Being a tourist in a foreign land, one cannot help but observe fellow Filipinos who are OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers).  I have a lot of respect for them. They are hard working. Kind. Generous. Friendly. Law-abiding. Frugal. Loving. They are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, grandchildren – family members who sacrifice in other countries far from their loved ones – if only to make a better life for their loved ones. They are heroes in their own rights.

Over breakfast the other day, I saw a Middle Eastern family of 5. There was one added person eating with them.  Their au pair.  A Filipina woman of not more than 35 years old.  Quietly feeding their youngest daughter.

This, is the general life of many of our OFWs.

Those who have migrated to other lands and have made lives of their own are not considered OFWs anymore.  If they have renounced their Filipino citizenship they are citizens of other nations. Let’s get that straight in this blog.  They are not OFWs.

An OFW (overseas foreign worker) is, by definition, “a person from the Philippines who is living and working in another country, typically in a temporary basis.”

I have high regards for OFWs.

It’s not an easy sacrifice to be out of your country far from your family so that you can provide them with better and easier lives. My profession takes me to the stories of the families I care for.

For those of us who are able to go on grand vacations year in and year out, we meet OFWs in every corner of the world. On the plane to their country of destination.  On the airports of other countries as employees.  On the ships during our cruises. In the taxis they drive in some other part of the world. Where we are, they are there, too.  Serving us and other people so that they can send money home to their families.

I remember one Sunday at the Orchard Road MRT in Singapore, I was on my way home from a meeting and happened to take the train going back to my hotel.  There were two OFWs at the platform waiting for the train to arrive.  When it did, and the doors of the train opened, they were right in front of me.  Blocking my path to the door.  I recall saying to them, “excuse me, are you going inside the train? You’re blocking the doors.”

Both of them had gone in.  As I was standing beside them, one of the women told her companion in Tagalog, “ang sungit ng mga intsik dito” (the Chinese here are grouchy). I tapped the woman on the shoulder and told her “ate, Pilipino ako. Baka kasi maiwan tayo ng train.” (Sister, I am a Filipino.  The train may leave us [if I waited for you to decide when to get in].) And the three of us had a good laugh.

I write about our OFWs as a dedication to the many unsung heroes of the economy of the Philippines.  We are, after all, a major exporter of menial labor. And we are all dependent on the economy of these workers who sacrifice being away from their loved ones so that they can put food on the table of their families back home, send their children to school, and plan a better future for their loved ones.

I write about our OFWs because they are a source of pride to our country.  They deserve better governance and direction from the leaders of our country.  Not just some rah-rah boy or girl or actors or actresses who gyrate on stage to give them a sense of “home”.  Home is thousands of miles away from where they toil each day in order to drive away the loneliness from families and friends.

I write about our OFWs because they don’t have the same privilege as some of us who bring our families on vacation because our children or parents or spouses have an occasion to celebrate.  They have missed birthdays and graduations.  Some have missed even burials.

I write about OFWs because they deserve more than empty promises every three years from local elections and every six years from the national polls.  They deserve leaders who will not politicise their causes in order to get votes in the upcoming elections.  Leaders who will work inclusively for their welfare and the welfare of their families back home.

There has been no time in history that has had record breaking number of OFWs than today.

Because there is little to hope for back home.

We were walking along the streets of Copenhagen and three OFWs were sitting at the park comparing those little pairs of shoes which they bought during a sale, for their kids. It would be a few months of buying a few more stuff to send home in a BalikBayan Box.

A thousand miles away from where an au pair is feeding someone else’s child, I am sure she is thinking of her own children back home.

Part of the fun in a vacation is the eating.

No, I don’t mean pigging out.

But enjoying what the locals eat.

Packed meals

Yes my dear readers.  This is for real.

I have friends (and sadly relatives) that pack instant noodles or canned goods so that they can scrimp on having to spend for meals.  Unless the place you’ve booked is a Condotel or Apartment or airbnb, filling your luggages with bottled water, Spam and other canned goods, juices in tetra paks, bread and peanut butter, and instant noodles is an absolute frown.

The bottomline is – why do you even want to go on a trip if you’re packing your three meals a day.

