You plan to move to the Philippines? Wollen Sie auf den Philippinen leben?

There are REALLY TONS of websites telling us how, why, maybe why not and when you'll be able to move to the Philippines. I only love to tell and explain some things "between the lines". Enjoy reading, be informed, have fun and be entertained too!

Ja, es gibt tonnenweise Webseiten, die Ihnen sagen wie, warum, vielleicht warum nicht und wann Sie am besten auf die Philippinen auswandern könnten. Ich möchte Ihnen in Zukunft "zwischen den Zeilen" einige zusätzlichen Dinge berichten und erzählen. Viel Spass beim Lesen und Gute Unterhaltung!


Visitors of germanexpatinthephilippines/Besucher dieser Webseite.Ich liebe meine Flaggensammlung!

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Showing posts with label Flight. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flight. Show all posts

Friday, January 3, 2020

Flight times getting longer?

My column in Mindanao Daily, BusinessWeek Mindanao and Cagayan de Oro Times

EVER wondered why flight times seem to be getting longer? Yes, I do. Checking my last ticket Davao-Manila-Davao and remembering some  real flight times from the past, I wonder why.  I learned from BBC-author Kathryn B. Creedy, that it’s called "padding", a phenomenon that helps airlines arrive on time – but at a cost.
My previous flight back to Davao from Manila one hour twenty minutes. My ticket showed a "flight-time" of exactly 2 hours. I guess, it’s a secret the airlines don’t want you to know about, especially given the spillover effects for the environment.
Padding is the extra time airlines allow themselves to fly from A to B. Because these flights were consistently late, airlines have now baked delays experienced for decades into their schedules instead of improving operations. It might seem innocuous enough to the passenger – after all, what it can mean is that even though you take off late, you’re pleasantly surprised to arrive on time at your destination. Remember the final arrival announcement by the smiling stewardess last time?
Kathryn Creedy is right in saying that however, this global trend poses multiple problems: not only does your journey take longer but creating the illusion of punctuality means there’s no pressure on airlines to become more efficient, meaning congestion and carbon emissions will keep rising.
“On average, over 30% of all flights arrive more than 15 minutes late every day despite padding,” says Captain Michael Baiada, president of aviation consultancy ATH Group citing the US Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report. The figure used to be 40% but padding – not operational improvements – boosted on-time arrival rates. “By padding, airlines are gaming the system to fool you.”
So, how late is late? The ultimate goal is ‘A0’, or arrival at the gate exactly on time. If a flight is early or late, it can disrupt several other things – like gate availability and airport capacity.
To be fair, global airlines have invested billions of dollars in technologies to enable more efficient flight paths, according to industry body Airlines for America. But this has not moved the needle on delays, which are stubbornly stuck at 30%.
A lot of different things can cause a delay but Baiada believes 80% of the factors involved – like schedule, airport arrival flow queueing, aircraft availability, gate availability, maintenance and crew legality – are within the airlines’ control. But to date they have left it to air traffic control to remedy once planes are in the air.
Another option could be to reduce the number of flights – but airline flight schedules are designed to meet buyer demand. So, if there were fewer flights, fares would increase.
Well, should we give up and telling ourselves: better late than never? So what does all this mean for passengers? With airlines gaming the system, as it stands, flight times will likely increase as more and more planes take to the skies.
Fact is also that many airlines will try to make it tricky for passengers to get an eligible claim accepted. The tactic of extending flight times is yet another way to decrease a passenger’s chance of filing a claim and getting financially compensated for the hassle they have gone through.
Better late then never? I guess so.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

In Defense of Airline Passengers

Pre-published in MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR  on Sunday, July 14, 2013 - with friendly permission of the publisher Marietta Siongco.

Airline passengers will soon get a relief from bad experiences from erring air carriers under a bill creating the Air Passenger Fairness Act of 2013 that seeks to protect the interest of the commuting public.

Re. Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City) filed House Bill 36 that aims to ensure that the interest of the public is protected against abuses.

"Air carriers are public utilities exercising public functions. Public functions are powers of national sovereignty which reside in the people and all government authority that emanates from them, "Teodoro said.

He also said, that an airline company as a creature of the State is presumed to exist for the common good and expected not to jeopardize the interest of the public.

"The bill of rights of air passengers is for the people. It is a charter that clearly defines the rights of the passengers, talking to the passengers directly since regulatory measures on air carriers can be a subject of a separate economic regulation or agency resolution, "Teodoro said.

...

The air carrier must establish a system wherein the purchaser is fully apprised of the required disclosures, like printing and attaching the ticket and boarding pass; incorporate the terms and conditions of carriage by reference, explaining by the carrier agent in a language understood the purchaser; and posting in their website, or other online accounts. 

...

Every passenger has the right to a safe flight, a convenient and on-schedule conveyance in accordance with contract of carriage with he air carrier.

The measure guarantees every passenger to have access and use of emergency and safety devices, medical assistance, and proper application of first aid procedures during emergency situations or when his or her health requires. 

...

Every passenger has the right for a full refund of fares, to rebook a purchased ticket with limited to an administrative fee ONLY, be denied from denied boarding, among others. (PNA).

Well, up, up and away. Have a save and sound flight, guys!