Forum Home
PC World Chat
Thread ID: 117803	2011-05-05 11:53:00	Calling other travellers... (SE Asia)	Nomad (952)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1199731	2011-05-22 09:05:00	I got some shots at dusk in Singapore. Didn't do dawn as there were plenty of light already before/at sunrise. I wanted a darkish yellow red sunrise. ... Can we share it?	bk T (215)
1199732	2011-05-22 09:18:00	2607 I am amused by local petrol station here in Pattaya.	Cicero (40)
1199733	2011-05-22 10:43:00	I was aware of the scams due to the Lonely Planet guide but these guys are real pro's. I am Asian. This guy comes up to me and talks Thai to me and says to me it is closed due to a ceremony and he taught me to say hello in Thai so other people cannot cheat me and think I am Thai. He said that tourists get charged 100 BHT for this tuk tuk tour but locals pay only 40 and when I got on the tuk tuk he reminded again to never pay 100, just 40. Once we visited the first secluded temple. I bumped into an American tourist who was part of the scam. He was wearing western clothing with a small daypack and he says he comes to Thailand 3 months per year on business and says tuk tuk are a great way to travel. I said that I wasn't going to come due to what I read, then he said the guy who helped me on was the "tourist police" and he then says that am I going to the Export Centre and he says I should ask my Thai school friends about it, as it has a great story and it is a great opportunity to buy something here cheap and then onsell back home for a nice profit. bk T - attached underneath.	Nomad (952)
1199734	2011-05-24 04:31:00	I have not been back to Singapore since 1973. Do not remember seeing Sky Scrapers on the shoreline. I remember Raffles Hotel and the Robinson's apartment store that burnt down while I was there.	Bobh (5192)
1199735	2011-06-20 05:55:00	Hi Nomad, Could you share your experience of using Air Asia? Thinking of using it but it seems they charge for service that provided as standard by other airlines ie fuel surcharge, luggage allowance and food? In the end, the cost difference might not be worth it? I am in Welly so I have to travel first to Chch. Cheers.	wallarro (11242)
1199736	2011-06-20 11:45:00	Hi Nomad, Could you share your experience of using Air Asia? Thinking of using it but it seems they charge for service that provided as standard by other airlines ie fuel surcharge, luggage allowance and food? In the end, the cost difference might not be worth it? I am in Welly so I have to travel first to Chch. Cheers. I am from Welly too. I had enough AirNZ points to get me to Auckland for free. At the time Air Asia had the $100 one way to Asia, Jetstar had a similar promotion. Generally speaking Jetstar's fares are not as grand as Air Asia, for me Jetstar included taxes while Air Asia was extra. I flew Jetstar to Asia from Auckland. I used Air Asia within Asia (Kuala Lumpur - Bangkok - Singapore). Jetstar and Air Asia and amongst others are just what no frills airlines are. I wasn't charged fuel surcharge. I was charged for the $10 credit card admin fee; food (if you want, not compulsory), luggage (I didn't as I didn't have any). Amongst others I didn't use; "portable" flight entertainment console which they let you borrow for maybe $50 (not sure, just guessing but they need a photo ID on deposit but they cannot take your passport) and the food which is chargeable. *so there are no personal flight entertainment behind each seat. Oh, Air Asia also get you to pay for a insurance fee. Taxes are additional too (on top of the "marketed" price). I suggest you not purchase these stuff in advance unless there is a special and you really need it. Like food, flight entertainment, luggage, comfort kit - pillow, blanket etc etc... You can just pay it onboard via local cash or destination cash or simply with your credit card (with photo ID). I had a laptop as I needed for work so I had my own entertainment. Usually I just put my Smartphone into flight mode and play chess and tetris and listen to music. However the food. Air Asia is cheaper than Jetstar. Off my head Air Asia is like $8 per meal, Jetstar is like $18 approx. I paid $70 prior to the flight, which is $35 per flight, you get 2 meals per flight with (1) non-alchoholic drink per meal. A tip is to get bottled water as it is larger and you can slowly drink it thru your flight. If you get a can of soda it cannot be saved. Extra drinks had to be paid for by the glass/can/bottle. These two airlines don't know what is dinner or breakfast cos you just get served noodles or rice or simply meat and vege's for any of the meals :D Also note that there is no dessert, if you are lucky you may get a small little Mars or Kit Kat bar (those kiddie sizes which they take the school - fun sizes). Obviously the staff don't look and act as professional as Singapore Airlines. They are more down to earth like Air New Zealand IMO but not as unprofessional. They are more like cafe staff in NZ if you get my drift. They are not that attractive as Singapore Airlines. They are more of a mixed ethnic and can be 50/50 female/male. They also push the trolley down and ask if you wanna buy airline souvenirs like airline toys or teddy bears in their uniforms :p I am near 6ft tall and didn't find the leg room much/less than other larger airlines. You get a head rest which you can bend back as well. Lavatory same as other larger airlines. Bottomline - financially no frills airlines is the way to travel if you want to save money or do more travelling. ON a avg day if you want the average airline, they might cost $1600 return, Air Asia many time may only cost $600 return. Even if you add food and luggage it is still lesser. Someone I know paid $1,200 return to London from Christchurch. The best IMO would be AirNZ Grab a Seat special (which provides full service) but they tend to depart from Auckland anyway so you would still need to arrange your own way to Auckland from Wellington. For me I do miss the proper airline food with wine/beer, dessert, salad on the side to the "mains" and the free snacks that you are given thru-out the flight but I accept by using no frills airlines I can travel easier. Another tip, look at the rules re: luggage if you using. It might be cheapest to buy at time of ticket purchase. If you buy that after ticket purchase but before your actual flight, it might cost more. If you buy it at the time of checkin it might cost even more. I also noticed that if you have carry on bags they ask you to weigh it at checkin. The limit might be less than the larger carriers, ie., 6kg instead of 9kg (I think). You can bring food onboard. I even saw a flight attendant clearing away a KFC box (!) :punk, the person next to me on the way back to NZ had some other type of chicken and chips. You can take food with you along it is not a mousse/soup, you could make a pie or quiche or a sandwich or a salad. You cannot take drinks or liquids, each bottle needs to be under 100ml. But if you have a empty bottle you can fill it up at the filtered water taps just outside the gate (after you cleared immigration/security). One other time (before Air Asia days) I had a special fare to Japan which cost $1,200 from Auckland. This is why I say Jetstar is not as grand as Air Asia, generally speaking Jetstar cost more. Althou $1,200 is less than the usual $1,600-2,000. Jetstar cost more than Air Asia, so if you add luggage and food it can add up (and maybe flight entertainment). They also might have crazy flight times which you should check. Eg. Jetstar to Japan departed 7am. So how does a Wellingtonian get to Auckland Airport by 5am for checkin :confused: :waughh: You spend the night sleeping on the floor or on McDonalds seats and get smashed up or you book a motel nearby which many provide complementary transport.	Nomad (952)
1199737	2011-06-20 22:00:00	Awesome. Thanks!	wallarro (11242)
1 2 3