Shinkai From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (3 years 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 4339 times:
Here I have are very simple and straightforward questions regarding some changes with the airline over the course of 3 years.
Firstly, why did Singapore Airlines scrape the dubbing of its aircrafts ie, Jubilee for the 777, LeaderShip for the A340, and most prominently, Megatop for the 747. The Megatop in particular, strikes a chord with many and I find it a shame that it has been dropped.
Secondly, why did the management decide to not complete painting the tail of the new aircrafts, leaving a white "stripe" at the bottom of it? The white stripe at the bottom gives an illusion that the back of the fuselage is thicker than it really is. Is it in line with the modernization of its fleet, hence the minor changes to the colors? Or is it for some other technical reasons such as weight/fuel savings?
Lastly, why did the management decide to drop its legendary "Raffles Class" name, renaming it Business Class just like most other airlines? Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles is the modern founder of Singapore and many prestigeous commodities/goods/services are named after him, ie Raffles Hotel, Raffles Institution, Raffles Girls' School, Raffles Junior College, Raffles City, Raffles Place.
These questions do not challenge the management's decisions, instead they are merely trivial questions I'd like to know behind these subtle changes that in a way, changes the course of how Singapore Airlines will be perceived in the future.
Flying-B773 From Singapore, joined Apr 2001, 381 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 4257 times:
Shinkai, to answer part of your 2 questions;
Why the dubbing of the aircraft was dropped because most people don't know what its all about. Why Raffles class became business class is because of simplifying... Although Raffles class sounds so much more prestigious, it is a move to generalise the booking classes. There are people who doesnt even know is raffles class business or first.. thats the problem.
Currently we still see a lot of Kris this and that, example, silverkris, Krisshop, Krisworld, and a silly kris tt existed is the kris-chilli. The word 'Kris' will only be retained to name key products. In the future there will be no more rubbish Kris chilli watsoever. Next time it might be just SilverKris, Krisworld, and Krisshop for all you might know.
And also if you realise the 'E' 'Raffles' and 'First, F' on ur boarding pass, they will all be simplifed... look out for the changes...
Shinkai From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (3 years 3 days ago) and read 4177 times:
Quoting Flying-B773 (Reply 4): Currently we still see a lot of Kris this and that
Thank you for your comments! They are insightful indeed.
What you said is fair enough, the Raffles/Business Class issue do add some form of confusion. I have mentioned in another thread that I get people asking me questions like which class is better, First or Raffles, to which I always say "It's all in the name".
I guess if that is the case, I believe there will be a big problem with Air China's Forbidden/Capital Pavillion Class. Now that leads me to wonder, what do they call their Y class? Commoner's Class?
Still awaiting the reply from the Singapore Airlines people.
Shinkai From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (3 years 3 days ago) and read 4155 times:
I forgot to mention, where did the name "Kris" come from? Was it named after the Malaysian dagger, the Kris?
It does make sense, considering SQ and MH share a common history. The Singapore Emblem, a picture of a lion and a tiger guarding a shield of the moon and 5 stars, symbolises that as well.
Timboflier215 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 685 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3990 times:
Quoting Shinkai (Thread starter): Lastly, why did the management decide to drop its legendary "Raffles Class" name, renaming it Business Class just like most other airlines?
I believe this may just be because Raffles refers to the old business class. I guess they wanted to distinguish between the two, and did not want people to go onto an a/c expecting the upgrade and not getting it, or vice versa.
Someone83 From Norway, joined Sep 2006, 1390 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (3 years 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 3947 times:
Quoting Shinkai (Reply 6): I guess if that is the case, I believe there will be a big problem with Air China's Forbidden/Capital Pavillion Class. Now that leads me to wonder, what do they call their Y class? Commoner's Class?
ClassicLover From Ireland, joined Mar 2004, 3807 posts, RR: 22 Reply 14, posted (3 years 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 3860 times:
Quoting Shinkai (Thread starter): Firstly, why did Singapore Airlines scrape the dubbing of its aircrafts ie, Jubilee for the 777, LeaderShip for the A340, and most prominently, Megatop for the 747. The Megatop in particular, strikes a chord with many and I find it a shame that it has been dropped.
I'm kinda glad they did. I always thought the practice of airlines giving aircraft types "names" to be poxy. Named aircraft are fine (aka Caravelle, Concorde, Comet, Viscount etc) but naming a 747 Megatop is a bit rich.
LH431 From Germany, joined Jan 2005, 78 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (3 years 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 3413 times:
Quoting Shinkai (Thread starter): Lastly, why did the management decide to drop its legendary "Raffles Class" name, renaming it Business Class just like most other airlines?
