route is available or not. The more in advance you book your ticket
the more discounts you will get.

Types of airfare

When you are reserving your airfare
you should remember some key factors. Make a quick market survey so that you can select your airfare from available sources. You should also try to choose the company that offers the lowest airfare rate.

There are different types of airfares that are as follows:

- Apex fares – also known as advance purchase fares that are much lower than the normal fares
- Discount fares – these are low priced fares that are offered by the airlines for a very limited amount of time
- Flexible fares – these are also known as unrestricted or full fares. Although the price of these fares are very high
yet you are benefited with receiving refunds and doing alterations on your ticket on the same day of travel
- Joint fares – these offer price allows passengers to access more than one airline to get to various places.

If you are one of those who frequently have to travel to various places
then finding a cheap airfare is very important. The key to getting cheap airfare is shopping around for flight tickets. You simply need to be flexible and enquire the prices of various tickets offered by various companies. You can even visit a plethora of websites and search for online cheap airfares.

You can also visit some travel agents who will definitely offer you with outstanding airfares that are unavailable at online sites.

Is there a vacation that you have been dreaming of taking? Perhaps you have been dying to visit Vancouver Island in Canada's British Columbia
or maybe you want to tour Europe with nothing but your backpack. Have a desire to relax on a Caribbean island or on the islands of Greece? Any of these amazing vacations could become a reality for you. Unfortunately
many people who dream of traveling are hindered because of the great expense and hassle of finding good airfare to make it to their dream destinations.

Obviously
you cannot get from here to there without airfare
and therefore
you can throw away any dreams of a great vacation unless you are willing to search for airfare that works for your budget and needs.

Finding airfare can be really easy or very difficult. One of the easiest ways to find great airfare is to talk with a travel agent. Travel agents are paid to help you find the best possible airfare for all of your travel needs. You can simply relay to them your travel desires and your budget and then trust them to come up with great deals. However
if you have the desire and ability to look for airfare on your own
you may be able to find better deals.

Finding your own airfare can be a great way to save some money and to be selective about the particular airlines and schedule for your flights. Just jump online and do a search for inexpensive airfare. You will probably be overwhelmed by the amount of options you have
but just begin somewhere and don't give up too quickly. Be sure to compare prices
schedules and other details between websites. You may even be able to find great airfare by bidding for your own prices on certain websites.

No matter how long the process takes
press on to find great airfare. Why? Because your dream trip will quickly become reality when you find airfare. Once people overcome the obstacle of choosing airfare
often the rest of the trip details fall into place quickly. Details such as accommodations
food
entertainment and recreation never seem as overwhelming as finding airfare.

Take my advice: find your airfare first. Don't let a flight get in the way of making your dreams come true.

Air Travel with toddlers doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Here are some exclusive tips that will help you make it through your flight.

Schedule your flights to coincide with nap/bedtimes.
Whenever possible
try to book direct flights during the time of day or night your child would normally be sleeping. In all likelihood
they will keep up the pattern and fall asleep despite being 25
0
feet in the air. Any sleep they get on the plane will serve to cut down the time they must be entertained while awake!

Car seat on the plane?
When our daughter was an infant we choose to save the money and only purchase seats for ourselves which meant she spent the duration of the flight(s) on our laps. More recently
we have taken to carrying-on the car seat which accomplishes two very important things: freeing up our laps
arms
and such
and keeping her in the seat. It also adds some familiarity to a new vehicle/mode of transportation - a little piece of home(life) in a new place. Yes
it is frustrating having to carry the seat around the airport
but the in-flight payoff is worth it. One Step Ahead sells an adapter to turn a car seat into a backpack which may help you manage your carry-ons.

