Showing posts with label flying. Show all posts

5 Things You Shouldn't Do On A Plane

With travel coming back to normal many of us may be thinking of where to go on our next holiday. If you are travelling abroad then you are probably travelling by plane. Now, I don't know about you but I find the whole process of flying stressful. There is a lot that we need to do to be prepared to fly and then there is a lot we shouldn't do. More so now than ever. 

boarding pass


Let's have a look at some of the things you shouldn't do on a plane, for your health and safety and other people's comfort.

Get seriously drunk

It's not a good idea to get seriously drunk on a plane. Firstly if you are inebriated then you won't be able to react quickly if there is an emergency. Secondly, no one wants someone seriously drunk on a plane as there is a chance they could become aggressive, vomit or pass out. Due to changes in the pressure in the cabin, alcohol can affect you more when you are on a plane too. So be careful how much you drink. If you are drunk getting onto a plane then the staff have the right to refuse your boarding. If you bought alcohol in duty-free you aren't allowed to consume it on the plane either but you can buy it on board. Staff have a right to refuse to sell you alcohol though if they think you have had too much.

Smoke

Besides the smell of smoking which is not pleasant to non-smokers and is potentially cancer forming, smoking on a plane is a fire hazard. Also, you cannot take electronic cigarettes/vapes on a plane either. Many of these emit a smoke-like substance and the batteries can be a fire hazard. If the thought of a long flight without smoking is difficult for you, you could possibly take a nicotine patch or a nicotine substance like nicotine pouches sold by snusdirect. Nicotine punches contain a substance that you put under your top lip where it releases the flavour and nicotine. Check with the legalities of the country first. 

Take forbidden food

You can take food on a plane but there are certain restrictions if you are going internationally and these can vary according to the country. Certain foods like fresh fruit may have to be eaten on the plane and not brought into the country. If it's liquid-based it would need to go in a checked bag unless it is under 100 MLS and can go in a clear plastic bag of a certain size in your hand luggage. Check with your airline first. Prohibited agricultural items including certain fruits and seeds can harbour plant pests and foreign animal diseases that could seriously damage the crops of the country and the environment. Also, don't take smelly food on a plane as it's not good etiquette so leave the egg and tuna sandwiches at home. 

Ignore hygiene

plane
Something you shouldn't do on a plane is to ignore hygiene, especially in these COVID times. I usually wipe everything over like the tray table and armrests if they are plastic with an antibacterial wipe. When you go to the bathroom be sure to wash and dry your hand properly, and don't touch what you don't need to. Also, don't walk barefoot in the bathroom. Wipe your hands with an antibacterial wipe after too. There are lots of germs on a plane and with the staff having to turn around a plane in less than 30 minutes sometimes you can't be sure it's all cleaned properly. It goes without saying that be sure to attend to your hygiene needs too, so shower and use deodorant as no one wants someone smelly sitting next to them. 

Carry something hazardous

When you check in you will be shown a list of hazardous substances. Don't have any of these or lie that you don't have them as this can get you into serious trouble and could be dangerous.  These are things like explosive substances, including party poppers and fireworks, poisons including weedkillers, and flammable substances like lighter fuel and paints. Also, hand luggage restrictions are different to hold restrictions so be sure to check these out too. These substances can vary slightly from country to country but generally are the same, however always read the list carefully to avoid being caught out. 

So these are 5 things you shouldn't do, when you travel on a plane, from the mild to the serious. Have you ever seen someone drunk on a plane? Do you wipe down the seat tray?

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How Can I Overcome My Fear Of Flying?

Flying is still statistically the safest way to travel, but despite this, it is something that definitely causes fear and panic in a lot of the population. It is natural to have a fear of being in a huge metal box in the sky, but it’s important to try not to let a fear of flying stop you from seeing the beauty that the world has to offer.

In order to achieve this and improve your life, you should be trying to work on this and think, ‘What can I do to overcome my fear of flying?’ Now, there are several options to choose from, and it is all about working on a process that is comfortable for you and that is proven to yield results. Here are some of the best ways to overcome your fear of flying, starting right now.

