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Wednesday, December 3, 2014

What you REALLY get when you fly London to New York for £150: We put Norwegian's budget transatlantic flights to the test

A friend and I recently discovered that we were travelling from New York to London on the same day. 'Which airline?' she asked. 'BA or Virgin?'

As it happened, I was flying neither. Instead, I was flying Norwegian, a budget Scandinavian airline that has been muscling in on the competitive London-New York route with significantly lower prices. But her question showed just how heavily the British airlines (along with American Airlines and Delta) dominate the market.

As a Brit living in New York, I make the trip frequently, and earn airmiles with both Virgin and British Airways. But I was curious to know whether the heavily-advertised Norwegian flight could compete on comfort as well as cost.

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Undercutting the competition: Budget airline Norwegian is offering flights from London's Gatwick to New York's JFK from just £150 one-way

With prices from as low as £151 one-way, I was prepared for a less-than-luxurious experience. My booking confirmation indicated that one can pay £35 extra per leg for one piece of checked-in baggage, a pre-ordered meal with drinks and seat reservation.

As a Premium passenger however (prices from £560 one-way), such 'luxuries' are included along with a blanket and earbud headphones.

I was lucky enough to be seated in that Premium cabin - seat 1J no less - which boasts a spacious 2-3-2 seat formation. And while it cannot be compared with the comfort of BA's business class flat beds, it certainly beats its Premium Economy in terms of space.

Modern: All of Norwegian's Transatlantic flights are on new 787 Dreamliner planes which boast large windows with a 'sunglasses mode' in lieu of blinds and cabin lighting designed to ease the effects of jetlag

FLYING NORWEGIAN: THE DETAILS

Service: The service was charming - cabin crew appeared to be largely American and their enthusiasm seemed genuine.
Food: Plane food is usually a letdown, but I was impressed with the standard of the dishes on my Norwegian flight. I was served shrimp on a bed of polenta on my flight out of JFK - light, tasty and full of fresh flavours. $4 for a bottle of water is very steep though.
Legroom: In the Premium cabin it was very generous with a seat pitch of 46in, which is larger than BA's short-haul business class at 30in. In economy, the seat pitch is 31-32in which is average compared to other airlines including BA and Virgin.
Entertainment: I like the Android touchscreen system and the interactive map. It was very easy to use and there are options to play music, TV and movies as usual - the selection was a little limited but there's definitely enough to keep you entertained for seven hours.
Extras: A bottle of water costs $4 (£2.55) and a small sandwich $11 (£7), which I found very steep. An advance fee of $55 (£35) per leg gets economy passengers a meal with drink, checked-in baggage and a seat reservation. Earbuds cost $3 (£1.90), a blanket $5 (£3) and a full amenity kit including toothpaste and a toothbrush is $20 (£13).
Price: With flexible dates and advance booking, you'll get a great deal that undercuts the competition by up to half. A flight booked at short notice might turn out to be more expensive though, so do shop around.

At 5ft 4in, legroom is rarely an issue for me, but there is no question that there was ample space for the tallest of passengers. And while the seats don't go totally flat, the seat-back went far enough for me to easily nod off, a foot-rest elevating my body into an almost-horizontal position.

For those in economy, creature comforts can be ordered at an extra cost via the Android touchscreen at each seat - and you can pay by swiping your credit card.

Should you choose not to pre-order a meal, you can order drinks and snacks via the service too.

While fairly pricey, it's a system that makes sense to my mind - especially on a red-eye when all I want to do is sleep. I'd rather have a cheaper ticket without drinks, dinner and headphones (I carry earbuds in my handbag in any case). What's more, I usually travel hand-luggage only.

If you plan to booze your way across the Atlantic though, you might find yourself racking up quite a bill.

The plane itself is impressive too. All Norwegian's transatlantic flights (routes also include LA and Fort Lauderdale, Florida) are on 787 Dreamliners - they boast huge windows with a 'sunglasses mode' in lieu of blinds, the cabin lighting is designed to ease the effects of jetlag and even the engines are quieter.

