Online Booking

Now days with most people buying tickets online,airlines need to make better options available-"customer is King".
Even full fledged airlines like Jet airways do not allow multiple booking options like 2 passengers on a One way ticket and one booking a return option or two booking economy and one booking business class.
Even Hotels do not provide a flexible option.Can we see a better booking system sometime soon?

Budget Airline woes

Anyone travelled in a Budget Airline in a group or family?They don't make it easy for upsizing luggage.Jetstar,Tiger and Airasia in particular make it very difficult if you just want one traveller to be upsized.They either have an option that you upgrade the whole group or none! take it or leave it seems the motto!
This seems to be the case when one tries to buy extra luggage or pre booked meals.Hope they become fleible to rectify this situation at the earliest

Credit Card Charges on Overseas Transactions

Most Credit card issuers charge a fee between 1%-2.5% on overseas transactions (Foreign currency conversion charges)These charges are put as fine print.These can lead to significant charges if you incur foreign costs/charges on your credit or debit cards.
There are two types of charges-one is converting from the foreign currency to USD and then back to local currency and then levying a charge of between 1%-2.5%.
Example:One spends 100AUD on a Singapore issued card,the issuer will convert to USD and then to SGD and then add the 2.5% (in case of AMEX).
While some banks profess to charge a lower rate while doing online transactions if you are still in the home country,the reality is otherwise.
Paypal in fact charges about 2.7%,however if you use USD as the base rate your charges in case of Paypal might be lower.
The reality is that -the financial institutions are out to have their pound of flesh anyway they can!By incurring overseas transactions card users are playing into the hands of these institutions.

Silk Air a good choice for travel to Chennai

Just returned from a trip to Chennai,it was good value for money.For the oneward journey was upgraded to business class,and food,seating,service was very nice,they managed to get /serve some vegetarian food in quick time.As there was no in flight entertainment-I could catch on some pending work.The in flight service was great.
At a return fare of S$464/- this was worth it.On return as the flight was full,managed an emergency window seat which was quite comfortable,they did provide a lounge access pass,again proving value for money.The
The downside-no FFP and no ticket changes.if they can lower the fares a bit ,then it would give jet airways a run for its money.Except jetairways has In flight entertainment and FFP accrual,but budget conscious travelers with set dates,can save a lot of money combined with the fabulous service and these fares.On the return flight,while service in general was ok,except one air hostess farah chew seemed to have got up from the wrong side,as she was not interested in service at all.
SATS premier lounge at Terminal 1 is better than in Terminal 2.
Clipper lounge in Chennai was as usual,not much choices

Tiger Airways

Further to my post of Aug 20th,comes the news that Tiger has cancelled over 40 flights as per Straits Times and other sources.Follow link.http://sg.yfittopostblog.com/2010/10/02/thousands-stranded-as-tiger-air-cancels-flights/

I hope Tiger recovers quickly,but passengers may not forgive it so easily.In the meantime Jetstar has announced the launch of flights to NZ,hope the fares remain low.

Air India,Mumbai Airport

Just returned from a trip to India,chose Air India for the international segment and Jet Airways for the domestic.
Air India deployed a 777ER on the Mumbai Singapore sector and Sin -Mum sector.The aircraft was fairly new,well maintained but was pretty empty,maybe it will go back to Indian Airlines.
Air India takes a long time to credit membership points and there are no reminders for lapsing mileage.
Mumbai Airport was chaotic for the International to Domestic transfers,with limited options if one has to spend long hours at the airport.
Bhopal Airport was small and effective.Hope to see better connectivity in the near future though,the new terminal is almost ready.
The left luggage system at the Mumbai airport is not effective as it is at the arrival hall of domestic and inside security.
On International return-check in is not allowed 3 hours before departure.If flying economy they do not allow passengers inside,which can be a pain for passengers who have come in from other cities in India.
Jet should provide better in cabin service -as while it charges full fares-it provides budget airline services via Jet Lite and Konnect.Their tele check in system can be improved.
Jet's redeeming feature is its JP management which is of a high standard.

