From raves at Narita, airline sonic signatures, to the sound of engines (and a car alarm) during the recording — this episode is music to the ears of Paul and Vinod, unlike the arrivals hell of some airports (should I write which one Vinod will talk about? Nah, you'll find out!). Vinod's way back from Costa Rica, or when nothing goes your way. The beauty of Munich, built straight like a LEGO brick, satisfyingly clear and tidy, and one of Paul's favorites. Is JAL better than Qatar Airways? (Bring your own air vent?). As Japan is seeing increased numbers of international visitors (is that ouvertourism, we talk about it), will it be again Narita's time to shine over Haneda? The old Kenzo Tange dream of NRT might actually come true (in a modern, less striking form). EES, or the rise of machines, taking over airports in the Schengen Area. Are Airbus aircraft of the masculine form?

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Paul and Alex compare notes on their transatlantic British Airways experiences — from the really bad, to the truly great, the airline needs to dig for those latter gems, its future foundation is here (the IT bugs don't help however, trust ground staff). The cot strategy of the bulkhead seat (not if you're lucky to get a double upgrade though). Do not use the US mobile passport (well, do, but we don't want more people in those queues haha). Alex sees himself at the airport, watches a Hong Kong movie and stares at sad packet of crisps and an old banana (the pantry!). Paul says adieu to an old aircraft seat, celebrates a captaincy, and smiles at a pilot with fat fingers ("Ground, do you copy?"). Do not speculate on the causes of that Air India tragedy, please (or at least, do it in private). Island hopping with Hoper (on a Ferrari-red Robinson R66), and the wonders of high-speed crafts, the super fast ferries of Greece (think of a 747 on water).

We mentioned:
https://flyhoper.com
https://www.welcomepickups.com

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JAL takes Paul on a wonderful flight to Haneda in their new 350-1000 business class (that amenity kit too!). The new HND approach is everything (but HND T3 isn't). The aircraft guide for kids, by Vinod (and how wonderful are those Delta pilots!). An airborne Wifi setup that is so long, it will get you sober. An ode to the 757, they really don't make planes like those anymore (but Delta does a great job refreshing them). Want to invite 8 people to the lounge? Be an Ultimate baller (if you have one of those super exclusive statuses, get in touch!). The battle of the Guanacaste Airport carts (and the battle of gate PA announcements). Even ATL looks nice in a golden hour. JAL Euphony, or the only valid excuse to listen to content without headphones! That time when Paul got to drink whisky in the cockpit with a disheveled Fidel Castro (well, not exactly, but close enough).

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Here's the trick on how to forget you don't have a window seat: spend an entire flight doing speed tests on Starlink. Another trick? How to actually get a mobile boarding pass on BA's ever-buggy app. When business becomes first, or the final trick to access the Al Safwa First Class lounge in Doha. KLM gives you a timeline of service on the IFE, and a LOT of (good) food. CDG T1 is the Circle of Doom, but there are views on the 11th floor if you can find it. Heathrow shuts down after a fire, earning its "operational challenges" nickname. The UK has introduced the electronic travel authorization (ETA), no questions asked. The bonus of not having doors in business class: the gossip, here whether a pilot should be allowed to drink champagne or not. The rather surreal experience of airport hotels, and the reset of coming back to commuter airports.

Check-ins, touchdowns, unexpected connections, with turbulent weather and turbulent IT — Happy Flying!

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What is it like to travel with a kid on long-haul journeys to Asia, from Singapore, to KL, to Taipei and more (and the secret bathrooms, which one would you choose?).  AF001, the Air France fragrance (only the French!). Should KLM talk to Korean about the new livery? (And where is the red? LH kept a Pantone code at least). The runways hidden in plain sight (we have one in Singapore, one in Switzerland). CDG T1 (again) shortcomings — compare that to the magic of Singapore Changi and the big bathtub plug at Jewel (Changi, where no one can hear your child scream!). Is Air Canada better than JAL?! (not everything coming out of Japan has unicorn status, you know). What is premium economy (a slightly better economy, or a business class minus, no airline seem to agree). When should service happen on long-haul flights? (Bad timing is everything). What on Earth is going on at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (there's a lot of dust on that Aerotrain).

We mentioned our friends at Plane Talking UK, here's how to listen/watch them

Happy flying!

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A decade on the air and in the air, thank you all for your loyalty (we don't offer Tier Points).

Loyalty is what we start with, as British Airways shakes the world of revenue based loyalty with a rather abrupt shift (meh it was coming, says Alex, whilst Paul defends BA), but what program should we now put our miles in?!

