SAA
South Africa’s largest domestic and international airline, South African Airways, was established in’34. SAA was created as one of the first national airlines on Earth. SAA has its main, modern hubs in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Transnet, a public transport company, is the owner of SAA. More than 2% of SAA’s stocks are held by its nearly 9,000 employees.
It serves 31 cities in 25 countries, carrying more than 7 million passengers per year. Recently a member of the exclusive Star Alliance, the connection vastly extended the number of destinations SAA flies to. Skytrax, the British experts on aviation ratings, declares SAA one of the best international airlines in terms of products offered and service standards. Employees receive intensive advanced training programs to help SAA maintain its reputation for excellent customer service.
One of the top airlines in the business is the SAA. The SAA, or Suid-Afriaanse Lugdiens in Afrikaans, is always ranked as the top performer, safest and money making airline. There are also many other catagories in which they rank high.
In’34 the first cities served by SAA were Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. Later, SAA added flights to Kenya, British East Africa and Uganda signaling an entrance to the international market. In WWII the airline was more or less shut down but by’45 SAA had achieved it’s long term goal of opening a European route by introducing a flight to Bournemouth.
The SAA brought the 707 to it’s airline in the’50’s. It was the next one in line, after the UK, to operate a pure jetliner flight. These jets would finally start to fly non-stop to the UK and it’s European neighbors within two years. Then New York was added as a stop in’69. The fleet now claims a fleet of more than 45 aircraft.
SAA’s loyalty program, Voyager, has nearly 2 million members. Members can earn airmiles on SAA as well as for flights with their partner airlines and Star Alliance members. SAA backs up its commitment to customer service by investing millions each year on in-flight entertainment. Passengers may choose from more than a dozen movie channels, video games, music and travel information.
They can also enjoy the Boabab Lounge at Johannesburg, which offers workstations complete with computers, faxes and printers. SAAs Cyclad Premium Lounge in Johannesburg was voted the third best in the world in a Skytrax survey in 2002.Business and first-class passengers are pampered even more. Business class offers the best business flat bed seats in the industry, according to Skytrax.
In the first-class cabins, SAA offers these features:’0-degree, lie flat bed, possibly the widest in the industry at 29 inches wide. Each seat has its own electronically controlled ottoman, and large, private television screens with audio-video on-demand.
Business class travelers enjoy most comforts during their travel. Starting from the fully adjustable seats with an adjustable headrest and pneumatic lumbar support to the large private television screens with the audio-video-on-demand.
South African Airways travelers who fly economy have available to them private televisions including audio-visual-on-demand and they are treated to a choice of two savory meals which are enhanced with a selection of South African Wines.
Safety and maintenance are very important to South African Airways. They have the largest maintenance facility in Africa, located at Johannesburg. Not only do they do their own maintenance, they also do maintenance on British Airways and Air France planes.
Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for South Arica’s leading Flight comparison portal, which includes South African Airways amongst others.
TopFlight.TV Aviation Video Channel
TopFlight.TV has taken a different approach to producing great content to share with the aviation audience. Incredible aircraft, great people, amazing access, and awesome footage to share the passion for aviation with the world! www.TopFlight.TV “Broader-Caster” is a term from an NAB video contest (National Association of Broadcasters) inviting producers to submit a one-minute piece about what we are doing in the production world where the Web, Broadband, is the primary medium wherein which we share our message, Casting. The winner gets airfare, hotel, and full event access to the 2010 NAB convention in Las Vegas. A good excuse for us to develop a short piece sharing what TopFlight.TV is all about.
Get Flights to Ko Chang
Tourism in Ko Chang has increased dramatically just in the last few years.Ko Chang, part of the Trat Province, is about 330 km from Bangkok and is Thailand’s second largest island and the largest in Ko Chang National Park.
Trat is sevred by two daily flights out of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Bangkok Airways. There are many flights to Bangkok, and the competitione leads to low prices. Flights to Bangkok from Britain leave from London’s Heathrow Airport. Qantas and British Airways fly to Bangkkok, Hong Kong, and Singapore on their way to Australia via the so-called “kangaroo route.” Taiwan’s Eva Airways and Thai Airways also serve Bangkok.
Ko Chang has three seasons including the cool season from November to February, the hot season from March to May and the rainy season from June to October. In general the climate is hot and humid with lots of rainfall, 4,000 mm per year.Direct door-to-door mimibus transfers will get you from Trat to Ko Chang and fares include the ferry crossing.
If you go to Ko Chang, you need not worry about getting around and transportation. The community is laid back and while there are public modes of transportation, you will find that the good old fasioned method of walking is still a very popular option as well.
It has become a favorite for Bangkok families on holiday. The island is home to a variety of wildlife including birds, snakes, deer and elephants and offers ideal spots for snorkeling, diving and jungle hiking.Ko Chang’s recent growth as a tourist destination is due in large part to its proximity to Bangkok, just 5 hours away.
The best known of the 47 islands of the Mu Ko Chang National Park is Ko Chang. If you’re an adventurer, you can take part in an 8 hour tour of the Than Mayom Waterfall and the Khlong-Plu Waterfall. If that isn’t enough, you can plan an overnight camping excursion in the jungle. If you’re looking for luxury, you can enjoy Thai villas at the Aiyapura Resort and Spa. You will be sure to enjoy the surrounding tropical gardens and breathtaking ocean views.
The best beaches are located on the west coast and they offer the finest accommodations as well as night life, Sai Khao and the White Sand Beach is the most popular on Ko Chang. There are beach bars, jazz clubs and night club that offer entertainment. You can stay in the thatched huts or wooden bungalows for a natural experience. You also have the option of luxury suits that offer air conditioning, televisions and pools.
