PAL is having the Dream Flights Raffle promo for all domestic and international flights. The sale and travel period will be from October 20, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

They already had their ninth draw last March 5, 2009. You can check their website for the list of the ninth draw winners. There are still many draws coming up. Issuing Travel Agency also wins the corresponding prize.

These are the prizes that await lucky winners:

(2) FIRST PRIZES:
1 roundtrip Business class ticket to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver with 2N3D accommodations, breakfast, and transfers.
Draw dates: March 20, & April 6, 2009

(3) SECOND PRIZES:
1 roundtrip Business class ticket to Australia, Honolulu or Japan with 2N3D accommodations, breakfast, and transfers.
Draw dates: February 5 & 20, & March 5, 2009

(6) THIRD PRIZES:
1 roundtrip Business class ticket to Bangkok, Beijing, Guam, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei or Xiamen with 2N3D accommodations, breakfast, and transfers.
Draw dates: November 10 & 20, December 5 & 22, 2008, January 5 & 20, 2009

(110) CONSOLATION PRIZES:
10 round trip domestic Economy class tickets every draw

Here are the mechanics:

1.Every PAL domestic and international revenue electronic ticket (e-ticket) purchased in the Philippines from October 20, 2008 to March 31, 2009 and used within the same period will entitle the passenger to:

*One (1) raffle entry for every domestic ticket lifted one way

*Two (2) raffle entries for every Bangkok, Guam, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Macau, Saigon, Singapore, Taipei or Xiamen ticket lifted one way

*Three (3) raffle entries for every Beijing or Shanghai ticket lifted one way

*Four (4) raffle entries for every Fukuoka, Honolulu, Kansai (Osaka), Melbourne, Nagoya, Narita, Pusan, Seoul or Sydney lifted one way

*Five (5) raffle entries for every Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver ticket lifted one way

*Bonus one (1) raffle entry for Business class e-ticket holders
2. Issuing Travel Agency also wins the corresponding prize.

3. Included in the raffle are the following:

*Stretcher

*Child

*Internet Transactions
4. Winning e-ticket nos. will be drawn electronically under supervision of the Civil Aeronautics Board.

5.Raffle entries not drawn will still be included in succeeding raffle draws.

6.A passenger has as many chances of winning as the number of e-tickets he/she has purchased and flown within the promo period.

Tickets not eligible for the raffle: zero fare, industry discount, infant, Mabuhay Miles award ticket, complimentary ticket, Air Philippines codeshare, and PAL Express ticket.

Prizes:

1.Grand draw prizes and special prizes are exclusive of taxes and terminal fees.

2.Prizes are valid for one (1) year from date of publication in the newspaper.

3.Prizes are transferable but not convertible to cash

Names of winners of each draw will be published in the newspapers and PAL website.

For inquiries, call PAL Reservations at 855-8888 or your travel agent.

Per CAB Approval dated October 16, 2008

For details, please call Advertising & Promotions at (632) 556-2217

Cebu Pacific (CEB) is offering a seat sale from all its center – Cebu, Clark, Davao and Manila – starting March 10 to 13, 2009, to keep travelers from worrying over high airfares this challenging times.

The promotional seat sale is valid for travel from April 1 to July 31, 2009.  Domestic fares are all-inclusive. Regional passengers need to pay travel taxes, except OFWs and foreigners staying in the Philippines for less than a year who are exempt. Promo fares are non-refundable.

Candice Iyog, CEB VP for marketing and distribution, said, “The current seat sale supports the focus on tourism to tide the country over the financial crisis. Cebu Pacific has always been keen in making travel more affordable for Filipinos.”

CEB is offering a P1,488.00 one-way ‘Go Lite’ fare for its Manila-Kota Kinabalu and Manila-Kaohsiung services. This is also extended to services from Clark to:

* Bangkok
* Hong Kong
* Macau
* Singapore.

The budget airline is also offering a one-way P1,388.00 ‘Go Lite’ all-in fare for its Manila to Cotabato and Butuan services.

From Cebu, the airline is offering a one-way P188.00 all-in ‘Go Lite’ fare to Bacolod, Butuan, Dumaguete and Surigao, and a one-way P488 all-in ‘Go Lite’ fare to:

* Cotabato;
* Dipolog;
* GenSan;
* Legaspi;
* Ozamiz;
* Puerto Princesa;
* Siargao;
* Tacloban; and
* Zamboanga.

From Davao, the airline is selling a one-way P488.00 all-in ‘Go Lite’ fare to Iloilo and Zamboanga.

‘Go Lite’ fares are for passengers traveling with no check-in baggage.  Passengers with check-in bags just have to add P200 to the fare.

