Guys ... or girls .......
anyone who wants to get a mobile here might not restricted themselves to contract signing phones ...

if you are not staying for long ... or actually even if you do ... I dont think contract phones are worthwhile ...
Let's say, if you are signing a contract at 30 quids per month for a 18 month period, it would costs you 30 x 18 = 540 quids!
Even if the phone is given free ... but on a 18 month and 30 quids pm basis, what kinda great phone would you get that would worth more than 300 quids rrp on handset?

my shopping instinct and addicts had pointed me to another option -------- EBAY[FONT=Arial][SIZE=7]!
though you would have to bid for the mobile (handset only), but the price is always SO MUCH lower than what it would costs if you buy it elsewhere!
and IF you doesn't think you are one of those phone-talking madman ... 10 quids per month is good enough to cope with phone bills!
lots of telco is offering 10 quids contract (1 month rolling contract only) with about 150 minutes and 300 text ... or more ......
the good thing about this is, you can cancel your contract anytime you want, after you had given them 30 days notice ... and frankly, i had never used out of the 150 minutes nor 300 text .... though some commercial numbers are charged separately ... but that doesnt happened often enough ...

lol ... how did you dig those threads out?

Ok, based on my previous experience, well, MAS is giving 30kg due to their GRADs membership programme (only applicable to certain ticket class ... better check that out ...), so if you didnt have one, apply for one, ASAP! (go to KL sentral to apply and you will get the temporary card instantly.)
However, BA is only giving out 23kg for check in, student or not the rule remains the same.
On BA's hand carry, they didn't weighed my cabin luggage while I boarded the flight, though I was approached by a BA ground staff telling me my bag looks 'a little' over limit for cabin luggage ... but i just gave her an idiotic smile and friendly nod then walked away pretending nothing happened...

My hand carry by then was about 7kg ... excluding a backpack stuffed with laptop, documents, phones, chargers, etc etc etc etc ... at about at least 5kg on it ...
I got through even though my check in luggage was 3kg over weight, the lady officer looked at me but i just gave her innocent puppy looks and tell her "I am a student coming to UK for the first time ... I had lots to bring and they are all for study ......" .... yeah ... if that were the truth ...

So, in total I had brought over 3 bags, which includes 1 backpack, 1 cabin luggage and 1 HUGE check in suitcase ...

Anyway, I guess most of the time it pretty much relies on your luck lol ...

note: pack your liquids/gel/aerosol/sharp items into your check in piece ... as if you plan and managed to get through the size/weight for cabin luggage, still you can't bring in any of those items into the cabin ... (unless liquids/gel less than ... 100ml??)

Hints: If you are arriving Heathrow ... and never been there before ... you better prepare yourself for getting lost and walking in circles with your HUGE/HEAVY luggages ... looking for departure hall and etc ... (from arrival hall to departure hall you will have to take lifts and trains(?)) (which I was stupid to drag my luggage through the STEEP and narrow escalators instead of noticing the lift that was hiding somewhere nearby ... )
The washroom in Heathrow is NICE ... BUT! beware of their taps! hot water everywhere and it BURNS you RED!
Also, departing from Heathrow for a connection flight you might have to go through with some strict scans and checks ... as I saw some passengers were asked to remove their shoes while walking through the scanner with bare feet ... guys or ladies still kena ... especially those ladies with heels ... then belt were removed, keys, coins, phones, and even laptop will have to be taken out from the backpack and placed it in the tray ... so ... it is good if you can let yourself removed your laptop at ease for these security checks ...

Yea, as far as I recalled, ticket class X is not applicable ... MHLow have different ticket class still, you can check it in your booking ...

yes, i collected my luggage after my arrival ... cause BA is another airline and you will have to check in your luggage again then.

a map of heathrow is available on their airport's website, google for the web add... though i did printed a copy out of it, but i didn't managed to use it anyway ... the fastest and easiest way by then is just grabbing some staff and ask for directions.


contract phones on e2save/mobiles.co.uk were one of my previous interests as well ... since they have cashbacks or free wii or whatever ... however, they have now offering 12 months contract no more ... so the shortest one would be on 18 months contract, and the deal is available to everyone provided you can pass the credit check ... which is something to do with your residency status like staying for 3 years or something like that and have a healthy credit score that was reflected from your bank account (UK only)...

Hence, passing the credit check or not is one issue, worthwhile or not is the second.