Distract Yourself

plane

Distracting yourself is one of the more effective ways of combating your fear of flying, and this is something that can help you have a smoother and more relaxing journey. There are a lot of ideas that you can implement to keep yourself distracted, and bringing plenty of entertainment with you is certainly going to help you achieve this. Listen to music or a podcast, read a book, watch a movie, do a crossword. There are a lot of great ideas that will help you to distract yourself and reduce your fear factor when flying.

Learn the Facts

Look, indeed, knowledge isn’t going to remove your fears and doubts, but it can go some way towards helping you manage them. The fear of flying is always the ‘What if?’ angle, and eliminating that makes things easier to deal with. So, you need to try to do as much as you can to learn the facts and do your research, but you need to be careful. It’s no use Googling 'the number of plane crashes over the past ten years', as this will only heighten fear and anxiety. However, learning about how safe planes are, the chances of anything going wrong, what equipment from somewhere like Pilot John International the plane might have on board, and some of the design specs can help you manage and combat your fear of flying.

Hypnosis

Sometimes you might be looking for an alternative way of being able to overcome your fear of flying, and this is something that you need to think hard about as much as possible. There are a lot of things that play a part in helping you to achieve this right now. You have to make sure you focus on the best ways of being able to alleviate some of this fear and worry, and a great approach to take is to undergo hypnosis. Fear of flying hypnosis is a great way of being able to assess and improve your mental state so that you are able to overcome your fear and fly without being as anxious.

Fear of flying is natural, and a lot of people struggle with this, but it is important to make sure you take steps to try to overcome this as much as possible. There are a lot of factors that play a part in this, and you need to follow these steps in order to help overcome your fear of flying in the right way.


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Travelling With An Emotional Support Animal


For people living with a mental illness or mental disability, daily tasks as simple as getting dressed or leaving the house can become difficult to manage. More stressful situations, like travelling, can become nigh-on impossible without special support.

Luckily, there is an increasingly popular, non-medicated aid that more and more people are coming to rely on: emotional support animals. Here, I will cover everything you’ll need to know about flying with an emotional support animal, from the laws (and exceptions) to preparing your emotional support animal for travel.

 What is an emotional support animal?

An emotional support animal (ESA) is a domesticated animal that helps its owner to deal with the symptoms of a diagnosed mental illness or psychological disability, such as anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, or depression.

Emotional support animals are a type of assistance animal (i.e. an animal that helps people), along with service animals like guide dogs or seizure response dogs. The difference between emotional support animals and service animals is that while service animals are specially trained to perform a specific task for their handler, ESAs do not need any special training: they just need to be able to make their owner feel safe, calm and loved.

In the US there are laws that apply to both service animals and ESAs, while others apply to service animals only. In the UK emotional support animals are not recognised as certified assistance animals although some airlines will allow dogs as ESA animals - Virgin, Easyjet and Ryanair namely but check in advance that this is still the case, as you will have to inform them prior to travel.

In The US

The only way to get an ESA is to be prescribed one by a licensed mental health professional who is treating you. They will do this by writing you an ESA letter, stating that you have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder or emotional disability and that the animal is necessary for your ongoing treatment.

Unfortunately, unscrupulous retailers are attempting to cash in on the growing popularity in emotional support animals by selling fake, “no-questions-asked” ESA letters or offering to “certify” your pet as an ESA. Sadly, many people fall prey to these scams every year, only finding out that their ESA letters were not valid when they are refused boarding. Avoid that kind of stress by going with a legitimate emotional support animal registration that will help to connect you with licensed mental health professionals in your state.

Legal protection for travelling with an ESA

For people whose condition makes travelling difficult, bringing an emotional support animal along can make all the difference. But what about airlines that charge a fee for pets, or those that don’t allow pets in the cabin? Luckily, there is specific legal protection in place to help people with disabilities who need to travel with assistance animals: the Air Carrier Access Act.

 Air Carrier Access Act

The Air Carrier Acces Act (ACAA) is a piece of legislation in the US, that is in place to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination while flying on commercial airlines. The ACAA makes lots of provisions aimed at making life easier for people with both mental and physical disabilities while flying. One of these is granting them the right to travel with a service animal or emotional support animal on commercial airlines, bringing it into the cabin with them even when pets are not permitted. The Act also exempts assistance animals from pet fees.

