Reading a few opinions written by other Ciao-ers made me realise that there is nothing new that I can really add as to what travelers can expect from SIA but my personal testimonials.
If SIA's CEO is reading these opinions, he could not but help thinking that he's almost god in the flying world ... And he wouldn't be too wrong.
I've been flying with SIA for as long as I remembered. Living in Jakarta for the first 15 years of my life meant that unless it was internal flights, my family would always buy me seat on SIA. And even now, unless SIA does not fly to my destinations, I will always choose to use it.
Ok, so they are not the cheapest around. However, as I have to fly long haul at least twice a year, I find that the extra £50-100 is definitely worth it if I mean I could survive being couped up in a flying shoebox, with recycled air circulated around me, breathing in other passengers' germs for over 12 hours and still come out at the other end looking half human.
Their service is uncomparable. Don't even try if all you've ever flown was with those cheap airlines like EasyJet or Ryan Air.
I've never known SIA to be late for arriving or departing. In fact most of the times they are early arriving! That really play havoc with my picking up schedule! :)
Most of the times I would fly economy but I've had the good opportunity to fly first class and business class before. And boy o' boy! Check in took about 1/10 of the time it'd take the mere mortals that have to queue for the counters. As a first class and Business class customers, you are then invited to use their lounge where there are free drinks, sandwiches, snack, newspapers, tv, massage chair and internet for your convenience. Although what the lounge offers differed from country to country. Those are the only ones I could remember from my experience a few years ago. They might have improved it even more. No doubt they would even fan you to sleep should you feel inclined to ask them :) SIA's standard of customer service is extremely high and absolutely flawless.
Until Ryan Air and the likes became well known, I've never even heard of an airline that would ask you to pay for the food and drink you consume onboard. SIA not only let you have them all for free (though no doubt you've paid for them through your ticket price) but they actually have flexibilities. They always ask whether you have special diet needs and they will fulfil that requirements, no doubt with their usual high standard of quality. I've never had to ask for them so I can't really vouch for that. Their food actually almost tasty :) Airline food is not always known to be edible but SIA's actually sound nice (in the menu descriptions) and taste good as well. Alcohol is free but they do not tolerate drunkeness and abuse onboard or anywhere else.
On board the aircraft, you can always expect the latest technology for you to play with :) ... As far as I know, SIA was the first to introduce individual tv screen for economy passengers. I may be wrong there though. The personal screen means that individual customers can choose what they want to watch instead of having to watch films that the airlines have selected. There are around 22-30 channels, ranging from all of the latest movies (I've found that their movies are sometimes so new that I can boast to my friends that I've seen it 4 weeks before they could see it in UK!), comedies, documentaries, general news, business news to cartoons. Each channel is on a 3 hour loop.
If you don't feel like watching tv, then play nintendo! :) That was a major plus for my little brother when it first introduced, I tell you. No more little kids asking, "Are we there yet?" over and over again.
You can also make phonecalls from your sit! As long as you have major credit cards and you don't mind being charged something silly like $5/minute :)
My last flight with SIA was last summer and they've improved their air craft even further. Each channel is still on a 3 hour loop but they've added an extra feature on your remote control where you can pause, rewind or fastforward the movie you're watching! No more missing out on scenes just because your fellow passenger have the audacity to engage you in conversation!! :)
On board everything is always very clean. The bathroom's pleasant and checked and cleaned regularly by the crew throughout a long haul flight.
In conclusion, the best on air and on ground. What else can I say? :)
Check out www.singaporeair.com for more information.
Oh yeah, if you think you'll be flying often with SIA, it's worth looking into getting their KrisFlyer membership. Everytime you fly you'll get mileage (work a bit like airmile on credit card) or everytime you use their partners, e.g. hotel, car rentals, etc. Very soon you'll start earning yourself free tickets :)
More details
Class flown most frequently
Economy
How often do you travel with this airline
Regularly
Where did you book
Directly with this airline
Safety
Very safe
How well does it cater for disabled people
Very well
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