1. Make optimal use of clothing sets

It is best to do this a few days in advance. Prepare everything you want to take with you. Make sure you always bring a few basic items that you can combine with other items of clothing such as a pair of jeans which you can wear with several t-shirts or tops. Trying on everything in advance and taking photos of the items will help to prevent packing unnecessary clothing.

In addition, wear your ‘heaviest’ clothes when you fly. If you have a short flight, you can also put on layers. Perhaps for a long flight this will not be ideal. Alternatively, wear your most comfortable outfit but with your heaviest shoes or shoes that would take up a lot of space in your suitcase.

Check out our YouTube video for the best packing tips when traveling with a carry-on. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our channel to keep updated with the latest travel video content like flight and hotels reviews and our InsideLooks!

2. Roll and do not fold

What will save you a lot of space is rolling up your clothes. Roll them up tightly and you can actually store more in your suitcase than you think. The advantage of rolling is that it will wrinkle less compared to folding everything. If you still have wrinkles but no iron, you can hang the clothes in the bathroom when you take a hot shower. The steam ensures that the wrinkles are reduced.

3. Use all the space in the suitcase

More tips when traveling with a carry-on only: Use every inch in your suitcase. If you bring a small handbag, fill it with underwear for example. If you have a pair of sneakers in your suitcase, fill them with socks. Put everything in small bags to keep everything ‘fresh’.

Also take anything out of packaging. It may not make a lot of difference, but every little bit helps.

4.Vacuum bags

I would only use this method for clothing that is allowed to wrinkle since a vacuum bag does give you folds and creases, however, it saves a lot of space. I apply this process for tops, underwear, and pajamas. On the return flight, I place all clothing in the vacuum bags since obviously the wrinkles will not matter at that point as everything will be washed anyway.

Use vacuum bags whenever you will not need a vacuum cleaner. You can purchase these anywhere for just a few dollars. Simply by rolling and applying some force, all of the air releases out of the bag. This makes it one solid package.

5. Washing at your vacation address

Another option is to wash your clothes at your vacation address. There are travel size detergents that you can take with you and therefore you can take less clothing. This is handy for clothes that are not too dirty and only need a refresh.

Another option would be hotels that offer a laundry service. You can then have some clothes washed on-site using this service. Keep in mind that this process would incur extra costs. In large cities you also have the option of using a nearby laundromat.

6. Minis

Another one of those tips: If you only travel with a carry-on luggage, you will have the max of 1 liter of liquids that you can take with you in a container of up to 3.4 oz (100ml.). Pay attention to this since they are very strict about this rule. You can also buy travel size products for vacation. They are however quite pricey in comparison to the regular sized packages. Otherwise, you can also purchase empty travel minis and fill them yourself with the products you always use.

What I often do is take the minis from the hotel I’ve stayed in and simply reuse them. I rinse these well and fill them with my shampoo or shower gel. The empty minis for purchase are sometimes too big for the number of days of your trip and that’s a waste of space.

7. iPad/ E-reader

Don’t take books with you when you’re running out of space. Instead upload them on an e-reader or on your iPad. Also, I would advise not to take a laptop with you unless you really need it. You can upload so much content on an iPad instead. Alternately, you can simply upload everything on your phone. It is a smaller screen but you have everything on one device.

8. Pillowcase

I recently came across some “tips” on social media although I don’t think I would use them any time soon. Currently, it is going viral that you can take extra items with you in a pillowcase however, I don’t know if this really works.
This process surely won’t cause any problems with security however, I don’t know it will a be a problem upon boarding. It’s possible that it may be charged as an extra carry-on and in this case you would be stuck with it not fitting in your suitcase or it may be too heavy. Surely now that this method is going viral, TSA is going to pay more attention to it.

Extra tip

If the airline still wants you to check in your suitcase and you are afraid of losing your suitcase, you can also put a tracker in your suitcase. In this way at least you will know whether your suitcase is on the plane, and the location of it.
Don’t forget to pack at least one set of clothing and underwear in your personal purse/ bag. In this way, if your suitcase is lost or left behind, you always have an extra set of clothing and underwear. Also note, never put all the important items you can’t live without in your suitcase if it has to be checked in.

In my personal experience, these tips have always helped. I recently travelled to New York for 9 days with just a carry-on luggage. If it worked for me where I am a woman who wears different clothing every day and always brings too many shoes, it can definitely work for you!

Source pictures Carry-on tips: Tamara – InsideFlyer Netherlands, This article appeared earlier on InsideFlyer.nl.

Do you have any more tips? Please let us know in the comments.

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British Airways Airbus A380

At the moment you can find BA A380s flying from London to 7 destinations in the United States. These are: Boston (BOS), Washington Dulles (IAD), Miami (MIA), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). Elsewhere, Johannesburg (JNB) and Dubai (DXB) are also on the timetable. Keep in mind that the BA A380 only operates from and to Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the UK.

The BA A380 offers four cabins: First Class, Club World (Business Class), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy) and World Traveller (Economy). The aircraft can carry a maximum of 469 passengers.

BA A380 to Los Angeles

A schedule change published on the Aeroroutes website shows that the A380 will continue to fly on a number of routes after the summer. Initially, from October 29, 2023, three daily flights to Los Angeles were scheduled with the Boeing 777-300ER. An Airbus A380-800 is now slated to be used for the afternoon flight instead of the B777. This change will be in effect until at least March 9, 2024.

Flight BA269 departs from London Heathrow at 3:15 PM (local time) and arrives in Los Angeles at 6:35 PM (local time). The return flight BA268 is at 8:50 PM (local time) and arrives at 3:10 PM (local time).

