TravelCommentator

TravelCommentator Blog

Air Travel / Opinion

Snippets: Have We Forgotten How To Travel?

…Flew to Europe and realised I’ve forgotten how to travel With mandates and restrictions easying or withdrawn and some normality coming back to travel after about two years, have we forgotten how to actually go about our favourite leisure passtime? The question was implied in a recent article with the writer going through the motions, feeling excited, nervous, anxious and confused. Forgetting how to pack when he was always ready at a moments notice, having bags pre-packed. He was trying to figure out what he needed. I don’t blame him especially for someone who travels to earn a crust. Packing is one of the most frustrating things. He didn’t need this extra aggravation. He goes on to explain he has forgotten how things were:...

Air Travel / Opinion

Snippets: Mask Mandates on Planes, Keep or Scrap?

Mask Mandates on Planes… The writer in this article explains which airlines are dropping the mask mandate and those that are continuing this requirement. He asks the question in a sub heading, “Does masking wearing on aircraft work?”, and then mentions HEPA filters and the airlines claim of 99.9% efficiency. So another question, “If so, then why bother with a mask?” No mention so far why anyone should wear a mask but the writer is implying they should and tries to back this up with several medical articles which he gives the links to. However none of these articles specifically mentions the efficacy of mask wearing but concentrate on whether there is transmission of COVID-19 in the airplane cabin. Which we know has been...

Luggage / Tips & Advice

Packing Cubes: Don’t Pack Without Them

These luggage accessories have been very popular with travellers and are definitely one of the best bits of travel kit you can buy. Trying to jam-pack luggage with clothes, shoes and other travel bits and pieces in an orderly fashion and trying to save space at the same time is something we all try to do. Particularly in roller cases, whether large or cabin-sized, soft or hard. The solution is simple, separate everything into the self-contained zippable cube-shaped compartments and slip them snuggly into your luggage. Everything organised and space saved. Sounds great? You bet. You not only separate clothes from shoes and other accessories like toilettries, charging cables, jewellry, etc., but you can sort them into categories, like: by what matches, by destination,...

Air Travel / Opinion

Snippets: Lying Down Across Economy Seats Not Recommended

Don’t lie down across empty economy seats… In a letter response to an article mentioning passengers appropriating themselves empty seats and lying down across them in rows of three or four, an aeronautical engineer made his concerns known that it was dangerous to do so as passengers could not restrain themselves properly and in turbulence could be launched from their seats. He also wrote passengers should not switch seats without the FAs being informed as they could upset the aircraft’s trim. Name of letter writer witheld…says there’s no way one can be restrained properly lying across three or four seats. Depends what is meant by properly. I’ve done it by attaching the straps closest to each other from two seats. The strap with the...

Air Travel / Opinion

Snippets: Economy Pax Upgrade Forces Flight Turn Back

Flight turns back after economy passengers upgrade themselves… A couple of Economy Class passengers decided to move into Business Class. A standoff ensued with cabin crew and the captain was forced to return the flight to its departure point where those passengers were subsequently arrested by police. The writer goes on asking, “Who even thinks they can self-upgrade?” He then makes some fair comments about the self-righteous and then asks, “Who does get upgraded?” Explaining that airlines don’t upgrade economy passengers just because there are empty seats, it’s the frequent flyers with status that do or you pay at check-in. No sweet deals. “What if economy class is full but not business?” Here he’s spot on explaining the rules with upgrades with platinum or...

Opinion

Snippets

Every week (perhaps even twice a week) I’ll be adding a post with short comments called “Snippets”. Basically these “snippets” will be my response to what other people are saying about travel. This will include commenting on writers in major publications and anyone who leaves a post in their comments section or writes in a letter. It will be mostly my opinion, my slant. I may sound controversial or critical, I’ll try not to but sometimes it will have to be the case to get responses. Commenting will expand our views, hopefully getting to the bottom of things with suggestions, advice, etc. I’ll try not to mention the name of the article writer, the publication or of the commenters or the letter writers. I’ll...

Air Travel / Opinion

Airport Rage

Do airports really send people into a rage or is it just an unlucky coincidence anger happens there? Causes Getting frustrated at airports is understandable. I think we all have at some stage. There are a lot of things happening. The slow check-in process, the long lines, the scanning, probing, identity checks, being monitored, etc. They all take time. One needs to be constantly alert and aware of what’s going on, and be on your feet for a while. This can weigh on a person’s mind and can get tiring. I think many of us agree on these points. We would rather this whole operation be more streamlined if it were possible. The less time standing, waiting and snaking around queues the better. Then...

