The Flight Detective, Author at TravelUpdate

Review: Hotel NH Lyon Airport

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 27, 2017 | Hotel Reviews, Hotels | 0

Flying in to an airport and flying out the next morning… sound familiar? Many people do this on a daily basis and even when staying for just one night, your hotel choice is important. The Hotel NH Lyon Airport is directly across the road from Terminal 1 and 3 which makes it the perfect choice for a quick sleep. Hotel booking site Kaligo is one of my first two ports of call when I need a hotel. This is because they offer more Avios points than the hotels themselves award in the British Airways Executive Club. As someone who...

What Does The New British Airways Club Europe Lunch Look Like?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 26, 2017 | 0

Club Europe is the business class product on British Airways and today a new meal service has been introduced. Earlier today I posted pictures of what is offered for a flight departing during the brunch window which is 9:30am to 11:00am. Lunch time is scheduled for flights departing between 11:00am and 2:00pm at British Airways. As luck would have it, today I had two flights so I can reveal the lunch offering also. Lunch Hot Offering As mentioned previously in the brunch post, there was previously no hot offering on short and medium flights. Once again, the hot option...

Pictures: New British Airways Club Europe Catering – Brunch

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 26, 2017 | 0

Exclusive first pictures! British Airways have introduced new catering in Club Europe and today is launch day. As luck would have it, I am flying today which means I get to share the experience with you. The pictures here are the two meals offered on a short flight for brunch. The offering changes depending on flight length but I understand flights classed as short and medium receive the same food. Brunch Hot Offering Previously there was no hot offering on short and medium flights, so this is a change. The hot sandwich offering is pictured here. It is very...

You Won’t Believe This But I Was Upgraded Today

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 25, 2017 | Flight Reviews | 0

You may recall that only a few days ago I lamented that I never receive an upgrade when I fly. I follow the mantra of book the cabin you wish to fly in so usually any economy class flights I upgrade with points. Today I flew to London on a cheap economy class fare for €49. Just for you, I was planning to review the fact that BA CityFlyer still serve free meals in EuroTraveller. At the gate, my boarding pass beeped and you guessed it – I was upgraded to Club Europe! BA4461 – Dublin to London City...

What We Know About The New British Airways Club Europe Catering

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 24, 2017 | 2

British Airways are investing in the business class offering and first cab off the rank is the Club Europe catering. Club Europe is the European business class product and the new meals commence on Sunday 26 March 2017. As the most important part of the on board service, this news is hotly awaited. Catering has been grouped into three groups with the service depending on the flight length. Breakfast and Brunch The beloved Full English breakfast will still feature and the alternative will be a charcuterie selection. It will be interesting to see if the meals themselves are changed...

History: The Secret Order of the Double Sunrise

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 23, 2017 | Airlines | 4

Have you heard of the Double Sunrise flights? These are flights so long that the people on board experienced sunrise twice during the non-stop flight. Qatar Airways currently have the longest flight in the world, but the Double Sunrise flights are even longer. Imagine being on board an aircraft for between 27 and 32 hours without any entertainment and no service of any kind. There must have been a major reason for this to occur. Double Sunrise Flights Double Sunrise flights occurred during World War 2. Australia was cut off from Europe by the Japanese advance through Asia and...

Have You Ever Been Visited By The Upgrade Fairy?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 22, 2017 | Airlines | 18

Airlines are in the habit of overselling seats on flights in order to ensure the flight goes out full. A complex set of mathematics works all of this out yet sometimes more people than expected arrive to fly. When this happens some people might be given an upgrade to a higher class of travel. Many articles have been written over the years about increasing your chances but it comes down to luck in most cases. My Memorable Upgrade Over the years I have amassed well over 1,000 hours in the air and I have been upgraded a grand total...

Flying Business Class From Dublin to America? You Need To Know This!

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 21, 2017 | Airlines | 6

Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport in Ireland are unique in Europe as they offer US Preclearance which means passengers complete immigration formalities before flying rather than on arrival. It is a wonderful service as the immigration staff based in Dublin are far friendlier than those based in the USA. When Terminal 2 opened in Dublin, you proceeded through preclearance and then waited by the gate for your flight. As passengers are encouraged to clear in good time for the flight this could mean quite a wait until boarding time. I experienced it and it was tedious in the extreme....

16 Scenes On Board Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2 in 2008

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 20, 2017 | Cruises | 0

Queen Elizabeth 2 is considered by some to be the last of the classic ocean liners. The QE2, as she is colloquially known, saw service between 1969 and 2008 operating on cruises and transatlantic crossings for the venerable Cunard Line. Each year the ship completed a world cruise and sometimes would call in Sydney. The Australian news always covers the arrival of a Cunard Queen and people often visit Circular Quay in Sydney to view the ship. Dreams of QE2 Visiting the ship in port is a breathtaking experience. It looked so good docked at Circular Quay with the...

Should Online Check In Be Available When Booking?

Posted by The Flight Detective | Mar 19, 2017 | Airlines | 0

Having to check in for your flight or hotel is a part of the whole travel experience. The process is in place to register your arrival at a hotel or to signal your intention of taking the flight you booked. Virtually all airlines and most hotels allow you to check in online via the Internet. Once you complete your check in for a flight, you can print your boarding pass and are ready to travel. Interestingly, most airlines prevent check in until 24 hours before your flight time which can be a bit of a headache when you are...