TravelCommentator

Category: Fly

Air Travel / Opinion

Pilotless planes…?

What would happen if a pilot – the captain or the second officer – became ill, incapacitated or even die? A problematic situation easily rectified. The remaining fit pilot is able to take the controls and land a plane single-handedly. They are trained for this kind of emergency in case it happens. However, there’s already talk of single-pilot and pilotless aircraft because of the foreseeable shortage of commercial pilots. The question is, what would happen then? Is it going to be fly-by-wire? If that’s the case then, will fly-by-wire be intercepted and hacked? I would rather know I have two pilots up front and, in worst case scenario one capable of flying the aircraft. If fly-by-wire is implemented it should only ever be part...

Airports

Adelaide International Airport

Adelaide’s gateway to international flying The airport is located west of the city at about 6 kilometres from the city centre. When arriving by car or taxi you’ll be dropped off under the multi-storey car park. Public transport buses stop further up but are not far from Arrivals and Departures. The car park is approximately 100 metres from Terminal 1. Lifts at roadside take you to level 2 of the car park and to a walkway over the plaza to Departures. Alternatively you can walk across the open-air plaza to Arrivals and up an internal escalator to Level 2 Departures. I fly several times a year with Singapore Airlines. Their check-in counters are to the right of those of QANTAS. They were to the...

Air Travel / Opinion

Bare Feet Etiquette On Planes

Shoes off…socks off…and where do bare feet end up? Armrests, backs off seats, tray tables, bulkheads, toilet floors… A practice that can be disgusting and a nuisance. In Business and First Class you are fine. You are your own boss there. In Economy it may be a whole lot different if you’re sharing seats with others. If you believe your feet are clean, that’s good. Then keeping them under the seat in front should be the sensible thing to do. If you are lucky enough to have three or four seats to yourself, perfect. You lie down and cover them up with a blanket, offending others will disappear. Armrests also protected. If socks are worn, even better. People will like you a lot more...

Air Travel / Opinion / Tips & Advice

Items Stolen From Checked Luggage?

Well, when and where can thieves get to your luggage? Most logically when it is unattended and out of sight. I suppose after check-in before ending up in the cargo hold and as they come off the plane before they arrive at the luggage carousel. Basically anywhere while in transit. Where you aren’t around and can’t see them. Should luggage get ripped, broken open or damaged so the contents becomes exposed there’s always the chance someone will see what you have and may be tempted to appropriate your belongings. Obviously grabbing anything of value first. Of course this stuff shouldn’t be in checked-in lugagge in the first place. Checked-in luggage I always advise buying hard-shell framed luggage that have no zips. The ones made...

Air Travel / Airlines / Opinion

A Baby Named Jet Star

Baby born on plane named after the airline…could mean free flights for life or close to it. Timing the birth of babies can be most unexpected. An expectant mother delivered hers on a Jetstar Asia flight travelling from Singapore to Yangon, Myanmar. She went into labour moments after take-off and lucky for her, would you believe, there were three doctors from the one family on the flight. They helped the woman while the crew called for further medical assistance. Passengers on board clapped with joy welcoming the 2.9kg baby boy as the doctors assisted in the delivery. The mother overjoyed by the care she received from the airline then named her son “Saw Jet Star”. The airline has offered the family $AUD1000 worth of...

Air Travel / Opinion

Air Quality Better In Business Class?

The simple answer is no. They breathe the same air as everyone else on board including the crew in the cockpit. What about flatulence? Well, this is something we all do. Some more than others and will depend on several factors: your state of health and your diet. If you’ve eaten something that will exasperate it, then there’s no chance of avoiding it. Since Business Class passengers do get to eat a wider variety of food, mostly the healthy kind during their stays in lounges pre flight and on board, there’s a possibility they’ll contribute more. Passengers in Economy – usually on tight budgets – may have a propensity to save their money during layovers making them more likely to eat less and perhaps...

Airlines / Opinion

Sky High Fashion

Who has the best look in the sky among the cabin crews? Singapore Girl and the sarong kebaya any day, of course! The boys also deserve a mention smartly attired in their suits and ties according to rank. Malaysia Airlines isn’t too far off with their bright coloured sarong kebaya. Garuda Indonesia too uses a batik design. Also should mention Thai Airways. No sarong kebaya and batik, but great colourful uniforms. All round the Southeast Asian airlines get my tick of approval in the fashion stakes.

Air Travel / Opinion

Passengers Fleeing Burning Plane Cop Flack

And so they should…if they take their carry-ons with them! I understand people are too attached to their belongings but in an emergency situation when life – yours and others – is in serious danger the priority is to get to safety as quickly as possible. Carry-on bags should be your last thought. If you really need to take something with you, I’d suggest a bum bag (or as the Americans call it a fanny pack). This is perfect to store smartphone, passport, medications and some cash (but not required if you have credit/debit/travel cards). You should also have PDF copies of important documents on your smartphone. I make copies of all documents including tickets, reservations, insurance, etc. A bag as such is small...