Source images: British Airways

The post British Airways Will Continue To Operate Airbus A380s From Heathrow To The US appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Australia road trip

Exploring new places is something I enjoy a lot and Australia is a perfect destination on that account. I’ve been to the country before and we also traveled by car for the biggest part of that trip. But a real road trip in Australia is done with a camper van of course. And that’s exactly what this trip was about. We toured Western Australia and it was amazing, even despite the rainy weather. I’ll publish more on our adventures later.

Our trip brought us to the city of Adelaide, which is mostly known for its world class vineyard – a great reason to visit this area of course.

After the living in a campervan for a while we were looking for something more luxurious. In Adelaide, the Sofitel is the place to go for luxury. Whether you choose to stay in a suite or a regular guest room, the experience is great!

The 5 star Sofitel Adelaide

The Sofitel Adelaide is centrally located in the city center. It’s a lively neighborhood where most of the city’s bars, restaurants and clubs are concentrated. Both during the day and in the evening you can go here for a snack, drink or even a dance if you like. The Central Market – another tourist spot – is also in close proximity to the hotel.

The train station is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. And the airport is just under 15 minutes away by rental car or taxi. You can also take the bus to the airport. It takes about 20 minutes and conveniently departs right in front of the hotel.

Check out our YouTube channel, where you can find a nice video impression of this review of the Sofitel Adelaide. Did you know that you can view many more reviews , InsideLooks and trip reports on our YouTube channel? We frequently post new videos, so follow our channel to make sure you don’t miss out!

Suite Upgrade at the Sofitel Adelaide

The room was booked about a month before I arrived in Adelaide. As an ALL Accor Platinum member I was happy to use my ‘Suite Upgrade certificate’ at this hotel. Accor ALL Platinum members get two upgrade certificates per year. You can also earn additional upgrades when staying more often at Accor proporties.

The booking process works slightly different when you use the certificate. First, you need to log on to the Accor hotel booking website and indicate that you want to use your certificate. Then, you can select the suite you would like to book. The website will show the price as if it’s a regular room. I booked a Junior Suite with access to the Club Millésime lounge. The regular nightly rate for this suite is $AUD 645. With the certificate it is $AUD 295. This rate includes breakfast for two people.

Welcome at Sofitel Adelaide

It was about 1 PM when we arrived at the Sofitel Adelaide. Unfortunately, the room wasn’t ready yet, but there was good news too –  we had been upgraded from the Junior Suite to a Prestige Suite!

Because the room was not ready, we were offered the chance to wait at the Club Millésime. This is the hotel lounge on the 10th floor. You can have a beautiful view of the city while enjoying a snack and a drink. Later in this review about the Sofitel Adelaide I will share my experience with Club Millésime at this hotel.

The Prestige Suite

Sofitel Adelaide has 251 rooms and suites on 24 floors, including accessible rooms. The ‘standard’ room is a Deluxe Room. The Superior Room is slightly bigger and has more amenities. There’s also a Presidential Suite, as well as the Junior Suites and Prestige Suites. The Prestige Suite offers three separate areas spanning a total size of 57 m2.

Living Room

The first room you enter is the spacious living room. It has a beautiful view of the city and the Gulf of St. Vincent. Next to that, there is a large corner sofa with coffee tables and a dinner table with chairs. Opposite the sofa, a big TV is built into the wall. The tv offers both local and international channels. The audio and video quality are good and you can also stream from your own device if you want.

We also received a nice welcome gift in the living room. The gift consisted of a chocolate bar, a bowl of nuts and a bottle of Australian red wine, accompanied by a personal welcome note from the hotel staff. A nice gesture!

On the side of the living room there is a small cupboard with a range of food and drinks. Here you can also find the minibar, kettle and a Nespresso coffee machine. Mind that there is a price tag for anything from the minibar. Nespresso coffee, tea and bottled water are free of charge. You can ask housekeeping to restock if needed.

The living room also has a separate washroom that is accessible from the hallway. The washroom features a toilet, sink and big mirror. The room is decorated in white marble.

Bedroom

When you go through the sliding doors from the living room, you enter the bedroom of the Prestige Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide. This part of the Suite is slightly smaller than the living room, but has plenty of space for two guests. The space is divided into the main bedroom and a walk-in wardrobe. The sliding doors can be closed for extra privacy.

The comfortable king size bed is at the center of the room. The mattress is fantastic and the sheets actually feel wonderful. The bedding at the Sofitel is for sure of a very good quality, which you may expect of course given the nightly rate.

There are bedside tables with reading lights on both sides of the bed. The hotel installed sufficient power sockets in the wall, which is convenient for charging your mobile devices. You can find a control panel for the lighting, which can also be operated with a special tablet that is on one of the bedside tables.

Just like in the living room, you have a good view of the city here. Opposite the bed there is a TV, just like in the living room. The TV is neatly mounted into the wall and works the same as the other TV. You can also stream content from your own mobile devices.

Bathrobes and ironing facilities are also provided, as well as a safe and a hairdryer.

Bathroom

An oasis of white floor-to-ceiling marble meets you as soon as you open another sliding door. The toilet and shower cabin (with rain shower) offer a beautiful mosaic. These smaller areas are separated with a door on the left side of the bathroom.

The bathroom offers a wash area with a big mirror and plenty of luxury amenities.  On the other side you can find a free standing bath from which you also have a view of the city, especially in the evening you get some nice views.

Finally, there is a large cupboard under the sink. Here you can find towels and other small amenities such as a comb, razor or ear buds. There is also a Dyson hair dryer.

Comfort of the room

As you could read earlier in this review of the Sofitel Adelaide, I was pleasantly surprised with the upgrade to the Prestige Suite. This room on the 24th floor is very spacious and therefore offers an upgraded stay. The living room is perfect to start your morning with a cup of coffee in front of the TV, or to watch a movie in the evening. The suite is generally well furnished, although the hallway felt somewhat ‘empty’. It’s also good that there is an extra toilet, which is accessible from the living room.

