JETSTAR AIRWAYS: Are they Enforcing the Strict Carry-on Bag Weight Policy for Economy Class Passengers?

JETSTAR AIRWAYS: 
Are they Enforcing the Strict Carry-on Bag Weight Policy 
for Economy Class Passengers?

Since November 25, 2014, budget airline Jetstar Airways cut its carry-on baggage weight allowance from 10 kg to 7 kg. Other budget airlines, like Cebu Pacific, weigh only the carry-on bag and exclude additional items such as a handbag, laptop bag and camera bag from the weight restriction. (check out my post Cebu Pacific Carry-On Bag). In real terms, this translates to at least 10 kilos allowed as cabin baggage.

The Jetstar cabin bag crackdown not only reduced the carry-on bag allowance from 10 kg to 7 kg, it also included in the weight restriction all the items you  are carrying with you . This means that they weigh the ff: the carry-on bag (with dimensions that must not exceed 56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm.) AND all items you'll be carrying inside the plane like your handbag, camera bag, laptop, etc.

ARE THEY ENFORCING THE POLICY? YES!

They require passengers to go to a separate counter to have their cabin baggage and all items they're bringing inside the plane to be tagged. So the cabin officers at the boarding gates can identify if the cabin baggage have been weighed.

This means, whether or not you're checking in at the airport check-in counter, self check-in kiosk, or have done web check-in, you're still required to pass by another counter to have your cabin bag tagged.

MY EXPERIENCE AT MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:

At Manila International Airport Terminal 1, they put a tag on all your carry-on items while you're in line at the check-in counter. Then when it's your turn to check-in, that's when they weigh all your carry-on items.

If you're in a group, your bags are weighed together and weight allowance is 7 kg multiplied by the number of persons in your group. 

MY EXPERIENCE AT CHANGI AIRPORT

At Changi airport, after checking-in at the airport counter, we go to another counter to have all our carry-on items weighed. If the items/bags meet the weight limit, the items/bags are tagged. If you checked-in at the self check-in kiosk or via web check-in, you still have to pass by this counter to have all your carry-on items tagged. If you don't have your carry-on bags tagged, it will not be allowed onboard the plane.


If you're in a group, your bags are weighed together and weight allowance is 7 kg multiplied by the number of persons in your group. 

The notice at Changi Airport

The notice shown above states:

1. You are allowed only 1 main carry-on baggage and a small item with TOTAL COMBINED WEIGHT of 7 kg.

2. Certis Cisco Security Officers are employed by Jetstar to verify that your carry-on baggage conforms to the baggage policy. 

3. Certis Cisco Security Officers can check your bags at check-in, at entry points to immigration and at the boarding gate. 

4. Bags not tagged will not be allowed onboard.

What the tag looks like

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY: Complimentary Degustation to usher the New Aubergine Restaurant

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY:

Complimentary Degustation

to usher the New L'Aubergine Restaurant

Last June, my husband and I were invited to sample the latest 9-course Degustation Menu before the new Aubergine opens to the public.

As stated in the invitation, Aubergine was closed for the past 6 months to develop the new menu and to expand their service to include breakfast, afternoon tea and dinner. Before opening it to the public, they decided to have some of their patrons sample the new Degustation menu.

We were lucky to be among those invited to sample the new Degustation Menu. And it didn't disappoint.

AMUSE BOUCHE

We decided to order a glass of wine each of
2013 BERINGER PINOT GRIGIO
to pair with the following meals

(320 pesos per glass)
(not included in the complimentary meal)

TOMATO JELLY
with
Fresh goat cheese (the white dot)
Basil (the green dot)

TOMATO-CRAB MILLE FEUILLE
Arugula, avocado, mango

(It means thin layers of tomato-crab, arugula, avocado, mango)

CURED SALMON
cucumber tea, pickled gherkins, horseradish granite

(The horseradish granite is the snow-like  topping.)

FOIE GRAS SYMPHONY
foie gras, veal aspic, chocolate, beetroot, brioche

(The foie gras is the cream sauce.)
(Veal aspic is veal stock set in gelatin.)

CHICKEN RAVIOLO
Chicken wing confit, mushroom nage, savoy cabbage

(Chicken wing confit is slowly cooked chicken wing.)
(Mushroom nage means mushroom flavored liquid.)

BUTTER POACHED GIANT PRAWN
Black pepper corn sauce, coconut foam

APPLE SORBET
Cilantro coulis, apple caviar

(Cilantro coulis is a thick sauce made from pureed and strained cilantro.)
(Apple caviar is an apple solution made into shapes of caviar,
which is an example of molecular gastronomy.)

We decided to order a glass of wine each of
2012 LAYER CAKE CABERNET SAUVIGNON
to pair with the Iberian Pork.

(650 pesos per glass)
(not included in the complimentary meal)

This wine was recommended by the waiter and perfectly pairs with the pork.

IBERIAN PORK
Cheek, Belly, Secreto, braised vegetables, pommes maxin, truffle jus

(This menu is composed of different parts of the Iberian pork.
It allows you to taste the different textures and tenderness of the different parts of the pork.

