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Volume 1, Issue 6, October 16, 2008 |
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A global passenger survey conducted by SITA has revealed that self-service is fast becoming the norm for passengers and that many travellers prefer to make their own arrangements on the Web.
The SITA / Air Transport World Passenger Self-Service Survey took an in-depth look at the attitudes and habits of 232 million passengers across the globe. Interviews with 2,143 passengers were conducted at the departure gates of major airports around the world earlier this year.
The survey, now in its third year, confirmed the travelling public’s desire for greater autonomy when it comes to making their travel arrangements. Only price (70.5 per cent) and flight schedule (63.1 per cent) rank above “ability to make your own arrangement on the Web” (42.5 per cent), when passengers were asked what they consider most important when making their travel arrangements. Dominique El Bez, SITA director, portfolio marketing, said, “This survey confirms that self-service is here to stay with potential for truly explosive growth in emerging markets...”
Ease of use (72 per cent) and time saved (60 per cent) were the most popular reasons for online booking, followed by the reason that Internet makes comparison of the various options easier (56 per cent).
“Baggage is the number one reason quoted by almost half passengers (48.4 per cent) for not using self-service check-in options when available and this negatively impacts the passenger experience and limits the savings and efficiencies made possible by self-service technology for the industry. Addressing the baggage dilemma is a key milestone to achieving a target of 80 per cent self-service check-in for the industry,” added El Bez. 
Philippine Airlines is to increase flights to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) late next month, adding up to 1,320 seats weekly to PAL’s busy trans-Pacific routes in time for the peak Christmas travel period. From Oct. 26, PAL will add two weekly flights using 264-seater Airbus A340-300 aircraft to its daily Boeing 747-400 service to Los Angeles, raising the total frequency to nine flights weekly. The frequency expands to 11 times weekly during the period between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15 2009 (when holiday travel is at its busiest), after which it reverts to nine weekly. In all, PAL will deploy up to five extra A340-300 flights every week to the U.S. West Coast during the Christmas peak, on top of its regular daily services.
Japan Airlines has put into service a specially decorated aircraft to support Tokyo's bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The airline decorated one of its Boeing 767-300 aircraft with a special Tokyo 2016 Olympic/ Paralympic Games bid design, which incorporates a Japanese catchphrase as well as an attractive rainbow motif. The aircraft will serve domestic Japan routes helping to raise awareness and support from the skies for the Olympic bid throughout the country. Routes the aircraft will serve on are as follows: Tokyo (HND) – Komatsu (KMQ), Tokyo (HND) – Matsuyama (MYJ), Osaka (KIX) – Sapporo (CTS), and Osaka (KIX) – Okinawa (OKA).
Best Western International has reached an agreement with Thailand-based Siri Development Co. Ltd for the opening of the first Best Western Hotel in Hua Hin, Thailand. The hotel will be named Best Western Green Garden Resort and will comprise of over 60 guestrooms. The attractions of Hua Hin town range from night markets, to art-and-craft shops and entertainment centres. Hua Hin first became popular as a holiday destination among Thailand’s high society after King Rama VI began paying regular visits to the area almost a century ago. Best Western Green Garden Resort is expected to open in 2010.
Korean Air has launched new, non-stop flights between Seoul (ICN) and Israel’s Tel Aviv (TLV). The airline will operate Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday flights between Seoul and Tel Aviv using a Boeing 747-400 Combi aircraft, seating 280 passengers in a two class configuration (prestige and economy). Jong-Hee Lee, Korean Air president said: “As a prime connector between the representative cities, the non-stop services from Tel Aviv to Seoul will greatly enhance the economic, cultural and tourism activities between the two countries”. Flight KE957 departs Seoul at 16:45 to arrive at Tel Aviv at 22:15 the same day. The return flight KE958 leaves Tel Aviv at 23:55 and will arrive in Seoul at 04:15 the next day.
