SIA is being competitive
DAP Chow Kon Yeow asked why Singapore Airlines was able to offer a lower fare from KL to Perth (Australia) via Singapore.
Ling, as reported in The Star (owned by his party MCA), said SIA was trying to "upset the Malaysian market," adding: "By offering a rate that is two to three percent lower, it (SIA) is trying to confuse us".
"Upset the market"? "Trying to confuse us"? This is sheer gobbledygook. Ever heard of competitition, namely SIA is more competitive than MAS?
Since last year, I have travelled to the Philippines a couple of times. I plan to do it again soon and so I have asked around for an economy-class fare of a one-year ticket
After checking with three reputable travel agencies in the Klang Valley, this is the best offer I received: RM1,755 with MAS or RM1,500 with SIA. That comes to about 14.5 percent higher with MAS.
Last year, I took MAS to Manila only because I didn't bother to ask about SIA. Now, which airline do you think I would rather patronise? I would very much to do my patriotic duty by flying our national carrier. Besides, flying it also would earn me frequent flyer mileage with Northwest Airlines. But to do that, I will have to fork out RM255 more. I can't afford to sneeze at that.
The catch with flying SIA may be the transit in Singapore, although, I was told, it was only for about 90 minutes. That's not really different than most MAS flights to Manila having a one-hour layover in Kota Kinabalu.
Also, anyone who has been to Changi Airport in Singapore would agree that the 90-minute transit will hardly be a pain. With all kinds of duty free shops; a variety of restaurants; media bays offering individual channels of CNN, CNBC, BBC, Cartoon Network, ESPN, etc.; an Internet Cafe (albeit a bit pricey); a video-game arcade; and, to top it off, a free mini-movie theatre, it has got to be the most transit-friendly airports in the world. Although there is much to be said about the beauty of KLIA, it is still too bare and quiet. Not much of anything to help transit passengers pass the time.
SIA also boasts of a better international reputation than MAS for better facilities on board its aircraft.
A friend of mine who took SIA a month ago said that the aircraft used from Singapore to Manila was equipped with individual TV monitors at the economy-class seats.
Soon after the plane took off, the various channels offering movies, documentaries and TV comedies would be available for viewing. Even champagne was served in the economy class.
Last year, the MAS aircraft I flew on had neither champagne nor the TV monitors at the seats in the economy-class.
SIA is being competitive - it is not "trying to confuse us".
I am surprised that DAP Chow's reportedly did not challenge Ling further on that.
But what is most disappointing is that the mainstream media - not just The Star - did not undertake to investigate into the matter in the name of serving the public. It is yet another indication of their lack of independence, serving nothing more than a mouthpiece for the people in power.
