I am now starting to LOVE [tag]Cebu Pacific[/tag].

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Popularity: 37% [?]

We interrupt our regular programming for this awesome announcement I received in the mail today:

Introducing [tag]Cebu Pacific[/tag]’s newest regional destination. . . KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA!

Fly from MANILA TO KUALA LUMPUR (vice versa) for only 1,499 pesos one-way!

Visit the truly Asian capital and experience the unique fusion of cultural heritage, colorful festivals and endless shopping on our introductory fare.

HURRY, catch the KUALA LUMPUR SEAT SALE from October 11 - 18, 2006 only! Travel period is from November 30, 2006 to January 31, 2007.

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Popularity: 26% [?]

So I was skulking around Jetstar’s website again and discovered two things:

1. The introduction of the StarClass for International flights on the A330; and
2. Starting November 23, 2006, they will start flying from Melbourne and Sydney to Bangkok, Phuket (November 24), Vietnam (November 30), Denpasar (December 8) and Osaka (March 25, 2007)

This is probably every backpacker/budget traveler’s dream come true. Of course, there’s Tiger Airways who flies from Singapore to Darwin, but Jetstar will be offering more flights to Asia from southeast Australia.

I’m actually giddy about this. On the other hand, I really should get a life.

Related links:
Jetstar Website

Related articles:
Budget fares to non-budget terminals

Popularity: 17% [?]

Oasis Air, the Hong Kong based long-haul low-cost carrier is now accepting bookings for its first flight to London-Gatwick on October 25. Round trip economy fares starts at HK$3,643 (Php25,501), while business class fares starts at HK$15,163 (Php 106,141).

25K for a roundtrip ticket to Europe? *droool* I like.

Oasis also boasts of individual TV screens for ALL passengers, complimentary meals for all class (special meals available for purchase), and online check in.

Future destinations includes Germany (Cologne/Bonn & Berlin), Italy (Milan), and the USA (San Fransisco & Chicago).

I can’t wait for 2008

Popularity: 10% [?]

This October 2006, there will be a new no-frills airline flying the sky: Oasis Air. Based in Hong Kong, their edge among the other low cost carriers in Asia is that they offering long-haul inter-continental flights.
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Popularity: 15% [?]

Cebu Pacific’s website and booking facilities now includes Singapore! I tried booking to see how much the fare would cost.

The promo fare (buy from July 20 - 26, travel from Aug 31 - Oct 19) amounts to PHP 6,327.00.

The non-promo fare amounts to Php 8,327.00 roundtrip.

Not bad, eh? It comes out higher than Tiger Airway’s roundtrip fares, but at least you get to fly from (the pitiful) NAIA Terminal 1. The question now is, how will their service fare compared to their competitors’?

One downside to Cebu Pacific’s new route is the time. Though they will be flying to and from Singapore daily, the timing is a bit off:

Departure from Manila is at 8:30pm, arrive in Singapore at 11:55pm
Departure from Singapore is at 12:40am, arrive in Manila at 4:05am

I suppose it’s great if you need to be in Singapore or Manila for a meeting the following day, hahaha. It’d suck if you’re paying for accommodations in Singapore because you’d be paying for a whole night when you’d only be staying for only half of it. I’m so glad I have relatives in Singapore.
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Popularity: 86% [?]

It seems so. I found this startling message in one of the forums I frequent:

Introducing Cebu Pacific’s newest destination. . . SINGAPORE!

Fly from MANILA to SINGAPORE (vice versa) for only 1,499 pesos!

HURRY, catch the SINGAPORE SEAT SALE from July 20 - 26, 2006 only! Travel period is from August 31, 2006 to October 19, 2006.

Fare is exclusive of applicable fees, taxes and surcharges. Book online now at cebupacificair.com or call 70-20-888 or visit the travel agent nearest you. CLICK HERE: For more details about our Singapore service.
Fly Cebu Pacific to SingaFOR only 1,499 pesos.

There’s no announcement in their website yet, so I was having doubts whether it’s true (though the poster claims he received the announcement via e-mail & sms from Cebu Pacific).

In another forum, I found out that it is true.
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Popularity: 29% [?]

Tigerairways is having one of their SG$9.98 fare promos again!

Christmas has arrived early this year. With fares starting from S$9.98 one way, you’ll have more in your pocket to spend on the holiday you really want. Shop till you drop in Bangkok or soak in the views of Hanoi and Darwin. Whatever you want to do during these winter holidays, Tiger Airways makes sure you get the real deal.

So if you’re planning a trip home or a holiday abroad, book now!

[Edit] I think Tigerairways made a boo-boo. I tried looking for flight and lo and behold — no flights available for November 2006 onwards! Tsk.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Jetstar Asia is our family’s choice of budget airline when flying to Singapore. Despite its higher fare over competitor Tiger Airways, Jetstar’s winning factor is that it flies and lands at the ‘main’ terminal/airports of the cities it serve.

In Manila, Jetstar departs and arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, while in Singapore, they use Gate C19 of Terminal 1 at the Changi International Airport. It’s easy enough to go to Singapore’s Budget Terminal (for Tiger Airways), but it’s a different story if you’re in Metro Manila going all the way to Clark’s Diosdado Macapagal Airport.

The premise of these budget airlines is that by taking away all the free ‘perks’ passengers get on regular airlines and imposing strict baggage limits, they are lowering their operation costs. Hence, the term low-cost carrier. Doh. (I really shouldn’t be posting entries at 2am)

If you’re thinking that cutting costs meant old and dilapidated flying coffins, you’re mistaken. Their fleet of Airbus A320 are new, and more importantly, unlike the plane I took to Cebu last March, nothing rattles during take off and landing.
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Popularity: 16% [?]