Press

       

       

       

       

        DIRECTFLIGHTS.COM have introduced a great new service for star stalkers - a celebrity globetrotters' section. The site shows you where stars have been spotted and tells you how to get there. Recent spots include Twilight heart-throb Robert Pattinson turning 25 in Toronto and Katy Perry bungee jumping in Auckland, New Zealand, See directflights.com.

DUSTIN HOFFMAN and Minnie Driver filmed Barney's Version in Montreal, Canada.

Lake Memphremagog, close to the city, features in the movie, released on DVD on Monday.

It's a fresh water glacial lake more than 27 miles long. Most of it is in Quebec but some of it borders Vermont in the United States.

You can rent a lodge there which sleeps 12 from £1,200 a week. It's the ideal place to lose yourself or to spend quality time with people.

Think Lake Windermere but on a much bigger scale. For lodges see holidayrentals.co.uk.

BA operate daily flights to Montreal from London Heathrow. Fares start from £460 return including taxes, fees and charges.
See ba.com or call 0844 4930 787.
[sourcelink]

        Follow your favourite stars with the new Celebrity Globe Trotter from Directflights.com If you want to keep an eye on where your favourite stars are heading and the top destinations attracting the Glitterati, then head for the new Celebrity Globe Trotters section at Directflights.com. It’s a ‘Who’s Who’ of where the stars have been spotted and what they are up to. Who knows? It might just spark your imagination and inspire your next getaway!

Robert Pattinson turns 25 in Toronto
Twilight heartthrob, Robert Pattinson, has celebrated his 25th birthday in Toronto, taking in the sights with his girlfriend, Kristen Stewart. The couple are reported to be staying in a suite at the Four Season hotel, accompanied by their pet dog, Bear. The birthday break comes prior to the start of the filming of Cosmopolis, Pattison’s next movie.
Directflights.com has flights to Toronto in June from £xxx

Katy Perry jumps for joy in Auckland
With Katy’s tour heading down under, the star took time out last week to take a jaw-dropping bungee jump from New Zealand’s famous Auckland Harbour Bridge. Playing to capacity crowds at the Vector Arena, the star took some time off to enjoy some of the area’s biggest attractions, including the adrenaline fuelled jump from the 142ft bridge.
Directflights.com has flights to Auckland in June from £xxx

Kate Moss exhibition opens in Paris
You may not spot her in person, but a new exhibition has just opened celebrating British icon Kate Moss. The show at La Galerie de L’Instant is said to be a homage to her beauty and intelligence, and will feature photographs of the 37 year old through the years, starting with the legendary images by Corinne Day which shot the model to instant fame. The exhibit will run until 14th September and is sure to be popular with both photography and fashion enthusiasts.
Directflights.com has flights to Paris in June from £xxx

To search for the cheapest flights, faster and smarter go to www.Directflights.com

Media Information:

Directflights.com is part of Worldwide Media Direct PLC with offices in the UK, USA, Australia & India. Directflights.com is the fastest growing travel comparison site, comparing live prices for over 500 airlines and 250,000 hotels. Users can search for the best value flights or those with the lowest carbon rating using the Carbon Friendly Flight Search.

For more information contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR & Marketing – 01825 76 36 36 or email Tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com / kylie.rathbone@kbc-pr.com

    

    

Scots would rather ‘watch paint dry’ than watch the Royal Wedding

A survey carried out by travel comparison site, Directflights.com has suggested that Scots, in comparison with their English, Welsh and Irish neighbours, are far less likely to be celebrating the ‘big day’. 64% of respondents said that they would rather ‘watch paint dry’ or go to work as usual.

In contrast, the Directflights.com poll suggested that 51% of the English, Welsh and Irish will be celebrating the ‘big day’ with friends and family, or watching it from the comfort of their own sofas, with 7% of those polled venturing to London to join the crowds of people expected on the day.

90% of those surveyed said they had been given the day off by their boss but only 16% of those polled have holidays booked to take advantage of the extra bank holiday. Directflights.com asked them where they would like to spend that holiday if money were no object. The top answers were Australia, Caribbean and the Maldives.