There are a few important exceptions to the ACAA, in which case airlines are entitled to turn away ESAs: 
  1. Many airlines require a valid and up-to-date ESA letter as proof of your animal’s status. Some require this to be submitted in advance, in addition to a veterinary certificate. 
  2. Any animal that is deemed unclean, that is not properly housebroken, or that is behaving aggressively or disruptively can be refused. 
  3. Some airlines limit their definitions of what breeds and species count as ESAs. 
  4. Some refuse to carry reptiles, rodents, or insects, while others limit it to dogs and cats only. Make sure you check that your ESA will be accepted before you book!
5 Tips on Getting Your ESA Ready to Travel


1. If your ESA isn’t used to being in crowded places, build up their exposure gradually to avoid any undue stress. Try taking it to animal-friendly shopping malls, or even to the public areas of an airport. Remember to bring lots of treats to reward good behaviour and make it a positive experience!

2. Taking your ESA on buses or trains can be another way to get it used to being in transit. Practice having it sit quietly at your feet or on your lap, and, as always, make sure you reward good behaviour!

3. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian well in advance of travelling. Ask for a general check-up to make sure it is fit to travel. This is also a good opportunity to ensure that the animal has all the necessary vaccinations and to get a veterinary certificate if required. Finally, make sure you have a stock of any medication your animal will need during the trip, as well as a prescription for vet-approved travel sickness medication. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

4. Animals can sense when we’re stressed, and none more than emotional support animals. Make sure you get everything packed and ready well in advance—including all your necessary paperwork—to avoid last-minute worry.

5. On the day you travel, try to keep your routine with your ESA as close to normal as possible—especially feeding and bathroom breaks. Most airports have special relief areas for assistance animals, so check in advance where these are.

Travelling with an emotional support animal can help to ease the stress and worry of flying for people living with mental illnesses or disabilities. Of course, the support of your GP or a counselling service like those provided by BetterHelp is also important, but the support of an ESA should not be underestimated.

 However, before you travel, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with the rules and legislation. Not only will this help to keep your journey smooth and stress-free, but it will also make the journey easier on your fellow passengers.

*Guest post
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Overcoming The Fear Of Flying

For many of us flying is a necessity, a way to travel for business or for pleasure, for some it is even a delight, they enjoy the excitement of the whole experience, however, for many people a fear of flying fills them with dread and anxiety. A fear of flying is a common fear these days, and I have to admit it affects me too, but I try not to let it stop me travelling.

For some people, it may not stop them travelling but their fear of flying can make them tearful, upset and anxious, maybe even have panic attacks. However, for some people, it can get to the extent that it makes them avoid planes or travelling. If you are affected, here are some tips on how to overcome your fear of flying. 

Why are you afraid?




A fear of flying or aviophobia affects between approximately 3 and 6 per cent of the population at any time and there are usually a number of factors involved in someone being scared to fly.

A lack of control is one aspect. In a plane, you are not in control, and when the doors shut you can't get out, which makes it claustrophobic for some. That is one reason why people hate flying. In fact, this is why I hate it myself!

Also with 24-hour news and media these days we see more plane crashes than ever before reported. However, flying is so much safer than driving, with many research articles pointing this out, and you are actually 15 times more likely to be hit by lightning than be involved in a plane crash. 

Another reason you may hate flying is if you do not like heights. In some respect, this is a natural fear, a 'fight or flight response' to keep you safe. However, if it is affecting your ability to take a flight then this needs to be looked at further. 

Self-help tips


1. Plan everything in advance

Plan everything in advance so you feel you are in control. If you live a distance from the airport, consider booking an airport hotel the night before, this will avoid any traffic hold-ups on the day and give you less potential for being stressed.  Booking an airport lounge is also a relaxing way to start a trip, as the lounge will generally provide food and drinks as well as free Wi-Fi in a relaxing comfortable area, away from the general bustle of an airport.

2. Book an upgraded seat

An aisle seat will give you more of a feeling of space and stop you feeling hemmed in. I always do this or upgrade my seat to exit row, premium or if its a special occasion, business class. The extra space of these seats cannot be beaten and in my experience definitely helps with claustrophobia. 

