THEGAYUK

Tag: Airlines

All the latest breaking news on Airlines Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Airlines.

  • The Secret Code Used By Airline Cabin Crew Revealed

    The secret code used by airline cabin crew members to communicate with each other has been revealed.

    ©-anterovium-Depositphotos

    Low cost airline, easyJet, explained their hand signals after a passenger tweeted a video of cabin crew conversing using bizarre hand signals.

    Virgin Radio DJ, Jamie East, posted the short clip of staff using a secret code to communicate with colleagues.

    The video shows a cabin crew member doing a ‘chicken arm dance’ while serving up food to passengers.

    Jamie East tweeted: “.@easyJet excuse me but please explain what ON EARTH is going on here?!”

    The footage left social media users baffled, with people taking to Twitter to share their guesses on what was going on.

    One user tweeted: “Got to be cabin crew playing charades right?!”, and another said: “It’s the birdie song!”

    In response easyJet posted a video usually used for internal training purposes.

    The clip revealed the crew member was signalling to a colleague that a chicken baguette had been ordered.

    The instructional video is used to teach new cabin crew members the secret code.

    Hand motions explained in the training video include food orders and signals for various scenarios including marriage proposals and stag parties.

    Tina Milton, Head of Cabin Services said,

    “With over six million passengers served each month, the ‘secret code’ has been invented to enable our cabin crew to deliver a speedy and efficient service, whilst keeping unnecessary crew noise to a minimum and provide passengers with a relaxing and enjoyable flight.

    “easyJet flight attendants are trained in all aspects of customer service and air safety, and the secret hand signals are an integral part of their inflight knowledge.

    “We pride ourselves on providing an excellent inflight food service over the past 21 years, and our ‘secret code’ helps us to ensure customer satisfaction in a timely manner.”

  • So who gets the armrests on a plane?

    It’s an age old question. Who should get to use the armrests on a flight?

    So who gets the armrests on a plane?

    Flying for any longer than an hour and you’ll most probably start feeling like a battery hen. If you happen to be on a plane that has its seating three abreast – so most short haul flights, or long haul flights that use the 747, 777, 787 or A380, there’s alway that tricky, non-verbal struggle for the armrests, especially if you’re in the middle.

    So one Quora user has laid out the (unwritten, but totally sensible) law. The law entitles the middle seat user to have access to the two inside armrests. Well because…

    “The window seat is entitled to a head-rest and to have a priority view of the outside world, obviously. This seat is great for long flights, since you can go to sleep by tucking up a pillow in the corner and looking over the clouds. That person is entitled to that.

    The aisle seat is entitled to a little bit more legroom than normal, the quickest allowed to get to the flight attendants’ attention and the easiest route to the bathroom. NEWS FLASH, if you know you need the restroom/toilet a lot while travelling, you should probably go here for the convenience of the other two people travelling on your row. That person is entitled to that.

    Now we go onto the middle seat. Now honestly, I hate sitting in the middle seat, it probably has the least benefits and you’re being squashed in between two people. HOWEVER, it is by my and many others’ moral code that the middle seat is obligated to have priority of the armrests. If you are window seat or aisle seat, the armrests in the middle are morally owned by the person sitting in the middle. They don’t have head or leg room, they can’t tuck away a pillow, they’re most likely being squashed and they still have the inconvenience of squeezing past someone to go to the bathroom, so the damn least they could get is the two armrests in the middle. That person is entitled to that.

    It just had to be said.

     

    There you have it. Middle gets arm space.

  • This guy totally nails Britney’s Toxic onboard a real jet

    This airline worker has totally nailed Britney’s iconic Toxic routine on board a real life jet.

    Assraf Nasir has pulled off the best version of Britney’s “Toxic” we’ve ever seen (although Craig Revel Horwood’s in Lip Sync Battle UK was pretty darn good). Assraf, however, has the extra added bonus of being a real-life worker for an airline.

    https://twitter.com/FarhanRzman/status/842405850673111040

    As in Britney’s original chart-topper, 2003’s “Toxic”, Assraf dances down the aisles, sings into the intercom and pushes a food trolley down the Airbus 330’s cabin – all in perfect precision – mimicking Britney’s very own dance moves for the hit.

    The 1-minute film starts with the airline worker singing into the aircraft’s intercom system. He perfectly manages to lipsync to the song’s words.

    Then he perfectly dances the exact routine to the 2003 Britney hit.

    Just as in the original video, a food trolley is used to run through the aeroplane’s main cabin. The video has already been retweeted over 4,000 times as Britney’s fanbase fall in love with the viral video.

