Caroline Brimmer on new forms of short-haul travel

We're packing our bags here at The School of Life to spend the weekend on holiday at Heathrow airport with philosopher Alain de Botton.

Alain has also just launched a Holiday at Home gift box  - the perfect Christmas gift for those under the costly and mistaken impression that they must leave home to go on holiday. The box contains everything you need to enjoy a holiday in the comfort of your front room. You travel first class (socks, an eye mask and all other amenities are included), visit exotic beaches, go on safari, enjoy the comforts of room service in some of the world's most luxiuious hotels, take in a bit of culture and even enjoy some holiday romance. Best of all, it's entirely carbon neutral and you avoid and the vicious despair and depression that so often goes hand in hand with returning from a journey to piles of post and nagging questions as to one’s direction in life.

The idea seems to be catching on. We've just discovered that a new Indian airline is redefining the idea of no-frills flying, offering passengers the opportunity to experience the novelty of pretending to take a flight for just £2. The journey involves the usual safety demonstration and announcements from the pilot warning passengers of turbulence. Flight attendants serve meals on airline trays, warning lights come on and off, but the plane never actually leaves the ground.

For more inspiration about holidays at home, read Xavier de Maistre's classic Journey Around My Bedroom or watch Jamie J Johnson's award-winning short film of the same title.

Caroline Brimmer is programme manager at The School of Life.

Alain de Botton's Holiday at Home giftbox (shown here) costs £60.00 and is available exclusively from The School of Life. Find out more here.

Comments

[guidance]

I was just imagine about it and you provided me the correct information I really bookmark it, for further reading, So thanks for sharing the information.

[moving company]

That's very useful. I will forward this article to my wife's work e-mail. She's got to learn not to bring 3 suitcases to a weekend's vacation. I hope this will change her mind :)

[Alice Bachini-Smith]

ooh, what a good idea! if a little bonkers. Although, the plane actually leaving the ground is usually my favourite part.

[Dimon]

Great idea! Do you guys ship to the US?

[The Hidden Persuader]

Just a quick comment on today's daily aphorism from John Kenneth Galbraith ... he died 2 years ago. In today's poster he's still "alive" :)