simscool

10 ways to get an upgrade

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:13:43 -1330

1. Become a member of that specific airlineâs frequent flier mileage club. You can be a member of many different airlinesâ clubs.
2. The flight is oversold in economy, but there are empty seats in business and or first class.
3. You are dressed smartly or in business attire. Jacket and tie for men and a dress/suit for women.
4. You are traveling alone. Sorry, if youâre with kids, itâs almost an automatic disqualifier.
5. Always be willing to move when asked. I know of a man who refused to move because he was seated on the aisle. What he didnât realize was that the seat they were offering him was in first class.
6. Courtesy and kindness does go a long way in this industry â I have seen many people upgraded just because the kindness they showed. I know when I am aboard, if someone is especially nice, I want to do something extra for him or her, and Iâm positive the ground staff feel the same way.
7. Be early. Your chances of sitting up front diminish quickly when you inquire at the last minute.
8. If you have been seriously inconvenienced on a previous flight, make sure the check-in agents know about it. But donât make a scene or they will put you in the worst possible seat, hoping never to see you again.
9. Use the right card. Many times the credit card you pay with has a redeemable mile feature usable with several different airlines.
10. When you book the ticket ask about upgrades and prices. There is a fare called Y-UP fares that cost a little more but increases your upgrade chances immensely. Many times there are ongoing promotions to spur first class revenue. I paid full fare on an airline and was amazed when an extra $20 got me sitting in 1A. I can easily justify that cost in red wine

Speech by Reviewing Officer, Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, at the 71/08 Commissioning Parade

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:24:24 -1330

Speech by Reviewing Officer, Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi, at the 71/08 Commissioning Parade

Graduands of the 71/08 Officer Cadet Course,
Parents, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I congratulate all of you on parade today for successfully completing your training course. You are now ready to be commissioned as Officers of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

Responsibilities of Leadership

As you begin your journey as an officer of the SAF, you are entrusted with the duty of leading the men and women under your charge into battle if necessary, to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Singapore and to preserve the peace and security that we enjoy.

It is an honourable duty and responsibility. To be a leader, you must not only be physically fit and mentally tough. You must also be able to inspire and motivate, with a strong sense of mission and purpose, and with the right values and attitudes.

548 officers from Army, Navy and Air Force commissioned on Saturday, 13 December 2008

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:18:10 -1330

548 officers from Army, Navy and Air Force commissioned on Saturday
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 December 2008 0413 hrs

SINGAPORE : A commissioning parade for 548 officer cadets was held Saturday.

Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi reviewed the ceremony at the SAFTI Military Institute.

A total of 442 Army cadets, 70 Republic of Singapore Air Force cadets and 36 Republic of Singapore Navy cadets were commissioned as officers.

He buys condo for a windfall but takes a big fall instead

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:10:46 -1330

AMONG the legion of burnt investors is a buyer of a million-dollar condo apartment who should have known better.

He jumped into a then hot property market without weighing the biggest 'if' of all - what if you lack the cash to complete the purchase?

Now Mr Byron Nifakis, 39, is bankrupt.

He wanted to buy a $1.2 million four-room flat in the Casa Merah condominium, as an investment.

The Singapore permanent resident was working as the IT director of a restaurant here, earning $10,000 a month.

Policy shift could help save Japan

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:45:57 -1330

(Bangkok Post (Thailand) (KRT) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 30--As Japan starts to witness a slight economic slowdown, fears have emerged that the much-awaited awakening may be a blip on the radar screen and that the country could slip back into recession.

Japan cabinet reshuffle likely on Monday

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:51:43 -1330

This is an attempt to boost the low popularity ratings that are threatening the PM's hold on power. -Reuters

Thu, Jul 31, 2008
Reuters

TOKYO - JAPANESE Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is likely to reshuffle his cabinet on Monday in an attempt to boost the low popularity ratings that are threatening his hold on power, media reports said.

Mr Fukuda's ratings are languishing at around 25 per cent, helped only slightly by a Group of Eight summit in northern Japan in July, where he had hoped to soothe doubts about his leadership skills.

'The prime minister will revamp the cabinet,' the Mainichi Shimbun daily on Thursday quoted a source close to the leader as saying. 'It's almost a done deal.'

It is unclear, however, how drastically Mr Fukuda will change his cabinet line-up, which he largely inherited from his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who quit abruptly last September.

S'pore ups food safety

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:11:55 -1330

A FORENSIC unit to keep a lookout for atypical food contaminants will be set up by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to enhance food-safety checks here.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan revealed this during a visit to the AVA lab in Lim Chu Kang yesterday. The latter is now a test site for the industrial chemical melamine, which has been detected in food.

Singapore, China announce successful conclusion of FTA talks

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:59:56 -1330

By Channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 04 September 2008 1533 hrs
Singapore, China announce successful conclusion of FTA talks

TIANJIN, China: Singapore and China have successfully completed negotiations for the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA), a statement from Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said on Thursday.

The President and Product Safety

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 07:11:41 -1330

August 5, 2008
Editorial
The President and Product Safety

American consumers, who have suffered years of neglect from government agencies created for their protection, could soon be in for some genuine help. Congress last week overwhelmingly passed the first important reform in 30 years of the creaky Consumer Product Safety Commission. Aides to President Bush have said that he plans to sign the bill into law.

That would be good news, and even better news if he signs it quickly. Consumers have a right to be protected from such hazardous goods, and businesses stand to gain as well. Consumer confidence in product safety desperately needs some help, especially as the nation moves toward what could be a lean holiday season.

Smaller cohort, but universities getting more applications

Wed, 14 May 2008 01:08:41 -1330

Sandra Davie
Wed, May 14, 2008
The Straits Times

UNIVERSITY applications surged this year to 58,606, up from 53,853 last year.

Of the total, 36,858 applications were from A-level students and 21,748 were from polytechnic graduates.

Most applied for two, if not all three, universities.