According to various media reports, United Airlines is bringing back blankets to “domestic … and all red-eye flights” from Nov. 1. Whether this will include flights departing Guam early morning is uncertain. The Journal has reached out to United to verify.
United Airlines is putting blankets back on its planes. Courtesy photo.
When it announced new amenities from Therabody and Saks Fifth Avenue for its Polaris international business class and Polaris lounges, United quoted “a new survey” that said “83% of international travelers say catching up on sleep is important on a flight, and 61% book flights with sleep in mind.” A “limited edition” blanket from Saks is part of Polaris offerings through 2024.
Throughout the aviation industry, air conditioning is typically set at 22°C and 24°C/71°F and 75°F according to Aerotime, which distributes news and offers advisory services to the industry. Aside from the body heat of a full cabin, humidity in cabins is low, giving the impression that temperatures are lower than they are. In addition, commercial airlines maintain cold air inside cabins to protect passengers and crew members from hypoxia – low levels of oxygen in body tissue.
According to the Marianas Visitors Authority, arrivals to the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota in the Northern Mariana
Islands was at 19,483 visitors for September, compared to 37,022 in September 2019, prior to the pandemic.
The September numbers included 16,444 visitors from Korea, 854 from China, and 502 from Japan. Other arrivals included 718 visitors from Guam and 573 visitors from the U.S. mainland.
“Jeju Air, T’Way, and Asiana Airlines operate 29 regular flights each week to Saipan. During the Chuseok holiday period in late September, Jeju Air operated 10 additional flights to Saipan in cooperation with major travel agencies, and Asiana Airlines upgraded its equipment to A330 aircraft with larger seat capacity for six flights in response to high demand. With the end of summer and the off-season approaching, four weekly seasonal flights from Busan by Jeju Air will end on Oct. 29, and Asiana Airlines will suspend its four weekly flights from Seoul through Dec. 19,” MVA said.
Most visitors from China are independent travelers, arriving via Seoul and Tokyo, the authority said.
All regional markets are competing with the attraction of a weak yen, making Japan an attractive destination. There were 2.16 million foreign visitors to Japan for business and leisure in August, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. mbj
