Don't be too hung up on rankings - at this banding, the difference is primarily subjective and depends very much on mood of the respondents at the time.
SIA has its hands tied regarding its online booking service, being a regular premium Airline, it dun wan to upset or offend its travel agents' rice bowl, so its online booking service must not be too successful, you never know what's the future like. This is commercial jargon, "water helping fish, fish helping water".
In the past, safety issues was the forefront, and SQ had the edge because of its younger fleet and also the attraction of having innovative products such as slot machines, full recline seats,individual movie screens with 50+ ( now 75+) choice in viewing. This was spearheaded by Mr Michael Tan, then the Marketing guru for SQ.
In these times, every other major player has new planes, individual screens, flat beds and multiple choice of movies and also menu.
The only common factor here would be fuel prices.
Regardless if the cabin crew address you by your name or gives you a newspaper of your choice, the experience is almost the same. This means price will affect buying decisions.
SQ does have great arrival, departure times but that depends too if there are alternatives.
For example: SIN-ROM, SQ uses a 777ER and it is direct without any stop. Economy fare is S$2300 return.
LH ( Lufthansa) goes to FRA ( Frankfurt) with a 1 hour transit before connecting to ROM. It takes longer but it uses A380 to FRA and a A330 to ROM. Cost? S$1200 ( if booked now)
Anyway, most hotels would not allow you to check in till after 12pm ( earliest, unless you pay more)so, apple for apple, I get a better savings on LH.
Safety, service, entertainment is at par if not better on LH.
LH inflight service is quick & to the point. SQ tends to try to justify their higher prices with lots of cabin activity, to the point of being annoying, yet not achieving much. The crew appear overworked and I am uncertain if they can function during an emergency such as landing.
SQ needs to come up with a better product offering. Yet, having internet or mobile phone connectivity is not such a big deal to justify 1K more in pricing.
A bowl of laksa in Y class? nice idea but I wont pay for it either. Only business class customers whose employers are paying for the trip may be enticed. But its not the laksa either.
With many companies keeping a close watch on expenses, SQ is certainly challenged to offer 'premium' service.
SIA used to be the Best but not anymore due to the thinking of the new generation of the management. They are more conscious of cost than service standard.
Don't be too hung up on rankings - at this banding, the difference is primarily subjective and depends very much on mood of the respondents at the time.
ReplyDeleteSIA has its hands tied regarding its online booking service, being a regular premium Airline, it dun wan to upset or offend its travel agents' rice bowl, so its online booking service must not be too successful, you never know what's the future like.
ReplyDeleteThis is commercial jargon, "water helping fish, fish helping water".
I see it as the slip down for many a-Singapore Icons.
ReplyDeleteDon't bother about rankings and support our homegrown SIA.
ReplyDeletePrice is paramount now.
ReplyDeleteIn the past, safety issues was the forefront, and SQ had the edge because of its younger fleet and also the attraction of having innovative products such as slot machines, full recline seats,individual movie screens with 50+ ( now 75+) choice in viewing. This was spearheaded by Mr Michael Tan, then the Marketing guru for SQ.
In these times, every other major player has new planes, individual screens, flat beds and multiple choice of movies and also menu.
The only common factor here would be fuel prices.
Regardless if the cabin crew address you by your name or gives you a newspaper of your choice, the experience is almost the same. This means price will affect buying decisions.
SQ does have great arrival, departure times but that depends too if there are alternatives.
For example: SIN-ROM, SQ uses a 777ER and it is direct without any stop. Economy fare is S$2300 return.
LH ( Lufthansa) goes to FRA ( Frankfurt) with a 1 hour transit before connecting to ROM. It takes longer but it uses A380 to FRA and a A330 to ROM.
Cost? S$1200 ( if booked now)
Anyway, most hotels would not allow you to check in till after 12pm ( earliest, unless you pay more)so, apple for apple, I get a better savings on LH.
Safety, service, entertainment is at par if not better on LH.
LH inflight service is quick & to the point. SQ tends to try to justify their higher prices with lots of cabin activity, to the point of being annoying, yet not achieving much. The crew appear overworked and I am uncertain if they can function during an emergency such as landing.
SQ needs to come up with a better product offering. Yet, having internet or mobile phone connectivity is not such a big deal to justify 1K more in pricing.
A bowl of laksa in Y class? nice idea but I wont pay for it either.
Only business class customers whose employers are paying for the trip may be enticed. But its not the laksa either.
With many companies keeping a close watch on expenses, SQ is certainly challenged to offer 'premium' service.
SIA used to be the Best but not anymore due to the thinking of the new generation of the management. They are more conscious of cost than service standard.
ReplyDeleteI think Ranking of airlines are changing time to time according to how much cheap flights is offered by company.
ReplyDelete