Philippine Travel Notes

This can happen.., you can do it! When flight crews are not that attentive to details, or (probably) when they could not care any less, coupled with your skin's pachedermal thickness.., YES, this can be done! Look at this: the last two of three rows on Premium Economy of flight PR1852 from Cebu to Manila I took this photo immediately after the aircraft doors closed because, I wanted to show it to "my dear assistant" that I, seated 23A, was 1 of just 3 passengers on premium economy (the other two seated at 21J and 21K); and that although just a little bit more spacious than regular economy seats, there is really no emergency exit, therefore I do not want to be in this class which I think is a waste of money. That was what occupied my mind, because I always like the big space beside an emergency exit seat due to my " thank God for my long legged " sabi nga ni Melanie Marquez hehe; and that I am not really a fan of the premium economy food even if hot (heated),...

Have you ever encountered this kind of situation? Dilemma, right? What really is best to do?! Answer: ITIGIL ANG KASAL!!! Hehehe Seriously, many people I know have gotten tangled in this kind of situation. Which, I believe, is really a non-issue anyway. You just need to know the aircraft being used to your destination! Tedious? Well, probably for some who do not know where to look! But where there’s a will… Let’s get on with the easier one, that expensive Barong Tagalog! Ah yeah, same story with that expensive suit (Americana). Did you know this is more commonly a problem of the entourage than the groom? Yes, it is! Why? Because, as principal sponsors (ninong) or secondary sponsors, escorts, etc. (abay) we usually fly to the venue on the very day of the wedding, right?! Even if we did so a day before, we usually don’t have the time or confidence to find someone who can iron that expensive garment for us – even if we say we’re staying at a respectable hotel, right?! Yeah, mahirap na! Ye...

Here’s another one from another friend… “Excuse me ma’am, are you pregnant?” That made our friend’s eyes grow wide that she didn’t immediately know what to say. She was torn between answering the question matter of factly or if she would take that as an insult and reprimand the check-in agent. She is definitely single. And, that question just highlighted that the she is on the plus side. Yeah yeah, her sizes play between 2 and 3 letters, not one! But our dear prim and definitely proper lady opted to just smile and say no. No incident, whatsoever hehe! But let’s take that topic and airline travel. First, don’t be offended if it looks like the check-in agent is innocently asking you such a question. Sorry nalang you look like you are buntis! They need to know as there are airline rules on pregnancy – which we should all take seriously. But let’s touch on those later. For now let’s dwell on how proper or improper it is to ask that question… If you were a female septuagenarian or a cross-d...

“ Of course I felt bad. I felt embarrassed that the madlang public had to see my weight…. I hate them… Anyway, I still feel I am sexy! ” Those are excerpts of an email I received from a dear “sexy” friend. She was lamenting, well uh, complaining why the airline had to weigh her, yes her very “sexy” body, aside from her luggage. I already answered her email. But, this same story she repeated when we met at another friend’s party – with all the action and facial expressions – we could all have died laughing at her animated story-telling! While we ate… and I could see fried chicken, lechon, caldereta, pancit and leche flan on her big plate, among others! Well, I repeated what I told her in the mail, and let me tell you about it here… Why weigh a passenger? Technically, all things that go into an aircraft should be weighed. Why? Because the nearest to accurate weight of the plane is needed by airline staff and the pilot to calculate things (its complicated but I will tell you about those i...

That question from a cousin is, I think, worth sharing here. “Why are some airliners asking us to put the window shades up during take-off and landing?” My quick answer was: “for whatever reason, just do it”! Actually, there are reasons why the crew might request you to open or close the window shades, depending on which segment of the flight you are. But during take-offs and landings they would usually ask you to open the shades. That is still to give you more safety, comfort or convenience. Let’s dissect them… As you would have probably known, take-offs and landings are the most crucial moments of any airline flight. Probable reason why everybody falls silent during those times? Didn’t you notice?! So bakit nga?! Here goes: They ask us to open the window shades during take-off and landing so that the orientation of our eyes inside the cabin approximates that of the outside environment. That means all human eyes! Both yours and those of the cabin crew! Why? So...

Yes darling, the travel industry has a queer way of writing our names and let us attempt to dissect why this is so! You will discover they have good reason to do so and the whole thing is really at times funny! Unlike in a movie house or a bus, an airline passenger ticket (or computerized reservation for ticketless airliners) must bear the name of a passenger. Why so, that is another topic we should discuss in another article! Anyway, the ticket declares whom it belongs to. The name printed in the ticket should and must be the only person using this ticket for travel. It is (so far still) non-transferrable. Any other person cannot use it (unless that other person bears exactly the same name - which actually happens!). Note that henceforth, that name on your ticket will be your name as far as the airline is concerned, whether you are at the airport or inside the aircraft. By international convention, airlines and travel agencies around the world follow a strict rule when writing names o...