Their countrymen may not have made it to the World Cup final, but in a consolation prize of sorts, Air New Zealand has been named 2020 Airline of the Year by AirlineRatings.com.

While this is the sixth time the airline has flown in at number one in AirlineRatings.com’s Airline Excellence Awards, given the publicity carriers like Qantas, Qatar and Singapore Airlines have generated this year, it is somewhat of a surprise to see the kiwis return to winning ways.

So, on what basis is the title awarded? AirlineRatings.com’s panel of seven judges, who have more than 200 years’ of aviation experience between them, assess airlines on 12 key criteria, including customer reviews, product offerings, safety, fleet age, profitability and environmental leadership.

 

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The judges come from the United States, France, United Kingdom and Australia.

AirlineRatings.com editor-in-chief Geoffrey Thomas says Air New Zealand remains on top in virtually every category, which is no mean feat considering the competition.

“Air New Zealand is a clear industry leader which is remarkable when it is up against much larger global carriers. The airline is committed to excellence in all areas of its business with its employees across the globe consistently delivering exceptional customer service.”

Air New Zealand Acting Chief Executive Jeff McDowall said in a press release that the airline is honoured to take out AirlineRatings.com’s top award for a record sixth time.

 

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“Our 12,500 employees both on the ground and in the air are committed to offering the best travel experience on the 17 million customer journeys we facilitate every year, so it’s fantastic to have these efforts recognised by such an esteemed global judging panel. We’d also like to thank our customers for their ongoing loyalty to Air New Zealand,” Jeff said.

“While we are extremely proud to receive this award, 2020 marks Air New Zealand’s 80th year and we are focused on delivering some great new initiatives, as well as launching our non-stop Auckland-New York service in late October.”

In addition to being named Airline of the Year, Air New Zealand has also won the AirlineRatings.com award for Best Premium Economy for the sixth time in a row, which, similarly, was announced yesterday.

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The post Surprise Winner Of 'World's Best Airline' Awards For 2020 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Every decade has its iconic fashion moments: the 60s had Don Draper tailoring, the 70s had high-collared shirts with retina-searing patterns and the 80s gave us pastel-coloured suits teamed with t-shirts.

But one style that never strayed too far from the public eye is flares. With roots as far back as the 1800s with the Navy, flares, or “bell-bottoms” have been in the fashion circle for years. They died a death in the early 2000s but one man has always championed them, Lenny Kravitz.

Back in the 90s the rock legend wanted to know if we were gonna go his way, but if he was asking whether we were going to copy his style, the answer would have been a firm no.

We may soon be inclined to change our mind, though, as the multi-award-winning singer was recently spotted in New York City rocking a pair of light-wash denim flares. It’s apparent the singer isn’t ready to hang them up just yet, and if we can all look as good as he does wearing a pair, they could soon make a big comeback.

Teaming his flares with a denim shirt – yes, double denim is still a thing – puffer jacket and brown suede boots, along with trademark sunglasses, (seriously, we don’t think we could actually tell you the singer’s eye colour) the guitar-wielding god looked as rock ’n’ roll as ever. It’s certainly a better look than that time he wore what was essentially a rug but passed off as a scarf.

 

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A post shared by Samantha and Chocolate the Cat (@samantha.mess) on Nov 21, 2019 at 1:33am PST

The male population may still need some convincing that flares are the next best thing, especially with the continued popularity of skinny and slim styles, but there’s no ignoring the fact the wide-leg is here to stay.

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The post Lenny Kravitz' Jeans Could Be The Next Big Thing In Menswear appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From the cashed-up residents to the leisurely waterfront views, it’s always tempting to kick a little dirt at Sydney. In fact, whether it’s the kids at Junkee or the Boomers at News Corp, it seems these days you’re not a true journo until you’ve decried Sydney’s nightlife scene.

And as 5 years of nightlife legislation is finally loosened, it’s time to hold, to use a borrowed phrase, “the champions of the blatantly obvious” to account.

Who? Those that blithely remark, “Sydney has no culture,” before dredging up their latest Barcelona “jaunt” and the inevitable comparison that – until it sorts its nightlife – Sydney will never be a true world city.

While you might expect this from an undergraduate, Sydney’s nightlife has been suppressed for so long that the stereotype is now trotted out by major news organisations.

Yesterday was the perfect example, with The Sydney Morning Herald publishing a piece entitled “Why Sydney Is In Danger Of Losing Its Reputation As A Lifestyle Superpower,” which interpreted new research to argue that Sydney’s “famed lifestyle advantages” are in danger of being eroded.

