Trip Report: SriLankan Airlines, Colombo to Pakistan (September 2019)

Trip Report: SriLankan Airlines, Colombo to Pakistan
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I needed to travel from Colombo to Pakistan and there were a couple of options available - either through the Middle East, through Southeast Asia, or direct flights.  The direct option was the best in terms of overall flight times as well as the flight schedule worked for my schedule.  SriLankan is a part of the oneworld alliance so I used AAdvantage points to book my flight.  I booked my flight on American's website and then I called SriLankan to confirm the details and to get the SriLankan confirmation, but this seemed more difficult than it needed to be.  After speaking to two different agents at SriLankan, as well as emailing them, I gave up and worked with an American Airlines agent who provided me the information.  With my SriLankan reservation number, I was able to go online and modify my reservation, select my seat assignment, as well as select any special meals.

The SriLankan flight from Colombo to Karachi operates 5x's a week and departs Colombo at 12:20pm and arrives into Karachi at 3:20pm for an estimated flight time of 3hr 30min.  24hours prior to my flight I was able to checkin via the website, and confirm my preselected seat assignment.   My flight was scheduled at 12:20pm, but there is a lot of security checkpoints at Colombo International so I was advised to get to the airport 3hours ahead of schedule; in the end, there was a lot of waiting around as security and immigration were extremely quick.  Even though the flight was not scheduled until 12:20pm, at 10am they started announcing for passengers to go through security at the gate even though after security there is nothing to do but sit and wait for the flight which we did until proper boarding happened at 11:15am.  Boarding was supposed to happen in groups and by sections, but many passengers were not listening to the airlines instructions and the airline staff eventually gave up and just let everyone board at the same time. 

The operating aircraft for the flight was an Airbus A321 with a 2-2 seat configuration in business class and a 3-3 seat configuration in economy class.  The seat itself had a seatback PTV with a headphone jack and USB port, a full tray table, a pocket underneath which contained the airline magazine and the safety card, and there was a pillow on each seat.  The seat itself was generally comfortable and both the seat pitch and width were comfortable, especially for this short flight.  Once boarding was complete, there were some empty seats in the front so passengers were allowed to move around to more comfortable seats.  Once pushback started, a safety video was shown and then we taxied to the runway and took off for Karachi.

Once we reached cruising altitude, the inflight service commenced with lunch and drinks.  I had

preordered a special meal and that was delivered along with the regular meals - and the meal consisted of a main dish, a salad, and dessert.  While the quantity was fine, especially for this mid-range flight, the quality of the food was a bit subpar and it was the only disappointing thing on the flight.  Tea and coffee were also provided after the meal service and then once the trays were cleared, it was up to the individual passenger how they wanted to spend their time.  Some slept, some read, while others watched movies or TV shows on the PTV screens.  The selection was decent but a bit limited so I was not sure if this was their full range of videos or if they had limited it given the short flight time (because it was enough for this flight time but definitely would not be enough for their longer flights to London).  For the remaining flight, the FA's mostly stayed in the back and never walked through the cabin so if you needed anything you did have to walk to the back; they were responsive to FA call buttons.  After a while, we started our descent into Karachi and landed on time and quickly taxied to the gate.  

Overall, I was impressed with my flight with SriLankan.  I have been trying to fly with this airline for about 5 years but always one thing would happen and I would not have the opportunity.  I finally got the opportunity and they are an impressive mid-range airline.  They operate a mid-range number of flights and given their range and destination of flights I think they offer a good service with competitive rates and good amenities.  The seat was nice, the onboard amenities such as USB port and PTV screens was nice, and a complimentary meal was provided.  The negatives were the poor quality of the food, the limited entertainment selections, and the long waiting time in Colombo.  Based on this experience, I would definitely choose to fly with SriLankan in the future. 

