All Nippon Airways (ANA) now providing women-only lavatories

Japan is a country known for having women only trains, but now All Nippon Airways (ANA) has introduced women-only lavatories. According to the Airline Reporter blog, women-only lavatories are now available on ANA’s international planes, except the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320, and they have a pink logo on their doors.

However, there will be some circumstances when male passengers may use the female lavatories, namely:

• When required for safety reasons, just prior to the seat belt sign being turned on during take-off and landing.
• When a passenger is not feeling well and a personal emergency requires such use.
• When there are very few female passengers and the women-only designation has been lifted for the flight. If this is the case, an in-flight announcement will be made.

Nevertheless, this may prove to be a good idea because after all, a man using the restroom during turbulence could cause some “issues” plus women wouldn’t have to worry about having to put down the toilet seat in their own lavatories!

More tips on how to pack a carry-on bag

With security increasingly tight at airports leading to delays and airlines charging more and more fees on checked-in baggage, knowing how to pack everything into a carry-on is increasingly important. Hence, a recent Forbes.com article about packing for portability is well worth reading.

According to Forbes.com, there is another reason to pack for portability: Theft or lost checked-in bags. The article noted a 2008 report from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which revealed that over a three-year period, an estimated 42,000 travelers in the USA alone have reported missing items from their luggage with a total estimated value of more than US$31 million. Missing items would include things such as clothing, jewelry, laptops and medicines and the article even quoted Doug Dyment, the creator of OneBag, a travel blog that offers advice on how to pack, as saying: "There are only two types of luggage: Carry-on luggage and lost luggage!”

Hence, here are five essential packing tips to remember before your next business trip:

• Have a packing list and consider it to be a “contract with yourself” to NOT put items into your suitcase that is not on it.
• Never travel with a suitcase that can’t also be carried instead of wheeled.
• Carrying a garment fresh from the cleaners that is still on the hanger is ok as usually it won’t be counted as an additional piece of luggage. In fact, the flight attendants will likely hang it up in front of the cabin.
• Women need to be aware of the weight of all of their products – especially cosmetics. Moreover, they should be aware of the amount of water in their products both for weight and security concerns
• Look for solid versions of liquid products. For example: Powdered toothpaste weights less than tooth paste that comes in a tube and there is less risk of it ruining your clothes should it explode or leak.

At the end of the article, Dyment noted that organization is the key as there is no secret to traveling light because all that is in your suitcase is a very large number of very small things – an excellent point worth remembering.

The awards for the best wines served in business and first class

The Bangalore Aviation blog has recently noted that the results are now in for the annual Cellars in the Sky Awards which recognizes the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide. Some of the big winners in this region included:

• Qantas with four awards: The best first class red wine, the best first class fortified / sweet wine, the best first class cellar and best presented wine list.
• Cathay Pacific with two awards: The best business class red wine and best business class cellar.

Oddly though, Singapore Airlines which usually wins several top finisher awards in any contest, seems to have been knocked right out of this competition.

Either way, here are the complete contest winners:

Business Class

Sparkling wine

1. Delta
Piper-Heidsieck Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 18.25 out of 20

2. JOINT: Qantas, Singapore Airlines
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne, France
Score: 18

3. Mexicana
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17.75

4. JOINT: Jet, LAN
Louis Roederer Brut Premier, Champagne, France
Score: 17.5

5. JOINT: Cathay, KLM
Billecart-Salmon Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17

Red

1. Cathay Pacific
Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 18.75

2. Korean Air
Tyrrell’s Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2005, Hunter Valley, Australia
Score: 18.5

3. KLM
Tempus Two Barossa Shiraz 2005, Barossa, Australia
Score: 18.25

4. LAN
Altair 2004, Alto Cachapoal Valley, Chile
Score: 18

5. Alitalia
Barone Ricasoli Castello di Brolio, Casalferro, 2005, Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy
Score: 17.75

White

1. SAS
Tim Adams Semillon 2007, Clare Valley, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Cathay Pacific
Moët Hennessy, Green Point Reserve Chardonnay 2005, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia
Score: 18

3. ANA
Weinguter Wegeler, Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett 2007, Mosel, Germany
Score: 17.75

4. Qantas
Peter Lehman Wines Eden Valley Riesling 2005, Barossa, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Air New Zealand
West Brook Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.25

Fortified / Sweet

1. Lufthansa
Vinhos Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2004, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18.5

2. Singapore Airlines
Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2003, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18

3. Air New Zealand
Dr John Forrest, Forrest Noble Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.75

4. Delta
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards, Muscat a Petit Grains, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Qantas
Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Liqueur Muscat, Glenrowan, Australia
Score: 17

Best business class cellar

1. Cathay Pacific
2. LAN
3. Qatar Airways
4. American Airlines
5. British Airways

First class

Sparkling

1. Lufthansa
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Rare, Champagne, France
Score: 19

2. Qantas
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1999, Champagne, France
Score: 18.5

3. Qatar Airways
Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle 1996, Champagne, France
Score: 18

4. Emirates
Dom Pérignon 2000, Champagne, France
Score: 17.75

5. JOINT: ANA, Singapore Airlines
Krug Grande Cuvée Brut, Champagne, France
Score: 17.5

Red

1. Qantas
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2005, Canberra, Australia
Score: 18.75

2. JOINT:
Emirates
Felton Road Pinot Noir 2008, Bannockburn, Central Otago, New Zealand
Korean Air
Château Léoville Poyferré 2004, Saint-Julien, France
Score: 18.5