“While Sydney moved up the Economist’s annual index of liveable cities this year – to third behind Vienna and Melbourne… Sydney dropped four places on the Mori Memorial Foundation’s survey of employee life satisfaction, overtaken by Vienna, Geneva and Frankfurt,” The Sydney Morning Herald wrote.

“Based on a global OECD index of work-life balance, Australia’s major cities ranked equally poorly on 6.12 points out of 10. The top-ranked cities were in Europe and Canada.”

On one hand: they’re right. Sydney is increasingly expensive, spread out and (though they didn’t mention this, we’ll add it in) over-policed.

And yet.

Sydney continues to attract millions upon millions of tourists, and residents don’t appear to be going anywhere, in spite of Sydney’s “abysmal” nightlife and ever-higher prices. Why? The reason most people visit (and live here) has absolutely nothing to do with its nightlife (or trying to save money).

 

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Tourists visit Sydney for its natural beauty, are impressed by its early morning culture, and stay for the (relatively) high paying jobs (and the ability to have them even while living near the beach).

So as coming of age uni students leave Sydney’s beachside suburbs for the inner city (or, you know, Berlin), there are plenty of travellers (whether climate refugees from London or Brasilian backpackers) more than happy to take their place and enjoy the ultimate ‘work life’ matrix for themselves.

This is but one example.

What many forget, too, in their sweeping condemnations of the city’s lack of nightlife, is that there’s more to Sydney than Newtown, Bondi and Mike Baird’s casino (sick of lockout laws and overzealous security guards? Head to a Korean BBQ joint in Western Sydney, or find yourself a warehouse party).

Plus, whether or not you believe Sydney had a good nocturnal scene or not before the lockout laws killed Kings Cross is beside the point; Sydney doesn’t need nightlife to be a lifestyle superpower, it’s a daytime city anyway.

 

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The post No, Sydney Isn't Losing Its Status As A Lifestyle Superpower appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s part of human nature to brag about something you’re particularly proud of: your first home; a personal achievement; maybe even your kids. These are all fine. What we don’t think people should be bragging about though, is a $150 ($100 USD) downpayment on one of the ugliest cars in recent memory: the Tesla Cybertruck.

Type #cybertruck into Instagram and you’ll see a whole number of posts from fools people who have put their deposit down to own what they believe is one of the greatest advancements in the automotive industry.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5RgnKSHbzM/

While we have to admire Tesla’s commitment to sustainable energy-powered vehicles – and its mission to rethink the car as a whole – we definitely think the California-based company could have spent a little more time at the design stage. Resembling something that wouldn’t look out of place in Gran Turismo on the PlayStation 1, or something your 4-year-old might draw, the design, to us, is more dated than futuristic.

That hasn’t stopped people from parting with their cash, all in the name of being one of the first to own the ugly unusual looking vehicle that can catapult you to 60mph faster than a Porsche 911.

But to post about a deposit? Really? We don’t see posts from people making deposits for any other car, so why should a Tesla be any different? It’s just not cool.

The cynic in us expects many of the alleged 150,000 pre-orderers to claim a full refund on their deposit before the Cybertruck rolls off the production line in late 2021/early 2020, and not actually go through with the purchase, instead just trying to show off to their mates.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5RilR4jcpg/

We wouldn’t blame them if they did cancel. Marketed as ultra-tough and ultra-rugged, the demonstration of the bullet-proof glass at the official launch was met with mockery. Designed to be completely scratch-resistant, the window smashed when it had a metal ball hurled at it. Not exactly encouraging.

A similar thing happened when Tesla launched the Model 3: people posted images of their $1,000 deposits. While we still don’t condone that behaviour, at least the car in question was actually cool.

Read Next:

• New Data Reveals The Car Brand Australian ‘High Rollers’ Trust Most
• Porsche & Boeing Are Conspiring To Revolutionise Your Daily Commute

The post $150 Cybertruck Down Payments Could Be The Internet’s Most Embarrassing Flex Yet appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Purveyor of luxurious but functional outwear Arcteryx is no stranger when it comes to creating jackets to keep you warm and dry through the toughest of conditions. The Canadian company has been outfitting hikers, skiers, rock climbers and runners since it was fo...

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The post This Arc’teryx Insulated Parka Perfectly Combines Winter Style & Function appeared first on D'MARGE.

It’s now known less for nymphets and more for selfie sticks, but The Trevi Fountain still retains an international gravitational field. That may soon be set to change though, or at least its walls may soon no longer have to groan under the straddle of so many, as the city of Rome considers regulating tourist access to this site of polaroid pilgrimage.

Built in the 18th century, The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and easily one of its most popular attractions. Rome receives more than 20 millions of visitors a year, and it’s easy to imagine that almost all of them want to chuck a coin in the mixer at its most iconic fountain, or to take a snap to mark their time there. And if they have to break a few pesky rules to make that photo even better to look back on, so be it.