Tiger Airways

There have been reports of Tiger flights to Chennai getting cancelled.Tiger is a popular choice for low cost travel.
Silk Air continues to offer attractive airfares to Chennai.

New Terminal at New Delhi

The New terminal at Delhi Airport finally opened,while touted as one the largest and one of the best,it would be interesting to see how it is maintained over a long period of time.Though what is now a fact is that Asian Airports have taken travel to a new dimension leaving western counterparts far behind.
This is quite similar to what Asian airlines have done aka Singapore Air,Cathay,Thai,Jet and others they set the standards.

Hotels in Singapore

Hotels in Singapore are becoming expensive for overseas visitors,maybe due to increase in visitors.Even though there has been an increase in number of rooms,the prices have remained steady.
The same is true for common rooms in apartments for students who come for 4-5 months.Anyone know of good low cost accommodation?
The Holiday Inn at Outram while a good spacious hotel has old furniture and the TVs are also the old types.The executive lounge is good.

Aiport Madness 3

Airport madness 3 has been finally released,the new version is interesting but still lacks a few features over AM2 like using key board keys,levels based difficulty etc.
Play it at the link provided,and provide your feedback here.

Delhi Air Terminal

New Delhi got its new Terminal today,hope it is well maintained over years to come.It would be intersting to observe how Changi lifts the bar higher.

Littering Issues in Singapore Transport

Singapore is now again focusing on the litter issue ,while the focus is on streets which is important,another issue is the tissue litter in SMRT and SBS buses.Even the Taxis are not spared by inconsiderate travelers.
These tissues can also pose a health issue to fellow travelers if not disposed off properly.
Hope every individual rises to the occasion of keeping Singapore litter free in all respects

Service apartments in Singapore

While there are plenty of serviced apartments in Singapore,it can be quite a task to make reservations for short stays.If one is travelling with family and grown up children or small children-Hotels do not allow children to stay or number of permitted guests does not allow family stays in Hotels.Serviced apartments can be a good option but minimum stay being 7 days in Singapore,it can be difficult to make use of a good option.
I hope the authorities relent soon on short stay in serviced apartments.

Ticket cancellations

Travelers need to be careful about cancellations or  no shows.I recently found out that it is better to cancel the sector if you are not flying,rather than have it lapse as airlines tend to impose a no show charge,and I thought that having paid for a ticket,it is my privilege whether to travel or not ,but apparently the airlines do no think so.
Their stand is as follows:
a)If you do not show up-they can likely impose a no show charge on you.
b)They will not refund unused sectors
c)They and the agents may likely impose a cancellation charge.
So if you book a ticket ,it is best if one travels.
My recent experiences are based on Air India (Tried to cancel an Ahmedabad-Mumbai Sector) and British Airways London-Singapore sector.
Apparently for all these airlines passengers are the last consideration.
Another long standing grouse is:
While airlines allow online reservation-they do not allow online cancellations.,the human intervention for cancellation can be a painful experience.
Even a signature event like TIECON makes cancellations very painful,while reservations is online cancellations is via the admin office of TIE Silicon valley which takes its own time to cancel which is a painful process.

AirIndia Express Crash and Strike

Just when I mentioned that Air India experience was good,there was the recent Mangalore crash followed by a staff strike.This would definitely set back Air India on its road to recovery.
Still all is not lost,it has to emulate Garuda which has done well from the depths of 2005

Air India and Gujarat

Took an air India flight after a long time last week,and was pleasantly surprised,the aircraft was neat,there was IFE (Which was better than most American airlines),good music and decent food.
Connected from Mumbai to Ahmedabad and again the Air India flight exceeded expectations.The new airport at Ahmedabad was not yet operational.
Stayed at Le Meridien hotel which was pretty good,but definitely not 5 star,but it is better than other hotels there.
The staff are excellent,and went out of the way to assist.
Rooms and service was excellent.Went on the express highways which are as good as promised,however the Govt buildings were a big let down as they were poorly maintained.
India awaits its monsoon to get a respite from the heat.Singapore Airport as usual exceeded expectations.

