‘Tis the holiday travelling season once more, and for a lot of us that means getting some much-needed downtime away from our daily pressures. For those inclined to being scatter-brained though (i.e. me), all the hassle of packing, planning and keeping track of flight bookings can sometimes seem just as hectic as a day at the office.
Cue Changi Recommends’ Flight Watch, a nifty tracking feature that helps you stay up-to-date on your flight details effortlessly. Those who’ve ever needed to rent an overseas wifi router or make last-minute flight bookings might already be familiar with the Changi Recommends counters found in all terminals of Changi Airport. Flight Watch is just the latest in a long list of amenities aimed at making our travelling easy and pain-free – exactly what we stressed-out Singaporeans need.
Here’s a quick look at the Flight Watch, and how it can help you avoid some of the flight woes you just know are going to haunt you the next time you fly.
“I’m late again, how the hell did this happen?”
I’ve never missed a flight before, but I’ve made enough frenzied sprints through the airport terminal to know that being nearly late is definitely not fun. While most of the pitfalls that cause us to miss our flights are out of our hands – say traffic jams or security delays – others can be avoided. Misremembering your departure timing, losing track of time in the magical wonderland that is our world-class airport, or getting mixed up over your boarding gate number – things like these are twice as frustrating because they can be prevented with a bit of good planning.
Keeping track of the little details might sound tough, but Changi Recommends’ Flight Watch intends to solve that for you. Here’s how it works: you sign up by keying in your flight details and phone number in the right-hand box entitled ‘Flight Watch’ on the Changi Recommends website. From there, you’ll receive automatic SMS reminders on exactly when and where you need to check-in and board, along with departure and arrival timings.
As an inexperienced traveller, I’ve found that keeping all this information straight can get a little overwhelming, so this one-stop service is a serious godsend. Even seasoned travellers who’re perpetually on the dot might appreciate this ultra-convenient tool – we all know the pain of scrolling through long lists of flight details on a tiny phone screen, and it looks like that can finally be a thing of the past.
“No Internet here, how do I check for updates?”
Flight delays – or, god forbid, cancellations – are a bit of a nightmare. Even minor schedule tweaks can be chaotic – if you’ve ever nearly missed your flight because you didn’t realise there was a gate change, you’ll know what I mean. And to make matters worse, you have to either listen out for airport announcements, or more likely, check for updates online.
As most of us would know, getting internet access when you’re overseas or on the go is by no means guaranteed – that’s where the Flight Watch’s SMS notification system comes in most handy. It’s pretty reassuring to think that no matter where you are, a quick check of your phone can tell you everything you need to know to keep updated.
“No Mum I’m fine, my flight just got delayed…”
Especially when you’re travelling alone, the people who freak out the most over things like flight delays are usually the ones waiting for you on the other end – friends, family, loved ones. They’re the ones who’re constantly checking on your flight status online, waiting impatiently for updates from you, staying up late to meet you at the airport – yet amidst all the bustle of travelling, it can be hard to constantly keep them in the loop.
So while the insane convenience the Flight Watch offers is more than enough to win my practical Singaporean heart, what might just be the best thing about it, for me, is that it doesn’t just benefit the one travelling. While it won’t stop your overprotective loved ones from worrying too much, the ease with which they can check on your flight details will probably offer some peace of mind.
