Category Archives: Air Travel

Ham-fisted intervention in markets is dull thinking

Posted on March 4, 2008 by

Score one for protectionism, and minus several ranks of the economic freedom index for New Zealand, after the Government intervenes to prevent a Canadian fund from buying into Auckland airport. When the market drops by 2% after a new protectionist … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Global Macro Trends, Investing, NZ Business, Politics | 5 Comments

The TSA has a blog

Posted on February 17, 2008 by

The USA’s Transportation Security Agency has a blog – and it is a pretty good one as well. Check it out. The TSA are the folk that man the security checkpoints and examine your. They have a great post talking … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel | Leave a comment

How to deplane 13 passengers

Posted on January 25, 2008 by

There’s a right way and a wrong way to get 13 people off your flight and on to another one. The right way is to have an auction, where  you gradually increase the incentives to deplane, starting with an additional … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, NZ Business | 2 Comments

Fantastic Air NZ promotion

Posted on December 15, 2007 by

What can you say – is there any other airline in the world doing this sort of stuff? Air NZ’s grab-a-plane promo is an excellent idea with superb execution. It won’t last forever, so I’ve grabbed some screenshots. Here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Internet Business, media, NZ Business | 1 Comment

Air NZ lousy promotion

Posted on December 13, 2007 by

Great: AirNZ runs a giant charity Auction each year Dumb: using Sellmefree as the vehicle. Here, for example, is 2 month’s worth of Business Class travel for two people. It was added 3 days ago, and should be attracting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Business, media, NZ Business | 11 Comments

How to launch a succesful blog

Posted on December 12, 2007 by

It’s simple. First – Use the giant NYTimes as your blog vehicle, and be part of an existing blog Second- Be a well known and followed writer – Pico Iyer Third – Pick a topic we all love to hate … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Internet Business, media | Leave a comment

Expedia.co.nz launches – Good or Bad?

Posted on October 19, 2007 by

Expedia – the world’s largest travel agent, and a site I used a lot, err, last century, has finally arrived in New Zealand. Here’s a quick review. That’s a mere 11 years after being founded by Microsoft in 1996 – … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Internet Business, Life, media, NZ Business | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Green luxury flying

Posted on October 17, 2007 by

So Singapore airlines is going to have 14 first class suites, and an enhanced business class (also on their 777′s) on their A380 which will be plying the Sydney to Singapore route. That’s cool, and perhaps the quietness of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Business, Life | Leave a comment

NZInstitute BB report: Telepresence growth benefits are limited

Posted on September 26, 2007 by

That’s the second part of the tree on page 7 of the NZ Institute report. It shows total annual benefits of $165-$335m in increased exports from decent broadband allowing better telepresence. Telepresence I guess is defined by the authors as … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Broadband, Internet Business, New Zealand Institute, NZ Business, telecom | 1 Comment

Air NZ does it with models, Southwest goes prude

Posted on September 17, 2007 by

Excellent marketing from Air NZ – who once again demonstrate that there are some very smart people that are being unleashed within their domestic team. Air NZ held a fashion shw in the sky, complete with Rachel Hunter in attendance. … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, media | 1 Comment

Air NZ and Telecom

Posted on September 13, 2007 by

I can’t help comparing Air NZ and Telecom. They face very similar circumstances, and yet are reacting very differently. Both are ex Government owned, now private. Air NZ is quasi-private of course. Both have a public-good role – to provide … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Investing, Life, NZ Business, telecom | 2 Comments

Economy class sleeping – emerging reality?

Posted on August 9, 2007 by

They’ve mentioned this before about this before… and now it looks like AirNZ is going to try it. Economy class bunks. From 2010. “One concept showed berths stacked three-high in a herringbone layout along the sides, and another row stacked … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, NZ Business | 2 Comments

pay phones, funny money, income and Telecom

Posted on July 25, 2007 by

Chicago’s OHare airport is ripping out pay phones and replacing them with power sockets, chairs and counters. Bless them – I’m sick of wandering around (usually american) airports looking for power sockets. Disposable income for “Managers” is largest in Saudi … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Business, Internet Business, Investing, Life, media, NZ Business, telecom | Leave a comment

Book now pay later with Qantas.com.au

Posted on July 20, 2007 by

About time – we’ve aways been able to do this with travel agents, and now Qantas lets you schedule a flight and then commit later. Unfortunately there is a $25 deposit, which you lose if you do not commit. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, Business | 2 Comments

Air NZ reverses plan to tighten 737 seating

Posted on July 10, 2007 by

Great Headline: Air NZ reverses plan to tighten 737 seating I’d love to blame the blogosphere… but the airline touts passengers ad travel agents as those responsible for pushing back. There are still a few planes that will remain cramped … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, NZ Business | 2 Comments