The bedroom is equipped with a very comfortable bed. The sheets are not too warm and provide enough comfort. The tablet and control panel make it very easy operate the lighting and the TV. 

Finally, there is the beautiful and spacious bathroom. Equipped with both a shower and a bath, so you can choose whether you want to change quickly or, for example, enjoy the view from the bath while enjoying a book or a movie. All in all, this Prestige Suite at the Sofitel Adelaide is an excellent room that offers you everything you can wish for during your stay in Adelaide.

Wondering what you can do in and around Adelaide? Have a look at our Adelaide and around Trip Report on YouTube for some inspiration! Our recommendation: an exclusive chauffeur driven wine tour with Door to Door.

Facilities at the Sofitel Adelaide

As well as the rooms and suites that we covered in this review, there are also some other activities that you can do at the Sofitel Adelaide.

Club Millésime

The Sofitel Adelaide features a hotel lounge called Club Millésime. The lounge is located on the 10th floor. The lounge is accessible to guests staying in a Suite, or Luxury Room with lounge access. Accor ALL Platinum and Diamond members also get complementary access, regardless the room they stay in. The hotel lounge has its own reception for check-in and check-out.

The Club Millésime is open daily from 06:30 to 22:00 hrs. Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00. There is a small self service buffet, but there is also a menu with hot and cold dishes. Personally, I think the selection of the buffet is a bit limited, but the menu items were very good. And you can also order multiple times – the service is very attentive.

From 15:00 to 16:00 hrs. the lounge serves ‘Le Goûter’ – kind of like a French version of an English afternoon tea. While enjoying a cup of coffee or tea you get a selection of sweet and savory snacks. The quality is very good, although it sometimes took a long time before the coffee and tea were refilled.

In the evening, there is the ‘L’Apéro’ from 17:00 to 19:00 hrs. The lounge offers a choice local Australian wines, accompanied by some savory snacks. The Sofitel also has its own Prosecco.

I think the amenities and service of the lounge is very good. The dishes change daily, so there is variety even if you stay in the hotel for a longer period of time.

In addition to these facilities, there is also the possibility to freshen up. Separate toilet and shower rooms are available in the back of the lounge.

Restaurants and bars

On the 9th floor of the Sofitel Adelaide you can find Sofitel Breakfast and Garçon Blue. Here you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can order from the menu, but there’s also a wide range of breakfast items at the breakfast buffet. My made to order dish wasn’t prepared well, but the restaurant staff served me a new one.

In the afternoon, I also enjoyed a luxurious lunch at the Garçon Blue restaurant. Check out the video below for an impression of the restaurant.

On the ground floor of the hotel you can find Déjà Vu Champagne Bar. You would expect champagne, but it is actually more a kind of coffee shop. During the day you can also order a coffee with a snack. In the evening you can go here for other snacks and drinks.

Wellness and exercise

For guests who like to stay fit during their stay, there is also plenty to do. There is a beautiful swimming pool, a sauna and a large fitness room.

The pool on the 5th floor is not very big, but fortunately it was quiet at the time of my visit. You can get a pool towel at the entrance. The fitness room is located on floor up and it very big. The hotel also provides towels and cooled water.

Photos Review Sofitel Adelaide – Australia: InsideFlyer

The post Review: Luxury Suite Stay at Sofitel Adelaide – Australia appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Location in New York

Planning a trip to New York City can be a little daunting if you think about all the many hotel options. This time, I was in the market for a centrally located hotel near Times Square. Even with such a specific area to stay, there’s still a lot to choose from. However, InsideFlyer got the opportunity to stay at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York and in this review you can read all about it.

The hotel is located in the heart of the city, just next to Times Square. Iconic Times Square is a year round ‘must visit’ for many tourists. The amazing buildings, big ad screens and neon lights make it a sight you will not forget any time soon.

M Social Hotel is located on 226 West 52nd Street, just around the corner of Broadway and only a couple of minutes by foot from Times Square. Central Park, MoMo, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall are also close by. In the area you can also find hotel brands such as Sheraton, citizenM, Riu Plaza, Crowne Plaza and Hilton Garden Inn.

If you’re flying in from New York JFK Airport (JFK) or New York Newark Airport (EWR) then it will take you about one hour to reach the hotel by public transport. A taxi ride is also possible, which may take somewhere between 45 to 80 minutes depending the infamous New York City traffic.

Don’t feel like reading the review of the M Social Times Square New York City, or short on time? Don’t worry! Just check out the video impression on our YouTube channel. You can also find many other hotel, airport lounge and flight reviews here. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, so you won’t miss out on our new videos!

On a side note, some time ago this 480 room hotel was operated by Accor Hotels under the Novotel brand. However, during the pandemic it closed down, and after a takeover and renovation it’s now fully operated by Millennium Hotels & Resorts using the M Social brand.

Check-in at the M Social Hotel

When I arrived at the hotel in the early afternoon it was fairly quiet. The ground floor is used for baggage storage and here you can take the elevator up to reception. The reception and check-in area are located on the 5th floor.

I was kindly greeted by the employee at the reception desk. It’s quite a big open area with lots of cosy seats and big windows. On the same floor I also saw a games area and a bar.

After handing over my ID and reservation confirmation, the employee checked if my room was ready. As this stay is offered by M Social to InsideFlyer, I didn’t need to make any payment. Normally, I would use my American Express Platinum card, as it includes extensive travel insurance and you never know when that can be of use.

After a bit of explanation about the hotel facilities, the employee handed over the room key and then I was off to the 21st floor! Before entering the elevator, I noticed a piece of art showcasing the area around the hotel in a very nice way:

The Room: Social Superior Hudson River View

The elevator took me up to the 21st floor and the room was easy to find. My Social Superior room claimed to have views of the Hudson River, so I was very curious about the view of course.