3. Keep yourself busy

I like to check out the plane beforehand to see if there is an entertainment system, with TV, films and music to keep me occupied. On short-haul planes, this is less likely so I make sure I have films and music downloaded on my laptop beforehand. I also take work with me to do on the plane as well.  A point of note, try to avoid programmes on plane crashes and media coverage of such things especially in the run-up to a flight. I must admit I was shocked that one well-known airline had the film Flight that starts with a plane crash on their entertainment system last year!

4. Use relaxing music 


Make a playlist of relaxing music and download it prior to the flight so you can listen to it whilst you are on the plane. 

5. Practise relaxation techniques

Before you get on the plane, research relaxation techniques. Even simple breathing exercises can help if you feel panicky. You can download audio or video content to help with relaxation techniques.

6. Avoid caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant so avoid caffeine as it can make you jittery. Instead, drink soft drinks that aren't carbonated as fizzy drinks may make you feel bloated and uncomfortable. 

7. Adjust air vents

Turn on the air vents as soon as you get on the plane. I also like to take a hand-held fan in case it gets warm. Anecdotal evidence and personal experience does suggest that having cool air on your face makes you feel anxious. Try it, and let me know what you think.

8. Beware of alcohol 

Alcohol can take the edge off the fear for some but be careful not to drink too much, and especially be careful if you are mixing alcohol with medication, such as travel sickness tablets or anxiolytic mediation as this can enhance the sedative effect. Alcohol can also make you dehydrated so be sure to drink plenty of water during a flight. 

9. Be careful with medication 

If you find your fear is getting worse, visit your Dr, they can help refer you for counselling (more of that later) and prescribe medication for short-term use, usually 6 or 8 tablets of Diazepam or other similar medication. Some people do not like the effect that anxiolytic medication has on them, so it is useful to try out a tablet before you go if you have never tried them before. 

10. Positive thinking

It's always good to focus on the destination you are going to and visualise yourself there perhaps lying on the beach or relaxing with a glass of wine over a meal in your destination. 


Do you need counselling? 



If you feel that your fear is getting out of control consider counselling. Counselling can be in person with a trained counsellor or online from a site that uses accreditated and trained counsellors like Better Help.  Often, a fear of flying starts after a big life event. Counselling can help get to the route of the fear of flying and the triggers to your anxiety. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is one such technique they use to help you conquer your fear for example.

What about fear of flying courses?


Fear of flying courses are worth considering especially if your fear is severe. Often these involve an educational session about how a plane works, what the noises mean and how safe flying is, with relaxation techniques and support from airline staff.  British Airways run a Flying With Confidence course, and Virgin Atlantic run a  Flying Without Fear course too. Many people have been helped with these courses every year and the group setting can help you feel less isolated as other people feel the same as you. 

Pin for later

As you can see there are a number of things you can do it help you overcome your fear of flying. I hope this article has been useful to you.

For more information check out this post on how you can overcome your fear of flying from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

 *Collaborative post

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Flying A Tiger Moth With Buyagift - The Experience

Last month it was my tenth wedding anniversary and so a couple of months before I started to rack my brains on what to get my husband. I wanted it to be unique and memorable. A card and a box of chocs would simply not cut it.

So I decided on a Tiger Moth flying experience from Buyagift. 


A bi-plane, the Tiger Moth was operated by the Royal Air Force from the 1930s to the 1950s primarily to train pilots. My husband is learning to fly and when I presented him with this Tiger Moth experience gift on holiday he was really surprised and very excited. 

A memorable experience, never forgotten.

Experiences like this last longer than material things, you won't be talking about the phone you bought in 2016 when you are old and grey but you will remember the time you went up in a Tiger Moth and did a loop and roll! Yes, this was what was in store for him.

The booking process was simple - he entered his details online and then rang the aviation company in Gloucester, Tiger Airways.  

So a month later we set off for Gloucester airport. Firstly he watched a DVD to know what to expect. The film showed you what not to touch, the basic controls and how not to put your foot on the plane! Yes indeed, something I didn't know was that the plane was made of wood and canvas! 