The best part is the SECRETO.
It is so tender because it's marbled with fat on the surface.)

PINEAPPLE CONFIT
Dehydrated banana milkshake, orange soup

CHOCOLATE REBEL
Chocolate trilogy, stracciatella ice cream, salted caramel, roasted almond flakes

It's called Chocolate trilogy because of the 3 layers of chocolate.
The stracciatella ice cream is a gelato made of milk ice cream with chocolate chips.

Coffee
Petit fours, chocolates

How to use the FITNESS FIRST INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

How to use the FITNESS FIRST INTERNATIONAL PASSPORT

The Fitness First International Passport is a membership benefit of Fitness First members who are enrolled in a Full Access Multiclub Plan. It allows the member to use Fitness First Clubs worldwide when they visit a country for a short time.

Since my hotel in Singapore does not have a gym. I decided to use my international passport in Singapore. This is how to use it.

1. Get an international passport card from your home gym before you leave the country.

This the international passport issued by your home club.
Passport and Platinum members can use
clubs of the SAME category for FREE

At the back of the international passport, your details are shown.

2. Check at the local Fitness First website to find out which are the regular Fitness First Clubs and which are Platinum Clubs so you'll know which ones you can use for free.

The screenshot of the website shows that Fitness First Cathay is a regular Fitness First club.
I encircled in black the area where you can find the category of that particular club.

The screenshot of the website shows that Fitness First Paragon is a regular Fitness First club.
I encircled in black the area where you can find the category of that particular club.

3. Bring both your Fitness First membership card and the international passport issued to you by your home club and present both to the Fitness First counter of the gym you're using abroad.

Fitness First Cathay (Singapore)

Unlike other Fitness First Clubs,
this club provides a small and large towel when you register at the counter.

I DIDN'T PAY ANY FEE WHEN I USED FITNESS FIRST CATHAY IN SINGAPORE.

Manila International Airport Lounge: The Sky View Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3

Manila International Airport Lounge:

The Sky View Lounge 

at NAIA Terminal 3

Updated February 2023: Skyview Lounge is now Marhaba Lounge. 

Check out my new post here:Everything you need to know about Marhaba Lounge, NAIA 3 

The new Skyview Lounge at NAIA Terminal 3 is a pay lounge, which means you can enter this lounge for a fee. However if you are a holder of certain credit cards (like the American Express Platinum Card, the Citibank Premier Miles/Platinum, Security Bank Platinum/World or Diners Club, BDO Diamond Rewards), the  (AND 1 GUEST) are allowed to enter for FREE.

Fee for Entry (if you are not a holder of the cards mentioned above):

800 pesos: fee for adult and children 2 years old and above.

20% discount is applied to senior citizens.

Children below 2 years old are free.

Where it is located: 

At the International Departure area.

NOTE: There is no access to this lounge if you are in the Domestic Departure area. So if you are departing from this airport on a domestic flight, you will not be able to use this lounge.

Departure area is at Level 3. Skyview Lounge is at Level 4, seen above.

This photo is taken immediately after passing the final security check after immigration.

Look above and you see the Sky View Lounge.

You will find the stairs or elevator that goes to Level 4 to your right. Look for the signs. There are plenty of signs to lead you to where the lounges are

Hours of Operation:

24 hours, 7 days a week

Procedure for Entry:

1. Present your qualified credit card and your boarding pass to the counter in front. Or pay the fee if you don't have a qualified credit card.

• They get your boarding pass to get your flight information. Part of their service is to notify their guests if their plane is ready for boarding.

2. Sign the logbook.

3. You are given the WiFi password.

4. Then you are allowed to enter the lounge.

What You Will Find in the Lounge

FREE FOOD 

Hot dishes area

Chicken congee,
with condiments such as:
onion leaves, fried garlic, calamansi, soy sauce

Vegetable Yakisoba

Sweet and sour steamed fish
Stir fry beef

Steamed rice

Assorted mini sandwiches:

Cheese pimiento sandwich
Beef pastrami pan de sal
Open faced pesto chicken
Tuna salad square
Grilled eggplant sandwich
Open faced tomato and sliced cheese

(I love their sandwiches!!!)

Cereal

Assorted plain bread
with jam, marmalade, butter and cheese

Assorted pastries

(These pastries are really good.)

FREE DRINKS

Espresso coffee
(Don't miss the coffee. The coffee is really good!!!)

Tea

Liquor and Wine

Softdrink, Beer, Juice

Hot and cold water

SPACIOUS LOUNGE

You can choose to sit on these chairs...

Or take the seat with the view of the runway.

FREE WIFI 

WiFi speed at the lounge

FREE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

MALE AND FEMALE RESTROOMS WITH SHOWER

PRAYER ROOM

The door to the prayer room is the one at the left

MY TIP: 

Make sure to arrive at the airport AT LEAST THREE (3) hours before your flight to be able to use this lounge. One (1) hour is spent checking-in and going through immigration, an hour and a half (1 1/2) to eat at the lounge and the remaining 30 minutes is for boarding.