The survey was carried out from 11th – 18th April 2011 on the Directflights.com website. Visitors searching the site were asked several questions about the Royal Wedding and their travel plans for the day. The results are based on 1020 directflights.com customers completing the poll.

Media Information:

Directflights.com is part of Worldwide Media Direct PLC with offices in the UK, USA, Australia & India. Directflights.com is the fastest growing travel comparison site, comparing live prices for over 500 airlines and 250,000 hotels. Users can search for the best value flights or those with the lowest carbon rating using the Carbon Friendly Flight Search.

For more information contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR & Marketing – 01825 76 36 36 or email Tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com / kylie.rathbone@kbc-pr.com

    

USA all the way with Directflights.com! Join Colin Firth in New York, watch a festival of boats on San Francisco Bay or see the latest film releases at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

US destinations continue to be amongst the most popular flight searches for leading price comparison site Directflights.com. As customer demand keeps US gateways constantly in the top twenty flight searches, Directflights.com has put together some great reasons to head to the States this Spring.

New York - Alexander McQueen’s Savage Beauty The Savage Beauty exhibition will run from the 4th May – 31st July, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bringing together 100 pieces by the revered, late British designer, including; the Bumster Trousers, Kimono Jacket and Origami Frock Coat.

The museum will hold a fundraising event on the 2nd May with honorary chairs, Françoise- Henri Pinault, Salma Hayek, Colin Firth, Stella McCartney and Anna Wintour, so why not join the stars in Manhattan in May?

Flights to New York, JFK airport, departing from London Heathrow on 12th May with KLM from £341 per person.

San Francisco - Opening Day on the Bay Spectate or participate on the 1st May 2011, as over 150 decorated and adorned boats glide across San Francisco Bay to mark the official start of Northern California’s sailing season. This year’s theme is “Giants of the Bay” and will include yachts, tug boats, classic and contemporary craft, fire boats and tour boats.

Flights to San Francisco from London Gatwick departing on 27th April with KLM from £451 per person.

Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Take off for the hedonistic haven of South Beach, and The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival which runs from 21st April – 1st May. The festival will attract over 10,000 visitors and screens international and culturally diverse films in South Beach, across Miami-Dade county and Fort Lauderdale.

Flights to Miami from London Gatwick departing on 25th April with KLM from £387 per person

Media Information:

Directflights.com is part of Worldwide Media Direct PLC with offices in the UK, USA, Australia & India. Directflights.com is the fastest growing travel comparison site, comparing live prices for over 500 airlines and 250,000 hotels. Users can search for the best value flights or those with the lowest carbon rating using the Carbon Friendly Flight Search.

or more information contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at KBC PR & Marketing – 01825 76 36 36 or email Tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com / kylie.rathbone@kbc-pr.com

Take Advantage of the Unique Collection of Bank Holidays this Easter Tour of India – South Africa Safari - Mexico

Take advantage of this year’s unique collection of four Bank Holidays over Easter and the Royal Wedding weekend by jetting off for an eight day holiday for only three days off work!

Relax on a Beach in Cancun, Mexico – eight nights All-inclusive from £909 per person The friendly and comfortable Avalon Grand Hotel Cancun is situated on a great stretch of beach and conveniently located for ‘La Isla’ shopping mall and for exploring downtown Cancun.
Flights: Depart 22nd April, return 1st May - Return flights from London Heathrow to Cancun with Lufthansa, from £681 per person.
Hotel: Stay at the 3 star Avalon Grand Hotel Cancun for £228 per person for eight nights in a double or twin room, on all inclusive basis. Prices based on two people sharing.