Passengers can book online at www.cebupacificair.com or call reservations at 70-20-888, or visit their nearest travel agents.

Now on its 14th year, CEB continues to have the youngest aircraft fleet in the Philippines, comprised of 11 Airbus A320, 10 Airbus A319, and seven ATR 72-500.

Fear of flying or aviophobia is a fear one experiences when boarding on a plane. This fear is caused by a number of factors including claustrophobia or fear of heights. Many fliers feel an anxiety that the plane they are in may crash or that there are terrorists that might hijack the plane.

However, you can overcome this fear by taking several steps to lessen the anxiety you feel.

* Learning the basics of how airplanes work is a big help for fearful fliers. Knowing these make them feel secured and less concerned if ever the aircraft malfunctions. Visit the site http://www.guidetopsychology.com/airfacts.htm to get simple explanations of the basic functions of airplanes.
* Get to know the airplane you are to board in. Familiarizing helps remove the anxiety away.
* Choose a seat that will not make you feel hemmed up by other passengers. Aisle seat is the best because you can get up and move around the cabin more easily.
* Do not watch movies about plane disasters or news about plane crashes. Watching these will only add to the anxiety you feel.
* Always look at the bright side of life. Don’t let negative thoughts build the anxiety.
* Don’t rush yourself.  Give yourself ample time to prepare before going to the airport.
* If opportunity permits, meet the team that handles the airplane. It would be good to have a conversation with the pilot or a flight attendant will lessen the fear.
* Relax. Don’t forget to breathe. Turn on the air vents above your head as you board; the flow of air will help you feel less claustrophobic.
* Do not take caffeine and other stimulants because these will only make you jitter.
* Bring things that will help divert your attention. Tuning in to music or reading something fun can offer a great blanket of comfort.

If these tips aren’t enough, here’s more:

* Take a medication. It will be helpful to pop a pill for anti-anxiety of a sleeping pill before you fly. Another is that you can ask the help of professionals like a licensed therapist or a counselor. They can help you discern the root causes of your fear and will also help you in finding ways to overcome them. Moreover, you can also visit the web. You can find there lots of websites that offer help for fearful fliers.

Taipei – Taiwan airlines will hike/lift air fare on international routes next month due to rising fuel price. Starting in July 15, Taiwan airlines on short-range international flights will increase or add US $5 to the surcharge, and for the long-range international flights will add US $13 to the surcharge.

The fuel price surcharge increased, around fourth in as many months. For short-haul international flights will doubles the surcharge from June of $2.50  and for long-haul international flights will doubles the surcharge of $6.50.

After the July 15 hike, Taiwan airlines’ fuel surcharge will be a total $37.50 for short-range international routes and $97.50 for long-range international flights, Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said.

Taiwan’s two leading airlines, China Airlines and Eva Air have both downsized operations, reducing international routes and cutting the number of flights, they faced with soaring fuel price.

The Air New Zealand (NZ) to lift ticket fourth (4th) time in the year 2008 due to rising of fuel costs.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Air New Zealand will increase domestic and international fares from middle of July, the airline said last Thursday, blaming its fourth fare hike since March 2008 on rising fuel prices.

Domestic fares and those to and from Australia will rise 3 percent (3%) from July 17, while the international fares to North America, Asia and the United Kingdom (UK) will increase by an average of 5 percent (5%). The jet fuel is now priced above $170 a barrel, the air line could not continue to absorb the rising cost, said Deputy Chief Executive Norm Thompson. The fare increases would only partly recover the rising cost.

Last month, the carrier raised fares on many routes by an average of 4 percent (4%) that followed two hikes of about 3 percent in domestic fares earlier in the year. Air New Zealand announced or had signaled earlier that further hikes in ticket prices were likely because of high oil prices.

In April, the airline lower fiscal year profit guidance and it no longer expected to better its last year (2007) compared to this year (2008) because of the impact of fuel prices. It set its new forecast for normalized earning before tax and unusual items at between $156 million – $171 million. It had previously expected to match the $205 million posted in 2007.

As of June 15, American Airlines will be charging their customers for $15 on checking one bag for customers who flies within the USA and Canada, which before it was free. And to check for second bag would cost $25. But not all customers will be affected on this new rate. American Airlines official says its frequent-flier member or those who purchase expensive premium tickets such as first class, business class will not have to pay the charge.

There are also other increased in fees for other services like reservation service fees for pets and huge bags that would be cost between $5 to $50 per service. American Airlines CEO Gerard Arpey says “The bottom line is that our revenues, which include ticket sales and fees, must keep pace with our increasing costs.”