by Lufthansa Flyer | Jan 8, 2016 | Featured, Industry News |
In a quiet bit of legislation enacted last month, the IRS has now been given the authority to have passports cancelled.
The law was buried in the transportation bill passed by Congress before their winter break in December. It grants the IRS the power to cancel passports for any taxpayer who owes Uncle Sam $50,000 or more in back taxes, including penalties and interest. Apparently, all they have to do is send a message to the State Department to have it done. To have it reinstated, you would need to settle your tab with the IRS and apply for a new passport.
The new law is aimed obviously at those hoping to avoid paying taxes by fleeing the country. You might think that $50,000 is a huge tax bill or deliquency, but when you consider how quickly penalties and interest can add up even from a modest tax bill, this may affect more people than you think! Critics suggest that the new rule hinders the right for people to travel as they wish and that it removes certain freedoms.
According to the IRS, they hope that this program will help ‘reclaim’ approximately $400 million in back taxes, fines, and penalties over the next 10 years.
Moral of the story? Pay your taxes or no 5 day, 7 city mileage run to Europe for you!
by Lufthansa Flyer | Dec 20, 2015 | 777, Featured, Industry News, Route Announcements, Swiss |
As SWISS begins to integrate their first 777s into the fleet in February, they’ve provided a detailed update covering the deployment of the aircraft on a variety of intra-European routes. With this latest update, LX has added Prague, Athens, and Venice to the 777s schedule.
These routes are used primarily to give LX crews ample opportunity to familiarize themselves with the aircraft before they begin flying their normal long haul routes.
Please keep in mind that this schedule is extremely fluid. The schedule is subject to change literally on a day to day basis due to delivery delays, crew training, etc. For example, LX’s previously schedule service between Zurich – Hamburg, and Zurich – Malaga on Saturdays between February 27 and March 26 is now CANCELLED.
Even though risks exist for booking these flights due to the chance that schedules can be changed, this is a great opportunity to experience SWISS’ brand new 777s at continental European prices!
ZURICH – ATHENS:
Beginning February 27, and lasting until July 3, operating as LX1830 and LX1831:
February 27 – March 26 will operate on Saturdays only.
April 17 – May 1 will operate on Sundays only.
May 7 – June 5 will operate on Saturdays and Sundays.
July 3 – Sunday only.
ZURICH – BARCELONA:
Beginning February 8 and lasting until March 24, operating as LX1956 and LX1957:
February 8 – February 18 will operate daily except for Friday and Saturday.
February 19 – February 25 will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
March 1 – March 10 will operate on Tuesday and Thursday.
March 22 – March 24 will operate on Tuesday and Thursday.
ZURICH – FRANKFURT:
Beginning February 8 and lasting until June 8, operating as LX1072 and LX1073:
February 8 – February 19 will operate daily except for Saturday.
February 23 – March 22 will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
May 3 – May 6 will operate on Tuesday and Friday.
June 1 – June 8 will operate daily except for Saturday and Sunday.
ZURICH – GENEVA:
Beginning February 8 and lasting until August 29, operating as LX2802 and LX2807:
February 8 – February 18 will operate daily except for Saturday.
February 19 – March 25 will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The March 24th flights will operate as LX2806/LX2811.
March 27 – Sunday only.
March 29 – April 6 will operate daily except for Thursday.
April 7 – August 29 will operate daily.
ZURICH – HANOVER:
Beginning on Febuary 27 and lasting until May 5, operating as LX828 and LX829:
February 27 – March 14 will operate on Saturdays.
March 18 – March 26 will operate on Saturday.
April 2 – April 9 will operate on Thursday and Saturday.
April 24 – April 29 will operate on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
May 5 – Thursday only.
Beginning on March 13 and lasting until August 8, operating as LX814 and LX815:
March 13 – March 18 will operate on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
April 1 – April 7 will operate daily except for Monday.
April 9 – April 13 will operate on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
April 20 – April 27 will operate on Wednesday.
May 1 – May 9 will operate daily except for Friday and Saturday.
May 16 – May 23 will operate on Monday.
June 1 – June 8 will operate daily.
July 1 – July 8 will operate daily.
August 1 – August 8 will operate daily.
ZURICH – LONDON HEATHROW:
Beginning February 12 and lasting until February 20, will operate as follows (2x/day on the 13th and 20th):
February 12, 13, and 20 as LX326 and LX327.
February 13 and 20 as LX318 and LX319.
ZURICH – PRAGUE:
Beginning April 1 and lasting until August 7, operating as LX1486 and LX1487:
April 1 – April 7 will operate daily.
April 9 – April 15 will operate daily except for Monday and Thursday.
April 19 – April 29 will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
May 1 – May 9 will operate daily except for Saturday.
May 11 – June 3 will operate daily except for Saturdays and Sundays.
June 4 – June 9 will operate daily except for Friday.
July 1 – July 8 will operate daily except for Sunday.
August 1 – August 7 will operate daily.
Beginning on April 1 and lasting until June 8, operating as LX1498 and LX1499:
April 1 – April 6 will operate on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
April 15 – April 22 will operate on Thursday.
May 1 – May 8 will operate daily except for Wednesday and Thursday.
May 13 – May 28 will operate daily except for Friday and Saturday.
June 1 – June 8 will operate daily.
ZURICH – VENICE:
Beginning on April 3 and lasting until August 7, operating as LX1664 and LX1665:
April 3 – April 10 will operate on Sunday.
April 12 – April 19 will operate on Tuesday and Sunday.
May 1 – May 8 will operate on daily except for Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.
May 6 ONLY will operate an additional round trip. (LX1660/LX1661)
May 11 – June 2 will operate daily except for Friday and Saturday (No 777 flight on May 23).
June 4 – June 8 will operate daily except for Thursday and Friday.
July 1 – July 8 will operate daily.
August 1 – August 7 will operate daily.
H/T: AirlineRoute.net
by Lufthansa Flyer | Sep 16, 2015 | Featured, Industry News, South African |
I was hoping that this was not true when I first heard of it.
After contacting several reliable sources, I’m honestly saddened to say that South African has turned back its policy and is once again shipping Safari / Hunting Game Trophies.
What is sad about this is the fact the SAA was leading the charge when they announced the ban in April 2015. Airlines lined up behind SAA with similar policies, but it was SAA that was the first to make a substantial stand and took the brunt of the criticism from the pro-hunting lobby.
It looks like the pro-Hunting lobby had gotten to SAA with veiled threats regarding the economic loss they’ll incur by not flying hunters to the animal’s death camps. And apparently SAA is only thinking with dollar signs (or Rand signs as it were) in their short-sighted minds.
If there was one airline that I would think would take a tough stand against the eradication of threatened animals it would be SAA. Considering the vibrant Bushveld full of beautiful critters that you’ll find in South Africa, its a shame that the nation’s flag-carrier wants to be part of the problem.
The murder of ‘Cecil’ apparently rang hollow on these foolish hypocrites…..