[Editor's note: Singapore Airlines used to serve this wine and it is indeed a great wine]

4. JOINT:
American Airlines
Chapoutier Coteaux Tricastin 2006, Rhône Valley, France
American Airlines
Château Lynch-Moussas 2006, Pauillac, France
British Airways
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 Pinot Noir 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 18

White

1. TAM
Michel Picard Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux 2006, Burgundy, France
Score: 18.5

2. British Airways
Albert Bichot Meursault 2007, Burgundy, France
Score: 18.25

3. British Airways
Salomon Lindberg Reserve Gruner Veltliner 2007, Kamptal, Austria
Score: 18

4. Cathay Pacific
Wente Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay 2006, Livermore Valley, San Francisco, US
Score: 17.75

5. Qatar Airways
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.5

Fortified / Sweet

1. Qantas
Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Emirates
Château Rieussec 2003, Domaines Lafite, France
Score: 17.75

3. ANA
Taylor’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal
Score: 17.5

Best first class cellar

1. Qantas
2. American Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. British Airways
5. Cathay Pacific

OVERALL BEST-PRESENTED WINE LIST

1. Qantas
2. Air New Zealand
3. JOINT: ANA, Qatar Airways

CONSISTENCY OF WINES ACROSS BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS

1. Qatar Airways
2. JOINT: American Airlines, Cathay Pacific
3. Qantas
4. British Airways
5. ANA

Air New Zealand unveils its economy lie-flat seats for the 787-9

Here is a great idea that we hope will be adopted by more airlines. As recently noted on Flight Blogger and starting in November of 2010 when Boeing delivers its first 777-300ER to Air New Zealand, the first 11 rows in economy will feature a new "Skycouch" that will provide a lie-flat experience. To take advantage of this, two adults must purchase two seats and a third seat at roughly half the price and the target market for the offering are couples or a small families. The airline intends to offer the service on selected Auckland to Los Angeles flights and eventually Auckland to London (Via Los Angeles) starting in April 2011.

However, there are still questions about how they will manage the revenue on this unique offering. Nevertheless and if such an experiment does end up working, the “Skycouch” will definitely provide the best long-haul flight experience on the market for economy class passengers.

Airport security humor

With the recent underwear bombing attempt on an airliner still fresh in everyone’s mind, we have an an important message from Transport Canada (A division of the US Department of Homeland Security) to repeat should you be traveling to Canada or from Canada to the USA as new “rules” are in effect:

Moreover and if you are traveling to and from the USA, just remember that the Transportation Security Administration is there working hard to make sure you enjoy a safe flight and you can count on them to do what they are trained to do: Overreact to tiny threats while ignoring the really big ones….

The odds of a terrorist attack on a commercial airliner

Here is an interesting and reassuring piece of trivia (courtesy of Gizmodo): The odds of a terrorist attack on a commercial airliner.

Global Traveler Magazine’s "GT Tested" reader awards: Best airports

Global Traveler Magazine has recently released the results of their annual "GT Tested" reader awards and to no one’s surprise, many of the top ranked airports were in cities located in Asia:

Best Airport in the World:

1. Seoul Incheon Airport
2. Singapore Changi International Airport
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
4. Hong Kong International Airport
5. London Heathrow Airport
6. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
7. Munich Airport
8. Kansai International Airport
9. Centrair Nagoya
10. Zürich Airport

Best Airport Lounges:

1. Delta Air Lines Sky Lounge
2. United Airlines Red Carpet Club
3. American Airlines Admirals Club
4. Continental Presidents Club
5. British Airways Executive Club
6. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse
7. South African Airways Cycad Lounge
8. Emirates
9. Cathay Pacific Airways Marco Polo Club
10. Asiana Airlines

Best Airport Dining:

1. Denver International Airport
2. Chicago O'Hare International Airport
3. Dubai International Airport
4. Hong Kong International Airport
5. Singapore Changi International Airport
6. Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport
7. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport
8. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
9. Detroit Metro Airport
10. Newark Liberty International Airport

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents:

1. Korean Air
2. Asiana Airlines
3. Malaysia Airlines
4. Swiss International Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines
6. Lufthansa
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. Emirates
9. Etihad Airways
10. Qatar Airways

The survey itself was conducted from January 1, 2009, to August 31, 2009 and used open-ended questionnaires answered by 25,951 respondents (members of the travel industry were barred from participating in the survey).