Trip Report: Malindo Air, Kuala Lumpur to Colombo (September 2019)

Trip Report: Malindo Air, Kuala Lumpur to Colombo
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

I was in Kuala Lumpur and needed to travel to Colombo.  There are a couple of options on this route, but based on timing and price I choose to go with Malindo Air.  I had arrived into Kuala Lumpur on Malindo (check out that review here) so I had a general idea of what I was expecting.  It is interesting to note that even when booking on one ticket, Malindo combines two one-way fares so you can either pay for them individually or separately; the fare will be the same (my two flights were the same price either booked together or separately).  Booking the flight through the Malindo website was easy and it allowed me to select which option best suited me.  From the reviews and previous passengers, Malindo used to provide full service experience at budget prices; however, now they have changed their product into bundles; the bundles range from basic to business with variations in between.  As I had checked baggage, I choose the option that included checked luggage - this fare only included checked baggage and not preselecting your seat, as there was another option that included both of these combinations; the bundle that I selected also included a meal (all bundles apparently included a meal).  Note: standard luggage allowance is 23kg but as Malindo is shifting to a low-cost carrier model, they have reduced their complimentary luggage allowance to 20kg; you can add more weight for a fee.

You could manage your booking either through the website or through the app - you got more services from the website than through the app; with the app, I was able to check-in online and select my seat 48hours prior to departure.  My flight was scheduled to depart Kuala Lumpur at 10:25pm and arrive into Colombo at 11:25pm but earlier in the morning I received an email from Malindo stating that my flight was delayed and that my new departure time was 11:35pm.  I appreciated Malindo's proactiveness in this situation and allowing the passengers almost all day to rearrange their schedule.      

Even though Kuala Lumpur is Malindo's hub, I had to wait until 3 hours prior to my flight before the check-in desks opened.  Check-in was a breeze, and even though my luggage was at 20kg, the weight enforcement was not stringent.  Once the gate was opened, passengers went through gate security and to the boarding area to wait for the flight; even though the gate was open the plane still had not arrived.  I got a bit nervous as whether the flight would be delayed further - also, Malindo has a 'flexible' definition of on-time; the plane landed, passengers deplaned, and boarded was done by groups.  Even though we were delayed and boarding started later than usual, there was no sense of rush or hurry amongst either the ground staff or airline crew; everyone took their time to board and get situated in their seat.

Malindo Air is part of the Lion Air Group which also Batik Air, Lion Air, and Thai Lion Air so even though the flight was operated by Malindo Air, the outside of the plane said Batik Air.  The operating aircraft was a Boeing 737-800 with a 2-2 in business class and a 3-3 in economy class.  The plane generally looked in good condition and looked fairly new, with mood lighting and updated overhead panels.  The seat pitch was very good and very generous - I am 6'1 and my knees weren't even touching the seat in front of me.  The seat looked new and stylish in black and red leather type, but it was not that comfortable and was really uncomfortable towards the end of the flight.  Malindo had prided itself of providing seatback entertainment on its flight and this plane had the seatback PTV with a headphone jack and USB port (my previous flight did not have the PTV).  The PTV had a decent selection of movies and TV shows, and while it was not extensive, it was enough to pass the time and provide a good distraction.  Below the PTV was a standard tray table followed by a seatback pocket which contained the airline magazine, the duty free magazine, and safety card.  Once all passengers had boarded, a safety video was shown as we taxied to the runway and took off for Colombo.  


The flight time to Colombo was 3hr 35minute but, as with my first flight, as we reached cruising altitude the FA's came around to start their service.  They were very fast and very quick (even though we had a lot of time) but it was late and I think they wanted to complete their service so passengers could rest.  The service consisted of a complimentary meal and complimentary water, tea, or coffee - other drinks were available but they had to be purchased and only with small American bills or small Malaysian bills (you could not use credit cards).  Again, the meal meal itself was small, basic, but it was better in taste and flavor than my previous meal with Malindo; the size here was substantial for the 3+ hour flight, but it was the same size as the 5+hour flight.  The meal service really reflected the struggle Malindo is going through - as they are not sure if they are a low-cost carrier or an economy carrier with perks.  The complimentary meal part of international economy, but the quality and size of it, as well as asking patrons to pay for other drinks besides water, felt more like a low-cost carrier.  Once the meal trays were cleared, the cabin lights were dimmed and most passengers slept since it was an overnight flight.  About 45 minutes prior to landing, the cabin lights came back on and the cabin was prepared for landing.  During the flight, FAs did provide water but mostly they were available in the back if passengers needed anything. 