South African Safari - eight nights from £3091 for a family of four Experience the "Big 5" for 3 days safari at Kwa Maritane Lodge, Pilanesberg National Park a short drive from Sun City, which also boasts its’ own Black Rhino Reserve. Then spend five nights at the four star historic farm hotel, the Kedar Country Hotel Rustenburg, set in 700 acres with a wide variety of game.
Flights: Depart 22nd April, return 1st May - Return flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg with Ethiopian Airlines from £505 per person.
Hotel: Stay at the 4 star Kwa Maritane Lodge from £697 for three nights safari, and the 4 star Kedar Country Hotel Rustenburg from £374 for five nights. All prices based on a family of four sharing two rooms with children aged 12 plus, on bed and breakfast basis.

India’s Golden Triangle – eight night tour from £678 per person India’s Golden Triangle comprises India’s three most visited cities, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, and is the classic introduction tour to India. It is said to be the ‘Golden Triangle’ because of the wealth of cultural and historical sights. Begin with a two night stay in Delhi, followed by three nights in Jaipur, two nights in Agra, to see the Taj Mahal, finishing in New Delhi before your return flight home.
Flights: depart 22nd April, return 1st May - Return flights from London Heathrow to Delhi with Aeroflot Russian Airlines from £484 per person.
Hotel: Stay at The Residence New Delhi, two nights for £63, Umaid Bhawan Hotel Jaipur, three nights for £41, Grand Imperial Hotel Agra, two nights for £59, The Residence New Delhi , one night for £31. All prices based on two people sharing in a double or twin room, on bed and breakfast basis.

To book these great deals or to shop around and create your own Easter break visit www.Directflights.com

British Airways needs Heston’s help according to customer survey

Thomas Cook has beaten its British charter rivals, and even scored higher than the national flag carrier in a survey of British airline food carried out by travel comparison site, Directflights.com.

In the poll of Directflights.com customers, asking which British airline provided the best on-board meals, only 21% voted for British Airways, four points behind charter airline Thomas Cook. Virgin Atlantic topped the poll with 31% of the vote.

It seems British Airways would do well to take the advice of top chef, Heston Blumenthal, whose Channel 4 show, Heston’s Mission Impossible, focused on reviving BA’s in-flight catering this week (9pm, Tues 8th March), creating his own Seaweed Shepherd’s Pie to tempt the tastebuds of travellers in Economy.

The survey was carried out from 4th – 8th March ’11 on the Directflights.com website. Visitors searching on the site were asked to vote for the best airline food and selected their favourite from the following 6 options. The results were as follows:

Virgin Atlantic : 31%
Thomas Cook : 25%
British Airways : 21%
Jet2: 13%
Thomson : 12%
BMI: 10%

The results are based on 200 Directflights.com customers completing the poll.
To search for cheap flights and holidays, go to www.Directflights.com

Edinburgh, Paris & New York – Valentine’s Weekend breaks to fall in love with

Leading price comparison site Directflights.com has put together three great value Valentine’s getaways, all of which will score highly with the ladies! So don’t leave it too late to bag a romantic retreat.

Have a Highland fling . . . . . . Take a break to Bonny Scotland and discover the historic city of Edinburgh. The city offers famed architecture, comedy clubs, music, museums, restaurants and great shopping, all under the imposing gaze of Edinburgh Castle. Discover the area’s beautiful scenery or if the weather is inclement, snuggle up in front of a roaring fire.
Flights : 10th – 14th February, return flights from London Heathrow to Edinburgh with Ryanair from £53 per person.
Hotel : stay at the centrally located, 4 star Hilton Grosvenor Hotel in a double or twin room from £71 per room, per night, room only basis.

Whisk her away to the World’s capital of romance . . . . . . The saying goes that Paris is for Lovers. The Villa Montparnasse is a quaint hotel found on the left bank of the Seine, offering the perfect escape for couples. With just 46 rooms, it’s the ideal intimate base from which to discover Paris, its fine art, famous landmarks and renowned cuisine.
Flights : 10th – 14th February, return flights from London Heathrow with Air France from £101 per person.
Hotel : stay at the Villa Montparnasse Hotel in a twin or double room from £78 per room, per night, room only basis.