Global Traveler Magazine’s "GT Tested" reader awards: Best airlines

Global Traveler Magazine has recently released the results of their annual "GT Tested" reader awards and to no one’s surprise, many of the top ranked airlines were based in Asia:

Best Airline in the World:

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Lufthansa
4. British Airways
5. Korean Air
6. Swiss International Airlines
7. Virgin Atlantic
8. United Airlines
9. Qantas
10. Asiana

Best Airline for First Class:

1. Emirates
2. Lufthansa
3. Qantas
4. Etihad Airways
5. British Airways
6. Korean Air
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. Singapore Airlines
9. Jet Airways
10. Qatar Airways

Best Airline for Business Class:

1. British Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Korean Air
4. Lufthansa
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Emirates
7. Jet Airways
8. LAN
9. Air Canada
10. United Airlines

Best All-Business-Class Airline:

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. Swiss International Airlines
4. British Airways (new)

Best First-Class Seat Design:

1. Swiss International Airlines
2. Etihad Airways
3. Cathay Pacific Airways
4. United Airlines
5. A siana Airlines
6. Emirates
7. British Airways
8. Qantas
9. Korean Air
10. Singapore Airlines

Best Business-Class Seat Design:

1. Korean Air
2. Swiss International Airlines
3. British Airways
4. Virgin Atlantic
5. Etihad Airways
6. Singapore Airlines
7. Air New Zealand
8. Qantas
9. Asiana Airlines
10. United Airlines

Best Airline for Premium-Economy Class:

1. EVA Air Elite Class
2. British Airways World Traveller Plus
3. All Nippon Airways Premium Economy
4. Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy
5. United Airlines Economy Plus
6. BMI Premium Economy
7. Japan Airlines Premium Economy
8. A ir New Zealand Pacific Premium Economy
9. Scandinavian Airlines Economy Extra
10. OpenSkies Prem+

Best Airline for Onboard Service and Flight Attendants:

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Korean Air
3. Thai Airways
4. Singapore Airlines
5. Jet Airways
6. Etihad Airways
7. Malaysia Airlines
8. Qatar Airways
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Emirates

Best Trans-Pacific Airline:

1. Thai Airways
2. Asiana Airlines
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Korean Air
5. United Airlines
6. Japan Airlines
7. Cathay Pacific Airways
8. All Nippon Airways
9. EVA Air
10. Malaysia Airlines

Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand:

1. Qantas
2. Air Pacific
3. Air Tahiti Nui
4. Air New Zealand
5. V Australia

Best Airline in the South Pacific:

1. Air Pacific
2. Qantas
3. Air Tahiti Nui
4. Air New Zealand
5. V Australia

Best Airline in Southeast Asia (Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Ma laysia, Brunei, Singapore and the Philippines):

1. Malaysia Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Thai Airways
4. Royal Brunei
5. Silk Air
6. Asia Air
7. Philippine Airlines
8. Vietnam Airlines

Best Airline in China:

1. Air China
2. Hainan Airlines
3. China Southern Airlines
4. China Eastern Airlines

Best Airline in Central/ South Asia and India:

1. Air India
2. Jet Airways
3. Kingfisher
4. Biman Bangladesh Airlines
5. PIA

Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China):

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Korean Air
3. All Nippon Airways
4. Japan Airlines
5. EVA Air
6. Cathay Pacific Airways
7. Dragon Air
8. China Airlines

Best Airline to Japan:

1. All Nippon Airways
2. Japan Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines/Northwest

Best Airline for Security:

1. EL AL Israel Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. Swiss International Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Air Canada

The survey itself was conducted from January 1, 2009, to August 31, 2009 and used open-ended questionnaires answered by 25,951 respondents (members of the travel industry were barred from participating in the survey).

11 tips for buying airfares

MSNBC recently had an article outlining the 11 tips for buying airfares as gathered by Airfarewatchdog.com. These tips are in addition to the usual advice given (i.e. connecting flights are often cheaper than non-stops) and although some of them are American-centric, they are well worth repeating again here:

1. Check fares often
2. Try a flexible fare search
3. Sign up for the airlines’ e-mail feeds and frequent flyer programs
4. Sign up for fare free alerts
5. Search airline sites individually
6. Sign up for Ding Fares (Southwest in the USA)
7. Buy hotel + air packages
8. Use Priceline for last minute trips
9. Combine two separate fares rather than buying one fare
10. Buy tickets on an airline that will refund the difference if a fare goes down
11. Don’t listen to airfare pundits who predict airfares

And of course, if you are based in Bangkok or are thinking of traveling there, be sure to check out BangkokBestFlights.com for the latest deals on flights from Bangkok to anywhere in the world.

The 2009 OAG Airline Industry Award results

For 27 years, the OAG Airline Industry Awards has honored the very best in global air travel. In fact, the OAG awards are considered to be the equivalent of the Oscars for the global airline industry. This year’s winners include the following:

OAG Airline of the Year 2009

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic

Best Airline based in Asia

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways

Best Airline based in Australasia/Pacific

• Winner: Qantas
• Finalists: Air New Zealand, Air Pacific, Jetstar, Virgin Blue

Best Airline based in the Middle East/Indian Sub-Continent

• Winner: Emirates
• Finalists: EL AL, Etihad, Jet Airways, Qatar Airways

Best Europe to Asia/Australasia Airline

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Qantas

Best Transatlantic Airline

• Winner: Virgin Atlantic
• Finalists: British Airways, Continental Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines

Best Transpacific Airline

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, United Airlines

Best Economy/Coach Class

• Winner: British Airways
• Finalists: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines

Best Executive/Business Class

• Winner: Continental Airlines
• Finalists: British Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic

Best International First Class

• Winner: Singapore Airlines
• Finalists: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Emirates

Best Airport

• Winner: Singapore Changi
• Highly Commended: Heathrow
• Finalists: Amsterdam Schiphol, Dubai International, Kuala Lumpur International

OAG winners are chosen by asking frequent flyers to consider which airlines they have flown on in the past 12 months in each of OAG’s award categories. They are then asked to rank and vote online for their top three airline choices in each category and the results are calculated based upon a formula that takes into account how many times an airline was voted 1st, 2nd or 3rd by each traveler.

The 2009 Zagat Airline Survey results

Recently, Zagat conducted their 2009 Airline Survey covering 16 domestic and 73 international airlines and to no one’s surprise, Singapore Airlines along with a couple of other airlines based in Asia dominated the top rankings. Here are the survey results for international airlines:

Top Rated International Airlines, Premium
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
3. Emirates Airline
4. Air New Zealand
5. Virgin Atlantic Airways

Top Rated International Airlines, Economy
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates Airline
3. ANA (All Nippon Airways)
4. Air New Zealand
5. Thai Airways

Best In-Flight Entertainment, International
1. Virgin Atlantic Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Continental Airlines
4. British Airways
5. Delta Air Lines

The Zagat survey was based upon the opinions of 5,895 frequent fliers along with travel professionals.

ANA announces new product offerings

While Japan Airlines (JAL) continues to announce losses and may soon be out of business, the Cranky Flier blog has recently noted that All Nippon Airlines (ANA) on the other hand is pouring serious money into improving its product offerings. These changes include:

Economy:

ANA economy seats will now have a 34 inch pitch, headrests, footrests and have 10.6 inch monitors with full audio/video on demand, iPod connectors, USB ports and power outlets.In addition, the cabin is laid out in a 2-4-3 configuration

Premium Economy:

ANA Premium economy class will also have 2-4-2 configuration while the seats themselves will have a 42 inch pitch with dividers between armrests.

Business Class:

ANA Business Class seats recline to a fully flat position and are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration while screens are 17 inches and customers can order their own meals via touchscreen whenever they feel like eating.

First Class:

ANA First Class or “First Square” is also in a 1-2-1 configuration and screens are 23 inches plus all the amenities you can dream of.

The changes will begin rolling out on February 20 on 777-300ER aircraft beginning with the Tokyo-JFK route and then the Tokyo-London and Tokyo-Frankfurt routes by the end of 2010. By 2011, the changes will go into affect on other USA and Europe routes.

Packing an airplane or travel busy bag for a child

Traveling with small children can be an interesting experience – especially if its a long flight between Asia and Europe or North America. Hence Debbie, the blogger behind the DeliciousBaby (making travel with kids fun) blog, has recently written a very helpful post about packing an airplane or travel busy bag. Debbie begins by describing the ideal airplane or travel toy as being:

• Quiet
• Compact
• Small pieces are easy to contain so that they don't end up on the floor, and loosing a piece doesn't destroy the play value of the entire toy
• Not so precious that you would mind loosing it
• Not fragile
• Preferably no batteries (or if there are batteries, make sure they are fresh)
• Engaging. Self contained crafts are especially great, but be wary of crafts that might make a mess or contain smelly glues or paints.
• Can be played with independently or with a parent

She also points out that the perfect travel toy does not have to be “expensive and intricately designed” and that you should have a good mix that will allow your child to engage in different types of play (she has also posted a helpful list of suggested items along with where you may obtain them). In addition, she notes that parents should:

• Wait to bring out your busy bag until you've exhausted all the "built-in" entertainment.
• Try not to open the busy bag in the airport terminal. As exhausted as you might be, the terminal is the place for your child to stretch their legs and, if possible, run.
• Dole out the items one by one, making sure that play is exhausted before starting another
• Consider wrapping each item. Young children are so thrilled with unwrapping "gifts" that they won't mind if you wrap something they already own.

So should you be traveling in the near future with small children, Debbie’s post and her blog in general will prove to be a valuable resource.

Beautiful All Nippon Airways anime commercials

The Japanese are the true masters of animation or anime. In fact, they have used anime to produce some beautiful commercials. One such commercial was produced by All Nippon Airways and was showed at the recent New York Anime Festival. It shows "the art of arrival" on ANA:

In this second ANA commercial, ANA 747-400Ds celebrate the opening of the new Terminal 2 at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo a few years ago:

ANA is also a member of Star Alliance and hence, the aircraft formation in this third commercial is the Star Alliance’s trade mark:

2009 Business Travel Awards: Transpacific routes & business class

Conde Nash Traveler has recently released their twelfth annual business travel survey which included a section about transpacific routes and business class seats for major airlines (Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Quatas, Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, Asiana Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines and EVA Air) servicing the Asia Pacific region. To no one’s surprise, Singapore Airlines came out on top with an overall score of 89.7 and held the lead in all categories surveyed.