My first flight with Malindo was very confusing as I was not sure whether Malindo was a standard economy airline or trying to be a low-cost carrier.  They seemed to be a mix or hybrid of the two with low ticket prices but bundled; complimentary meal but the quality and only option of water is very low-cost.  Positives of the airline include low ticket prices, generous legroom, usually PTV, and complimentary meal.  Based on my two experiences with Malindo, the question I have is - would I fly them again?  After this experience, I am not sure - I would definitely not fly them long-haul (the 5+hour flight was a bit rough) but I would not mind a 3.5 hour or less flight.  While they would not be my first option, the positive aspects of the flight, and the low price would make me not avoid them.

Trip Report: AirAsia, Brunei to Kuala Lumpur (July 2019)

Trip Report: AirAsia, Brunei to Kuala Lumpur
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

I was in Brunei and needed to travel back to Kuala Lumpur.  I had arrived on Royal Brunei (check out that review here) but their flight times for the return did not work with my schedule, and I wanted to try a different airline.  Based on flight times, I decided to go with AirAsia and I wanted to try their product.  I had flown AirAsia back in 2011 on a short flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, but I wanted to experience their service on a longer flight and see if there had been any changes in almost 10 years.  AirAsia is the pioneer of low-cost flying in SouthEast Asia and as a LCC they charge for everything.  They have a variety of options and packages available depending on your preference and price points.  While I had initially wnated to book the flight through an online travel portal, I decided to book directly with AirAsia as I could clearly see what different options were available.  Navigating the AirAsia website was very easy, but 1) you have to sign up for their frequent flyer program in order to complete the booking; there is no other option and 2) it was somewhat difficult to process the payment for the ticket if you are based in the US and the AirAsia assistance was not very helpful (this should have been a clue to how my flight was going to turn out).  

As I said, AirAsia is a LCC which means they charge for everything.  I was traveling with a checked baggage so I searched through the various options that included a checked baggage.  The option I choose was the 'Value Pack' which included 20kg checked baggage, a meal, standard seat selection, and 1hour baggage guarantee.  I appreciated the bundle package, and while it had more items that I really needed, the bundling was a smart idea.  Every ticket comes with 7kg complimentary hand carry, and this is strictly enforced (more on that later).  My flight was scheduled to depart Brunei at 4:30pm and arrive into Kuala Lumpur at 6:50pm with a scheduled flight time of 2hr 20min.  48hours prior to my departure I received a notice that it was time to check into my flight; I was used to 24-hour notices and receiving a notice this early caused me to panic a bit and check to ensure I had booked the correct flight.  While I appreciate checking in so early, I wish AirAsia would advise customers of this as it would save some panic attacks.  Checking in through the app or the website was very easy, and while checking in I could move my seat selection to any standard seat selection in the cabin (they have standard seat selection and 'Big' seat selection with extra legroom).  Even though I had already checked-in and had my boarding pass, I still arrived at the airport 2hours prior to my flight as I had to check my bag and get my documents checked.