Starting Dec. 1, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will be operating up to 15 daily flights between Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL). SilkAir will commence twice daily flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur from Oct. 26, while Singapore Airlines will operate five daily flights. From Dec. 1, Singapore Airlines and SilkAir will operate four flights each. Together with Malaysia Airlines, the three carriers will offer up to 15 flights a day. Interchangeable tickets are available for travel on most fare types apart from those issued on restricted fares.
Koror,Palau
tel 680 488 2000
www.palau-royal-resort.com
When you hear the word resort, you think open-air rooms with sheer curtains blowing in the breeze and framing a picturesque ocean; a place where a sarong is the appropriate attire while Enya plays from an unknown source, right? This is not the Palau Royal Resort, but don’t let that deter you from making a reservation. Although the Palau Royal Resort (popularly referred to as PRR in Palau) is more of a five–star hotel than a Pacific island resort, PRR’s service and presentation leaves a lasting impression on its guests, as a resort should.
I greatly appreciated the quick and easy check in at 22:00 after my 20-hour journey from New York. The first thing I noticed upon entering the resort was the breezy-island feel simulated through the open-air lobby and hallways, louvered-style doors and garden landscape.
My suite was equipped with two full-sized beds, a small balcony with wicker furniture, a sliding glass door, a flat screen TV with Japanese basic cable, a complete beverage bar and an electronic water boiler set with instant coffee and tea. The tap water was not potable, but the hotel provides complimentary bottled water. Internet was not included. The alternative, an on-site business centre, offered an impossibly slow modem connection for five desktop computers. Five-minute complimentary massages were available outside the elevators and though I never had time to try one, a fellow guest told me that it was the best five minutes of her life.
Score: ••••• Courtney Centeno
Through Dec. 1, the second phase of the MasterCard Enjoy Japan campaign gives travellers a chance to enjoy exclusive offers when using their MasterCard cards to make purchases at participating retailers in Japan. Cardholders are entitled to tax exemption at a range of retailers, including SoftBank Rentafone (SBG) and Japan Duty Free Shops (SBG and HND). Cardholders who make an online hotel reservation with their foreign-issued MasterCard cards exceeding JPY 10,000 on the campaign web page will get a chance to avail prizes such as cosmetics and other complimentary gifts when they participate in lucky draws.
The Wildflower Hall, Shimla in the Himalayas has launched a Himalayan Vacations promotion. Priced at RS 27,000, the Himalayan Vacations package includes a two-night stay for two persons and breakfast daily. Booked independently of this package, the room tariff for a night’s stay for two persons is RS 20,500. The package is valid until March 31, 2009.
Through Oct. 31, the One Million Five Times a Day promotion at the Venetian Macau gives guests a chance to win HKD 1,000,000. The promotion has been running since July, and so far this year, there have been six million-dollar winners. In addition to the cash prizes, lucky winners will also receive a complimentary one-night hotel stay at The Venetian Macau as well as free Cotai Strip, Cotai Jet tickets. Every table game at The Venetian Macau offers participants a chance to win one of five daily spins on the big wheel.
The Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Mexico has launched a scuba diving promotion through which guests can receive their PADI certification while enjoying a luxury retreat at the resort. The Submerged in Riviera Maya package includes: accommodation for four nights, complimentary breakfast, pool-training sessions at the hotel and four dives in open water. Top-of-line gear and diving manual materials are provided free-of-charge by Underwater Expeditions. Rates begin at USD 2900 from Oct. 1 to Dec. 19. Rates are from USD 3800, from Jan. 3, 2009 to Apr. 30, 2009.
To celebrate its addition of flights between Singapore (SIN) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL), from one flight a day to five flights a day starting Dec. 1, Tiger Airways is offering 50,000 seats free. The added flights will result in 480,000 extra seats a year on the route. Rosalynn Tay, managing director of Tiger Airways Singapore, said “This huge increase in flights between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore means one thing for travellers – lots more Tiger Airways’ famous low fares.”