Transpacific Routes & Business Class

Airline tickets: And your real name is?

Is your (official) name Joseph, Joe or Jose? Moreover and if you have more than one name, what name do you use when you book airline tickets and does that name exactly match the name on your passport, other official forms of ID or credit card? In the near future, you better have your name straight when you book airline tickets.

As an article (I See You Have a Ticket, but Is That Your Name?) in the New York Times recently pointed out, the name on the ID you use at the airport security checkpoint will soon need to precisely match the name on your airline ticket under a new USA initiative called Secure Flight. This initiative will take effect for domestic passengers in the USA early next year and for international passengers by the end of 2010. However, some airlines such as American Airlines have already begun requiring customers to make reservations with their name exactly as it appears on the government-issue ID they will use for travel (along with their gender and date of birth).

While these rules may not affect passengers traveling on non-USA based airlines outside of the USA, they are definitively a sign of the times. In other words, if you have multiple names on all of your official IDs and travel frequently, now might be the time to decide just what your real name is.

The top 10 rules of the road for air travel

Travel can be both exhilarating and a real pain at the same time – especially if you travel frequently and internationally. Scott McCartney, the author of "The Wall Street Journal Guide to Power Travel: How to Arrive with Your Dignity, Sanity and Wallet Intact" has come up with the top 10 rules of the road or basic principles for air travel that are meant to help travelers avoid problems and better enjoy their business trips or vacations. These rules or principles are:

1. Travel is difficult.

2. Book smartly.

3. Plan for trouble.

4. Learn something.

5. Enjoy perks that pay.

6. Stay loyal.

7. Never check anything you cannot live without.

8. Play the upgrade game.

9. Ask nicely.

10. Be kind to your fellow traveler.

Scott also outlined these rules or principles in a Wall Street Journal article earlier this year that is also well worth reading.

Garuda Indonesia to open service to Europe

Effective from June 1, 2010, Garuda Indonesia will re-open its Jakarta-Amsterdam service as improved business and economic relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands is leading to rising numbers of tourists and business travelers between Europe and Indonesia. However, the flights will not be non-stop as the planned route will also service Dubai. Hence, flights will depart from Jakarta at 21:00 and arrive in Dubai at 02:09 and then depart again at 03.15 to arrive in Amsterdam at 08:00.

Garuda Indonesia will also utilize an A330-200 with a seating capacity of 222 seats with 36 seats in Business Class and 186 seats in Economy Class. The A330-200 is capable of flying distances of up to 12,500 km and is fitted with 180° reclining seats for passenger comfort on long haul flights.

However and in case you are not familiar with Garuda Indonesia or perhaps its poor reputation in the past for safety is still fresh in your mind, a recent New York Times article entitled Indonesia's Flag Carrier Defying the Odds should set your mind at ease. According to the article, Garuda is bucking the industry trend by adding routes, planes and passengers. In other words, the airline has turned itself around.

Moreover, the following Garuda Indonesia promotional videos or ads posted on Youtube.com will give you a sneak peak at what it is like to now fly the airline as well as give you a glimpse of what Indonesia has to offer both tourists and business travelers alike.

 

Asia's best travel brands

Smarttravelasia.com, an independent online travel magazine dedicated to Asia, has just released the results of its 2009 Best Travel Brands readers’ poll and you may or may not agree with all of the results.

Here are some of the top picks for each category as reported on CNNgo.com - which also noted that Singapore and Hong Kong, the two major English speaking destinations in Asia, were generally rated in top place (a readers' bias perhaps?):

Best World Wide Airlines

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Airports Worldwide

1. Singapore Changi Airport

2. Hong Kong International Airport

3. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Best Business Class World Wide

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Cabin Service World Wide

1. Singapore Airlines

Best Budget Airlines Asia

1. AirAsia (Mention AirAsia X)

Best Holiday Destinations

1. Bali, Indonesia

Best Cities for Shopping

1. Hong Kong

2. Singapore

3. Bangkok

Best Cities for Business

1. Hong Kong

2. Singapore

Best Business Hotels Asia

1. The Peninsula Hong Kong

2. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

3. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

Best Leisure Hotels and Resorts in Asia

1. Amanpuri, Phuket

Best Spa Hotels in Asia

1. Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island

Best Conference Hotels in Asia

1. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

2. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

3. The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore

Please lighten your load before boarding

Here is an odd story from several newspapers (including Daily Mail, The Independent and the Toronto Star) that is also being picked up by several aviation and travel blogs, including the Wend blog and the Dallas Morning News’ Airline Biz blog. Apparently, All Nippon Airways (ANA) is now asking passengers to use the toilet before boarding the aircraft so that they will weigh less and help to cut carbon emissions (and cut the overall cost for fuel as well). The theory behind the request is simple: empty bowels and bladders will mean lighter passengers and hence lighter aircraft and lower fuel usage (and not to mention some additional cost savings for the airline). For now though, the experiment is intended to last for only one month and it will be implemented on 42 flights but if the results are positive and are well received by passengers, the trial may be extended for a longer period of time.