After meeting the lady pilot and going over a few instructions he donned a leather jacket, a hat and goggles like Biggles and climbed into the front open cockpit of the bi-plane.  A headset kept him in touch with the lady pilot and he was strapped in with a four-point harness.

After taxying on the grass airstrip, then picking up speed, they had lift-off, soaring like eagles gliding on the air.

Acrobatics

When airborne and away from the airfield she let my husband take control of the plane to turn left, right and climb then she retook control and asked if he wanted to do a loop. So he did. He's certainly braver than me, flying upside down in an open cockpit plane, that's for sure.

So they went into a dive to pick up some speed and then they looped. The experience was, less scary that he thought before he knew it he was looking at the floor, then they were upright. 

After flying some more, the pilot asked if he wanted to try something else and they went into a victory roll. This is when you roll sideways in a complete loop otherwise known as an aileron roll.  This felt more like a ride at a theme park, except at 3000 feet rather than a few hundred, with the wind rushing past his face, a real adrenaline rush.

Then he took control again and was directed back to the airfield where she took control and landed the plane.

"It was a great experience, a bit chilly though but thoroughly enjoyable"


After the experience, he was given a copy of the photo taken earlier and there was an opportunity to have a DVD of the experience. If you think you or a loved one would like to try the Tiger Moth experience I would recommend you get it from Buyagift as the process of booking was simple and straightforward and they offer free exchanges too if you or your recipient change their mind.
Flying a Tiger Moth plane was one gift he will never forget, great memories that will last a lifetime.

I didn't manage to capture his acrobatics but here is a little video I made of the experience. Tell me, would you or a loved one like to try this? Have you ever given a gift experience?

 * I was gifted this experience for an honest review
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Why You Must Fly Virgin Upper Class

The Surprise

I never thought I would be flying Virgin Atlantic upper class on my recent trip to New Orleans but I had the pleasure of this service when my husband surprised me recently by using our Virgin miles to upgrade us. Now not everyone will be able to afford this due to their current circumstances, so I guess I should have called this...

 "Why you must fly Virgin upper class... at least once in your life" .

You may think from the title that you could never afford to fly upper class, but so did I. I guess if you love travelling and hate flying like me and would do anything to feel more comfortable on a plane, or you are looking for a very special treat then it's certainly worth looking at your priorities and see if you can afford it. Alternatively sign up to the Virgin Flying Club - their loyalty scheme, and look at all the ways you can earn Virgin miles.


The trip was a very special trip for our 10th wedding anniversary and my birthday combined. We had already signed up to Virgin’s Flying Club on previous trips. This airline loyalty scheme meant every time we fly with Virgin we accredit miles which can be used towards flight upgrades. He used miles plus money to get us a return to Atlanta at half the cost of a normal upper class ticket. From Atlanta we would be moving onto New Orleans, then Memphis and Nashville for our trip of the American 'deep South', but more of that in posts to follow.

So it was with excitement and trepidation I was ready on the morning of our flight.

Being Whisked Through Security

On of the perks of upper class travel on Virgin Atlantic is that there is a separate entry to check in and separate security at Heathrow. We had an email 24 hours in advance asking us if we wanted to arrange the upper wing check in and so we did. To arrange this you need to let them know what time you will be arriving and the registration number of the car (or taxi) so you can get to the security entry. This was easily arranged, my husband just rang through the taxi number when we were on our way.

 Some upper class tickets include a complimentary chauffeur driven transfer. I guess it depends if your ticket is discounted or not, as ours was.
Copyright Virgin Atlantic


The Virgin upper entry at Heathrow is very cool and stylish. We handed in our boarding passes that we had printed off and we were checked in, in literally less than 2 mins. We actually didn't even need to print our boarding passes as they had already done this for us. Very impressive.

We were then told to go through to security - again this is a separate security for Virgin upper class passengers. With only one family before us, this was very calm and the process was extremely quick. Before we knew it we were through security and looking at the shops in Heathrow. 

 Heathrow has an amazing selection of shops - everything from high street brands like WHSmith and John Lewis, to fashion brands like Michael Kors and Ted Baker and designer brands like Chanel and Hugo Boss.

