I will NEVER fly Singapore Airlines again

[NM]

(not sure what PPS actually stands for it's simply PPS).

I think it comes from Preferential, Personalised Service. But as you say, its just known as PPS.

Note that Solitaire PPS requires a spend of S$250,000 on First and Business Class fares within 5 consecutive years of PPS Club membership. Then once Solitaire status is attained, it can renewed annually with a S$25,000 spend on First and Business Class fares.

 

[oz_mark]

I think it comes from Preferential, Personalised Service. But as you say, its just known as PPS.

I thought it was Priority Passenger Service but was thought to be a bit (hmm, probably can't use the word in my mind)

 

[NM]

I thought it was Priority Passenger Service but was thought to be a bit (hmm, probably can't use the word in my mind)

I think they may keep it mysterious on purpose.

 

[Keith009]

PPS = Priority Passenger Service.

And to complete the picture: LPP = Lifetime Solitaire PPS Club member, though that tier can no longer be qualified for since Sept 2007. LPP and TPP are ranked equally in terms of op ups and the like.

Interestingly i've just been told that they're now breaking 'ties' within each tier by examining PPS Value for the year since switching to the new system, rather than how many years you've been in the relevant tier for, all things being equal. They no longer print the figure indicating the years of membership on your bp now. This no doubts privileges those who have lots of flying early in their membership year.

 

[JohnK]

Even that thread has very little on SIA and certainly nothing currently on PPS, TPP, QPP, QPP4, QPP2, et al.

I didn't really look at the details in the thread as I am not likely to gain PPS status or even fly SQ in a premium cabin anytime soon in my current lifetime.

Perhaps it is time someone sent a PM to one of the moderators to have post #7 updated with some latest information.

 

[john w]

OK - a bad experience - but if you have flown on many airlines then you will know that SQ is about as good as it gets - accept that there was a problem and look beyond it.

 

[JohnK]

....but if you have flown on many airlines then you will know that SQ is about as good as it gets....

Actually some of us are glad that there are airline choices other than SQ.

 

[sadlier]

Not sure where this thread is going but it is clear that Jobu (the originator) was late for check-in for whatever reason and had no status with SQ and was not given the special treatment that he felt he deserved because of his status with QF.

Who should be surprised by that and to vow to never fly SQ again is an overreaction.

 

[TonyD]

Not sure where this thread is going but it is clear that Jobu (the originator) was late for check-in for whatever reason and had no status with SQ and was not given the special treatment that he felt he deserved because of his status with QF.

Who should be surprised by that and to vow to never fly SQ again is an overreaction.

Jobu's complaint was not about lack of special treatment it was about basic minimum customer service! He has never mentioned deserving anything else nor his status with QF. How did you draw that conclusion?

 

[sadlier]

Jobu's complaint was not about lack of special treatment it was about basic minimum customer service! He has never mentioned deserving anything else nor his status with QF. How did you draw that conclusion?

His QF status is in the letter that he sent to SQ 6 months after the event. See page 1 of thread.

Is turning up late for check-in and expecting to get on the flight a basic minimum customer service? I think not.

Especially in Asia turning up late does not work.

 

[TonyD]

I stand corrected that his status is mentioned, however...

My wife and I are frequent travellers, both internationally and domestically. I have Platinum Qantas Frequent Flyer membership and Emerald OneWorld membership – the highest level obtainable, due to my frequent travelling. We have never missed a flight, and have never encountered such rude and insolent behaviour. Notwithstanding cultural differences, it is a shame that this experience with Singapore Airlines staff has reflected so badly on your airline.

Does not indicate at all that he wanted special treatment because of his QF OW status - it simply states that he has never copped this treatment in many many trips. Also there is nothing to say that he asked for special treatment because of it.

Regardless of lateness - the treatment was blunt at best , if not rude.

 

[NM]

His QF status is in the letter that he sent to SQ 6 months after the event. See page 1 of thread.

Is turning up late for check-in and expecting to get on the flight a basic minimum customer service? I think not.

Especially in Asia turning up late does not work.

But Jobu insists they were not late for check-in, but that the check-in was closed early when they arrived 10 mins before check-in was supposed to close. If the info posted by Jobu is accurate (and it is the only info we have been presented regarding timing), then he is entitled to every expectation that he would be able to get on the flight, or be treated as an involuntary denied boarding case.

 

[sadlier]

Nothwithstanding the rudeness you received from airline staff (which last time I checked wasn't limited to one airline), surely you have to take some of the responsibility for cutting it so fine.

Whether a flight closes 40 mins before takeoff or not, 50 mins prior to takeoff really isn't an acceptable checkin time in my book, irrespective of what status you hold.

I agree that sending a complaint 3 months after the incident is a waste of your time and the airlines and really isn't going to achieve anything apart from you letting off some steam and letting SQ know how quickly they're going to go out of business now that you've withdrawn your support.

