Did a quick turnaround in KL on 7 Nov to meet a dear friend who was in transit in KLIA enroute from Brisbane to Tokyo Narita. She was due for a 5 1/2 hours transit so I thought I'll fly up there to catch up with her. We made arrangements for her to meet me at the gate since she was arriving earlier.


Booking Process

I was thinking I would fly up to KL from JHB and thereafter purchase a MAS F class ticket back to SIN, but after doing some planning I realised I would have to actually leave home at 4.30am in SIN to catch the first flight up from JHB, which didn't look very alluring, and I didn't want to spend $500 on this short turnaround trip ex-SIN. So I logged onto Singaporeair.com and did an award ticket instead (what a waste of miles, but what the hell). I would have ticketed an one-way award but it would cost me 10000+miles, and the return after the 15% online redemption promotion cost me only 12000+ miles, so making the more economically-viable decision decided to fly SQ both ways. My friend was bound to arrive from BNE at 0555hrs and leave for NRT at 1130hrs (or something like that) on MAS, so the best option I had was to fly SQ102 SIN-KUL departing at 0630, and to return on SQ107 at 1020hrs. I logged on and tried to make the booking, everything seemed fine and availability was all there (being a sunday i suppose), but apparently there is supposed to be a 4-hour lapse between the arrival flight and the next departure flight. Darn! I called up the members desk and was initially told that they can do it over the phone, but after 10 minutes of holding I was given an apology that appaently it's an illegal booking (or whatever that means). I went back online to book the next available flight, SQ111 at 1420hrs, and after successfully doing that and paying over SGD70 in taxes (they are bloody expensive!) I called SQ reservations and said something along the lines of "I'm sorry but I think I clicked on the wrong flight, would you be able to do an amendment for me please?" It worked! She did ask why the quick return, and I said it was to meet a friend in transit in KL ("oh you're so sweet, blah blah"). All seemed well at this stage.


Online Check-in

Knowing that all is well I logged back on singaporeair.com and tried to do the online check-in for both my flights. SQ102 seemed pretty simple, almost all the seats seemed to be open, although they now block the bulkhead window for parents with babies with a B (Bassinet), and I didn't want the bulkhead aisle, so I booked the next row available that which is 33A. Fair enough for a 30-45mins flight.

I tried to check-in for the return flight but alas, there wasn't any option and it has been greyed out. It does say SQ107 though, instead of SQ111, and being the worry-beast I called up reservations again and asked the deal that's going on. When the call was answered, I told my story, and it's definitely a different agent who answered this call but she said, "oh, are you mr. XXX?" I got a shock, apparently my less-than-important story has spreaded around the call centre. "mr XXX, i'm sorry to inform you that because the booking is illegal, you cannot do the check-in online, but we have already sent a telex to our colleagues in KL who will be able to help you when you check-in." fair enough. I enquired if I had to clear immigration to do that, but they say i can just do it at the transfer desk in KLIA. Ok then.


SQ102 7NOV SIN-KUL SCH DEP0630 SCH ARR0725

Went to the airport at 0530 and as usual, everyone is grumpy. The renovations are a real b*tch. Instead of the usual Row 5 for internet check-in the row has now been sealed closed due to reno, and with the huge horde of people standing around a pathetic row 6 to wait for their check-in row to open was like trying to juggle twently plates on your head as you squeeze past them. Row 2 apparently is now the designated early/internet check-in row but it's closed, so I had to walk all the way to the other end of the terminal to Row 12, squeezing past the I've-never-been-on-a-plane-before-so-i'm standing-here-till-i-get-on-the-plane people standing around row 6 broadcasting their life story to whoever is interested in listening.

Security agents at the front of the check-in is as dumb as usual (not sure if it was the time of the day but they should really start employing people with at least secondary education!!!), and check-in agents are realllllllly slow and what can i say, grumpy. Nothing like the sort who will even say good morning to you. Nothing. It's like the less people they have the easier their job will be. They take your passport, do their stuff, and send you on your way. They will say absolutely nothing beyond their legal obligation. No thanks, no goodbye, no pleasant trips, no hello, no window or aisle, nothing!! I asked about my return check-in and she said she can't do it, do it in KL. I asked if I had to clear immigration in kL and she said no, just do it in the transit area. Fair enough. I went into the airside, and lo and behold the immigration officers were joking and laughing, but as I stepped up to a counter, her facial expression changed with the snap of the finger into a cold, emotionless, and even vaguely hostile expression.

By this time it was 0545 and while the screen says 'Boarding' I couldn't care less. It was the first flight on the board at this time. I wandered around the airside shops, surprised that they were opened at this hour. Tried the free internet terminals to update my blog to whine about the security and the check-in. Tried to flash my citibank gold to get into the premier lounge but the very nice lady (FINALLY!) said it's actually the premium lounge i want, not the premier. Decided that it was too long a trek there so I went walking around the DFS shops to check out the perfumes and stuff. By this time it was 0610 and it says LAST CALL on the board so I though, ah well, time to walk to the gate. Don't quite remember what gate it was, but it was in the region of F3X... so not too far a walk.

