04. March 2007


Date: 04. Mar. 2007
When passengers speak to 45-year-old Capt Lexmono, an Indonesian pilot, in Hindi, he’s foxed. Can’t blame them, he looks Indian. The Indian influence extends to his name, a variation of Laxman. "My father, despite being a Muslim, was a huge fan of Ramayana and gave us mythological names. My sister is called Sita and my brother, Yudhistira," he says with an easy smile.
This former Jatayu Airlines pilot joined Alliance Air on June 7, 2006, and was the second Indonesian to do so. He flew B-737-200s back home too and has had a chequered career. He started flying in 1984 with Garuda Indonesia and then went on to Sempati Air. After it stopped operations, he was jobless for two years. From 2000-2001, he worked in Jatayu, but that too stopped in 2006. "I was jobless for just six days and then got the Alliance job luckily."
Though both India and Indonesia follow International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, he finds them being enforced more strictly here. He averages 70-85 hours of flying monthly.
Ask him about Indonesian pilots being sent back for poor English skills and he admits, "Standards are higher here." Salaries too are better than Indonesia. How much better? "I think about 100% better," he says, after some humming and hawing. "Many are also coming here for the experience," he says. Alliance has 20 expats, 11 on Boeings and nine on ATRs.
It wasn’t easy leaving behind his wife and four children, aged 17 to seven. "I asked my family first if they were prepared to manage alone and they said they would try. I miss them and call them everyday," he says.
He’s missed by them too, especially recently when his home got flooded in the incessant rains and his wife had to shift the entire family to safety. Like most expat pilots., he gets home once every two months for 10-15 days.
He’s on a year’s contract, and has ensconced himself comfortably in a fully-furnished flat in upmarket Essel Towers in Gurgaon. "India is culturally akin to Indonesia, despite different languages and religions." Climactically too, Indonesia is like India and has cold and hot regions. And the spicy food is so much like back home. "I have even learned to make mutton curry and biryani," he says.
He would like his stint here to be long-term and wants to bring his family here. "But I have told my children to brush up their English first. My eldest daughter is a singer. She’s already earning her own pocket money," says the proud papa.
As the lilting strains of Indonesian music flood the room from a stereo, you tell him, that sounds good, Captain.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com


Date: 04. Mar. 2007
This year, more than half of all travel will be booked using the Internet, a first. For travelers using the Web to plan or buy, here's a primer on 10 things you need to know before hitting the "buy" button:
1. Shop around // Online travel shoppers visit on average more than three Web sites researching prices before they buy, and you should do likewise. Start with an online travel agency such as Orbitz or Travelocity, then try a travel search engine such as kayak.com, which search an array of travel sites. Then check with supplier sites, those operated directly by the airlines or hotels, and click on their deals section.
2. Check out the source // Some online travel agencies such as expedia.com and hotels.com charge a fee for air travel or hotel buys. You can save the fees by buying directly from the supplier.
3. Don't count on price guarantees // Most online low-price guarantees must be carefully documented if you're planning to file a claim. Even then it can be difficult to extract the guarantee. Your best bet is to shop before you click so you won't need to make a claim.
4. All stars are not created equal // A hotel that gets three stars on one Web site may get four on another. If you are unfamiliar with a hotel, it is important to read each site's fine print on what constitutes a star,especially when you are using an "opaque" Web site such as priceline.com or hotwire.com, on which the name of the hotel is not revealed until after you have committed to the purchase.
5. Take customer reviews with a grain of salt // Web sites that provide reader-generated content are popular, including such sites as tripadvisor.com, among the biggest and most active. Much can be learned from reading the musings of "regular" travelers, but be a little skeptical of the feedback on these sites. Watch for flowery praise; if it reads like a brochure, it very well could be from one.
6. Sold out isn't necessarily so // When a Web site says a certain date is sold out, that may or may not be true. Many Web sites have an allocation of rooms and when that allocation is gone, they hang the sold-out sign, though inventory may still be available at other Web sites or through the hotel's Web site.
7. Opaque sites can save you money, if you do your homework // Buying travel on an opaque Web site such as priceline.com or hotwire.com can save you big bucks. But you could end up paying more than you would have buying from a regular source. Shop around first to get a good sense of hotel prices. Then go to a Web site such as Bidding for Travel (biddingfortravel.com) for advice and tips before you make a binding bid, because once you click "purchase," you own it.
8. You can always wait // If after all your shopping you have not found a deal you consider worth booking, you can hold off. Sometimes fares will drop as you get closer to your travel date. FareCast (farecast.com) analyzes historical fare data and tries to predict whether fares will increase or decrease, though it doesn't do so with 100 percent accuracy.
9. Sign up for e-mail notification of deals // Many airlines will send you a weekly list of deals for last-minute travel. Web sites such as Sherman's Travel (shermanstravel.com) and others will send you their lists of best deals.
10. Use a travel agent if you don't have time to do it yourself // If you have a complex itinerary or are going to an unfamiliar place, seek out a travel agent with expertise in that area. Look at it this way: You might buy a hammer and 2-by-4s to build a fence, but you'd hire an expert to build a house. Why not do the same for travel? You could end up saving money in the long run.
Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com