Managing the Flight
An easy and effective way to manage your in-flight
family-with-toddler(s) experience is to break the trip down
mentally
into 20 minute segments (to borrow an airline term). So
if you have a 2 1/2 hour flight
you really have only 7 twenty minute segments to schedule and occupy your child's (or children's) time. When you think of your flight in this manner it becomes a relatively manageable event. Here are some parent and flight tested tips on segment ideas that will occupy and entertain your kids
providing you with some down time to peruse the SkyMall catalog
and not have you lugging a suitcase full of toys around the terminal.

(remember: each idea has to occupy a mere 20 minutes
anything more than that is a bonus!):

* A new toy or book (nothing fancy
just something brand new to him or her)
* Crayola Color Wonder Markers (an inventive product that will only write on the special Crayola paper) - This is a favorite of ours. No messes at all and no toxic marker smell. The marker caps make for great
silly kid fingernail extensions. In fact
if your child is anything like ours
the caps alone could be their own segment.
* Tape and/or Stickers - Plain old Scotch tape can be a load of fun for a little one. Roll it up inside itself to make a sticky circle and let them stick it to their nose
your nose
between their fingers...just good old fashioned fun with a 2 inch piece of tape.
* Magna Doodle (Travel Edition) - A classic toy that our modern kids still enjoy. (Note: really young ones may get frustrated at their inability to
independently
erase their work as the tab to clear the screen can be rather difficult to slide)
* A Discman/Portable CD player - If you do not have an old one collecting dust somewhere
they can be had relatively cheap in the iPod age. This is perfect if your child has a particular CD they are diggin' at the moment (or if you have made a Mix CD of their favorite songs). If they have never used a portable cd player before
the novelty of this device combined with the music they already love should carry you for two segments. Be sure to keep the volume at a low level and use only the classic earphones with the large
round and padded ear pieces that sit on the outside of their ears. kid size earphones?
* Their favorite book(s) - (often a bedtime book
which is essential if your flight will involve a nap or take place during bedtime).
* For older toddlers/young kids: some brochures/city-location guide books. Allow and encourage your kids to plan a day trip
museum visit
etc. Give the reigns over to them for a period of time (whatever you are comfortable with/have the time for) providing they devise a plan using the material you bring on board. Not only will this occupy a good amount of time
but they will love the chance to be the boss and decision maker. By engaging them in the trip planning you will also increase the chances of them enjoying themselves and going along with something you want to do (reciprocating the favor). For the younger members of your family
use the brochures as a conversation piece to get them excited and interested in what they will be seeing during the vacation.

Snap-Crackle-Pop (Dealing with the altitude and popping ears)
Be sure to pack their favorite beverage and snack on board. Not only will the eating and drinking occupy a segment but it is also an method of reducing the impact of air pressure on their ears. By drinking or chewing they will hopefully not feel an uncomfortable amount of pressure while taking off and landing.

Enjoy your flight!

Copyright 2006 OutWithTheKids.com

Several months ago
in a related article
I made mention of two start up air carriers for the US market. Since then
both EOS Airlines and Maxjet Airways have taken flight and are successfully serving their passengers and making plans for future expansion. Beyond these two carriers
additional carriers are waiting to take their first flights. Let's take a look at some leading contenders.

Fly First Class -- This Florida based air carrier is planning to use Wilmington
NC as its base. With flights to Bermuda and London planned
the airline -- true to its name -- will offer only one level of service
first class. Expected first flight is sometime during the second quarter of 2006.

Primaris Airlines -- Already FAA approved and the owner of a single Boeing 757 aircraft which they currently are leasing to another carrier
Primaris placed an order in January 2005 for Boeing's new Dreamliner aircraft
also known as the 787. Before the first of these particular aircraft arrive in 2008
Primaris reportedly will be leasing three additional 757 aircraft and begin scheduled service between New York
Los Angeles
and San Francisco by the middle of 2006.

Virgin America -- Pending government approval
Virgin America will fly upwards of 105 Airbus aircraft. Based in San Francisco
the Richard Branson inspired airline must overcome some hurdles first including convincing the US government that the airline is
indeed
mostly US owned.

