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16th out of 22 books
—
7 voters
Air Babylon
Heard the one about the airline that has introduced 'corpse cupboards' on new planes to cope with the number of people who die in the air? Heard the story about the First Class air hostess who got fired for sitting on the face of a passenger during a long haul flight? Heard about the amount of knickers and false teeth that are left behind in the body of the plane? Heard ho...more
Paperback, 416 pages
Published
July 3rd 2006
by Corgi
(first published January 1st 2005)
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I loved this book. Having been one of those “hosties” with a major international airline for years, I identified with so many of the stories...which by the way have some truth in them even though some might be termed exaggerated....but hey it makes for much more interesting reading.
An hilarious ride..........
The story, told thru the eyes of an airport duty manager, which happens in a span of 24 hours shows us all the dramas that go on in an international airport...from the baggage handlers, chec...more
I bought this book for cheap on Amazon after learning about the author from "Hotel Babylon", a guilty-pleasure BBC series about what goes on in a luxury London hotel, based on her book of the same name. The author has made a career out of books about the inner workings of certain industries, so this one delves into what it's like working for an airline, supposedly based on real interviews with anonymous airline staffers. It's a fun beach read if you happen to find it, and there are a few laugh o...more
I am really not at all sure why I bothered to read this as within in a few pages I just knew it was going to be rubbish. However I do not give up easily and kept going in the hope that it might improve or even be funny!
After all it must have made its way on to my wish list of titles due to having read 'Hotel Babylon' and 'Tuscany for Beginners', both of which I found funny and enjoyable. In theory this book was a good idea as only trying to do what was previously a success for the hotel industry...more
After all it must have made its way on to my wish list of titles due to having read 'Hotel Babylon' and 'Tuscany for Beginners', both of which I found funny and enjoyable. In theory this book was a good idea as only trying to do what was previously a success for the hotel industry...more
This was a fascinating expose of life in the sky. Interesting stuff that happens behind the scenes when you fly.
Back Cover Blurb:
Do you know the best place to have sex on a plane? Do you know that one drink in the air equals three on the ground? Do you know who is checking you in? Who is checking you out? Do you know what happens to your luggage once it leaves your sight? Is it secure? Are you safe? Do you really know anything about the industry to which you entrust your life several times a yea...more
Back Cover Blurb:
Do you know the best place to have sex on a plane? Do you know that one drink in the air equals three on the ground? Do you know who is checking you in? Who is checking you out? Do you know what happens to your luggage once it leaves your sight? Is it secure? Are you safe? Do you really know anything about the industry to which you entrust your life several times a yea...more
I read 'Air Babylon' during a recent trip to NY, enduring a number of BA cabin crew telling me it was all pure fiction. It is a very interesting concept in revealing the trade secrets of a chosen industry and a difficult one to pull off - my only criticism is that the 'do you remember the time that..." anecdotes come a bit too thick and fast towards the end of the book and do not flow into the day's diary of events as smoothly as the earlier chapters set in the Airport. There is some real food f...more
I found this book hilarious.
The way it is written is interesting, as it has the fiction essentials: main characters and an interesting plot. However, all of the incidents and characters are supposedly true - albeit a bit squashed into 24 hours.
This book made me want to be nice to every person working in an airport. If they can really get that nasty then I don't want to cross them. I was also tempted to become terrified of flying, but figure that it's out of my hands anyway so may as well not fr...more
The way it is written is interesting, as it has the fiction essentials: main characters and an interesting plot. However, all of the incidents and characters are supposedly true - albeit a bit squashed into 24 hours.
This book made me want to be nice to every person working in an airport. If they can really get that nasty then I don't want to cross them. I was also tempted to become terrified of flying, but figure that it's out of my hands anyway so may as well not fr...more
I just loved this book, which is a serious piece of investigative journalism disguised as a humorous novel. The author indeed found the perfect formula to get across in a very interesting way a compound of basic facts and figures about the (UK) airline industry, but most of all an impressive amount of (supposedly true) anecdotes. Having a couple of friends working as air hostesses on long-haul flights, those anecdotes don´t strike me as far fetched at all (though there´s such a impressive amount...more
We have a few books by this author in our Book club and so far they have been well received.
Hotel Babylon covers life in the hotel industry and hospital Babylon traces activities and life in a hospital - the antics and high jinks if you will.
The book is set over a 12 hour period and "follows" a duty manager of an airline in what I am sure is Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport.
I was very enthusiastic about this book having worked in the airline industry but I feel that the author has depicted airlin...more
Hotel Babylon covers life in the hotel industry and hospital Babylon traces activities and life in a hospital - the antics and high jinks if you will.
The book is set over a 12 hour period and "follows" a duty manager of an airline in what I am sure is Terminal 3 at Heathrow airport.
I was very enthusiastic about this book having worked in the airline industry but I feel that the author has depicted airlin...more
Originally reviewed on The Aussie Zombie
Edwards-Jones’ ‘Babylon’ books began with the now infamous ‘Hotel Babylon’ which subsequently became a popular British UK series a couple of years ago. This is the third book I have read, after Hotel Babylon and Beach Babylon. The books tell the story, hour-by-hour, of one employee in the industry.
I have to say, I hate flying. To me, there’s nothing enjoyable, pleasant or fascinating about it. I used to need a valium just for an hour long flight and I woul...more
Edwards-Jones’ ‘Babylon’ books began with the now infamous ‘Hotel Babylon’ which subsequently became a popular British UK series a couple of years ago. This is the third book I have read, after Hotel Babylon and Beach Babylon. The books tell the story, hour-by-hour, of one employee in the industry.