When I stepped into the room it immediately felt quite spacious. That’s really a plus considering some of the small hotel rooms I’ve seen in New York. It’s also great to have enough space to open my suitcase after a long trip. When entering the room there was a wardrobe on the left and on the right you could access the bathroom. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board, bathrobes and a hairdryer.

When entering the actual room, there was a cupboard on the left. Here you can find some cups, a fridge and a small safe. This hotel unfortunately does not offer any free bottles water and there’s also no kettle to make coffee or tea.

The large kingsize bed took up most of the space in the room. I recognize the outer headboard from some of the Novotel hotels I’ve stayed before, though the inner part has been refreshed with a yellow M Social headboard. The mattress was very comfortable and the blankets were also good, although I felt a bit warm during the night. The bed has four pillows in total, two per person. On both sides of the bed you can find a small stand with a reading light. On the left there was an alarm clock that also let’s you charge your smartphone wirelessly – a nice detail.

Opposite the bed, there was a big wall-mounted tv with local and international tv channels. The desk below the tv offered a bigger reading light, some power outlets and a phone to make calls for room service and reception.

The sofa was located in front of the window, which had a nice view of the area, New Jersey and the Hudson River!

The bathroom

In the bathroom you immediately notice the big mirror with integrated lighting. The wash area is on the small side here, but there are enough towels in different sizes. You also get a small Five Wits soap bar. On the other side there is a big walk-in shower, separated by a glass wall. In the shower there is both a hand and rain shower. The hotel offers C.O. Bigelow shampoo and shower gel, and Five Wits conditioner in refillable bottles. Finally, there is of course a toilet.

Comfort of the Social Superior Hudson River View room

A hotel room can look nice in videos and pictures, but it’s hard to judge the comfort of a room like that.

First of all, the 25 sqm. size of the room is very good for the area. The room is also designed to have sufficient space for storage and opening your suitcase.

It’s a pity there’s no coffee machine or kettle. This basic amenity does make a hotel room more comfortable facility wise, I would say. After my long trip from Amsterdam, I was quite tired and could fall asleep easily, but I noted some noise coming from the air-conditioning system, which may be irritating to some. The soundproofing of the rooms was good – I never heard any noise from the other rooms or hallway.

The room has sufficient power outlets with American plugs. The lighting is also good and easy to switch on and off.

Facilities at the M Social Hotel Times Square New York

Let’s also have a look at the facilities that this M Social hotel offers.

On the 5th floor, you can find the restaurant and bar called ‘Beast & Butterflies’. Here you can enjoy a nice meal or a drink at the bar.

I had a great American Breakfast at the restaurant in the morning, which was served between 7 and 11 AM. The breakfast offers yoghurt and cereals, bagels and some cold and hot dishes. If you don’t have breakfast included, you can book it at a rate of $ 27 (before tax) per person.

As mentioned earlier, the 5th floor also offers a games room and an area to see some sports on the tv. There’s plenty of seating, so it’s also a good area to relax and enjoy the company of your fellow travelers. Every floor has an ice machine.

On the same floor, there is also a nice outside terrace and bar with a great view of Times Square. Here you can also have a drink and a meal. On some nights the hotel organizes live music here.

The fitness center is located on a lower floor. It’s quite well equipped with different types of fitness equipment. Here you also have a view on Times Square.

Finally, you can find a souvenir shop and computer corner opposite the reception desk.

Frequent traveler benefits: MyMillennium

We wouldn’t be InsideFlyer if we don’t discuss the frequent traveler benefits in this review of the M Social Hotel Times Square New York. As mentioned, M Social is part of Millennium Hotels. The loyalty program is called MyMillennium. It’s free to join and you can collect points and elite night credits.

Staying 10 or more nights in a year earns you ‘Prestige’ status. Members with this status earn more points on stays. They get a welcome amenity and a room upgrade (if available and applicable). You can read more about the MyMillennium program here.

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Location in Singapore

The Hotel Indigo Singapore is located in the Katong area in eastern Singapore, on East Cost Road. As well as the modern design, you will also find some references to the former Joo Chiat building and the local Peranakan culture. These design details can be seen in the communal areas, as well as the hotel rooms.

Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong is only a fifteen minute taxi drive from Singapore-Changi Airport. Normally such a ride is about 20 Singapore Dollars (SGD), so currently around $14 USD. 

Public transport in Singapore is excellent, so you can also take the metro (MRT) or bus. Bus 36 stops near the hotel and will only cost you a few dollars, but the trip takes about 45 minutes. The time it takes to go from the hotel to the city center is about the same as the time from the airport to the hotel.

The Indigo Hotel is situated in the same building as the Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong, but each hotel has its own tower. Both the Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Express are a member of the IHG One Rewards loyalty program. IHG has quite a number hotels in Singapore. For instance the luxury InterContinental Singapore and InterContinental Robertson Quay. But also the newly opened VOCO Orchard Singapore and seven Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels.

On our YouTube channel you can find a video review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more reviews, InsideLooks and trip reports. We post new content every week.

Reception

After my arrival from Perth in Singapore, I took the bus to the hotel. When I arrived there, the doorman directly approached me to take my luggage. I was directed to the stylish reception area and offered a welcome drink. A fresh iced latte is always a good idea in sweaty Singapore!

Without exception at IHG hotels, I am thanked for my loyalty as an IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite member. I also got a welcome gift of 600 points. After I’ve handed over the passports, I showed my reservation in the IHG app. Because of the online check-in, all formalities were done quickly. The only thing I needed to do was pay the security deposit. I did this with my American Express Flying Blue Platinum Card, but the hotel also accepts Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and China Union Pay. After check-in, the agent escorted me to the room and my luggage was brought up soon after.

