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Cebu Pacific Announces Zero Fare for 2014 Flights

Pay no base fare in the latest Cebu Pacific promo for next year travel period. The largest airline in the country has just announced a Zero Fare promo. The promo is valid for all destinations. Yes, it is open for both domestic and international destinations. The travel period is from June 1 to December 14, 2014. Here's the promo poster. The promo is valid up to August 27, 2013 subject to seat availability.

List of Class and Work Suspensions for August 20, 2013

As of 6:55 AM, below is the list of suspended classes and work due to severe flooding in metro Manila as well as other areas in Luzon. The torrential monsoon rains that brought forth the floods is caused by Tropical Storm Maring. Metro Manila Caloocan City (all levels) Las PiƱas City (all levels) Makati City (all levels) Malabon City (all levels) Mandaluyong City (all levels) Manila City (all levels) Marikina (preschool to high school) Muntinlupa City (all levels) Navotas City (all levels) ParaƱaque City (all levels) Pateros City (all levels) Pasay City (all levels) Pasig City (all levels) Quezon City (all levels) San Juan City (all levels) Taguig City (all levels) Valenzuela City (preschool to high school)

CAAP Suspends Zest Air [Breaking News]

[Updated] Heard of the latest news? Well, my favorite airline Zest Air, now owned by Air Asia Philippines was suspended by Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). Their violation? Safety, the primary concern of aviation authorities around the world. [Read: CAAP suspends Zest Air for safety violations ] The news just came late this afternoon. Incidentally, Zest Air's website is down. Zest Air Facebook page explains that the website is undergoing maintenance and advised the customers to go to airaisia.com for booking flights. English: Zest Air logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Comments from passengers with future flights booked at them swarmed their latest Facebook Page post.  In their twitter account, Zest Air offered an apology to all affected passengers. Here's the official statement. Zest Airways flights on August 17-19, 2013 will be cancelled due to a regulatory order. Affected guests holding bookings for flights on these dates will be offered a full refund. We are

Whale Sharks: Friendly Sea Monsters in Oslob, Cebu [Photo]

In the warm waters separating the islands of Cebu and Bohol, these sea monsters (see picture below) can be found. These friendly whale sharks is one of the latest attraction in Oslob, Cebu. Come and visit them. "Snorkeling with the Whale". An underwater camera captured a tourist swimming with a whale shark locally known as "Butanding" in the shoreline waters of Oslob, Cebu. In the succeeding article(s), I will write more details about my visit in Oslob early this month.

Tigerair Offers Zero Fare

Looking for cheap fares these upcoming months of September to December? If so, check this out. Low-cost airline Tigerair announces a Zero Fare promo on all domestic and selected international destinations. The travel period is from September 1 to December 15, 2013. Promo period is from August 14 to 16 subject to seat availability.

Hiking Mt. Babag 2: The Steep Trail, Roble Family, RCPI Towers

The two hours of walk from Brgy. Napo (see Part 1) led us to a creek. This is the point where we have to choose which trail to take: the "long and easy" or the "short but steep" one. In our first attempt to climb Mount Babag, we chose the short and steep trail. And indeed, it proved to be a difficult, uphill climb. [Related:  Climbing Mount Babag Part 1: Guadalupe to Napo to the Small Creek ] Crossing the creek, we turned right to a somewhat hidden trail (the obvious trail is on the left direction which is the "long and easy" one). It led us to a small house where we asked direction. They will pointed us to climb the rose plantation: a 60-degree steep rose fields. That is the beginning of a continuous, extremely steep slope that we have to climb. Our only chance of rest are the small flat portions with tree shades. Green lushes at Mt. Babag in Cebu

So What's New in Manila Domestic Terminal (NAIA 4)? Mister Donut!

The first time I've been to NAIA Terminal 4 or more commonly known as Manila Domestic Terminal was back in 2008. That time, Cebu Pacific still operates there. My experience in the place was bad. It was crowded and the aircon cannot support it so everyone was perspiring, most of which are standing due to lack of seats.