Spacious: The Premium cabin boasts a spacious 2-3-2 seat formation. While the seats don't go flat, the seat-back went far enough for me to easily nod off, a foot-rest elevating my body into an almost-horizontal position

Stretching out: At 5ft 4in, legroom is rarely an issue for me, but there is no question that there was ample space for the tallest of passengers in the Premium seats

It is these Dreamliners, the company says, that allows it to charge less for tickets. The new planes use less fuel and this saving is passed onto the customer.

While my usual flight experience is an economy one, and I have not experienced Norwegian's economy class, this is not the most direct comparison. That said, new planes and pleasant staff make all the difference when crammed into the middle seat of a middle row.

And though flight prices will always dictate my airline choice, I'd be tempted to pay extra for Norwegian's Premium cabin if it was particularly important that I sleep during the flight.

It is no wonder that the airline is racking up awards: This year Norwegian was voted the airline offering Best Value for Money by SkyScanner and Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe by SkyTrax.

Creature comforts: Blankets and headphones can be ordered at a cost via the Android touchscreen at your seat - and you don't need cabin crew to make a purchase - the screen has a facility to swipe your credit card

Time-killer: The touchscreen also boasts an interactive map that even allows you to check out the pilot's view

Passenger numbers are on the up, too - Norwegian carried over 2 million passengers in September, an increase of 16 per cent compared to the same month the previous year.

But Norwegian is not always the cheapest. Both BA and Virgin undercut its prices when I was booking my Christmas flight home last week - you'll save if you plan your trip in advance, but not if it is last minute.

Additionally, it does not fly every day - just Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays - which can be quite limiting if your dates are fixed.

But with departures from Gatwick doubling next year to six flights per week, the established transatlantic airlines have some serious competition on their hands.

Perhaps my friend and I will be finding ourselves travelling side-by-side in a Norwegian cabin in the not-too-distant future

School bus burns on Fort Worth freeway

All students were evacuated safely before fire consumed

A school bus burned in far north Fort Worth on December

FORT WORTH — A Northwest Independent School District bus caught fire Wednesday afternoon on southbound Interstate 35W just north of the Keller Hicks Road exit in far north Fort Worth.

The district said the driver evacuated the 10 Northwest High School students on board after she noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment.

"Thanks to the driver's quick thinking, everyone is safe and on their way home," Northwest ISD said in a written statement.

Photos posted online showed the bus fully engulfed in flames, with fire appearing to rise from the center of the vehicle.

Firefighters had the blaze extinguished by 5 p.m. Southbound traffic was backed up for several miles while the incident was investigated.

It is unclear at this time what sparked the fire, which also burned a small patch of grass along the freeway.

This incident comes exactly two weeks after fire destroyed a brand-new school bus in Frisco. No one was injured in that incident, but the district removed four other newly-purchased buses from its fleet until a safety review could be completed.

Mediterranean diet could add years to your life

(Photo: PAUL SAKUMA, AP)

NEWSER) – A new study finds that following the Mediterranean diet could add about 4.5 years to your life. Researchers found that the diet, which focuses on fruits, veggies, whole grains, and olive oil, is good for our DNA, the New York Times reports. Nearly 4,700 women were followed for more than 20 years, and those whose diets were more similar to the Mediterranean diet had longer telomeres—protective structures found on the ends of chromosomes that "are often compared to the plastic caps that prevent shoelaces from unravelling," as Larry Husten explains at Forbes. Shorter telomeres have been linked to shorter life expectancy and chronic diseases associated with aging.

Chromosomes store our DNA code, and telomeres help to prevent the loss of genetic information—so the Mediterranean diet appears to "stop our DNA code from scrambling as we age," thus keeping us "genetically younger," writes Michelle Roberts at the BBC. But Husten cautions that, though the diet has been linked to other health benefits in the past, this study shouldn't be given too much weight. It appears to be "excellent" and "well-performed," he writes, but it was an observational study, and as such has limitations—for example, it's possible that there were already genetic differences between subjects who adhered to the diet and those who didn't.

Now that is how you sell a house! Dutch advert allows prospective buyers to view property while on a ROLLERCOASTER

Say goodbye to estate agents!

An advert in Holland has shown a brilliant alternative to viewing properties – by using a rollercoaster.

It was installed in and around a house for prospective buyers to experience the home in an all-new way.

