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Form and function are well-combined in this unusual Lucellino table lamp, since the light is just as useful as it is artistic. It pretty much goes without saying, however, that your appreciation for this particular piece will be proportional to your appreciation for surrealist art. The lamp is made from brass and plastic, with hand-finished goosefeather wings and a 50 watt non-halogen bulb. The wire-like mount is flexible, so you can situate the light exactly where you want it to be, though the designer recommends that the light be placed about 13" high. Price: $650.

When you fly in a private plane, you can provide as many or as few perks to your co-passengers as you like, from drinks to entertainment to a catered dinner. Passengers on commercial flights, even those in first class, have rapidly seen perks stripped away over the past couple of years, which makes flying a bit disappointing - especially during the holidays when everyone is traveling to visit family and friends. The WSJ reports (subscription) that some airlines are starting to give some back to passengers, though. American Airlines "added back silverware and hot cloth towels" to first class, as well as "baked on board" cookies. Northwest Airlines has fresh fruits and muffins to offer to their first class passengers, and United is planning "iPod connectivity" for international passengers. The changes are coming slowly, but steadily and are even reaching back to coach, as Delta has "reintroduced mid-flight snacks" for all their passengers.

Once reserved only for first class and frequent fliers, there are now private airport lounges in England where anyone can reserve space, ensuring that their time in the airport is much more pleasant than an ordinary wait in the main terminal. The lounges typically offer comfortable seating, TV, snacks and drinks, and the amenities at some can include digital music listening stations, sports lounges and bars. At Simply Lounges and Holiday Extras, travelers can book space at any one of sixteen different airports and Holideck, at Heathrow, is a lounge that has lots of family-friendly features. Travelers typically pay for a set number of hours, so it's best to book if you have a layover of more than only an hour or two.

Smintair is a new luxury airline concept that is being developed by a German entrepreneur. The name is derived from a longer title: Smoker's International Airlines.

On board, not only will smoking be permitted, but the airline promises to "bring back the exclusivity in flying encountered in the 1960s." The plan is to offer two jets, Boeing 747s, and round-trip service from Dusseldorf to Tokyo. There will only be 138 seats on each plane (compared to 347 on a normal commercial 747) and they will not offer coach or economy seating. Business class seats will have 70" of legroom (compared to the standard 55") and First Class will have 80" of leg room.

Alexander Schoppmann, the founder of Smintair, says that the "no smoking" policy of airlines was originally implemented so that companies could cut back on air conditioning systems; Schoppmann says that his airline will restore systems that can handle the smoking without problem.  He is confident that fliers will be willing to pay for the comfort and services his airline will offer.

On a final note, Smintair does state on its employment application that "Allergics against tobacco smoke or militant anti-smokers are asked to not apply."

If your father enjoys spending time on the water, this Two-Person Hovercraft might just be the ultimate toy for Father's Day, especially since the Innespace Dolphin isn't commercially available. The hovercraft is powered by a 60-hp gasoline engine along with a 12-V battery. Sitting on an 8-inch cushion of air, it can reach speeds of up to 60 mph on both land and water, though it is most effective on smooth surfaces, such as ice, water, sand, mud, snow, and short grass, rather than dirt or asphalt. It requires registration as a boat, but is US Coast Guard approved. It can carry up to 400 pounds without compromising performance. Price: $13,999.95. A trailer to make transportation easy, if you do not already have a boat trailer, is an additional $1,999.95.

The Changi Airport in Singapore is scheduled to open the world's first luxury airport terminal in August. The terminal is the equivalent of a first class cabin on the ground. Fliers can pay an additional fee to gain access to the terminal, where they will be treated to the ultimate travel experience, with people to take care of luggage and procure their boarding passes for them, as well as quickly get travelers through security procedures, sans lines. The CIPs (Commercially Important Persons) will be able to lounge in the terminal's comfortable facilities, spared from having to interact with the ordinary travelers, and when it comes time to board their flight, they can even pay to have a limo drive them onto the tarmac and directly up to the plane. Prices have not yet been fixed for the use of the terminal, which cost $10 million to build. It expects to start off with approximately 50 travelers per day.

[Image Channel News Asia]