Are You Using the Web to Check-In For Your Flight?

You should.

Why?

1. Skip the Queue - When my uncle told me about checking in online last December, I tried it on a Jetstar flight to Singapore and was quite glad that I did. A dedicated web check-in counter is available at the airport which allowed me to skip the queue and save time.

2. Choose Your Seat - On my recent trip to Bangkok via Thai airways, I forgot to do so and I spent almost half an hour waiting. What's worse is that I ended up in the middle seat squeezed between two big guys. I forgot to mention that another benefit of web check-in is that you get to choose your seat.

The night before my trip back to Singapore, I made sure to use the online check-in facility. Good thing I did because I saw that I was once again assigned a middle seat. I was able to change my seat selection and check myself in which just two simple clicks.

3. Pre-Flight Time - I also noticed that instead of two hours prior, you can show up at the airport just an hour before your scheduled flight.



The photo above is the reminder I got stating that I have to be at check-in counter at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.

This is what greeted me when I arrived at the airport at 5 in the morning.





The crazy long queues I skipped and was out of there in less than 10 minutes.

I normally fly budget and good thing is that they also offer this service.

1. Air Asia: It's actually better to check-in online because you avoid paying counter check-in fees which are imposed on domestic flights, they also have printing terminals at some airports to allow you to print the boarding pass yourself

Air Asia: http://www.airasia.com/my/en/myflights/mciguides.page

2. Cebu Pacific: If I'm not mistaken, they offered this service for a fee before but have since removed it.

Cebu Pacific: http://www.cebupacificair.com/travel-services/web-check-in.html

3. Jetstar: http://www.jetstar.com/sg/en/planning-and-booking/checking-in/web-check-in

4. Tiger's not offering the service yet but from the site, it should be available soon.

Tiger: http://www.tigerairways.com/sg/en/webcheckin_guide.php

5. PAL's not offering the service.

Louis' Tavern Cip Lounge

Citibank Singapore's PremierMiles card offers free airport lounge stays and I took advantage of it in Bangkok on a late flight back. I was able to breeze through check-in and immigration which was surprising cause their airport is always busy.

Suvarnabhumi airport is huge. There are plenty of shops to go to and a lot of restaurants to while away your time. After exhausting myself looking at the same duty free items over and over, I decided to head to the lounge.

I was greeted by a wide selection of finger food, congee, instant noodles, cereals, ice cream, drinks and spirits.







The lounge is huge encompassing two floors with different seating areas.









As you can see from the photos above, flight information is displayed to ensure that you don't miss your boarding call. The staff can also call the gate for you to confirm if the information displayed is accurate and when boarding has already started.

Wifi is free. If you don't have your laptop or a wifi-enabled device with you, there are a couple of computers that you can use.



World Papers are available as well as a Putting Green for recreation. I think there are also game consoles but I couldn't remember for sure.





Finally, since I have checked out early from the hotel and I've been out and about, I badly needed a shower. Gladly, they have showers available.

Hello again, Bangkok!

*picture heavy post

To continue with my previous post, I went to Bangkok alone and I didn't want to stray far from where I was staying so going to the Grand Palace or the Reclining Buddha again are out of the question. I planned to go to a temple nearby but I spilled soup on my only pair of jeans so I decided to just enjoy the malls. So here's how I spent my quick break.

1. I stayed in bed till a bit late and had a quick workout at the hotel's gym.







No, I didn't swim but I wanted to share the photo of the pool.

2. I had ensaymada and a few pinoy treats at Goldilock's.



Where? Goldilock's is at the Column Tower near Asoke and Sukhumvit station.

3. I was craving for some burritos so I did a bit of research and found this pretty good Mexican restaurant, La Monita.





I went in the dead of the afternoon and found the place to be packed.





Where? Mahatun Plaza, La Monita - located right across Ploen Chit station.

4. Enjoyed dinner at a rooftop bar which appears to be all the rage in Bangkok.





Where? Rooftop, 9th Floor, Le Fenix Hotel, Sukhumvit 11 near Nana station. It's quite a bit of a walk and I got lost a bit so it might be best to take a tuktuk after alighting from the BTS. 

5. Visited a horror boutique mall, Mansion 7.





Where? 244/7 Ratchadaphisek Road, MRT: Huay Kwang, a few blocks away from the station.

6. Had the best massage at Urban Retreat, rates are very affordable at a very classy looking spa.







Where? Right across Asoke station. 

7. Explored the food halls of Siam Paragon and its richer brother, Emporium. This is what I really love to do. My friends can all attest how much I love Takashimaya's food hall and the food halls there are bigger and a tad bit sweeter.







A stall selling all possible green tea drink concoctions.





Here's an exquisite looking chocolate.



Gigantic chocolate croissants.



Pastel colored macarons.



8. Saw an interesting home scent at Central World.



9. I also had a disappointing Thai dinner at Paragon. The pillows looked inviting and I so badly wanted to sit from all the walking that I did so I chose this restaurant. Sadly, the food wasn't that great.







10. Good thing, my lunch the next day at the Ninth made up for it, also at the Paragon.









I had a wonderful time in BKK and I can't wait to be back.

Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link

This is a super delayed blogpost. 

Last minute cancellations from my friends, Oliver and Analyn, found me in Bangkok alone last August. Unless it's Manila, I really am not comfortable traveling alone but I found myself liking Bangkok that I don't mind making an exception. 

I loved this digital solari board. (FYI, NAIA is still using the old school solari board.)

From the airport, I decided to try Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link. There are two options available, take the express line (red line) which gets you to the city in 15 mins or the normal line (thin blue line) which makes a few stops and gets you to the city in 30 mins.



I asked the staff there and was advised to just take the city line since the express train isn't scheduled to depart in another 30 mins. I paid about 45 baht (S$2).  

I ended up waiting for 15 mins before the city train arrived.



The trip was quite fast and I alighted in Phaya Thai station, this is connected to the main train stations particularly the BTS. As you can see from the map below, Phaya Thai is already near the main tourist destinations such as Siam and Victory Monument.



It can be quite troublesome if you have a big luggage with you since you have to go down a flight of stairs...



...and then climb back up to get to the main railway.

I was staying at Sanam Pao station, just two more stops so my entire experience was fairly convenient and fast. It's also cheap as a normal cab fare would set me back about 10 times what I paid for.