ICC planning to use Dubai as a hub for T20 WC

The ICC wants to ferry England cricketers to Dubai and then to the Caribbean where the T20 World cup begins end of the month.This is due to the fears of the ash induced travel chaos affecting the WC
ICC could be better off focusing its resources to better run the game than to indulge in such moves.It should be left to ECB and individual boards to figure out how to get its players to the West Indies rather than ICC.
The T20WC is becoming an annual jamboree in the International cricket circuit .Most World Cup events are held once in 4 years,the T20 WC being different.
ICC figures to use helicopters and low flying aircraft as per an article in the Straights Times.

Global Travel Disruption

The more we advance,the more we remain at the mercy of nature and its elements.The ongoing Volcanic ash disruption has ensured that other modes are as important as Air Travel.
More than 313 airports are globally affected.Insurance companies are not honouring the claims.
It has led to passengers spending time at terminals,or at hotels.If you are stuck up at KLIA or Changi or at Incheon it may still be bearable,while imagine the plight if you are stuck in an Indian airport or an African airport or an American airport-the situation might be unbearable.
Imagine the plight of stranded tourists who will rake up high roaming charges on their telephones.
Travel touch sincerely hopes that travellers face the least inconvenience and global travel gets back to its best.

Tiger Airways,Hotel Ista Bengaluru

Recently went on a trip to India by Tiger Airways.The return flight was delayed by 3 hours.The air safety announcements can be improved,as the girls who announce speak in Singlish.Many of my co passengers just could not understand.The crew  can show more enthusiasm.
Stayed at Hotel Ista ,Bengaluru.The Hotel is nice and comfortable,but is more of a Business Hotel than a leisure 5Star Hotel.
The rooms are smaller than usual,the lobby is small as well.The restaurant scores high on design.The rooms are functional.Their check in is excellent.Staff are also good.Special mention for Mr Cheema,Naren and Karan.

Airfares on the rise

As global economies mend,Airlines have started increasing their fares.Singapore Airlines has recently announced that it will be increasing its fares.
My personal wish is that airfares continue to be affordable-many more places to go!

Bel Air Resort and Spa ,Phuket,Silk Air

Went for a short trip to Phuket recently.Even though Thailand has extended the visa fee waiver till 2011,the immigration authorities charged us the Visa fee of 1000 THB each.
Bel Air Resort and Spa Panwa is a hidden gem of Phuket.The Hotel had arranged an Airport pick up who was holding a placard.Phuket in general has a problem that very few speak English,though the people are nice and reflects that it is the "Land of Smiles".So the Driver had very few words of English for us,leading to a quiet ride to the Hotel.

Bel Air is on the other side of the island located at Cape Panwa and is a good 40 minute ride from the airport,a fact we were aware of and was not an issue with us as we preferred a quiet place.

The Hotel is more of a Condotel and is on a hill,the Hotel Lobby is very deceptive as it looks more of a 3 Star lobby.The staff at the reception were very nice and welcoming,only one lady Ms Kwang ( knew english).
Our Suite was on the top most floor ,we had the most beautiful view of the sea,the rooms were 5 Star standard,the bath room was one of the best .The Kitchen was adequately equipped ,the balcony offered a plenty of options including a table with chair and lounge decks.

The Master Bedroom had a Kingsized bed while the other bedroom had twin beds.
The swimming pool located on a high floor is next to a poolside bar/restaurant with a large seating area.
There are plenty of shops near the Hotel,and the Cape Panwa area is quite close to the aquarium and the Hotel offers a free shuttle to the Cape area.
They offer a shuttle to their private beach which is clean and very nice and pleasant,with no bother from any peddlers.Makes the hotel as good as any beach Hotel.

