Does the Emirates Airline Operate on a Level Playing Field?

An emirate, the Arab World’s fastest growing airline is now being accused by its peers of leveraging an unfair advantage, given the patronage it receives from the royal family of Dubai. The airline owes it origin to a cancelled flight of the then crowned prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who ordered the Dubai Tourism Authority to start the airline in the same year. Since then the airline has been growing at a scorching pace of 20 percent a year, emerging as the second most profitable airline in the world. Being the official carrier of the Government of Dubai, it is sure to benefit from the projected influx of 15 million visitors who plan to spend their holidays in Dubai next year. Many of whom will choose Emirates for their travels.

Competing airlines allege that Emirates gets its fuel at a subsidised rate and the entire government machinery in Dubai bends backward to help the airline which has never posted a loss. Emirates, its critics assert, does not have to worry about high labour costs as it benefits from a migrant workforce in Dubai which comprises of workers from South Asia who are forced to work as slaves since labour laws are openly flouted in this city-state. With no corporate tax, income tax and trade unions to bother about, the airline clearly has an unmerited edge over its competitors. This is something which is contradictory to the ‘open skies policy’ advocated by the government of Dubai. Read the rest of this entry »

How to Beat the Airlines Fees With Carry-Ons

I chuckle every time I see the Southwest Airlines commercials for the bags that fly free. The baggage handlers who flash the spelling of ‘Bags Fly Free’ are hilarious. What is not so funny, are the huge baggage fees being charged for checked luggage. Flying to Florida with an overstuffed 24″ wheeled upright, I paid a whopping $125 for my overweight bag. Now my ticket was only $129. I should have simply purchased an additional seat!

So, how to beat the airline fees? More and more travelers are beating the airline fees by simply not checking luggage and using carry-on bags instead. Irv’s Luggage has a special section devoted to discounted carry-on bags. Here are the best values in quality carry-on luggage: Read the rest of this entry »

Cheap Flight Tickets

Vacationing across boundaries is no expensive affair today. You can buy flights tickets as per your budget as rates have come down. When airlines were few in number and airports were few too, not all travel freaks could fly to distant destinations. It took years together to give shape to a nurtured dream of visiting an overseas exotic destination. Whether you want to go to Dubai or London or Abuja or any destination, you can book flights online from the comfort of your home or office. London flights tickets, Abuja flights rates, Dubai flights tickets are all available at discount prices; all you need to do is get an advance booking done. Current bookings may require you to pay as much as 50% or more. This is the reason why most vacationers plan ahead and book flights tickets and hotels several days ahead. The earlier you book, more are the discounts that you can avail. Read the rest of this entry »