The Room: King Standard Heritage View With Bath

The Indigo Hotel in Katong has 131 rooms, divided over sixteen floors. All rooms are 30 square meters, but there are different types of rooms. The Standard Room features a regular bathroom with walk-in shower and a kingsize bed (King Bed room) or two separate beds (2 Twin Beds room). The Heritage View rooms can be found on the higher floors and are available with a kingsize bed or two separate beds.

The Heritage Rooms have upgraded amenities, such as a Nespresso coffee machine. There is one other type of Heritage Room, this room also includes a bath. The Heritage Rooms are about 10% more expensive than the Standard Rooms. And the Heritage Room with a bath is 20% more expensive than the Standard Rooms. During check-in I got a King Standard Heritage View Room With Bath, a nice upgrade as I expected to get a Standard Room.

When you enter the room there is a small hallway. Directly on the left you can find a small toilet with wash area. On the right there is a big wardrobe with some drawers. Here you also find a hair dryer and a laundry bag. Unfortunately, there’s no luggage rack.

Further into the room there’s a small sofa with a stool. On the wall you can find two power plugs and a light switch. On the other side there is a china cabinet with a kettle and Nespresso coffee machine. There are also three small jars with candies. A well equipped coffee corner in my opinion.

The big kingsize bed can be found in the center of the room. On both sides there’s a small bedside table with a reading light and light switches. On the left side of the bed you can find a telephone for calls to the reception and room service, but also national and international calls (at a charge). Next to that, there’s a small alarm clock. Opposite the bed a big flatscreen tv is mounted to the wall. Unfortunately, this hotel room does not have a desk.

I have to say the design of the hotel really honors its surrounding neighborhood. This is for instance visible on the nice wall sketch. The lighting in the ceiling is also very well done. More details can be found in the small coffee table that has a top showing a famous Singaporean board game. And the coffee corner is nicely decorated with traditional china plates. All of this really makes it a cosy room, without ‘overdoing it’.

The bathroom

In the Heritage Room, the bathroom can be found in the back. Here you immediately see a big round white bath. On the left side there’s a wash basin with plenty of amenities from the Australian brand Biology Smart. In the bathroom there are also two Indigo water bottles that you can borrow during your stay. They are also available for purchase in the small shop on the ground floor.

As you may expect there are lots of towels available in different sizes. Just around the corner you find a good size walk-in rain shower with Biology Smart amenities. The bathroom can be fully separated from the main bedroom using a sliding door for extra privacy. Talking about privacy: the view from the room is really great, but don’t forget to close the curtains when using the bathroom.

The size of the bath makes the bathroom slightly small. That’s probably also the reasons that there is no toilet in the bathroom. You can find the toilet in the small hallway at the entrance of the room.

Room comfort

In this review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong we also discuss the comfort of the room, as sometimes the details really matter to make a stay stand out from the rest. Although the rooms are a good size, I disliked the fact that the toilet is separated from the bathroom, but that’s a personal thing perhaps. The quality of the amenities however is very good, as are the materials and finishing of the room. The bed is also high quality and comfortable.

The room is sound proof, so you won’t hear any noise coming from the hallway or from outside. The Singapore heat can be quite a thing, even in hotels. But here I experienced a comfortable temperature throughout my stay – so climate control is on point!

Any requests to the reception desk were handled swiftly and adequately. The service of the restaurant, bar and pool were also quite good.

Hotel facilities

This Indigo has several good facilities to offer, like a hotel restaurant, swimming pool and meeting rooms. These will also be briefly addressed in this review of the Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong.

The hotel restaurant, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery, offers all day dining. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet (and a la carte breakfast) in the morning. Later in the day you can also have lunch or dinner there. There’s also a terrace to sit outside if you want. The restaurant is situated in a separate building next to the hotel, but is easily accessible via the pavilion next to the reception. There is also a Starbucks cafe in the same building.

As mentioned before, there is a nice pavilion next to the reception. The pavilion features a business center and a small self service shop called ‘Mama Stall’. Next to that, you can find an exposition of the traditional clothing that the people in this area used to wear.

The highlight of the hotel is definitely the infinity pool and bar on the top floor. The view from the room is great, but the top floor offers an even better overview of the surrounding Katong area, with its traditional houses and shops. The Indigo hotel has quite a big pool and green terrace on the top floor. There are also some showers, toilets and a changing room. At the pool you can find some seats to relax and enjoy the pool and view!

Next to the pool, there is a well equipped fitness center with big windows to also enjoy the view during a workout. The equipment is modern and in good shape.

The hotel has two meeting rooms, designed to fit in the rest of the hotel furnishings.

The hotel does not allow guests with pets. On the outside terrace however you are welcome to take your dog.

Breakfast and lunch

Breakfast is served daily at Baba Chews Bar & Eatery. When I entered the restaurant I was greeted by one of the friendly servers, seated at a nice table for two, and offered a choice of hot or cold drinks – including the famous TWG Tea.

There is a breakfast buffet at the back of the restaurant. Here you can find several kinds of bread and sweet pastries. Next to that, you can get fresh fruit, cereals and yoghurt. The choice of fresh fruit juices is also quite good. However, there is more than just the buffet.

It is also possible to order from the breakfast menu through the QR code on the table. The restaurant offers both a Western style and Asian style menu. The ‘Western’ food options include fluffy buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles and a classic Egg’s Benedict. The Asian menu offers Chinese dumplings, nasi goreng, gyoza and Singaporean Laksa soup. The menu is updated regularly and all dishes are included in the breakfast. So I have to say the breakfast offer is really quite good.

After breakfast, it’s time for a walk around the Katong neighborhood. And there’s quite a lot to see and do. You can for instance walk to the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple and the Peranakan Houses. But you can also just stroll along East Katong Road. The area is well-known for its traditional shopfronts and houses.

