Female passenger ‘caught in the act’ on a Virgin airplane bathroom

A British woman in her 20s was arrested after losing her temper with cabin crew who caught her locked in an aeroplane toilet with a man she had just met onboard. 

The apparently drunk tourist is said to have been handcuffed to a chair by flight attendants – to the horror of her parents, who were travelling with her.

She was on an 11-hour Virgin Atlantic flight from Gatwick to Las Vegas last week when she reportedly struck up a friendship with the man sitting in  the next seat.

They disappeared to the aircraft toilet and other travellers soon complained of hearing noises from inside.

Another passenger told The Sun: ‘She started getting heated with the guy next to her.

‘They went into the bathroom and people could hear loud noises. The cabin crew forced to door open, then she really kicked off.’

The paper reported the incident happened on a flight from London Gatwick to Las Vegas in the US last week.

The woman was questioned by police but released with a warning before continuing her holiday in the notorious Nevada resort.

It comes just week after an Australian was arrested for apparently mistaking the cockpit door of a Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane to Bali for the toilet, triggering a hijack scare.

Last year, Virgin America launched a new service that allows passengers to send drinks, a meal or treats to fellow passengers in a move which many said encouraged mid-air flirting.

Virgin Atlantic has however said they do no accept bad behaviour by any passengers on board their planes.

5 COMMON AIRLINE TICKET MYTHS DEBUNKED - Rick Seaney

Somewhere I'm sure there are folks who won't mind spending $42,000 for a round-trip flight on Etihad's new super-duper first class –which comes with a shower and butler.

If you’re not that person, then let's bust some myths so you can find the cheapest tickets possible.

1. Myth #1 - One airline always has the cheapest fares

FALSE. No airline has a lock on the cheapest fares every time, everywhere because airlines match prices of competitors.  Even ultra-discounter Spirit sometimes costs more than, say, Virgin America, if you add in the cost of a single carry-on and the fee for choosing a seat. This is why you must compare prices. Always.

2. Myth #2 - Buy your tickets super early and you'll save a bundle

FALSE. Airlines don't begin actively managing their fares for domestic flights until about three to three-and-a-half months ahead (for international flights, about five months). If you buy before that window opens, you'll likely pay a mid-range price. It may not be the most expensive fare but it probably won't be the cheapest, either. Exception: For holiday periods such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, you can buy earlier.

3. Myth #3 - Wait until the last minute and airlines practically give tickets away

FALSE: Once upon a time, this used to be true but not since airlines became capacity experts. Now they know when people want to fly and where, so they can fill up planes without a single empty middle seat (or at least very few). This means there are no more last-minute steals.

4. Myth #4 - If you take the long way to your destination, you'll always save

FALSE. While it is true that adding a stop (or two) to a flight can often save you money, it isn't always the case. This is just one more reason why you must always compare airfare prices including prices for various routes.

5. Myth #5 - Overweight and oversize fees do not apply to carry-on bags

FALSE: Almost every airline specifies size limits for carry-ons, and an increasing number are adding weight limits. Hawaiian Airlines, for example, allows up to 25 pounds. Ditto for Allegiant. Europe's Ryanair allows a mere 22 pounds. Anything over may cost you an overweight fee and if the airline sends your bag to the cargo hold, you could wind up paying the checked-bag fee.


Rick Seaney is an airline travel expert 

Nigeria to host Africa Tourism Exhibition in September 2014

Part of the objectives of this year's Afro Tourism Expo 2014 includes provision of Africa's tourism industries information, access to the continent's leading hospitality brands and facilitation of trade and investment partnership. Most African tourism economies and destinations are presently at their embryonic stage, no thanks to the high cost of entry, dearth of infrastructure and challenges of business start ups. As such, there are thousands of itinerant travel services, particularly travel agencies and car rentals - Nigeria probably has the largest share of these groups. It is an open secret that exhibition of products and services at international exhibitions increase an organisation customers' share of voice and eventually, brand acceptance and preference. For proactive brands, an exhibition affords unique opportunity to meet customers directly and get their candid feedback on a brand performance. Afro Tourism Expo, Abuja 2014, avails fora for your company to make contact with diverse interest groups, business partners and government officials, all in one roof - the Abuja International Conference Centre.

Professionals and business minded participants are advised to register as delegates. Registering as a delegate gives special privileges namely:

1. Entry to the exhibition stands, to exhibitors and international visitors
2. Attendance at delegates only government minister's lectures for two days
3. Tea/coffee and refreshments for two days
4. Participation at the Gala dinner, with dignitaries and leading CEOs in attendance.
5. An attendance certificate
6. One pre-conference or post conference Abuja city tour

 

Comparatively, exhibition stand the reap the most benefit from this unique exhibition. Interestingly, the structure of Afro Tourism Expo is uniquely suited to Africa-oriented exhibitions. Our stands sizes varies including 3 by 3 square metres, that is, 9 square metres; 3 by 9 square metres and more. The cost of each square metre range from $90 to $180 per square metre, depending on your preferred location. We have arrangements for booth setups at extra charges (for detail, see page on exhibition stands).

As an exhibitor at Afro Tourism Expo here are some of your benefits and privileges:

1. Access to the Expo venue, hours before the event commences, for booth setup
2. Exhibiting organisations are entitled to two free 'delegate registration' 
3. Attendance to all seminar, policy meetings and business round tables for two days
4. Tea/coffee and refreshments
5. An opportunity to do exclusive 'question and answer brand campaign' to delegates for 25 minutes
6. Participation at the Gala dinner, with government dignitaries and leading CEOs in attendance.
7. A chance to win the award of 'Most Visible Brand' for Afro Tourism Expo 2014
8. An attendance certificate for your organisation
9. Free pre-conference or post conference Abuja city tour

 

Visit the exhibition website for registration and more information http://afrotourismexpo.com

 

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Dubai International Airport witnessed more than 6 million passengers in March 2014

More than 6 million passengers passed through Dubai International in March 2014, driven by the expanding networks of Emirates airline and flydubai, according to the latest traffic statistics issued by operator Dubai Airports. This is the third time in four months the airport has recorded monthly traffic of more than 6 million passengers.
Passenger traffic reached 6,285,868 in March 2014, up 7.5 per cent from the 5,846,297 achieved in the same month last year. In the first three months of the year passenger traffic rose to a record 18,361,820 passengers, up 11.4 per cent from the 16,486,417 passengers welcomed in the first quarter of 2013.
Source: Dubai International Airport.

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US expands visa renewal procedure

The United States Mission to Nigeria is pleased to announce the expanded DHL Drop Box Visa Renewal Program. It will take effect from June 2, 2014.
This is contained in a statement by the mission in Nigeria, made available to our correspondent.
It said, “This program allows certain visa applicants who have previously been issued US visas to renew their visas without attending an interview.
“The expanded DHL Drop Box Visa Renewal Program now covers B1/B2 visas that have expired no more than two years prior to reissuance and F, L and H visas that have expired no more than one year prior to reissuance.
To find out more about the specific qualification criteria for renewals, applicants are to visit the US Embassy in Nigeria website’s Drop Box page at http://nigeria.usembassy.gov/niv_dropbox.html
Qualifying applicants will be prompted to print a letter confirming their eligibility for the program and instructed to drop off the letter with their passport, application confirmation sheet, passport photos, visa fee receipt, and appropriate documents to one of the DHL facilities in Abuja or Lagos.
It said, “The application packets are adjudicated and returned to the applicant’s selected DHL location within 7-10 business days.
“Please note that participation in this program does not guarantee visa issuance. Additionally, the consulate may request applicants to attend a visa interview in certain cases.”

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