I even know people who are on a business trip and yet bring packed meals! It’s not because they’re not given a daily allowance for meals and sundries.  It’s because they will save that money to buy goods and souvenirs.

Spend when you must. Particularly when you’re on vacation.  If you want to live like a pauper, you might as well bring a can and a fiddle and peddle on the streets where you go for a vacation.  You may get lucky.

Fast food

One alternative is when you’re really not sure about the food in your destination of choice, look for a fast-food restaurant.  There usually is one in your neighbourhood (unless your lodging is really isolated from civilisation that you’re forced to eat only in Michelin Star restaurants or the only restaurant in your hotel).

A fastfood joint usually provides you with a variety of choices of food from the local community.

With the presence of various food chains worldwide, you should be able to bump into McDonalds, Starbucks, KFC, or Burger King somewhere around the corner of your hotel. Question is, why would you want to eat in a restaurant that you find in your own country and at a cheaper price?!?!?  It’s insulting to me that I have two chickens and mashed potatoes for 10euros (P625.00) when I can actually get it for less than P125 in Manila! Imagine paying P500 more for KFC chicken in Madrid and being served by a Filipino OFW…Seriously?

When you’re on a budget, opt to go to local food joints that serve the local cuisines.  In Europe, most (if not all) cities have Markets (Mercato) where you can have a good meal at a reasonable price.  This is where the locals meet, eat, exchange stories and just let their hair down.

Michelin Stars

We’re not all rich and have cash to burn.

And yes, I have dined in Michelin Star restaurants in some of my vacations.

Is it worth it?

Not really.  For the price that plunges deep into my credit card, some of the food is hardly appreciated especially after a 5 km walk! I mean, when you’re dead tired from the tours or the shopping, eating becomes a necessity.  And anything that fills that grumbling stomach won’t matter.

But do look out for highly recommended Michelin Star restaurants when given the time.  Singapore, for example, has a whole list of Hawker Stalls that have made it to Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list for 2018.  Fifty – 50 – yes, fifty hawker stalls and restaurant, up from 38 last year! Liao Fan Hawker Chan serves one of THE BEST Cantonese Roast Meats for less than P350!  And deserves the Michelin award for being one of the best Hawker Stalls.

Can you imagine Bismillah Biryani serves street food and is a Michelin awardee?!?!  Now who said, Michelin needs to be fine dining? If you bothered to do a bit of research prior to going to your destination, I’m sure you’ll find the best finds are those we bothered to look for.

Concierge recommends…

While some recommendations from the concierge at your hotel may help, it’s important to remember that many are biased. That’s because they get paid for recommendations made.  They will call to make reservations for you.

In my experience, 80% of the concierge recommendations range from very good to excellent.  100% of the concierge recommendations are pretty expensive.  Unless the concierge asks your budget, or you let them know your budget and the kind of food you want to eat and how far off from the hotel you’d want to have dinner, they’ll usually give you a restaurant that’s $$$($).

But when you’re out of options or just plainly are clueless on where and what to have for dinner, the concierge is rarely wrong.

Remember, part of the trip is enjoying the food in the country you’re visiting.  It’s like when your friends come to the Philippines.  You’d want them to try the Lechon, Halo-Halo, Pancit Palabok, Adobo, Max’s Fried Chicken, Rellenong Bangus, Leche Flan, Balut…to name a few!

It’s like introducing them to a new friend.  Perhaps, they too will make friends with their newfound friend.  Food.

Retail therapy is therapeutic.

As long as you have the cash, of course.

Sale

Unlike Manila, where a sale is sale of junk goods, sales in most countries is dependent on the season.  The best time therefore, to travel is when it’s near a great sale.  In Singapore, the great sale runs for almost two months (this year being June 08 – August 12, 2018). These sales make shopping a huge bargain, particularly for designer goods.

The HongKong shopping festival runs from June 1 to August 31, 2018 this year.  Retailers offer great big discounts on fashion labels (slashed to as low as 70% off on one season late designs).

As a general rule, it is best to travel when the season is about to end.  Unlike the Philippines (where there are just two seasons – the wet and the dry), most Asian countries celebrate the four seasons of the year – Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.  And for all countries where there are actually four seasons in the year, there are multiple sales before each season ends. When the season is about over, the sale begins.