The Virgin Upper Lounge

Then it was time to find the Virgin upper class lounge. The lounge is actually quite beautiful. There is a large cocktail bar in the centre of the lounge, and lots of comfortable tables and chairs, nooks and crannies to relax in. 


"The lounge is actually quite beautiful"


There is a hair salon where you can have a hair cut or even a massage. Some of the services are free while others you have to pay for. The food and drink is complimentary. There is a deli bar - and at this time of day (7am) they were serving breakfast and also waiter service for anything you wanted off the menu. 


Food And Drink In The Lounge

We ordered fresh fruit salad and orange juice and my husband ordered a bacon roll. If you wanted to you could have almost anything to drink, from a coffee to champagne all day, every day, and anything off the food menu which changes due to the time of day. 

Virgin Club Lounge Breakfast Served Until 11.30am

As I wanted to eat on the plane and it was still early I didn’t eat anything else in the lounge.


After breakfast we had a wander around and checked out the other facilities in the Virgin upper lounge, such as the roof top garden where you can sit and  watch the planes.

Before we knew it, it was time to catch our flight. When you board the plane you are called first,  and we walked up to the plane though the dedicated upper entrance at the front of the plane.

On Board

The seats in upper class are like little cocoons, you have plenty of space to put your legs out in front of you. The seats are angled away from the window which is the only negative point. There must have been a reason for doing this but you can’t see out of the window even if you are in a window seat - which I thought was a shame.

Seats That Can Fold Flat At The Touch Of A Button


As well as reclining, the seats can fold flat at a touch of a button. If can be a bit fiddly to do this though so the flight attendant helps you with this. There is a proper duvet and pillow available if you want to get some sleep.

"The flight attendant remembered my name"

Service was impeccable. What impressed me is that the flight attendant introduced herself and showed me all the facilities on board and explained how to work everything. She also remembered my name - little things like this made the service very special.

Food

The food was very tasty and definitely the best I have had on an aeroplane. The dessert of toffee apple pecan sponge with cream, was exceptionally delicious. 
Starters

"The best food I have ever eaten on a plane"

Starters - a choice of chicken and smoked duck terrine, Waldorf salad and tomato and basil soup.
Mains - four main choices included chicken biryani, garlic and herb marinated beef, grilled salmon fillet and spinach and ricotta tortellini
Pudding - chocolate brownie or toffee apple pecan sponge
Cheese and biscuits - a selection of cheese with crackers and chutney
Main Courses And Desserts
Tomato And Basil Soup

Garlic And Herb Marinated Beef


Toffee Apple Pecan Sponge

Everything was well presented on china dishes with proper cutlery, even a small table cloth. There was even Virgin’s trademark aeroplane salt and pepper shakers. 

 "Proper china and stainless steel cutlery"


Cheese, Crackers, Port And Chutney

If you still had room at the end of dinner there was an option of cheese, crackers, grapes and chutney, washed down with a glass of port if you wanted it. 

Drinks on board included anything from juices, tea, coffee, hot chocolate to spirits, cocktails and champagne, and these were served regularly. After the obligatory glass of champagne (after all, it’s not every day I go upper), I tried a raspberry Bellini, which was very well made and later a glass of Chardonnay with my meal.

The little things were impressive. There was a choice of different types of bread roll for example, and these were served warm. The air hostess came around before dinner with a choice of wine and asked if I wanted to taste it. The wine was wrapped in a white napkin. 

Afternoon Tea

The food doesn't stop there though, oh no. A couple of hours before the plane landed, we were treated to afternoon tea. A selection of sandwiches, dainty cakes and a warm scone was served with tea or coffee. 

 Now at this point I did think the afternoon tea would come on china plates with a little tea pot, so I was a tiny bit disappointed when it was served on a plastic afternoon tea stand, with no tea pot in sight.  I guess the disappointment was because everything else had been so perfect. After the dinner was served on proper china with a choice of wine, I felt the presentation of afternoon tea lacked a little finesse.

