Sleep accessories to block light and for neck support for better sleep in planes
SINGAPORE – Getting quality sleep on a flight is often easier said than done. C abin noise, cramped seating and awkward posture can sabotage rest.
Here are six accessories The Straits Times tested, each with a standout feature or two that could help you get the snooze you need.
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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Passengers reschedule travel plans and seek refunds following Jetstar Asia's abrupt closure
Jetstar Asia cancelled seven flights from Changi Airport on June 11 and re-timed another seven more. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE - Mr Fin Guo was scheduled to fly home to Singapore from Okinawa at 9.20am on June 11 but the night before he was due to head to the airport, he received a message that said his Jetstar Asia flight would be delayed by over 12 hours. Because of the delay, the 38-year-old will land in Singapore at 2.30am on June 12 - just hours before he's due at work at 9am. The budget carrier is the only airline that offers a direct flight between Okinawa and Singapore, so Mr Guo, who works in advertising, could only sit and wait 'Now I'm typing this in Naha airport,' he said to ST in a text message. 'I just want to fly back to Singapore tonight.' Mr Guo was among thousands of passengers who were affected by flight delays or cancellations following the surprise announcement on June 11 that Jetstar Asia would cease operations from July 31. The airline cancelled seven flights from Changi Airport on June 11 and re-timed another seven more. Aside from disrupted travel plans, other affected passengers also told The Straits Times that they found it difficult to get refunds for flight bookings. In a June 11 statement, the Singapore-based airline announced that it would close, citing rising costs and growing regional competition. The Straits Times understands that Jetstar Asia had decided to suspend flights at Changi Airport on the morning of June 11, so its crew would not receive the news of the airline's closure while in the air. Madam Heather Cher had her family's flight to Penang delayed by eight hours, from 7.25am to 3.25pm. 'We lost a day, because we'll reach only at the end of the day. It's a waste of time,' she said. Madam Cher, 50, said she was disappointed by Jetstar's closure. She frequently takes the airline to Penang to visit relatives. Mr Gary Cheong said he and his family woke up at 5am to leave for the airport, not knowing that their flight had been retimed. He had missed the email Jetstar sent on June 10 that their flight to Penang had been re-timed. 'They should have let us know through SMS since it's urgent,' said the 58-year-old, who works as an assistant manager. Jetstar Asia's closure will mean one less option for Mr Cheong and his family, who travel to Penang at least four times a year. The airline's closure came as a surprise to many passengers, including Ms Hayley P and her husband. They had booked a direct flight to Labuan Bajo on July 27. The route was recently released by the carrier. On June 11, they were informed that the flight has since been cancelled, and they would receive a refund within seven days. 'I'm hoping they follow through with an easy process and people don't need to chase,' she said. The 42-year-old floral stylist will now have to make a longer trip, since she has to fly through Bali, which will mean additional flights and two nights of accommodation. The changes come at a significant expense, she said. Some other passengers such as Ms Charlotte Tan, 38, are worried that they will have difficulty getting refunds. Ms Tan has over $500 in travel vouchers with the airline from a flight cancellation in 2023 and said she was concerned about getting her money back. 'I just hope that there is some clarity soon,' she said. Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) president Melvin Yong urged passengers to approach the consumer watchdog if they require assistance. 'Case is working with Jetstar Asia to clarify how it intends to handle and process these refunds and rescheduled flights, and the recourse available to consumers should there be a dispute,' Mr Yong wrote on Facebook. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Syria requires women to wear burkinis on public beaches