  • Gay Flight Attendants Worried About Facing Death Penalty In Iran

    Gay Flight Attendants Worried About Facing Death Penalty In Iran

    Gay Air France flight attendants are concerned over flying into Iran after the airline reinstated flights to the country.

    CREDIT: AirFrance
    CREDIT: AirFrance

    Air France is due to recommence flights to Tehran in Iran which has left many of its gay flight attendants fearing for their lives and what might happen to them after landing.

    A petition has been created by a concerned employee of France’s largest airline who called for the airline to re-look at its ethics.

    The petition has reached over 13,000 signatures.

    Mr. Laurent who created the petition called upon Air France/KLM to reconsider its ethical stance on sending gay flight attendants to Iran

    “It is time again to show that Air France believes in ethics, not only for his public image. [But to] grant gay crew the right to refuse to go to a country where they could be killed for who they are.”

     

    ADVERT

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    Homosexuality is illegal in Iran and those found guilty can face 74 lashes or the death penalty.

    In 2008 Air France suspended flights to Iran. The airline is resuming the service after international sanctions on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear programme were lifted.

    Speaking about Air France’s decision to resume flights to Iran,  Mr. Laurent commented,

    “If the economic decision to open flights to Tehran is understandable, the moral issue is different. Human Rights in this country are almost non-existent.”

    Air France has already said it will allow female flight attendants the right to refuse travel to Iran. The petition is asking the company to consider the same option for those who identify as openly gay.

     

    ALSO READ: Where In The World Is Homosexuality Punishable By The Death Penalty

     

    Mr Laurent continued,

    “Fortunately, the unions intervened, the feminist cause is often seen, the media seized the debate, the hostess got (which would have seemed logical from the start) the right to refuse travel.”

    TheGayUK reached out to Air France for comment, the airline has yet to comment on the petition or answer questions about the safety of LGBT staff members.

  • Wondering how to get over the dreaded effects of jet lag?

    Our body clock is a very intelligent feature, which can been thrown off as we travel hundreds of miles per hour, through multiple time zones. Michela Vaginini nutritionist at Nature’s Plus, has given us her top 5 tips for beating jet lag. She says, “Once your body’s natural 24-hour clock has been disrupted there is nothing that can completely beat jet lag. However, there are things you can do, to ease its symptoms and enjoy your holiday.”

    1)Look at the Sun

    To rebalance your day and night rhythm try to force yourself to get up just after sunrise. To boost your cortisol production, which is responsible for waking up in the morning, look towards the sun when waking, an open window will do the trick if you can’t get outside. In the evening, look at the sunset until it gets dark. This will stimulate melatonin production in your brain, which is also known as the ‘sleeping hormone’. To help your body relax take Dyno Mins Magnesium by Nature’s Plus (revital.co.uk, £17.75).

    2)Stay away from COFFEE

    Several studies have identified dietary components, such as glucose, sodium, ethanol or caffeine as capable of phase-shifting day and night rhythms. Be careful with sugary and junk foods that might have some stimulating additives or flavourings. Stay away from coffee, colas, teas and other energetic drinks or herbs. Be careful with crisps and salted peanuts – they are very high in salt. Try to reduce your salt intake to 2g a day max (1/2 teaspoon). Make sure you read labels as some snacks may contain MSG, which is a popular flavour enhancer, also known as a brain stimulant.
    Having an alcoholic drink might seem like a good idea to help you fall asleep but in fact, it will compromise sleep quality and dehydrate you, making it more difficult to adapt to new time zones.

    3)Turn off your phone

    Long-time exposure to blue light from our phones, tablets and TVs can interfere with a production of melatonin and confuse our tired body, which will take it as a daylight and sign to stay awake.

    4)Go for a walk

    Sunlight stimulates the secretion of serotonin, known as a ‘happy’ hormone that will give you a quick boost of energy. In addition, when our body gets physically tired it induces a deeper better sleep.

    5)Support your adrenal glands

    These peanut-size masses of tissue located on top of your kidneys are essential for your stress response and sleeping patterns. When you are jet lagged they are doubling up their workload to keep you awake so they need an extra support. The most important nutrients for adrenal health are vitamins B, which you can find in eggs, organic meat, green leafy vegetables and whole grains (Don’t get tempted with sugary muffins!). Spirulina and algae extract are great super foods for our adrenal glands providing essential minerals and amino acids. To get a complete green foods blend, add a tablespoon of Nature’s Plus Green Lightning (revital.co.uk, £26.40) to your coconut water and feel the energy!