The check-in counter was pretty empty when I arrived (I discovered later that it was a pretty empty flight) so checking in was really quick.  Both my checked luggage and my hand carry were weighed, and because of a laptop my hand carry was a bit over the limit by 2kg and this was written on my boarding pass.  I proceeded through security and immigration to my gate, where they were setting up for another checking.  The entrance to the boarding area was sectioned off to check the boarding pass but also to weigh the hand carry.  I understand they are a LCC and they need to be strict about their hand carry weight, but this can be done either in a customer friendly or non-customer friendly, and this day it was handled in a non-customer friendly way.  The airline ground staff were extremely harsh and a bit rude when enforcing the 7kg hand carry limit.  When it came to my turn, I started to tell them that my hand carry had already been weighed when I was interrupted by the agent who said 'everything needs to be reweighed so put it on the scale'.  I put my hand carry on the scale and that is when the other agent noticed the writing on my boarding pass which had stated that I already had my hand carry weighed and after a conversation I was let go.  Again, I understand the strictness but the way it was handled was poor customer service.

As soon as the plane landed from Kuala Lumpur, and the passengers had disembarked, boarding started.  Boarding initially started in groups but then given the light load and the lack of lines that quickly turned into everyone boarding at the same time.  On board the Airbus A320, it was a 3-3 seat layout.  The standard seats were in black while the 'Big' seats had a red cover on them.  The seat itself was alright but a bit uncomfortable and the legroom was not tight but definitely not roomy either.  In my opinion, the seat would be comfortable for a 1-2 hour flight but anything over that would be very uncomfortable.  As a LCC, the seat is very basic with a tray table in the middle and a seatback pocket which contained the airline magazine, the menu, and the Duty Free magazine.  Once boarding was completed, given the light load passengers were free to move to another seat as long as it was another standard seat (ie you could not move from a standard seat to a 'Big' seat, and this was being enforced throughout the flight).  Manual safety demonstrations were conducted, we pushed back and headed off for Kuala Lumpur on time.  The aircraft itself looked middle aged, it definitely was not a new plane but was not an old plane either; and same for the cleanliness as it was not too clean but was not too dirty either.  

Even after we had reached cruising altitude, it took the crew a while to start the inflight service; maybe it was due to the light load but usually LCC's are quick to start the service as it is a revenue generator.  The first pass was those who had preordered meals or who had meals booked with their ticket and the second pass was for those to purchase any items; then a third pass was made with a duty free cart.   I have been on a couple of LCC's and some of them sell the product hard but the crew on this flight did not seem bothered; again, the lack of customer friendliness that was evident from the ground staff was also evident in the air.  The 'Value Pack' that I had booked with my ticket came with a meal and I could choose from a variety of options that were able to be prebooked.  I had booked the vegetarian option, and this came with a bottle of water.  The food was delivered with just the food, utensils, and a bottle of water - there was no presentation or effort put in at all.  The food itself was actually very good and very flavorful, and I was very surprised as I had very low expectations of the quality of the food.  The remaining time passengers could pass the flight how they choose; to sleep, read, or do as they choose.  AirAsia does offer wifi on board and does offer some complimentary entertainment when connected to the wifi, but the entertainment selection consisted of Malaysian television movies and tv shows (so not great for international audiences).  It was a very uneventful flight and the only entertainment provided was by the captain who made various announcements throughout the flight and he seemed to take pride in his job (the only one who seemed to do so).

We started our descent into Kuala Lumpur and landed on time, proceeded to the gate, and disembarked through a jetbridge (another surprise as most LCC make you board and disembark via stairs).  Once immigration was cleared, it was only a 10-15 minute wait before the luggage arrived.  Overall, it was a disappointing flight with AirAsia.  As one of the biggest LCCs in the world, I was a expecting a good LCC experience but what I received was a poor LCC experience with ground staff and crew that seem disenchanted, an extremely strict enforcement of hand carry rules, and overall just an average flight.  I saw nothing and experienced nothing that would set AirAsia apart from another carrier or something that would make this flight special or make me want to choose AirAsia.  To me, AirAsia seems to have decided that just providing low fares is enough and nothing else is need to entice passengers; for me, that is not enough.

