by pankaj | Mar 12, 2022 | Travel Tips
Qantas is not the most popular choice of airline to fly between New Zealand and Australia. However, despite its shortcomings, Qantas does have its virtues.
In the eternal race for passenger dollars, Qantas falls miserably in their trans-Tasman route, i.e., the route between New Zealand and Australia. While Qantas often has cheaper fares than many of the other more popular carriers, the difference is not so much that it can always convince travelers to sit through three to four hours with no entertainment on demand.
However, on my early morning June 2019 flight between Auckland and Melbourne, I found the Qantas offering to be spacious because the flight was not complete, the staff to be friendly, and the lack of seatback entertainment was especially conducive to sleep.
Spare Seats on Qantas
Having a spare seat next to one on a flight is like finding gold. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, the sheer good luck makes one want to buy a lottery ticket immediately. Flying off-peak increases your chances of discovering airline gold.
I can recommend the 6:30 a.m. flight on a Saturday morning. If the flight is not complete, you may find the seat next to you has been blocked out for your comfort. Also, having a spare seat next to you makes it more convenient for stashing belongings and empty meal trays.
If you are a tall person, a spare seat next to you may not immediately alleviate the problem of knocking your knees on the seat in front, but it will at least let you splay your knees out wider.
Friendly Staff on Qantas
Qantas has not always had the best reputation for friendly staff. But not on the trans-Tasman route. The Qantas flights are serviced by their subsidiary, Jetconnect, which has a well-earned reputation for attracting quality cabin crew.
Even first thing in the morning, the crew are impeccably groomed and looking genuinely happy to be there. They hit the right note of friendliness and subordination, and of course, their New Zealand accents make kiwis feel right at home.
Entertainment on Qantas
For an airline that services the trans-Tasman route as frequently as Qantas, it seems bizarre that they would be so behind in updating their economy product regarding entertainment. Currently, there is no individual seatback entertainment, although that may change before the end of 2019.
However, for those not keen on watching movies at 6 a.m., the lack of seatback entertainment has several advantages:
- there are no distractions, which is conducive to catching up on sleep missed from having to get up early
- Some people find the individual screens too close to view comfortably, so the lack of screens eases pressure on the eyes; just for fun, try watching the movie which will show on various screens suspended from the ceiling, without the sound. You will be amazed at how much you can still follow the storyline.
Fly Qantas Between New Zealand and Australia
If you don’t mind flying off-peak and would rather play sudoku or sleep than watch movies, consider Qantas for your next flight between New Zealand and Australia. You may find yourself lucky enough to have a spare seat next to you, a friendlier cabin crew than you might be accustomed to, and more time to sleep or read instead of individual seatback entertainment.
by pankaj | Mar 12, 2022 | Travel Tips
Seize the opportunity to get as close as you can outside of Egypt to Tutankhamun, the ‘image of the living god,’ by visiting the touring exhibition.
The mystery and speculation surrounding the short life of Egypt’s famous boy-king, Tutankhamun, is one that many of my generations have enjoyed learning about. TUTANKHAMUN AND THE PHAROS AGE However, it is currently in Melbourne, Australia, which is the tour’s final stop before heading back to Egypt after November 2018.
The exhibition is potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the relics of the most famous archaeological discovery in history. Take the audio tour for more information than what is posted on the exhibits. And do not miss the Egypt 3D movie, which is filled with additional information that helps place the exhibition in a historical context.
Once in a Lifetime Opportunity to see Egypt’s Treasures Outside of Egypt.
Almost everyone has heard of King Tutankhamun and the extraordinary discovery of his tomb by Howard Carter in 1922. Melbourne is the last stop of the touring Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs Exhibition, so it is the final opportunity to see the artifacts from this incredible archaeological find.
The exhibit is well executed. The mystery surrounding the boy king’s short life and death translates well with darkened rooms and spotlighted presentations designed to emulate the atmosphere of discovery and reverence. In addition, large black and white wall photos of the original resting places of many of the artifacts help to place them in context.
The final of nine rooms that house the exhibition displays the artifacts found on Tutankhamun’s body. An inlaid floor display conveys the size of the nested coffins and caskets that housed Tutankhamun’s mummy. It helps one to understand how his mummy was able to remain undisturbed for so long.
Outside of the exhibition, a replica of his preserved body accompanies information about the procedures to extract DNA and other scientific discoveries that infer information about his state of health in life and the likely causes of his death.
