TRAVEL BLOG
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Tiger Airways Flight Review - Singapore to Melbourne
Flight: Tiger Airways TR 702 Date: 27 Feb 2008
Flight: Tiger Airways TT 7567 Date: 28 Feb 2008
Tiger Airways is a low cost airline based in Singapore, with its primary hub at Singapore Changi Airport. Tiger Airways began operations in 2004 and has since set up Tiger Airways Australia in Melbourne and plan to launch Incheon Tiger Airways based in Seoul in 2009.
Tiger Airways at Singapore Airport
Tiger Airways fly from Singapore to Melbourne via Darwin. The flight is with Tiger Airways and Tiger Airways Australia on separate aircraft. Unlike other low cost airlines Tiger facilitate the booking of these separate flight segments in the one booking.
Go to Flight Combo on the Tiger Airways website and you can book two segments in one go. It is important to note that this is two separate flights so your bags are not checked through to the final destination.
Another good feature of the Tiger Airways booking procedure is that you can pick your seat when you book your flight. Oh how I loath the mad scramble for a seat that occurs on low cost airline flights with unallocated seats.
Singapore to Darwin
The entire Tiger Airways fleet consists of Airbus A320 aircraft, thus Tiger only fly within a five-hour radius around Singapore. The flight time from Singapore to Darwin is approximately 4 hours 20 minutes.
As Tiger Airways is a bare minimum no frills airline the onus is on you to keep yourself entertained. There is no TV entertainment and no complimentary meal and drink service.
Tiger Airways Uniform
Darwin Airport
In Darwin you must claim your bags and clear Australian customs. Then you must check in again for the Tiger Airways Australia flight from Darwin to Melbourne. Darwin Airport is small enough to make this a simple transfer and there is about 2 hours between the Singapore arrival and the Melbourne departure.
With a population of just over 110,000 people Darwin is a small capital city, even by Australian standards. When you look at a map though of Australia and Southeast Asia Darwin is well situated to be a major hub of air traffic between Australia and Asia. Jetstar have floated this idea recently with a plan to make Darwin a springboard into Asia, and I will revisit this idea in another post.
Time to spare at a laptop bench - Darwin Airport
Darwin to Melbourne
The second leg of this flight is with Tiger Airways Australia. Flight time from Darwin to Melbourne is just over 4 hours, leaving Darwin at 2.20am and arriving at Melbourne Tullamarine at 8am. I always forget what a big and empty continent Australia is. Asia seems so far away and exotic to us Aussies. Exotic certainly, but Darwin is much closer to many Asian cities than most other Australian capitals.
Like the flight from Singapore this is a no frills service. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase. Here is a price sample (in Australian Dollars):
Muffins $3
Pot Noodles $4
Coke(250ml) $2.5
Coffee $3
Beer (VB/Hahn) $6
At the moment Tiger Airways Australia only operate in and out of their Melbourne base. They are scouting around for new Australian hubs which should be known sometime in 2008.
Tiger Airways - Proudly Calling Melbourne Home
Flight: Tiger Airways TT 7567 Date: 28 Feb 2008
Tiger Airways is a low cost airline based in Singapore, with its primary hub at Singapore Changi Airport. Tiger Airways began operations in 2004 and has since set up Tiger Airways Australia in Melbourne and plan to launch Incheon Tiger Airways based in Seoul in 2009.
Tiger Airways at Singapore Airport
Tiger Airways fly from Singapore to Melbourne via Darwin. The flight is with Tiger Airways and Tiger Airways Australia on separate aircraft. Unlike other low cost airlines Tiger facilitate the booking of these separate flight segments in the one booking.
Go to Flight Combo on the Tiger Airways website and you can book two segments in one go. It is important to note that this is two separate flights so your bags are not checked through to the final destination.
Another good feature of the Tiger Airways booking procedure is that you can pick your seat when you book your flight. Oh how I loath the mad scramble for a seat that occurs on low cost airline flights with unallocated seats.
