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| UGLY TOURISTS |
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We recently wrote about the world’s “ugliest” tourists, and a new European survey of hotel managers from 27 countries shows Japanese and German tourists the most polite and uncomplaining.
Moreover, Huns are praised for their tidiness and cleanliness, but Japanese ranked even better across the board. Canadians came third. French and Spanish tourists rated low, while. Americans were ranked high for their tipping. French rated highest for dress sense; English lowest for tidiness. Anecdotally, we asked a Bangkok hotel GM who rates worst for tidiness, and he surprisingly replied, New Zealand!
With rising affluence and tourism numbers from Russians, Indians, Chinese these countries, Asian tourism boards are slashing Western outlays, and funneling more to the BRIC market. Expect revised results on future best and worst tourist results. |
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| B.S. |
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| With cows blamed for a rather unbelievable 20% green house emissions, India’s Environment Minister Kairam Ramesh calls for an end to beef eating. In Hindu countries the cow is sacred, so rarely consumed. But instead of returning to vegetarian fare, as the official recommends, how about returning to grass fed cows? Feeding bovines grain was never as natured intended, creating bloated, uncomfortable animals who cannot digest properly. (That’s where the real greenhouse emissions kick in.) There is a strong movement back to grass fed, with some steak specialists now offering an option to diners. The trick to good grass fed animals, is long hanging to tenderize; and avoid yearling. Grass fed meat is leaner, but a far cry from the well-marbeled Waygu of Japanese fame. |
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| MISCELLANY |
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The future of Japan Air Lines stewardess uniforms is as risque as that financially-troubled airline itself. With mass layoffs, there’s concern many a frock will go astray. Seems Japanese fetishists titillate to its wardrobe charms, and black market JAL and ANA booty fetch as much as $24,000. Airline execs worry such antics besmirch their image. Solution: sewing microchips into uniforms for easy tracing. If used JAL costumes fetch such a high price, what costs a Virgin?
In the case of British Air stewardesses, outfitting was the furtherest thing from their mind. Cheeky pix of flight attendants lifting up their skirts surfaced on a porn website, flouting cabin crews’ distinctive red, white and blue bits. Pix were taken by staff fooling around on an aircraft, then sent to friends. They were never intended to get out and it would never have occurred to the girls they would end up on a porn site a source told the The Sun.
Which leads to a further dressing down: An English lass was arrested in August for stripping to her bikini in a Dubai mall. The incident occurred after chastisement from a traditionally-garbed woman. Her retort: unveiling then and there down to skivvies. Reportedly, there are multi-lingual signs in the complex admonishing women to wear respectful clothing.
Which leads us to another dressing down: While the Brits rank low for tidiness (see “Ugly Tourists” above), they’ve long embodied the concept of “propriety.” No more – at least in Dubai. An English lass was arrested in August for stripping to her bikini in a Dubai mall, after receiving a tongue lashing from a traditional-garbed Arab woman, who complained the foreigner already exposed too much. Her retort: unveiling then and there down to her beach wear. (Reportedly, there are multi-lingual signs in the complex admonishing women to wear “respectful clothing.”) Earlier this year an English girl spent a month in jail for very publicly locking lips with a local lad in a restaurant, and in March, an un-married Indian couple was jailed for “coercian to commit sin” after exchanging steamy SMS messages. Then there’s the “sex on beach” scandal of ’08 that continues to receive world attention. According to The Mail “Police are so concerned about the city's drunken daytime parties that they are intending to mount a special 'brunch patrol' to catch misbehaving Britons.”
Real men don’t eat chicken. Or so claims Bolivian president Evo Morales, claiming producers inject birds with female hormones. “Because of that, men who consume them have problems with being men.” The Bolivian president also condemns Coca-Cola: “It is harmful. Imagine what it contains.” Cocaine, for one thing. And that comes from Bolivia.