I have to say, I hate flying. To me, there’s nothing enjoyable, pleasant or fascinating about it. I used to need a valium just for an hour long flight and I woul...more
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This book is certainly entertaining though I am dubious as to how truthful this book actually is. While I believe a majority of these stories, I doubt that they happened in a 24 hour period and I STRONGLY doubt any flight attendant would really be stupid enough to rub someone's steak on the toilet seat before serving it to the first class passenger just because he was rude.
It was however an insight to passengers that will hopefully provide some perspective into the lives of airline employees.
It was however an insight to passengers that will hopefully provide some perspective into the lives of airline employees.
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Obviously we ain't talking about a piece of heavy literature here. The only reason I even bought this pup was because it was only a euro in my favorite bookshop and I had loitered around enough that I felt compelled to buy something. That being said, I did enjoy it for what it was worth, a sassy pulp fiction guilty pleasure. Chock full of wacky little anecdotes and situation regarding air travel and the many characters who populate the industry.
My first book in the "Babylon" series. Reveals some things I definitely didn't want to know. Other things I'm not really sure if I should believe them. I think a lot of this is exaggereted and although it pretends to be a 'true account' I still think it's purely fiction and something Mrs. Edwards-Jones believes to be possible.
But it sure is quite entertaining. I just found it hard to categorize this one on my shelf. I wouldn't say it's "non-fiction", it's also no chick-lit and it's neither a dra...more
But it sure is quite entertaining. I just found it hard to categorize this one on my shelf. I wouldn't say it's "non-fiction", it's also no chick-lit and it's neither a dra...more
"Do you know the best place to have sex on a plane? Do you know that one drink in the air equals three on the ground? Do you know who is checking you in? Who is checking you out? Do you know what happens to your luggage once it leaves your sight? Is it secure? Are you safe?"
(back cover)
A fascinating expose of life in the sky. My journey has never been the same since I've read this book.
A fascinating expose of life in the sky. My journey has never been the same since I've read this book.
I have not read any books by this author before but was attracted by the subject matter. On the whole the book made me laugh and cry with embarrassment for some of the characters. The storyline becomes a bit slow at time as and you feel that there are too many stories crammed into one little time period but on the whole an easy and funny read.
As with all the books under the "Babylon Genre", Air Babylon is no exception.
It is witty, and very well researched. I was both highly entertained and shocked at the facts that the book pointed out. One of my favorite parts, was about the window shutters on the aircraft and why they are to be kept open during the landing and take-off procedures.
It is witty, and very well researched. I was both highly entertained and shocked at the facts that the book pointed out. One of my favorite parts, was about the window shutters on the aircraft and why they are to be kept open during the landing and take-off procedures.
As a self confessed flying junkie, I had to read this. And I've read it several times since I picked it up. I don't believe it matters whether all the tales within it are true, or merely greatly embellished, it's a great read if you want to turn your brain off for a couple of hours!
This was an easy read that brightened up my commute to work.
I did enjoy it but I doubt (as other reviewers have said) that everything noted in the book happened in the same 24 hour period and some of it did seem a bit far fetched.
A light hearted read nonetheless.
I did enjoy it but I doubt (as other reviewers have said) that everything noted in the book happened in the same 24 hour period and some of it did seem a bit far fetched.
A light hearted read nonetheless.
LOVED this book but never want to get on an aeroplane again. Contains all the juicy gossip of what goes on behind the scence at an airport. If i take one bit of advice away from this book it is to NEVER be rude to anyone in an airport. Very funny book.
Jun 21, 2009
Thamrong
added it
For frequent air travelers. Beware of the mysteries behind the air transportation industry. Good to be nice and humble....do not get your drink and flight spike for being over patronizing just because you travel first class. Shocking revelation.
Easy and fun to read. I thought more enjoyable than Hotel Babylon but possibly because I have spent much more time in airports and planes than in 5 star hotels. A good reminder to treat the check in staff with the respect they deserve.
3.5. As a I love traveling by plane I just had to read this book. It's a fun insight into the buissness from the other side. It's not a terribly good plot or amazing characters but it was good read.
Sex, drugs, Rock'n'Roll at the airport and on the plane! Crazy!
These Babylon books are like "fast food", you wouldn't want to eat it every day, but every once in a while they're goooood! ;)
These Babylon books are like "fast food", you wouldn't want to eat it every day, but every once in a while they're goooood! ;)
I did enjoy this - most of it was v amusing and stylish! Some of the book grated a little - perhaps because I'm ex-cabin crew. However I would read more from this author...
My husband got this book to read on a long flight, maybe not the best of ideas. Not sure just how true some of the things are in this book but it makes for a good fun read.
I expected more of this book. More witty and more realistic, e.g. in form of tales not a story from the day of a fictional airport duty manager of fictional airlines.
What they don't tell you on the airline commercials. One of the more fascinating and macabre was what to do with the body of someone who dies on a flight...
I learned it was scary to fly, but sometimes we all have to do it. It was an eye-opening book. Gross at times, but can make you laugh out loud others.
Brilliant and funny and true....being in the aviation business I can atest to this...I loved t, it made me laugh so much, highly recommended...!!
Feb 19, 2013
Joao
added it
If you are amazed about everything what has to do with the airline industry, PLEASE READ THIS.
It is such an funny book. Must read.
It is such an funny book. Must read.
Great book, mind you, I'll never travel by air and be so relaxed about it again. Some truths I think I could have lived without knowing.
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