Opt for the Audio Tour of the Tutankhamun Exhibition for Additional Information
If you are like me and absorb information better when spoken, instead of having to read it, then the audio tour will suit you perfectly. The audio tour provides additional details to 21 of the 130 artifacts. The audio hardware is on a cord, so you can hang it around your neck when you are not using it.
Narrated by Egyptian-born actor Omar Sharif, the information is both authoritative and entertaining. While he includes the same information as the descriptions on the exhibits, he gives a more significant explanation of the context with more information designed to fill out the historical and cultural significance of the artifacts.
View the Egypt 3D Movie Before Viewing the Tutankhamun Exhibition
Not included in the leading exhibition is the Egypt 3D movie. Therefore, it is an additional cost to the collection. Still, it provides an excellent preview and setting to appreciate better the historical significance of the treasures you are about to view in the top show.
The movie centers on the 1881 discovery of the final resting place of twelve of Egypt’s pharaohs. Hidden far from where was previously believed to be their last resting places, the coffins had been transferred to unmarked caverns deep underground to evade pillaging grave robbers. The film is an excellent prequel to the 1922 tomb discovery. The exhibition fills up the blanks.
The Golden Age of the Pharaohs
For those who have never been to Egypt but have always wanted to visit, an exciting method to tap into the enthusiasm and real-life mystery of one of Egypt’s most significant legacies. But, of course, it is not every day that one gets to stand right next to the coffin of a pharaoh or to gaze upon the golden treasures of a culture so the old one can hardly comprehend. Nonetheless, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs is a must-see show.
by pankaj | Mar 12, 2022 | Travel Tips
To fly or not to fly? Why do some airlines deem it safe to fly while others stay grounded during volcanic ash cloud disruptions?
In June 2017, the volcanic ash clouds from the eruption of Chile’s Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano disrupted the travel plans of thousands of travelers. In addition, they ground hundreds of flights in Australia and New Zealand. While no one blames the airlines for this event, confusion emerged when some airlines such as Air New Zealand and Emirates continued to operate while others like Qantas and Jet Star stayed grounded.
For those airlines that remained grounded, were they playing it safe? And if one airline continues to fly, does that mean it is taking risks? Can an airline fly safely under or around an ash cloud, and if yes, why not all airlines? And why does one airline provide accommodation for affected travelers while others don’t?
Grounding Flights During Volcanic Ash Clouds
Something is comforting about your flight being grounded due to volcanic ash clouds in the flight path. Make no mistake. It is inconvenient, but if the recent coverage of the thousands of passengers stranded around Australian and New Zealand airports showed anything, it was overall, travelers understood.
The confusion only began to arise when travelers learned that some airlines continued to fly while others remained grounded. Qantas insisted that company safety standards dictated that where there was the known existence of any volcanic ash in or around a flight path, their flights would not operate. Moreover, because the information available to them could not determine any measure of the ash density, they would not be flying.
This satisfied travelers for the first couple of days but once the grounding of flights was leading into the fourth and fifth day, and other airlines such as Air New Zealand and Emirates continued to operate without any aircraft falling out of the sky, the tide of understanding began to turn against Qantas. Qantas travelers demanded to be transferred to other airlines. I was one of them.
What is the Risk of Flying Under or Around Volcanic Ash Plumes?
One must believe that an airline will not fly if there is any uncertainty about safety. It is a morbid thought, but with each passing day that I was delayed due to the volcanic ash cloud, I was heartened that Air New Zealand and Emirates were continuing to fly without any of the airplanes falling out of the sky.
Air New Zealand insisted that they could see where the ash cloud lay. Therefore, they could safely fly at lower altitudes beneath the ash cloud and skirt around the outside as deemed necessary. Of course, more fuel would be required because the journey takes longer at lower altitudes. Yet as seats were snapped up and flights were taking off without a single spare seat, I do not doubt that they recouped any additional fuel costs.
All the while, rumors started to circulate about why Qantas refused to operate their aircraft. Maybe they didn’t want to pay more for petrol. If this was false, it was understandable. In the last twelve months, Qantas has given redundancy to hundreds of cabin crew and senior-level management. In addition, it has struggled to claw itself into a better state of financial health.
In the past year, the airline has also been plagued by a string of bad press ranging from parts of its new Airbus A380 coming loose in flight, tires bursting on arrival, dramatic losses in cabin pressure causing injury, and continued staffing strikes. So it is no wonder that the airline did not want to enter into any situation that could be misconstrued as unsafe.
Communication with and Alternative Arrangements for Disrupted Travellers
When a natural event disrupts travelers on this volcanic event’s scale, the accurate measure of an airline’s contingency processes is rigorously tested. It also reminds travelers of some fundamental home truths when flying.
