Private jets

A private jet-service run by Lufthansa. They offer faster connectivity, your entire itinerary is coordinated by an event manager and a personal service team is available round-the-clock for assistance.

In-flight catering and entertainment are tailored to individual requirements and passengers have full access at any time to first class services laid out at the airport by Lufthansa, Swiss or Lufthansa partners.

Why are we writing about it?

They're doing well. The number of flights handled by Lufthansa Private Jets have risen by 13 per cent in 2006. The company flies small, medium and large jets like the Raytheon Hawkers, Cessna Citations and Dassault Falcons. And, Lufthansa is also considering starting a business jet service within India in association with a private aviation company that's similar to Lufthansa Private Jets.

What's in it for you?

Lots. Firstly connectivity. You can fly to 1,000 airports in Europe and the Russian federation. And these include the smaller, lesser-known airports. You can book your place on the jet 24 hours before the trip and the bookings can be made via a travel agent. Cancellation is free of charge. Lufthansa takes care of your passport formalities and the airline assures speedy security checks and customs formalities.

However, checking-in has to be completed half an hour before the flight. Also, they are more than happy to arrange hotel reservations and limousine services before every flight (it's additional revenue after all!).

In case you have more luggage than what you're permitted to carry, it can be transported via road free of charge. And finally, these flights earn mileage points - 10,000 points to be precise - that can be redeemed on any of Lufthansa's or its partner airlines' flights. Happy?

What are the damages?

Well, if you have read this far, you shouldn't be asking. But in case you're using some of the services offered on board like satellite telephone then you'll be charged separately by the company that is operating the jet.

Also, the price of your ticket is likely to shoot up if you're flying into airports that levy additional charges like a night operation charge.

Take it or leave it?

A good deal if you're looking to travel within Europe and need to travel fast and don't want to compromise on the quality.

SNIPPETS

Qantasmagoric

Qantas is happening. The Australian airline announced reduction in its domestic fuel surcharges with the more recent fall in fuel prices. It will also reduce some of its international surcharges for tickets issued on or after January 23, 2007.

Qantas would also reduce its Frequent Flyer points option, for Frequent Flyers electing to use their points to pay for taxes, levies and charges on domestic Australian and New Zealand Award flights, by 500 points from January 23.

Meanwhile, Qantas has announced an increase its non-stop services between Australia and San Francisco from three to five per week from March 26, 2007. The airline would also operate supplementary flights between Australia and Los Angeles in June and July 2007.

Colombo beckons

The holidays are not over yet. SriLankan Holidays, the leisure arm of SriLankan Airlines, brings you exciting holiday and business packages to coincide with the launch of double-daily services to India's commercial capital, Mumbai. Leisure packages start at Rs 9,999 and holiday makers can choose from a variety of exotic vacations.

Packages are valid throughout the month of February 2007. The MICE packages (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) start from Rs 10,999 and are valid throughout February 2007.

Launching their double daily services to Mumbai, SriLankan Airlines is inviting passengers from Mumbai to celebrate with them by winning their money back by booking flights through the Internet.

There will be a daily winner during the course of the promotion and lucky passengers will get their money back. The only condition is that passengers book on-line at http://www.srilankan.aero or www.srilankan.aero.

Good morning Vietnam!

Okay, you want to go somewhere exotic and do something extraordinary. New Tours 2007 will help you explore the "real Vietnam" as they call it. Footprint, a tour operator offers you a "travel off the beaten track".

Acting as a local responsible tour operator, Footprint offer customised tours and eco-friendly vacation trips to beautiful destinations in Vietnam.

By booking Vietnam tours through Footprint, your money is protected by VNAT (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism), since Footprint had to put a substantial cash bond that is solely for financial security in respect of customers' advanced payments as well as the quality of travel services.

It's real!

Drive down to Israel with www.drive-israel.com, an Israel travel site geared to independent travellers who want to explore Israel by car. The website suggests road trips and rural lodgings, with accompanying sectional road maps, and highlights sites along the way.

Tourists can use the site to plan visits to Israel's growing selection of boutique wineries, desert spas, ethnic craft centres, or local museums, complete with contact information and timing.