Etihad is a good example where you don't know what class they mean with there silly names:
Pearl Zone
Diamond Zone
Coral Zone
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4291 posts, RR: 28 Reply 17, posted (3 years 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 3250 times:
Quoting ClassicLover (Reply 14): I'm kinda glad they did. I always thought the practice of airlines giving aircraft types "names" to be poxy. Named aircraft are fine (aka Caravelle, Concorde, Comet, Viscount etc) but naming a 747 Megatop is a bit rich.
I beg to differ...
These names are to help the travellers know what aircraft they are flying on. Back in 1983, I was on one of the first few BIG TOP flights from SIN-HKG and I can still recall the air of excitment in the departure lounge. I am sure not many knew it was a 747-312, but EVERYONE KNEW it was a BIG TOP. I know I was 9 at that time but I was so eager to get on that plane that my stomach churned and I almost puked.
Now put that excitment into every introduction of a new aircraft type. Instead of just model numbers, the man on the street would now be able to know that an aircraft type has just been added to the fleet. This helps ease the introduction into the psyche of everyday consumers (potential customers).
Now that we know the A380 would be also another nameless model in SQ's fleet, I still have friends who refer to that aircraft as a "double decker plane from... err.... Boeing is it?". While I shudder at the silly name GIGATOP, I am sure christening the A380 with another name would allow people to remember the plane better. SKY HORSE? SKY PALACE? HENRIETTA HIPPO?
I miss those names (Jubillee, Celestar, LeaderShip, Megatop).
Likewise when they decide to drop the "Raffles" to just business class, there seem to be nothing to distinguish the excellent new products from the "other airlines" anymore, other than the obvious enhancement. SQ's product now is the best in the industry and it SHOULD be differentiated with a special description rather than a nondescript Business Class.
If Raffles is too confusing... perhaps it should be named Raffles Business? Err... and Farqhuah First? Hehehehe....
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Zkpilot From New Zealand, joined Mar 2006, 3471 posts, RR: 9 Reply 19, posted (3 years 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2671 times:
Quoting LH431 (Reply 16): Etihad is a good example where you don't know what class they mean with there silly names:
Pearl Zone
Diamond Zone
Coral Zone
How about KE with "morning calm" class.
Quoting LordHowe (Reply 11): Quoting Qslinger (Reply 11):
Why doesn't Singapore Airlines change its livery..it looks so old!!
Because it still looks so good!
Looks old but not in a graceful way! Time for a change...so early 80s-ish
I like the overall emblem of Singapore (and the 742 above looks smart in it) but I do think the livery could stand an improvement; I've never liked how it looked on an A340, but these are just my own opinions. I'd still love to fly SIA no matter what they looked like.
KiwiinOz From New Zealand, joined Oct 2005, 1474 posts, RR: 6 Reply 21, posted (3 years 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 2011 times:
Quoting Shinkai (Thread starter): Lastly, why did the management decide to drop its legendary "Raffles Class" name, renaming it Business Class just like most other airlines? Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles is the modern founder of Singapore and many prestigeous commodities/goods/services are named after him, ie Raffles Hotel, Raffles Institution, Raffles Girls' School, Raffles Junior College, Raffles City, Raffles Place.
Looks like you know Singapore pretty well. Still confuses me that you thought it was in Europe.
When my tutor was flying Singapore to Auckland, I asked her what aircraft she was flying. She wasn't an aviation enthusiast so she said that she doesn't know - other than the fact that on the front of the plane was the word "Celestar".
Well guys, I still haven't gotten my reply from Singapore Airlines so do stay tuned!
I hope that if they do update it, they don't do what sp many airlines have done, which is to get rid of a classy livery because it looked 'rigid' (like the old BA Landor colours) and replace them with something that a 5 year old could have drawn, which makes the airline look more like a cheap LCC rather than a flag carrier. I too would have preferred it if SQ had not decided to make the titles bigger and leave the white strip at the bottom of the tail, but there ya go. The livery has been around for so long, I guess it would be impossible to change it now to everyone's tastes without destroying the brand image that has taken so long to build up.
Shinkai From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (3 years 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1258 times:
Hello guys! I've finally got the reply from Singapore Airlines!
Quote: Dear Mr *******,
I refer to your earlier email queries.
The main reason why we stopped giving our aircrafts specific names is so that we can streamline our brands. As you rightly pointed out, different aircraft types were given various names, like MegaTop, Jubilee etc. What we found was that these names ran the risk of becoming more "remembered" than the SIA brand. While we recognise the affiliation many have towards the MegaTop, it was a necessary change that had to be made from a branding perspective.