Class Suspensions - August 12 - 13, 2013

Update: Some classes are still suspended as of 9:48 AM. Please see more details below: Pangasinan - from preschool to high school Angeles City, Pampanga - preschool level Malabon - preschool and kindergarten, public and private Taguig City - preto high school levels Valenzuela City - daycare and preschools, both public and private Baliuag University, Bulacan - all levels suspended Local Government Units (LGU's) in Luzon have independently suspended classes of certain level on Monday, August 12, 2013. This is due to the heavy rains brought by typhoon Labuyo. As of writing, the following are the cities and towns that have announced suspensions. ALL LEVELS Laguna Manila Pateros Quezon City San Juan San Mateo, Rizal

It Seems Like Tigerair is Not Ready to Run

Last month, Singaporean-brand low-cost airline Tigerair made its debut in the Philippines. Although their presence is already felt a few months before that (because local airline company SEAIR is marketing them), their full entry was set last month.

Google Hangouts for iOS Now Available for Download at the App Store

After the long wait, Google's powerful chat application, Google Hangouts is now available for iOS devices. You can download it at the App Store for free.

Had Enough Holidays? August 21 and 26 are also Holidays!

Most will really love this month ! Not for the rainy season but because of the three national holidays being celebrated during the month of August. The first one, Eid'l Fitr will be celebrated this coming Friday . That holiday though is movable because it was based on Islamic lunar calendar. This year, it fell on August 9. Next year though, it would be around July 30. August 21, 2013 Holiday The second holiday is on August 21, also known as Ninoy Aquino Day. This is an annual observance of the death of former Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. Yes, he is the father of President Benigno "Pnoy" Aquino III. His assassination in 1983 is considered to be the trigger point that leads to 1986 EDSA Revolution. The revolution forced the end of the dictatorial regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos.  

Introducing Technology News in Blogged Philippines

Dear valued readers, I started blogging in summer of 2009. Back then, this blog was more of a personal blog about all the ideas that I have in mind. I wrote about my interests such as movies music, books, food money and travel. The name of this blog back then was Ideas Digest and I have a subdomain using Google’s Blogspot. Late that year, this blog started to focus on travel and flight information. Then I ventured into government news. I found it very noble to help disseminate information on such things as holiday announcement, class suspensions and the like.

BPI Capital is Selling Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB)

BPI Capital , a subsidiary of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is selling Retail Treasury Bonds (RTB). This is another option for those who want to invest their money other than stocks, mutual funds, and time deposits. Here are some Q&As about RTBs.

Bohol Tour: Loboc Floating Restaurant Entertainment [VIDEO]

To date, I've had three Bohol Day Tours , each of them were memorable. Although the places are the same, the experience of being with different people each time makes the trip unique. In those three tours, people always tell me that the experience in Loboc River Floating Restaurant is the best among the rest. I don't exactly know why but probably, the idea of a buffet meal while cruising in a river, on-board singers and stop-over dancing stations all lined up to create a unique experience that's really hard to forget. Loboc River Floating Restaurant

List of Suspended Classes from DepEd - July 31, 2013

The following cities and schools have issued class suspensions as tweeted by the Department of Education (DepEd). The reason for the suspension is heavy rains that triggered floods in parts of Metro Manila. Pasay City - all afternoon from elementary to high school, public and private San Sebastian College (Manila)  - pre-school and elementary levels Taguig City  - pre-school in both public and private schools are suspended Being updated...

Cebu Pacific Flies You to Dubai for Only 100 Pesos

Dubai, the crown jewel city of the United Arab Emirates. An open-city in the middle east and is home to thousands of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) is Cebu Pacific's first long-haul destination. The maiden flight to the Arab city is still in October this year yet Cebu Pacific is busy in promoting the new destination. Their latest promotion was just announced a couple of minutes ago - 100 Pesos Fare to Dubai. OFWs and tourists will surely love this latest offer. Although, the total price is far above from 100 pesos, it will more likely cost less compared to the offers of other airlines. And imagine the convenience of flying directly from Dubai to Manila without stopovers and wasted time in airports waiting for the connecting flight. Many OFWs do that to save money but this latest promo will allow them to save more and yet get more convenience. Cebu Pacific offers 100 Pesos base fare to Dubai

Is August 9, 2013 Holiday (Eid'l Fitr) in the Philippines?