No need for estate agents! This property viewing technique is a must more efficient way to see a home

In Holland, a real estate company installed a customised rollercoaster in and around one of their properties

Visitors simply step into individualised cars that take them on a whirlwind circuit through the property.

The rollercoaster begins by pulling guests up a staircase through the lower levels, before bringing them around the kitchen, living room and bedrooms.

Finally, prospective buyers are taken outside on the track - where they experience an unexpected drop as they circle back toward the front door.

Although the ride seems pretty tame at first, the ride gradually increases in intensity as viewers are faced with sharp bends and a final drop as tall as the property’s roof.

It may not be the most leisurely way to view a property, but it's absolutely ingenious none the less.

Prospective buyers hop into individualised buggies for a whirlwind tour of the house

The track runs through all of the bedrooms, up several flights of stairs, and through the kitchen

The most unexpected drop happens toward the end, when visitors experience a hairpin turn toward the finish

From the Downton-esque bobs of the 1920s to Kim Kardashian-inspired curls today: Fascinating time-lapse video reveals the past century of hairstyles in 60 seconds

Then and now: Beginning in 1910 and finishing in 2010, a new video shows how hairstyles have evolved

The film swiftly moves through to 1920, also known as the Roaring Twenties, and depicts the popular bobbed haircut - a symbol of women's increasing freedom.
The look was inspired by glamorous film stars such as Louise Brooks, and make-up was worn heavy.
Next up is the 1930s and 1940s - eras that took cues from Hollywood starlets such as Bette Davis and Rita Hayworth.
Curls were big news during these decades, which is reflected in the video, and it shows them loose, pinned and, above all, in abundance.

Early days: Beginning in 1910, the model showcases the elegant curls seen in Downton Abbey

Bouncy bouffant: The Roaring Twenties were depicted through the popular bobbed haircut

Sophisticated: The video shows the 1930s, left, and 1940s, right - eras that took cues from Hollywood stars

Glamorous: The 1950s were all about immaculate hair via beautifully curled bouffants, as seen in the video

The video then moves on to 1950s. Following the end of the Second World War, women became increasingly glamorous and immaculate.

They embraced traditional, conservative values of beauty and with it came beautifully curled bouffants, and the iconic 'doe eye' created with heavy eyeliner and bright lips.

The 1960s, as proven in the video, were all about the apologetically voluminous beehive.

The look was created in 1954 by Chicago-based hairdresser Margaret Vinci Heldt who was asked by the editors of a glossy magazine to conjure up a style to reflect the next decade - it became a sartorial hit.

Next up came the 1970s - and a social revolution. Indeed, hair reflected this and was worn long, flowing and free. Popularised by the likes of Farrah Fawcett, it was all about loose curls.

Beehive babes: The 1960s were all about the voluminous beehive masterminded by Margaret Vinci Heldt

Thanks to the social revolution of the 1970s, hair was worn long, flowing and free a la Farrah Fawcett

As for 1980, as seen in the video, hair got bigger and bigger and women took inspiration from Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, who crimped their hair and wore it in a side ponytail. Make-up was colourful and clashing and hairspray was a girl's best friend.

As the footage ventures into 1990, it's clear that Jennifer Aniston's character Rachel in Friends was hugely influential. Hair was long, sleek and framed the face; choppy layers were all the rage. So popular was this look that it was recently named the most iconic hairstyle ever.

The millennium hairstyle didn't change hugely and sleek hair was still big news.

The final look in the video is 2010 and showcases bouncy, loose curls reminiscent of Kim Kardashian - the model is even taking a selfie using her mobile phone.

Jordan from Hershesons said of the video: 'The time lapse shows a real move from hair that is contrived; you need an arsenal of products and tools for hair that is stiff and untouchable.

'Nowadays, hair has gone on a journey to be more organic, natural. Far more ‘get up and go’ achievable beauty, hair you want to run your hands through.

'The most popular requests we get are for ‘undone’ styles. People want ‘Cool Girl’ hair that looks a little bit naughty.'