Klong Prao Beach has a steeper, sandy beach with a beautiful rocky landscape in its northernmost area.Kai Bae Beach is similar to Klong Prao. You can hire canoes and kayaks, and there are plenty of dive shops. Bang Bao Beach is a fishing village built on stilts. Hire a boat and fish or snorkel to view the rich coral life.
On Khlong Prao, Chang Chutman offer half-hour and hour-long elephant safaris into the interior. You can also go on foot, preferably with a local guide. Start at the southern end of the island.
The Monkey Training Center in Ko Chang demonstrates the abilities of its monkeys, mainly coconut gathering.
Tom Martens is the content coordinator for bestukflights.co.uk the UK’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel to Thailand and Flights to Ko Chang
Get Cheap Domestic Flights In South Africa
If you are a regular traveler in South Africa and are looking for the best deals on local flights then you are at the right place. Read the tips below and adopt them the next you are searching for flights online.
Check out the prices of low fare airlines like 1Time, Mango and Kulula to search for cheaper travel options. This will save you money on your travel expenses as compared to the standard flights like SAA, British Airways etc. which is rather on a higher side. Before selecting one, make sure to compare their prices first.
The best way to find the domestic flights that suits your budget and for a cheaper fare is definitely by checking online. You can compare a several number of domestic flights, and the best way to search online is by using the website www.bestflights.co.za, which is used to find the best possible cheaper airfare. Take some time out researching a few sites and find the best deals.
In South Africa, for instance, the best time to find a cheap flight is during the off-peak hours or on the weekends, when air traffic is lighter. If you are flying to or from the major cities like Johannesburg or Cape Town, you will find that the weekday flights are usually full and much more expensive. So if you fly on the weekend or during the early morning or late evening hours, you will find cheaper fares.
Many airlines in South Africa are charging extra for paper tickets. Hence it is better to book online tickets and just print the boarding pass at the airport and save some money.
If you’re flying locally, avoid booking a round trip ticket. Unless the airline provides a deep discount on the fare, separately purchasing one-way tickets will probably be cheaper.
Additionally, be sure to check the individual websites of local airlines, as some of them offer incredible deals on tickets. If you’re really lucky, the occasional near-empty flight could result in last-minute discounted fares.
Remember that depending on your schedule and how flexible you are, you’re likely to get a different price every time you book your flight. So, here are a few ideas the next time you want to book a domestic flight in South Africa. Give them a try!
The author helps people to get cheap flights to Johannesburg. To read more on SA flights, visit bestflights.co.za
Flights to Krabi
Krabi Providence is on the west coast of Southern Thailand is very similar to other Thai destinations. They offer beautiful beaches and major tourist centers that cater to 2 million visitors.
Krabi International Airport (KBV) is about 15 km from the city centre 40 km from Ao Nang and 23 km from Had Yo two of the province’s best beaches.Most flights into Krabi originate from Bangkok via several airlines: Thai Airways (also offering flights from the UK to Bangkok), Bangkok Airways, Nok Air, Firefly and Air Asia.
Taxi and hired car are also affordable options. Krabi is hot and humid all year round, with the hottest usually in April. Many hotels, bars and ferries close during the rainy season during the fall. High season spans from November through April peaking during Christmas and New Years.The local Songthaew, public passenger pick-up vehicles, offer convenient transport to various local tourist attractions.
Krabi’s most unique feature, Phang Nga, a massive limestone karsts, rises high and steep from the flat rice paddies. Krabi’s natural coastal attractions never fail to impress tourists. Beaches are white and sandy with clear water, fascinating coral reefs, caves and waterfalls. Numerous islands are also available to explore.
When you go to Krabi, you can find a variety of things to do and places to stay. This is the most developed beach in Ao Nang. You won’t go hungry either, there is a great selection of restaurants as well as places to stay.
Rai Leh is the place that backpackers and hikers tend to enjoy more because it has great rock climbing and smaller beaches. Ton Sai is where you will find affordable bungalows will avoiding all the tourists. It is also within walking distance of Rai Leh.
Four surrounding islands, Ko Jum, Ko Lanta, Ko Phi Phi and Ko Siboya offer quieter escapes for travelers seeking solitude.Had Yo is the last untouched beach in the Krabi province. It offers spectacular views of Jum Mountian and Ao Nang’s cliff walls.
rabi is more than beaches and islands, however. Take a look at some of the other local attractions’ Krabi Town, the provincial capital, has memorable landscape featuring the prominent landmark Khao Khanap Nam. Created by two hills approximately 100 meters high that flank the Krabi River running between them, Kho Khanap Nam offers distinctive vistas accessible by a 15 minute long-tail boat ride from Chao Fa Pier. Visitors can canoe in the mangrove or a stroll to dinner at the night bazaar. Find authentic cuisine at Chao Fa Pier and the bazaar on Maha Road.
Pra Nang Beach (Princess Cave Beach) is less about sandy beaches and more about the area’s limestone scenery. A fascinating network of cave systems is home to the Pra Nang Beach considered to be the most beautiful beach in the world. The huge cave is believed by fishermen to be the home of a mythical sea princes. You can get to the Princess Cave Beach by boat or by foot.
Proncess Cave Beach, better known as Pra Nang Beach, skips the sandy beack look and focuses on the area’s gorgeous limestone scenary. It is considered to be the world’s most beatiful beach and is home to a network of wonderous caves. A local myth that is believed by the local fisherman is that the huge cave is home to the mythical sea princes. Proncess Cave Beach is accessable either by foot ot by boat.
Tom Martens is the content coordinator for bestukflights.co.uk the UK’s premier flight and travel comparison portal which includes a detailed section on Travel to Thailand and Flights to Krabi