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INTRODUCING ‘GREENER’ MEALS…
THOMAS COOK’S LATEST MEALS ARE HEALTHIER AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BUT HAVE NEVER BEEN TASTIER
INTRODUCING ‘GREENER’ MEALS…
Since the beginning of the year, the catering team has been working on a major new concept for inflight meals which was introduced in August. It’s another all-important boost for the Thomas Cook carbon-reduction programme. But the new concept has also been designed to improve speed and efficiency, and to find favour with our passengers.
The meal includes a ‘tidy bag’ in which any packaging can be placed. This means tray tables are not littered with messy containers which really helps the cabin crew clear up.
Environmentally, the packaging is much lighter than traditional inflight meals, providing a 48% ‘weight saving’ per meal. This reduces the weight on the aircraft, cutting fuel burn and producing fewer CO2 emissions. It also results in a reduced carbon footprint along the supply chain. Better-designed, lighter packaging will also help us to save space onboard.
Everything is disposable. Paper items are bio-degradable and main courses are packed in degradable card-type entrée dishes.
Thomas Cook catering supplier, Alpha, uses sustainable packaging materials as well as sustainable ingredients in food. The company also ensures that it sources ethically-produced products. Where possible, food is UK–sourced and seasonal and the aim is for meals to be peanut-free with good nutritional balance, reduced salt and have reduced MSG flavouring.
LOWER PHONE CHARGES ABROAD
REDUCE MOBILE PHONE CHARGES ABROAD BY UP TO 85% WITH GO-SIM
Anyone who has ever used their mobile phone abroad will know that it can be extremely expensive – up to £1.75 per minute to simply make a call. And although email and social networking sites are a popular way for holidaymakers to stay in touch with loved ones back home, let’s face it, nothing beats a phone call.
Despite cuts imposed by the EU last September, the roaming charges, the cost imposed for the benefit and convenience of using your mobile abroad, still remains high – even receiving calls can cost more than £1 per minute when abroad. What’s more, many consumers believe that the only option is to pay up, or shut up – even EU Telecoms Commissioner, Viviane Reding, says that the public is still being ripped off.
However, consumers can beat the system,
avoiding unexpected, unclear and unknown charges, simply by becoming SIM-savvy. GO-SIM is an international, pre-paid SIM card that offers cheaper calls from 175 countries and unlike standard network operators, incoming calls are free in more than 70 countries, including all Europe.
So, where you might pay £1.30 per minute to make a call back home from Australia via one of the best known mobile phone operators, via GO-SIM, it would only cost you 25p per minute. Mobile users would save a significant amount on calls from any European country too, despite overall costs coming down last September.
And the best thing about GO-SIM cards? They never expire and they’re cost-effective, top-ups come in low denominations.
For more, go to thomascook.com/gosiminflight. GO-SIM is available to buy onboard on page 181.
HOW TO USE GO-SIM
Customers can buy and top-up onboard. When the SIM arrives it will work in any unlocked GSM handset. Most phones are already unlocked, but if not, phones may need to be unlocked.
ISN’T GETTING YOUR PHONE UNLOCKED A BIT DODGY OR EXPENSIVE?
It is 100% legal to get a handset unlocked, and it can be done online or by your mobile provider cheaply and quickly.
WILL I HAVE TO CHANGE MY NUMBER?
Yes. Many customers use their GO-SIM number as their ‘travel number’.
HOW DO PEOPLE CONTACT ME?
GO-SIM. COM gives you a UK number that only costs 20p/min to call from a landline.
HOW CAN THE SERVICE BE SO MUCH CHEAPER THAN MY NORMAL MOBILE PHONE OPERATOR?
Calls are routed via a landline to make it cheaper.
HOW MUCH DOES GO-SIM COST?
Just £30 for a GO-SIM international SIM card including £5 credit.
BE SIM SAVVY:
• Change your voicemail message on your regular SIM stating your ‘holiday’ contact number so people know how to reach you while you’re away.
EVERY LITTLE DROP COUNTS
HELP CONSERVE WATER IN YOUR FAVOURITE HOTSPOT
When planning your holiday, you may think first of sun and sand. But it’s important to also think about what you can do to help the destination you are travelling to. With increasing visitors and global warming, water is becoming scarce in hot destinations and hotels and other businesses are struggling to meet visitors’ needs.
In Cyprus for example, shortages are widely reported and water has had to be shipped to the island. There is widespread recognition of a need for everyone to reduce their water consumption. Since tourists typically use much more water than residents, holidaymakers need to to think about how much water they use.
Thomas Cook is working with The Travel Foundation to help hotels and other types of accommodation, conserve water. Practical steps such as monitoring usage closely, installing aerated taps and showerheads, and providing dual flush toilets are recommended. As a result of these measures, hotels have reported water savings of up to 55%.
What you do as a hotel guest is just as important. Try to use water sparingly. Take quick showers instead of baths. Let staff know you’re happy to re-use towels and linen rather than having them replaced daily. If your toilet leaks or your taps drip, report this – undetected leaks can increase water consumption by at least 50%.
Thanks to all customers who helped Thomas Cook raise £1.3 million for the Travel Foundation. Your money is making a real difference to the destinations you travel to. To find out more, visit thomascook.com or thetravelfoundation.org.uk
SAVE OUR APES!
HOW THOMAS COOK HELPED CHANGE THE LIFE OF ONE LUCKY CHIMP FOREVER
Rivera Maya (xcaret.com). Bryan spent a year here being well looked after and fed properly, however chimpanzees are very social animals and need to be with their own kind. So Gloria called Monkey World in the UK, set up to house abused Spanish beach chimps and with the help of Thomas Cook Airlines, he was flown back to the UK to begin his new life. Monkey World works with foreign governments to stop the illegal smuggling of primates from the wild.
Many of its monkeys have appeared on TV including Channel 5’s Monkey Life, which featured Bryan’s rescue in its first series.
Thomas Cook Airlines has kept its ties with Monkey World and you can catch some of the latest episodes of Monkey Life on selected inflight entertainment channels from the UK.
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