Airline asks passengers for gas money

(CNN) -- Passengers were asked to help pay for fuel on a Beirut-bound Air France flight that had to be diverted to Syria this week, the airline said.

In the end, passengers did not have to go into their pockets to help fuel the plane, the airline said.

"Air France confirms that it asked passengers if they had cash, as payments for fuel can only be made in cash in Damascus," an Air France statement said. "Ultimately, Air France could pay the full amount itself, and passengers did not have to advance any cash."

The incident occurred Wednesday on a flight from Paris to Beirut.

Because of security concerns in Beirut, the plane was scheduled to divert to Jordan. The plane could not secure a flight path to Amman, so instead, the crew decided to land in Damascus, Air France said.

It was during the two-hour stopover in the Syrian capital that passengers were asked for gas money.

After Air France figured out the issue, the passengers were flown to Cyprus and then taken to Beirut on Thursday.

"Air France apologizes to its customers for the inconvenience," the airline said.

source: CNN

World's best airlines for passengers traveling with kids

Traveling with children? If you're flying, you may want to choose from among the five airlines recently listed by US News Travel as the world’s most family-friendly.

From specialized sleeping cots and menus, to special play areas in airports, these airlines

go out of the way to provide families with young children the best flight experience

possible.

Emirates

Emirates may be overdoing its slogan “Families come first” but passengers are not

complaining.

Cited by US News Travel as the most friendly, the airline offers an array of services designed to help passengers with children fly with ease.

While on the ground, passengers are welcome to use Emirates' free strollers so they could

ferry their children around the airport.

On long-haul Business and First Class flights, the airline may even offer to snap a Polaroid picture of you and your baby.

According to a report of the news site Emirates 24/7 on Monday, the airline also has special play areas for children flying Economy, and lend wired game consoles to children flying Business and First Class.

The airlines also allows unaccompanied minors aged five to 12 to board its flights,

and provide separate check-in facilities for the young passengers.

Young children are always seated in before all the other passengers to ensure their safety.

Upon touchdown, a special crew helps them get through the immigration and hand them to their designated guardians.

On top of a specialized selection of child-friendly shows and movies in its in-flight

entertainment (ICE), Emirates’ flight crew also prepare special kids’ meals and give out

goodie bags.

British Airways

Emirates 24/7 said United Kingdom’s flag carrier and a sponsor of the London Olympics in June, BritishAirways (BA) is famed for its “feed kids first” policy, which ensures that kids are fed first so their adult companions can enjoy their own meals with less distraction.

The menu, of course, includes healthy dishes of fruits and vegetables.

BA also offers activity packs for three to five-year-olds and for six to 12-year-

olds.

Its in-flight entertainment comes with a “parental lock” that enables adult to block

inappropriate channels for their children.

The best catch is that toddlers get to travel for free but you may need to call the airline in

advance and bring your own Britax booster seat.

Lufthansa

Emirates 24/7 said Europe’s largest airline offers a unique club for its young passengers, JetFriends, which gives them the behind-the-scenes of the aviation industry.

The site includes interactive presentations of Lufthansa’s fleet. German celebrity chef Stefan Marquard, meanwhile, whips up the stylish in-flight menu, which promises to entice even the pickiest travelers.

The airline also provides strollers and baby cots or bassinets, as well as provide for

unaccompanied travel for young children.

Gulf Air

Gulf Air’s army of Sky Nannies are famous the whole world over—where else can you

get free, comprehensive daycare for your children while flying long miles?

Emirates 24/7 said specially-trained Sky Nannies take care of young travelers right from the airport lounge to disembarkation, and provide parents with the much-needed break from childcare.

Forgot to pack something for your baby? Nappies, baby bib, baby wipes, baby lotion,

baby powder, and even cotton bud—you name it, the airline carries extensive baby

supplies for childcare emergencies.

Qantas

Qantas, the “Flying Kangaroo”, along with Lufthansa, Emirates, and British Airways, are ranked

four-star by the consultancy Skytrax, which has also named it one of the ten best airlines

in the world in 2012.

Emirates 24/7 said Qantas provides “Family Zones” in airports across Australia, which are packed with iMacs, toys, and books to keep children entertained before flights.

On board, children are kept entertained by its fun kits, which include action figures and color pencils. It also allows families to arrange special seating for flights. - with Ralph Angelo Ty, VVP, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com