Update : Palace confirms August 9, 2013 (Friday) as a regular non-working holiday nationwide via  Proclamation 629 . Eid’l Fitr , a Muslim Festival marking the end of Ramadan will be celebrated on August 9 this year making the second weekend of August 2013 a long vacation for most employees. But Malacanang Palace is yet to confirm it . According to Proclamation No.459 ,  the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) shall inform the Office of the President on which day the holiday shall fall.

On Refunding TigerAir Promo Ticket

YES. You can refund promo tickets as long as it's the airline's fault. Here's my story. I planned to go to Puerto Princesa , Palawan for a short vacation with my family, but due to budget risks and unpredictable weather, I decided to cancel our travel. The good thing though is that Tigerair recently changed my flight time. And since the delay/advance is more than three hours (which I think is the rule), I can refund my tickets. So here's what I did. 261 (Photo credit: Wikipedia )

DOST-SEI is Now Accepting Applications for 2014 Science Scholarships

The Department of Science and Technology - Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recently announced that they have started accepting applications for  2014 Science scholarship grants. Here are some Q & As about the program. What is the Undergraduate DOST Scholarship? It is an annual scholarship grant given by the Philippine government via the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to deserving high school graduates who wants to pursue a 4 or 5- year college courses in priority science and technology fields.

New Hunger Games: Catching Fire Trailer [VIDEO]

Excited about the next movie of Hunger Games Trilogy? Lionsgate heats up the promotion of the next film when they released Sunday night (PH time) a new trailer of Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The new trailer reveals some of the scenes that fans are surely excited about. One of them is the parade of the tributes where the main characters Katniss and Peeta were described in the book as wearing fiery coal outfit. Another one is the scene where Katniss transforms from wearing a white wedding gown to a black Mockingjay bird costume.

SONA 2013: Malacanang Suspends Elementary and High School Classes in Quezon City

All classes from Elementary to High School in Quezon City is suspended for tomorrow, Monday, July 22, 2013. This is a precautionary measure as militant groups are expected to hold protest rallies near the Congress during the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III which will be delivered tomorrow as well.

PISO FARE Promo Sends Cebu Pacific Website Down!

Hours after Cebu Pacific announces their latest seat sale promo, their booking webpage book.cebupacificair.com is inaccessible. '

Recalling Some of the Worst Philippine Air Travel Accidents

Most people think that the chance of survival in an airline accident is slim. For that reason, safety is the number one priority in civil aviation industry. Airline makers are always improving their designs to make  air travel safer. Now, air travel is considered to be the safest form of travel surpassing land and sea transportation. While international aviation organizations continues to improve the safety standards of airlines, accident still happens. And the Philippines had a fair share in the list of those. Here are some of the worst.

Is July 9, 2013 (Start of Ramadan) Holiday? No

I've heard people asking if July 9, 2013 is a holiday because it is the beginning of Ramadan, the month of fasting in the Islamic Calendar. The answer is NO. Instead, the Philippines is celebrating the end of Ramadan through the Islamic festival called Eid'l Fitr. This year, it was scheduled to be celebrated in the country this August 9. That date is a special non-working holiday nationwide.

Why Tiger Airways Re-brands to Tigerair?

For those who doesn't know yet, Singapore-based budget carrier Tiger Airways is now TigerAir . The new identity of the leading airline company goes live this month of July. So what's new? A New Look of their Website and Mobile App Re-branding will be useless unless you change the way you look. TigerAir did that by revamping their website. Though the Tigerish motif is still there, a combination of orange and dark grey hues, the redesigned website looks more neat with more white spaces than before. I personally appreciate how they show their deals now. Before, it was being shown in flash slides. Now, all the deals were in huge tiles. I also like that the booking section was enlarged and placed at the center of page.

Bohol Island Hopping, Dolphin Watching and Balicasag Island Fish Sanctuary

I've been to Bohol many times before. I had visited Tagbilaran thrice and at one time stayed there for a week in a friend's house. I also had experienced four day-tours, visiting popular places such as Sagbayan Peak, Chocolate Hills, Tarsiers forest, Loboc Floating Restaurant and many others. I have also slept in a friend's house in Panglao Island and saw the beauty of Alona Beach.

