This is one news that I would say I'm looking forward to. I missed it back then, 2 weeks ago, so I'm posting it now. This is good. No need to do connecting flights. Never mind the longer flight - it wouldn't hurt much. And, there's no danger of getting tempted to shop while walking to your next flight. Huh!
Jetstar yesterday announced that it will fly direct to Melbourne and Auckland (photo) from Singapore, making it the first low-cost carrier to fly long haul from Changi Airport.
The cities are about seven hours and 10 hours from Singapore, respectively, but passengers on the A330-200 aircrafts have a choice of flying either Economy or StarClass - Jetstar's international business class cabin. The latter has leather seats with a seat pitch of 38 inches - the equivalent of premium economy seats in full-service airlines British Airways and ANA - and full inflight service including meals and entertainment. Economy seats, meanwhile, have a pitch of 31 inches compared to 31 to 34 inches of those in full-service airlines. Food and amenities are still pay as you go.
Flights to Melbourne will start on Dec 16. Book a flight before 3pm today to buy a one-way JetSaver Light ticket starting from $248 for travel between Jan 18 to March 23 next year. The Auckland route starts on March 17 next year. Both are subject to regulatory approval. Details at jetstar.com.
With the latest developments in the air travel safety and security, rules are modified to adapt to the needs and tighten security.
There's no such things as a failsafe measure, but this change is to make things better - if not, at least it is safer.
Read on...
-----
Coming to America
New rules make air-travel in the US less stressful - and easier to complain about
THE United States federal governmentis taking a stronger hand in regulating how airlines treat passengers, and new rules limiting long tarmac delays are just the first step.
"I don't know of another time in the department's history when we've stood up for passengers and said enough is enough," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, mentioning the overnight stranding of passengers on a plane in Rochester, Minneapolis, last summer as the tipping point prompting government action.
"There were actually personnel in the terminal who could've let people off the plane - that was ridiculous," LaHood said.
Even before the latest rules, which went into effect April 29, the government had fined airlines for violations of existing regulations that cover baggage-reimbursement policies, fare advertising and compensation when passengers on over-booked flights are denied boarding.
It seems carriers may be getting the message. Although airline executives predicted "unintended consequences" and widespread cancellations if planes were required to return to the terminal after sitting on the tarmac for three hours, there have been no reports of this happening in the two weeks after the rule took effect.
Here's an overview of what's been adopted so far, and what's under consideration.
No more nights on the tarmac
If an aircraft sits on the tarmac, airlines now have to give passengers the option to deplane after three hours (with exceptions for safety and security), and offer snacks and drinking water at the two-hour mark. They must also maintain working lavatories and provide medical attention, if necessary, and publish plans outlining how they will deal with lengthy tarmac delays.
The three-hour time limit applies only to domestic flights; for international flights, carriers can set their own time limit but must disclose it in advance.
Complaining will be easier
One of the less-publicised new rule is that carriers now have to publish contact information for consumer complaints on their websites and on all e-ticket confirmations. The Transportation Department has also redesigned its aviation consumer protection web site, airconsumer.dot.gov, to make it easier for passengers to file complaints.
The complaints help investigators spot emerging problems that may require further regulation, such as whether airlines should have to refund checked baggage fees if a passenger's luggage is lost or late.
Charges should be fair and transparent
Even before the new rules went into effect, the Transportation Department was working on another set of proposed regulations, which it plans to announce and open for public comment in June. Among the topics under consideration: How extra fees - such as for baggage or seat reservations - are disclosed, how fares are advertised and how and when airlines should provide alternative transportation for passengers on canceled flights. THE NEW YORK TIMES
Hurrah! There are now direct, budget flights to West Java’s capital. CHEN FEN takes a trip to report on the attractions of the city, starting with the climate
One thing struck me the moment our plane landed in Bandung, the capital of West Java in Indonesia. It was as if the city was entirely air-conditioned, with cool air that wrapped itself gently around you making it hard to reconcile this with being right smack at the equator. Bandung has its high altitude to thank for its lovely weather. Sitting over 700m above sea level, the city built by the Dutch is surrounded by mountains dotted with tea plantations.
