Suppose This Happened To You At The Check-in Counter

A French girl, Mari (not her real name) booked a ticket with Ryan Air. She snagged a cheap flight to Spain and it’s her first time to fly with this budget airlines.

Photo by © Lee Shaver

She knew there were baggage restrictions, so she weighed her luggage to make sure her carry-on fell under the 7kg only rule. She’s quite proud of herself. Aside from her carry-on, she had with her a sling purse, which was small enough to put her passport, and a few loose change.

While in the check-in line, she noticed the individual passengers ahead of her. One had a belt bag around his waist, but was asked to pay an additional charge for that extra item he brought on board. The same happened to the junior executive who brought his laptop bag. By the time it was her turn, she snuck her sling purse inside her shirt.

Photo by © Michal Sacharewicz

The ground crew gave her an insulting look. She argued that she did not have an extra item with her while raising both her hands. The deliberation went on for a while until the crew caved in.

Mari checked in without having to pay any extra charges but it sure served a lesson for her.

You may well be within your baggage weight allowance, but read the finer print, specially in budget airlines. Are you allowed to take an extra piece of item with you? How much will they charge?

After that pesky experience, Mari learned her lesson, and now struts effortlessly in the check-in counter.

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SINGAPORE: Guide to Budget Terminal

If you have ever been to most low-cost terminals, you'll find Singapore's Budget Terminal a breath of fresh air. You will somehow feel that you've received something more than what you actually paid for because of the amenities provided. Aside from the usual food and souvenir item shops found in most airports, you may enjoy these facilities:

Singapore Budget Terminal

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Airport Touchdown: 3 Destinations That Take You Downtown for Under Ten Pesos (P10)

It's has been good for local tourism that the local airlines have been offering cheap fares to domestic locations.

And if you are like me, one of the things i always keep my eyes peeled for are ways to keep the travel expense at a minimum from the moment you step out of the airport.  

This includes the transport from the airport to the town or city center.

Here are three airports that take you downtown for under ten pesos (P10) only:

Surigao. 

If you just step out of the airport and walk down to the main road, hail a jeepney with the sign "Pier" 

Cost: P9 (jeepney)

*or haggle with the trike driver to bring it down to P15/pax

credit source

Zamboanga. 

Jeepneys abound right outside the airport.

Cost: P8 

*it would help if your lodge is near the airport too. After looking around for several hours down the main center, I found a perfect accommodation in Canelar, which is a bit far from  downtown but is one jeepney ride away from the airport. 

Zamboanga airport

Cotabato. 

A little outside the airport, you can hail a jeepney to take you to town

Cost: P8

Between Eleven and a Hundred Pesos

If your next destination is not in the list, then they're too expensive and they did not make the P10 cut. 

Here are few airport transfers though that service below P100:

Laoag: P60 jeep

Iloilo: P50 van to SM Iloilo; from SM to airport is P75

Ozamis: P60 chartered tricycle 

In search of other airports, I chanced upon his blog, and found a gem of information:

• Davao. Jeepney. Cost P8
• Bacolod-Silay. Tricycle. Cost P10
• Cebu. Yellow Multicabs. Cost P8

Do you know a domestic airport that allows you to be in town for less than ten pesos?

**Disclaimer: Actual prices as of this writing may vary as some of my trips took place several years ago. 

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