Singapore to Darwin
The entire Tiger Airways fleet consists of Airbus A320 aircraft, thus Tiger only fly within a five-hour radius around Singapore. The flight time from Singapore to Darwin is approximately 4 hours 20 minutes.
As Tiger Airways is a bare minimum no frills airline the onus is on you to keep yourself entertained. There is no TV entertainment and no complimentary meal and drink service.
Tiger Airways Uniform
Darwin Airport
In Darwin you must claim your bags and clear Australian customs. Then you must check in again for the Tiger Airways Australia flight from Darwin to Melbourne. Darwin Airport is small enough to make this a simple transfer and there is about 2 hours between the Singapore arrival and the Melbourne departure.
With a population of just over 110,000 people Darwin is a small capital city, even by Australian standards. When you look at a map though of Australia and Southeast Asia Darwin is well situated to be a major hub of air traffic between Australia and Asia. Jetstar have floated this idea recently with a plan to make Darwin a springboard into Asia, and I will revisit this idea in another post.
Time to spare at a laptop bench - Darwin Airport
Darwin to Melbourne
The second leg of this flight is with Tiger Airways Australia. Flight time from Darwin to Melbourne is just over 4 hours, leaving Darwin at 2.20am and arriving at Melbourne Tullamarine at 8am. I always forget what a big and empty continent Australia is. Asia seems so far away and exotic to us Aussies. Exotic certainly, but Darwin is much closer to many Asian cities than most other Australian capitals.
Like the flight from Singapore this is a no frills service. Drinks and snacks are available to purchase. Here is a price sample (in Australian Dollars):
Muffins $3
Pot Noodles $4
Coke(250ml) $2.5
Coffee $3
Beer (VB/Hahn) $6
At the moment Tiger Airways Australia only operate in and out of their Melbourne base. They are scouting around for new Australian hubs which should be known sometime in 2008.
Tiger Airways - Proudly Calling Melbourne Home
Labels: airlines, australia, darwin, flight review, melbourne, singapore, tiger airways
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Saturday, April 05, 2008
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal
Location: Singapore Airport - Singapore Date: 27 Feb 2008
Singapore Changi Airport is world renown for its award winning facilities. It is the home of Singapore Airlines and it is a major air travel hub of Asia.
Budget airlines though are not interested in such facilities that add to the cost of a cheap flight. To cater for the low cost airlines of Asia that might not otherwise consider Changi's gold plated airport, Singapore Airport opened a budget terminal in March 2006 to accommodate budget airlines.
The Budget Terminal is separate from the main terminals (1 to 3) and to get there you need to get a shuttle bus which departs from the basement of Terminal 2.
Singapore Budget Terminal Shuttle
A tip for budget travellers. There is a supermarket in the lower level of Terminal 2. This is the first time I have seen a supermarket at an airport, which is great if you just want to buy some fruits or a snack instead of buying a meal at an airport restaurant.
Singapore Airport Supermarket
Budget Terminal
The budget terminal looks exactly like what a budget terminal should look like - a great big tin shed with every unnecessary expense spared.
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal
The check-in area is simple and spacious and there is a cafe inside the departure hall as well. The Budget Terminal is currently being used by Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific, and like other budget terminals around the world there is no transfer facility to other airlines.
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal - Departures
Budget Terminal - Airside
The facilities on the airside are surprisingly good considering how sparse the outside looks. There are the usual duty free shops as well as cafes and a 7Eleven. I needn't have worried about getting food at the supermarket as there is also a noodle shop selling cheap bowls of noodles. Cheap like normal prices and not ridiculous airport prices.
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal - Airside
Budget Terminal 7Eleven
For the smokers there is a boxed in outdoor section.
Singapore Budget Terminal - Outdoor Smoking
Internet
The Singapore Budget Terminal has internet facilities that puts most other airports to shame. There are computer terminals with free internet access as well as a workbench for laptop users.
Singapore Budget Terminal - Laptop Zone
Each workspace has its own power board with power sockets for most power plug types. There is no wireless but there is a cable provided to plug into your laptop for internet access.