Stay Report: Renaissance Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia - March 2011)

Stay Report: Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur
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We were going to spend a couple of days in Kuala Lumpur, so I was looking for a nice hotel that was close to the sights and had easy access to transportation.  After some research, I found the Renaissance Marriott and decided to check it out since I have never stayed at a Renaissance property before.  Overall, it was a nice property that was very large and very accessible, but the rooms were average and so was the customer service. 

From the outside, the property looks very grand with a middle building and two towers on either side.  From the street, you walk up steps into the middle building into a very large lobby.  As you enter, on either side there are small sitting areas where guests can sit and relax.  You walk up additional stairs and into the main lobby and on the left are the many check-in desks, while on the right is the hotel’s restaurant and dining room.   In between the check-in desk and the restaurant is a hallway leading to the elevators to the guest room (for one tower).  Our reservation included complimentary breakfast, and this was served in the vast dining room on the first floor.  The breakfast was nice and had a large spread and provided a nice meal in the morning, but the staff seemed overwhelmed at times.

The average customer service started at check-in, which took longer than expected and was neither warm nor

Photo Courtesy of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur

friendly.  After we received our keys, we went up to our room located in the first tower.  Overall, the rooms were a decent size but did not feel updated; rather they looked and felt older and a bit used.  As you enter into the room, on the right was the bathroom and the left was the closet plus storage.  The bathroom was a decent size and contained a bathtub, sink, toilet, as well as bathroom toiletries but like the room it needed to be updated.  As you entered into the room, on the right were the two double beds while against the wall were the TV, some additional storage, and a desk.  Straight ahead was a window which looked out onto the pool and so provided nice views and good sunlight into the room.  The room size was decent, not grand but definitely not squished together.  The beds were decent, not too comfortable but not too uncomfortable, but did feel a bit older.  The overall décor of the room felt in need of an update. 

Photo courtesy of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur

I was traveling within the region so my stay at the hotel was broken into two short stays.  Because of this, I was not able to experience the other amenities of the hotel including the outdoor pool, fitness center, and spa.  Our room did face the outdoor pool and it looked nice, a bit small given the two towers, but it was definitely being utilized as we always saw people in or around the pool.  

The hotel did allow us to leave our luggage at the hotel, both while we were out of Kuala Lumpur as well as on our last day as our check-out was earlier than our scheduled flight.   The customer service on the check-out was also average, neither friendly nor warm.  One aspect of the customer service which was not good happened to us on our last day - we had left our checked out of our room and had spent the entire day walking around.  As we were heading back to our hotel, it started to rain really hard so we got soaking wet.  When we entered into hotel, we went to the check-in desk, indicated that we had been guests there and were picking up luggage, and asked for a towel to help us dry off.  The representative, at first, just looked at us and then after explaining the situation again, reluctantly gave us one small hand towel.  This hand towel was definitely not going to help as we were completely drenched so I asked for a bigger towel, to which I received the response of ‘we cannot provide anything bigger than this’ and walked away.  The service was not customer-friendly.

Photo Courtesy of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur

Overall, the location of the hotel is good as you are close to the sights and have easy access to transportation; however, the outdated rooms and the lack of customer service did not make this a pleasant stay.  What made the situation even more apparent is that the hotel we stayed in Singapore – also a Marriott property (see review here) – was updated, pleasant, and had amazing customer service even though we were only there for a short period of time.  The hotel where we had stayed longer – this hotel – did not provide the same level of service and thus made our stay not as pleasant. 

Stay Report: Le Meridien Jakarta (October 2013)

Stay Report: Le Meridien Jakarta
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photo courtesy of TripAdvisor.com

I was going to Jakarta for holidays and was looking for a hotel that was nice and provided convenient access to sights and services. I decided on the Le Meridien Jakarta as I have previously had good experiences with the brand.  It was very easy to book through the Starwood app/website and I received my confirmation.  