Other start up carriers which are also being watched include: Blackstar Airlines
USA Jet Airlines
and Baltia Air Lines. All start ups must secure key funding
receive various federal and local governmental approvals
organize a management team
and commence hiring well before the first flight is made. It is this particular process that shakes out all the pretenders leaving behind carriers committed to making a go of it.

Airlines know the price of getting a new customer. And they know that it’s a whole lot easier and less expensive to keep the customers that they already have. For this reason
airlines started frequent flyer programs. These programs reward you the more you fly.

Frequent flyer programs let you to receive certain travel benefits based on the number of miles (or sporadically the number of trips) you fly on a specific airline. Standard awards include a free ticket or a free upgrade from coach to first class.

Some airlines also offer "elite" programs that provide check-in and boarding priorities
and "affinity" credit cards which earn mileage credits when you use them for purchases.
In order to earn these benefits you must become a member of that airline’s program; this can often be done through a travel agency.

There isn’t a how many programs you can join. But before you decide which program to join
you should compare different programs carefully.

Every airline program carries conditions and limitations. So you should be careful to read the promotional material and the all the fine print. Here are a few things you should take a look at:

- The rate at which credits are earned
minimum credits earned per flight

- If you are more interested in free tickets for yourself
or companion tickets
or upgrades

- How much credit you need for the awards you’re interested in

- What are the deadlines for accumulated credits?

- Does the airline serve the cities you’re traveling to
and if it has tie-ins or other airlines and to car rental companies and hotels you would use.

- If awards can be transferred to someone else or just members only

Also
airlines reserve the right to make changes at any time. More often than not
without notice. This can include changes to the conditions and limits on the awards earned.

You should also be keeping track of the mileage you've earned and check it against the statement the airline mails to you.

It's not uncommon that airlines add new routes after you join the program.You might be able credits on that route but not use awards there.

Another important not that you should be aware of is that airlines usually restrict the transfer of mileage earnings. Most often being the sail or attempted sale of credits or awards you've earned and want to sell. You should never try this as the airlines have caught on to these schemes and actively persue it.

For many travellers
paying up to ฃ5000 for a business class ticket in order to fly in greater comfort simply isn't an option. However
what very few people realise is that most airlines will upgrade passengers from economy class for free - if they meet certain guidelines. In this article
I will pass on some of the things that the check in staff look for and require so that you can take advantage of the loopholes and get your upgrade for free. These five top tips come direct from the check in staff of some of the best-known airlines
and are considered by many regular travellers to be the holy grail of getting something for nothing.

Tip Number 1:

Look the part. Make sure that you are dressed smartly when you travel. There is almost no chance of getting a free upgrade if you are wearing shorts and a scruffy t-shirt
so at the very least
check in wearing a shirt and pants. there is no need to go overboard and wear a suit - unless you really want to. The key is to look smart
but not like you're trying too hard.

Tip Number 2:

Turn up early. The check-in staff know exactly how many passengers are travelling on a particular flight well in advance
so if there are seats to spare in business class
they will know straight away.

Tip Number 3:

Be Polite. Put yourself in the place of the check in staff. Would you reward a person who gives you attitude and starts shouting the odds
or someone who is pleasant and gives them the time of day. There may be 250 people in the queue behind you
so make them remember you. Flirt
smile
use their name
be nice
and you may well get a pleasant surprise.

Tip Number 4:

Be a Frequent Flier. If you join an airline's frequent flier programme
you are far more likely to be at the front of the queue for an upgrade
as the airline will want to reward you for your loyalty. Even if you do not fly regularly
go to the airline's website and join their programme online. It will only take a minute or two
and is well worth the time.

Tip Number 5:

Ask. They say that if you don't ask for something
you won't get it
so make sure you do - but do it at the right time. If the check in staff look stressed
and no amount of charm has elicited a smile
don't bother to ask them
wait until you get to the gate. If the counter staff have responded well
when they ask you if you have any specific seat request
be cheeky and say "First Class" to them. It might just work.