  • Four Cheeky Tips To Get More Leg Room On A Flight

    Being crammed into a space not much bigger than a shoe box for hours on end isn’t fun and is not the ideal way to start your holiday. We’ve found 4 cheeky hacks that could get you some much need extra inches.

    Momondo’s have come up with 4 hot tips to get a little bit more leg room:

    Be seat savvy

    If you want the most legroom it often pays to choose the front seats or seats at the emergency exits in the middle of the plane. These have the most legroom, and this is the same pretty much no matter which airline you travel with.

    To sit by the emergency exit though, you’ll be required to be healthy and mobile, so you are able to help open the doors in case of an emergency. With some airlines you can choose your seats for free when booking the flight, whereas with others you can select a seat for a small fee.

    Prices for choosing seats vary depending on which company you go with, and how far you fly.

    Again, arrive early

    If you have not selected a seat in advance, we recommend showing up at the airport early to check in. The seats are often allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and you can be lucky enough to get a seat with more legroom.

    Try DIY check-in

    Some automatic airport check-in machines allow you to pick your seat for free at check-in time.

    Aisle be back

    If you want to stretch your legs during the flight, it’s always wise to choose a seat near the aisle too, where it is easier to get out – and take a walk around the cabin.

     

    ALSO READ: How to get an upgrade on your flight…

  • TRAVEL: Top Tips On How To Get An Upgrade On Your Flight

    If you’re looking for a cheeky upgrade then travel search site Momondo.co.uk have a few recommendations.

    how to get an upgrade on your flight

    Choose a regional hub

    Firstly, fly from a smaller airport, as you are less likely to get an upgrade from a larger airport, especially if that airport is your carrier’s main hub.

    Don’t fly in the week

    Next, choose weekends to travel, which naturally attract less business travellers, leaving the premium cabins with more free seats.

    Join the club

    If you aren’t a member of a frequent flyer scheme then join one. Points can easily be turned into upgrades.

    Dress smart, look sharp

    Many people also recommend dressing smartly on the day, to get upgrades.

    You got mail

    Getting closer to departure, flyers should check their emails too, as many airlines may offer heavily reduced upgrade offers prior to boarding.

    Be an early bird

    Check in early, as if the plane is oversubscribed, your chances of being upgraded rise, if the flight is overbooked.

    Talk nuptials

    Lastly, mention the wedding! Airline staff are renowned for offering new brides and grooms upgrades and even complimentary champagne on board, to help celebrate their big day.

    What if that didn’t work?

    Hansen continues: “If travellers are cheeky, they can also cheat their way to a good seat on board the plane, without paying for an upgrade.”

    Perhaps just ask at the check in desk if there’s any chance of an upgrade – but don’t hold your breath!

  • Flying LongHaul: Tips From The Top

    January, long nights and short grey days we’re finding ourselves spending more and more time on Expedia dreaming up the perfect winter sun holiday. Let’s be honest we’re done with the cold and shorter days. We’re longing for some well-needed vitamin D and cocktails by the pool, with a good book.

    The world’s longest flight is Cathay Pacific’s 16 hour and 50-minute time sucker, from Hong Kong to New York. The longest direct flight from the UK is London to Buenos Aires that takes 13 hours and 45 minutes.

    There are some great long haul destinations but you have to be careful where you’re planning to stay as an open LGBT person. The middle east is a no go area if you’re gay and much of the far east also offers little protection for LGBTs. Towards the Americas, many of the Caribbean islands frown upon homosexuality and is illegal on some.

    Take a look at our long-haul anti-gay holiday destinations which might surprise you.

    FLYING LONG HAUL

    Flying long haul can be an incredible experience, especially if you can afford to turn left on entry and be seated amongst the rich and well healed, but even if you’re slumming it in coach, entertainment systems on the world’s renowned airlines are becoming second to none. Long gone are the days of the one bulkhead screen for an entire cabin and an entertainment system that had 1 hour of music on repeat.

    THE EYES HAVE IT

    The long hours in the recirculated air at 41,000 feet will definitely take their toll on your eyes, whether you wear contacts or not. You’ll find that your eyes will dry out quickly, so using drops might be a quick fix for you. Optrex optician Nick Atkins advises, “It is always advisable for contact lens wearers to remove their lenses when travelling on a long haul flight to avoid unnecessary discomfort from lens dehydration due to the very dry air conditioned environment of the cabin. There is also the possibility of falling asleep with the lenses in which might be an issue with some lens types. If lenses must be worn then the regular use of a good moisture retaining eye drop will help. In fact such a drop will also provide comfort and relief to non-contact lens wearers alike. One tip for CL wearers is to put a drop into the ‘bowl’ of the back surface of the lens for prolonged relief.”

