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Comment, Did You Know, & Airlines
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Airlines, Airports & Hotels
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Travel Advisories, Travel News and Destinations
Greg
James, General Manager
From
airline meals to lodges in Central America and Botswana, this issue
of Communique Extra is packed with news and interesting places to go.
If
you missed it last time, we have changed our website address to the
user-friendly www.bti.com.sg.
Our website is full of information designed to help you along
your way. Be sure to visit us today.
What
are your thoughts? Are you for it or against it? Let us know at
communique@bti.com.sg
and we will publish the results in our next issue.
Yours
faithfully as always,
There's always a forum for your travel
stories. From www.lonelyplanet.com
to Fodors Talk
you can publish your travel stories, often unedited online. Blogs from
other travellers, including writers for those guides are included. These
websites also have fascinating monthly newsletters that you can subscribe
to. It is a healthy way to enrich your business travel experience with
local flavour and tips or just sit back and enjoy virtual tours of almost
any country. Its just click away.
Star Alliance Round the World Fare increase.
Effective from Friday 15th April 2005, changes to Star Alliance Round
the World fares and rules will be implemented.
Landing at LAX? Watch out for shrimp: Airports can face
a whole host of regulatory headaches, but few can top this one at Los
Angeles International. The airport suddenly found itself in a dispute
over an endangered species after a rare breed of shrimp – yes,
shrimp – were found living on LAX grounds. The
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endangered Riverside fairy shrimp were discovered to have an extensive
habitat at LAX, one of the species last significant habitats. But airport
officials said they couldn't protect the shrimp, arguing that keeping
standing water and the shrimp on its grounds could attract birds. Bird,
of course, are dangerous around airport runways since they could get
sucked into a jet engine and cause major damage. The city apparently
agreed with the airport, and will undertake what the Los
Angeles Times calls a "massive relocation effort" that
will see workers move 468 tons of dirt – by hand – to try
to save the shrimp. (source: www.usatoday.com/travel)
Airlines
Now Screen Passengers.
First
British Airways and now KLM have been turned back from the USA from
flying over US airspace whilst mid-air for allegedly having passengers
on board who were on the US government's list of terror suspects. KLM
announced this week that it will now screen passengers flying to the
USA. You can be sure other airlines will follow.
112
hotline in Seoul: Visitors
to Seoul, Korea, now may dial 1-1-2 in the event of an accident or emergency.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has implemented a special 7-language
interpretation service for foreign visitors, recently adding German,
French, Spanish and Russian hotlines to the existing 112 hotlines for
those speaking English, Japanese or Chinese. The police also plan to
install simultaneous interpretation devices at 187 police stations and
substations.
Scratch a flea and find a bargain.
The Paris flea markets originated in the 18th century when chiffoniers
or rag-and-bone men resold goods and clothing found in aristocrats'
rubbish bins, setting up just outside the gates of Paris to avoid fees
and taxes incurred within city walls. Consequently, the main flea markets
sit on the rim of the city close to the Boulevard Peripherique (ring
road). Most
visitors make a beeline for Puces de St-Ouen (Clignancourt), the largest
flea market in the capital. Yet the intricate labyrinth of 2500 stalls
and 17 kilometres of alleyways and 70,000 bargain hunters can be overwhelming.
Gulf
Air
Gulf Air is offering customers the Frequent Traveller’s Medical
Card (FREMEC), which enables customers who are permanently or chronically
incapacitated to travel without obtaining medical clearances every time
they fly. The service also retains an up to date report of the passenger’s
medical condition and records each patient’s specific needs during
flight, whether this involves wheelchair use or dietary requirements.
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“The
reservation and travel process is considerably simplified and speeded
up because passengers are immediately accepted for travel subject to
the stipulations on the card, and no further enquiry is needed,”
said Tariq Sultan, Vice President Information Technology at Gulf Air.
“A number of elderly and wheelchair-bound passengers already use
this free facility and have found it to be immensely useful and time
effective.”
The
application process is simple. The passenger’s general practitioner
is required to complete the online FREMEC form or a printed form available
from all Gulf Air offices. This medical information is assessed and
recorded by the Head of Medical Services at Gulf Air before issuing
the card. The card is valid for five years and is easily renewed by
submitting a form with up-to-date medical information.
Jetstar Asia
Jetstar Asia has announced that in it's quest to continue to offer passengers
the best in-flight service from a value for money airline, from June
2005 passengers will be able to watch new release and popular movies,
sitcoms and music videos via a state-of-the-art "Video On Demand"
portable digital entertainment system. more
>
Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines have begun code-share
services between Manila and Bandar Seri Begawan, with Royal Brunei as
the operating carrier. Flights are five-times-weekly. PR 683 departs
Bandar Seri Begawan every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at
12:40 p.m. and arrives in Manila at 2:40 p.m. The return flight, PR
684, departs Manila at 3:40 p.m. and arrives in Brunei at 5:40 p.m.
On Sundays, PR 687 leaves Brunei at 7:10 p.m. and arrives in Manila
at 9:10 p.m. Return flight PR 688 departs Manila at 10:10 p.m. and lands
in Brunei at 12:10 a.m. early the next day.
Qantas
Qantas is celebrating 70 years in Singapore with special discount fares.
Contact your BTI rep today to learn more.
Silk Air
Silk Air now has an extra flight to Kunming, China
on Fridays. MI912 departs Singapore 0755hrs arr 1210hrs Fri; departs
Kunming MI913 1315hrs arrives 1715hrs.
Silk Air is now operating a 3rd daily flight return to Phuket, ex Singapore
MI754 at 1305hrs arr Phuket 1355hrs. Depart Phuket MI753 at 1455hrs
arrive Singapore 1740hrs.
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