This is the final part of my journey, which began with reports like "SIN-KUL on SQ", "KUL-PEN on MH 1142" and "PEN-KUL on MH 1143". From these reports, you can tell that I am not very impressed with the in-flight service of SQ but was very pleased with MH's. But still, I am one who keeps an open mind. So it was with this frame of mind that I left for KLIA to embark on my flight to Singapore.
Scheduled departure time on SQ 113 was at 1700H, According to the website, this particular flight was operated by an A310. I booked my ticket over the internet as i was travelling on E-ticket. Hence, I could choose what flights I wanted to be on and details like a/c type would be illustrated too! No 772 flew to KUL on this day, only two A340s in the morning and at 1215H. A310s flew the rest of the flights. I was not impressed by the itinerary but what could I do?
The check in counter in KLIA was simple. A plastic "First Class" sign hung from the top of the counter. Strange, the TV monitor was switched off! ? Check in staff was effiecient but not friendly. Must be a trait in KLIA! Or is the let's-be-rude vibe spilling over from MAS ground staff over to SQ's as well? Sigh... I miss the First Class check in lounge in Singapore! Nevertheless, I got assigned to window seat 1A. Plastic tags for my hand carry luggage were provided but they were from Raffles Class. What happened to the First Class ones? ?:-l
Priority tags, Star Alliance Gold tags, First Class tags and baggage tags were all bundled together and attached to my check in baggage. Wow... that was a lot of tags! Airlines sure have a way of letting others know that this pax is flying First Class... a real ego booster!
I proceeded through immigration since there was nothing else to do. It was also a quiet time at KLIA, seems like SQ 113 was the only flight departing. Hence, the airport looked like a ghost town. Immigration staff was most unfriendly - just like the ones from old Subang Int'l (SZB) before KLIA came about! It is interesting to see how the Subang elements (rude check in & immigration staff) juxtapose with the ultra modern environment of KLIA! I guess you can take them out of Subang but you can never take Subang out of them!
I have always been amused at how lazily they ask their questions without even looking at the passport holders...
"you come here for...?"
"where you stay in KL?"
"where you going in Malaysia?"
"First time in Malaysia?"
Blah blah blah... *STAMP!*
I continued through the mezzanine level to the Aerotrain, which brought me to the international satellite terminal. That fateful day was the inaugural flight for Yemenia's Sana'a - KUL service and there was a small reception for the arriving flight at the gate holding area. The airline's Eurowhite fuselage and red-blue tail is pretty similar to Royal Nepal Airlines. I wonder who is the copycat? But it is a simple and pleasing colour scheme. This service would eventually be extended to JKT - or has it been extended already? ?:-l
Another A310 belonging to Air India was parked at its gate in preparation for pushback. Other than the token one or two MAS A330s or 772s, there weren't many a/c movements to report on. Most of the MAS 744s were probably plying long hauls because there were only 2 744s parked at the remote stands. Several more MAS 734s stood at the main terminal a distance away...
I went up to the next level to look for the Silver Kris Lounge. I saw the MAS Golden Lounge and secretly hoped that I was there instead. I was utterly disappointed as soon as I steppedinto the extremely basic Silver Kris Lounge. Small is an understatement... it's a "mini-small lounge"! It is obvious that SQ did not do the deco because it looks the same as the Airside Transit Lounge several doors down the corridor! I wonder if SQ has say in how the lounge in KLIA looks like? Or was this a tactic by M'sian Airports to stem out competition by making Golden Lounge beautiful and the rest confined to small bunks they call lounge area?! I have not been to the rest of the airline lounges in KLIA so I cannot make any comparisons. Comments anyone?
Catering was sad. Tuna puffs and egg mayo sandwiches were the highlights of the day... It was actually the same fare as the Airside Transit Lounge too! I doscovered thisfact when i stopped by Airside Lounge during my BKK-KUL-SIN flight with MH (trip rep posted). The bar fridge was well stocked though. Guess I have been spolit by the MAS Golden Lounge further down the corridor! The only thing interesting abt the lounge was the view of the tarmac.
I had a view of the departure gate C4, which was still empty at 1615H. Looks like the a/c had a late start from SIN.
Soon after, the SQ A310 silently glided into its gate. The Yemenia A310 parked next to it was towed away to a remote parking bay. It must have been a day for A310s because the Air India mentioned earlier began its takeoff roll in the distance.
I headed for the gate because I could not stand to be in the claustrophobic lounge any longer. The SQ A310 looked new on the outside because it was very well maintained. The PW engine cowlings shimmered in the sun. However, I know that SQ has been looking for A310 replacements for a while now as Airbus Industries has stopped the production of this a/c. I believe more 777s would eventually replace this aging yet ageless beauty.
