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Scary! https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/exclusive-luggage-tag-switching-scheme-involves-flights-from-canada-to-countries-where-drug-smuggling-can-carry-death-penalty/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email CTV News’ investigative unit W5 has found at least 17 innocent passengers on flights originating in Canada were detained on drug smuggling allegations over the past year after their baggage tags were switched onto suitcases filled with drugs. All were eventually released, but only after some had been handcuffed, arrested and jailed overseas. W5 compiled the data through court records, news releases and police sources. The cases involved flights from Canada to the Dominican Republic, Paris, Germany, Morocco, Bermuda, the Philippines and Korea, where drug smuggling can carry the death penalty. In the last year, the RCMP has arrested six baggage and ramp workers at Toronto Pearson International Airport in connection with alleged bag tag switching cases. These numbers only reflect cases in which drugs have been detected. There is no way of knowing how many passengers may have unknowingly had their names used to move drugs around the world. - - - - How to protect yourself when you fly * Take photos and videos of your bag at the airport. Document what your luggage looks like before you hand it over. * Take a photo or video of your bag being weighed. That can help confirm the original weight of your luggage in case anything is added after check-in. * Make sure your bag tag is securely attached. Before your bag disappears onto the conveyor belt, check that the tag is properly fastened and clearly visible. * Keep a record of your baggage receipt. Do not throw out the small sticker or baggage claim receipt until your trip is over and your luggage is safely back in your possession. * Use a luggage tracker. Several victims told W5 that tracking devices helped show where their real bags had gone. * Take a photo of the bag tag itself. Make sure the tag number, destination and passenger name are visible.

We all missed being able to travel during the dark and uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when Vaccinated Travel Lanes were introduced, few of us were interested. After all, undergoing numerous PCR tests is uncomfortable and being subject to quarantines, especially if you catch COVID, is hardly how anyone wants to spend their holiday. So, a lot of folks became 'tourists in their own country'. And staycations, or staycays for short, became popular. Being cooped up in one's home for too long does that to people. But now that we can freely travel without needing PCR tests and quarantines (and face masks for that matter), some have opined that staycays are no longer relevant. I, however, think otherwise. Here are five reasons why. Photo: Paolo Nicolello, Unsplash 1. It's less of a hassle compared to going overseas. Planning an overseas holiday is complicated. You need to book flights, consider where you'll be staying and figure out an itinerary. That means you'll have to do research (Google and YouTube) to come up with a list of places and activities to do at your destination. This also results in having to figure out the logistics and transportation that go along with said activities. How difficult this will be is subjective. But some form of planning is required. In comparison, a staycay only requires me to plan when to take leave and check out the room rates for the hotel my wife and I wish to stay in. Then, we just pack light. There is no need to wake up early or stay up late to catch a flight. Flying off to another country is fun, but it requires planning, time and effort 2. Forgot something? No worries. One of the advantages of staycationing is convenience - you don't have to go or look far to find say, toiletries or swimwear. There's also no need to exchange currency (or worry about exchange rates and which money changer to go to). I don't have to subscribe to a roaming service either. One thing that worries me before my wife and I fly overseas is whether we've left anything charging. If we're on a staycation, we wouldn't be concerned because hey, if needed, we can return home to check. Not having to worry about such things is why staycations can be more stress-free compared to a holiday overseas. You can still eat well in Singapore - just go to your usual haunts while on a staycation 3. There might be food issues. Trying new food is one of the biggest reasons for exploring other countries. You can really get to know another country's culture by keeping an open mind and sampling their local fare. However, not all of us are fortunate enough to have travel companions with the same mindset. If your family members are the type who 'can only eat local food' or worse, only want to patronise restaurants from global F&B chains, holidaying overseas is probably inconvenient for you. But if you're on a staycation, then your less adventurous family members should have less to complain about, which might result in less stress for you as well. Hotels like Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore can make you feel like you're in an overseas resort, even if you haven't left the country 4. Consider medical concerns. Not everyone is blessed with good health, even for those who work out regularly and watch their diet. Sometimes, genetics just gets the better of you. If you have family members that can't travel due to underlying medical concerns, a staycation is a good alternative. Frankly, being able to find a hotel that gives you the feeling that you're not in Singapore is not easy. But perhaps a getaway to Sentosa (which is not on the 'mainland') might suffice. Although you'd still be in Singapore, staying at a hotel means not having to clean your room or worry about running the air-con 24/7. Not having to think about chores is a stress-reliever, which is what holidays are about. 5. Staycations generally cost less. A three-night stay at a local hotel (provided you haven't booked the Presidential Suite and aren't eating all your meals there) can be cheaper than a six-day holiday overseas, so when I feel like I need a quick break from work, a staycation really does the trick. Well-meaning colleagues always mention that part of the hotel budget could have been used for air tickets. Or that we should have redeemed our miles instead. But these suggestions overlook the fact that going overseas entails other costs as well. These include currency exchange, your hotel, food, and pocket money for shopping. When we're overseas, there's a tendency to want to eat more food and buy more stuff because you might not find the same things back home.

