byaheng pang-himpapawid

My flight back to pinas last Thursday made me wonder what would I write in this blog related to flying.

And then I realized, marami pala akong mga naiipon na mga observations sa utak ko that I have to share with you. Siguro alam na rin ninyo ang karamihan dito. Nevertheless, let me share with you ten tips that I thought every flyer should remember.

• While packing, never ever go beyond allowed weight limits saka ka magdadasal na sana mabulag yong check-in officer at hindi makitang 48kg ang bagahe mo. Huwag ding i-exceed ang carry-on bags. Pag sinabing isang piraso lang ang cabin bag, huwag gawing dalawa at saka magmamaktol pag pinagalitan ng airline crew. Cause of delay, embarrassment and unnecessary stress ang mga ganyan. Kaya nga ako nagpapa-freight kung marami akong iuuwi eh. Para hindi ako ma-mroblema sa excess baggage. So don’t you ever approach me dahil nakita mong isang maleta lang ang luggage ko at ipapa-bitbit mo sa akin ang isang kahon or plastic bag mo. Don’t you know it’s one of the mortal sins of flying? Kailangan ko pa bang i-esplika yon?
• This December ng magbakasyon ako (my first December break after a long time, dati kasi off season ako lagi umuuwi), nakipag-chikahan pa ako sa mga naghatid sa akin sa airport after I checked-in my luggage. Forgetting that it was peak season at marami ang umuuwi. Kaya inabot ako ng indulto sa immigration checks pa lang. Halos boarding time na ng matapos ako sa final checks. Lesson learned: never ever procrastinate. Allow ample time for all the pre-departure formalities lalo na kung peak season.
• During check-in, don’t forget to request for your preferred seat. Chances are, you’ll get it. Kung hindi naman, at least nasabi mo. Better say it than get stuck on an 8 or 9-hour flight in a seat na hindi ka kumportable. Kung ayaw maistorbo, ask for a seat by the window. Kung tulad ko namang madalas mag-cr, by the aisle. Request for forward seat also kung gusto mong madaling maka-labas ng plane. Kakainis pag nasa dulong-dulo ka ng aircraft lalo na kung economy ticket ka. Lagi kang last sa serving ng food. Last ka pa to leave the plane. Hindi ako makikipag-unahan sa boarding pero sa deplaning, nakikipag-karera ako pababa ng Manila. And here’s one thing na palagay ko hindi alam ng lahat: if you request for Exit seats (yong seats right beside the exit door where you have more legroom) may kasamang responsibility yan. You have to act as emergency officer if something happened on the plane.
• Keep proper documents ready para hindi ma-abala. Marami ang hindi nakaka-realize nito pero in each step of the pre-departure formalities, iba-iba ang documents na kailangang i-present mo. Most of us bundle our passport, ticket and other documents doon sa flap na binibigay ng travel agent. And most of us just hand it over to the officer on duty who tosses back to you with matching simangot yong mga hindi nya kailangang papel. So just give them what they need. Baggage check-in: passport and ticket. Immigration: Passport, immigration card and boarding pass. During boarding: boarding pass na lang. Some airline/airport also check the passport before entering the aircraft. Upon arrival naman, passport lang and immigration card sa immigration officer, passport and customs declaration sa customs officer and keep the ticket handy para doon sa final check ng baggage as you leave the arrival area. Itabi na lang ang mga documents na hindi kailangan to avoid losing them. Basta ilagay mo lang sa isang bulsa na madaling dukutin in case hingin sa iyo.
• Your attire in flying: cowboy boots with steel toes and spikes, horse shoe steel buckles, blings including huge Damascus necklace, monstrous gold bracelets and gigantic gold rings, not to mention the stainless steel wristwatch ke branded man o ja-fake. What’s wrong with this picture? It’ll take you forever before you strip down and get yourself past the metal detector. So please, minimize metals sa katawan mo para di ka maging cause of delay. Malayo pa lang sa x-ray machine, tanggalin na ang mga keys, pens, cel phones and anything in your pockets. Ilagay sa carry-on baggage na dadaan sa x-ray. Hindi yong kung kelan nasa harap ka ng metal detector saka doon ka magtatanggal nito. Kung ako ang nasa likod mo, you’d see how my eyes would roll. Hmmmppp!
• There’s something I really don’t get pag boarding time na. Why hurry? Bakit nag-sisiksikan during boarding time? Haller, hindi naman jeep yan o bus na pag nahuli ka, tatayo ka na lang or sasabit sa pakpak noh. And besides, hindi ka nyan iiwan at magte-take off na hindi ka sakay. So, what’s the rush for?
• Nag-announce na ang captain: no cel phones and electronic devices please. Pero ang mga hindurupot na feeling VIP, naka-cel phone pa rin, tawagan ng tawagan. Eh sinabi na ngang nagi-interfere yon sa communication system ng aircraft. Ano bang gusto ng mga ito, makipag-chikahan na lang sa cel o maka-lipad safely? Ako mismo naiirita sa mga taong ganito who compromises my own safety just because of their stubbornness or plain stupidity. Kaya ang irap ko sa mga ganitong tao, ay naku, if looks could kill talaga!
• Be considerate sa mga katabi. Go to the lavatory kung kailangang umutot. Sa liit ng confined space ninyo, you cannot go finger pointing. Sobrang obvious kung sino ang salarin. Wag ding makulit sa seatmate. Try to strike a conversation pero kung tantiya mo, ayaw makipag-usap, lubayan mo. Baka he/she’s not feeling well or may iniisip. I-minimize din ang pagbubukas ng overhead light kung natutulog ang katabi. If you need to recline your seat, do it slowly. Baka mauntog mo yong nasa likod, away pa ang kauuwian non.
• Madalas when I travel, knapsack lang ang hand-carry ko. Lately, laptop bag. And I store it underneath my seat. Pag ganon kasi kaliit ang bag mo, more often than not, hindi ka pipilitin na ilagay sa overhead compartment. Kaya kung may kailangan ako sa bag, mas madali kong madukot like - passport, pen, pocketbook, etc. Mas madali rin akong maka-exit ng aircraft kesa kukunin ko pa ang carry-on baggage ko habang sinisiksik na ako ng mga pasaherong nag-uunahan pagbaba ng plane.
• Speaking of deplaning, ito ang isa ko pang ikinaka-irita. Sabi na ngang remain seated until the aircraft has come to a stop, bakit ang daming matitigas ang ulo na akala mo eh mananakaw ang bags nila. Tatayo at bubuksan ang overhead compartment kahit aalog-alog pa ang eroplano. Hindi ba alam ng mga hunghang na ito na safety issue din yon. A bag could fall and injure someone. Ewan ko talaga sa mga taong ganito. Naku, grrr.
  

And, one final thing na hindi naman mandatory pero siguro maganda ring gawing practice. As you exit the aircraft, return the farewell curtsy of the cabin crew. Lalo na kung maayos naman ang service nila. The least you can do is to say thanks and smile back at them. Hindi yong parang wala kang narinig o nakita. Sige ka, baka matandaan ang mukha mo, next time you fly with them, duraan ang tubig na hiningi mo!