Boarding was swift for this light load. Reading laterial consisted of newspaper from S'pore and M'sia arranged in a cart by the door of the A310. A radiant stewardess (I will mention more abt her later in this report) greeted me at Door 1L. There was no need to show me to my seat as 1A was just a step away. Settling down in the First Class cabin, I was offered a tray with some cups of OJ and pink liquid (guava?) ? ... The Indian steward serving me did not point out the choices as he presumed I knew what was on the tray. Instead he just muttered "Drink?". No "Sir" or "Mr Soh" ... just "Drink?"
Sigh... Please give me something good to say about SQ!! It is the number one airline in the world!
The cabin was very bright and smelled very fresh, F Class seating, though very clean and colours nicely co-ordinated (blue fabric and mahogany headrest covers), was seriously oudated. One would have to bend down to pull out the legrest, and prop up a stand to fully extend the equipment. Backrest was similarly manually operated. No lumbar supprt or winged headrests. Hmm... did I board a Northwest a/c ? There were no PTVs installed so we just shared the same main screen towards the front. Front where I sat at the extreme corner, the smiling faces of the stewardesses on the safety video looked flat. The whole cabin looked so 1980s! I do not like it one bit...
Patsy was the leading stewardess for this flight as she identified herself during handphone usage announcements.
A Caucasian pax behind me demanded champagne for a pre-takeoff drink while the stewardess, who greeted me at the door, patiently explained that none was carried for this short sector. Hidayanti was the only saving grace in terms of cabin service on today's flight. An Indonesian, she has been flying with SQ for 4 yrs.
Patsy came over and took my order for dinner, chicken or salmon. Don't know why I chose chicken again (I had the yucky Foccassia Bread with Roast Chicken fm SIN-KUL). Looks like Patsy was in a rush to get the flight started because she barely broke into a smile.
After we took off, the same Caucasian pax wanted Hidayanti to bring him a mag The Economist, which unfortunately wasn't stocked on this flight. Once again, he rambled at her about how lousy this flight was. All this while, she never lost her smile while she apologised profusely. Way to go, girl!
Patsy quickly laid out white linen on my table while Hidayanti busied herself in the forward galley. The rude Indian steward was in charge of the the other aisle - phew! When Hidayanti served my meal, I smiled and asked her if she was indeed Indonesian in my best Indonesian accent. I managed to pick up the langauge some years ago...
"Ya lah, anda orang Indonesia juga? (Are you Indonesian too?)" she inquired.
I was glad that she was a good end to my flight on SQ. It gave me hope that not all SQ cabin crew was as snotty as the rest I encountered. After the tasteless meal was cleared, I used this opportunity to chat with Hidayanti outside the galley while I queued for the toilet. The person in occupying it seem to be in there for eternity so Hidayanti brought me to the aft toilet, but not before apologising that it was situated in the Economy cabin, and hope I didn't mind! What a girl!
Throughout the flight, a trashbag opened with the cabin crew stuffing used linen into it, was in full view of the F Class pax next to the galley. Could they have been more discreet?
For some reason, this flight felt longer than usual because I thought I spent a long time time talking to Hidayanti. She actually escorted me back to the F Class cabin after I emerged from the toilet!
We flew into Singapore over Johor Bahru and Bukit Timah via G579 towards Sinjon. Buckling up, we soon landed on rwy 02L. View was spectacular due to the good weather. Numerous SQ tails were lined up along the taxiway as we flared to touchdown.
As I disembarked, I was glad to be home after a well-deserved holiday. Flying F Class (I wanted to pamper myself) on SQ was an absolute waste of money - service 6/10. MAS would have been a better choice in terms of F Class service, but I was in a rush to get my ticket so E ticket was the only way to go. Unfortunately MAS does not have that facility in S'pore.
Hidayanti and all my MH flights have proven the fact that good servcie can indeed happen on short flights (read my other trip reps). I appreciate Hidayanti as she has represented SQ in a very good light and hope that she would continue to provide excellent service. As for Patsy and and the Indian steward, they were probably having a bad day so let's give them the benefit of the doubt!
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 3905 times:
Have to admit that SQ crew are not skilled in handling very short sectors, unlike the MH crew who must be used to operating domestic sectors and handling a full flight with very short flight time.