Coca Cola was introduced in 1886, initially as a pharmaceutical syrup or patent medicine for headache, impotence and an alternative to morphine addiction. It also helped energy and digestion. The original formula contained cocaine derived from fresh cocoa leaves. Today’s recipe calls for spent or de-natured leaves. Perhaps Morales is piqued the American company now uses cocoa plants grown in New Jersey, instead of Bolivia. |
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| AIRLINE NEWS |
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| Mind you stash |
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Flight attendants on Vietnam Airlines have been accused of stealing over $12,000
from a passenger's handbag placed under her seat.
The alleged robbery occurred on a domestic flight from Hanoi to Dong Hoi, after the swindled passenger placed a handbag with VND200 million into a luggage compartment on the flight,. When the plane landed the money was gone. Flight attendants on the continuing journey to Ho Chi Minh City found the stash – but under another seat. |
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| You Get What you Pay For |
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The next time you are tempted by low fares on a discount air carrier, recall the old adage, “you get what you pay for.” Authorities revoked discount Viva Macau's license after the airline failed to assist passengers stranded by flight cancellations. The carrier cancelled services earlier this year because of ''fuel payment issues'' and refused helping stranded passengers, according to a statement on the Macau SAR government's website. They quoted “poor attitude” and a failure to fulfill commercial responsibilities, then withdrew the discount carrier's operating license. |
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Personally, we stopped flying discount carriers because add on charges easily equal the price on a full service carrier.
More importantly, investigate the age of the aircraft, and years’ experience of its pilots.
When it comes to cheap flights, such companies save money in unexpected ways.
Such as sitting delayed on tarmac, without air conditioning or power. |
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Budget Saves |
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US air travelers have never had it worse. Yet we suspect our North American brethren don’t realize how much better it is in other parts of the world, where free meals and complimentary check-in baggage is still the norm. US airlines made $1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010 just on luggage slugs and “optional” charges, according to the Government Accountability Office. |
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But there is no excuse when “full service” carriers copy budget’s miserly lead.
Continental Airlines, the last major US holdout, now charges for economy-class meals on most of its North American plus some overseas flights. According to the airline’s exec VP, the move “reflects today’s market and customer preferences.” Well. Personally speaking, I prefer to be fed. Who wouldn’t?
The trend runs in tandem with fees that were unheard of a decade ago, most notably for luggage. US no-frills carrier Spirit Airlines charges passengers as much as US$45 for each piece of carry-on luggage they bring aboard. Passengers are forking out for everything from pillows to in-flight drinks and peanuts, plus for credit card use. We’ve even heard that window blinds will soon come as an option.
To see which airline charges what, visit luggagelimits.com for a quick and easy breakdown, categorized by airline and route. In the meantime, you might want to stop for a slice of pizza before boarding your next flight.
The end point: when there are fees you disagree with, take your business elsewhere. Also let management know why you are leaving. They’ll get the message. Plus forward a complaint to your relevant governmental overseer, and politician. Where are our consumer affairs advocates when it comes to airline service?
More importantly, where are our legislators? Possibly ensconced in first class trimmings, neglecting what’s happening back of the bus?
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Agents Rule |
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Travel agency GDS booking networks are developing ways for agents to charge airline such extras directly on their reservations. At the moment, surcharges – from fuel to priority boarding, pre-paid baggage allowance and extra legroom, are non-commissionable, and can only be paid directly to the airline, or its airport agent. Travel agents say this damages customer service, and puts them at a competitive disadvantage to airlines’ websites. Presumably, going to the toilet is not something that most people want to book and pay for days in advance. |
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| Hidden Baggage: |
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American was the first US carrier to charge, introducing the fee in May 2008. Others quickly followed suit. What started off as a seemingly bad idea turned into an industry standard. Two years later, there remain just two lonely standouts that don't charge customers for their baggage: Southwest (two checked bags free) and JetBlue (one checked bag free). So what happened to the Warsaw convention allowing 20 kilos, and US government standards decreeing 2 bags? Airlines slightly discount when checking on line – typically about 10% less. |
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As for Southwest, they now boast about their free bag allowance. , To hammer the point, Southwest recently decaled 50 aircraft with the slogan, "Free Bags Fly Here" and an arrow pointing to its cargo bin. The airline also tagged 1,000 luggage carts across the system with banners saying "I Carry Free Bags." We recall when America West originally allowed 3 check in bags free.