Buying locally or international?

Let’s face it.  Most of the designer items are found in the Philippines as well.  But they are far more expensive than buying in another country (unless you’re buying Filipino items).   For example, a LouisVuitton wallet will cost you almost P35,000 at an LV store in Makati. The same wallet will cost me 3200 Kr (around P26,310.54 inclusive of 25% VAT).  Because I’m a tourist, I can avail of 25% VAT refund (about P6577.63), which means that same LV wallet I wanted in Manila will just cost me P19,732.90 in Copenhagen! It’s even cheaper if you buy it in Paris or Madrid. The P16,000 less is a steal in itself.

If you plan to travel within the year, you may want to consider buying your designer goods when you’re out of the Philippines.  (I understand that there is the factor of having to pay for plane fare and hotel accommodations, but seriously, if I can afford a real LV bag and matching wallet, I can afford to fly out of the country, go on vacation in Europe, and go on a shopping spree.)

Remember, retail designer therapy is not a necessity.  It is an extravagance rather than an importance.

Souvenirs

There are people that collect just anything.  From magnets from every country traveled to coffee mugs from every Starbucks  each country where a Starbucks is found.

An important rule of thumb is bringing home souvenirs.  As I mentioned in past blogs, you’re not obligated to bring home a little memento for everyone that knows you left. Your family tree is also not part of the gift giving spree.  It’s your vacation.  Not theirs.  Enjoy it.  Spend for yourself.  If you want to get them something, choose something that’s both inexpensive and representative of the country you came from.

And NO! It should never be a t-shirt that screams the country (like “Someone went to Taipei and all he got me was this t-shirt” kind of gift), or a box of chocolate coated macadamias  that scream “Hawaiian Host”.  While they are standard souvenirs, they are actually not well thought of but rushed gifts from the Duty Free shop.

Gadgets and electronics

I have friends that buy their laptops and other gadgets in another country (like the US or Europe or Japan).

Here’s the rub.

While purchasing them in these countries may save you a little more money (perhaps 10-15% less than buying in Manila), the warranty of these gadgets and other electronic items are not valid in the Philippines.  For example, your laptop freezes over hell when you’re back in Manila, a week after buying a MacBook Pro in San Francisco, you decide to bring it to one of the resellers in the Philippines like PowerMac.  Unfortunately, the validity of your warranty is not worldwide.  Too bad.  You can’t exchange it for a new laptop because (1) they are RESELLERS and not THE Apple store and (2) the resellers will need to send the gadget to another country like Singapore or HongKong or wherever in order to get this fixed.  Even if they can fix it locally, they will charge you.  Resellers are not obligated to swap what is not bought from their stocks and are accountable only for the merchandise in their stocks.

Think twice before spending for gadgets whose warranty is out of coverage when it leaves the country where you purchase it.

Food (fresh or packed)

If the food is packed and sealed tightly, you shouldn’t have any worries about it getting spoiled or unmasked when you go through customs.  Of course, there is the kind of food that “smells” badly or isn’t packed properly.  I recall a few years back on a trip to San Diego, two Filipinos traveling were asked to step aside for inspection at Customs.  The woman hid dried fish inside a whole large can of Nido milk.  The man in front of me hid fermented duck eggs inside his dirty underwear inside his luggage.  I should know, I was behind them.  Although I did not bring any processed or fresh food (I was traveling to San Diego for a poster presentation in a Pharmacology meeting), I am a Filipino.  It was shameful to be segregated this way at customs just because fellow Filipinos smuggle in food that’s not packed appropriately and may be danger to the health of the overall American community.

It is important to remember that bringing in fresh produce is NOT allowed for health reasons.  Of course, we take the risk.  And while we do take that chance, hopefully we don’t endanger other people because of irresponsible risk taking.

Everyone loves to shop.  Whether it is designer clothes, gadgets, make-up and perfumery, food, shoes, goods and candies…let’s all remember that we need to follow rules on what we can or cannot bring home.

Let’s face it.  The Philippine Piso is not one of the most popular currencies globally.  It’s worth among other Asian currencies is so volatile that money changers put little value in the Philippine Piso.