So far so tourism in 2019.

Problem is, this mindset not only causes (pedestrian) “traffic jams” in the Piazza di Trevi, but also damage to the fountain itself, with tourists sitting on its walls and even bathing inside.

 

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For this reason, The Lonely Planet reports, “the municipality of Rome has a new proposal to better regulate the access to the Piazza, a proposal which will be discussed soon in the Campidoglio, Rome’s city hall.”

“Tourists are literally fighting over the best selfie spot at the Fountain of Trevi.”

According to The Lonely Planet, the municipality proposes a protective barrier around the fountain so that tourists won’t be able to sit on the marble or jump into the water (both of which are already forbidden but still happen more often than not).

The proposal also appears to include “a maximum number of people allowed inside the Piazza at the same time, which will be regulated by one or two policemen stationed at each of the five streets leading into the Piazza,” (The Lonely Planet).

 

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The post Italy Set To Limit Tourist Access To Iconic Rome Monument appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Personal trainers in Australia are as common as Starbucks cafes in America. With every Tom, Dick, and Harry giving themselves to the PT industry, when it comes to finding one to help you achieve your fitness goals, navigating the proverbial minefield to find the right PT for you can be a more exhausting than the workout itself.

So what should you look for when seeking the person who’s going to work you harder than you ever thought possible? We spoke to personal trainer Liam Chenery of Fitness First Platinum Bondi to find out the boxes that need to be ticked before you part with your cash.

 

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Liam’s initial response to our opening question is met with some amusement. He says he sees obvious differences between personal trainers every day in his own gym, so he knows it’s a genuine issue wannabe workout warriors face.

He goes on to say that the really good PTs are passionate about their job and always professional in their manner. Liam sees trainers use their phone during client sessions all the time. It’s not a practice he encourages at all. If someone is paying you, they deserve your full attention.

A good PT should also care about helping you reach your fitness goals more than the money they’re earning or the ‘before and after’ photos they can put on the ‘gram. The Australian Institute of Personal Trainers says you can expect to pay between $40 – $90 for an hour of a PT’s time.

This figure can fluctuate greatly though, depending on whether you train in a gym or at home, and the level of experience the PT has – the minimum qualification a PT has to have is a SIS40215 Certificate IV in Fitness – so make sure they have this when signing up.

 

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A post shared by Liam Chenery (@liam____chen) on Jul 27, 2019 at 3:09pm PDT

Liam also tells us that the very best PTs won’t just get their qualifications and start amassing a group of clients, but instead believe there will always be room for improvement. Whether it’s attending seminars, being mentored by more experienced trainers or reading up on the latest industry knowledge, a good PT will always want to upskill.

If you have a particular question or goal that your PT doesn’t quite know the answer to, then they should be open and honest, striving to get you the answers you want, either by finding out themselves or referring you to an expert. This ties in with another point he makes. In his experience, Liam says he’s seen PTs that pretend to be something they’re not, such as a physio or chiropractor. If they don’t have the qualifications, don’t let them carry out any rehab exercises, go and see a professional instead.

Liam adds that a good personal trainer should also have experience in reaching personal fitness goals, too. If you want someone to help you lose body fat and maintain a healthy diet, then your PT should have personal experience in this, rather than just reeling off the knowledge they read in a book.

 

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A post shared by Liam Chenery (@liam____chen) on Jul 18, 2019 at 2:15am PDT

One of Liam’s big no-no’s is a PT that gets you to lift heavier and heavier weights, without making sure your form is correct. He’s always surprised by how often he sees poor technique in the gym, especially since it greatly increases the chance of injury.

Read Next

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The post Industry Insider Reveals How To Tell If Your Personal Trainer Is Really Any Good appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You might think a shark spotting app would deter tourists, not entice them. But, as the Sydney-based Instagram account @dronesharkapp reveals, that is far from the case. In fact, the down to water insight the account provides, danger and all, is probably the source of its success.

When you consider Sydney’s most picturesque locales have already been broadcast (and talked up) tens of thousands of times over on social media, it makes even more sense that locals and tourists alike have a lust for something different on their morning scroll.

Enter: @dronesharkapp, an Instagram account which began as a way for surfers on Australia’s Eastern beaches (Bondi, Bronte, Tamarama, etc.) to monitor conditions and look for sharks, but which is now a popular envy-inducing Instagram account in its own right, followed by everyone from swimmers to office workers to tradies.

