[Anonymous]

[Cashsuds]

Singapore Airlines boasts of its privileges for PPS Solitaire Members in being able to use their First Class lounges around the world including Singapore.

Quote “The First Class section of Singapore Airlines’ SilverKris Lounges worldwide is yours to use, regardless of your class of travel whenever you travel on Singapore Airlines or SilkAir”.

There are two concerns:

1) I find that SQ is phasing out on a lot of their own lounges worldwide, resulting in the use of codeshare partner lounges which does NOT give you the use of the First Class lounges.

2) The New First Class lounge in Terminal 3 in Singapore is not really a First Class lounge but one that has been cleverly disguised as a First Class lounge. The real First Class lounge is in another hidden section where only First Class passengers are personally escorted to.

PPS Solitaire members did not ask for this privilege so why is SQ trying to insult our intelligence by doing this, not least give First Class Passengers the chance to treat us “second class”?

It’s not a big deal to sit in First Class lounges, but SQ should at least be more respectful of the people who support them fully even if not by flying First Class – at least enough to chalk up Solitaire Status. Com’on SQ, grow up!! If you cannot afford it, then do not give it.

You do yourself a real injustice by acting like this and can get caught up with what we can believe in what you say. In some countries, this is a conscience act of “false advertising”

[Hess963]

So SQ is struggling like the rest of the world ! You are right in the matter of phasing out premium lounges. If you have paid a premium F fare and expect a F lounge which SQ offers in all these years–then suddenly confronted with a shared lounge from other *Alliance carriers or contracted one–I will be angry as well.

About the distinction of rev F class pax and highest SQ frequent flyers in the F lounge in Chiangi–It does leave a bit of an aftertaste. Especially when you found this difference !

Just to show an example–if you are a senator status holder with Miles%More– you can only stay in a more average senator lounge( if you have experienced it–silver kris in Chiangi is definitely better in C sections than senator counterpart ).

Only the rev F class pax of LH and their highest ” HONs” are allowed to enter the First Class Terminals and Lounges where you really expect the great service, food and ambience–as well the great chauffeur service on the airside.

It is getting more distinctive, more reductions of privileges inorder to save money, more sharing with partner lounges….

[JackyLek]

I remember the time when I was PPS member ( 5years ago) and a loyal SQ premium product traveller, I thought this was the best both FF and Airline. But recently years SQ had push up the price and making it more difficult to be a PPS member by axe the sector earnings with Cash using. And of course their product is falling behind other airlines. What a shame that SQ thought that they where the best all the time, and customer will follow their way. So the latest news that SQ is in the deep red zone is not unexpected. I so went to Emirates, and now they are also doing with the Skywards program.

[Cashsuds]

Wow.. That was a good suggestion, Does Emirates still offer limousine airport transfers??? This, I think, is worth its piece in gold…
What about EthiHad?? Can someone comment as I am thinking of leaving SQ behind…

[BKK-man]

I feel I have suffered from false promises with PPS and special points upgrades. I agree it seems like they are trying to find a way out of providing what they promised and how easy to is to get the special upgrades. All rubish in reality. PPS seems to be some kind of secret way of giving status as they do not and will not provide a clear and transparent way that a customer can atain this status. They do not provide a system where it is clear to work out and just give some vague answer but based on rules that only they know.

I flew 6 sectors SIN-LHR, 2 sectors SIN-SYD, 2 sectors SIN-AKL, and 3 sectors SIN-BKK all in biz clzss but only halfway to PPS status even though received 90,000 miles !

I expected much better from SQ but now I am re-evaluating if I should go back to an improving Thai and there much easier and clearer FFP programme where it is easier to book upgrades without having to wait untill 3 days before for seats to be released

[JackyLek]

BKK Man before the change you have already reach the PPS renewal, but now is how much you had paid for your ticket. When I was PPS member is was enough with two round-trip from LHR to BKK via SIN in Biz. The SQ FF program is not so good if I may compare with Miles&More program even the Royal Orchid give more back then SQ. I have only Gold Status in LH but it gives me more perks then I was with SQ.

[Hess963]

That is quite weird to read, that TG and LH FFP are better than SQ PPS?
I still can remember the times when colleagues of mine struggle to get the SQ PPS status. Now times have definitely changed.
But I believe there are still SQ PPS ” die hard fans ” out there who will try their best to keep this status whatever SQ implys as criteria.

[Senator]

Dear all,

My understanding of SQ PPS Solitaire programme is that it rewards high revenue (and margin?) customers, and not frequent travellers. In addition to PPS programme, there is of course the Kris Flyer programme which has status programs as a FF programme. This comes in addition.

Like many programmes, the PPS programme has made changes over the last years; perhaps to make it more exclusive.

To really do a comparison with other FF schemes, I would look to compare KrisFlyer to M&M, Mileage Plus, Orchid Plus etc and not to PPS.

While I am big fan of Miles & More, and I have been a loyal Senator (Gold) since 2000, I believe the “Hon” status is unfair. I rather see revenue based top tier, than a miles based top tier. I travel mostly within Europe in business class. The trip ARN-FCO with LH in business is the same price as ARN-JFK with LX in business, but I get 3x the miles. The question really is; who is the best customer from a revenue/margin perspective?

While SQ PPS is not perfect, it aims to reward the best customers, not the most frequent fliers which in some cases are not the same.

[JackyLek]

Hi Hess and Senator

Its true that before me and my collegue also try to get the PPS status is was exklusive to have, but after we got it and realize that is wasnt so fancy to have and the goods.

Im like Senator a frequent ARN-Europe destinations with LX in Business. The miles and price are good. I dont use LH coz their business fare is to high compare with LX and their service in C is not good compare with LX.

But in the end my loyal to Miles&More is their large partnes-network, miles earnings and have good redemtion policy and promotion.

[Hess963]

I think that will be the new picture for all the FFP in the airline industry.

The airlines will eventually make a diffence between those who are willing to pay the premium price tag but travel less comparing to those who travel more but mostly in restricted fares.

SQ has shown this in their SQ PPS and Krisflyer..EK is following in that direction. The question is –how fast will this development occur and how will be the frequent flyers of those programmes react when they are finally affected and do not longer be blinded by the airlines PR gibberish.

[austline]

Interesting reading, I was a PPS Solitaire for years and then dropped down to PPS and frankly use SQ very little now. I have found that their service has dropped off instead of becoming more exclusive they have become a little distant from their loyal customers.They even tried to entice me this year with Solitaire if I obtained PPS status but I now fly wherever I can with Qantas and Oneworld, I have platinum status and get the use of the FIRST lounges in Syd and Mel, which are fantastic, and the BA FIRST lounge Lhr. These facilities leave SQ lounges at Changi for dead. I find that I also get better recognition as a QF FF, Emerald OW, than I did an SQ PPS S or Star Gold member. Maybe Star has become a little too big?

[Hess963]

Hi everyone !!

Yes, Austline–I verify your experience–at the moment Oneworld emerald status–is the best frequent flyer status to have.

LH/LX Hon status is great too–but not so easy to get.

[Author]

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