The hotel does not provide an airport shuttle, but can arrange for transportation.  The hotel is located in a decent area of Jakarta, on the corner of a major street and a side street with the major streets having shops and restaurants.  While these shops were within a 10-15 minute walk, most other sights, shopping and restaurants required transportation.  The hotel was located outside the downtown area, which meant less noise but also more transportation time.  Hotel-approved taxis could be found inside the hotel, or right outside the hotel were plenty of other taxis (motorcycle and regular) to take you wherever you go (and these were a less costly).

photo courtesy of Starwood.com

From the outside, the hotel looked grandiose and nice.  The grandeur of the hotel continues into the lobby.  As you enter, on the right is the check-in desk while straight ahead is the restaurant and access to the pool, spa, and fitness center.  The lobby was decorated very nicely, with a mixture of modern and traditional, but it was a bit dark at times.  Check-in was quick and efficient and I received the key to my room.

photo courtesy of Starwood.com

I had booked a standard room with a king-size bed, and when I entered the room size was more than standard; it was a large room.  As you entered into the room, there is a hallway with closets and storage on the left hand side.  At the end of the hallway, there was a door on the right which led to the bathroom and straight ahead was the actual room.  The first part of the room was a large sitting area with two couches, a TV set in an armoire, and large windows which provided nice views.  The bathroom was quite large and contained a double sink, a Jacuzzi, and a stand-up shower.  The bathroom and the room shared a wall, and in the room this is where the bed was located.  The shape of the room was odd in that the bed was off to the corner, but the layout also provided privacy from the main part of the room.  The bed was a nice and comfortable king-size bed.  On either side of the bed were night stands which contain plugs for all your electronic devices.  Next to the bed, and going across the entire wall, was a nice window which faced the main street and the shops and provided a nice view of Jakarta.  Overall it was a spacious room with a comfortable bed and a really nice bathroom.     

photo courtesy of Pinterest.com

The hotel is full-service so they have many facilities available for the guests including restaurants, pool, spa, fitness center, and wifi.  As I spent most of my time outside exploring the city, I was not able to experience many of the facilities but I did try both the wifi and the room service.  The wifi was complimentary and had decent speeds and the room service was nice and accommodating to guest requests.   Overall, the customer service at the Le Meridien was excellent; the staff were attentive, provided great customer service, and were generally smiling and pleasant.

In the end, it was a nice stay at the Le Meridien.  While the location is a bit outside the city and thus requires taxi or other transportation, in return you get a hotel with a spacious room, comfortable bed, access to shops and restaurants, and good customer service. 

Stay Report: Hilton Singapore (August 2015)

Stay Report: Hilton Singapore 
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We were going to be in Singapore for a long layover, and having previously been there, I knew that the main boulevard in Singapore is Orchard Road so I wanted to stay near the heart of the city.  The Hilton Singapore provides a nice hotel right off of Orchard Road, so still accessible to everything but a bit quieter. The hotel is about a 2-3 minute walk from the Orchard Road MRT station, and is not connected to the station.  I had previously stayed at the Marriott Singapore and this hotel was located right above the MRT station, but the price for this hotel was too much (and Hilton was having a sale). 

The hotel itself is grand. As you enter, on the right hand side is the lobby and the left hand side is a high-end mall. Beyond the lobby is a sitting area which houses the 'business center' (2 computer stands) and beyond that is the restaurant and bar.  Singapore is very efficient and so check-in happened very quickly.  We had arrived late in the night and had made a request to have the room kept for us, and the hotel was very good at accommodating this request.  After check-in, we took the elevator to our room.

The room themselves are a decent size - not too big but not too small either.  As you enter, the bathroom is to your left while on the right is the closet and shelves.  The bathroom was a standard Hilton bathroom with a toilet, a sink, and a shower tub.  There were nice Peter Thomas Roth bathroom amenities.  On the other side, the closet provided a nice, if small, storage space.  Further into the room, on the left hand side were the beds while on the right was the TV on the wall.  We had booked a room with two beds and the beds were decent size, enough for 1 person each.  Hilton usually has nice and comfortable beds, and these were similar and provided a nice sleep.  Other features in the room included a desk, a chest, and a window that looked out onto Orchard Road and provided some nice views. 