We enjoyed the beach,Phuket town is not far from the hotel as it appears initially.Patong beach is a crowded area and has a buzz.
Cocoon Spa is absolutely great and offers good value for money,while more expensive than outlets near Patong ,it is much cleaner and offers better facilities.The manager there Ms Ping is very resourceful,she operates the spa,provides sight seeing tips,sells tours.She also helped a few guests get together and get the town in a shared van,acted as an interpreter,pointed us to a restaurant and most importantly she speaks english!

Shopping-We liked some of the outlets in Big C as well as the Premium Outlets- a word of caution,visitors get fleeced there while trying to locate the outlet which has the VAT refund form.The outlet does not recognize all the other outlets where you have shopped and will do everything to avoid giving you the form.
The GM of the Hotel Mr Doeke is very friendly and speaks English.
Would we recommend this hotel?Definitely yes !It is ideal for families and couples or groups of individuals.
While we were there ,we met a few families from Scandinavia and they too appreciated the property.
Any grouses-no,but the internet is real slow,maybe it will improve.The network connection at the lobby is pretty good.Communication with the staff could be a challenge but the smiles win you over.
Food choices at the Hotel and Beach restaurants are good.
We would tick excellent for most boxes regarding the Hotel.the kids loved the place.

Silk Air was pretty efficient both ways,our confirmation was at the last moment.

Airport Madness 2

This post is not about any airport,but a game which I enjoy-Airport Madness 2.
Makes you appreciate the work of countless invisible Air Traffic Controllers.

Millions Against Malaria

Travel Touch is about Flights/Travel,we also support causes which help Mankind.On 20 March 2010, Ken Evers & Tim Pryse will commence their flight around the world in a GA8-TC Airvan. This will be the first Australian commercially manufactured aircraft to ever circumnavigate the globe! Throughout their flight, their goal is to raise $1,000,000 for raising awareness about malaria.
The mission is simple: fly the first Australian designed and manufactured aircraft around the world! This exciting world-first flight will occur in a Gippsland Aeronautics GA8-TC Airvan. The flight will cover 26,740 nautical miles in 230 flight hours and burn 13,980 litres of Avgas . . . and create aviation history!
I strongly suggest visitors to click the link and support the cause.

Redemption of Award Tickets on Singapore Air

Tried to redeem points on Singapore Air recently,usually the process is smooth when you get confirmed bookings,but the process is tedious when even one sector is waitlisted.
My onward journey was confirmed but return sector was waitlisted.I could not amend my return journey and get the onward confirmed.I had to take the help of the Customer Service agent to issue the onward ticket ,which meant I lost the online redemption discount of 15%.The system should allow for online issue as well as online amendments.
Hopefully Singapore Air will allow this in the future.

Langkawi,Malaysian Air and Air Asia

Had a quick trip to Langkawi by Malaysian Airlines.The flight was comfortable ,what was distinctly noticeable was the clean aircraft.I also liked the nice design of the food box,small thing but the difference was noticeable.
Not so good was disembarkation at Penang and completing the facilities there,they could have indicated the gate numbers to transit passengers.Malaysian Airlines has done a good job !Maybe competition has woken it out of slumber.
Stayed at Sheraton Langkawi,it's a good location with nice views from the lobby.
They provide complimentary wifi internet access at the lobby for 45 minutes daily.What was not so good was the hot weather and lack of airconditioning facilities,spoke to a few guests and all were complaining about the AC.
Sheraton can also maintain the facilities better.
Return flight was by AirAsia-the incoming flight was in only 10 minutes before scheduled departure,but surprisingly the flight took off on time.The interiors were neat and clean and landed on time.
This is the hot season around the region so if you cannot stand high humidity stay away and move cooler climes.

