Celebrate the Old Order

As the EU-US Open Skies Agreement comes into effect today (more), let's be reminded that the Old World can be visited cheaply.

This year, we will mark 160 years since the ascension of Franz Josef of Austria to the throne. Birthday celebrations normally take place, as they did last year.

While the website of the Austria Imperial event in Innsbruck now seems to have disappeared completely, which is a pretty bad sign, there are other events, such as Kaiserballs in Vienna.

See also this Time article from 1930.

Now, can anyone name a festival for the celebration of the Destructor-in-Chief?

De Lorean Returns

For those of us with a certain affection for certain aspects of the past, a travel back in time would perhaps not be such a bad idea – not to speak of the opportunity to change the turn of history.

According to ABC News, De Lorean production will be returning next year.

Now, all that's missing is a flux capacitor!

Russian Imperial Family Route

A Russian Imperial Family tourist route is set to open in August of 2008. So Russia-InfoCentre reports.

Cheaply to the Old World

Travellers should rejoice this week over the latest low fare airline news.

American residents with an interest in visiting the Old World – or what's left of it – will now probably in a year or a few years' time be able to do transatlantic flights as cheaply as at about USD 12.

Thus, the Habsburg Castle, the Hohenzollern Castle, the Austria Imperial Concert, etc. are within low cost reach. So is participation in the annual celebration of the birth of the Emperor Franz Josef in Giassico, Bad Ischl, and Millstatt.

Moreover, family, friends, and acquaintances will more easily be able to get together.

The Airline Hub also reports on O'Leary's recent PR move.

Now, I don't think it will be easy to get a USD 12 ticket. I once flew between Sandefjord and Stansted for GBP 4 plus taxes. Up to 15 kilos of checked baggage was included, and at that time there were no special regulations specifically limiting the food you could bring through security checks.

Expect low fare flights across the Atlantic in a few years. Expect the tickets to be considerably cheaper than they are today. Expect competition to bring prices down. Don't expect much to be included in your low fare ticket. Don't expect it to be cheap if you need a ticket on short notice at a particular time. Don't expect it to be cheap if you miss your flight.

Over all, prices will go down.