The Bar

 Although drinks were served at your seat you could also go and sit at the bar, at the end of the upper class section where you could have a drink, read from a selection of magazines or chat. There was also a small food menu you could eat at the bar.
The Bar On The Plane

The Amenities

There is an amenity pack on your seat as you board the plane. This contained toothpaste and toothbrush, ear plugs, an eye mask, warm socks, lip balm, face cream and hand cream, all in a useful travel wash bag. I found the toothbrush and toothpaste  very useful after an 8 hour flight, and it is great that the washbag is a quality product that you can use again. 
The Amenity Pack

The entertainment system was very similar to what I had used in premium economy before with a large choice of movies, many fairly new, TV programmes, music and 20 or so games such as Hold Em Poker, Tetris, bowling and others. They gave you noise cancelling headphones to use on the flight which were excellent at drowning out background noise. A big thumbs up from me on this one.

The TV was in the side part of the seat and was movable so you could pull it out in front of you for a better view. There is a side section with USB plugs so you can charge any phone or laptops you have.

We used our miles and money to upgrade through Virgin Flying Club. Virgin customer service were very helpful. I recommend you ring them before booking as they helped my husband book the best way. It was actually cheaper to book an economy flight, buy miles to add them to our current balance and then use them to upgrade to upper. It sounded complicated but my husband said the customer service staff were excellent at offering advice and assisting with the booking process.

 For a greater insight into how this works check out this link by on the Money Saving Expert blog.

In Conclusion

If you have the money, or manage to upgrade through the Virgin Flying Club using your Virgin miles, you must, at least once in your lifetime fly Virgin upper class. I've tried business class on BA and whilst it is a good product Virgin upper just does not compare - it is so much better. Some airlines offer a first class option which costs much more again but the cost of Virgin upper is achievable for many people. For a special occasion - birthday, anniversary, or wedding for example, why don't you treat yourself!

No fuss security, an excellent lounge, spacious seating with flat beds, personal service and exceptional food make Virgin upper class a wonderful experience and why you must try it at least once in your lifetime. You deserve it.

Tried once you will not go back.... I've now been well and truly spoilt.
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Flying A Tiger Moth With Buyagift - The Surprise

I'm a great fan of experiences, things that you do that are different, that can give you a buzz, some excitement, maybe something you have wanted to do or try for a long time. 

 About 18 months ago I bought my husband a flying lesson for his birthday from Buyagift.com  He had wanted to try this for a long time. He tried it, and loved it! Since then he has been having flying lessons through his local flying school with the aim to get his private pilots licence. 

 He wanted to fly because "It sounded cool and exciting!".

With a flying lesson, you can also take people up with you in the aeroplane. My husband invited his father up with him one day last year. When my father-in-law turned up for the flight, he was wearing a Biggles hat and scarf! They both laughed and had a great flight. My father-in-law took some photos when he was up in the air of the beautiful South Wales coast and my husband gained some flying hours and practised landing under supervision.
The funfair, Trecco Bay Porthcawl, from the air

Sadly little over a month later my father-in-law passed away but my husband will always remember the time he had with his father up in the air. That's the thing about experiences like this, they give you unforgettable moments. 

 Moments you will still be talking about in years to come. 

Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, had been studying the question of money and happiness for over two decades. He has found that the satisfaction we get from buying holidays and experiences is high and keeps on growing when the satisfaction we get from buying objects like the latest TV or newest car wanes. That is because the experience belongs to us, it is personal, it gives us incredible memories. We adapt to buying objects - the latest TV gets older, it doesn't give us as much pleasure any more but we remember, talk and share our experiences and our satisfaction just grows. Experiences give us better stories.

 An experience can also literally change our lives, like it has in my husband's case, and add fun to our everyday living. Want to try a skydive but too scared, try a tandem skydive? Always wanted to make your own record, well what about a day in a recording studio? Want to own a fast car but can't afford it, then what about a Lamborghini, Ferrari or Aston Martin driving experience?

Driving a Ferrari in the desert was one experience that was very memorable

 So when I wanted an extra special present, for my husband for our 10th year wedding anniversary I thought about a tangible gift, but then thought - where is the fun in that? So, I decided on a Tiger Moth experience with Buyagift.com so he can see what it was like to fly a plane in the 1940s. 