Visa Fee Waiver for Tourists in Thailand

Edited:
The visa waiver has been extended for a year from April 1st 2010,which is good but what about the interim period in March between 4th and 31st?Apparently fees are payable,hmm not the best solution.
Thailand's visa fee waiver ends on 4th March 2010.I hope it gets extended.For a family of 4 it means a saving around SGD 52/- or 1200 Bahts.
Meanwhile visitors who have their tickets booked can enjoy the fee waiver.

Travel Rewards

Have recently received a travel voucher for two to Bangkok.While it is supposed to be an all expenses paid voucher-A closer look reveals that I have to pay for the Taxes and my expenses there.
If they expect the winner to pay the taxes and other associated costs-why is it termed all inclusive?Airport taxes can be quite significant at some airports+the Fuel surcharge,it could end up being a turn down.
Can the organisations who organize these kind of prizes do better and make it all inclusive?

Marina Bay Sands

The scond casino has announced its opening date .It will be interesting if they encounter the same crowds as RWS did?Or they will be better prepared?
Let's wait and watch.

Resorts World Sentosa

Singapore awaits the opening of the Resorts World Sentosa Casino on Sunday-Feb 14th 2010.Universal Studio will take some time to open fully.They are allowing walkabouts for $10/-.
The Tourism scene is expected to do better with the two IRs operational.Unless I have overseas guests-I do not foresee visiting RWS till the theme park is operational.
If anyone is visiting RWS,drop a note here on your experience.
Gong Xi Fa Cai to all.

Visas for Indian Passport Holders

This post is edited every few months ,as we get a lot of enquiries for Visa enquiries.
India has recently allowed visitors from a few countries to avail of visa on arrival facilities .This is very useful for Singaporeans,and hope this gesture is reciprocated to Indian passport holders.Many Indian passport holders are frustrated by the lack of mobility of their passports,having to apply for visas for most countries they intend to travel to! The list of countries in my experience which allows for Visa on Arrival is listed below for Indian passport holders (The duration and conditions need to be be checked by individual travelers prior to travel,this site does not provide any guarantees.There are other countries where Indians can travel by obtaining a letter prior to travel or holding a valid US visa,they have not been listed)
Thailand will have the visa fee waiver programme from 1st April 2010.
*Nepal
*HongKong (Allows visa free travel to Indians for social visits)
*Macau
*Indonesia
*Thailand
*Sri Lanka
*Tanzania
*Kenya
*Bhutan
*Bermuda
*Burundi
*Cambodia
*Costa Rica
*Djibouti
*Dominica
*Fiji
*Grenada
*Haiti
*Iran
*Jamaica
*Madagascar
*Maldives
*Mauritius
*Montserrat
*Mozambique
*Samoa
*Seychelles
*Timor Leste
*Uganda
*Togo
*St Kitts
*Vanuatu
*Virgin island

Please add to this list when you notice relaxation by any country or making travel stringent by adding a comment to this post.

Budget Airline offers

Anybody notice how difficult it is to grab the budget airline offers?For me in recent times has been an pointless exercise,as the advertised offer haslooked good and when you click on it and for the dates you want the price has been way too high.the last time I took a budget airline offer was on the inaugral Jetstar flight to HK way back in 2004,since then I have taken budget airlines but not used their offer.
Whle traveling budget airlines -I suggest not trusting the scales in your home,as you may end up paying extra at the counters,pack a few kilos below permitted.

Airline Ticket Cancellations

My recent experience with premier airlines has not been good when it comes to ticket changes or cancellations.While the online booking exprience is designed to make it easy for customers,the cancellation process is very difficult.One has to call the number and then send a written confirmation,and the refund is credited to the credit card.imagine if one has to call the office after business hours-the airlines don't attend to it.
Why can't airlines allow online cancellations?Another grouse I have is with e-ticketing which was implemented for green issues and conserving naturebut almost everyone I know prints the e ticket-thus there is not much of paper saving.
I recently had to call Qatar Airways to make a change and I was on phone for 98 minutes before  getting the agent,and this is supposed to be a 5 Star airline.