I did find this while in Italy the other year:

I've got a can of Pis beer somewhere

Whatever airline you go with, here's an experience I wish you don't have. (Nope, I wasn't onboard - and am quite happy for that...)

/Michael

here's an experience I wish you don't have

That looks expensive. I'd heard about that incident, but I didn't know the plane took that much damage.

Holy cow, is that from hail stones? How did the plane's engines manage to survive that? I would have figured there'd be nothing left of the compressor blades.

How did the plane's engines manage to survive that?

I'm not sure about the specifics, but jet engines are required by the FAA to withstand hail ingestion.

The turbine blades are made from a lot tougher stuff than the flimsy alumin(i)um the aircraft skin is made of. Probably special alloy steel vs alumin(i)um.

Edit.
Interesting charts of bird weight vs engine size requirements here.

/Michael

I recommend Virgin too, i've only flown to the US twice, both times on Virgin and the experience was much nicer than the BA shuttles that I'm used to.

BA European <> BA Transatlantic. They are totally different experiences.

As for a BA - Virgin comparison, BA give you 1 inch extra legroom in Economy, and they will upgrade you (if you ask and are a member of their frequent flyer program and they have room)

BA give you 1 inch extra legroom in Economy

If you search for a flight on http://www.ebookers.com you get a link at the bottom to "Airline Legroom Chart", which lists Virgin at 30in and BA at 31in. Several carriers, including American Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Lufthansa are listed at 34in.

Peter

Several carriers, including American Airlines

Not for long:
http://www.ticked.com/leocha/2003/claamp.htm

I've flown American a couple times during the "more legroom" campaign. It was pretty sweet.

Lufthansa domestic (Europe) on the other hand.. by far the tightest seat pitch I've recently experienced, and that was in Business Class!

Very good service onboard, but man.. no leg room, and somewhat claustrophobic.

Cheers

Ouch (hail storm photos).

Now I understand the recent trend for airlines to paint their entire planes, instead of leaving lots of shiny aluminium showing as in days gone by (American Airlines notwithstanding).

Painting them hides the auto-body filler..