On the SIN-CGK run, SQ serves a full meal in Y class, and there have been instances where they are unable to store their equipment in time for landing. On one flight, I actually saw a crew dumping the trays that had just been cleared after meal service in the aft toilets (and locking it after she did that!), just as the aircraft touched down.... I think it has something to do with poor time management.
Nevertheless, I still rank SQ highly in terms of overall service on the ground and in the air.
Singapore_Air From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13667 posts, RR: 26 Reply 2, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 3897 times:
I agree SQ772. SIA seem to be frankly, crap compared to our longer sectors especially within the Malaysia / Indonesia region. I am totally unimpressed.
If you could provide the date of your flight, I will inform SIA because it is not on. They always need the date and the flight number for some reason.
Docpepz From Singapore, joined May 2001, 1895 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 3887 times:
SQ is the only airline to provide a full meal service with choice on SIN-CGK. For a 1h 15 minute sector, it is extremely difficult to manage, especially if the plane is an A340 or a 747-400.
They did think of doing away with the choice but management was like "How can we at SQ do away with a choice of meals??"
They also thought of doing away with warming up the bread rolls to save time, but they were also like " How can we at SQ make do with cold hard bread rolls?"
The poor cabin crew literally walk all the way from Singapore to Jakarta.
Anyway I only fly SQ on long haul routes (or at least routes longer than 2 hours) and they seem pretty good on such routes.
Tsentsan From Singapore, joined Jan 2002, 2016 posts, RR: 18 Reply 4, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 3870 times:
Docpepz u cld say that again... when I went to Mr.BA to CGK in Aug on a B747-412 9V-SMT, the cabin crew were full to their necks! Luckily they took time to bring us up to the flight deck for the last inflight B744 visit ever.
Singapore_Air From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13667 posts, RR: 26 Reply 5, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 3864 times:
Well OK, maybe regional routes aren't all that bad then...thankfully.
Chepos From Puerto Rico, joined Dec 2000, 5826 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3843 times:
Ryanair great once again great trip report. You should see f/a's in the US most of them are rude an mean there is hardly any nice f/a's. Apparently being rude is necessary to be working a check in counter cause apparently all of them are rude.
Chepos
OdiE From United States of America, joined Jan 2001, 1641 posts, RR: 1 Reply 7, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 3836 times:
Ryanair: I couldn't agree with you more better that the KUL check in staff were not really the most pleasant person on earth! looks like they just got up the wrong side of the bed! However, I did manage to get two or three times which are pretty friendly though! Lucky I guess!
Actually, MAS also serve meal on some of its domestic services like from Kuala Lumpur to East Malaysia i.e., Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan. If you fly to one of these East Malaysian desitnations that are continuing onwards to International destinations like Taipei, Tokyo, Perth etc. you will get better meal service I think!
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 8, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3804 times:
Odie,
I am not exactly complaining about MH's meal service in F & J Class. Just that I have flown so many times with them on those classes that no matter how nice the food is, it becomes routine and I can taste the food even before I eat it. I can actually anticipate what they have to offer even before the flt attendant comes to me... I just wish that there was more variation, that's all! But they remain an excellent airlines to fly with! My heart is always with Malaysia Airlines.
Cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 9, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 3804 times:
Hi all...
Singapore_Air, r u working for SQ? I hv to admit that I am not a fan of SQ so my reports could be biased... hence, the part of the trashbag probably offended me more than others (SQ772, happy?). But I happen to be a very critical one when it comes to in-flt service so I am just writing what I experienced on the plane.
Just in case u need to know, the details are SQ113, 15 Jan. Please be kind to SQ when complaining huh? Hehehe...
U see, all that successful marketing for SQ probably is backfiring when the public's expectations rise. Hence, when they do not provide good service, the flaws r often magnified a thousand times. But because of the strong marketing, SQ will continue to soar for a long time simply because it has became a top-of-mind (TOM) product when airline service is concerned. Other TOM product include (Colgate) toothpaste, McDonald's (fastfood), Pepsi/Coke (softdrinks)... u get the idea? It's an advertising thingie...
cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3803 times:
Ryanair...I rest my case.
Although my loyalty lies with SQ (for obvious historical reasons) I still try to see the good in any airline i fly on. Unfortunately this is not always easy. I have told you about my experiences flying on OA and PK and I seriously think their management needs to look at revamping their F/A training programme.
Just fyi, Singapore_Air does not work for SQ (I asked him the same question when he commented on one of my trip reps)... He takes it upon himself to highlight to his national carrier any deficiencies that he comes across (that's what I call a true blue SQ fan).
Back to the bit about inflight service...I can be critical when it comes to inflight service as well. It is mainly because I have had the opportunity to see first hand crew training in progress, and i know what those crew are taught to do and what not to do.