Will this idea work? According to the Toronto Star:

Here's how it works: The average human bladder holds up to a litre of fluid, which weighs roughly one kilogram. All Nippon's most popular aircraft, a Boeing 777, holds 247 people. So, in theory, if 247 passengers all go to the washroom before boarding, they could lighten the plane by up to 247 kilograms - the weight of three average men.

However, the authors of the Airline Biz blog also point out that a “thinking person would then question why airlines serve drinks on airplanes, since that would require visits to the rest room.”

Either way, passengers will find that All Nippon’s idea is a MUCH BETTER one than Irish carrier Ryanair's idea of charging passengers to use their on-board lavatories.

Get the best airfare deals from Bangkok to anywhere

Do you live in Bangkok and do you travel frequently? Then you probably know that finding the best airline ticket deals to your preferred destination that also fits your travel needs and your budget is a real challenge! That's why we are offering a new airfare email alert service to help you find the latest airfare prices from Bangkok to destinations around the globe.

How does it work? Subscribe to our airfare email alerts on www.bangkokbestflights.com - it takes less than 1 minute to sign up and receive email alerts about the latest deals from Bangkok to your favorite cities.

In addition, our Bangkok Best Flights blog offers the latest news about airports and the airline industry here in Asia and around the world.

Singapore Airlines Suites: A class beyond first

In case you are not lucky enough to have experienced one of the 12 new Singapore Airlines Suites available on the A380, here is a quick peek at what you are missing. In this promotional four minute video along with pictures from their website, Singapore Airlines will show you why they call the Singapore Airlines Suites “a class beyond first:”

Seats are up to 35-inches across and are hand-stitched by master Italian craftsmen Poltrona Frau.

Or if you prefer to sleep, a standalone bed (not converted from a seat) is available along with full-sized pillows along with pajamas and beddings designed by Givenchy.

Also, the cabin is laid out to offer plenty of stowage space, including a full length wardrobe, for all of your carry-on baggage and personal items.

Passengers will enjoy a menu created by the Singapore Airlines International Culinary Panel and meals are served on elegant tableware that was specially designed by Givenchy.

And finally, passengers will enjoy a huge range of entertainment options, including 100 movies, more than 180 TV shows, 700 CDs and over 20 radio channels. Or for passengers who prefer to work while they travel, a multi-port with power supply, USB ports and headphone connection is also available.

How to fly first class at coach prices (or get that seat upgrade)

With the current state of the global economy, even business travelers must be cost conscious. Hence, a short five minute video narrated by Rick Brown, the owner of RickBrownTravels.com (www.FirstClassTravelTips.com) explains several method he uses to research first class travel at coach prices – namely ITA Software’s Fare Shopping Engine. Even better, the example he uses involves a flight from Asia to North America (from Bangkok to Vancouver) and although the trip he booked comes with an 11 hour layover in Seoul, he points out that first class passengers have use of the first class lounge and other amenities to keep them occupied and relaxed throughout the long layover.

In addition, CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg (who also has his own website packed with useful travel tips) has also created a short video about getting seat upgrades from airlines. As Peter explains, passengers should dress for success – in other words, not in flip flops, torn jeans and wearing a backpack! Furthermore, its the questions you ask along with your demeanor (be nice to the counter agent!) that may ultimately get you an upgrade – sometimes without even asking for one. In addition, flights in the middle of the week or during the middle of the day that are less crowded will further increase your odds of a better seat.

Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2009: Best airlines

Conde Nast Traveller has recently announced the results for the its Readers’ Travel Awards 2009 for the world’s best airlines for business travel and for long-haul leisure travel. Topping the list of best airlines for business travel was British Airways as Conde Nast Traveller readers rated it tops in terms of scheduling and for catering while Emirates was rated as having the best luggage handling facilities and Etihad for having the best service/staff. Oddly however, only two Asia (non-Middle East) based airline (Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines) made the top 10 airlines list and this may be more a reflection of the reader base of Conde Nast Traveller than any deficiencies in the quality of business travel on Asia based airlines.

1.	British Airways	89.82
2.	Etihad Airways	86.81
3.	Emirates	86.78
4.	85.70
5.	Virgin Atlantic	82.81
6.	Singapore Airlines	79.56
7.	BMI	76.02
8.	Lufthansa	74.64
9.	United Airlines	71.78
10.	Qatar Airways	71.05

Meanwhile, Conde Nast Traveller readers rated Virgin Atlantic as the best airline for long-haul leisure travel giving it a top score for lounge/flight facilities and for punctuality/efficiency. Qantas was rated as having the best in-flight entertainment, Air New Zealand for having the the best catering and Singapore Airlines for having the best service/staff. Again, the results are probably more a reflection of the reader base of Conde Nast Traveller but nevertheless and should your travel plans be global, the survey results are well worth noting.

