Cost cutting measures in SQ product
Sep 6, 2013, 9:34 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Shanghai, Singapore
Programs: SQ*G, SPG Platinum, FPC Premier
Posts: 339
Cost cutting measures in SQ product
Having flown almost exclusively SQ for the past four years (mostly Y; sometimes J), I've noticed the product has been degraded by a fair bit over time.
On Y class:
- hand towels in loo have all been changed to soft tissues (maybe to prevent choked toilets?)
- no more jam, only butter to go with bun
- no more playing cards
- assorted nuts changed in Aug 2013 to a tasteless brand
On J class:
- no more Brazilian santos coffee (I think they've switched to Illy's)
Service seems to have been quite consistent, although it seems more common to encounter cabin crew who have a nonchalant attitude.
What others have you noticed?
On Y class:
- hand towels in loo have all been changed to soft tissues (maybe to prevent choked toilets?)
- no more jam, only butter to go with bun
- no more playing cards
- assorted nuts changed in Aug 2013 to a tasteless brand
On J class:
- no more Brazilian santos coffee (I think they've switched to Illy's)
Service seems to have been quite consistent, although it seems more common to encounter cabin crew who have a nonchalant attitude.
What others have you noticed?
Sep 6, 2013, 11:28 pm
#3
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,167
Cost cutting measures in SQ product
The magnum ice cream bar disappeared this summer on my SFO-SIN via ICN in Y. Same with the large ice cream sandwiches.
Last year it disappeared into my belly. This year it went into thin air.
Indian mixture packets gone on SIN-India and vv, now just nuts or something bland.
Last year it disappeared into my belly. This year it went into thin air.
Indian mixture packets gone on SIN-India and vv, now just nuts or something bland.
Sep 7, 2013, 1:31 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
When I am trashed, I even ask the crew to wake me up for the Magnum and they seem to be used to that request ...
Sep 7, 2013, 8:22 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,165
I'm still wondering why they're doing the opposite of cost-cutting in terms of "hardware" by upgrading their newest J product, which some of us still regards as the best J seat in the world, into an even newer product just so the seat can turn into a bed Transformer-like style (though you still have to get up anyway to have the "bed" prepared).
Sep 7, 2013, 8:31 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,158
The magnum ice cream bar disappeared this summer on my SFO-SIN via ICN in Y. Same with the large ice cream sandwiches.
Last year it disappeared into my belly. This year it went into thin air.
Indian mixture packets gone on SIN-India and vv, now just nuts or something bland.
Last year it disappeared into my belly. This year it went into thin air.
Indian mixture packets gone on SIN-India and vv, now just nuts or something bland.
The indian mixture packets are also still there, just the packaging has a new design.
Sep 8, 2013, 9:22 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
The fact that you can adjust the softness of the air cushion, can recline it continuously, and have more legroom than on SQ make it a tad superior product IMO. And while the IFE has a lot less choices than on SQ, the image quality is a lot better.
So instead of just replacing the 8 year old seats, SQ probably feels it is wiser to mildly upgrade them.
Sep 8, 2013, 9:40 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Shanghai, Singapore
Programs: SQ*G, SPG Platinum, FPC Premier
Posts: 339
I can swear the nut mix is now supplied by a different manufacturer. It's not just a packaging change. The taste and texture are very different from the earlier one.
Sep 8, 2013, 10:27 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,165
Sep 8, 2013, 7:00 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
Sep 8, 2013, 7:06 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Sep 8, 2013, 9:01 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,158
I was refering to the International Choice available on Indian Bound flights.
By the way, hard cheese like the Cheddar is considered to be almost lactose-free. In contrast the joghurt served with the standard Indian Meals isnt lactose-free.
By the way, hard cheese like the Cheddar is considered to be almost lactose-free. In contrast the joghurt served with the standard Indian Meals isnt lactose-free.
Sep 8, 2013, 9:03 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,158
Sep 8, 2013, 10:45 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: PVG, FRA, SEA, HEL
Programs: UA Premier Gold
Posts: 4,783
On Y class:
- hand towels in loo have all been changed to soft tissues (maybe to prevent choked toilets?)
- no more jam, only butter to go with bun
- no more playing cards
- assorted nuts changed in Aug 2013 to a tasteless brand
On J class:
- no more Brazilian santos coffee (I think they've switched to Illy's)
- hand towels in loo have all been changed to soft tissues (maybe to prevent choked toilets?)
- no more jam, only butter to go with bun
- no more playing cards
- assorted nuts changed in Aug 2013 to a tasteless brand
On J class:
- no more Brazilian santos coffee (I think they've switched to Illy's)
Sep 8, 2013, 11:01 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,265
In the end it gives customers more choice.