Fancy going to the beach? That’s also easily possible –  it is only a 10 minute walk to East Coast Beach. The walk around the area was great. It also shows that Singapore has more to offer than just the city center.

When we returned to the hotel it was time for lunch. We decided to have it at Baba Chews, where we also had our breakfast. For lunch, there’s a modern Asian-European menu with culinary classics from the west and the east. Just like in the morning, the service was very attentive.

The waiter recommended the chili crab with tagliatelle and the salmon skewers with laksa sauce. We added grilled asparagus with truffle and Parmesan cheese. For drinks, we went for the famous Singapore Sling cocktail. The dishes arrived in no-time and tasted very good. Also, the side dishes were done quite well. I really liked the way the restaurant combines tastes from the west and the east.

Conclusion

My stay at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong was very good – in particular, the service and facilities stood out. The restaurant was great for both breakfast and lunch, though you are never short of good dining options in Singapore!

The rooftop infinity pool and bar is a real highlight, especially if you compare this hotel’s rates with similar alternatives.

Source of all pictures in this Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong review: InsideFlyer Netherlands – Christian 

The post Review: Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Breakthrough in sustainability?

Traditional jet engine aviation is ‘unsustainable’ by definition due to its high dependence on fossil fuels. Although there are many initiatives to reduce fuel consumption, their impact is relatively small. KLM and Air France, for example, provided the wings of the Boeing 737 with so-called winglets. This reduces fuel consumption by 1.5%. That is a decent saving of fuel on an annual basis, but it remains a drop in the ocean.

Another example is the adjustments that KLM made earlier to the service and layout of the new Premium Comfort cabin. The airline reduced weight as much as possible, which reduces the fuel required.

Purchasing next-generation aircraft also helps a lot. The major fleet renewal of KLM and Air France with the A320neo and A321neo should result in a 15% reduction in CO2 emissions and less fuel consumption. Here, a comparison is made with the current older Boeing 737 aircraft. Another example is Delta, with the airline is expected to take delivery of many new and more efficient Airbus aircraft.

Although KLM has previously designed a new more sustainable aircraft in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, it has not yet progressed beyond a scaled prototype. The new-generation aircraft still uses kerosene, albeit 20% less than the Airbus A350-900.That is a good first step, but it does not represent a major breakthrough in sustainability in practice.

Air Canada ES-30 Investment in Heart Aerospace

The real breakthrough in aviation is likely to be electric flying. Various initiatives are already underway at the major aircraft manufacturers, but the development is very expensive. When developing an electric aircraft, both designers and technicians encounter all kinds of limitations compared to the current generation of aircraft. Not just the engine itself, but also things like the large total weight of the aircraft, which results in a limited range.

Nevertheless, some successful designs could be used on a larger scale within a few years. In the United States, small electric aircraft are already used for short flights.

The technology is also making progress in Europe, including the Swedish company Heart Aerospace, which is developing the ES-30. The aircraft can carry a maximum of 30 passengers (+ crew) in a 2-1 configuration. In addition, the ES-30 has a toilet and a galley.

Turboprop

The electric ‘turboprop’ aircraft gets its power from electric motors that run on lithium-ion batteries. A hybrid generator that runs on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is also provided. This extends the range from 200 to 400 kilometers with 30 passengers. If the ES-30 flies with 25 passengers, a range of 800 kilometers is possible. The charging time is about 30-50 minutes, which is great for a (relatively) quick turnaround.

Air Canada has announced it is investing in 30 new Heart Aerospace ES-30 aircraft. The Canadian company wants to start using the aircraft on regional scheduled services in Canada from 2028. In addition, Air Canada is investing an additional $5 million to support the development of Heart Aerospace’s technology.

With the purchase agreement and investment, Air Canada is taking a step towards ‘going electric’ before the end of this decade. This also brings flying without (or with very low) CO2 emissions a lot closer on short and medium haul routes. Hopefully this is just the start and many more examples will follow in the years to come.

Photos: Heart Aerospace / Air Canada
Photo Delta A200: Delta Air Lines

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We joined KLM to take an InsideLook at the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner with KLM’s brand new Premium Comfort cabin. This new cabin class will eventually be rolled out on every aircraft type in the intercontinental fleet, except for the Airbus A330s. 

You could say KLM is late to the party introducing Premium Comfort Class, as many of the established airlines already have a Premium Economy offering. However, this was part of the KLM strategy. The Dutch national carrier was waiting to see how such a product fared with other airlines, although the pandemic delayed the introduction even more.

So what is KLM now offering its Premium Comfort passengers?

The airline now offers three cabins, covering four different travel products. Economy, and Economy Comfort (with its slightly increased recline and seat pitch), are in the Economy Class cabin. Premium Comfort is the new Premium Economy Class product. World Business Class remains KLM’s most prestigious offering.

Did you know InsideFlyer also has a YouTube channel? Every week we post new travel related content. Subscribe to our channel and don’t miss out. Here you can find a video impression of this InsideLook about the KLM Premium Comfort on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.

KLM Premium Comfort Press event

InsideFlyer was invited by KLM to join the Premium Comfort Press event. Both Dutch and international media all assembled at Schiphol’s Departure Hall 2. Despite the chaos that the summer holidays can bring, check-in and security looked a breeze that day. After some free time airside, we were welcomed at KLM’s flagship Crown Lounge 52. The long closed restaurant ‘Blue’ was even exclusively opened for the occasion.

Many of the airline’s top executives joined the event, kicked-off by Marjan Rintel, KLM’s new CEO. Rintel expressed how proud she is that KLM and its co-workers were able to survive the pandemic as a company (with government support). She also emphasized how the airline worked in partnership with Schiphol Airport in the interest of the Dutch aviation industry. While we enjoyed a delicious lunch, Rintel and her team explained how Premium Comfort came to be.