avoid the hassle. Rent a private jet says billionaire

If I want to fly direct to a destination, but don’t want to deal with the hassles of airport terminals, do I have any options? The answer is that I do. Renting a private jet can be the way to go for that special trip where I don’t want to have to deal with all of the hustle and bustle of the airport and just want to get going. There are a number of benefits to renting a private jet that make it worth thinking about.
First of all, when rent a private jet, you will be able to fly on your own schedule. You will find comfort, privacy, and freedom since you will control your itinerary. Most of all, you can avoid the hours wasted in a crowded terminal. All you have to worry about is boarding the plane and relaxing while it flies. You can spend time chatting with your family or whomever you happen to be traveling with.
Another advantage to renting a private jet is comfort. You will be able to enjoy a comfortable and very intimate flying environment with your family or whoever you choose to bring along. Instead of waiting for arrival to mark the beginning of your relaxing vacation, start relaxing as soon as you walk through the doors of your private jet. No crowds in coach or snobs in first class, just you and whoever you want to include in the trip. Also, most private jet rentals come with a full wait staff. You will have a flight attendant that can take care of you and help you to enjoy your trip.
What if you are not going on a vacation, though? When you travel for business, renting a private jet works as well. Taking a business trip in a private jet will be great motivation for your employees and sales staff. The pain of constant airports, hotels, and taxi cabs can take its toll on a staff. Offer then private jets to fly in and you are offering a reason for them to stay. If your best stays, they can continue to bring you business. You can also impress clients by bringing them back to your facilities by way of your rented private jet. Show your clients style and class and you will see that they will be drawn to you and your business.
There are certainly costs involved, but if you have the money to do it a private jet rental can be a great way to go. For family trips you will see that you can relax more and actually extend the vacation. In addition, children will not distract other passengers and you don’t have to worry about being crowded. You will be surprised at how easy it is to rent a private jet and that the benefit you get versus the costs involved are such that you may very way make private jet rental your travel mode of choice.

If you would like to view more of my personal articles on personal jets, please visit my air travel site.

queen shops for a PRIVATE JET PLANE

London: From horse-drawn buggies to aircraft, the Buckingham Palace will soon have it all — the British Queen is shopping around for a private jet.

Buckingham Palace is “in charge of procurement” of the aircraft and drawing up its own specifications for the interior, an unnamed British government source was quoted by The Sunday Times as saying.

The interior is expected to include a bar, catering facilities, in-flight entertainment systems, as well as up to 12 seats to accommodate courtiers, officials and the Queen.

Apart from the Queen, senior members of the British Royal Family will also be able to use the aircraft, including Prince William, the second-in-line to the throne, who recently got his pilot’s licence. The plane will be used for internal flights and short trips abroad. — PTI

Priciest Private Jets

What does a billionaire do when having a private jet becomes so affordable that mere millionaires can swing the cost?

He trades up--to a Boeing 747-8, say, or to a Airbus 380--costing $280 million and $300 million, respectively.

Back in 1996, when Boeing introduced the first "personal use" version of one of its commercial airliners, the $30 million Boeing Business Jet (a reconfigured 737) was treated as the last word in spaciousness and luxury. Now, compared with competing luxe lifts, a 737 looks like mashed potatoes.

Boeing's far larger 747-8 won't be ready for flight until 2010, and Airbus' 380 has been pushed back to the middle of the next decade. But these two giants should be worth billionaires' wait. Just outfitting their cavernous interiors with the little touches that make a plane a home--mahogany paneling, gold-plated fixtures and maybe a Jacuzzi or a screening room--could cost an owner $20 million.

Buyers kicking the tires of these behemoths probably own several other planes, says Steven Hill, president of Boeing Business Jet. Out of the four customers who have pre-purchased the 747-8, two were previous owners of smaller Boeing Business Jets, and their main motivation is to "get the latest and greatest," says Hill. "These people are fleet planning--they're planning their future."

Reported owners of Boeing aircrafts include Russian oil tycoon Roman Abromavich as well as Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) guys Larry Page and Serge Brin. Other private jet-owning billionaires include Sergio Mantegazza (Falcon 900), Philip Green and Lakshmi Mittal (who both own Gulfstream G550s).

But perhaps the most luxe jet out there is the Airbus 380. What do you get for $300 million? For starters, plenty of room.

Jennifer Clay, principal of J. Clay Consulting, a New York City firm that advises major players in the airline industry, says a big, yacht-like reconfiguration of what was once a 180-person commercial jet allows an owner do something he perhaps could not in smaller private plane: stand up.

Lack of headroom on smaller jets, says Clay, is a cause of concern for many owners.

Greg Thomas, CEO of Privatair, an aviation company controlled by billionaire Spiro Latsis' group Paneuropean Oil and Industrial Holdings, agrees that the reason for these planes' appeal has everything to do with their interior potential.

An owner willing to restrict use of his plane to his own travel (not allowing it to be rented out to third parties) can, according to regulation, outfit the cabin with amenities to suit his every whim.

"There are two different standards [for cabin design]," explains Thomas. "If you're flying it commercial, you have to apply all sorts of stringent safely standards. It really limits the type of materials and configuration you can have. If you have a private design, you can more or less do what you like on board."

Two thirds of Privatair's jet owners have decided to do just that.

"There are some extraordinary VIP interiors around," says Thomas, particularly those on aircraft belonging to Gulf States royalty. Monarchs, he notes, "really go to town on their airplanes." One royal family mounted a Webcam on its plane's exterior, the better to enjoy clouds and rainbows, whose images were projected onto an interior 8-by-4-foot screen.

With that kind of technology, who needs the window seat?