Alex flies to peak pollution Delhi with Virgin Atlantic, to meet his brothers (and his Attache brother, Greg). He then goes to New York via Helsinki with Finnair, an airline that wants you to believe a 330 is a 350, but that he'd fly again and again.

IFE privacy and self-consciousness, that's a thing (is it for you all you too?)

Paul finally narrates the pinnacle of air travel, the best First Class in the world (no contest!), 12 hours in supreme zero-gravity comfort aboard the Emirates 777 First (he touches all the buttons, creates a night club in the sky in one cabin, a hotel in another).

Is the middle seat the best option? You might need binoculars to believe it.

Again, thank you all for tuning in every time we release a show (including the crazy ones binge-listening to the entire catalogue of episodes!).

Happy flying until our next episode (When? Like at airports, patience is a virtue haha)

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A European flying tour from North America, a symphony of alcohol (with two specific colors), a flight sim in an airport (well, nearly), the Paris Olympics from the inside (Paul is jealous), the alternative timeline of CDG T1 and Concorde (we want to switch to it!), an appreciation for Ryanair (nope, we're not in another timeline). getting sea sick whilst taxiing (included in your expensive ticket), the tiny ground dots of Charles de Gaulle and Zurich (bring them back!), the dark underground link between Orly and Luton (ok, not really, but you'll get it), the fabulous Musée de l'air et de l'espace at Le Bourget (does it get any better than this?) — Vinod is back (and not only for the insane Spotify numbers he brings along).

Happy New Year everyone & Happy Flying!

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Two tales of adventurous (and at time turbulent) travels: Paul embarks on a long train ride to Ukraine, while Alex soars above the Himalayas.

One ventures into the heart of a conflict-stricken Kyiv, the other navigates the heights of Annapurna aboard a Ukrainian-built plane.

A blend of sobering exhilaration and uplifting challenges that come when traveling in unique and sometimes demanding circumstances — we were both taught lessons in resilience and perspective.

This could very well be our favorite episode ever.

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Alex tells us all about flying to Okinawa's Naha airport (via Tokyo), Hawaii (717s being flown like NYC cab drivers), the Philippines (that loop to Clarke airport), and more. We have one more Concorde to visit (next, a Millenium Falcon), we dream of Japanese airlines on-board experience (that "Italian" food, though?), we calculate the length of DXB concourses (it can be a long walk), we ponder the future of Manila airports (they'll end up with no less than THREE massive international airports), we wonder if selling guitars in an airport yields any results (Cebu has seen a lot of improvement though), we discuss legroom (bulkhead FTW), and admire Emirates' consistency (the new business class is the old business class?).

Here's Ed Parsons photo store, check it out: https://store.edparsons.com

More travels to come, more episodes to come (if Paul makes it back), but we won't promise when (SORRY!)

Happy travels!

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What's next for the aviation industry? 
The post-pandemic rejigging of air travel with less business travel, and more leisure travelers in the front (who want, like most of you, to experience the full array of premium travel), more often off-season. 
Will fares keep increasing (it's the economy, stupid!), the unstoppable rise of ancillary revenues (gotta keep those nice margins), and were airlines underpricing their miles up to the pandemic (Emirates believes so)? 
Where is the next aircraft, it seems neither Boeing nor Airbus has anything on the drawing board (the great Embraer might not dent the market, Comac on the other hand?), and Airbus softening's stance on the future of the 380 (the Emirates pressure could be working). 
What about single pilot aircrafts (touchy subject!). 
Greener tech for greener aircraft, and the question of incentives versus punishment (do you know where the term carbon footprint come from?) — and more from the great Hakan Yilmaz (Paul, meanwhile, just spends his time quoting Tim Clark).

Everything you wanted to know about the intricacies of flight planning (choose your wind provider right!). 
Did you know what purpose does the seemingly abandoned T1 LHR serve? (the guys at the new IST could really teach a thing or two to Heathrow…). 
BA Fly no more (well, you'll see), and European Single Sky not yet (or ever?!). 
Flying down under to Brisbane and Auckland, and an Air New Zealand who punches above its weight. 
And we should really do an episode about the best business seats for tall people (the "old" Turkish one is fabulous for that, we both agree).
Oh, and what's your favorite aerobatic display team? (A loaded question, Paul goes for the lunatics).

Follow Hakan on X/Twitter: @LAFlyr

Follow Paul on X/Twitter: @papadimitriou, Instagram: @papadimitriou

Follow Layovers on X/Twitter: @lay_overs, Instagram: @lay_overs

Layovers will return ;-)

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