Kim’s Blog
Inside the Dreamliner
Aug 13th
As Fran, Alex and John mentioned in their blogs, some of us were at the NBTA convention in Houston earlier this week. As always, it was a busy four days, filled with meetings, speakers, convention-ing and parties. We welcomed clients to a GT event on Tuesday night, hosted at Block 7 Wine Company. Our band, The Bourbon Street Band, was the highlight of the evening for sure!
On Monday morning, Dick Evans, Chris Salem and I attended a preview event hosted by Continental and Boeing. A mock 787 Dreamliner cabin was set up in the convention center. Continental will be the first North American airline to receive the new “game changing” aircraft, and they were the first airline to announce the 787 routes. Of note, one of the other journalists in attendance asked the Continental executive if the aircraft would be delivered with United or Continental livery. The answer? United.
I’m excited to see and experience the Dreamliner for myself one day. Until then, some of the notables from the mock-up included spacious overhead bins (large enough to fit four carry-on suitcases standing up), innovative windows (no shades, but a push button control that lightens or darkens the window) and extra-large cabins.
-Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
Understanding Airline Cuisine
Aug 6th
Ever wonder what goes into making airline cuisine taste bearable? I read a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about Lufthansa‘s quest to “understand the decline in haute cuisine at high altitude.”
Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s LSG Sky Chefs tested foods at Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, which houses the wingless front of an Airbus A310. Conditions can be adjusted to reduce air pressure, suck moisture from the air or pump in engine noise. Test passengers tasted the foods and drinks, filling out surveys on the various items tasted. A ton of planning went into the taste testing, and lots of findings resulted from the food lab.
Among some of the simplest findings listed in the article:
- Sweet and salty taste perception drops by up to 30 percent while in the air
- Sourness, bitterness and spiciness are barely affected
- Turbulence can ruin a dish that is pleasing to the eye
- Seasonings, like curry and cardamom, fare better than salt and sugar
- Cabin humidity can ruin Champagne
- Caviar defied testing
For the complete article, click here.
So, next time you dig into your airplane cuisine, consider some of these finding before judging the dish too harshly. Good eating at 35,000 feet.
– Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
Obey the Law
Jul 30th
I recently received an email from Skyscanner.com, listing the 10 most unusual laws to watch out for while traveling around the world. Some of them were interesting, so I decided to share a few with you here, the perfect light fare for a summer Friday. Enjoy your weekend and remember to obey the laws, no matter how wacky they are, when traveling for business or pleasure!
1. In London, it’s considered an act of treason if you place a stamp bearing an image of the Queen upside down. Be careful how you place those stamps on postcards home.
2. In Paris, be careful of getting too caught up in the romance of the city. It’s against the law to kiss your mate on any railway throughout the country.
3. In Mexico, should you decide to go on a bike tour, don’t lift your feet off the pedals. That’s illegal.
4. In Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, the durian fruit is known for its strong aroma. It’s banned from many places because of the smell, so be careful where you choose to bring the fruit.
5. In Singapore, chewing gum is completely banned, so don’t forget to pack your breath mints!
– Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive
Queen of the Nile
Jul 23rd
Last week I headed over to the Franklin Institute to check out its newest exhibit, “Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt.” It was a fascinating look into the work of Franck Goddio, the archaeologist who led the underwater search for elements from Cleopatra’s life, and Zahi Hawass, who leads the expedition to find Cleopatra’s tomb.
 The exhibit included almost all of the treasures found during Goddio’s searches – sculptures, jewelry, coins, etc. It was also incredibly informative, with maps of the way Egypt looked in Cleopatra’s time and short videos explaining myths, history and the dives. I was especially pleased that each exhibit-goer was given a headset, free of an additional charge. Throughout the exhibit, there were numbers and a special recording to listen to at each designated spot. The recordings were short but rather explanatory.
Apparently, my knowledge of Cleopatra was quite limited. Now, I’m happy to say, it’s quite extensive. Her story is intriguing. She was 17 years old when she took over the rule of a tumultuous Egypt. She wooed two Roman big shots, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, ruling Egypt until its fall at the hands of Octavius. Rather than suffer at his hands, Cleopatra took her own life. There the real mystery begins, as the exact whereabouts of her tomb remain unknown. Cleopatra was one of the first women in power in history!
I don’t want to give away too many details about the exhibit because I encourage all of you to visit the Franklin Institute and check out the exhibit if you find yourself in the Philadelphia area. As of right now, no other cities are slated to welcome the exhibit. It runs at the Institute into January.
Of course, there is a lot to see and do at the Franklin Institute besides “Cleopatra.” If you visit, be sure to check out the walk-through human heart, the IMAX Theater and a lot more interesting exhibits!
– Kim Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executiveÂ
