2008 AWARD WINNERS AIRLINES

AIRLINE OF THE YEAR Singapore Airlines
BEST CABIN STAFF Asiana Airlines
BEST FIRST CLASS LOUNGE Qantas
BEST ECONOMY CLASS Asiana Airlines
BEST BUSINESS CLASS Singapore Airlines
BEST AIRLINE : EUROPE Lufthansa
BEST AIRLINE : N AMERICA Continental Airlines
BEST AIRLINE : AUSTRALASIA Qantas
BEST AIRLINE : Transatlantic British Airways
BEST LOW-COST AIRLINE EasyJet
BEST INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT Emirates
BEST BUSINESS CLASS LOUNGE Virgin Atlantic
BEST FIRST CLASS Cathay Pacific
BEST PREMIUM ECONOMY EVA Air
BEST AIRLINE : AFRICA South African Airways
BEST AIRLINE : MIDDLE EAST Qatar Airways
BEST AIRLINE : S AMERICA LAN
BEST AIRLINE : ASIA Singapore Airlines

Source: (www.worldairlineawards.com)

Airlines Terminology

Advance purchase: The ticket must be purchased at a specified number of days—usually three, seven, 14, or 21 days—in advance of the flight departure. The fare generally goes down the further out from the day of departure it is purchased.

Airline alliance: An agreement between a group of airlines involving the sharing of flight codes, reservation systems, airline clubs, or frequent flyer benefits.

Alternative airport: A secondary airport, generally smaller and/or farther away from the metropolitan center, than a major airport.

Blackout day: A day on which the airlines won’t let you fly using a frequent flyer award ticket (the term may also apply to certain promotional fares).

Capacity controlled: A limited number of seats on a plane available at a particular fare (might also apply to passengers flying on a frequent flyer reward).

Change penalty: A fee charged by the airlines in the event you change your ticket after purchasing it.

Coach, or economy class: The cheapest, most abundant class of seats.

Code share: An agreement between two airlines in which each shares its flight codes, which means travelers purchasing one airline’s ticket might actually be flying on the other carrier’s plane. Might also include other types of agreements, such as reciprocal frequent flyer benefits.

Curbside check-in: A place at the curb in front of the terminal—which might be staffed or feature an automatic kiosk—where travelers can check in and check their baggage, rather than at the regular counter inside the terminal.

Direct flight, versus nonstop: A flight which involves one or more stops (however, you stay on the same plane). “Nonstop” means there are no stops before you get to your destination.

Electronic ticket: A booking made through the Internet or other electronic means, in which there is no paper ticket.

Hub: An airport in a large city through which major airlines will route their flights.

Minimum stay: The minimum time required for a traveler to stay at a destination in order to qualify for a certain fare. Some fares have maximum stay requirements as well, which generally are one month.

Nonrefundable fare: A fare that can’t be refunded for any reason after it’s purchased.

No-show penalty: A fee charged by the airlines in the event you miss your flight and attempt to use your ticket for a different flight.

Tiger Airways Sticks To Plane Order Plan

Tiger Airways, a budget carrier partly owned by Singapore Airlines, said on Friday it is sticking to its growth plans despite financial market turmoil, with seven additional planes expected within the next two years.

CEO Tony Davis said that despite the global economic slowdown he still saw good passenger demand, but said airfares would come under pressure.

“I still want to travel, I still want to have my holiday, I still want to see my family, but I’m looking for a cheaper fare,” said Davis at an aviation conference in Singapore.

The low-cost carrier expects a total of 60 additional planes by 2016, five times the amount it operates currently.

Weakening consumer sentiment has led regional airlines to cut back routes, layoff staff and post losses.

Singapore Air holds a 49 percent stake in Tiger.

(Reuters)