From the air, Bandung is a warren of low houses packed cheek by jowl. On the ground, some of those houses turned out to be elegant Dutch-style homes, many with roofs of shingle made from ironwood. We caught a glimpse of these homes of the rich as we drove from the airport through the district of Chipaganti. Light twinkled from their windows in the twilight giving us a view of what the Dutch colonials of old must have seen as they strolled the quiet streets lined with graceful mahogany trees.
Although the city’s buildings look old, many house hip shops and restaurants. A bakery selling Dutch pastries (above) reflects the town’s colonial heritage.
The face of Bandung changed as we came to its centre. It was here that those warrens seen from the air revealed themselves. What they lacked in elegance was more than made up for by the sheer energy of the street life. Tiny ramshackle street stalls were everywhere, fronting crowded buildings; many looking the worse for wear. Yet, a closer look revealed some of these old buildings housed hip shops, restaurants and clubs that would not be out of place in a big city filled with skyscrapers and shopping malls.
Shopping in Bandung is a dream if you are into cheap factory knock-offs. The factory outlets do a brisk trade in throwaway chic at prices that will make you gasp. Spend an afternoon rummaging through these huge outlets and you could come away with a new wardrobe for a hundred dollars or so. There is even a whole street dedicated to jeans if you need more denim in your life.
Steamy Gunung Tangkuban Parahu (right), a volcano situated 40km from town, is popular with visitors.
When you tire of shopping, it is time to head for the mountains. Gunung Tangkuban Parahu, about 40km from town, is the local natural wonder. The crater of this volcano is still steaming, sending wafts of sulphur-tinged hot air into the atmosphere. Do not expect a quiet commune with nature though. It felt like half of Bandung was there when we visited, everyone jostling for a spot by the crater’s edge just to stare at the giant gash half-filled with water and ash.
When you are done with the crater, give the souvenir stalls a once over to pick up some cheap trinkets as a reminder of your visit. Better yet, snag a tray of locally grown strawberries from the hawkers weaving their way through the crowds. Be sure to find a spot away from the vehicular traffic before you sample the tiny, sweet yet slightly tart strawberries. Carbon monoxide from the seemingly unending stream of vehicles together with sulphur from the volcanic steam can be a heady, potent mix.
Getting there: You can fly from Singapore directly to Bandung on AirAsia. The budget airline is the only carrier with daily flights from Changi Airport and back. On top of this, it will expand it routes to include the Malaysian destinations of Penang and Langkawi starting June 1. Log on to www.airasia.com for more information.
Moving around: Locals rely on the ANGKOT to get around town. These minivans take about 15 passengers each and are colour-coded to show the direction they are heading. The ANGKOT may be the cheapest form of transportation. But instead of trying to unravel the mysteries of the colour code, it might be easier to hop into a taxi or rent a car. If the taxi is your choice, make sure it has a meter for the fare.
Have a drink: Don’t go looking for bandung in Bandung. The pink drink made with rose syrup is nowhere to be found. Have some bandrek instead: A hot ginger drink with strips of fresh coconut in it. Also try the bajigur, a drink made with coconut milk poured over thick slices of “buah attap” from the nipah palm. Both drinks are flavoured with palm sugar.
WHAT TO EAT
The people of Bandung are proud of their “kampung” chicken, grilled or fried and eaten with a variety of sambal, some sweet, some fiery hot. They say the best is at R M Ayam Goreng Brebes located at Jalan Raja Lembang, 272, on the road to Gunung Parahu.
Be sure to give the delicious Tahu Lembang a try too. The deep fried cubes of bean curd mixed with soya milk are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sfh3TTXQexZYEcXwSB9RRmgnLNxD3Y1Ktnrws2yO1yyROjX7eJoA11cIxY_Sva2hxdruOm-mcnSg1rvmkLj6bR5zq6_6GKeFK76YM9qbuOfIyz_pf_drlfgDGB1ksGnZBQ01FLPs0K42nUr65ZfInK=s0-d)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s5_qECRaYbNvxRKUD5myoiNgVPY-qU294oBrN50IMvigX8bOKufeNTWVnBWJIOM7LhBGnEYxGfigwHrpf3yJlphX_aPGoQVZxLhHspEruByfyjtpS80bSbj30lhnMksL3ZwylK27bK0mivR55fnJrq=s0-d)