Somebody became more gracious

[Strong Eagle]

SQ service is ok these days, but KrisFlyer really sucks. If you have a chance to book your miles to a Star Alliance carrier do so and not loose your points.

Yup... I book all my points with Continental... no expiration... and SQ miles qualify for Elite status miles. And can be used on non SA airlines like EVA.

I like 747's... and I don't ever have a problem with SQ 747 upper deck... although the four across seating in A380 and B777 is better... hard to complain about a full recliner in the 747.

[JR8]

Mini-rehash:

Berlin > SIN (via Munich)

- Can't check in online for Munich > SIN, as the starting feeder is codeshare via Lufthansa. Oh and good luck finding out where you're going to try and check in and get your boarding card in your one hour window at Munich!
- Crew 'changed their watches' about 2 hrs after take off and switched off all cabin lights, and buttoned down section curtains so you couldn't even go to the loo without a fight through a curtain. Any requests were met with an unspoken but very clear 'What's your problem, can't you see we aren't on duty?'
- Neighbours meal contained bits of shredded plastic and had to be replaced.
- His girlfriend next to him, half her meal was frozen solid ['Oh it can be a problem with the top tray in a trolley']

SIN > Berlin (via Frankfurt)
- Same lock-down on service, watches adjusted to provide as little service as possible.
- Entire section of maybe 30-50 seats had no media at all for the entire flight [even if SQ media works it is nothing, not a patch, on the likes of Emirates]

And this is despite paying a premium for a quality airline? ...

SE.
CO do technically expire accounts if you have no a/c activity for something like 12-18 months. I know this as I had to grovel once to get my fat but temporarily unused a/c reactivated!

[BillyB]

SQ service is ok these days, but KrisFlyer really sucks. If you have a chance to book your miles to a Star Alliance carrier do so and not loose your points.

You're kidding?

I've had some shocking flights on SQ these last few years. They still run vintage 747s on some routes. Emirates is my airline of choice. To me no one comes close.

I've always had good experiences with SQ, Emirates, Qatar, Thai etc. not much between them IMO.

I've just abandoned BA despite being close to silver and am now switching to Kris miles (I used to use BA and Air France back in the day but stopped because they were always delayed, had flight staff who made it feel like you were putting them out if you requested a coffee or drink outside of meal times, used battered old planes, and was rarely upgraded)

What's the drawback with KF miles? I'm having second thoughts now, but surely it can't be as bad as BA exec club and the tier points system?

[Strong Eagle]

SE.
CO do technically expire accounts if you have no a/c activity for something like 12-18 months. I know this as I had to grovel once to get my fat but temporarily unused a/c reactivated!

True, true... and I am rarely making 3 weeks without a flight. SA and CO miles are working for me... as is Hilton hotels... think I will be able to give my granddaughter a great Hong Kong vacation.

[Brah]

a) they expire, and too quickly
b) they only tell you they're expiring just before you can practically do something about it (not all, but some)
c) to retain them at that point you have to PAY
d) I didn't know I would loose the whole lot until it was too late - I think they emailed me after it expired
e) they're difficult to use

I hate Kris.

What's the drawback with KF miles? I'm having second thoughts now, but surely it can't be as bad as BA exec club and the tier points system?

[boffenl]

I have difficulty believing that things as subtle as graciousness can be instilled via government mandate.

My feeling is that society needs over time to decide for itself that such customs are beneficial, for them to be adopted. I also believe that this can only occur in socially mature societies, rather than amongst say a people who by and large were peasants 50 years ago.

This is exactly my husband's insistance. And with the number of Chinese migrants in the past few years it seems to be getting worse--Singaporeans are backsliding perhaps? Maybe I'm just riding the MRT more often and can't help notice the differences.

[Superglide]

Funny, how an initial, well meant and serious discussion about graciousness turns into an expat discussion about perks with airliners.

Nothing changed in Singers, when reading this.

The government still imposes its will on its people, the expats laugh at it, but enjoy the perks of good life in the oligarchy.

And the airliners, not to forget.

[nakatago]

The government still imposes its will on its people, the expats laugh at it, but enjoy the perks of good life in the oligarchy.

...and hence, I stopped thinking that I'm an 'expat' (albeit only on a technicality) and now more of a 'migrant worker.'