Singapore Budget Terminal - Laptop Zone Powerboard
Singapore Changi Airport is world renown for its award winning facilities. It is the home of Singapore Airlines and it is a major air travel hub of Asia.
Budget airlines though are not interested in such facilities that add to the cost of a cheap flight. To cater for the low cost airlines of Asia that might not otherwise consider Changi's gold plated airport, Singapore Airport opened a budget terminal in March 2006 to accommodate budget airlines.
The Budget Terminal is separate from the main terminals (1 to 3) and to get there you need to get a shuttle bus which departs from the basement of Terminal 2.
Singapore Budget Terminal Shuttle
A tip for budget travellers. There is a supermarket in the lower level of Terminal 2. This is the first time I have seen a supermarket at an airport, which is great if you just want to buy some fruits or a snack instead of buying a meal at an airport restaurant.
Singapore Airport Supermarket
Budget Terminal
The budget terminal looks exactly like what a budget terminal should look like - a great big tin shed with every unnecessary expense spared.
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal
The check-in area is simple and spacious and there is a cafe inside the departure hall as well. The Budget Terminal is currently being used by Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific, and like other budget terminals around the world there is no transfer facility to other airlines.
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal - Departures
Budget Terminal - Airside
The facilities on the airside are surprisingly good considering how sparse the outside looks. There are the usual duty free shops as well as cafes and a 7Eleven. I needn't have worried about getting food at the supermarket as there is also a noodle shop selling cheap bowls of noodles. Cheap like normal prices and not ridiculous airport prices.
Singapore Airport Budget Terminal - Airside
Budget Terminal 7Eleven
For the smokers there is a boxed in outdoor section.
Singapore Budget Terminal - Outdoor Smoking
Internet
The Singapore Budget Terminal has internet facilities that puts most other airports to shame. There are computer terminals with free internet access as well as a workbench for laptop users.
Singapore Budget Terminal - Laptop Zone
Each workspace has its own power board with power sockets for most power plug types. There is no wireless but there is a cable provided to plug into your laptop for internet access.
Singapore Budget Terminal - Laptop Zone Powerboard
Labels: airport, changi, singapore
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Pink Dolphins of Sentosa Island
Location: Sentosa Island - Singapore Date: 26 Feb 2008
A popular attraction of Sentosa Island is the Dolphin Lagoon, home of Sentosa's Pink Dolphins. These dolphins start off life grey then become pink as they mature.
A Pink Dolphin becoming pink
At the lagoon the dolphin trainers show off the dolphins by getting them to do some amazing tricks. For an extra fee you can have your photo taken with them.
Entry to Dolphin Lagoon is 19.90 SGD, which also includes admission to Underwaterworld Singapore.
Pink Dolphin Showing Off
A popular attraction of Sentosa Island is the Dolphin Lagoon, home of Sentosa's Pink Dolphins. These dolphins start off life grey then become pink as they mature.
A Pink Dolphin becoming pink
At the lagoon the dolphin trainers show off the dolphins by getting them to do some amazing tricks. For an extra fee you can have your photo taken with them.
Entry to Dolphin Lagoon is 19.90 SGD, which also includes admission to Underwaterworld Singapore.
Pink Dolphin Showing Off
Labels: dolphins, sentosa island, singapore
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Sentosa Island - Singapore
Location: Sentosa Island - Singapore Date: 26 Feb 2008
Sentosa Island is a leisure resort island off the city-state island of Singapore. It is regarded as the southern most point of continental Asia.
Southern Most Point Of Continental Asia
Sentosa has a Disneyland fake village feel to it, but it is worth going to if you want a bit of a nature break while you are in Singapore. There is a great jungle walk and surprisingly nice beaches. It costs 3 Singapore Dollars to enter, which includes return skytrain ticket to get to the island.
Siloso Beach - Sentosa Island
Siloso Beach Trees - Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island is a leisure resort island off the city-state island of Singapore. It is regarded as the southern most point of continental Asia.