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| Missed point: |
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Canada has the right idea when it comes to carry-ons, proclaimed eTurboNews Rush Edition, noting that trans-US passengers from Canada are now allowed two bags plus personal items on the plane. Previously, enhanced security measures limited carry-ons to just one. The reason: full body scanners are now in force there. w: Immigration on Board. This initiative allows passengers entering Indonesia to have their travel documents processed on-board, eliminating the need to queue at immigration counters upon arrival. It’s estimated passengers can save up to 2 hours during peak times, and having personally suffered interminably long lines at Jakarta’s airport, that’s quite a saving! |
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That old bone: |
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Ryan Air’s perennial call to charge for toilet use, and stand-up “seating”. Spend a pound to spend a penny. When will it stop? (And yes, we realize this old ”bone” is regularly dug up to feed press and further publicity.) But what does it say about an airline that thinks this kind of publicity is good publicity???? Ryanair is also seeking ways to cut the number of toilets on board, leaving just one available cubicle for up to 189 passengers. The airline wants to change passenger behavior “so that they use the bathroom before or after the flight. That will enable us to remove two out of three of the toilets and make way for at least six extra seats,” says a spokesman.
Accrued miles on US Airways? Book a flight using frequent flyer miles and you'll be charged $25 to $50 just to redeem. So much for "reward." This extra fee negates the "free" element. If it sounds unfair, that's because it is. While other airlines will let you book award travel for free online, try to do so in person or over the phone and it becomes a different story, with penalties ranging from $15 to $40. |
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| On board immigration/Processing On Board |
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Indonesia’s national airline Garuda has long suffered bad press, especially when the EU banned its flights for safety reasons. Now that they’re back, here’s a feature we’d like to see others copy: Immigration on Board. This initiative allows passengers entering Indonesia to have their travel documents processed on-board, eliminating the need to queue at immigration counters upon arrival. It’s estimated passengers can save up to 2 hours during peak times, and having personally suffered interminably long lines at Jakarta’s airport, that’s quite a saving!
www.garuda-indonesia.com/news/2010/01/22/garuda-indonesia-introduces-immigration-on-board-service |
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| Vive la V |
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Our Air Asia picture in the last edition “Cheap enough to say, Phuket I’ll go” had other carriers clamouring for PR. V Australia now flies weekly from Melbourne and Perth to Phuket, and thrice weekly ex Brisbane to the island paradise. Queensland travellers have a double incentive, with a $50 car parking voucher thrown into the deal as well. Meanwhile, business V Australia travellers flying the Aussie to LA route have a tasty surprise, with celebrity chef Luke Magnan creating special “Vistro” menus. “fresh, tasty, recognisable food with an Aussie touch.” As their publicist puts it. |
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| Dream Run |
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With the Dreamliner airplane creating headaches for Boeing, a new variant of tried and true 747 could rival Airbus' superjumbo A380. The new Boeing 747-800 had its first test flight in February, with a late 2010 launch date. Its also touted as a possible replacement to the president’s Air Force 1. Its less ambitious goals have industry analysts confident that it can fly on schedule. Developed and being built alongside the Dreamliner 787 in the same Boeing plant, the old work horse is said to boast greater fuel efficiency and lower operating costs than the A380 rival.
We’ve flown twice on the Airbus A380, and its ultra quiet, but it’s mammoth size makes it a time-consuming effort to get through check in and on-board – at least in economy class! We’ll certainly avoid that plane when the budget carriers start flying it. |
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