 

The hotel is a full service hotel so there are many amenities that the hotel provides such as free wifi, complimentary water bottles, a restaurant, a bar, a gym and a pool.  Since we were only there for a short period, the only amenity I used was the wifi which was complimentary (for HiltonHonors members), and it provided decent speeds.  The hotel does not provide complimentary airport transportation as most guests use the MRT or taxis to get from the airport to the hotel.  (we used taxi or ride-sharing services as the MRT hours were not conducive to our arrival or departure time).

Overall, it was a nice stay at the Hilton Singapore.  As the hotel is not right on Orchard Road, it is quieter so it is more tranquil to be away from the noise, but it close enough to Orchard that you can easily access the MRT station and other amenities.  The only negative was a smell which seemed to indicate that the hotel was a bit older - the hotel was updated with modern Hilton amenities so looked updated. 

Trip Report: JetStar Asia, Singapore to Bangkok (August 2015)

Trip Report: JetStar Asia, Singapore to Bangkok

comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

JetStar is the low-cost arm of Qantas airlines (even though they are part of Qantas, you cannot earn Q miles for JetStar flights).  They have many subsidiaries including JetStar Australia, JetStar New Zealand, and JetStar Asia.  I have flown all three and all have a basic low-cost structure.  Each offers low fares that cover an average seat and a basic carry-on; everything else has a cost including assigned seats, checked baggage, pre-selected seats, food, and some in-flight entertainment (depending on the route and plane).  As in most low-cost carriers, you can add the extra services at the time of booking for a reduced rate or later at the airport for a higher cost.  I have flown JetStar three times, in three different countries, and I continue to go back because they offer a low-fare, decent service, and add-ons which you can modify to your liking. In each case, even with the add-ons the total fare on JetStar was less than its competitors.

My most recent JetStar experience was with JetStar Asia Airways in August 2015.  This

airline is based in Singapore and I flew from Singapore to Bangkok – a 2hr and 25 minute flight.  JetStar has flights throughout the day to Bangkok, but they range in terms of cost.  I booked my ticket online and the online site was very user friendly (I also had a question and called the call center, and they were also provided good customer service).  We took the early morning flight departing Singapore at 7am, and took the late-night flight out departing Bangkok at 9p and arriving Singapore after 12am.  These flights fit our schedule, but also fit our budget.  A standard carry-on is included in the base fare, but checked luggage and assigned seats are separate.  I have normally purchased checked baggage (as I am usually connecting from another international flight) and the cost for the checked baggage is pretty reasonable.  I have normally not paid to pre-select my seat assignment, and sometimes I have received an aisle seat in the exit row and sometimes I received the middle seat.  As I was travelling with someone who normally does not travel on low-cost carriers, and is generally not a fan of them, I went ahead and paid for pre-selecting my seat.  The charge for this, in my opinion, is a bit high given you are only able to choose the standard seats – exit row seats, or those with extra legroom, or an additional cost on top the existing charge.

As in standard in most low-cost carriers, JetStar operates one type of aircraft – an Airbus A320 (they recently acquired 787 Dreamliners as well).  The planes are configured in the same way – 3 leather seats on either side.  The seat pitch is somewhat narrow, and the comfort of the seat is not that great.  Both are alright for short-haul flights and both were decent enough for our 2h 25minute flight; however, not sure if I could deal with both for longer flights. 

The service on board is pleasant, but everything needs to be purchased.  Water is free, but that’s about it.  Snacks and meals can either be pre-purchased online or bought directly on board.  The planes I flew had no entertainment system so bring something to occupy your time (the 787 Dreamliners do have PTV’s but the entertainment needs to be purchased).   I did not buy anything on board as I had purchased food and drink in the airport, but they also have amenity kits and other items available to purchase on board.  Some of the prices are reasonable while others are costly.