Wacky: In 1980 hair got bigger and bigger and women took inspiration from Madonna and Cyndi Lauper

Sleek and chic: The 1990s and 2000 were fairly bland in terms of hair experimentation. Women wore their locks sleek and choppy layers were favoured

Selfie nation: Hair as we know it today is worn effortlessly curled and the final shot in the video, right, is perhaps a nod to selfie-obsessed celebrities of today such as Kim Kardashian

HAIR THROUGH THE AGES

nice’n easy colour Advisor Jonathan Long comments on the hair colour trends through the decades:

1930s:

“In the 1930’s with the already vibrant Art Noveau, and the more recent Art Deco trends spreading across Europe and America, hair became more graphic and bold. The look was short, jaw length hair, with strong shape. Long hair tended to be pin curled at the front to resemble jaw length hair and kept small and tight in a chignon style at the back. Colours were bold, single applications of primary colours; the purest tone. If it was blonde it was the cleanest, purest platinum possible and if it was dark it was deep and strong to give strength and density to the shape.”

1940s:

“In the 1940’s, even in the midst of war with clothing and fabric rationing, people took great pride in their hair. The updos of the 30’s continued but hair naturally became longer and darker giving way to beautiful deep rich dark tones which would be set on pin curls then brushed through to create that classic wave of the 40’s. Raven haired beauties like style icon Ava Gardener epitomised the 40’s and took the lime light with beautiful blondes like Veronica Lake becoming more rarely seen on screen.”

1950s:

“With the constraints of war at an end, glamour became popular and women wanted to create a hair look that implied ‘domestic goddess’. Women looked to the glamour of Marilyn Monroe and the decade's other big Hollywood screen vamps and sirens for inspiration. Intense red coloured lips and platinum blonde hair became popular, highlighting a pale complexion.”

1960s:

“Women were moving into the workplace and wanted a more manageable and achievable day-time look. Hair colour was kept simple, with the emphasis on natural, healthy-looking colour like nice’n easy Sunkissed. Blonde was still the key colour but a more natural darker blonde with highlights, made famous by Ursula Andress and Bridget Bardot. Darker hair was often given highlights and the sun-kissed look by soaking strands of hair in lemon juice and sitting in the sun.”

1970s:

“At the beginning of the 1970’s a dark natural blonde look remained popular, inspired by Farrah Fawcett from the cult series 'Charlies Angels'. Hair was all about manes of free-falling curls, soft partings and long fringes completed by bronzed skin. However by the end of the era with the 'Punk' movement, women like Toyah Wilcox started to experiment with hair colour. For the first time we saw vivid primary or fluorescent hair colours emerging.”

1980s:

“Women were opting for intense strong colour to compliment 'power dressing'. Rich brunettes and strong blondes were all the rage, inspired by Dynasty characters' Krystle Carrington (Linda Evans) and Alexis (Joan Collins). On the other hand, the rebellious streak that started with punk continued with women led by Madonna wanting an ever-changing hair colour to go with their unconventional, eccentric clothing.”

1990s and 2000s:

“During the 1990’s and naughties, the whole world went back to blonde all over again! Each season we see the emergence of new hair colour trends, but our love of blondes remains constant throughout. Multi-toned inspired highlights, which can be achieved at home with nice’n easy Sunkissed, or an all over blonde – any shade of blonde in fact, even previously brunette models and film stars turned blonde.”

2010s:

“With all of the resources available to us today in the 2010s, blonde is still the desired hair colour of choice. The blondes of today are much easier going and less high maintenance. Multi-tonal, sun kissed, sandy blondes have replaced the all over block colours of previous years, allowing for that organic look and feel. We are entering into an era of huge change in hair colour and the way that people perceive hair colour. In the 2010s it should be a part of you not something extra added. With the likes of Scarlett Johansson opting to 'dress it down' instead of 'up' with her tousled sandy, sun kissed locks at this year’s Oscars showing her real natural beauty, you can definitely see the change we are heading for!”

Grand Theft Auto 5 banned by Australian chain due to violence against women

Retail chain Target says it has removed the R-rated game from shelves in stores across Australia after complaints from customers
• Zoe Quinn: ‘All Gamergate has done is ruin people’s lives’

A still from Grand Theft Auto 5. Photograph: Change.org

The Australian retail chain Target has removed the controversial video gameGrand Theft Auto V from sale in its stores.

In a statement on its website, the company claims to have made the decision following feedback from customers, “about the game’s depictions of violence against women”.