All airlines seek to give as much notice of disruptions to travelers as quickly as possible. But they need the traveler’s contact information to do so. Therefore, when you make a flight booking, you advise the airline of your mobile phone number and frequent flyer number. For example, duringWe were phoned and texted by Qantas during this disruption to notify of delays.
In the event of a weather disruption out of the airline’s control, it is not the airline’s responsibility to find accommodation for travelers. A few airlines will see it as a gesture of goodwill. However, it is unreasonable to expect an airline to accommodate thousands of disrupted travelers for an indefinite time due to an event beyond their control.
An event such as this is a timely reminder of why travelers should never travel without travel insurance. Travel insurance should always be factored into the cost of travel. My travel insurance for this trip saved us thousands of dollars in additional flights and accommodation.
Volcanic Ash Disruptions to Air Travellers
The grounding of flights in Australia and New Zealand during the recent Chilean volcano ash plume was controversial. Qantas played it safe but will have suffered for it financially to the tune of reportedly AUD21 million. However, air New Zealand modified its aircraft patterns, minimized disturbance, and emerged victorious on the day.
by pankaj | Mar 12, 2022 | Vacations & Leisure
The recession has led some families to hit the road in a car stuffed with suitcases and kids—a mix of fun and frustration, nothing bonds like the road trip.
We have four kids. Four. Okay, so we aren’t the Duggers, but four is enough to make the cost of some vacations entirely out of reach right now. We won’t be taking the kids to the French Riviera or any other Riviera, for that matter. They won’t be basking on the beaches of Fiji as long as their mother and I are paying for it – not these days. Money is just too tight. The recession has taken its toll on us in many ways, vacations notwithstanding.
We have been reduced to the last bastion of the American middle-class family on vacation, the road trip. Before airfare was generally affordable, and time seemed more available, the road trip was the standard of the North American holiday. Now that families feel the squeeze of recession, and airlines have bumped up prices, a new generation is discovering America through their windshields. According to a 2018 U.S. Travel Association air travel survey, frustration with air travel resulted in 41 million fewer trips by air in the preceding 12 months. The same study indicates that travelers see little hope for “positive change shortly,” and 76% of us took our leisure trips by car.
I harken back to my childhood in the dark ages before mp3 players and 3D handheld video games. Back then, we’d put the third row of seats down in the family station wagon, and my sisters and I could play board games, stretch out and even lie down while dad drove and mom navigated. Of course, this was before the laws of physics were vigorously enforced. Today, we would never allow our children to ride without their seatbelts. We’ve traded Monopoly and Parcheesi for Nintendo and PlayStation in the name of safety. It’s a fair trade.
Last summer, we loaded the crew into the trusty Buick and headed to my wife’s home state of Pennsylvania. The twelve-hour journey was filled with “Mom, make him stop touching me!” and “I have to go to the bathroom again,” but it was also rich with new experiences and family bonding (albeit forced). We drove through plains and mountains, ate at Big Boys and local joints, and stopped at state parks and Hershey Park. In short, we did and saw many things we would not have had we taken our usual flight to a beach resort.
Searching for fossils in an Ohio riverbed, my middle son said, “This is the best day of my life!” It was probably an enthusiastic exaggeration, but he was pleased with the moment. It’s a mental photograph I’ll have forever.
We are planning another road trip to Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands this year.
Our economic situation looks a bit more promising. We could probably start to plan another cruise or beach resort vacation for next year, but I don’t think we will. My kids have never seen the National Mall or the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
by pankaj | Mar 12, 2022 | Vacations & Leisure
If you crave violence, enjoy slightly unconventional sports, and appreciate a festive atmosphere, spend a Saturday night at a roller derby match.
Roller derby is booming in New Zealand. Recent movies such as Whip It and Dodgeball have explicitly boosted the profile of unconventional sports and roller derby.
The rules are simple. Roller derby involves a team of five members of two groups competing against each other. One team member is a jammer, while the remaining four are blockers. The jammers must get through the other team’s blocks. The jammers race each other to be the first to pass all of the other team’s blockers, and then for each subsequent time a jammer gets past a blocker from the other team, a point is scored.
Blockers can only use their bodies to block the jammers. Blockers cannot punch, push, trip, or intentionally knock jammers out of the way. However, the fun part is watching the carnage as jammers and blockers trip over each other in their efforts to fulfill their functions.
