DJ your way to the airport

Uber, our favourite cab company of late, has had a bit of a bumpy ride in the news this week. On a positive note the company has announced a partnership with music streaming company Spotify, allowing passengers to play DJ during their Uber ride. News broke later in the week, however, that one of the company’s executives had suggested the company should hit back at journalists who had criticised Uber by releasing their personal details to other media. It followed a few negative articles by one particular female journalist. Twitter users have hit back criticising the company for its dirty tactics. Perhaps this service provider needs to take reviews a little less personally in future.

Speaking of companies that can’t handle some constructive feedback, this week saw widespread reports about a couple who were charged a ‘fine’ of £100 by a hotel in Blackpool after they submitted a negative review of their experience on TripAdvisor. The retired couple stayed at The Broadway Hotel for a night back in August this year and were compelled to leave their comments on the review site. As per its ‘no bad review policy’, the hotel added £100 to the couple’s bill which they only noticed a few days later upon receiving their credit card statement. Blackpool Council has since said it will reimburse the couple and remove the hotel’s policy.

VisitBritain and British Airways have teamed up to launch a series of videos as part of a digital campaign to promote the British countryside. The films play on perceptions of traditional British tourist attractions – so ‘Red Bus’ concerns not a towering double-decker but a road trip in a red van to a beach in Cornwall, ‘High Tea’ refers to a hike up a mountain with a hot flask, and ‘The Castle’ educates viewers on the game-day rituals of British football fans. Watch the videos on YouTube here.

Ever wondered how some people disembark a long-haul flight looking refreshed and relaxed, or how some people manage to pack for a two-week holiday with only cabin baggage? Well, these questions could easily be answered with some advice from your fellow travellers. SkyTeam has updated its mobile app to allow passengers to do just that. SkyTips lets SkyTeam’s online community of 350,000 Facebook fans share their travel tips, while MySkyTeam creates travel profiles with customers planned itineraries and airport preferences, this can even be accessed offline. Are we ready to become a bunch of efficient glamorous travellers?