    HYDRATION

    Don’t forget to keep yourself hydrated whilst your up in the clouds, also if you suffer a bit of traveller’s belly once you get to your destination, don’t forget to drink plenty of bottled water from a reputable source to keep your system hydrated. O.R.S Hydration tablets could also help you keep your fluids up.

    EAR, EAR

    Are you one of those people whose ears are affected by cabin pressure? When on a long haul flight, there are two factors to be taken into account. Firstly, there will be changes in cabin pressure that can affect our ears and hearing. Secondly, there will be noise from the aircraft’s engines that may encourage higher volume settings when listening to music or on-board entertainment using headphones or ear buds. Although cabin pressure is well controlled in modern aircraft, the changes in atmospheric pressure outside an aeroplane during the ascent after take-off and the descent for landing will cause cabin pressure to change. There can also be quite rapid variations in cabin pressure if air turbulence causes significant fluctuations in an aircraft’s altitude.  Normally, there are no adverse effects during the ascent after take-off as our middle ears adjust more easily when cabin pressure reduces a little. However, when descending for landing, cabin pressure increases and middle ear pressure does not self-adjust so easily. Passengers will usually feel pressure in their ears and experience reduced hearing but, in healthy ears, this can be quickly cleared by swallowing a few times or even yawning to open the Eustachian tubes thus allowing air into the middle ears to normalise the pressure and for hearing to return to normal. The same applies if air turbulence causes quite rapid changes in an aircraft’s altitude.middle ears adjust more easily when cabin pressure reduces a little. However, when descending for landing, cabin pressure increases and middle ear pressure does not self-adjust so easily. Passengers will usually feel pressure in their ears and experience reduced hearing but, in healthy ears, this can be quickly cleared by swallowing a few times or even yawning to open the Eustachian tubes thus allowing air into the middle ears to normalise the pressure and for hearing to return to normal. The same applies if air turbulence causes quite rapid changes in an aircraft’s altitude. How to protect your ears and your hearing from cabin pressure changes

    HIDDEN COSTS

    Obviously cost is a big factor in the long haul market, a search for prices of tickets to say San Francisco in the second week of November showed prices for £604 direct return, however prices from the 22nd of December, during Christmas week and the school holidays showed prices starting from £922 each way.

    Apparently, Tuesday is the cheapest day to book a flight, Friday is the most expensive. Afternoon flights are also pricier whilst red-eyes – those flights that travel at night are the cheapest. So plumping for a Tuesday night flight could save the pounds rather than a Friday afternoon flight.

    LEGROOM

    Legroom is like the gold of long-haul, cramped up for hours on end can make even the sanest of us looking at that emergency exit and thinking “go on… pull it…”

    Momondo’s have come up with 4 hot tips to get a little bit more leg room.

    Also tired and heavy legs might become a problem stuck back in the economy. Padma Circosan is a licensed herbal medicinal product, produced in Switzerland according to a proven recipe of Tibetan medicine, used for circulatory disorders including Raynaud’s, tired heavy legs, pain, swelling caused by minor venous circulatory ‘disturbances’ and calf cramp, it has circulation-stimulating and anti-inflammatory effects with many showing it to be effective in improving peripheral circulation after just a few weeks.

    It is available from UK pharmacies and health stores nationwide priced at £28.95 for 120 capsules or online at www.healthy2u.co.uk.

    GETTING OVER JET LAG

    Jet lag happens on journeys where the time difference is over 3 hours, so it is possible to get jet lag on intercontinental journeys from east to west, west or east across vast countries like, Canada, USA and Australia. However, you won’t get jet lag from north to south flights – say London to Cape Town in South Africa. Of course, you may still get general aircraft fatigue. Read our five tips on beating jet lag.

    AIR SICK?

    Still feeling nauseous from the motion of travelling? Try The Ginger People’s new Gin Gins CARAMEL – Tasty ginger and caramel sweets. They contain a massive 30% ginger per sweet. Working mainly in the digestive tract, ginger helps to boost digestive fluids and neutralise acids, making it an effective alternative to anti-nausea medication, without the possible unpleasant side effects. Call it a little traveller’s insurance! Gin Gins CARAMEL costs £1.55 for a 31g box and is available from Holland & Barrett stores nationwide.

    ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENT

    Even though most airlines offer a substantial entertainment system the likelihood of finding LGBT programming on board is highly unlikely. In the airline’s quest to cater for every passenger in their entertainment choices, you might still be left unsatisfied with the offering, but you can always bring your smartphone or tablet on board packed with your favourite programming. If you’re into podcasts, acast is like Spotify but for Podcasts where there are many amazing series to listen to. From comedy, real life stories, factual entertainment to true crime, all of which will keep you entertained on long haul flights.