As for why Raffles Class has been renamed Business Class, the logic is simple -- the best way to let a customer know what product he's buying is to call it what it is. Afterall, First Class and Economy class are known as what they are.
The decision to change the paint design of the tail is to acheive a visual effect, so as to make the tail of the A380 less heavy in proportion to the rest of the plane.
Thank you for taking such a strong interest in Singapore Airlines; we certainly owe our success to customers such as yourself.
Mabel Lee
Public Affairs Department
Singapore Airlines Limited
From :
,
PUBLIC AFFAIRS (5880)
What say you? I guess they're reasonable enough.. Though I still disagree with the tail design.
Oh yes at the bottom of the email, there was this message:
Quote: This message may contain confidential and privileged information to
Singapore Airlines Limited(SIA).If you are not the intended addressee,
please notify SIA by return email immediately, and delete the message
from your computer.Any use, copy or disclosure of the message or any
information contained therein to anyone for any purpose other than as
permitted by SIA is strictly prohibited, and any such use may result in
legal proceedings. SIA does not guarantee and is not liable for the
security of any information electronically transmitted or for the
proper and complete transmission of the information contained in this
communication, or for any delay in its receipt.
Singapore Airlines Limited, Co Regn No:197200078R
So am I allowed to post this email? I'm not sure but If I am not allowed to I'll remove it immediately.
The main reason why we stopped giving our aircrafts specific names is so that we can streamline our brands. As you rightly pointed out, different aircraft types were given various names, like MegaTop, Jubilee etc. What we found was that these names ran the risk of becoming more "remembered" than the SIA brand. While we recognise the affiliation many have towards the MegaTop, it was a necessary change that had to be made from a branding perspective.
As for why Raffles Class has been renamed Business Class, the logic is simple -- the best way to let a customer know what product he's buying is to call it what it is. Afterall, First Class and Economy class are known as what they are.
The decision to change the paint design of the tail is to acheive a visual effect, so as to make the tail of the A380 less heavy in proportion to the rest of the plane.
Thank you for taking such a strong interest in Singapore Airlines; we certainly owe our success to customers such as yourself.
Mabel Lee
Public Affairs Department
Singapore Airlines Limited
The response was very much in line with what a friend who's in SQ told me. They're apparently under going a whole round of branding exercises, and many names that we closely associate with SQ will be gone very soon, keeping only key ones such as the Silver Kris Lounge, inflight magazines, Krisflyer etc.
I was also told that the removal of all those names were partly in response to trim the cost of maintaining all these trademarks especially in the countries that SQ flies to. I kinda agree with what they are doing, and managing trademarks for chilli sauce now seems ridiculous...especially so when chilli sauces aren't even their core business.
Way off topic, but...
Quoting KiwiinOz (Reply 21): Quoting Shinkai (Thread starter):
Lastly, why did the management decide to drop its legendary "Raffles Class" name, renaming it Business Class just like most other airlines? Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles is the modern founder of Singapore and many prestigeous commodities/goods/services are named after him, ie Raffles Hotel, Raffles Institution, Raffles Girls' School, Raffles Junior College, Raffles City, Raffles Place.
Looks like you know Singapore pretty well. Still confuses me that you thought it was in Europe.
You took the words right out of my mouth I recalled in an earlier thread, Shinkai said that he was pretty new to this whole aviation thingy, but his knowledge far surpasses that of someone who had no prior aviation background or interest.... but I must say that I am impressed by his knowledge of SIA. Lots of research done on this airline perhaps. Well done
Based on Shinkai's numerous posts, I've always suspected that he is based in Singapore, and a Singaporean at that... Why do I say that?... Well, the one incident that caught my attention was when he started a thread about FEDEX in the movie Castaway on the exact day that the movie had its re-run on Singapore TV (I don't think it was a coincidence), and not many Americans would be able to list Raffles Institution, Raffles Girls School, Raffles Junior College at the tip of his fingers.
So where are you really from Shinkai? Think some of us are curious...
It gets a little lonely when you're way up there...
26 Shinkai: http://www1.airliners.net/discussions/non_aviation/read.main/1442174/ see you around!
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I recalled in an earlier thread, Shinkai said that he was pretty new to this whole aviation thingy, but his knowledge far surpasses that of someone who had no prior aviation background or interest.... but I must say that I am impressed by his knowledge of SIA. Lots of research done on this airline perhaps. Well done 
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