SIA in a Rut

[Dr. Phil]

For many years now whenever I board an SIA flight, and that is about 10 times per month, I reach for the In-Flight shopping magazine hoping to see something new. There never is anything new, just the same boring and predictable items. Only the prices change!
Does SIA lead the field or merely follow?

I strap myself into my seat and the stewardess hands out those "Giveny" ( ) bags with socks and a toothbrush. No razor, which would be helpful, of course. I have never ever seen anyone wear those socks or indeed use the toothbrush with what will likely be toxic Chinese toothpaste.

We live in Asia but SIA serve what must be the cheapest plonk. A thumping headache invariably follows the bitter red wines. So whats wrong with cheap Australian and NZ wines?

I mean, its all so boring and predictable. Is there nobody on watch? SIA has just missed another occasion, CNY, to introduce something novel and new and topical. But they are all sleeping!

[beatrice b]

why not fly Cathay in future. Lovely linguistic stewardesses, friendly. You can also get great awards if you travel often.

[Frequent Flyer 2]

I had a stopover in Dubai recently and used EK Lounge. It is light years ahead of the sad Marhaba Lounge SIA shares.
The EK Lounge was full of all goodies from smoked salmon, salads etc and even bottles of wines and champagne lined up. In the Marhaba Lounge it was a bit of rough bread and homus and the wifi did not work.
And don't get me started on SIA air miles and the huge air miles increases for redemptions which are virtually impossible even when one is willing to pay the double air miles now demanded.
Go Emirates or Itihad.

[Kafka]

Of course SQ is not perfect, but what's the feasibility of flying another airline when one lives in Singapore? I often fly other airlines when going to Europe or Middle-East, but intra-APAC who would want to waste time by connecting in HK ? For more smilling flight attendants, better inflights sales or better amenities, that's a NO !
Remember how a pain in the a... is the flying experience back home in Europe/US... traffic jam to reach the airport, long queues for immigration, security check and boarding, dirty airports, few shops, flights never on time, ...

[typically Moronic Phil]

Spends years buying Apple products then whining about them, not it seems he has also spent years flying on SIA and is whining about that

He's a clown

Phil - you're the fool in both cases

[Valid Points, Dr P]

You've raised some valid points there, Dr Phil. Those are some areas for improvement. No company is above improvement, even if deluded trolls such as the PP crawl out from under their rocks to defend the national honour.

[Not a local]

Before you accuse me of supporting MY National Airline, I am a British Expat.

I am a frequent flyer and have travelled with many different airlines, would still say however that overall, Singapore Airlines is the best.

[MediocrityOK]

So you are completely satisfied and see no room for improvement? Not even with the selection of wine, the giveaways, selection of duty free onboard, etc? Those were the points raised by Dr Phil.

[webby]

SIA has slipped a lot in recent years. It's product in the air is still good, but some moves to save money have left it looking a little cheap.

Small example: the airline used to have decent paper towels in the economy restrooms. They've disappeared, to be replaced by crappy tisues which are useless for drying your hands.

Where SIA has really gone down the pan is with its website....the new version (launched in May?) is still full of bugs and gremlins. It's amazing that it hasn't been put right for so long, and is a key issue for me when deciding who to fly with....why waste time with SIA's website issues when I can go on to Cathay's or Qantas' website and be done with my booking in 2 minutes?

[Wasted Time]

Things are improving there somewhat, but you are right. It's been horrific and it is STILL an ongoing issue. One wonders why steps were not taken to remedy the situation immediately (a mere 8 months or so ago). How could they just let it go on in such disarray for such a long period. 

[Dr. Phil]

Spends years buying Apple products then whining about them, not it seems he has also spent years flying on SIA and is whining about that

He's a clown

Phil - you're the fool in both cases

Once upon a time there was incredible Apple with innovative hardware design and uncomplicated software which simply worked. Global greed slowly turned the noses for value into snouts for super profits. The iPads and iPhones were spectacularly profitable but hardware had fundamental flaws which remain today and the software was so restrictive and prohibitive it bespoke a new and sinister corporate message. iPad's without Flash and iPhones with dodgy antennas and more.
Incidentally Singnet advised me to return my iPhone 4S, and the miniature Sin Card which is also flawed to the extent I cannot connect to a number from Contacts.
And my Samsung Galaxy 10 is great.

Perhaps the most striking thing about iPad and iPhone is the innovative design; these are really not so "smart" today. For example, the iPad and MacBook charger having the ability to discard the longer cable and use a snap on socket directly to the Magsafe Adapter is a simple innovation for travelers still not recognized by other producers.

Likewise, SIA was always premier for the quality of their SIA cabin staff and safety. The failure to design a simple web site screams incompetence at those levels of management which ought to have an abundance of creativity if not understanding of the requirements for a system design and the potential business advantages.

And when SIA makes petty, small albeit immediately obvious cuts while increasing prices and directly antagonizing loyal customers by effectively doubling air miles required for redemptions, it beggars belief. As other less capable airlines recover, SIA will have a mountain to climb when they promise afresh to support loyalty and programs.  

I only have to think of the SIA In-Flight Shopping magazine and I am reaching for a copy of the Weekly Telegraph which, if available at Changi, is over-priced and two weeks old. And the shops at Changi singularly fail to entertain being mostly sparsely stocked (perhaps because the prices of the unusual and unattractive goods are off-the-scale). Okay for hookers but not really shopping for earthly folk, thats for sure.  

[Wot??!]

They "doubled" points required for redemptions? When?

[Even]

They "doubled" points required for redemptions? When?

The airmiles that were 'Standard' before are 'Saver' now and the 'Standard' rate is doubled......with there being much less 'Saver' seats available than the old 'Standard' of course.

You have to be really organised to get a 'Saver' redemption, else it does cost double.

[beatrice b]

. A thumping headache invariably follows the bitter red wines. So whats wrong with cheap Australian and NZ wines?

[/quote]

are you sure its not the peanuts that give you a headache?

[Dr. Phil]

They "doubled" points required for redemptions? When?

What a dope.
They created a second Economy Class. I think its called "Standard Economy" which requires double the points of the regular Economy seat. The regular Economy seat is now "Saver Economy" which is a phantom.... its existence is whispered but nobody has ever seen it.