Singapore Airlines Gets Way More Tech Treats

GeekSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 06:30:40 PDT

On my recent trip to London, I overheard some people debating about which airline they considered to be the best. And most of them agreed that Singapore Airlines is where it's at. Unfortunately, I've never flown with them, so I couldn't agree or disagree. But after hearing this piece of news, I'm looking forward to the day I'll have a good excuse to fly to Asia.

Singapore Airlines is now offering, not only iPod/iPhone docks to business class airbus flights between New York, Los Angeles and Singapore, but widescreen LCD televisions as well. Geesh, if only economy got half of the geeky perks that business class got, the world would be a much better place!

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Ask Savvy: Should I Purchase "Excess Valuation" Before a Flight?

Savvy Community — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:00:39 PDT

This question comes from member PetSugar in the Ask Savvy group.

My friend is getting married in Singapore at the end of May and a packet of advice included with her wedding invitation recommended something called "excess valuation." Now I've traveled quite a bit but never gotten - or even heard of! - this insurance before since I avoid checking baggage at all costs (ha ha). Can you tell me why or when I'd need this?

Savvy says: Great question! Excess valuation is a special kind of insurance recommended for international travelers. While US laws require airlines to compensate travelers for up to $3,300 in the event that checked bags are lost or damaged, those rules don't apply if you're traveling internationally as bag liability is typically related to weight. Find out why this additional price to pay is useful and

EV means you declare an "excess value" when checking your bags and shell out money at the airport, from $1 – $5 per $100 extra coverage, in case of loss or damage up to $5,000. (Here's a handy chart for individual airlines' prices.) If you plan to check bags, this extra fee can prove well worth it with more security than general travel insurance because that typically caps at between $500 – $1,500 per suitcase and often requires receipts for any claimed lost valuables. In the end, the final decision is yours and should depend on how important the items in your suitcase are to you.

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