1.	Virgin Atlantic	90.01
2.	Air New Zealand	88.45
3.	Qantas	86.62
4.	British Airways	85.77
5.	Kingfisher Airlines	85.32
6.	Singapore Airlines	83.35
7.	Emirates	80.91
8.	Etihad Airways	78.33
9.	Thai Airways	76.27
10.	71.95

Latest Cathay Pacific promotional airfares

In case you are an expatriate based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific is offering a Singapore Smart Saver fare from HK$1,500 or US$193.50 (the fare is inclusive of the Hong Kong Security Service Charge but is subject to applicable taxes and other surcharges). The travel period is from September 7–19, October 2-22 and December 29-31 and the offer expires November 30. Other Cathay Pacific Smart Saver deals include:

Frankfurt/Europe Smart Saver from HK$4,850 or US$626

UK/Europe Smart Saver from HK$4,430 or US$571

USA Smart Saver from HK$5,060 or US$653

Canada Smart Saver from HK$4,950 or US$639

New York Smart Saver at HK$5,900 or US$761

Japan Smart Saver from HK$2,100 or US$271

All of these Cathay Pacific promotional deals are for economy class and come with blackout dates. Thus, if you are based in Hong Kong and can be flexible with travel dates, some of these deals might be worth checking out.

The world’s best international airlines

For business travelers planning a flight to or within Asia, Travel + Leisure magazine has recently published the results of a reader survey to determine the world’s best international airlines and to no surprise, several Asia-Pacific based carriers have made the list. Topping the list again was Singapore Airlines along with Emirates and Qatar Airways (the later being new on the list). Other Asia-Pacific based carriers such as Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Thai Airways all stayed on the list although Thai Airways had the largest drop from 3rd to 8th place. Meanwhile, newcomers on the list included Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand and Asiana Airlines. The survey results clearly show that airlines based in the Asia-Pacific region continue to offer the best service quality and the highest flyer satisfaction rates.

Top 10 International Airlines*

Rank	2008	Airline	Score
1	1	Singapore Airlines	87.4
2	-	Qatar Airways	83.06
3	2	Emirates	82.02
4	6	Japan Airlines	80.5
5	-	Virgin Atlantic	80.42
6	7	All Nippon Airways	79.09
7	4	Cathay Pacific Airways	78.86
8	3	Thai Airways International	77.73
9	-	Air New Zealand	76.95
10	-	Asiana Airlines	76.93

* The World’s Best Awards from Travel + Leisure magazine.

Thai Airways promotional video

If you want to know why Thai Airways calls itself “the world’s friendliest airline,” check out this promotional video about the airline and its plans to upgrade both their business and economy classes. Moreover, Thai Airways serves more than 70 destinations on 4 continents plus every corner of Thailand and is also a member of the Star Alliance – the world’s largest airline partnership which gives passengers on member airlines access to all corners of the globe. So if you want to know what it is like to fly on an airline that is based in the heart of Asia and calls itself the world’s “friendliest,” this promotional video will give you a quick peek.      

Cathay Pacific Business Class video

In case you are wondering what it is like to fly Business Class on Cathay Pacific for a flight within the region, a passenger has made a short video which was then posted on Youtube.com. In the video, the passenger shows not only the menu but close-up shots of each item on it along with pictures of the seat and the inside the cabin. Definitely a change from the traditional airline promotional video!

Singapore Airlines cabin upgrades

Anyone who has ever flown on Singapore Airlines knows why the airline is considered to be one of the best in the world in terms of comfort and service. However starting this month, the airline is refurbishing the cabins of its Boeing 777-300 fleet (although this does not include its 777-300ERs).

First class will be upgraded to the standard of the current Boeing 777-300ER and will include eight rather than eighteen seats. These seats will be 35 inches wide and can convert to a full-flat bed. In addition, the seats will feature a 23 inch IFE screen. 

Meanwhile, Business class will have the same seats as the airlines new A330 fleet and will include an improved version of the original inclined lie-flat seats. In addition, these seats will each feature a 14.4 inch IFE screen.

The first retrofitted aircraft will operate the Singapore-Sydney route (SQ 231/232) starting on July 22nd and the new cabin configuration will gradually be deployed on other flights from October to December. These include flights to Dubai (SQ 494/495), Istanbul (via Dubai) (SQ 490/491), Riyadh (via Dubai) (SQ 454/453), Shanghai (SQ 830/833 and SQ 836/825) and Sydney (SQ 219/220).

Hence, there is no better reason to choose Singapore Airlines for your next business trip.

Singapore Airlines Economy Class promotional video

Singapore Airlines has a well earned reputation for comfort in the air – especially its business, first or suites classes. However, given the state of the global economy and corporate cost cutting, some business travelers may find it hard to justify flying business or first class these days. Nevertheless, a short Singapore Airlines promotional video uploaded onto Youtube shows that flying new economy class on Singapore Airlines is NOT the equivalent of taking coach (aka steerage) on another airline. According to the video, passengers have “your own space created around you” as all new economy class seats are equipped with USB data ports so that passengers can do work as they fly or they can choose from a variety of 3D games and movies from their own personal entertainment systems that are equipped with 10 inch screens.

So don’t worry if you cannot justify flying business or first class on your next Singapore Airlines flight as their new economy class will still get you to and from your destination in comfort and style.

