Heading for IPEX? Try Emirates Air says Andy McCourt

This will be Andy McCourt’s sixth IPEX and he’s sold on flying Emirates to get directly into Birmingham.
We all have airline tales, the good and not so good. My left kneecap, for instance, still gives me problems having been slammed into by a food trolley on one carrier. The same airline succeeded in losing Print21 publisher Patrick Howard’s entire luggage at IPEX 2002 and many of you would have arrived very late to Drupa 2008, Germany, because of a sudden cancellation by a major airline.

The airline business is tough but there’s no need to make it tougher on the longest haul passengers from Australia and New Zealand when they attend international conventions. At the last IPEX and another time for a press event, I flew Emirates directly into Birmingham via Dubai and found it relieves the stress considerably, not having to fight your way out of Heathrow and commute up the M40 for two hours. Birmingham International is adjacent to the NEC where IPEX is staged, and linked by a monorail which gets you there in two minutes.

Photo: Andy McCourt ready for his 6th IPEX

However, looking at ways to get to IPEX this time, I tried several routes and airlines. On price and past experience, I’m back with Emirates and last time I looked on www.emirates.com/au they still had seats starting at $1,980 return inclusive of all taxes. Included in its fleet are the latest Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Booking online enables you to choose meal preferences, seating and other requests and you can even check-in online. I took the Emirates/BUPA Platinum travel insurance package for $31; although I hope I don’t need it! Of course, your travel agent will also be able to do all this for you and arrange accommodation as well. There are ample B&Bs in the lovely towns and villages surrounding Birmingham – Stratford, Warwick and Leamington Spa for example. Try www.bestbandb.co.uk . For full hotel services there are many choices in and around Birmingham from the usual chains and independents.

An example of Emirates caring attitude is its 30Kg baggage allowance even for economy passengers. After I completed my booking, out of the blue I received a complimentary hotel voucher for Dubai Airport because I had several hours lay-over between connections to Birmingham – how’s that for service? Depending on when and from where you fly, connection time can be as little as two hours. The new Emirates terminal 3 is rumored to be a sight to behold – it was just a huge hole in the ground last time I visited Dubai and is now the largest building in the world by floor area. You could even consider a stop-over in the UAE – an amazing place.

On average, including partners, 600 -1,000 Australians and New Zealanders attend IPEX and many extend their stays to visit ancestral countries and family. It may as well be a pleasant experience and not a grueling slog. This IPEX is the most crucial in its long history in my view – our industry is turning on a sixpence! Safe and happy traveling however you get there and back. If you are with Emirates, I am confident that will be the case – all of the Print21 team are now flying Emirates to IPEX. See you there!

IPEX 2010 takes place from May 18-25 at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK. www.ipex.org
STOP PRESS: IPEX has announced an online update service regarding the Icelandic volcano and its affect on air travel and the show. So far, it’s business as usual and planes are expected to be back over Europe by the end of this week.