Flying – Purple Travel Official Blog

Purple 10: Amazing Facts About Flying

Dec 18 2013

Huge jumbo jet, tiny runway. Despite all the technology involved, some planes still land in the wrong place. This exact thing happened in November 2013, when a Boeing 747 Dreamlifter landed at a tiny airport in Kansas, 8 miles from its original destination. New pilots were brought in and the flight was (just about) able to take off the next day.

Predict the weather with plane trails. The little white lines in the sky that planes leave behind will tell you if it’s about to rain. If the con trails are thick, long last tails indicate a storm is on the way, while thin, short lasting tails suggest decent weather.

LAX was once shut down over a haircut. Los Angeles International Airport had two runways shutdown for an hour when a hair stylist was called to Air Force One, to give then President Bill Clinton a short, back and sides. That’s one of our absolute favourite facts about flying!

You don’t get drunk faster in the air. Contrary to popular belief, Mythbusters asked an ‘alcohol expert’ who said your alcohol level doesn’t increase, but you can get higher levels of hypoxi. That’s less oxygen in your blood. The symptoms are similar to drunkenness, but that’s no excuse!

Pilots don’t eat the same meals. It’s one of those just-in-case things. It’s not exactly forbidden by airlines, but it is discouraged.

Flying is incredibly safe. Even though aviophobia, fear of flying is very common, the risk of dying in a commercial flight varies, but it is well over 1 in 5 million. Safe enough if you ask us.

If you’re still scared. Statistics say the back of the airplane is safer than the front. In over half of 20 crashes surveyed, passengers at the back had a better rate of survival.

A plane lands somewhere in the world every 3 seconds. In the US alone, around 87,000 planes take off every single day. Don’t believe us? Take a look at flight tracker to see what’s in the air right now.

You can’t get stuck on an airplane toilet. The 2002 news story about a woman trapped on a toilet for two hours because of the vacuum suction was announced as a myth. In reality the flush button is behind the lid, so it’s not possible to push it while you’re doing your business.

Don’t bother with tea. Sorry, but it’s impossible to make a good cup of tea on a flight. Air pressure is reduced, so water boils at 90 degrees, so it’s never quite hot enough for a proper brew.

Do you have anymore facts about flying? We’d love to hear them in the comments below.

Ryanair Hand Luggage Size – finally changing!

Nov 29 2013

On the back of a complete overhaul of Ryanair’s website, the low cost Arline is introducing changes to its baggage and check in policies, in a bid to attract more customers.

Ryanair image via @ Paolo Margari

The no-frills airline announce on 28^th November it was to allow passengers to bring a second small carry-on bag for free. It’ll also see the Ryanair boarding card fee reduced from €70/£70 to €15/£15 for customers who are already checked in online. This will presumably come into play if a customer has already printed out their check in card and mislaid it.

It’s part of CEO Micheal O’Leary’s plan for a whole series of customer service improvements across the Ryanair network. It comes in addition to a grace period of 24 hours to correct minor booking mistakes and a selection of new quieter flights, (pre 8am and post 9pm.) There’ll be no more fighting over seats either, as fully allocated booking will be introduced on 1^st February.

Maybe the most important part of the changes is Ryanair hand luggage size. In addition to a single 10kg cabin bag, te introduction of a second small bag, from this Sunday (Dec 1) means there’ll be less trying to wear all your clothes at once like Joey From Friends – or these girls… However don’t think you’ll be grabbing another big case, the dimensions of the second bag must be 35cm x 20cm x 20cm.

Ryanair’s head of communications Robin Kiely said: “We are actively listening and responding to our customers so that they can continue to expect low fares and on-time flights, but can now enjoy a second small carry-on bag and reduced boarding card reissue fees for those who have checked-in online, along with easier website access, 24 hour grace periods and quiet flights, with further improvements set to be rolled out over the coming months.”

Joining the Mile High Club – legitimately

Nov 13 2013

While you might wonder about the ethics or even legal status of joining the Mile High Club, it’s no secret that it’s a bucket list entry for lots of people. Seeing a niche business opportunity a US based airline has created a special package for couples who want to do just that.

Flamingo Air, based in Ohio, USA, is offering private flights especially for couples who want to get on board with love in the air. The hour long flight in a Piper Cherokee 6 plane has its own private love nest, and as mentioned on the site, a very discreet pilot (!) Offering champagne and chocolates, the flights of fancy will set you back $425, but promise to give you a flight you won’t forget.

So, ditch the tricky trips to the toilets and take it easy at 20,000 feet in the comfort of your own personal (temporary) bedroom. Just remember, these flights take two people at a time, so no extra funny business!

You should read… the sexiest holidays on earth

How to Achieve Both Comfort and Style on a Long Haul Flight

Jan 28 2013

This is a guest post by Faria Ahmad at heidi klein.

Long haul flights are generally hard on your body, but what about your wardrobe? Choosing the wrong thing to wear can make for a very uncomfortable time spent on a plane, but not everyone enjoys throwing on a pair of jogging bottoms and slippers on a flight. Plus, for many of us it’s important to look good when we arrive at our destination – kicking your holiday off to a perfect start. So how can you dress comfortably without sacrificing style for comfort?

To keep you both looking and feeling your best you’ll need a pair of comfortable shoes. Although you won’t be on your feet for a huge length of time, your shoes need to be comfortable in case you end up running across vast airport corridors, luggage in tow. We’ve all seen pictures of Victoria Beckham strutting through an airport in her Louboutins, but come on! The practicalities of most of us doing the same seem fairly limited!

