SingaBoreD Again, Flying With Lance and Travel Fair Deviance
I'm back in SingaBore! After nearly one month in absence, I just can't help coming back to this place I called home for the past 6 years.
Not!
Seriously, I'm here to check out the annual travel fair, which turned out to be a dud (more on that later). And of course, to meet the friends I left behind (cue sappy music). JRo told me last night that I have not been posting lately so I'm gonna write really random thoughts on this post.
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Flying With Lance
I took the Cebu Pacific flight last Wednesday night. As usual, the flight was delayed because of the late arrival daw of the aircraft. Sheesh... I was kinda pissed because I ONLY had 2 pizza slices and 3 spoonfuls of fried rice at the Miascor Lounge (thanks to American Express) when I could have eaten more. Go PG! (Patay Gutom!)
After boarding, they had to refuel the aircraft pa so that meant more delays. They also told us that since they were refueling, we had to turn off our cellphones. I was seated beside this girl who kept using her phone so I was kinda annoyed. The announcement was made in both English and Filipino so I couldn't quite understand why she was still texting and dialling. Imposible namang she couldn't understand Filipino the way she looked. I eyed her maliciously because I didn't want to blow up. Not just yet.
Anyway, the flight attendants were hustling in front and I was wondering what the commotion was about. Then suddenly this guy entered and took a seat in the front row. I was wondering why the WHOLE front row was vacant when the check-in guy told me that the flight was full. Then it hit me. It was Lance Gokongwei himself pala on the flight! I had to open the in-flight magazine to confirm that it was him and siya nga! I was in row 4 so I had a good view of what he was doing.
He said hi to the pilot and chit chatted with the flight attendants. He was kinda nice actually. Very friendly and so self-effacing that you wouldn't be able to tell that he's worth a couple million. I was waiting for him to blow his top for the delay but I guess he's used to it na. One of the flight attendants was so tense that she backed out from doing the safety demonstration. Hay naku, mga trainees talaga.
I contemplated on offering him some advice on Cebu Pacific but chickened out.
So I'm writing it here instead - Lance, pls put more operators manning your customer service number. It is SO hard to get through. I had 4 instances since last year to last week and it's almost impossible to reach since it's always busy. The two times that I have been able to reach it, it was like way past midnight and I had to listen to that "Go baby Go baby" jingle to death.
If you think about it, investing in your call center is well worth it. Every call made there is a revenue call, since every booking, rebooking, or refund is worth at least 300 pesos (refunding a domestic flight). If an operator is able to answer 5 calls an hour X 8 hours a shift X 300 pesos (at least!), then compare that with the minimum wage... You do the math.
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Deviance... What Price?
The main reason for my trip was to get a travel package to China at the NATAS Travel Fair. The promotions are quite cool, and they had $500sgd packages to beijing/shanghai for 6 days all in!
But alas, all the tours are in Chinese and even though I studied the language for 10 years, I think my nose will just bleed if I join those tours.
So I tried to get a quote for a Free and Easy Package (airfar+hotel lang), and it turned out to be too expensive vs getting one in Manila. So there, it's not worth it pala if you deviate from the set tour packages.
Why does deviance always have to come at a price?
Not!
Seriously, I'm here to check out the annual travel fair, which turned out to be a dud (more on that later). And of course, to meet the friends I left behind (cue sappy music). JRo told me last night that I have not been posting lately so I'm gonna write really random thoughts on this post.
=============
Flying With Lance
I took the Cebu Pacific flight last Wednesday night. As usual, the flight was delayed because of the late arrival daw of the aircraft. Sheesh... I was kinda pissed because I ONLY had 2 pizza slices and 3 spoonfuls of fried rice at the Miascor Lounge (thanks to American Express) when I could have eaten more. Go PG! (Patay Gutom!)
After boarding, they had to refuel the aircraft pa so that meant more delays. They also told us that since they were refueling, we had to turn off our cellphones. I was seated beside this girl who kept using her phone so I was kinda annoyed. The announcement was made in both English and Filipino so I couldn't quite understand why she was still texting and dialling. Imposible namang she couldn't understand Filipino the way she looked. I eyed her maliciously because I didn't want to blow up. Not just yet.
Anyway, the flight attendants were hustling in front and I was wondering what the commotion was about. Then suddenly this guy entered and took a seat in the front row. I was wondering why the WHOLE front row was vacant when the check-in guy told me that the flight was full. Then it hit me. It was Lance Gokongwei himself pala on the flight! I had to open the in-flight magazine to confirm that it was him and siya nga! I was in row 4 so I had a good view of what he was doing.
He said hi to the pilot and chit chatted with the flight attendants. He was kinda nice actually. Very friendly and so self-effacing that you wouldn't be able to tell that he's worth a couple million. I was waiting for him to blow his top for the delay but I guess he's used to it na. One of the flight attendants was so tense that she backed out from doing the safety demonstration. Hay naku, mga trainees talaga.
I contemplated on offering him some advice on Cebu Pacific but chickened out.
So I'm writing it here instead - Lance, pls put more operators manning your customer service number. It is SO hard to get through. I had 4 instances since last year to last week and it's almost impossible to reach since it's always busy. The two times that I have been able to reach it, it was like way past midnight and I had to listen to that "Go baby Go baby" jingle to death.
If you think about it, investing in your call center is well worth it. Every call made there is a revenue call, since every booking, rebooking, or refund is worth at least 300 pesos (refunding a domestic flight). If an operator is able to answer 5 calls an hour X 8 hours a shift X 300 pesos (at least!), then compare that with the minimum wage... You do the math.
===========
Deviance... What Price?
The main reason for my trip was to get a travel package to China at the NATAS Travel Fair. The promotions are quite cool, and they had $500sgd packages to beijing/shanghai for 6 days all in!
But alas, all the tours are in Chinese and even though I studied the language for 10 years, I think my nose will just bleed if I join those tours.
So I tried to get a quote for a Free and Easy Package (airfar+hotel lang), and it turned out to be too expensive vs getting one in Manila. So there, it's not worth it pala if you deviate from the set tour packages.
Why does deviance always have to come at a price?