Southern Most Point Of Continental Asia
Sentosa has a Disneyland fake village feel to it, but it is worth going to if you want a bit of a nature break while you are in Singapore. There is a great jungle walk and surprisingly nice beaches. It costs 3 Singapore Dollars to enter, which includes return skytrain ticket to get to the island.
Siloso Beach - Sentosa Island
Siloso Beach Trees - Sentosa Island
Labels: beach, sentosa island, singapore
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Umbrella Vending Machine
Location: Singapore - Singapore Date: 25 Feb 2008
Umbrella Vending Machine - Singapore
Umbrella Vending Machine - Singapore
Labels: good idea, singapore, vending machines
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
Bangkok Airways Flight Review - Samui to Singapore
Flight: Bangkok Airways PG 961 Date: 24 Feb 2008
Bangkok Airways is a Thai airline based at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok. Bangkok Airways operates flights in Thailand as well as to destinations in Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam.
Bangkok Airways at Koh Samui
My flight was from Samui, Thailand to Singapore for a flight of just under two hours.
Bangkok Airways is not a low cost airline as they serve food, and they are not a full service airline as there is no inflight entertainment. They call themselves a boutique airline, which is probably a good way to split the difference.
Seating is assigned and Bangkok Airways serve meals on all flights.
Bangkok Airways Inflight Meal
Bangkok Airways is a Thai airline based at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok. Bangkok Airways operates flights in Thailand as well as to destinations in Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Maldives, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam.
Bangkok Airways at Koh Samui
My flight was from Samui, Thailand to Singapore for a flight of just under two hours.
Bangkok Airways is not a low cost airline as they serve food, and they are not a full service airline as there is no inflight entertainment. They call themselves a boutique airline, which is probably a good way to split the difference.
Seating is assigned and Bangkok Airways serve meals on all flights.
Bangkok Airways Inflight Meal
Labels: bangkok airways, flight review, koh samui, singapore, thailand
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Big Foot Massage - Singapore Airport
Long haul travel from Australia often means a short stop at the award winning Singapore Changi Airport. I'm here for an hour flying from Melbourne to Dubai with Emirates
.
Changi Airport now have free mechanical foot massages from Big Foot Massage.
Big Foot Massage - Singapore Airport
Changi Airport now have free mechanical foot massages from Big Foot Massage.
Big Foot Massage - Singapore Airport
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Monday, October 23, 2006
The award winning Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport consistently tops the polls in passenger surveys. Here are some features that I like.
Free Internet Terminals
Free internet terminals, and plenty of them as well.
Laptop Desks
Work desks made for laptops with power supply, so no sitting on the floor next to a powerpoint that is meant for a vacuum cleaner. There was no wireless offered by the airport, but I had my mobile phone with me and I was sent a free access code by one of the local mobile phone services.
Transit Lounge
Very comfortable lounges. Just make sure you set an alarm as the temptation to doze off could be hard to resist if you are half way through a long flight.
Free Internet Terminals
Free internet terminals, and plenty of them as well.
Laptop Desks
Work desks made for laptops with power supply, so no sitting on the floor next to a powerpoint that is meant for a vacuum cleaner. There was no wireless offered by the airport, but I had my mobile phone with me and I was sent a free access code by one of the local mobile phone services.
Transit Lounge
Very comfortable lounges. Just make sure you set an alarm as the temptation to doze off could be hard to resist if you are half way through a long flight.
Labels: airport, changi, internet, laptop, singapore
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Sunday, October 22, 2006
Singapore River Boats
Traditional Singapore Bumboat
Rubbish Boat
Labels: boat, bumboat, river, singapore, singapore river
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Indonesia burns, Singapore chokes
Haze from fires burning in across Sumatra and Borneo reaches Peninsula Malaysia and Singapore.
Singapore haze
Singapore haze
Labels: fire, forest, haze, indonesia, singapore
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Saturday, October 21, 2006
The First Generation - Singapore
The First Generation - Singapore
Labels: first generation, singapore
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Saturday, November 12, 2005
Little India Market - Singapore
Little India Market
Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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