It’s back! Due to popular demand we are relaunching our weekly Hot or Not series, bringing you some of the highs and lows in this week’s travel news headlines.
HOT, HOT, HOT!
1. Travel Counsellors TV goes daily
Travel Counsellors’ weekly in-house TV program been such as success, the company has decided to extend the show by adding a daily program to the schedule.
That’s right, Travel Counsellors will be coming straight to your box set daily.
The fully interactive, daily TV program will be filmed and delivered straight from the company’s Melbourne headquarters.
2. Fuji Mountain gets free Wi-Fi
Japan is making it easier for travellers to share their selfies from its tallest peak with free Wi-Fi on Mount Fuji.
In a bid to attract more visitors, officials are installing free wi-fi to encourage more hikers to share their experiences directly from the 3,776-metre volcano.
Additionally, hikers can use the eight free Wi-Fi spots to obtain weather and other information to ensure their safety.
3. Planes could takeoff over your home soon
A Swedish designer has unveiled a new airport design, which would see planes takeoff on runways raised above urban streets and waterways.
Unveiled this week, Alex Sutton’s concept takes the airport from the outskirts of a city and right into the heart, The Daily Mail reported.
While planes takeoff above busy streets and homes, Sutton says terminals and baggage portals could fit in and around city offices and buildings.
According to Sutton, having the airport right in the centre of a city would not only make it easier for holidaymakers to travel to and from the gateway, but it would also meet demand for more air travel in the future.
While his concept may sound very futuristic, Sutton says Stockholm is being used as a testing ground, with plans to develop an airport as part of a new city district.
NOT, NOT, NOT!
1. The awkward new plan for plane seating
Outgoes economy class and in comes ‘sardine class’.
If flying in economy wasn’t bad enough, an industry company has created a new type of seating plane, which sees travellers facing each other during the entire duration of the flight.
Zodiac Seat France unveiled the new seat configuration late last week naming ‘Economy Class Cabin Hexagon’.
2. UK singer wore 12 layers of clothing to avoid fees
A boy band singer may have taken penny pitching too far when he layered up his clothing to avoid paying extra baggage fees and passed out.
James McElvar, 19, was travelling back from London to Glasgow after performing with his group, Rewinds, when he was told by EasyJet staff that he would have to pay $92 extra if he wanted to bring a second bag onboard.
Instead of forking out the cash, McElvar decided it was a good idea to pile on the clothing instead.
All would have worked out well except with multiple T-shirts, jumpers, jeans, jackets and hats on, his body overheated while on the aircraft causing him to vomit and pass out.
His fellow band members have taken to Twitter to assure fans the singer is okay “and being looked after in hospital”.
3. Tigerair cockpit door swings open
Investigators are reportedly looking into why a cockpit door on a busy Tigerair plane randomly swung open after a recent flight.
Flight TT472 had touched down at Melbourne Airport last week when the door abruptly opened.
The securing of plane cockpit doors has become a major safety essential after the 9/11 attacks.
Tigerair confirmed it was a ‘minor incident’, but said it would review the matter ‘as per standard procedure’.
“As the matter is subject to review by the airline, we are unable to comment further on the details at this time.”
Tigerair Spokesperson