Latest news with #travelExperts
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Over 50,000 people have booked flight to nowhere tickets worth hundreds
More than 50,000 people have paid for a flight to nowhere. It might sound unusual but this flight - which takes off from Heathrow and lands back there around 40 minutes later - has been especially designed to help people with a fear of flying. The flight, which is operated by British Airways, is part of the airline's 'Flying with Confidence' scheme. BA says that its 'life-changing, one-day course gives you the knowledge and techniques' needed to 'overcome a fear of flying'. In a TikTok video, travel experts at the @thepointsguy, explain that the course utilises the experience of pilots and psychologists to help attendees overcome their phobia. They reveals that the course starts at an airport hotel conference space with a presentation by senior British Airways pilots. The Points Guy says the pilots will 'explain how safely planes fly, how pilots operate them and the rigorous selection and regular training pilots must undertake to take to the skies'. Attendees will then be joined by a clinical psychologist who will 'explain how fears of flying develop and can be managed'. @thepointsguy Tag someone who is scared of flying 👀 #turbulence #airplane #travel #anxiety ♬ Epic Music(863502) - Draganov89 There will then be a 'guided meditation' and 'relaxation exercise' to 'soothe course attendees into a deep calm'. Trained staff will then guide course members through security and help them 'board a special British Airways charter flight', explains The Points Guy. On the flight, experts will explain what every noise and 'bump' is to help attendees keep calm. BA says: 'During the flight, an extra pilot on the flight deck gives a running commentary explaining all the various phases of the flight and just what is happening. 'This aspect of the course has been found to be very reassuring and valuable, helping people overcome their fear of flying.' Does it work? According to British Airways, more than 50,000 people have taken the course over the last 30 years and it has a 98 per cent success rate. The airline's primary course costs £399 and passengers will take a short flight from Heathrow at the end of the day. LEFT: The Points Guy says the pilots will 'explain how safely planes fly, how pilots operate them and the rigorous selection and regular training pilots must undertake to take to the skies'. RIGHT: On the flight, experts will explain what every noise and 'bump' is to help attendees keep calm Its premium course costs £1,899 and includes two flights on British Airways' domestic services. BA explains: 'Normally the "turnaround" time on the ground at the destination is less than an hour, with an opportunity for a flight deck visit.' Who is the course for? BA says that the course will help those with a fear of flying whether that's due to a lack of control, claustrophobia, a fear of heights or of falling.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Looking For A New Adventure? Let This Award-Winning Travel Company Create Your Dream Trip
Timbuktu was founded just over ten years ago with a clear goal: to make even the most remote destinations accessible to adventurous travelers. Timbuktu can take relatively complex and slightly amorphous travel plans and transform them into a well-organized, perfectly tailored trip. They do so by offerings specially curated journeys that can be put together like puzzle pieces so that clients wind up with their dream holidays. Each trip is developed with one of the company's extremely well-qualified travel experts. Enjoy a private tour of Varanasi How does it work? If you and your friends have determined that its time for an exotic safari in Botswana, you can browse through several options. If you find an itinerary that you like, you have the choice of a luxury, mid-range or 'shoestring' place to stay. Some travelers like to end their trips in more deluxe accommodations, others might prefer a five-star experience throughout their journey. You can choose to go for the cheaper option for a few nights in Khawai, but then decide between the luxurious Duma Camp (about $2,000 a night) or the mid-range Linyanti Bush Camp (about $600 a night). Your travel expert can advise you on the best lodges for honeymoons, family trips, fishing or walking safaris. A five star retreat in Botswana Guests can also customize a trip based on whether they prefer a more 'classic' trip or one with a more off-the-beaten track feel. And in fact, you can include both in your itineraries in destinations that include Sri Lanka, Antarctica, Indonesia and India, among others. Try a horseback riding safari Timbuktu has also developed its own specialty tours. On a recent trip to Thailand, our travel expert included all the classics, such as Wat Pho, the temple that houses the 45 meter reclining Buddha, but also made sure to include a bike trip to Bang Krachao (known as Bangkok's Green Lung). Since one of my sons was obsessed with Muay Thai, our guide somehow managed to include a boxing lesson in a local outdoor ring in the middle of the jungle. Our guides were all local experts who escorted us to some terrific and lesser-known lunch spots and were more than willing to make last-minute special requests. A prayer ceremony One of my favorite parts of taking a Timbuktu trip is the organization's commitment to the communities where they send guests. In Africa, the company makes a donation for every trip booked to a variety of charitable endeavors. For example, Timbuktu supports CAMFED, which provides schooling and educational resources for young women in some of the most disadvantaged communities. In South America, Timbuktu supports Rewilding Chile, a group that protects wild spaces through the creation of national parks, ecosystem restoration and community engagement. In Thailand, Timbuktu only sends guests to elephant sanctuaries that their teams have personally visited and that are committed to safe and sustainable practices. Wildlife in Antartica Timbuktu's unique approach to customized trips, expert guidance and extremely knowledgeable advisors makes it easy to experience an ideal adventure in almost any location in the world.