For the record, this is true even from the time of Cory Aquino to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Noynoy Aquino being president.  This is not simply about the president of the Philippines. It’s about our economic worth.  And believe me when I say, that as a frequent traveler, the Piso is really not worth much.

Even among credit card providers, the exchange rate of the piso to foreign currency ranges from an average 0.50 centavo on top of the selling rate of the Bangko Central ng Pilipinas (BSP) to as sordid as plunging the piso into oblivion.

These are my tips for the weary traveler on currency exchange.

Cardinal Rules

As a general rule, have a budget on your estimated expenditure in your next trip.  That way, not only will you save on useless expenses on your vacation, but get to buy only what is essential.  So how do you compute your estimated expenses? The first query is: are you going for business or pleasure?

It is rare that your boss will give you pocket money for a vacation.  If yours does, you should work for him/her the rest of your life.

Most, however, travel for business.  There is a fixed per diem depending on the country of destination.  However, some companies are stingy and will provide a fixed per diem, regardless of destination for the business trip.

There are two distinguishing factors that change the rule of the game with respect to business trips.  If it is a legitimate trip or a junket? Junkets have deep pockets.  They’re the kind of bribery that are disguised as business ventures. Wine. Dine. Dance. And tour the clients.

The second rule of thumb is asking Google the question – what is the VAT of my country of destination? If you’re too lazy to ask Google, Siri may know the answer.

You know your destination.  Google the taxes where you’re going to and use that as a factor on your daily expenses.  For example, if you’re going to Thailand for vacation, $10 on breakfast will take you a long way.  Lunch will cost around $15-20 and Dinner around $25.  This is considering that you’re eating in a least 3-4 star restaurants. The current rate of VAT (Value Added Tax) in Thailand is 7%.  While they have been meaning to increase it to 10%, it has been put on hold several times.  The wonderful thing with Thailand is the incentive for tourists to get a refund when you see the sign “VAT refund for tourists” provided that the value of goods is 5000Baht and single purchases must have a value of at least 2000B. There are other countries that also have VAT refund for customers.  Japan and Singapore offer VAT refunds for tourists. HongKong and Dubai are tax free destinations, so no tax refund is necessary or applicable.  In short, if you plan to spend 5 days in Thailand for a personal vacation, USD$50 would be sufficient for you to live on a good meal three times a day. X 5 days = $250.  You can throw in $50 for transportation to and from the airport, and daily transportation to and from the hotel you’re staying.

That would mean a total of $50 a day x 5 = $250 for the 5 days vacation is more than enough for food (add $50 more or less for public transportation and that makes $300 and you’re all set).

Then peg your shopping expenditure.  Are you doing retail therapy? Or are you packing for friends?  Knowing the VAT for goods and services is helpful for your budget.  You will know what to buy, when to buy, and how to buy.  More importantly, it will help you figure out if you should carry that item all the way back to Manila, when the cost in Manila is just a measly P100 ($1.75) difference!

A gentle reminder – WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING, YOU’RE NOT OBLIGATED TO BRING EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR STAFF OR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS A MEMORABILIA FROM TIMBUKTU.  FIRST OF ALL, THEY DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR TRIP.  THIS IS YOUR VACATION, NOT THEIRS. FINALLY, IF THEY ASK YOU TO BUY THEM SOMETHING AND THEY SAY, “I’LL PAY FOR IT WHEN YOU GET BACK”, DON’T FORGET TO COLLECT THE PAYMENT (OTHERWISE, THEY’LL GET USED TO MAKING YOU A MULE.)

The third rule is to change your hard earned piso to the foreign currency of your destination.

Remember, money changers make a killing at changing currencies.  That means that by changing to a different currency, you will need to pass through third party providers that are willing to change your currency to another (and risk the piso plunging or appreciating).

Don’t change a day or two before you leave.  You may not be getting a good rate.  Constantly follow the exchange rate at least for a month before traveling.  That way, you know the average exchange rate.  If the rates are volatile, the best thing to do is to change only enough for your daily needs (see computation above).  If you have a credit card in good standing, use that for purchasing the extras when you get to your destination.  Exchanging too much may end up with you having with too much foreign currency only to find out that on the day you leave, the piso has appreciated considerably.  And you losing from this.

