I'm all for this!!!
Posted on 09/05/2006 5:59:03 AM PDT by A. Pole
PARIS If Alexander Schoppmann is right, then where there's smoke, there's a flier.
As more countries ban smoking in public places, his idea might seem malapropos. But Schoppmann, a German entrepreneur, is hoping to turn smokers' umbrage at ever-expanding efforts to stub out their habit into a highflying business proposal: Smoker's International Airways.
As the name suggests, the airline, known as Smintair for short, will probably not be for the faint of lung. The carrier, expected to begin luxury service with only business and first-class seats early next year, plans daily flights between Schoppmann's hometown of Düsseldorf and Tokyo - a 12-hour journey that, for some inveterate smokers, is simply not worth the nicotine-withdrawal headache.
"Many people simply don't travel long distances anymore because they can't smoke," said Schoppmann, 55, who admits to a 30-a-day cigarette habit as well as the occasional cigar. "That has to be why they invented videoconferencing."
It is also about comfort, he insists. "Air travel used to be a luxury experience," Schoppmann said. "Today the prices are exploding, and the service is going down to zilch. We want to bring back the joy of flying."
[...]
"We expect all of our flights to be overbooked," Schoppmann said.
[...]
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
So you're the reason my non-smoking hotel room smells like an ashtray.
It's bad enough flying from Minneapolis to LA. I normally consider chewing tobacco disgusting, but bought myself a tin for the flight on my last trip.
Non-smokers sit in the smoking section in restaurants--what is the difference. If there were no rooms available except smoking, non-smokers would stay in the smokers rooms too. So much for allergies.
One of my first experiences with tobacco was with chew, and I think I took far, far too much of it and it made me sick...now, I just can't face it, so I go with the patch for flights...sometimes, though, I just can't get them if I'm in a hurry...you should've seen me a few weeks ago when I flew into Dublin...they were seriously concerned that I was a security threat, when all I really wanted was a smoke!
My guess is that the smoker's airline will be up and running just in time to run into a ban on book style matches.... lighters and matches that can be struck anywhere are already prohibited and passengers are not allowed to carry more than four books of normal matches. So how would that work if one could be allowed to smoke as long as there was nothing burning? Perhaps the airline would have a pressurized smoke filled container on board with a hose to every seat that a smoker could draw on whenever he/she felt like it? lol
"I avoid plane flight because I cant afford first class and refuse to be contorted."
If you can't cough up the extra bucks to fly in business class, then you probably can't afford the $500+/day cost of Hawaii.
Hookah Airways!
My arguement from the get go has been property rights and choice.
If you want a smoking place, have it.
You want a non smoking place, have it.
Their response, well the people that work there will not have a choice.. What???
Beat my head into a wall....
I'm all for this!!!
Well, when we used to be able to smoke on air planes, there was never no hacking and gasping and coughing. Where did you get THAT idea?
And do you know that since they banned smoking on air planes, they don't change the filters as often, thinking that since no one smokes anymore, the filters should be fine.
WRONG! The filters are FILTHY and I am sure you hear news reports today of how sick people are getting today on airplanes. Especially the long flights where they are breathing in that filthy recycled air. UGH!
I agree..a plane full of cig smoke might be tough to take for 12 hours, although I do smoke..I think I'd prefer to take a non-smokin plane..unless the planes they're going to use can recycle the air every 30 seconds or less (ain't gonna happen), I'll pass...
Goodness. Where IS all this propaganda COMING from!
When smoking was allowed on planes, the air circulated great! The plane was NOT smoked filled.
Thanks for the ping!
Amen!
Actually, I was thinking that as an extra perk the cabin could be pumped full of nicotine laced air so that everyone could get their nicotine fix without lighting up. By doing this, the passengers would have their hands free to hold drinks and eat snacks and still have their nicotine all at the same time. Pretty clever, huh? heh, heh...
Oh boo hoo. Where's the fun in THAT? The fun of smoking for me is holding the cigarette, lighting the cigarette and drawing on it. If I can't do that, I don't want it, thank you.
I support them too, but I figure if it's so crucial to National Security that we should have them, then it's equally important that people who don't need to be in the airport stay away. The fewer people, the easier the security task.
What was that? They want me to go out and fly and spend money for the economy? Not as long as I'm getting patted down, stripped, and papehz scrutinized every time I go through security by a surly fast food employee with delusions of grandeur.
"I usually book non-smoking rooms and smoke in 'em."
Prime example of a smoker who gives smokers a bad name.
I used to smoke on planes when you could in the back, and from my personal experience, it got kinda nasty back there if only half the people were smokin at one time..it's not propaganda..
"If there were no rooms available except smoking, non-smokers would stay in the smokers rooms too."
Really? Last time we styaed at a hotel we changed locations because all they had was smoking rooms. I don't mind but my wife can't stand the smell.
BTW, I have peeing section in my pool. But don't worry, most of the pool is non-peeing.
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