My Experience with Sun Cellular Postpaid Service

I just want to share my experience with Sun Cellular Postpaid. My main purpose is to inform others who are considering to apply for it. The Application Process In short, the application process falls below my expectation, but not worse, in my opinion. Here's why. Slow Process. I applied online at their official website. Based on the list of requirements, I just have to fill out the online form, submit the competitor's latest statement, and a scan of a valid ID. I did all of that. Later that day, I tweeted Sun Cellular asking how long it will take before I receive a feedback. They told me 3 days. The 3 days turned out to be 6 days. Well, the application didn't end there. The email I received asked me to submit photocopies of Certificate of Employment, latest 1 month payslip and valid proof of billing. even though their website  said I just have to submit a competitor's billing statement and an ID. Next day, I applied again, this time through a nearby Sun Shop

PAL Midnight Sale is Now Monday Madness Promo

Update: Latest PAL and PAL Express Monday Madness can be viewed at this Airline Promos Page . Remember the old PAL Midnight Sale? For those who don't, it is a promotion of Philippine Airlines wherein they offer cheap fares to certain destinations and travel dates every Sunday midnight until 6 in the morning. I still remember the first one back in 2011. PAL's website was inaccessible for almost three hours due to the flood of internet traffic to their servers. Many were irritated, even angered by the unprepared airline company. Slowly though, the succeeding midnight sales becomes more stable.

Going to Balamban - A Trip Over The Mountains

It was a festive Saturday morning in Cebu City. The entire province is celebrating its annual Sinulog Festival. But instead of joining the fun there, me and 11 others is on a trip going to the other side of Cebu, the town Balamban. Our purpose is more that just vacation, we will also do volunteer work.

Free Tickets Anyone? - Tiger Airways Promo

Tiger Airways will be launching their local presence next month, July 2013. But before that, they are holding a promo: free fares on selected domestic and international destinations. Yes, the fare is free but is exclusive of the taxes and miscellaneous fees. The FREE Fares for June 21 When and Where?- Flight Time and Destinations The promo is from June 10 to 30. Each day, Tiger Airways will give free fares to specific destination(s). The tickets can only be bought at a specific time of the day only (the time varies each day), and of course, seats are limited and can only be purchased online. Lastly, the free fare is for one way only, the other way is a regular fare. For example, tomorrow's (June 21) free fare is for Clark to Bangkok and Kalibo to Singapore and can only be booked from 2 - 4PM. Early today, the free fare is from Manila to Kalibo or Laoag. Just check Tiger Airways' website for the updated free fare schedule. The travel period for the free tickets

Scam Text Message: My SIM Number Just Won from Villar Foundation

Just received this text message from a number: 09298444198 MA'AM/SIR Ur Sim# had won! Php.850,000.00 From: VILLAR FOUNDATION. Handog Pang-Kabuhayan.To Claim ur prize, Pls call me now! I'm Sec.JHON DE LARA DTI#6849s'13 This is just one of the many cases of scam messages being spread out using SMS or text message. Be careful, many (seriously) have fallen victim of this. Some of them paid a amount to claim their fictitious winnings. Not the First Time to Use Villar's Name Based on my own research this is not the first time a similar scam was reported. As early as 2010, Villar Foundation, a non-profit organization of former Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar, already received similar complaints from victims being promised cash rewards. Here's an article from Sunstar News: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/local-news/2013/02/05/nbi-assistance-sought-stop-group-text-scam-266515 ______________________________ Blogged Philippines gives you the l

What's the Latest in Bohol Day Tour? Increase in Prices

Just recently, I had a Day Tour in Bohol . This is the third one since the first time in September 2010. And just like my previous trips, I took somebody with me. This time though, it's my brother and his family. Overall, nothing is really new in Bohol except the following notable changes. Fare increase in Ferry Just like my previous two trips, I went to Bohol via Tubigon sailing between Cebu and Bohol in about an hour of ferry trip. And yes, it was MV Star Craft 2 that carried us. So what's new? The fare. It increased from 200 Pesos to 220 Pesos for an economy seat. Another one is, well, not new but new to me. Senior Citizens and kids have a  20% discount. Maybe students also have, but I didn't checked. For senior citizens, please bring your Senior Citizen ID. MV Starcraft Fast Craft from Cebu to Bohol New Features in Sagbayan Peak There is another new playground park with new statues and castles where kids (and adult alike) can enjoy playing. That is probab

