The Beijinger Blog - Steven Jiang

Airplane Art

thebeijinger — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0800

Even in today’s increasingly crowded skies, an airplane remains a thing of engineering and aesthetic beauty. Little wonder, then, that the unveiling of a new or special livery (i.e. paint scheme) for a major carrier often generates the kind of buzz usually reserved for fashion gurus launching their latest collections. As we head into the October holiday, we take a look at the loaded world of airplane art.

Travel Roundup: August 2009

thebeijinger — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:00:00 +0800

Flying was once a privilege – and few passengers minded the extra calorie intake from relaxing for a few hours in a comfortable seat while savoring a steak meal accompanied by some champagne. Now that air travel is just another mode of public transportation, however, the whole experience can feel more like a weight-loss regimen – from long walks in the terminal, to the lack of in-flight food service to the forced yoga positions in a cramped seat.

Despite these rigorous routines, oversized passengers have been posing a problem in crowded economy cabins, especially for airlines based in more developed countries. With a third of Americans now considered obese by health officials, many of us who regularly fly to or in the US have had the unpleasant experience of being squeezed by an overflowing seatmate.

Travel Roundup: July 2009

thebeijinger — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0800

Another peak travel season, another airfare hike? Not this summer. Airlines are showering customers with sales and promotions during what is normally their most profitable time of the year. But for this high-profile industry, no discounts are deep enough to lure passengers to an airline perceived to have a spotty safety record.

Travel Roundup: June 2009

thebeijinger — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:00:00 +0800

When a summer breeze blows over Beijing, it’s easy to lose count of your drinks, whether you’re sipping cocktails on a terrace or chugging 5-kuai beers in a back alley. But what if you have an early morning flight to catch?

A random survey amongst local frequent fliers found that, although some never let a flight get in the way of a rambunctious time, most prefer to board their plane sober – and stay that way while flying. Some said they might have one or two cocktails to unwind, but others cited unpleasant experiences for why they remain dry in the air.

“Once my friend and I drank so much wine on a flight from London that the flight attendants eventually refused to serve us any more – and it took me a week to recover from the hangover,” confessed one British journalist.

Travel Roundup: April 2009

thebeijinger — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:00:49 +0800

Photo courtesy of d'n'c of Flickr

If you are what you eat, are airlines what they serve? I pondered this question on a recent hop to Shanghai as an Air China flight attendant handed me a familiar tinfoil-wrapped item. Service on CA is not unlike its signature meat-filled shaobing – warm and satisfying, but nothing fancy. While CA and other Chinese majors still have the luxury to be mediocre in the heavily protected domestic market, their counterparts in more open aviation markets are fighting cutthroat fare wars. “Legacy airlines” face a distinct choice in economy class service: raise the bar to stand out or stoop to new lows to cut costs. Which choice is manifest in the in-flight meal.