Singapore Airlines adds second daily A380 for Melbourne-Singapore

By David Flynn, August 16 2012
Singapore Airlines adds second daily A380 for Melbourne-Singapore

Singapore Airlines starts its second daily Airbus A380 service between Melbourne and Singapore this week.

The Melbourne-Singapore flight SQ218, which previously ran on a Boeing 777-300ER, will switch to the airline's flagship superjumbo from 17 August 2012 (with 16 August as the A380's debut for the southbound Singapore-Melbourne flight SQ217).

SQ27/228 is already an A380 service, leaving only the third daily flight SQ237/238 operating on the Boeing 777.

A Singapore Airlines spokesperson tells Australian Business Traveller that "initially SQ218/SQ217 will be the all-business class upper deck A380, but we will maintain flexibility in deployment plans based on operational requirements and demand, so this could change."

If you're travelling on Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380 don't forget to check out our expert guide to the best business class seats on SQ's big bird.

Singapore Airlines signalled the boost in its A380 flights earlier this year, when Singapore Airlines’ regional vice-president Subhas Menon said the airline plans to "operate as many A380s as we can" to Sydney and Melbourne, describing Australia as a market that is “growing in terms of prominence in our network”.

SQ recently boosted Adelaide-Singapore flights from seven a week to 10, and Menon has tagged Perth and Brisbane for additional flights later this year.

Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter for the latest updates for business travellers: we're @AusBT.

David

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.

05 Sep 2012

Total posts 2

I hate Singapore Airlines!! Never going to fly OR recommend anyone to fly with it!!

I have posted so many times on their Facebook Page but they delete complaints/comments from customer, especially when it is against their customer service.

I have had a very bad experience with SA. I have recently flown from Delhi to Melbourne by SA. (I have earlier flown to countries on other international airlines, but first time and may I say, last time with Singapore Airlines!!).

My watch was STOLEN FROM MY Checked in baggage. I collected my bags at the Melbourne airport. I had locked the bags with a black lock and noticed that one of the locs and chain of the bag was broken. But noticed this only upon arriving at home in Melbourne. We were quite shocked but hoped that nothing was lost or bag was unopened... but the zip was a bit open..

. when i opened my bag, m y things were here and there.. and my RADO watch was not in my bag. i had kept a DKNY and a RADO watch in the same box. My husband got annoyed with me for not keeping the DKNY watch safe into the box. But, then when i noticed the RADO watch was not there, we frantically started taking everything out of the bag thinking it must have dropped from the watch box. But it was not to be found anywhere in the bag!! After repeated mails, I received a letter from Singapore Airlines. According to the letter (dated 02 September, 2012), the airlines will not be compensating for valuable. fragile or perishable items which are sent in checked in baggage. The letter also advises that the hand baggage allowance enables the passangers to carry fragile or valuable items which are then in possession at all times. This is ridiculous!!! Does this mean the employees or the people who are responsible for securing our checked in baggage have the right to "steal" things from checked in baggage of the passengers??? I do not understand this!! An international, well renowned airline is advising passengers - "where to keep what stuff of theirs"??? This is a ridiculous excuse to hide the clear fault of the airline, Firstly, to seek why the mis-handling happened. and secondly, to trace the person who did this, punish them and thirdly, to give me the right to claim against my STOLEN watch!!! The letter has also advised me that I should have had insurance against the watch!!? Maybe, Singapore Airlines Tickets should come with a disclosure '" hang on to your bags tight. They could be stolen, lost or mis-handled with no claims, whatsoever!!!" I have been traveling by International careers since I was a child, to USA, Canada, Europe and England but NEVER have I faced such a huge irresponsible and insensitive behavior on part of the airlines, even if it Indian Domestic Airlines!!! I was convinced by my husband to travel with Singapore Airlines as it is "deemed" to be the "best Airlines"!!! I do not have words for such unkind behavior!!! I will never recommend anyone to fly with Singapore Airlines EVER!! Also, I am registered on Facebook, Twitter, Google and various other blogs. I will be writing this letter to all the people on friend's list and others that I know of, (and do not know of) and spread the message of such rude behavior on part of the Airlines!! Despite of repeated mails and calls and so many pictures and details attached of the mis-handled bags, the rude behavior is intolerable - when they should actually be compensating for such an expensive watch and that too - very dear to me, as it was a wedding gift from my parents. I also know of very senior staff in French, BA and other international Airlines that should hear of this. I hope their is huge reaction by this word of mouth as that is what people react upon. I just want none of my friends, relatives and acquaintances to have such bad customer service when they pay a hefty amount (at the cost of losing their valuables and then hearing some ridiculous advice that too from senior management of the Airlines!!). I am greatly hurt and flabbergasted from this letter that I have received today. This is complete injustice and to top their own careless-ness, they are telling a passenger - where to keep their stuff!!!   I have read few posts on their facebook pages and elsewhere where people have complained regarding mis-handled bags, but they post the EXACT SAME reply to each of those customers.This is just rebounding their management's and employee's habit, back to the customer!!

AlG
AlG

04 Nov 2010

Total posts 670

Geez, that's really bad luck, Napur. I've read reports of thieves 'working' on flights, stealing everything from watches and jewels to laptops, sorry you lost a lovely Rado watch.

But I can't see why SQ or any airline should compensate a passenger for an alleged stolen item, because all they have to go on is the passenger's word. There is no definitive proof that item X was in a bag when the passenger boarded and was not in the bag at the other end. If an airline was liable then there'd be plenty of people who would claim their laptop or watch or jewellery was stolen mid-flight, when nothing of the sort happened.

Unfortunately I think this is just an instance where travellers need to be more aware of what's going on around them while in flight, just as we are at the airport, on the street etc.


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