Make sure your shoes are fairly loose in case your feet swell once you are in the air, and consider the weather at both ends of your journey. Flip flops might be ideal for your destination, but on a 4am flight in mid January, do you really want to watch your toes turning blue in an English airport? Take some socks on board the flight with you. The temperature on a plane is never guaranteed and a pair of socks in your hand luggage could make all the difference if the cabin gets a little chilly.

A scarf is the ideal accessory to take on board your long haul flight. Versatile and foolproof, a luxury scarf adds elegance and style to your outfit. It can be used as a wrap to keep you warm or a make-do eye mask to block the light from your eyes. On arriving at your destination a scarf is easy to slip into your hand luggage.

Dressing in layers that are easy to add or remove is a great way of controlling your body heat according to the temperature of your flight. A capsule wardrobe for travel will give you plenty of outfit choices, with layering options and tonnes of style.

Knitted black trousers are an excellent alternative for anyone who doesn’t like to wear leggings. Comfortable and classic, these give you much more comfort than a restrictive pair of jeans. Jersey tops are ideal for travelling as the stretch means they will keep their shape and are difficult to crease, even after a ten hour flight.

A dress might seem an impractical choice for a long haul flight, but a maxi dress in a stretchy material can be ideal for making your way to a warm destination. A maxi dress can be layered on the plane by adding leggings and a loose sweater or cardigan. Upon your arrival a pair of sunglasses can turn your maxi dress into a chic, beach ready look, and also work to hide tired eyes.

A stylish way to finish off your outfit is with a jacket. Even if the rest of your outfit is fairly plain – maybe as simple as a pair of comfy leggings and a black t-shirt – throwing on a blazer is a fashionable way to keep warm and look good without making any effort.

Wearing black may seem like a good bet but it can make you look pale and tired when you arrive, and isn’t the best choice for wearing on arrival in a hot country. White isn’t a forgiving travelling colour either – highlighting every spill, but beige, muted greens, stone and biscuit colours will give your outfit a relaxed and glamorous feel.

Overall, your fashion choices for a plane journey should include items in fabrics that will be forgiving to creases and that fall easily and comfortably. Denim is too restrictive and linen creases too easily, so best avoid items in these fabrics.

Author Bio: Article written by Faria Ahmad, Ecommerce Executive at heidi klein. heidi klein is the one-stop destination holiday shop offering both women’s and men’s designer swimwear for the perfect holiday wardrobe.

Guest Post: Hypnotherapy for Fear of Flying

Jan 25 2013

This is a guest post by Debbie Hursey from Hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk.

Image via @ Vox Efx

Fear of Flying affects many people from all walks of life and it is estimated that between 20 – 40% of the population struggle to cope with the anxiety that flying causes.

I have suffered with ‘aerophobia’ since I was 7 years old and I will never forget my first flight, I had never experienced anything like it. As the plane took off, I held my head in my hands and sat in the ‘brace’ position for almost all of the journey in sheer terror.

As I got older, my fear intensified. As we approached the airport, I would get into my ‘zone’ of quietly preparing for the flight in which I was quite convinced that I would die. As the aircraft started to move, I became increasingly agitated, tossing my head backwards and forwards and started sweating profusely. I would notice any slight noise or movement, and if the lights flickered in the cabin it would send me into a quiet, internal, rising panic. I was often physically sick and when I got off the plane I was totally exhausted.

I didn’t want to stop travelling, so saw my doctor who prescribed Propranolol (beta blockers) tablets to slow my heart beat. They did take the edge off it slightly, but I hated taking them and felt out of control.

I decided to go online and do some research for an alternative to the prescribed drugs. There was a lot if information about Hypnotherapy and the benefits of how it can help. I read this page on Hypnotherapy Directory and contacted a qualified practitioner close to where I live. I had 4 sessions and was taught how to focus my mind on relaxing and staying calm.

On my first flight after the sessions, although I didn’t feel it had cured me, I was definitely much calmer and didn’t feel the need to take any tablets so felt much more in control; I could even eat a meal!

Last year my boyfriend and I went to South America. We spent 8 amazing weeks travelling around the continent, with a total of 17 flights, sometimes on some of the most dilapidated and ancient aircraft in operation! I am convinced that the hypnotherapy techniques that I learnt worked, and although I still can’t say that I enjoy flying, I can do it now without the fear and anxiety that I used to feel.

So… don’t let your fear hold you back, find a hypnotherpist in your area to help you and enjoy this beautiful world!

Footage from the world’s scariest airports

Dec 28 2012

Image via @ Todd Neville

Pilots had to keep their eyes wide open flying into Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport, a sharp and difficult right turn made it especially hard and gave no chance for error. The airport was closed in 1998.

Pilots and passengers may need to cross their fingers flying out of Matekane, Lesotho, as a 2,000 foot drop appears fast at the end of the short runway.

A plane spotter’s delight to see a landing at Princess Juliana International Airport, St Maarten, Caribbean.

You only get once chance at Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Lukla, Nepal.

Beautiful for passengers, but pilots have to fight wind shear and sever turblence to land at Narsarsuaq Airport in Greenland.

Cross winds are the biggest problem at Funchal Airport in Madeira.

Barra Airport in Skye is actually just part of the beach and it’s take offs and landings are ruled by the tide.

Tag - Flying