May 2013 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Board Exam Result

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 1,553 out of 5,665 passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Board Examination given by the Board of Accountancy in key cities of the country this month May 2013. Richard Saavedra of Ateneo de Davao University topped the more than 1500 passers by scoring 96% in the said examination. He was closely followed by Mikyll Narvios of the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu with a score of 95.43%. Shown below is the complete list of the top ten passers. May 2013 CPA top 10 The full list of passers is being shown below. CPA Board Exam Registration for the issuance of professional ID and Certificate of Registration is from June 5-7, 2013. The requirements are as follows: Duly accomplished Oath of Professional (Panunumpa ng Propesyonal) form Current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag) 1 piece 1x1 picture (colored with white

How to Make Leche Flan?

Leche Flan is a Filipino dessert made from milk and eggs. It is somewhat similar to Creme Brulee , only that the sugar topping is not crunchy. Instead it is caramelized sugar syrup. Someone requested for me to make this so I am writing this. This is the recipe I follow and you can make revisions to it as you see fit. You would need a steamer, a strainer and elongated baking pans ( llanera ). Make sure that you baking pan would fit inside your steamer. Leche Flan (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Leche Flan Ingredients 1/4 k                        refined white sugar 1 can(big)                condensed milk 1 can(big)                evaporated milk 7 pcs                       egg yolk 1 pc                         whole egg Making Leche Flan 1. Put sugar on the baking pan and caramelize sugar over low heat. Do not burn the sugar too much as it would become bitter. Let it cool  so it would harden. 2. Take 7 pcs. of eggs and separate the egg yolk from the egg white. You

Travel Tip: Don't be Late in the Airport

I was surprised by the news about PAL's move to penalize latecomers with additional fees . I actually thought that they have been doing that since the start. Well, Cebu Pacific is already doing that. The first time I actually felt it was in 2010. The story goes like this. My friend is scheduled to fly to Cebu after a week of vacation in his hometown in Marikina. It was a week after the deadly flood of typhoon Ondoy. Many roads were closed. He miscalculated his chances and he ended up 10 minutes late in the airport. And guess what, he was denied to check-in. He paid another 2500 pesos for the next trip. That was terrible but as I read through the Terms and Conditions, I realized what they did is valid. Two years later, I was going to the airport after a few days of vacation in Bulacan. In the past, it usually takes 3 hours from Bulacan to Airport. But it was not a usual day. Starting in East Ave, everything seems to be slow. The bus is slow. The traffic is terrible. We had to re

How To Get To Bantayan Island in Cebu?

Bantayan Island has been one of the famous destinations of both local and international tourists here in Cebu. In recent years, it has slowly become an alternative to Boracay because of the white sands as well as the serenity it offers to those who may wish to have a truly relaxing experience during their vacation. Bantayan island is not as crowded as Bora and the expenses there is way cheaper in comparison. In this article, I will guide you on your travel to Bantayan Island from Cebu City. That  includes information about fare prices. Bantayan Island beach Getting to Bantayan Island: Landtrip from North Bus Terminal The first step in getting to Bantayan Island is to ride a bus in Cebu North Bus Terminal. It was located in Mandaue City. For those coming from hotels and inns, it would be advisable to ride a taxi to get there. Or if you have the luxury of time, you can ask a hotel employee or a local friend to know the jeepney route that will pass in the North Bus Terminal.