Overall, if you know what to expect then JetStar provides a decent experience at a low-cost.  Each flight provided a basic service at a low-cost, with an average seat and an on-time departure and arrival.   If you are looking for a full-service airline with lots of amenities including in your ticket, then this is not the airline for you.  If you are looking for an airline that provides low fares and services you can pick and choose that are right for you, then this is the airline for you.  

Stay Report: InterContinental Bangkok (September 2015)

Stay Report: InterContinental Bangkok
for pictures and additional comments on this hotel, visit my tripadvisor page  http://www.tripadvisor.com/members/0504Traveller

When looking for a hotel in Bangkok, there are many great options to choose from.  I choose the InterContinental Hotel for its location as the hotel is centrally located within downtown Bangkok, and has easy access to malls, restaurants, and transportation.

Complimentary transportation to and from the airport is not provided, so you can either take the train, taxi, or car; the hotel has connections to all three.  The hotel is connected to a walkway which connects the train station to the various restaurants and shops within the downtown district.  Along this walkway are signs that lead you to the InterContinental exit, and from that exit you walk down the stairs to the entrance to the hotel.  From this entrance, there is a small shop and then you walk up to the stairs to the grand lobby of the hotel.  The lobby of the hotel contains the check-in desks in front and elevators to the right.  The left is a sitting area plus the large breakfast area.  There are also some small stairs which lead you down to the bar and lounge area.  Overall the lobby is very open and grand.  I headed to the check-in desks where check-in was quick and efficient and I the key to my room.  

The room was located on the 17th floor and the room was very nice and spacious.  Upon entering the room, on the left had side was the closet while on the right was the bathroom.  As with the room, the bathroom was also spacious and contained both a shower and a tub as well as a sink.  There were lots of bathroom toiletries provided by Agraria, a line I am not a fan of.  That was a small negative about the bathroom, while another negative was that the bathroom was made out of marble so there was a lot of noise echo.  

As you proceeded further into the room, on the left hand side was the TV stand and a long shelf along the wall which led to the desk, which was located next to the window.  While the window was nice, it wasn’t a great view of the city but at least the window let in natural light.  Underneath the TV were drawers, some of which were filled with the minibar and coffee information, while others were empty.  Across from the TV, on the other side of the room, were the two beds.  The beds were very large and very comfortable, and there were night stands on either side of the beds.  The only negative about the room was that, despite the spacious room, there wasn’t a lot of space between the beds.  In my opinion, there could have been more space given between the beds. 

 

InterContinental hotels are full-service so they have many amenities.  Wifi at the hotel was complimentary and was decent speed.  There was a rooftop pool, with a bar, that was a good size and had amazing views of the city.  There was also a fitness center near the pool deck which was very large and had a good selection of fitness equipment.  The service next to the pool was also extremely good. 

Generally the service at the hotel was fantastic, and this is what made the hotel really stand out.  One example of great service is the complimentary fruit plate which was left in our room every day.  Also, the concierge service was also really good.  We used the concierge a couple of times, and the service was fantastic and offered great information and contact.  A good concierge is a great asset and can be really helpful, especially in a country where you may not know the language.

Another great aspect of the hotel was the breakfast selection.  Breakfast was complimentary and the buffet offered was vast.  The hotel had guests from all over the world, so the breakfast buffet was trying to accommodate different preferences so there were Chinese, American, Middle Eastern, and Thai options available.  It provided a lot of options for breakfast and was really delicious.   

Overall, I had one of the best stays at a hotel at the InterContinental Bangkok.  The hotel provided a big and comfortable room, with excellent service, and in a central location with walking access to many shops, restaurants, and transportation.  I would definitely recommend this hotel as a great place to stay in Bangkok.