TG

I am with TG on this. In Asia anything less less than an hour is late - except perhaps for SIN and HKG.

 

[JohnK]

I am with TG on this. In Asia anything less less than an hour is late - except perhaps for SIN and HKG.

Why? If check-in for a flight is due to close 40 minutes before the flight is due to depart and you turn up with 10 minutes to spare then you have satisfied all the conditions. Why is there a need to be there 60 minutes or 90 minutes before scheduled departure?

There should be give and take. An airline can't have everything their way. An airline can delay a flight for whatever reason, like the cargo has not yet been loaded, but at the same time think it is perfectly acceptable to leave a passenger(s) stranded when they arrived on time.

I believe Jobu is telling the truth. I think SQ has a case to answer and should have provided compensation as well as an apology regardless of whether the check-in crew were SQ staff or SGN airport employees. It is very poor customer service.

 

[Evan]

I am afraid i have had similar bad treatment a 18 months ago twice from SQ. Cancelled tickets due to missed connections (or connections they thought i would miss and actually made).

I made a complaint and receieved Kris Flyer miles... not what i exactly wanted, what i wanted was an apology, some understanding and a promise to improve there processes in future.

I have recently flown again SQ a few days ago and the check-in agent attitude alternated between fantastic and almost rude.

She was great in handling some fragile extra box that was over my luggage allowance..... but when asked if she could possibly block a seat between myself and my flying partner (we especially said we were happy in a back middle row) was rudly told, we cant do that in economy. My travel partner has a higher status than myself also. Not something like we will try but its not assured, or just saying nicely that she is sorry but its not possible.

What i am saying is that don't expect an appropriate reply from your complaint. Atleast in my expereince.

E

 

[sadlier]

I don't want to sound like I am an apologist for SQ.

As Evan discovered they only really consider extra service is required for higher revenue passengers than economy and this is spelt out clearly by the way they now assess PPS club qualification.

Their website is a pain unless you want the cheapest fare possible with no flexibility and if you book through an agent to get more flexibility you cannot access seat allocation in Y until internet check-in 48 hrs before.

If you have the patience to hang on line in Singapore to change a flight they will hijack the itinerary so that your agent can no longer access it.

And they believe their own advertising about their in-flight service even though on their mostly full flights it aint that great at all any more.

But they are better than a lot of others and they will have some check-in glitches especially at other (non SIN) ports. And don't expect apologetic responses anytime soon.

So with all of this the advice is simple - get there early. At least the lounges are fairly comfortable and the booze wet.

 

[straitman]

I don't want to sound like I am an apologist for SQ.

Unfortunately you have until this post :!:

But they are better than a lot of others and they will have some check-in glitches especially at other (non SIN) ports. And don't expect apologetic responses anytime soon.

Nobody here does. They just believe in getting the advertised service and if they don't get it expect a reasonable explanation.

So with all of this the advice is simple - get there early.

... if possible. Applies to most airlines in my experience.

 

[Keith009]

Without meaning to sound patronising or generalise, one must understand the Singaporean corporate mentality when dealing with Singapore Airlines. And having lived there for several years I can certainly speak with experience.

1) Everything goes by the rule book and the proverbial script. This especially applies to ground staff at SIN (cabin crew seem to be the exception due to their training I suppose). Rules are applied vigourously and religiously. Try making them do something out of the ordinary and you'd get a big fat 'no.' I'm not surprised if there is even a check list or rule book detailing the 'exceptions' they can make for their PPS members.

2) Monetary compensation (which extends to miles) in and of itself is considered quite acceptable and sincere. And face-saving for the person/entity extending such compensation.

I'm not saying it's right, but merely seeking to explain why things are the way they are. And in hoping for a change to such inflexibility, you're talking about a fundamental change to the way things operate in Singapore.

 

[oz_mark]

Amazing how a thread that I thought was done and dusted 4 months ago suddenly rears its head again. While understanding the position that jobu was in, it is difficult in a service industry to get to the bottom of an event that happened months before. The people involved on the ground have probably dealt with many many issues since that time, and may not even remember the particular event.

So what could SQ do - they were probably not in a position to investgate any claims that occurred.

 

[Jobu]

Not sure where this thread is going but it is clear that Jobu (the originator) was late for check-in for whatever reason and had no status with SQ and was not given the special treatment that he felt he deserved because of his status with QF.

Who should be surprised by that and to vow to never fly SQ again is an overreaction.

I believe several people have already responded to this but for avoidance of doubt let me confirm:

1. I was not late for check-in;

2. I did not feel like I deserved special treatment (nor did I ever say so); and

3. I will definitely not fly SQ again and am quite pleased that I have convinced others that I know not to either.

Cheers!

JOBU