The Asia Jet Card: The ultimate time saver for high-flying executives

For busy high-flying corporate deal makers, business travelers and expatriates, commercial flying can be a real hassle. After all, even flying business or first class on commercial flights may involve extended check-ins, lost luggage, unnecessary connections and of course unexpected delays. In fact, there is a 20% to 25% chance that every commercial passenger flight will either be delayed or cancelled.

Hence, Hong Kong based private aviation service company Asia Jet along with fleet operator Metrojet have teamed up to offer the Asia Jet Card - a program that gives card holders access to a fleet of five gulfstream jets with as little as 12 hours of notice. Three prepayment programs are priced at US$100,000, US$250,000 or US$500,000 while flight time is charged at a fixed hourly rate of US$5,900 plus handling fees which are usually around US$2,000 per hour. To arrange a flight, card holders simply contact Asia Jet and they will then email an all-inclusive quote with expected flight times.

According to the company, the benefits of the program is that they can create a profile of what a particular client likes and dislikes and hence, offer more personalized service over other traditional chartering services or commercial passenger options. More importantly, their service can save as much as several hours over a trip involving commercial passenger airline travel and they are better able to serve more remoter and non standard destinations. Thus and although roughly 65% of the firm’s business is in Southeast Asia, Asia Jet expects significant growth in servicing large second tier Chinese cities that are poorly served by commercial passenger carriers. Moreover, their service is less expensive than owning and maintaining a private corporate jet.

So if you and other executives at your firm need to quickly move about the region without the hassles of dealing with commercial passenger aviation but still need an affordable option over owning and maintaining a corporate jet, consider looking into becoming an Asia Jet Card member.

Video guide to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Youtube has an excellent video guide uploaded about the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The guide was created by Malaysian Airlines and naturally contains plenty of positive spin for the airline (not that Malaysian Airlines needs any spin!) while commentary is provided by Asha Gill - a well known Malaysian TV host, model and film director/producer. In the video, Asha takes you through the entire airport from arrival in the satellite terminal to a visit to the Malaysian Airlines business class lounge, duty free shopping, a ride on the skytrain to the main terminal, baggage collection and finally getting a train into the city. The last two minutes of the video shows some of the sights to be seen around Malaysia and of course the shopping opportunities that await visitors to KL.

So if you plan on visiting Malaysia any time soon and will pass through Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the video is well worth a quick viewing.

Korean Air unveils a new upgraded cabin

For business travelers and expatriates thinking of flying to Korea, Korean Air has recently unveiled its newest aircraft, a B777-300ER, that is outfitted with the next generation in passenger aircraft amenities. These include premium Kosmo Suites in first class that cost a whopping 250 million won or US$190,000 per seat. These seats are 15.3 centimeters wider than Korean Air's other first-class seats and they can convert into a 180-degree lie-flat seat for maximum relaxation during a long haul flight. In addition, Kosmo Suites seats are equipped with screens that were enlarged from 41.9 centimeters to 58.4 centimeters.

Meanwhile, Prestige Sleeper seats in business class are also convertible into 180-degree lie-flat seats and were enlarged to 39.1 centimeters while the space between the front and back seats is now 66 centimeters wider than on previous planes. In addition, Prestige Sleeper seat screens were enlarged by 22.6 centimeters to 39.1 centimeters.

And finally, New Economy seats in economy class have slimmer seat backs to give passengers more leg space while the bottom cushion now slides forward when in reclined so that discomfort to the passenger sitting behind is minimized. New Economy seat screens were also enlarged to 26.9 centimeters.

The new plane will fly the long haul Seoul-New York route; however, Korean Air plans to install the new seating configuration on all its mid and long-range aircraft by 2014.

Thus, for your next long distance business trip to Korea, consider a Korean Air Kosmo Suite or a Prestige Sleeper seat and be prepared to arrive relaxed and ready to do business.

Cathay Business Class deals to the USA

For those of you not looking forward to a long trans-Pacific flight seated in anything other than business class, Cathay Pacific is currently offering savings of up to 30% off on Business Class fares from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK) to a variety of destinations in Asia – including Hong Kong and Singapore. Sample fares include San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong for $4,622, San Francisco (SFO) to Singapore for $4,959, Los Angeles (LAX) to Hong Kong for $5,622 and New York (JFK) to Hong Kong for $7,638 (Fares include all airline fees and government taxes).

Departure period for San Francisco and Los Angeles flights are from now until September 30 and flights must be purchased by September 30. For New York flights, the departure period is from now until December 31 (excluding Manila which is from now until June 30) and flights must be purchased by December 31 (June 30 for Manila). All purchases must be made via Cathay Pacific’s website.

With promotions like these for business class travelers based in the USA, 2009 is proving to be a very good time to make the long trans-Pacific journey to Asia.

Singapore Airlines business class video

For anyone thinking of flying Singapore Airlines to Singapore and who still needs a reason (or just an excuse!) to justify flying business class, check out the Singapore Airlines business class promotional video that is posted on Youtube.com. Highlights include the “most spacious business class seat in the world” that supports a variety reclining positions and has the capability of being turned into a “productive office” with “built in business software” and the “biggest fully flat bed in business class” supporting a wide range of sleeping positions. So go ahead – book that business class seat!