Date: 04. Mar. 2007
Egyptian cotton mattresses on demand with duvets and pillows, sleep enhancer sprays, luxury designer products on board, fine dining experience with separate dining areas and a lot to pamper a traveller at dizzy altitudes — the airline industry today is in a mood to capture the big fish of business — a traveller who cares to pay a premium for services and exclusivity — and here, sky is the limit!
Take for example the £200 million product investment that British Airways (BA) has made, for refreshments on board British Airways’ long haul flights for its First Class passengers, is due to start this month. The product that BA has invested in spell luxury to the point where wash bag is created by leading designers, the food menu offers a fresh fish option with English Afternoon Tea and also allows you the liberty to ask for a mattress for that good night sleep!
The BA is not the only airline that has modified its on board offerings for its First Class, across the globe airlines have either customised or have placed modification orders with the plane makers. “It is the airline operators/companies that decide on class of service, class configuration, passenger amenities, etc,” said Ken Mercer of Boeing.
Sure they do. But what is the driving factor for wooing the business traveller that it has almost become an aggressive marketing strategy. “Airlines have always coveted the premium-paying Business and First class passengers, and retaining their customer has been one of the main motivating factors in the evolutionary trends cabin comfort for this market. Airlines try and do this by differentiating themselves from the competition and to offer levels of comfort that are unique in all classes.
The first lie-flat beds in business class were only introduced by British Airways around 10 years ago in 1996. Today several airlines offer their own versions of the fully horizontal ‘bed’ seat. Emirates also offer private booths in first class,” said Sanjay Sharma, Senior Marketing Analyst, Airbus.
It is only fair that the international airlines have taken a lead so they have the start up advantage. But for the airlines in India, despite the slew of low-cost carriers, the premium business class is here to stay. “There is a segment of travelling public that is used to travel in certain comfort. The added concepts cannot be offered in the economic class. Of course there is a cost involved but then these travellers are ready to pay for exclusivity. The stickiness factor improves with assurances of fair value, exclusive services and comforts,” said Manoj Chako, General Manager Sales, Kingfisher Airlines.
Sharma supports the view saying, “Indian business travellers are not only demanding more but they’re also expecting more too. In order to retain and expand their customer base, it is imperative that the airline constantly evolves their products by keeping up with the latest products and comfort trends.” The introduction of seat back In-Flight Entertainment launched by airlines in India being a case in the point.
The in-flight upgrade will be happen in India soon says Sharma. “As some of the private airlines in India begin competing with foreign airlines on international routes there would be more on board innovation with the products on offer.”
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com