Everyone likes to travel every now and then. There’s a lot to be said about going beyond your usual comfort zone and experiencing new things. However, there’s still a lot of stuff that needs to be considered before you actually take to the skies. Sometimes we already know these things, and it’s often at the back of our head, but then it slips our mind! So, here’s a handy list of what every Malaysian needs to do before they get on their flight.
1. Check to see if you’re blacklisted
First things first! We have all heard the nightmarish stories about people being unable to fly because they have been blacklisted by the government for not settling their PTPTN loans. So before you fly, do remember to check whether your name is on the list.
Here’s a handy guide on how you can do that.
2. Double check your passport’s expiration date
Source: FMT
Yes, your passport’s expiration is still a few months away but in case you didn’t know, your passport needs to be valid for 6 months before the expiration date to be able to fly or even purchase a flight ticket. So if you want to avoid any hiccups, it’s best to check your passport in advance rather than doing everything at the last minute!
3. Find out if you need a visa when travelling to a country
As Malaysians, we tend to complain quite often about certain things but as far as travelling goes, we have it pretty good. Considering our passport is actually one of the easier ones to travel with, we don’t always think about whether a visa is required to enter a country. Some places like India require an e-Visa and others like the US or Australia need you to apply in advance as well.
Source: Visitor Guard USA
So take a look online and see if you need a visa for the place you’re travelling to. We recommend not leaving it till the last minute because some of these applications WILL take time.
4. Depending on where you travel to, leave your vape at home
In case you guys didn’t know, vaping is actually illegal and restricted in certain countries.
Have a look online to see which countries allow you to travel with it. Countries such as our neighbour Singapore and Brazil are quite strict about it, even if your vape is dismantled, so be sure to leave it at home. Otherwise, be prepared to have your expensive mod confiscated!
5. Pack your power banks in your carry-on
Power banks have become a staple for some of us. However, do remember to keep you power bank with you in your hand-carry and not in your check-in luggage.
If you’re wondering,
It’s because there have been incidents in the luggage areas where there were fires caused by power banks. That’s right guys, safety first!
6. When packing, keep your luggage to the right weight and size
We all have been guilty of packing wayyyyyy too much into our hand-carry in order to avoid paying extra for check-in. Nothing new there, we’re Malaysians mah!
However, depending on which airline you’re taking, check-in weight and carry-on luggage weight can be quite different. For instance, EVA Air allocates 30kg for people who are checking-in to fly economy, 40kg for business class passengers and 7kg for carry-on luggage.
Unfortunately, some airlines are getting really strict now with following their luggage guidelines. To avoid any major issues, just pack what you need and make sure that it stays within the right limit.
7. Keep your liquids in hand-carry to 100ml and below
If you’re one of those people who are just going for a quick getaway or like having something to freshen up with on the flight, make sure that your toiletries like lotions, shampoos and other liquids are restricted to 100ml and packed in clear plastic bags.
Source: KLIA
As you pass through security checks, this makes your journey a lot smoother.
8. Find out if there’s a better route and time
Some of us are early risers while others can often be found chilling at the mamak till the wee hours of the morning. This means that there’s a chance that you might have to adjust your sleeping schedule to catch your flight and let’s be real here, it doesn’t always work in your favour.
Well, that’s why it’s important to check whether they have better flight routes and/or times! Well, thankfully, EVA Air recently has new flight times for all sorts of travellers, which means that you are able to choose what works for you!
Starting from the 1st of January 2018, their Monday, Wednesday and Friday flight routes from or to Taipei are timed to help you get the most out of your day. Have a look here:
The best part about these changes is that Malaysians can now also travel to North American destinations like Chicago and New York within the next couple of hours of the same day instead of waiting for a long layover. That means more time for you to really enjoy your trip!
Whether it’s to Los Angeles, Seattle or Vancouver, there’s a lot of places where EVA Air can take you for your next adventure!
If you want to know more about these awesome deals, head here. And if you want more info about other great promotions EVA Air has to offer, take a look at their Facebook page.
