Around the world in 23 days - and one jet

[junglist215]

I would soooo go this trip

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David Ward
Saturday October 21, 2006
The Guardian
link

For some it promises to be the trip of a lifetime. But after flying 32,000 miles and enduring a thrombosis-inducing three and a half days in an airline seat others might well wish they had stayed at home.

Yesterday the holiday company Airtours launched what it claims is Britain's first round the world package holiday: a 23-day whistlestop tour of 10 countries at a cost of £4,499. Scheduled to take off from Manchester airport on February 27 next year, the Airbus will carry 329 passengers, three pilots, 10 cabin crew, 10 holiday reps and a doctor.

Flying westward around the globe, the Airbus will touch down first in New York, followed by Las Vegas, Hawaii, Sydney, Borneo, Beijing, Agra, Dubai, Cape Town and Cairo. In the process passengers will spend 73 hours in the air (and possibly almost as much in airport terminals). As environmentalists were quick to point out, they will also emit a staggering 2,289 tonnes of carbon - equivalent to the weight of 286 double-decker buses.

"This must be one of the most polluting package holidays possible," said a spokesman for Friends of the Earth yesterday. "Why not take the train to southern Europe instead? It's fun, will save travel time, spare the planet tonnes of climate-changing emissions and still provide plenty of culture and sun."

But Airtours is convinced there is a market, possibly among those who have done the Costa Brava and want something a bit more adventurous. A similar trip in April filled a plane with Scandinavian passengers who jetted round the world and then took out a full-page advertisement in a Danish newspaper to say what a wonderful time they'd had. "This will appeal to passengers who have always wanted to travel round the world but have not had the budget, the time or the inclination to spend several months doing it," said an Airtours spokeswoman.

It will be a bit of a rush: two nights in most places except Sydney (three) and Agra (one), and one night up in the clouds en route from Hawaii to Sydney. The longest flight lasts more than 10 hours, the shortest, from Delhi to Agra, a little over three. In New York there will be optional day and night city tours, in Las Vegas a chance to lose your shirt. Agra has the Taj Mahal, Hawaii offers Waikiki beach and Pearl Harbor, and the Sydney visit includes a dinner cruise around Darling Harbour.

There will be orang-utans in Borneo, the great wall in China, gold in Dubai, wine (and Robben Island but not Nelson Mandela) in South Africa and a Nile dinner cruise in Egypt.

The price includes flights, transfers, hotels and excursions, not to mention a staggering 4,620 in-flight meals: "The airline is currently tailoring a special in-flight menu for the trip, with meals reflecting the local dishes of the countries visited," said an Airtours spokeswoman.

A flight too far? No, said Steve Barrass, Airtours' managing director, who sees the package as an "extraordinary adventure" and a value-for-money trip of a lifetime. "This trip aims to provide our customers with a world class adventure that they will never forget, all at a reasonable cost."

[deziqt611]

thats absolutely insane.

[sagarmatha]

I'd much rather go on this

[junglist215]

Originally Posted by sagarmatha

I'd much rather go on this

yeah if your loaded, can't afford that atm

[Spiky]

That price is actually not bad. I'd consider it if I could save up some dough...

[Cunard]

thats actually sorta cheap

[sagarmatha]

Originally Posted by junglist215

yeah if your loaded, can't afford that atm

I know

That's the sorta thing you do when you're retired. but damn

[GTZFINEZTZ]

Woah..thats sick!!! Me and a couple of friends are planning on renting a PA-28 from NY to FL but its gonna be expensive as hell but the memories will surely be unforgettable, not to mention thats quite a handful of hours to log!