Don’t attempt to change into DOLLARS only.  Remember, the DOLLAR is an acceptable currency globally.  BUT IT IS NOT THE ONLY CURRENCY UNIVERSALLY.  Exchanging into USD for travel to a country whose currency is Euros ends with you having to lose twice! That means that you bought dollars with your pisos (losing anywhere from 50 centavos to 1.50 for every dollar) then your dollar losing again to the Euro when you exchange your dollar to the Euro, say in Rome.

For example you bought $5000 at P53.00 (exchange rate is P52.50), then you lost 2,500 pisos.  When you get to Rome you need Euros.  Current exchange is $1 = 0.86 Euros.  Your $5000 is worth approximate 4318.92 Euros.  But that’s the exchange rate.  With the money changers, the exchange at the airport may be much less making the $5000 worth only $4200 Euros at best.  Not including the service fees of which they take 5% making the dollar lose more.  So you may lose an additional $250 in the next change, making you lose a total of P13,250 from dollar to Euro and 2,500 from piso to dollar or a grand total of P15, 750!

Double jeopardy always hurts.

There are countries that don’t have currencies available locally. Whether we like it or not, double jeopardy hits home.

Or not.

Credit Cards

The wonderful thing about that little plastic card that allows you to “borrow” money from a lender institution.

There are a few things you need to remember before flashing that card and swiping it.

1. Remember your credit limit. We all have one. Even the Queen of England or Mark Zuckerberg. The limit is in the local currency of issuance of the card.

2. If you have multiple credit cards then that may work in your favor. Foreign banks usually charge more when conversion compared to local banks.

I stopped using Citibank when in another country because their exchange rate is horrendous. If the current exchange rate is $1=P53, using your Citibank card would most probably put the exchange rate to P54.50 to the dollar. (The acceptable rate should be at least 50 centavos).

The credit cards that give the best exchange rates are: BDO, BPI and HSBC.

For all the cards, you get to earn points as you spend along. Sometimes, enough to get something of value in exchange on a later date.

Flexible payment options are also provided with credit cards. However, there’s an interest pegged at the amount you borrow. After all, a bank is a business. And a business needs to earn. Like all usurers, the cardinal rule here is – payback is a Bitch!

Mix and Match

It’s always a wise idea to bring a bit of cash and some credit cards. You’ll never know when you’ll need it.

As for me, I always check the exchange rates daily. When I see that the piso has appreciated (compared to the time I bought my currency), I use my credit card. When the piso loses while I’m on a trip, I use my cash.

Take my advice. Never. Ever. Bring. Philippine piso with you to exchange currency in a foreign country. At best, you’ll get a very lousy exchange value (except in countries where we have gazillion OFWs). At worst, no one will want to change your Piso.

(They don’t change Danish and Swedish Kronos in Manila. I will have to live with double jeopardy for this trip.)

p.s. Piso is the correct global philippine currency. Peso is the currency for the money of Mexico and other South American countries.

Traveling to another place will always require accommodation.

And just like flying, the choices have now diversified into so many options.

Staying Smart

Location. Location. Location.

The best place will always be at the heart of where the action is.  And where public transportation is most accessible.

For example, if your 5 days trip will require you and your family to spend 3 days at a theme park, then book your stay at a hotel near the theme park! You can go to other places for shopping, dining and entertainment FROM the hotel near the theme park on the remaining days.  Hotels near the theme or amusement parks are usually far cheaper than those centrally located in the business and shopping district.

In short, your choice of lodging will depend on your itinerary.

Boutique or Standard?

I have always had preference for Boutique Hotels. They are quaint. Have more personal service.  Usually have larger rooms compared to commercial standard hotels.  Not too noisy. And smell better!

The downside with many Boutique Hotels is that most of them are located a bit further down the road.  And there are few Boutique Hotels that are chain hotels with reward benefits.

(These are The Haymarket and The Ham Yard Hotel during our travel to London).