Premium Comfort cabin on the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner

Configuration

The new KLM Premium Comfort cabin will be installed on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (both the -10 and -9) and 777 (both -300 and -200). In this InsideLook we will show you the first Dreamliner with the new product, which is the 787-10 with registration PH-BKA (named Orange Blossom). This aircraft is also the first 787-10 that KLM received in 2019.

The 787-10 now has 28 Premium Comfort seats, in a four-row 2-3-2 configuration. All the seats have a comfortable pitch of 38 inches (97cm),  with an 8 inch (20cm) recline. They are styled in the trademark KLM livery blue colour. The wider seat and leg and foot rest all contribute to a more pleasurable flying experience.

Seat

The first row seats have an inflight entertainment system (IFE) that is stored in the arm rest. All other seats have the IFE built in the seat in front. The highly responsive 13.3 inch touchscreen has a special anti reflective coating for increased viewing comfort. The screen is very clear and sharp and you can adjust its position slightly. You can use the touch screen to navigate but there’s no separate remote control like in World Business Class.

The middle arm rest is also equipped with a small panel that can be used to adjust the seat settings and leg rest. There is a handy space to store your personal items and a special nook for a water bottle.

Noise-cancelling headphones, a blanket and a comfortable pillow are provided and usb -C and -A ports are available for charging as well as a power point.

Power outlet between the seats.

The front row seats have a separate panel for the reading light and crew button. Other seats have these in the armrest.

Each seat is equipped with a flexible head rest which can be moved in four directions. The individual reading light is easy to adjust. There is also a coat hook provided at each seat.

Storage and table

The back of the seat in front of you has a pocket with the standard safety info, waste bag and inflight magazine.The bulkhead seats have a similar seat pocket attached to the cabin divider with the same offerings.

There’s a further pocket just below the IFE screen which can fit your amenity kit, passport or phone.

A foldable ample-sized table is neatly tucked away in the arm rest which can be opened by a small latch on the side.

It easily fits a laptop and snacks. 

The table also has a special stand for a tablet or phone.

Food and beverage service on board

With the new Premium Comfort class, KLM is also introducing a new special menu – with a choice of hot or cold dishes (vegetarian, fish or meat).

Depending on the length of the flight, you get either one or two hot meals. Our flight served one hot dish, as well as salad and cheese. After the meal, there is a coffee and tea service (add a shot of Baileys if you want). And don’t forget the lovely ‘stroopwafel’ ice cream!

Between meals there is a drinks service. Choose the new Espresso Martini which KLM has exclusively created using the Dutch gin brand Bols. If you’re still peckish there are always snacks available in the Economy galley.

A cold meal was served just before landing. I chose a green salad with beetroot and smoked almonds, and a Pastel de Nata pastry.

All meals are served in reusable plastic containers, with a distinctive design inspired by the Dutch landscape. Passengers traveling in Premium Comfort dine with similar cutlery as World Business Class and real glassware is used for most drinks.

Premium Comfort amenity kit

Upon boarding you’ll receive a useful and eye-catching amenity kit made from up-cycled ocean plastics. Sustainability is at the forefront, with a bamboo toothbrush, as well as the usual eye mask, earplugs and a pen. 

Cabin retrofit

In order to fit in the new Premium Comfort product, KLM needs to retrofit a large section of its Boeing 777 and 787 cabins.

KLM carries out the retrofitting process at its own Engineering & Maintenance department at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It takes about eight days to install the new Premium Comfort product.

When an aircraft is finished it will go directly into service. By the end of this year, all Boeing 787-10s and 787-9s will be furnished with the new  cabin. At the beginning of next year the Boeing 777-300s and later the -200s will also be retrofitted.

The Boeing 777s  will also get a renewed World Business Class cabin. This cabin will change from a 2-2-2 configuration to 1-2-1 offering direct aisle access to all Business Class passengers. The seats will also get a sliding door for increased privacy.

Although the first Dreamliner is now fitted with Premium Comfort, it will take some time before the complete long haul fleet is retrofitted. As the Airbus A330 is being be phased out, KLM has decided not to install Premium Comfort on this aircraft.

Paul Terstegge, the Executive Vice President of KLM Inflight Services said:

“We’d like customers to walk away with a ‘wow’ experience, where it is really something different. We hope our Premium Comfort product stands out from premium products from our competitors—and most importantly, that the value for money is worth the extra investment in terms of what you get back in luxury comfort and a memorable experience.”

Conclusion

It is good news that KLM has finally introduced a Premium Comfort cabin. It’s a real step up from Economy (and Economy Comfort) and we think it could be a great success for KLM and its passengers.

The post InsideLook: KLM Presents New Premium Comfort Cabin On Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner appeared first on InsideFlyer.

KLM’s Premium Comfort Cabin

For many years, KLM has traditionally offered Economy Class and World Business Class on board its long haul aircraft.

In more recent years, the Dutch national airline added Economy Comfort, which is not actually a separate cabin. It’s simply an Economy Class seat with more legroom and slightly more recline. Passengers in Economy Comfort get the same service as other Economy passengers.

Although the Economy Comfort service is not so different from Economy, it’s still a popular seat. It’s popularity may be due to the average height of Dutch people and hence the need for more legroom.

But for KLM apparently that’s no longer enough. According the airline’s ‘extensive market research’ a new travel class is needed to ‘meet the wishes of business passengers as well as leisure travellers’. The new cabin is called Premium Comfort, and it’s basically another name for Premium Economy. Although KLM may be late to the PE party, it could be a smart move to first have a look how competitors are doing and learn what works and what doesn’t.

Premium Comfort is a separate cabin that will be installed on Boeing 787-9/-10 Dreamliner and Boeing 777-200/-300 aircraft. The Collins Aerospace seats will be configured in a 2-3-2 configuration. The seats have a generous 8 inch recline and seat pitch of 38 inch.