Go for glamour with a luxury weekend in New York during Fashion Week Go for the buzz of New York during Fashion Week and you’re sure to be on to a winner!
With striking views over New York Harbour, Ellis Island, and the Statue of Liberty, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park offers a superlative cosmopolitan experience, conveniently located in downtown Manhattan.
Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from your room or sip a Martini in the Club Lounge.
Flights : 10th – 14th February, return flights from London Heathrow to New York with Delta Airlines, from £287 per person.
Hotel : a twin or double room from £220, per room, per night on room only basis.

Media Information:

Directflights.com is part of Worldwide Media Direct PLC with offices in the UK, USA, Australia & India. Directflights.com is the fastest growing travel comparison site, comparing live prices for over 500 airlines and 250,000 hotels. Users can search for the best value flights or those with the lowest carbon rating using the Carbon Friendly Flight Search.

For more information contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at
KBC PR & Marketing – 01825 76 36 36 or email Tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com

Note to Editors :

All prices are correct at time of issue. All offers subject to availability.

       

Search out the best prices and most carbon friendly flights for 2011 with price comparison site Directflights.com

Price comparison site, Directflights.com has developed a flight search mechanism which allows holidaymakers to search not only for the cheapest deal but for the most carbon friendly flights, all at the touch of a button.

The site compares up-to-the minute, live prices for flights, hotels, holidays and car rental, searching over 500 airlines and 250,000 hotels to find the best available deals. Using the latest technology, results are delivered quickly and clearly in an easy to read grid. As well as being listed by price, flights can also be shown with their individual carbon rating, allowing consumers to see immediately which flight has the lowest carbon emissions resulting in the overall lowest impact on the environment.

The Carbon Friendly Flight Search has been developed as a joint initiative with the Directflights.com and the Carbon Consultancy. Each airline on the Directflights.com site is evaluated and given a carbon rating from 1 – 9. The improved tool now features more airlines than ever, providing more choice for travellers.

Rob Stross, Managing Director of Directflights.com said "Our site is all about choice – if a consumer wants the cheapest flight then we will find that for them, saving both time and money. However, Our Carbon Friendly Flight Search option really empowers consumers; giving them the information they need to make a considered purchase and enabling them to opt for airlines whose flights have a lower impact on the environment. We expect this facility to be extremely popular in 2011 as consumers search for the best prices and balance this with the most ethical flight options".

To calculate the ratings, the Carbon Consultancy examines the published long haul fleets for individual airlines, EU aircraft consumption data, and UK government fuel to emission conversion values. The emissions result from the amount of fuel burned during a flight, depending on the aircraft used, along with other factors such as available seats and performance factors. From this information, an overall emissions footprint is calculated for each aircraft.

Hugo Kimber from the Carbon Consultancy said "We are delighted to be working with Directflights.com. The Carbon Friendly Flight Search option will be an asset to consumers and will help promote and raise awareness of the most carbon efficient airlines".

A key consideration when selecting the greenest possible flights is to always fly direct. An indirect flight can increase the carbon impact up to an incredible 29 per cent - more if a flight has multiple stops. An all-economy flight is also less carbon intensive than those with additional business or first class seating. The fewer seats on an aircraft, the higher the likely carbon rating. For example, a long haul, two class plane is more efficient, per person, than a four class plane of the same type.

Example Flying return to New York this summer in June the flight with the lowest carbon friendly rating is with Virgin Atlantic from £376. This option is only £41 more expensive than the cheapest but less environmentally friendly flight.

To book or check-out the carbon friendly ratings for popular cities and holiday destinations for 2011 visit www.Directflights.com.

Media Information:

For more information, images or to discuss the Carbon Friendly Flight Search contact Tanya Hillman or Kylie Rathbone at
KBC Public Relations – 01825 76 36 36 or email Tanya.hillman@kbc-pr.com

Notes to editors:

How the Carbon Ratings are Calculated Until airlines provide exact fuel consumption against flown passengers it is not possible to make a choice based upon actual efficiency per plane per airline. The Carbon Friendly Flight Search uses the published long haul fleets of individual airlines, EU aircraft fuel consumption data, and UK government fuel to emissions conversion values to assess each plane's overall emissions footprint.