With so much information at our fingertips, searching for hotels together with airline deals are available from http://www.expedia.com or other websites that offer hotel deals like trivago.com or agoda.com.  These third party sites actually employ people to stalk the various promotions of airlines and hotels (and other events). They also cater mostly to standard business hotels (very rarely do I see a Boutique Hotel on their sites). Personally, I have tried some of these sites and you do get better deals for hotel cost (compared to booking directly at the hotel site) more often than not. However (and this is the however part), if you’re a member of the chain of hotel and made a booking through Agoda or Trivago or some other third party site, your stay in the hotel cannot be credited to earning points for upgrades or future redemption for free hotel stays. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.  Please do not fight with the front desk by brandishing your Hotel Stay Rewards card without checking the finer details.  Pay less but don’t expect to get rewarded with the discount afforded.

You cannot have your cake and eat it too!

The upside of a busy business hotel chain is the smorgasbord treat to a heavy breakfast spread.  Or the unlimited wine and cocktails if you’re booked on their executive floors.

If you’re still interested in a Boutique Hotel, then I suggest http://www.tablethotels.com or www.mr&mrssmith.com for your luxury escape.  These sites are uber luxurious and provide membership benefits.  Room upgrades (based on availability. Who doesn’t want to stay in a suite?!?!), late check-outs, free wifi (especially for hotels that make you pay extra for wifi use), free gifts and breakfast, travel and food vouchers, or simply escape to the world of being pampered?

(Photos of the Tokyo Station Hotel.  My favourite hotel in Tokyo, Japan)

Airbnb

Stands for Air-Bed and Breakfast. And it is a company.

Formed in 2007, it started as Airbedandbreakfast.com from a serendipitous alliance between friends.

Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia had just moved to San Francisco and became roommates.  Both didn’t have a job and needed money to pay rent. Both were designers and because the International Design Conference was coming to San Francisco in October and all the hotels were fully booked, the two thought that they could make some money by renting out their place and turning it into a bed and breakfast.

They got 3 airbeds and created a website called “Air Bed and Breakfast”.

People signed up to rent the airbeds and they cooked them breakfast every morning and acted like tour guides. Both Brian and Joe did not mean to start a business. It wasn’t a stroke of genius.  It was from a need – to pay the rent. It gradually became a big idea. They eventually expanded beyond their apartment and their three airbeds and shortened the company name to Airbnb.

The rest is history.

It’s an online marketplace that allows people to share their accommodations for a fee. Launched officially in 2009, it’s an online marketplace that allows people to rent out their properties or spare rooms to guests (“strangers if you asked me”).  Airbnb takes 3% commission of every booking from hosts, and between 6-12% from guests.  Not bad for just a website born from needing to pay rent.

The upside and why people are into Airbnb is, you can rent prime property at half the cost of having to stay in a 15 sqm hotel room. Easy to book. Personal communication with the host. Well maintained and up-to-date. And safe.  It’s like an Uber for lodging – anywhere from a room to a whole villa!

Relatives and Friends

Now this has never been a good idea to me.

They say that’s “what friends are for”.

So you decide to go on a trip and announce to the world that you’re traveling to some part of the world. And expect friends to host.

In all honesty, it’s always difficult to have guests over at your place.  Expecting them to put up with you, AND your family may be difficult for some. Place yourself in the position of the guest before considering staying with them.

Wherever you stay, remember that there are rules to be followed.  It is not your home.  There are others that are occupants in the place.  Being considerate is vital to co-existence.

I am not Skytrax and this is not a review of all the airlines.

So here’s my take on flying.

Flying Smart

The most important factor in choosing an airline is the flight record.  After all, we need to get from Point A to Point B. The basis for bestowing an airline as being safe include: previous incidents, average age of their fleets, and audits from governments and aviation industry’s regulatory bodies.

With that said, the world’s safest airlines for 2018 are (in alphabetical order):

1. Air New Zealand
2. Alaska Airlines
3. All Nippon Airways
4. British Airways
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Emirates
7. Etihad Airways
8. EVA Air
9. Finnair
10. Hawaiian Airlines
11. Japan Airlines
12. KLM
13. Lufthansa
14. Qantas
15. Royal Jordanian Airlines
16. Scandinavian Airline System
17. Singapore Airlines
18. Swiss
19. Virgin Atlantic
20. Virgin Australia

Of course, just because they’re not up there in the list does not mean that the airline isn’t worth the trip.  Just make sure they’re not in the bottom of the pack. For those who fear flying, traveling by air is one of the safest way to get to your destination of choice. While there are reports on tragic accidents, it is impressive to note that the airline industry has placed safety as its priority.  Data from year 2000-2017, showed that the range of fatal accidents was between 10-37 and the number of deaths between 256-1139 for the years 2000-2016.  In 2017, there were 10 fatal accidents for commercial flights, resulting in 44 deaths. None of the fatalities involved passenger jets.