Also, talking on cashbacks / x months FREE ... sounds interesting isn't it?
BUT, have you read the small prints on it? the cashback system is going to divide into few installments for like ... every 3-4 months? which it would be like this: you got 100 quids cashback, but that would be divided into 3 or 4 installments, which would be 25 quids each time every 3-4 months... IF you can showed them some proof ... i forgot what that is, but it is something like mailing them the receipt or something like that to verify the status ... so ... put it in simple words, it means: it is gonna be Kelam Kabut sometimes, and very Bah Huan (messy) ... also, it doesn't guaranteed you will 100% get all the cashback if you got this and that not right somewhere ...

In addition, even they are offering cashback ... let's calculate on a 18 month contract basis:
A HTC Desire for example ...
Go for Vodafone on mobiles.co.uk (Vodafone tends to be cheapest among contract phones i found)
15 quids pm for 18 months, then you have to pay 249.99 for the handset ...
it means: 15 x 18 + 249.99 = 270 + 249.99 = 519.99 quids!
and you will get 100 minutes and 500 text ...

then, if you buy it as the way i recommended, like buying the handset on eBay ...
just checked, the average sold off price for Desire is at about 200 - 250 quids as well, so, let's say it's the same; ok, then you compare the package price ...
as i said earlier, 10 quids is given with 150 minutes and 300 free text, and if you go for 3 (Three, the telco), you will get free 3 to 3 calls (unlimited), and 150mb internet allowance free!! (I prefer this 3 package as it is the most worthwhile i felt ...)
after all these extra freebies, you still get to save 5 quids pm for 18 months ... which is 90 quids~!
some more, if you doesn't mind phones that has been used slightly ... (the mat salleh likes to buy then sell after they found it they doesn't like it ... for maybe from 1 hour to 10 days or 10 weeks or 3 months ...) and if you have sharp eyes by picking out the best option, the phone you get will be as good as new ... even it is actually a used handset ...

some may felt buying things 2nd handed is a bit yucky ... but hey, UK is different from Malaysia ... especially on these 2nd handed items ... it is the trend in fact ... people buying things that has been used ... and they have great market on it ... (note: this is possible as the quality of the goods are at very niche standard ... i.e. buying a good condition used Guess bag at 10 quids where the original price is 200 over when new ... what you think?)

what i can say about contract phones is, unless you can signed for a 24 months contract (and if you are eligible to sign it) ... else most of the time it wouldn't be as worthwhile lol...
(p/s: someone told me to just sign the contract then LARI with the phone without paying monthly ... lol DUDE, if anyone is having this in their thoughts, FORGET it! it ain't gonna happen as the charges are deducted from your bank account DIRECTLY!)

nope ... i don't have much on blackberry ... sorry~

go for 3 (three) ... 150 min, 300 text, 150mb internet, unlimited free calls between 3 to 3 users...
you can top up 5 quids, 10 quids and 20 ......
but 5 quids top up can only be done online ... using the debit/credit card (no worries, you will get one when you open a bank account here, all students will get that, mostly.) ... and 5 quids top up have less freebies ... top up 10 quids will get you some additional internet allowance and etc ... the freebies are either valid for 90 days or 'won't expired' ... so you can use your credit for a longer period without forcing yourself to top up just to keep it valid when you just hardly use your phone ...

however, mobile reception varies across places ... some better some worse ... i am not sure about others, but mine in a small town works just as well as other telco ...

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Added on August 27, 2010, 11:54 pm1. i choose 3 due to the costs and data plan given ~ money saver~

2. o2 is good, good service, good reception, but charging on data plans ... (no oppose to it, I was o2 user previously as well!)

3. lol ... I am an Ebay fans! well, talk about warranty ... hmm ... yes, that is an issue you would want to consider if you are staying in UK for longer periods ... else after going back to Malaysia ... warranty voids anyway ... Risk? ooo ... this one ... all you need is just a little bit of experience of online shopping ...... pretty much of my pals here are crazed by ebay offers ... haven't heard from anyone that their transaction turn sour though ... of course, first and simplest way to be more confident of the seller's credibility is through their feedback score ... and you can file a complaint or ask for refund if chances were given ...



This post has been edited by jeanyl: Aug 27 2010, 11:54 PM

ok, now my turn to ask question:

Can anyone confirmed that Emirates is giving out 40kg to students? or only 30kg?
I couldn't find any official information from the Emirates site, and none that i knew has been with Emirates LATELY, so I wasn't that sure if this 40kg luggage allowance is applicable or not.