Air Travel / Aircraft / Opinion

Nightmare face to face airline seats revealed

Airline industry seat supplier Zodiac Seats France wants to introduce alternating forward and backward facing seats, placed side-by-side. This seating configuration has been referred to as awkward, nightmarish, hellish and even evil! A lot of hate for these seats and I don’t blame those who’ve made these comments. I’ve got a different take on these. I see them as a safety concern. I really wonder whether they have seriously tested this in an emergency situation. Whether passengers will be disorientated in an evacuation, especially if the cabin is full of smoke. It only takes a few to lose their sense of direction and confusion and panic to set in and we’ll have a disaster. I’m not sold on this idea of people sitting in...

Airports

Fire closes Rome’s main airport

Rome’s Fiumicino Airport has been closed to the public after a fire broke out overnight in its main terminal for international flights, reports Travel Weekly. Adding to what has been reported. The fire actually started at 4 minutes past midnight local time. The cause was most probably an electrical fault. The fire destroyed and damaged around forty shops that run between Passport Control and Gates G & H in Terminal 3 Departures. An area of about 1000sqm was affected one way or another by fire or smoke. Since the fire Terminal 3 has been getting back to some kind of normality. An access point to embarkation Gates G & H was opened in the early hours of Saturday (9 May). At 17:00 of the...

Aircraft / Opinion

Airbus touts more seats in superjumbo

The Airbus A380 is such a great jetliner, but it could soon to be ruined by the greedy beancounters. Airbus is thinking about increasing the maximum passenger load. I surely hope no one takes up this option. Let’s also not forget safety. With more passengers onboard it will be harder for them to evacuate within the 90 second time period recommended by safety authorities. Any longer, especially during a fire, it will become harder for anyone to escape without injuries. Our response as passengers should be to boycott any airline advocating the 3-5-3 configuration! In this case I’ve got my sights squarely aimed at Emirates who are the biggest users of the plane. Hope they are listening. Update: So far no airline has taken...

Air Travel / Airports / Cities & Towns / Countries / Ports

Watch your homonyms and homophones when travelling

Ended up in the wrong town, city or country? Did you check the name and spelling of the place where you were suppose to go to? Did you board the wrong flight? Well this can easily happen if you don’t research your travels as you should and check (possibly double check) your airticket/boarding pass. There have been many cases of travellers ending up at the wrong destination because placenames are either identical or sound the same but spelt differently. Sometimes at no fault of their own. Airlines and travel agents have also been known to make the mistake. In one case a couple ended up on the wrong continent over confusing airport codes. In other mix-ups people book same sounding place names like Guyana...

Air Travel / Opinion

Are aircraft cabins clean?

Michael Gebicki is correct in saying it’s only a quick tidy-up when there’s a short turnaround. The best cleaning is done during the longer layovers in the airlines’ respective hubs. So yes, do take your sanitiser wipes with you into the cabin. You’ll need them sooner or later for the trays, armrests, lavatory door handles, etc. As for the air breathed. I wouldn’t worry too much. There’s no more germs in the air than what you’ll find in any other crowded space. The pilots also breathe the same air as the passengers so it can’t be all that bad! What is noticeable though is the dryness of the air. This cannot be avoided as condensation from humidity can corrode the airframe. Newer planes such...

Airports / Opinion

Security at Australian airports, sensible or neurotic?

Show of force and heavy handed security is not required at airports. Perhaps even paranoid…Anyhow, governments know security can be done covertly, but they prefer to be seen doing something and the best way is to show who’s boss. That’s why you get screened, scanned, x-rayed, proded and body searched. Only foolish terrorists will get caught, just like drug mules and users who think they can import illegal substances through immigration and customs. Terrorists don’t need to board planes to cause mayhem. They can do this anywhere on airport property and not pass any security checks at all. That’s the worrying thing. They will come up with new ways of causing death and destruction. Real security should start way before anyone gets near an...

Airlines / Loyalty / Opinion

Emirates tattoo scores passenger upgrades

A badly dressed teacher has earned himself some perks thanks to the airline’s logo tattooed on one of his arms…Emirates Passenger Scores Free Upgrades If this guy wasn’t a true frequent flyer with status I doubt anyone high up in the airline would’ve given him upgrades. Anyhow, don’t you all go out and do the same as there’s no guarantee you’ll get anything but a few thumbs up from check-in and the FAs. Besides you may end up being stuck with something you may regret later or if you decide to tattoo all your favourite airlines down your arm!! So stick with earning frequent flyer points, status by being loyal, and of course, dressing well! Cheers