The total plane footprint is then divided by the published manufacturer’s 2 class seating configuration for long haul and 1 class seating for short haul, to provide an optimised emissions estimate per available seat/per plane value. All the relevant aircraft in an airline fleet and their seat values are multiplied to create a fleet value, with a separate analysis for short haul and long haul fleets. The flight selection is assessed for distance to determine short haul and long haul fleet selection. The total short/long haul fleet value is divided by the number of planes of each type, to give you a weighted average of seat value across a fleet.

The results are then organised into ratings to provide an indication of the most carbon friendly airline choices. This means that the carbon rating of the airline links to both the statistical probability of the plane types used and aircraft performance.

    

January 04th, 2011 "Directflights claims 8% conversion rate ahead of full launch"	January 04th, 2011 "Directflights officially launches"	January 04th, 2011 "Directflights.com promotes green USP"	January 04th, 2011 "Directflights reveals new site and eco-search tool"

Carbon Friendly Flight Search initiative lets users choose flights with the lowest carbon ratings

Directflight.com’s Carbon Friendly Flight Search has been developed as a joint initiative with the Carbon Consultancy. It provides consumers with a carbon rating for their flight selection, at the touch of a button. Each airline in the Directflights.com site is evaluated and given a carbon rating from 1 – 9. The flight which is deemed to make the overall lowest impact on the environment is highlighted on the search grid.

This improved tool, which now features more airlines than ever is a considerable bonus for consumers, giving them the power to choose the most ethical flight with the lowest carbon emissions. These emissions result from the amount of fuel burned during a flight and this will vary, depending on the aircraft used, along with other factors such as available seats and performance factors.

Rob Stross, Managing Director of Directflights.com said "Our Carbon Friendly Flight Search really empowers consumers, giving them the information they need to make a considered purchase and enabling them to opt for airlines whose flights have the lowest environmental impact. We expect this facility to be extremely popular as consumers search out the best prices and balance this with the most ethical flight option".

To calculate the ratings, the Carbon Consultancy examines the published long haul fleets for individual airlines, EU aircraft consumption data, and UK government fuel to emission conversion values. From this information, an overall emissions footprint is calculated for each aircraft.

Hugo Kimber from the Carbon Consultancy said "We are delighted to be working with Directflights.com. The Carbon Friendly Flight Search option will be an asset to consumers and will help promote and raise awareness of carbon efficient travel choices".

A key consideration when selecting the greenest possible flights is to always fly direct. An indirect flight can increase the carbon impact up to an incredible 29% - more if a flight has multiple stops. An economy flight is also less carbon intensive than those with additional business or first class seating. The fewer seats on an aircraft, the higher the likely carbon rating. For example, a long haul, two class plane is more efficient, per person, than a four class plane of the same type.

       

Directflights.com unveils new live flight comparison site at World Travel Market including unique "Green Flight" search option

World Travel Market will see the unveiling of new live flight and travel comparison site -Directflights.com.

Using the latest cutting-edge technology, Directflights.com features a unique grid display, allowing users to see all relevant flight prices on one page, as quickly and simply as possible. In addition, the unique "Green Flight Search", gives travellers the ability to pick the greenest flight with the greenest airline at the touch of a button. This unrivalled feature is a very valuable tool for eco-conscious consumers.

The improved results delivery and unique grid display represents a big step forward in the meta search arena and follows an extensive market research campaign undertaken by Directflights.com.

Rob Stross MD said, "Both our advertisers and consumers had been asking for these enhancements, so to us it was crucial in moving the business forward. Users want to be able to compare the best fares quickly, with live, accurate prices and our advertisers and partners want targeted leads. Our new site ticks both these boxes"

"Our approach has been to make the design and functionality as simple as possible, focusing on delivering at speed as many flight options as possible. There are also many environmentally aware users out there who wish to make an informed decision, based the environmental ranking of the airline."

In addition to these developments, Directflights.com has also launched a new live accommodation section, and holiday and car hire search. These are exciting times for Directflights.com as they look to expand into USA, Australia and China in the near future.