Lol....AMDK pay economy expect biz? https://www.airlineratings.com/featured/oh-for-some-economy-class-consideration/

Was trying to search for a reliable website to book air ticket for mulit-city flights, saw a few like Trip.com, Kiwi.com, Expedia, etc. Other than expedia that i used very often, the rest dun seem to have good reviews. Some can narrow down to different airline on each flights to give you the cheapest package. Too bad Expedia dun have budget airline for such arrangement. Anyone use these websites to book flights? or maybe i should go to travel agents to issue physical ticket just to be safe

37 flights delayed, one runway closed for 10 hours, due to unauthorised drones around Changi Airport Sources: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/37-flights-delayed-one-runway-closed-for-10-hours-due-to-unauthorised-drones SINGAPORE - Some 37 flights were delayed and one of Changi Airport's two runways was closed for 10 hours, after unauthorised drones were spotted flying in the vicinity of the airport on Tuesday (June 18) and Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Wednesday evening. "To ensure the safety of aircraft operations and passengers, the operations of one runway were suspended for short periods of time between 11pm on June 18 and 9am on June 19," said the authority in a statement to the media. The CAAS noted that Changi Airport continued to operate with one runway while operations on the other runway were suspended. The agency added that about 37 scheduled departure and arrival flights were delayed as a result, with one arrival flight being diverted to Kuala Lumpur. A multi-agency team that includes the CAAS, Changi Airport Group, the Singapore Armed Forces and the police has been activated for search and locate operations. Investigations are ongoing, said the authority. "The authorities take a serious view of errant operations of unmanned aircraft which may pose threats to aviation or endanger the personal safety of others, and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against those who contravene regulations," said the CAAS. Under the Unmanned Aircraft (Public Safety and Security) Act, the flying of drones within 5km of airports or military airbases, or at altitudes above 200ft (61m), without a permit is an offence. Those found guilty of violating these regulations face a fine of up to $20,000 or up to 12 months in jail, or both penalties. Drones have disrupted civil aviation elsewhere. In December last year, unauthorised drone activity disrupted flights at London's Gatwick Airport for three days, affecting about 140,000 passengers and 1,000 flights. In January, Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min said in Parliament that there had been eight reports of unauthorised drones flying within 5km of Changi Airport over the past three years, though none of these cases involved intrusions into the airport.

Anybody brought this "Flights to Hong Kong: Return Cathay Pacific Flights for 1 Person @ $255.00" from groupon web site? http://getaways.groupon.sg/en/deals/720487007 How is your experience when you try to redeem the air ticket from Fare Express Pte Ltd? Please share...

some time reading what the MY minister say can really make you tear

And my personal opinion is....this is great news for people who loves NZ and planning to visit! Mar 18, 2011 IN THE ST NEWSPAPER TODAY Jetstar launches flights to Auckland Daily long-haul service to NZ city from here sees it compete with SIA By Karamjit Kaur, Aviation Correspondent Return fares for Jetstar flights to Auckland will be from $500 to $1,000, according to its website. Customers will have to pay extra for food, entertainment and other frills. -- PHOTO: BLOOMBERG THE dogfight for airline passengers now extends to the Singapore-Auckland route. Low-cost carrier Jetstar launched its second long-haul service from Singapore yesterday, following the start of daily services to Melbourne, Australia in December last year.

Just curious if any of u fellas actually use the towels to wipe your faces? I, for one, would not even let it anywhere near my face. Have seen people use em to blow noses, wipe feet, arm pits, spit into em etc. Yucks. These towels are recycled. I only use em wipe my handphone screen......

My own flight on Mon morning was cancelled last Fri and they allowed bookings on Tues morning even though that was also cancelled eventually. Today's (Wed) morning flight was also canned. So if you have friends who are on TR morning flights to HCMC, pls advise them to draw up some backup plans. I peeved not bec they cancelled flights but that they still allowed flight to be booked when they are not even sure if that plane will actually be back in service. (assuming it's mechanical reasons)