An Update to My Cancelled Zest Air Flight Story

Last Tuesday, in the article entitled  True Story: Warning to Zest Air Passengers and Potential Customers , I wrote about our problem when Zest Air decided to cancel all flights from Cebu to Davao. Now I'm glad to tell everyone that Zest Air finally conceded and gave us a better option than simply refunding our tickets. Here's what happened. Went Back to Zest Air Office in Mactan-Cebu Airport After trying to contact them through various office numbers, my friends decided to go to their Airport office for the last time. If this turns out unsuccessful, we'll just buy a new ticket and pursue a legal solution. It was a tough decision since the prevailing one-way ticket prices at that time was around 2500 Pesos at the minimum.This is far from the 700 pesos Zest Air offered to refund. But our event in Davao is of utmost importance so we have no choice but to proceed. Even if it's late Tuesday night, around 10PM, they proceeded to Zest Air office. I decided not t

Climbing Mount Babag Part 1: Guadalupe to Napo to the Small Creek

I've never climbed a mountain before. If this one will be successful, then this would be a great accomplishment for me. Well, it turns out that mountain climbing is not an easy task, but the experience is awesome. My first try is probably a less difficult one: Mount Babag in Cebu. In Hiking, Preparation is Important I rose up early morning Saturday to prepare my stuffs. I was told that we'll be going to a far place and that I have to bring a lunch pack and drinking water. I never really knew that I'll be climbing Mount Babag until my friend knocked on my door. To my surprise, he's in rubber shoes, jogging pants and collared t-shirt. A big bag (with emergency kit inside) is on his back. In cotrast, I was dressed differently but upon realizing things, I immediately changed my outfit. I also have to review the content of my bag to suit what I may be needing for the climb. Here's what I brought: - Lunch pack and small snack items - Extra clothes - Water (1 Liter

Zubuchon - Probably, the Tastiest Lechon Ever!

Beside  CNT , another Cebu brand that is popular with whole roasted pig (locally termed as Lechon) is Zubuchon . Well, I can't really put into writing how Zubuchon  lechon taste like. It's just palatable and addictive. So, here's a little warning for those who have problems in their blood pressure: if you want to eat there, make sure you have someone who can control you. :-) Otherwise, the you may overindulge. Zubuchon offers one of the best Lechon (Photo credit: Roberto Verzo) Other Lechon-based products Zubuchon also offers other products, most of them are lechon-based. Their sinigang lechon is a sinigang where the pork used is lechon. Another one is Prichon which is actually, fried lechon. And they also have Mongos, Zubuchon Sisig, Zubuchorizo, Zubuflakes and more. [Related: Filipino Foods: Sinigang, Sisig, Kare-kare, Pakbet ] Kamias Juice to Neutralize the Fats One of their new products is Kamias Juice. It was a shake made of blended Kamias. We actua

True Story: Warning to Zest Air Passengers and Potential Customers

I don't really want write this to my blog but lately, I thought it would be beneficial for many people to know what happened to me and my friends late last month. We Booked  Zest Air Tickets Cebu-Davao We had an event in Davao around the middle of this month. To save money we looked for promo fares from   local airlines such as Cebu Pacific, Airphil, and Zest Air. But because it's just a month before the event, we had trouble finding one, thanks to Zest Air who advertised a 88 Pesos promo Cebu - Davao flight. Here's the promotional poster from their website. We were so glad about it. Five of my friends were able booked a one-way ticket to Davao. Zest Air Cancels the Flight and ONLY Offered Refund  Everything's fine until we received this email from Zest Air last April 23, two weeks before the travel date. Dear __________________, ZESTAIR FLIGHT ADVISORY: Please be advised that effective May __, 2013 onwards flight Z2-____ from CEBU to DAVAO has been C

Public Announcement: Zest Air Flights Will Now Be Booked at AirAsia Philippines Website

Many would have seen this coming. Last March, Zest Air and AirAsia Philippines announced a strategic partnership to further their strength in the increasingly competitive local aviation industry currently led by Cebu Pacific. Part of the deal is the acquisition of 40% ownership of Zest Air by AirAsia. And we are now starting to see the progress of that deal. Starting May 10, 2013 all Zest Air flights will now be booked at airasia.com. Instead of booking in two separate websites, Zest Air and AirAsia customer just have to go to one site. A unified system is of course a more efficient way to operate a business. We can therefore expect that starting May 10 all visitors of flyzest.com will be redirected to airasia.com/ph . Efficient Operation Means Better Customer Service? I'm just hoping that this latest development will dramatically improve Zest Air's customer service. I was referring to services that should be given to the customers when flights were cancelled, del