Roller Derby is Unintentionally Violent
Roller derby is particularly exciting for anyone who craves a little competitive violence. As jammers attempt to move past blockers, they either succeed or don’t. When they don’t, they are either pushed outside the bounds of the game – often into spectators, are pushed back and forced to try again, or trip and fall.
Roller derby is one game where it’s ok for a team to gang up on the other. The blockers effectually band together to prevent the jammer of the opposite team from getting past. It’s exciting when the gang succeeds, but it’s also exciting when they fail. It’s particularly entertaining to watch girls competing because it’s not often that one gets to watch girls be aggressive in a situation where body contact is encouraged.
Mesmerizing Crowds at Roller Derby Matches
As a sports fan, I’ve been to two roller derby matches in my short history. And one thing that stands out in the crowd is the crowd. If the spectators in the U.S are anything like the spectators in New Zealand, You’ll like the group as much as the roller derby.
Spectators get behind their favorite teams by dressing up but not in the usual way. Instead, fans wear colorful wigs, joke glasses, tutus, fishnet stockings, and unusual and eccentric outfits. If you are a closet deviant, you can dress up or down to your heart’s delight because you will blend in with this crowd.
Festivities at the Roller Derby
The roller derby appeals to singles, couples, first dates, and families—no need to worry about rival teams fighting. The New Zealand roller derby league teams all appear to be very friendly before and after the games.
In New Zealand, alcohol is offered during sporting events. If you don’t fancy waiting in line at the bar, you can wait until the drinks cooler comes around during the games.
There is likely to be a band that plays at halftime at finals matches. When the band isn’t playing, 50’s rock’n’roll music seems to be the jukebox order of the day. It is a refreshing break from the modern music that is more common at conventional sporting events.
Talented jammers at roller derby rack up vast numbers of fans. So after the game, it’s expected, at least in New Zealand, for both players and spectators to mingle and get photos taken together.
Roller Derby is a Fun Saturday Night Activity
If you’re searching for something unusual to do on Saturday night, find your local roller derby fight. It’s a fun, celebratory sport that’s wonderful for spectators.
by pankaj | Mar 12, 2022 | Travel Tips
Flying Delta is now an application in mobile. Checking in for flights from Salt Lake City and other cities is now available on most web-enabled cell phones.
I received a Delta email a few weeks ago. I assumed it was an update on my travel itinerary to Hawaii. I was excited to go on my first real vacation in a few years, and I was secretly hoping to read that I was generously upgraded to first class. I was not, unfortunately, elevated, but I was invited to download a Delta application for my mobile phone. The email informed me that the application would allow me to keep track of my frequent flyer miles, check for flight status updates, and check-in for my upcoming flights. The email even promised to add 1,000 miles to my account to download and use the application, so I decided to try it.
Check-in was a breeze.
Before leaving for my flight, I checked Delta’s Mobile Check-in instructions. I checked in to my flight from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas on my cell phone, downloaded my boarding pass, and proceeded through TSA. I wasn’t sure what to do when I approached the security agent, so I handed him my phone and driver’s license. He verified my information and then instructed me how to scan my phone under their electronic device. Getting through the first checkpoint was hassle-free.
As it came time to board the airplane, I showed my phone to the agent at the gate. She helped me scan my phone. There wasn’t anybody behind me, so I asked the agent how many people use this E-boarding Pass. She said she sees maybe ten passengers use smartphones to check-in and download their boarding passes a day. So I was the first passenger to use my phone as a boarding pass for the day.
Check-in from Las Vegas to Los Angeles—yes, I had many connecting flights in this boarding pass experiment—was just as smooth. Unfortunately, when it came time to board for my flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, I could not log in to the application. After a minor panic attack, I wondered if I would be stuck in the airport and not be able to continue to my vacation destination. I got in a long line to talk with a ticketing agent, but then it dawned on me—my frequent flyer number is listed on the application’s login screen. I could quickly go to any one of the ticket kiosks, type in my number, and print out a paper ticket for my flight. The issue was resolved in a flash.
E-boarding Pass
As it turns out, the boarding Pass is currently available in approximately 70 airports serviced by Delta Airlines. Passengers who choose to use their smartphones for their travels would be wise to check Delta’s website before checking in through their phone. Another downside of this service is the cell phone reception and service availability at different destinations, but Delta continues to have traditional check-in desks and kiosks at all airports.
The boarding pass is available on most web-enabled phones and PDAs through the following service providers: AT&T, Alltel, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon within the United States. In addition, applications can be downloaded to many Android and iPhone smartphones. Unfortunately, I haven’t received my 1,000 frequent flyer mile bonus for downloading and using the application yet, but I hope to see it added to my account soon.