 

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13/06/19. A few whales around this morning off #tamaramabeach. Norman the #greynurseshark was there briefly as well. Very small #waves this morning for all you #surfers. #helpsavesharks #marinelife #sealifeaquarium #saveouroceans #djiofficial

A post shared by MARINE LIFE From Above (@dronesharkapp) on Jun 12, 2019 at 5:04pm PDT

Lacking the veneer or pretension found on some other location-based Instagram accounts, @dronesharkapp captures the Eastern beaches and their wildlife in an authentic way, something that appears to be missing from many of Tourism Australia’s official campaigns.

From surfing with stingrays…

 

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22nd November – Just good old Raymond the #stingray out there this morning hanging out with the #surfers and #salmon at #tamaramabeach. There were a few #salmon schools at #bondibeach as well. . . #oceaneyes #dronesharkapp #sharkspotting #beachsafety #lovethebeach #loveocean #oceanlovers #sealovers #dronevideo

A post shared by MARINE LIFE From Above (@dronesharkapp) on Nov 21, 2019 at 1:41pm PST

… to hangin’ with hammerheads…

 

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25th November- Good to see little Homer the #hammerheadshark back this morning. He’s only small at around 1.5m and he was hanging out the back off #brontebeach. Wally the #wobbegongshark was out early with his buddy Raymond the #stingray at #tamarama. A couple of small #salmon schools were floating around at #bondibeach as well. All in all a gorgeous morning out there peeps . . #shark #helpsavesharks #welovesharks #sharkaddicts #dronesharkapp #sharkspotting #sealover #oceanlovers #oveaneyes #loveocean #sydneybeaches

A post shared by MARINE LIFE From Above (@dronesharkapp) on Nov 24, 2019 at 1:44pm PST

… to gazing at grey nurse sharks…

 

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18th November- Flying over #stocktonbeach this morning , check out the #dolphin scratching his mates pectoral fin for him. Also a lonely #greynurseshark cruising by scares the hell out of a little ray . The water is murky up this way . . #shark #lovedolphins #dolphinlove #dolphinlover #dolphins #newcastlebeaches #stingray #helpsavesharks #dronesharkapp #oceaneyes #sharkspotting #beachsafety #lovedolphins

A post shared by MARINE LIFE From Above (@dronesharkapp) on Nov 17, 2019 at 2:32pm PST

… @dronesharkapp is about more than just wave riding.

That’s not to say there’s not something for the surfers too – as the following images reveal…

 

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22/08/19. Local young gun @grayson_hinrichs was out carving it up and getting some good #barrels. Nice one legend . The only #marinelife around were the #salmon again. The wind whipped up so We didn’t get a chance to fly at Bondi. The #swell is going to build #waves #surfers #surfreport #loveocean #lovewaves #oceanlove #oceanlover #surf #surfing #nicewaves #pumpingwaves #sydneyaustralia

A post shared by MARINE LIFE From Above (@dronesharkapp) on Aug 21, 2019 at 4:08pm PDT

From getting barrelled above swimming salmon…

 

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A post shared by MARINE LIFE From Above (@dronesharkapp) on Nov 13, 2019 at 1:37pm PST

… To providing a sneak peek of the conditions, @dronesharkapp has a lot to offer everyone.

But above all its main attraction for tourists is its illustration of The Australian Dream, which everyone wants a piece of – the casual harmony between humans and nature, all in a half-hour car journey’s distance from a major CBD.

Something which photographers like Eugene Tan have taken to capturing too.

 

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A post shared by A Q U A B U M P S (@aquabumps) on Nov 6, 2019 at 11:42pm PST

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The post This Epic Instagram Account Will Make You Want To Move To Australia ASAP appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The field jacket as we know it today was first made available to the US Military in 1965, named the M-1965 or the ‘M-65’. The style was originally characterised by oversized pockets, drawstrings and a straight collar that had room for a hood, today brands continue to make the ‘M-65’ for civilians but put their own unique touches on the jacket to adapt it for the modern era.

One of the best modern incarnations of the humble M-65 is Foret’s Army Field Jacket. Available in dark green with four oversized front pockets and made from thick and tough cotton, it pays homage to the field jackets of old but through clever Scandinavian design it looks and feels modern. The jacket unlike the M-65, Foret’s field jacket has a collar that is more akin to one found on denim or shirt jacket, a small detail that makes the jacket a better suit for the modern era.

It might seem like an odd piece to have in your wardrobe, but it is extremely versatile and easy to style. It will pair well with jeans or chinos and a t-shirt but can also be worn over a shirt and knitted tie with suit trousers for a more formal look. Whether you decide to wear it casually or formally, Foret’s Army Field Jacket is the perfect way to make your wardrobe more interesting with a military twist and is available for a rather reasonable $335.

The post Score 15% Off This Danish Designed Men's Field Jacket appeared first on DMARGE Australia.