Mas777 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 1999, 2899 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 3735 times:
As OdiE mentioned - you do get better meals on MAS International flights operating domestic sectors. See my last trip report KUL-BKI on MH68 on this forum.
The A330 was full to the brim and felt very much like an International flight. Pillows and blankets were available and the full meal service was superb accompanied - to my surprise - by alcohol. The return BKI-KUL came in from Tawau and as a result the 737 only offered the meal service but the tray was slightly smaller - I think the rolls & butter service was omitted - and there was no alcohol served inflight.
Interesting that SQ served a light meal on the shuttle service in F but MAS only offers snacks. I think I'd rather pay for SQ in that case although I ten to fly with MAS for KLM FD points.
Bhtchuo From Malaysia, joined Nov 2001, 163 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 3723 times:
yeap.. i agree with MAS 777.
i flown before to BKI on MH 68 to Taipei via BKI using A330... the onboard meal servise is superb, can;t compare withmeal survice on B737. the tray are double the size and with rolls and butter as well as wine too. the seat are bigger, pillow and blanket provided and with leg rest too.
i'm looking forward to fly on MH again.
Docpepz From Singapore, joined May 2001, 1895 posts, RR: 4 Reply 17, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 3717 times:
SQ772: It took you THIS LONG to discover that Singapore_Air is TRULY a TRUE BLUE SQ FAN??
Mas777: This being a joint shuttle service, don't SQ and MH have to standardise their product? eg, when MH took off champagne for First Class some years back, (for the SIN-KUL route) SQ had to do likewise.
So why does SQ offer a light meal and MH only offer a snack? Or maybe they're just the same, but called differently.
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 3715 times:
Yes, according to the agreement between SQ and MH, service on the shuttle flights has to be standardised. A few years back, MH was contemplating service snacks in Y class....SQ raised hell as it would definitely increase their operating costs for the shuttle flights.
I think the light meal and snack are essentially the same thing...a rose by any other name, is still a rose....
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 19, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3707 times:
hey all...
For the non-shuttle flights, F Class meal service is known as "refreshments". It sounds lighter to the ear. However, presentation wise SQ beats MH hands down. SQ has two choices whereas MH only has one per flight.
Other than the crumbed prawns and hot savouries I have had on MH (F Class), I have also had a light pasta. Sadly, I have only had the pasta once and the savouries ever since!
As for shuttle flights, are there even F Class services on SQ and MH to begin with? I have never flown shuttle before so maybe SQ772 can confirm this?
Cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3669 times:
Ryanair,
I don't understand what you mean by shuttle and non-shuttle flights? All SIN-KULvv are shuttle flights, whether you bought your ticket through the travel agent or whether you queued up at the shuttle counter to get on the flight.
The only difference is that when you book through a travel agent, you get a confirmed seat (and hence you don't realise it's a shuttle flight you are getting on), while "shuttlers" get on the plane on a first come first served basis (therefore you know u are boarding a shuttle flight).
Service wise is standard. From Ryanair's reports, I guess SQ does have a slightly better inflight product than MH in F. However, Y class service is basically identical for both carriers.
Ryanair!!! From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, RR: 30 Reply 22, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 3656 times:
Ah so neh!
So it's all shuttle then! I have never queued for a ticket before so I am not very sure how it works. No wonder I saw the Raffles Class cabin with Y Class seat rest covers! And I did not understand initially why did Hidayanti refer to the toilet as "economy class" toilet when it was situated in the Raffles cabin! So those who queue for a shuttle tix and got a seat in Raffles cabin must be lucky huh?
I understand that there are no Business Class tix sold between SIN-KUL as well.
Cheers
Ryan
Welcome to my starry one world alliance, a team in the sky!
SQ772 From Singapore, joined Nov 2001, 1792 posts, RR: 5 Reply 23, posted (10 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 3653 times:
Yep, Shuttle Flights only have F and Y. Config for the aircraft is F/Y/Y...so for those lucky buggers, they get to sit in J seats for 50 min drinking pre-cupped water...not a bad deal huh.
As for who gets those seats, SQ usually allocates them to their PPS members (non-shuttle queue pax) or staff who allocate J seats to themselves before going on that flight
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From Singapore, joined Mar 2002, 4608 posts, 
Check in staff was effiecient but not friendly. Must be a trait in KLIA! Or is the let's-be-rude vibe spilling over from MAS ground staff over to SQ's as well? Sigh... I miss the First Class check in lounge in Singapore! 
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