    COMPS TO COMPENSATION

    If your flight doesn’t go to plan you’re gonna need some help… Professional help. Here are our top tips.

    UPGRADE BABY

    Want to upgrade that cattle class to First? You’re going to need to take in these tips!

  • Masturbating Man Forces Emergency Landing

    A man who was found masturbating on a Virgin America flight caused panic as he tried to open a door mid flight.

    The flight from Boston to Los Angeles made an emergency landing on Monday morning, in Nebraska after an American passenger, named as Doug Adams, was caught masturbating according to police reports, which were acquired by NBC.

    Adams was reportedly wearing a hospital bracelet and after an argument with a fellow passenger, he attempted to leave the aircraft.

    Another passenger Sam Slater, who filmed the incident said after returning from the toilet the unruly passenger had an argument with a woman next to him. He then said that Adams asked a flight attendant to move the woman away from him.

    ‘He at that point was fidgeting and began to remove the plastic covering from the emergency exit door and tried to pull open the door.

    ‘Fortunately there were a couple of Boston police officers on the flight that were there at that point to help as well.’

  • American Airlines Soars With Perfect Score On LGBT Rights

    American Airlines has been honoured once again by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) with the highest possible rating in the prestigious 2015 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). In 2002 with the launch of the Corporate Equality Index, American was the first airline to achieve the CEI’s perfect score, and one of only a handful of corporations to do so every year from the start.

    The CEI is a nationally recognised benchmark that holds a mirror up to America’s top workplaces and their inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees and their allies. Companies like American that earn the top CEI score of 100 percent also are named the “Best Places to Work” in the U.S.

    ‘We believe our commitment to inclusion and diversity is second to none,’ said Cindy Fiedelman, American’s vice president – People & Diversity. ‘Achieving the highest mark from the Human Rights Campaign is a matter of pride and purpose for us, especially as we work to integrate two global airlines in 2015.’

    This summer, American and US Airways aligned their workforce policies to ensure the airlines’ longstanding commitment to their LGBT workforce, and united their LGBT employee resource groups. The Gay Lesbian Employees of American (GLEAM), founded 20 years ago, has now joined forces with US Airways’ Spectrum – under a new and larger organisation called Pride. Employees will continue to champion American’s LGBT travellers, as well as advocate for diversity, equality and respect within the airline as they have for decades.

    The Human Rights Campaign is dedicated to promoting and ensuring public understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues through innovative education and communication strategies. A complete list of Corporate Equality Index ratings is available at www.hrc.org.

    For more information on American’s commitment to diversity, visit aa.com/diversity.

  • European airlines suspend flights to Israel

    More airlines have joined the suspension of flights in and out Israel as fear of missile launches rise.

    A number of US carriers have already suspended their flights to Israel, but now some European airlines have followed suit after a warning from the European Aviation Safety Agency EASA, said it “strongly recommends” that airlines should avoid flights to and from Tel Aviv.

    Air Canada, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, easyJet, Germanwings, KLM, Lufthansa and Swiss have all cancelled flights to Israel for two days.

    British Airways has said that is, ‘closely monitoring the situation’. Their flights are currently operating as scheduled.

    Concern has mounted about the safety of aircraft flying over war zones since the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, which killed all 298 people on board. On Tuesday Delta Airlines diverted a flight with 273 passengers and seventeen crew members, after reports of a ‘rocket or associated debris near the airport in Tel Aviv.’

    Amongst the victims of flight MH17, it is reported that there were at least 6, but up to 100 HIV/AIDS experts who were on their way to the 20th International AIDS conference in Melbourne, Australia.

    A candlelight vigil was held for the victims of MH17 and HIV/AIDS in Melbourne in Federation Square on the 22nd July 2014.

    The Foreign Office in the UK has issued a strong warning saying, ‘The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Gaza. The British Information and Services Office in Gaza is closed until further notice. The FCO can no longer offer any consular assistance in Gaza. Rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel and Israeli air strikes on Gaza continue.’

    If you are concerned about your flights you should contact your carrier.

    Air Canada, 0871 220 1111
    Air France, 0871 663 3777
    Alitalia, 0870 225 5077
    Austrian Airlines, 0870 124 2625
    easyJet, 0843 506 9856
    Germanwings, 0330 365 1918*
    KLM, 0871 231 0000
    Lufthansa 0871 945 9747
    Swiss 0845 601 0956