Options Options

Choosing a destination to travel should take into consideration the shortest route with the least possible jet lag, and the best available time without having to perturb your body clock.

That, to me, is a no brainer.  Obviously, the cheapest fares will always be the least traveled routes.  While it looks economically appealing to just book the cheapest, sometimes it ends up as being more expensive because you arrive either in the wee hours of the morning (where you’ll need to drop your things and stroll around town because your room isn’t available yet) or super late in the evening (because that’s the time you arrive).

The worst kind of flight is the long haul with (1) a very long (> 3 1/2 hrs) layover, or (2) multiple pit stops (> 1).  Even when you’re traveling on first or business class, try to factor in the long layovers and try to see if it’s really worth the long wait. I mean, yes, you want to arrive at your destination but if you’re arriving like part of the luggage (that’s been tossed and thrown around), you might as well save enough to afford a trip that will make you arrive like a human being!

The Upgrade

We all love free tickets.  Or an upgrade! Believe me when I say, when you’ve flown in business class (especially for the long hauls), flying on economy class is a blah! With various airlines competing with each other for more customers nowadays, this is the best time to strike a deal by traveling in comfort. And getting away from it all.  After all, your vacation can begin from the time you step into the airport, without having to wait till you get to your destination.  From the personal lounges, you can sit and sip your margarita while watching CNN or the planes arriving and departing on the oversized windows facing the tarmac.

It’s not just about the better service or the personal space or the unlimited food and drinks, the extra amenities, the turn down beds, those large comforters and pillows and a 180 degrees lie flat bed or a chair that massages you all throughout your flight.  Or those slippers and night shades or the midnight snacks, or another round of Martini with your tenderloin steak at 35,000 feet.  Of course, there’s the extra space around you and the multiple sockets for your gazillion gadgets. You’ll never need your battery pack on board.

And no queue to the larger lavatories! That alone is worth the price of a business class ticket for long hauls.

And flying business class does not have to be too expensive that you’d break the bank.  Stalk the internet and the various airfare promotions so that you can anticipate these mega sale where some business class fares are given for a song. Compare the various airlines that leave from your destination to the places where you want to go.  And choose an airline that have alliances so that you’re earning miles on whichever alliance (not just the airline) that you’re flying! Pretty soon, you’ll be traveling free or on an upgraded flight!

If your budget won’t fit the business class seats, choose a plane that may offer premium economy seats or pay a little extra from front or choice seats.  This is where your miles will also come in handy because some airlines offer the upgrade to better seats in exchange for miles earned.

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Preparing for a flight is important.  If you have maintenance medicines which you need to take during the flight, keep them in your carry-on bag.  Don’t pack your house and insist on cramping everything into your carry-on luggage.  You need to be considerate of other passengers who are sharing the same luggage bin as you!

At the airport, be mindful of the departure schedule.  Try to be there 2-3 hours ahead of your flight.  Take note of the announcements on boarding time and gates.  Don’t hold up the plane because you’re still busy shopping at the duty free shop.  Remember: you don’t own the plane! You don’t want people to clap or glare at you when you’re the last to board or that they will have to get rid of the baggages that you checked in because they won’t allow you to board any longer.

There are in flight reminders and instructions.  In case of emergencies you will need to remember them.  Take time to remember these announcements.  They were made for you!

Oh and finally, please make sure that you dress appropriately even if it is a commercial flight.  Other passengers still have their sense of smell intact.  Don’t make it a 13 hours hell ride for the passenger next to you just because you’ve not showered or your clothes have been worn for several days.  It is violative of human rights on an airtight enclosed area.

With these in mind, I hope you have a safe journey and enjoy your flight.