DAMASCUS - Syria's Islamist-led government has decreed that women should wear burkinis or other swimwear that covers the body at public beaches and swimming pools, while permitting Western-style beachwear at private clubs and luxury hotels. The tourism ministry decision issued this week marks the first time the Damascus authorities have issued guidelines related to what women can wear since Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. During the Assad family's iron-fisted rule of Syria, which was shaped by a secular Arab nationalist ideology, the state imposed no such restrictions, though people often dressed modestly at public beaches, reflecting conservative norms. The new requirements were set out in a wider decree dated June 9 and which included public safety guidelines for beaches and swimming pools ahead of the summer, such as not spending too long in the sun and avoiding jellyfish. It said that beachgoers and visitors to public pools should wear "appropriate swimwear that respects public decency and the feelings of different segments of society", requiring "more modest swimsuits" and specifying "the burkini or swimming clothes that cover the body more". Women should wear a cover or a loose robe over their swimwear when moving between the beach and other areas, it said. Men should wear a shirt when not swimming, and are not allowed to appear bare-chested "in the public areas outside the swimming areas - hotel lobbies or ... restaurants", it said. The decree added that "in public areas outside the beaches and swimming pools", it was preferable to wear loose clothing that covers the shoulders and knees and to avoid transparent or very tight clothing. It offered an exception for hotels classed as four stars or above, and for private beaches, pools and clubs, saying "normal Western swimwear" was generally permitted, "with adherence to public morals and within the limits of public taste". Since Sunni Islamist-led rebels overthrew Assad, fliers have appeared urging women to cover up, but the government has issued no directives ordering them to observe conservative dress codes. A temporary constitution passed earlier this year strengthened the language on the role of sharia (Islamic law) in Syria. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led an al Qaeda group before cutting ties with the jihadist network, has sidestepped interviewers' questions on whether he thought Syria should apply sharia, saying this was for experts to decide. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Straits Times
Food Picks: 24-hour chicken rice and steamboat in East Coast Road
SINGAPORE – Some restaurants survive by stepping up their social media game. Others get by on the abiding loyalty of regulars. Then there is the row of restaurants in East Coast Road, which has evolved to become all things to all men. As The Straits Times reported in April, diners can now cross-order from any of the eight eateries in the East Coast Food Strip, regardless of which outlet they are dining at. Which means having a glass of wine with hotpot or aglio olio alongside prawn mee. No matter what time you visit, you are guaranteed to find something. Beach Road Prawn Noodle House opens at 7am, Jag Wine closes after midnight. Most industrious is Feng Sheng Kampong Chicken Rice & Steamboat, which keeps it coming round the clock. The 24-hour restaurant – the only along that strip – is best known for its titular dish: oiled rice with tender strips of chicken, either roasted or steamed, drizzled in garlic-infused oil and flecked with crispy garlic bits. This $6++ dish is best paired with a housemade ginger dressing. The lala claypot steamboat ($22++) is another winner – the kind of hearty satisfaction you will be thanking your lucky stars for at 3am, when the weather is finally cool enough to slurp away at hot soup without regret, and few other options this substantial exist. Steamboat set from Feng Sheng. PHOTO: FENG SHENG For greater variety, get the classic steamboat set ($58.80++). Just fresh and tasty enough to be considered of value, it is heaped with pork belly, abalone, mussels, prawns, yet more lala, enoki mushrooms, fried beancurd rolls, assorted vegetables and more. Diners can pick from five soup bases: chicken, herbal, tom yum, mala and pork stomach-chicken soup. Besides the chicken rice and steamboat in its name, the restaurant also offers other dishes, including Ipoh chicken hor fun ($8.50++), claypot yee mee ($9.80++) and pork lard dry noodles ($5++). I have not tried any of them with wine or Chinese dessert, but knowing the option is open does, in some way, make the meal sweeter. All are welcome: residents, celebrities, taxi drivers – who get free-flow rice and a complimentary drink with their chicken rice – and even pets, though you will have to pick between your furry friend and air-conditioned comfort. Just cross your fingers and hope that it will be a windy night. Where: 372 East Coast Road MRT: Marine Terrace Open: 24 hours, daily Info: @ on Instagram Check out ST's Food Guide for the latest foodie recommendations in Singapore.