 This will surely be one gift he will never forget.

This open-cockpit plane is reminiscent of flying in World War 2, as it was used by the Royal Air Force to train its pilots. You get the chance to have your photo taken in an authentic 40's pilot jacket and goggles too. With this experience, you get the chance to actually fly the plane under the supervision and even be involved in some acrobatics with your instructor at the helm.

 So, the scene is set. We were on holiday in New Orleans celebrating our wedding anniversary when I presented him with the gift, and, of course.... he loved it!





So now to book the experience, so look out for my post soon.

 Tell me, have you ever thought about learning to fly? Have you ever bought or been gifted an experience?
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Shopping In Style With A Luxury Jet

If you love shopping and travel as much as me, or you are looking for that perfect gift for the lady that has everything - consider a weekend jetting off to some great shopping destinations.  

With a private jet charter you could start your weekend in London, have lunch in Paris and arrive in Singapore the next day, refreshed and raring to go. Or what about a trip to the shopping mecca that is Dubai, followed by a stop off in Tokyo or even New York for the January sales?


Air Charter Service can arrange private jets from all around the main airfields in London (and all around the world really), as is suited to your needs, should you require a quick and easy way to reach or depart from London via private jet.  

London

 In London, you have some great luxury shopping, from the world famous department store Harrods to another luxury icon Liberty. No trip to London for any self-respecting jewellery lover, would be without stopping off at Hatton Garden too, for some of the best jewellery shopping in the world, and De Beers, Graff, and jewellery designer to the stars Stephen Webster all have shops in the UK capital. 

Inside a very comfortable private jet

For a spot of lunch you are spoiled for choice, from casual eateries to Michelin starred restaurants like the three Michelin star, restaurant Gordon Ramsey in Chelsea and the two Michelin star restaurant Le Gavroche, owned by the Roux brothers in Mayfair. Be sure to book the best restaurants in advance for that special meal, as that gastronomic delight may have a waiting list.

 Now board your private jet to Paris, while you will be whisked away within a matter of minutes on a 50 minute journey to Le Bourget Airport.

 Airport:  London City

Paris
Paris is a beautiful city known for its chic style. As well as boutique stores selling luxury clothing and accessories Paris is known for it's iconic department stores such as Galeries Lafayette with it's avant garde designers and huge shoe department and Le Bon Marche, the city's oldest store, with an amazing food hall and the best macrons money can buy. 

Paris is also known for it's perfume and while you are here why not get a fragrance made for you from an illustrious perfume house. At Maison Guerlain your hour long scent experience is divided into two parts - firstly you will see 'mood boards' to help distinguish what fragrances will appeal, then you will smell a variety of notes to see which you like. At the end of this process you will be presented with your ideal scent.

For a stunning piece of jewellery, take a trip to Jaubalet Paris, a jewellers full of beautiful gems, and wealthy clients. Get a bespoke piece made to your unique specification from black diamonds, pink sapphires, rubies and emeralds.

Airport: Le Bourget 

Singapore

Although a long journey from Paris, your private jet’s many on-board luxuries will keep you occupied during the flight. As you land in Singapore the signature electric buggy escort will take you through the boarding gate to your limousine, provided by the elite Jetside service.

For jewellery shopping in Singapore look no further than Lee Hwa Jewellery. Housing exclusive brands and Asian designs this boutique jewellers is certainly one to visit. One origami inspired piece of jewellery from Lee Hwa Jewellery is the 'Happy Dove' necklace, crafted to inspire hope, peace and joy.

When your feet are tired and you want an outstanding meal head over to Restaurant Andre, shortlisted as number 5 on Asia’s Best 50 Restaurants list. Their stunning fusion cuisine is a taste sensation.

Back at the terminal, freshen up at the Haven lounge. Whatever you need - be it a quick nap, shower, light lunch, glass of bubbly or even a cup of coffee - the Haven Lounge is the perfect place to prepare yourself for the next lego of your journey. Hong Kong anyone?

Airport: Changi 

There are so many places to visit in the world and so little time, but if you want some luxury shopping via private jet from the UK's capital then this is the only way to go.


* In collaboration with ACS
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