Explaining the move, which will affect Target Australia’s 300 stores around the country, general manager of corporate affairs, Jim Cooper, said, “We’ve been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significant level of concern about the game’s content.

“We’ve also had customer feedback in support of us selling the game, and we respect their perspective on the issue. However, we feel the decision to stop selling GTA5 is in line with the majority view of our customers.”

Set in the seedy city of Los Santos, a parody of modern Los Angeles, Grand Theft Auto 5 follows three violent criminals as they carry out a series of audacious heists. The story involves murder and torture, but although Target Australia’s concerns specifically mention violence against women, female characters barely figure in the narrative.

Players are, however, able to freely explore the city and engage in violence against any other inhabitants. In the past, the series has been criticised for allowing gamers to attack women, as well as have sex with prostitutes and then rob and kill them.

In her review of GTA V last year Carolyn Petit of news site Gamespot wrote, “GTA V has little room for women except to portray them as strippers, prostitutes, long-suffering wives, humorless girlfriends and goofy, new-age feminists we’re meant to laugh at.”

The game has, however, attracted almost unanimous critical acclaim, including three awards at this year’s video game Baftas. Originally released in September 2013 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles and recently remastered for the new Xbox One and PlayStation 4 machines, it was past uncut by the Australian Classification board and given an R rating, which restricts the sale of the game to adults over 18. Target Australia stated that it will not withdraw other games or movies with the same certificate.

“While these products often contain imagery that some customers find offensive, in the vast majority of cases, we believe they are appropriate products for us to sell to adult customers,” said Cooper.

“However, in the case of GTA5, we have listened to the strong feedback from customers that this is not a product they want us to sell.”

Grand Theft Auto 5: does it really look best on PlayStation 4?

Mall Santa turns away autistic girl, her pit bull service dog

Abcde Santos, 7, has autism and is assisted by her service dog, Pup-Cake.(Photo: Courtesy the Santos Family via CNN)

(CNN) -- One mall Santa might be getting some coal in his stocking this year.

Last week, Santa Claus and a helper elf from The Shops at Mission Viejo in California turned away a 7-year-old girl with autism and her service dog, a pit bull named Pup-Cake.

According to the Orange County Register, Abcde Santos, who pronounces her first name "ab-suh-dee," and Pup-Cake stood in line for 30 minutes to meet with the unnamed mall Santa. But he declined to meet the girl because he feared the 5-year-old pit bull.

"After the Santos family offered to remove the dog from the area, the building, Santa still refused to see the child," Julie Miller, a family friend who runs a Facebook page dedicated to Pup-Cake and service animals, told the Register.

"Autism is accompanied by many sensory issues, included self-harm behaviors and feeling overwhelmed at times by lights, sounds, especially when waiting," according to the dog's Facebook page. "Pup-cake the service dog's job is to intervene in those moments."

Word of the diss led to a viral campaign, #savePupcakesChristmas, with sympathizers angered over the incident posting comments on the Facebook page for The Shops at Mission Viejo.

The mall posted a statement that said, "We share in your concerns regarding the situation today involving a Santa at The Shops at Mission Viejo. We do not condone the behavior displayed by Santa and have worked with our partners at Noerr, the company that hires our Santas, to replace this Santa with one that is more compassionate to our guests' needs."

It later shared a note from Miller about how property management and the mall had moved swiftly to correct the Bad Santa problem. The mall added, "We look forward to welcoming back the Santos family and Pup-Cake for a special Santa experience."

A representative for the Noerr Programs, which provided the Santa and helper, said the pair have been transferred and given other duties.

"For 26 years, The Noerr Programs has devoted itself to sharing the heart of Santa through the creation of magical Christmas experiences for all children and their families," CEO Judy Noerr said in a statement. "The entire team at The Noerr Programs sincerely apologizes for any distress caused by this situation, and truly regrets the incident. We have reached out to the girl's family, in an effort to extend a private Santa visit with complimentary photos of both the child and her service dog."

The Santos family has declined to be interviewed. Miller told the paper the family is pleased with the decision to replace the Santa and hopes it will lead to better awareness.

"They want people to get educated not about autism or pit bulls, but about the disabilities act so that little girls like Abcde won't go and see Santa and end up crying," she said.