The Truth About Flight Attendant Travel Benefits

Published August 23, 2009 by Mrs. Universe Philippines 2020 - Star Villanueva

First of all, free or reduced rate travel is always based on space available. Whether you are the crew or employee’s family traveling at a discount, you will only be issued a seat after all of the revenue passengers, including standby paying passengers. They are always the priority so if there’s no seat available they will ask you to just try your luck on the next flight which has always been a problem for me because all Qatar Airways employee must be back in Doha 10 hours before the next duty time but still I usually try my luck to go to Manila on my 3-4 days off. (What to do in Doha on 4days off!?! I’ll be crazy!)

What this means is that you must be very aware of the available seats on any given flight. This requires some legwork by using the company computerized reservation system to determine which flights are best for you. In my case, it’s always hard to get a seat because Manila Flight is always full or overbooked! Even if it’s not vacation period or holiday! There’s no off peak seasons in Manila flight because there are lots of Filipinos all over the world! And even if there’s a vacant seat, those seats are for senior ones! It’s better to have a full fare ticket as a back up, or else you’ll end up buying a business class full fare ticket!

* The Picture shows there’s no more passenger on cue but me, sitting near the subload check in counter, the other picture is while waiting for the delayed aircraft. There’s no more seat available on the waiting area so the rest are just standing. I’m sitting on my trolley! This inconvenience were just making me decide to resign sooner!

Last April, I flew to manila on my 4days off, August 17-19, I went to MNL again on my 3 days off and same dilemma happens! Fully booked! There’s one jump seat available but there’s one crew who’s more senior than me got the seat.

What makes it worst is that the departure should be 17:30 but the aircraft arrived at 19:40 from Doha! Super delayed! I waited in the check in counter for more than 2 hours sitting there like a beggar and 2 hours again in gate 10. I finished eating 4 BreadTalk’s Cheese Floss and Chef Tony’s popcorn because of boredom! There’s no sign of chance whatsoever but still I stayed there. Just a minute before I call someone to pick me up at the airport, I heard 3 people arguing, they sounded dismay about something. I never knew what is it all about until the ground staff told me that they have been offloaded from MNL Flight! Because they have visa problem. I feel sorry for them but at the same time thankful because their situation gives me a vacant seat! Yehey! Then I arrived in Doha around 12:40 am of August 20 – Just in time for my next duty at 10:50 am (Pick up time).

* After all the inconvenience, this view from the aircraft window simply draw a smile in my face for a minute! I’m glad to see my condo unit nonstop construction and The Venetian Mall as my View from the Top!

* Related Post: My Condo Unit

* April 4 Days OFF

My Condo Unit…

Published June 19, 2009 by Mrs. Universe Philippines 2020 - Star Villanueva

I finally found the condominium with a perfect location. It’s in posh area of McKinley Hill in The Fort Global City. It’s very accessible from all vital roads in Metropolis. It’s direct access to the Makati business district through McKinley road by passing through Forbes Park. Direct access to The Fort, Ortigas and Airport through C5 road and Edsa.

When people think of buying pamper gifts for themselves, they usually go to the mall to check out cellphones, clothes, gadgets or Make-ups. But not me, I went out and bought myself a condo unit. Not bad for 24 years old lass. It’s just that I view home ownership as a part of being a responsible adulthood.

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My Mckinley Hills studio unit interior decorated by my mom..

Although, I still have my 2 existing bedrooms in my mom’s 2 houses in QC. I still want to pursue my dream of owning one. “iba kasi yung sense of fulfillment pag naisip kong sakin yun or pundar ko talaga yun” and I want to start buying home stuff in different countries then I’ll put it there.

I’m planning to stay at my condo whenever I feel like having my “Me Moments/ independence” or Every time may tantrums ako and I just want to be alone! Hehehe! Kidding aside, I just couldn’t resist the thought of wanting it, because it offers location of advantage, ease and convenience. The unit that I purchased is in front of Venetian Mall with Gondola ride in the impressive man-made Grand Canal. Parking will not be a problem.