Air Travel / Opinion

Changi Airport COVID-19 Arrival Rules

I knew things wouldn’t be easy for international travellers with all the COVID restrictions, mandates and directives, which aren’t all the same everywhere, but after watching the YouTube video “Guide to on-arrival procedures at Changi Airport” released (on December 9) by Changi Airport, it truly demoralised me. It put me off travelling to Singapore, a place I love visiting. Now these are the rules required for entry into Singapore and not for those in transit at the airport which I understand are more relaxed, however there’s no mention what happens if someone tests positive and has to quarantine. Where will they do this, if it is a specified hotel(s) or in a purpose built facility and how long for and how much it is...

Art & Museums / Destinations

Pantheon, Rome

Ancient Roman temple, free and easily accessible in the centre of the city of Rome. The Pantheon dates back to 27BC and is the only temple of its kind and size. The pagan temple was converted to a Roman Catholic church in the seventh centrury, Santa Maria dei Martiri (informally known today as Santa Maria Rotonda) and has been in continuous use for mass on Sundays and on holy days of significance. Visiting on church service days it is best to wear the right attire and cover up to show respect. The Pantheon is a very popular attraction. I’ve been there several times and would recommend visiting in the off-season when you can expect smaller sized crowds. It will give you more time to...

Opinion

Air Crew No Jab No Fly…No Work!

Airlines are now thinking about getting their staff vaccinated against COVID-19. In Australia QANTAS has already said it will require all its frontline staff to be fully vaccinated if they want to continue to be employed. Now it seems that Virgin Australia will follow suit. The question is who exactly should be vaccinated? When they say frontline staff I would assume this to mean the pilots and flight attendants. I’d also assume it will be all the workers that have contact with travellers such as, check-in and boarding gate staff and lounge attendants. I’m not a hundred percent sure if that includes baggage handlers. Logically speaking they do get their hands on the passengers’ property, which may or may not have traces of the...

Opinion

F**K Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter…

My first post in a very long time. Why no posts? I have had many opportunities to comment and give my opinion on many travel related subjects but what has stopped me was COVID-19. No, I didn’t get infected and ill. It was the whole situation of travel being turned upside down. It basically took the wind out of my sails. I could’ve posted many opinion pieces but the mood wasn’t there.  So about the title and why am I writing this? I was compelled. I basically had enough and had to vent my displeasure. I’ve been so fed up hearing and seeing what Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, have been doing since the start of the COVID-19 (so called) pandemic. The bans, censorship...

Tips & Advice

Travel Planning

Visiting and experiencing new places is exciting, but before getting there one has to plan. The organising and planning of travel inspires me and gets me dreaming and itching to go. I like to research and plan on my own. So, I’ll scour the internet for all the info I can find on the place(s) I’ll be visiting and how I’ll get there and spend my time. Of course, I could get a travel consultant to do all the work but that would take away the fun of doing things myself and build up that expectation.

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...

* Review / Accommodation

Rosedale Hotel Kowloon, Hong Kong

Relaxing Stay in Mong Kok My second stay at the Rosedale Hotel Kowloon, this time without my family. I contacted the hotel direct and booked like previously. Was given a Superior Room on the 26th floor. My four night stay was in late March 2019. Getting There On this occasion I was able to catch the K5 shuttle at the Kowloon MTR station as my flight from Singapore arrived on time and during daylight hours, so there was less chance of missing out on a shuttle. There was already a good crowd in the waiting area, so had to sit, wait and then line up. The shuttle then took about 40-45 to do its round of hotels before reaching its last stop at the...

* Review / Accommodation

Rosedale Hotel Kowloon, Hong Kong

Comfortable, Modern Hotel Stay Hong Kong This was a family trip to Hong Kong and I originally wanted all of us to stay on Hong Kong Island as I did the year before when I was there on my own, but as it worked out staying on the mainland close to Mong Kok was a good idea. During a routine doctor’s visit I mentioned Hong Kong to my GP and as a frequent visitor to Hong Kong he gave me some pointers. He prefers to stop over in Hong Kong instead of elsewhere in SE Asia or in the Gulf states when he travels to Europe and back. He said he enjoys staying in Kowloon surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the more...