By the time I got to the gate boarding has just commenced. There were two metal detectors and x-ray machines, and in typical singaporean-want-to-please-the-caucasian fashion, the security guards were all smiles and greetings to the middle-aged couple (from Australia apparently) who was in front of me. You have no idea how shamelessly major sucking-up the guards were to the couple, that I was just left stranded behind the x-ray machines with no attention whatsoever. So I just put my bags on one of the empty x-ray machines and i was told sternly to "WAIT!" So I just stood there again, and they scanned my bag and passed me through. Was I pissed? Yes. Would I have done anything differently? No. No point fighting with low-life peasants who would otherwise be cleaning the streets if they hadn't found this job acting out on their power struggle.

Boarded the plane and was greeted by one cheerful stewardess and a steward who wished he was home doing something else. The flight was very empty being sunday and the first flight of the day. After I took my seat (had all 3 seats to myself), the stewardesses were seen congregating around the entrance, *****ing and talking about their personal life. Three stewardesses on the OTHER aisle were asking this other stewardess about whether this is her first flight, and pinpointing her apparent anxiety to all the passengers in the cabin. That must have been fun for her. Very unprofessional I must say. SIA has sunk to a new low of being a LCC wannabe with crew entertainment instead of IFEs.

The flight pushed back at 0625, first time I�ve experienced an earlier-than-scheduled pushback, and it taxied to runway 2R for take off. Smooth take-off, and drink service commenced. It was the same drinks offered 20 years ago when I first had my SIN-KUL trip. �OJ, coffee or tea for you sir?� It said �MEALS� on the ticket, and bloody hell I expected at least a muffin. Nothing. Zilch. �An OJ is fine, thank you�

The flight cruised at 550km/h (can anyone explain why?) and descent began 15 minutes after leveling out. Uneventful flight, but what can you expect for a 35 minute journey? (A MUFFIN AT LEAST DAMNIT!)

Touch down was pretty smooth and we docked at gate C4.

KLIA Airport

Met my friend who was already waiting for me in front of the gate. Hugs and kisses, blah blah, and after that I asked if she mind if I do my check-in first so that I can get that out of my mind. she said ok, so we followed the signs to Transfer and there are like heaps of them around (the signs) which all points to different direction. We finally managed to get to transfer desk H, long long queue and worse, very disorderly. Queue wasnt moving at all, and 5 minutes later this indian man came from behind the counter with a clipboard and started yelling in a very incoherent manner, which we later figured out he meant the two simple words of "BOARDING PASS?" I guess people were just queuing up to endorse the gate where their plane will depart, and when he came towards me I asked him if I could check in for my return SQ flight. He practically BARKED at me saying that they dont do SQ "NO SQ FLIGHTS. GO TO GATE!" If that meant anything! I went to the informaton counter, and the lady there, albeit being slightly less unfriendly but still unfriendly nonetheless, told me to go to the gate now if I want to catch the 0820 flight. I said no, I want the 1020 flight which I've been confirmed on. Then she say, "go to the gate" to which she waved me away. RUDENESS!!!! Both my friend and I got a rude shock as to the level of customer service KLIA possesses. It's no wonder they are never on any list of being anywhere near the best airports.

I must commend on the structure of the KLIA airport. Until today I never really understood the concept of the satellite terminal. The main teminal building isn't all that huge to begin with, so why the additional resources to build a separate satellite terminal for international flights and the train to join both terminals? The satellite terminal seems congested and disorganised (the signs are just plain useless), and the staff never seem to be friendly to anyone. What's the big idea here?

Anyway at this point, instead of letting some low-lifes get into us, we decided to go chill at the premium lounge and see if we can get any help there. Lo and behold, they welcomed us with a smile and even offered help with the bags (after apologising that they can allow trolleys in the lounge). It was US$18 per person well spent. I enquired if they could help me with the check-in, and while they told me they don't have any facilities for this, the SQ lounge is just beside us and they would be the best people for me to talk to. So we paid for the lounge, I made sure my friend settled in beside the window with the view over the tarmac, and I made my way to the SQ lounge and was met by a lifeless woman behind the counter who looked really pale with no make up on and very unkempt hair. Anyway I asked her if she could help me, and while she took my passport and issued me a hand-written boarding pass, she could have at least been a little bit more friendly. I thanked her and left.

Went back to the premium lounge and realised that the good (big) part of the lounge is actually closed until 11am. Anyway went back to my friend and we had breakfast from the selection. Nothing fancy, just your normal sausage, beans and pastry spread. No alcohol selection which was a little sad but who needs it at 9am in the morning. The only eggs that were available were hard-boiled but there was a boiler there for you to boil the eggs to your liking.

The plates were cleared immediately and the service there was just good. Nice ambience though the furnishing is starting to show its age. Two internet terminals with a couple more at the business centre. Printing is at RM3 per page.

Not long after it was 0945 and I had to board my 1020 plane. We left the lounge and went downstairs for some last minute browsing, but before that after we left the lounge we tried to find a trolley but couldn�t find any. None at all. We must be hunting for at least 7 minutes before I manage to spot one beside two Japanese girls sleeping on the couch which was empty so I �stole� it.