It’s supposed to be zero down payment but I preferred to pay P500,000 downpayment to make the monthly mortgage low and the turnover lump sum on December 2012 will be less. I was about to get the unit on the 6th floor but then I’ve realized there isn’t much view on 6th floor so I chose 15th floor.

After 9 hours flight, when we reached our hotel yesterday (June 18′ 2009) where Qatar Airways crew stays. I began to write the details in my personal checks, but because I’m tired and sleepy. Some of the checks are just wasted because of date/year mistakes or my signature becomes Estretita instead of Estrellita! Hehe!

* Mckinley Hill Website

* Megaworld Corporation

* My First Real Estate Investment in Tagaytay

Merry Month of May

Published June 5, 2009 by Mrs. Universe Philippines 2020 - Star Villanueva

“Life is about getting the things you want the way you want it to be”

3 Manila Flight: I swapped my 4 days roster Munich-Germany and 2 days roster Milan-Italy while the 3^rd one is pulled out from Standby! It’s my 1^st time to be pulled out to operate Manila so I 19m so happy when they called unexpectedly! I had a nice time during the flight because of Filipina Mafia, around 9 hrs flying time is not that tiring – but for sure I gained weight because I can’t stop myself from habitual eating even if I’m not hungry! And everyone has food to share, from Najji 19s Pichi-Pichi & Puto, Tanj- Adobo, Michelle, Chicken Tocino, Giony- Ensaymada, Clarissa – Cheddar Popcorn and my Cinabbon Roll we just ate, munch and laugh whenever time permits!

While in Manila, I just do my usual errands, church visit, grocery, massage, facial, manicure, bought another shith zu with Jero in Tiendesitas, dinner in Burgoo-Timog. And because he knows I felt bad for not being able to attend Levi’s Sale in Greenbelt, he just surprise me with one. The next day, ate in Aristocrat-Roxas Blvd.

Then I went home, my family didn’t know I was coming. We celebrated my little sister’s pre-birthday at 10 in the evening, Gave my post Mother’s day gift and my belated birthday gift for my sister all at the same time. What a Cabin Crew life!

After trying my portable steam bath went to our new house in Casa Milan but the renovations are still going on and my mom are still busy enhancing the house’s security, completing the appliances, furniture and repainting the exterior and interior of the house so there’s no much pictures yet but a sneak peak!

Few Blocks away, I saw the house being used for the taping of Maruja (See Pics here). Also saw the location shoot of another show from ABS-CBN ‘Your Song’ in the clubhouse on the same day.

Then on my 3^rd Manila flight, I went to Global City – The Fort to see the model unit of Megaworld 19s Mckinley Hills I’ve been eyeing that project since December 2007. Now I’m torn between McKinley Hill, The Fort and Century City in Makati. Anyway, I’ll just blog about it some other time when everything is finalized already. My Journey to buying a perfect condo! Hehe!

* View The rest of the Pics Here

My 1st Real Estate Investment

Published September 16, 2008 by Mrs. Universe Philippines 2020 - Star Villanueva

Last February 2007 I handed 12 post dated cheques to my mom because she’ll give it to the Real Estate Agent for my first property investment. I had mixed feelings doing that because during that time I haven’t seen the location yet. The property is located in Amadeo, Metro Tagaytay (5-10mins) from Taal Vista Hote and Casino Filipinol. This was a pre-sell. This means the property is still under development and should be finished anytime soon. I decided to go after it because the terms were pretty good and because my mom also bought lot there for my younger brother & little sis.

It supposed to be 2 years to pay. Fortunately, I was able to lump sum the amount needed to complete it in less than a year. I felt like I need to finish paying it before I bought Condo sooner or later. (Still looking around) Anyway, if the area in La Excelsa Country Homes develops further and it becomes a prime spot, I might rent it out later. Alternatively, I could sell it later to get some potential income.