Air New Zealand is offering a singles-only Matchmaking Flight that will depart from Los Angeles (LAX) to Auckland, New Zealand on October 13th, and hopes that a little matchmaking at 30,000 feet will help you find true love at last.

The weekend starts off with a pre-departure party at the gate (think tailgating, only with an airplane), with food, drink, and ice breaking games.  Then, before you know it, you’ll be en route to Auckland, with a hundred or so of your newest best friends.  Once in Auckland, you’ll be invited to attend a Matchmaking Ball at the SkyTower.

Air New Zealand is also hoping  passengers will want to get to know one another before the big take off, so they’re putting together some social media options that will allow ticketholders to upload a personal profile and start chatting with each other.

Love isn’t cheap, but the package is fairly reasonably priced.   Round trip air starts at $780 per person (plus the dreaded taxes and fees), and packages that include airfare start at around $1,109.

Who knows?  Your seatmate on the flight might just become your seatmate for life!

Photo credit: SXC

Post from: Blisstree

Air New Zealand Offers Matchmaking Flight

Unfortunately, I didn’t really get much input for the readers of Dating Dames just yet when an opportunity came knocking on my door to ease the plan through. SO, yea, to make the story short, I did tell my friend about my guy friend’s interest.

How did I do it? Well, it was basically like asking her if it would be alright with her that my friend adds her in a social networking site and give him her IM ID so that he can start chatting with her — to get to know her.

She grilled me on what I had told the guy and what the guy knows about this alleged match-up and I basically told her that I mentioned to my guy friend seemingly asking him if he’d be interested and he was.

I’m glad that she agreed to try it out and be friends with him for now. Last I heard (without prying, mind you!) was that they’ve already chatted a couple of times and well on their way to getting to know one another. I find it cool.

What do you guys think? I’m sure some don’t agree with what I did. If you can tell me your reasons then perhaps we can both talk about it here.

Post from: Blisstree

Just an update…

Okay. I’m sounding overly defensive about what I’m about to do, er, at least the other half of ‘the plan’ but I know you guys will say, “here goes Sasha again with her meddling in our people’s dating life” Eeep. I just want my single friends to meet my other single friends for posterity’s sake! Fine. I know. There’s the “what if they break each other’s hearts” thingie. /sighs

I already mentioned her to my guy friend. He’s interested but worried that she might not like him. He got intimidated by the fact that she’s accomplished and somewhat well-off even when he’s a Fil-Aussie with a job and somewhat ready to marry.

You got it. They live in different continents. If they hit it off, it’ll be a long distance kinda’ thing. Hehe.

I’m now left to the task of actually letting the girl know of his existence since he now knows of hers! But, yea, part of me is a bit hesitant cuz I know that even when my intentions are genuine, I can’t control the hands of fate between these two individuals.

I just can’t help but ask, “what’s the harm in introducing them?”

What do you think? Do you think it’s wise to go through with this matchmaking endeavour?

Post from: Blisstree

What Would You Do: Make the Match or Not?

For the young and single seekers, the normal amount you spend on a dinner and drinks or perhaps a movie, is all that it takes. But what if you’re someone who’s been around the block? I mean, you’ve been married for decades and had children and even grandchildren and now divorced or widowed? Will dinner and movie dates be suficient enough?

I reckon it may be difficult to get into the dating scene again. Heck, it’s hard enough for singles to deal with dating, can you imagine how it must feel like for them?

Well, after reading about a widowed grandmother conned into spending $125,000 on a matchmaking scheme, it left me bewildered. I just can’t believe that someone’s willing to spend that much in her search for a mate.

How did it happen? Well, let me share this bit from the article:

Promised the company of affluent, sophisticated men, Ms Majerik signed on. Initially, she paid Ms Hadida $50,000; subsequent payments took that to $125,000.
– Guardian Unlimited Special Reports

Read the rest of the article to learn more on how the scam got discovered and the events that led up to court plus other bits about Orly the Matchmaker. The $2.1 Million award is an unprecedented amount in the history of dating service cases. Other notable cases cited were the ones involving Match.com, Yahoo Personals, and Great Expectations.

This is some crazy dating news. This should teach these companies not to prey on lonely people.

UPDATE: I’ve recently learned that the case was subsequently dismissed. The dismissal documents can be found at www.rankrover.com/orly .

Post from: Blisstree

The Million Dollar Matchmaking Scam

Today marks the official launch of Dating Dames!
** Release The Balloons **

I’m very excited about this project and hope that Dating Dames grows to become a resource that many singles turn to when it comes to looking for answers, tips and even a date – NO Not me, but I’d certainly enjoy helping find a dating site that’s just right for you.

Dating Dames will be largely reader driven so your suggestions, submissions and ideas are very welcomed. Rather than searching high and low for answers, send us an email requesting a topic and we’ll gladly take care of the rest.

Hearts and flowers – hugs and kisses
Gayla

Post from: Blisstree

Dating Dames – Open for Business

That question, says chief executive Bruce Croxon, is at the heart of his Toronto-based business, Lavalife, North America’s pioneering online dating service. With its slogan, “Where singles click,” Lavalife facilitates the exchange of 1.3 million messages a day.

Sold in 2004 to Vertrue Inc. of Stamford, Connecticut, for $175 million, Lavalife — like Tim Hortons when it was sold to Wendy’s in 1995 — retains its name, Canadian headquarters and sense of identity.

Continue reading Lavalife turns matchmaking into Internet empire

Post from: Blisstree

Lavalife turns matchmaking into Internet empire