MEL_Traveller
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
- Posts
- 29,387
Not so happy to report that we had a less than good experience on SQ out of Dubai the other day.
It was only an 8pm departure, but the crew weren’t really at their best. Greetings were lukewarm, and the service matched during the flight.
We took off on time for a smooth departure and climb. Then waited, and waited, and waited.
28 minutes after wheels-up - and according to flightaware - only once we reached cruising altitude of 37k feet was the seatbelt sign was turned off.
After passengers and crew were released I made my way to the WC and asked one of the crew whether the captain had forgotten to turn off the seatbelt sign? Apparently not was the response, it’s the ‘new protocol’ that the captain has to be absolutely sure that it will be smooth flight, with absolute chance of turbulence or bumps.
Let me mention again that takeoff to cruise was completely smooth.
The crew then performed a harried service. Not much of the usual friendly interaction with pax, lots of racing back and forth to the galley. While the starters were delivered fairly quickly, the mains took a long time… longer in fact than QF on a not-so-good day. All the while pax are worried the seatbelt sign might come on again
Throughout the flight we’d experience a minor bump and the seatbelt sign would be on. Most of the time crew were allowed to continue duties but ‘exercise caution’. When there were two bumps… all service suspended and crew seated.
On a six and a half hour flight there was only five hours service time, and being overnight this was while most pax were trying to sleep. Good luck trying to get a coffee in the morning if you don’t order 1+ hours before arrival, because the seat-belt sign means you’re not likely to get it.
On this flight the pre-departure beverage service was actually the first drink run brought forward to the ground!
Luckily the second flight ex Singapore had a captain with a very different interpretation of the rules. The seatbelt sign was off within 10 minutes and only came on when there was some actual - albeit very mild - turbulence. Even then crew were permitted to continue duties ‘with caution’.
The pre-arrival snack was served just over two hours prior to landing, again I think so the crew could be assured they were actually going to have time to do it.
Based on these flights, I’m sad to say that unless something changes - like a modified service depending on the outcome of the the SQ321 incident - SQ is dropping down the list of preferred carriers.
It’s hopeless to be constrained to seats for so much of the flight and have major disruption to the meal services, with pax left wondering when they’ll get their meal after departure, when they can then sleep, and if they’ll actually get food and beverage at all before arrival.
It was only an 8pm departure, but the crew weren’t really at their best. Greetings were lukewarm, and the service matched during the flight.
We took off on time for a smooth departure and climb. Then waited, and waited, and waited.
28 minutes after wheels-up - and according to flightaware - only once we reached cruising altitude of 37k feet was the seatbelt sign was turned off.
After passengers and crew were released I made my way to the WC and asked one of the crew whether the captain had forgotten to turn off the seatbelt sign? Apparently not was the response, it’s the ‘new protocol’ that the captain has to be absolutely sure that it will be smooth flight, with absolute chance of turbulence or bumps.
Let me mention again that takeoff to cruise was completely smooth.
The crew then performed a harried service. Not much of the usual friendly interaction with pax, lots of racing back and forth to the galley. While the starters were delivered fairly quickly, the mains took a long time… longer in fact than QF on a not-so-good day. All the while pax are worried the seatbelt sign might come on again
Throughout the flight we’d experience a minor bump and the seatbelt sign would be on. Most of the time crew were allowed to continue duties but ‘exercise caution’. When there were two bumps… all service suspended and crew seated.
On a six and a half hour flight there was only five hours service time, and being overnight this was while most pax were trying to sleep. Good luck trying to get a coffee in the morning if you don’t order 1+ hours before arrival, because the seat-belt sign means you’re not likely to get it.
On this flight the pre-departure beverage service was actually the first drink run brought forward to the ground!
Luckily the second flight ex Singapore had a captain with a very different interpretation of the rules. The seatbelt sign was off within 10 minutes and only came on when there was some actual - albeit very mild - turbulence. Even then crew were permitted to continue duties ‘with caution’.
The pre-arrival snack was served just over two hours prior to landing, again I think so the crew could be assured they were actually going to have time to do it.
Based on these flights, I’m sad to say that unless something changes - like a modified service depending on the outcome of the the SQ321 incident - SQ is dropping down the list of preferred carriers.
It’s hopeless to be constrained to seats for so much of the flight and have major disruption to the meal services, with pax left wondering when they’ll get their meal after departure, when they can then sleep, and if they’ll actually get food and beverage at all before arrival.
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I guess they wait until the passengers start commenting if the sign isn't obviously necessary. Lazy comes to mind. Keeps everyone locked away. Even if they are the cheapest or only award flights available I'll not fly with them again.