The shops in KLIA are just plain pathetic. Not sure how I would describe it but the shops just don�t give you the feeling that you want to spend your money in there. It�s not the service, though it�s non-existent, it�s just the entire feel of it.

Soon it was 1000 and they were final calling my flight so we strolled to gate C6 and found a whole heap of people still clearing the X-ray. Bid my friend final goodbyes and was on my way into the 772.



KUL-SIN SQ107

The flight was a little bit more full this time. When I entered the aircraft, and before turning right into the cattle bin I glanced into the C cabin and saw the raffles spacebeds and told myself I�m travelling in the wrong class. Anyway found my seat 40A with someone in 40C who was so kind and obliging to stand up when he saw me approaching my seat.

The flight was once again uneventful, but I kept telling myself SQ has sunk to a new low in terms of inflight service. Perhaps it was a very short flight, and the crew were stressed about completing the drink service on time, but it didn�t warrant the stewardess barking �coffee or tea for you mdm?� �coffee or tea?� �Coffee?�. The surprising this was that they did come for a second round of drink service. I was a little impressed.

The flight landed ahead of schedule (like10 minutes) and I was on my way out of the terminal. I tried to buy some alcohol @ DFS but apparently it�s not allowed for KUL-SIN shuttle flyers. Can anyone explain why?

Overall the turnaround was very much liken to taken a bus. Nothing fancy. Not that I was expecting any thing at all (except a muffin!).

Thanks for the report. It does seem weird that if it says 'meal' you don't get anything.

I'm not very good at dealing with grumpy staff myself. I always try and smile and be nice but if they are plain unfriendly or even rude I really hate that and wonder what's so difficult about being nice - after all they work in the service sector!

I believe the reason for the lower airspeed is because they don't attain full altitude. Since it's barely 200 miles, they don't have a lot of time to get any height.

I've used both KUL and SIN and found the people there helpful. Familiarity breeds contempt, I guess.

And therefore my comment about how eager they are to carry the balls (pardon the pun) of anyone of a caucasian descent. Why does it happen? Really, why?

Oh dear .

A nice long trip report about a very short trip ^

I haven't done the shuttle at all this year, so I really can't remember how the service was on that, but I really haven't been impressed by Y service on any airline on flights of less than an hour, barring for Jet Airways flights in India.


I took an early morning flight out of SIN last weekend and had the opposite experience....everyone was so cheerful while I could barely keep my eyes open or even complete a sentence coherently. They probably thought I was the grumpy one

Is that the Plaza Premium Lounge? Do they allow Citibank Gold card holders complimentary access?

No idea, but there's also a rule saying that you cannot buy @ DFS if you've been out of SIN for less than 48 hours, a rule that I have violated more than a few times


It happens and I can identify with what you went through, although I find the comment about "low-life peasants" just a little bit over the top.

The fact is, you can't change a mindset easily. I've learnt to live with it when it happens and be appreciative of it when the same level of service is offered to those of non-caucasian descent. Lets leave it at that and not spoil a good trip report

Hey Savage, thanks for your comments! Now let's scrutinise what you said...


It does seem to me that everytime I fly out of T2 in the morning, whether it's for SQ or RBA, Y or J, I get the same flat-out treatment. Maybe it's my face or something. Trust me, I try hard to smile and be pleasant, but when retorted with less-than-what-the-ratings-say about Changi staff, I do get a bit whingy about it.


Apparently so, that's how my mum got in.



I know what you're saying, and I've already saw it as a way of life here in singapore, but for them to bark at me to "WAIT!" in such a crude manner was a little bit more than i could swallow without whining about it, while they stand around and smile at nothingness. You getting my point here?

Thanks again though, for the nice comments .

Thanks. An okay report, but don't you think that's being a bit harsh??

Harsh? Hardly. After having had similar experiences at Changi, most notably with the shopgirls (at any time of the day), I find the comparison fairly accurate.

Actually, if I were a low-life peasant, I 'd be insulted to be compared to certain Changi staff.

It would seem that most of the posters here have never been to Newark. In particular, some of the restaurants. You'd be screaming for your lovely SIN workers, then!

Metcalve an interesting report but you are right about the biases that exist in Singapore at the airport and as well in the air. I have to admit that I have not personally experienced it and I am not white. But I have noticed the treatment of others by the ground crew and even in the air. I think this is an education issue, these employees need sensitivity training. But , give your best, that is when you see grumpy people greet them out loud, and that usually wakes them up. If that does not work then you know that you have more class rather than stooping down to their level, you walk away in style with a smile. That what fool's mortals be................ Ciao.

LOL !!! ^ ^

P/s Thanks for the heads-up in responding to this post... I was a little worried about how to sound politically correct !!

Haha, that's when they give you "the look" and when they think you are out of sight they start b!tching about you to their similarly pseudo-arrogant colleagues.

Ah new york will be in one of my prospective RTW trip I'll be taking next year, so I guess I should stick to JFK?