Passengers traveling on KLM Premium Comfort also get a higher quality service offering. with upgraded meals and drinks.

(KLM’s miniature Delft Blue houses filled with Dutch Bols gin will remain an exclusive gift to World Business Class passengers only, so Premium Comfort passengers unfortunately miss out on those!)

Have a look at our video below to see all the details of the new KLM Premium Comfort seat.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The new travel class will be installed on both Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777 aircraft. The first aircraft on the list is the Boeing 787-10 with registration PH-BKA. This aircraft will go into service on the route between Amsterdam and New York JFK, starting this week. By the end of November next year, 50 aircraft should be fully operational with the new travel class.

KLM’s Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner will feature 28 Premium Comfort seats, as well as 38 World Business Class seats (unchanged number). KLM will also increase the Economy Comfort capacity with 12 additional seats. 213 standard Economy Class seats remain – a significant decrease of 57 Economy seats. On other aircraft, KLM gives up similar numbers of Economy Class seats in favor of its Premium Economy offer.

Premium Comfort Routes

KLM will gradually introduce the retrofitted aircraft on long haul routes across the globe, starting with trans-Atlantic routes to New York JFK, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Other destinations will follow later, such as New Delhi, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Panama City.

Bottom line

The first flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to New York JFK is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 31st of August 2022).

InsideFlyer will be reviewing this ‘inaugural’ flight. We will publish our findings in a flight review and YouTube video soon. So check back later if you’re interested in finding out what KLM’s new product is really like.

Are you pleased to see another Premium Economy product?

The post KLM To Fly New Premium Comfort Cabin On US Routes Starting This Week appeared first on InsideFlyer.

Maintain loyal customers

With continuing travel restrictions, testing and vaccination certificates, many people are still hesitant to travel. Airlines were forced to ease the elite status requirements of their loyalty programs and introduce more ways to earn or retain status.

Several times, Flying Blue has offered members ways to retain their (elite) status without flying. Last year Flying Blue did this for a third time. All members with their qualification date between 1st of January and 30th of June 2022 will have their status extended with another 12 months. Even if they don’t fly at all.  Currently, the program also offers 50% extra XP on flights to make reaching a (higher) status easier. Earlier the offer was 100% extra XP.

Flying Blue has also announced another way to earn XP. By paying to offset the CO2 emissions of your flights, it will also be possible to earn XP. It isn’t yet clear how this will work in practice, but Flying Blue confirmed to InsideFlyer that more details will be announced in the course of the year.

Status validity

Historically, Flying Blue elite status is valid for 15 months, even though the qualifying period is 12 months.

For example, if you have Gold status, then your re-qualification period is 12 months to retain your status or upgrade to Platinum. Even if you didn’t earn enough XP to retain your status, your Gold perks remain valid for an additional 3 months. (After that you will fall back to Silver tier and you have 12 months to either retain that or go back to Gold, depending your activity).

The nice thing about the 15 month validity is that you can enjoy your status longer than a year – even when you don’t requalify.

On the Flying Blue website we recently noticed that the status validity is now 12 months. Flying Blue states that the validity reduction is done to ‘simplify the rules’. In reality, this is a devaluation of the program and Flying Blue has apparently chosen not to proactively communicate this to members.

At time of publication, Flying Blue has not provided an official response to our questions about this change. However, customer service representatives explain that the change is to do with the implementation of the digital member cards. Previously, a 3 month grace period was used for sending the member cards by post. Digital cards don’t need to be sent by post, so no grace period is needed anymore.

“Your personal qualification period starts as soon as you earn your first Mile or gain your first XP and lasts for 12 months. Once you gain enough XP to move up a level, you’ll be upgraded instantly and your qualification period will be restarted. In 2022, Flying Blue will align the level validity end date with the qualification end date in order to simplify the programme rules.” – Website Flying Blue

Is Flying Blue still an attractive program?

The perks that loyalty programs offer usually cost them money. If airlines can save a buck, they will likely look to do so. However, any perks are of course also a reward to loyal customers. Some airlines invest in their loyal customers, and others apparently don’t.

Devaluations make loyalty programs less attractive to join and actively participate in. Some frequent flyers already criticize Flying Blue and KLM/Air France for their limited approach towards loyal customers. This change will certainly not help to improve that perception.

In previous conversations, Flying Blue let InsideFlyer know that more changes will come during 2022. Let’s hope the future changes are more positive for members…

This article was originally posted on InsideFlyer.nl.

The post Air France/KLM Flying Blue Reduces Status Validity By Three Months (And Doesn’t Even Tell Members) … appeared first on InsideFlyer.

London vs. Shanghai

In recent months, almost all airports worldwide have handled considerably fewer passenger flights. Freight transport, on the other hand, took off. For example, several airlines provided a special airlifts for the transport of medical goods. Some airlines even operated passenger Boeing 747s for this.

London has long been known as the best connected city in the world, according aviation organization IATA. The capital of the United Kingdom connects many cities around the globe. Of course with the help of national carrier British Airways. But there are also dozens of other airlines that normally fly to London.

It goes without saying that London processed far fewer flights in the past 12 months. Compared to last year, the amount of flights even decreased by two-thirds. The decrease in flights did not only occur in Europe, of course. But here the decrease seems proportionally higher. That means that London must cede the status of the best connected city to Shanghai. The Chinese city was the runner-up last year.

New ranking

The new ranking appears to be mainly influenced by the ‘new structure’ in the aviation industry. Some airlines have ceased to exist, others suffer strongly from the current global crisis. Fewer flights are operated everywhere. But proportionally, the US and Europe operate less flights than countries in Asia, for example. That is why you will now find many mainly Chinese cities in the ranking. After Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Chengdu are the best connected cities. Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas and Atlanta are also on the list. London now takes place 8.

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