Singaporeans are certainly known for having very high service expectations. The perfect example of that is how critical many locals are of their national airline, Singapore Airlines, which is unarguably one of the highest quality carriers in the world.
Continue reading: Beef Over Beef: Singaporean Has “Worst Flight” On China Airlines… I Can’t Even
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I suppose I'll be stating the obvious, but Chinese aren't well known for proper manners and communication skills. The passenger was obviously a Hindu, hence avoidance of beef. Unfortunately Singapore is populated by mostly Chinese and Indians. I just don't understand why they can't get used to each other and get along.
Sounds like the airline acted with professionalism and compassion and the passenger is an entitled bitch.
What is this bot comment? This passenger is most definitely not Hindu
They are most likely following some form of Buddhism or regional Asian doctrine, it's very common to not eat beef in Asia, aside from Hindus.
This isn't really that big of a deal imo.
Yeah it's social media, you post something, it's fair game to comment on. But Singaporeans complain about everything, even when things are too good. This is just a generic rant, we got to stop taking things so seriously.
She's not calling for people to be fired, naming names, etc. She's just being a typical Singaporean that nitpicks everything. No, she didn't need to post this, but I really don't think that much of her whining either.
Character is most truly revealed by how a person treats those who can do nothing for them. Nothing else to add to that.
Speaking of China Airlines, I'm curious on the product they come with on their upcoming 787s!
I am not sure whether you have been to Taiwan or flown on any Taiwanese Airlines before. Many Taiwanese are vegetarians and Taiwan is also famous for their vegetarian cuisine. In fact China Airlines partner with a famous vegetarian restaurant for some of their meals.
If she is Hindu and being a regular flier she should have ordered a special meal instead of hoping for the best.
Granted that conversational English proficiency is not as good on China Airlines but it is obviously she is picking in the poor flight attendant for rating. Influencers should be banned for creating drama for rating purposes only.
What? There's nothing to indicate that this person is Hindu, and while you don't come off as the sharpest knife in the drawer: surely you understand that there are plenty of non-Hindus who don't eat beef.
That's Singaporean fliers in general though, they will complain about the most asinine things.
I understand being a discerning traveler, especially with an airline like they have, but their expectations (especially in economy) border the absurd.
This person is no more “obviously” a Hindu than anything else. There are other religions like Jainism that eschew beef and some sects of larger religions that take the “hoofed animal” guidance to include cows.
The CAL employees made a good faith effort to resolve this, a show of good customer service, indicating the opposite of your racist claim about “the Chinese.”
The flavor of the poster’s religion isn’t relevant - she has her reasons and just comes across like a whiny Wendy.
“… whiny Wendy.”
Tim I swear, I don’t know where you pick these up or if you make them up yourself (in which case you are more brilliant than I already thought you were) but thank you again for another phrase for me to steal!
“Unfortunately Singapore is populated by mostly Chinese and Indians.”
Unfortunately you are vile.
Correct Tim. The FAs did what they could but she wanted everything but the kitchen sink while at some 30,000 feet up in the air.
I can’t imagine why she was whining. Clearly she’s a vegetarian and people who have special diet restrictions should always order before hand so that they can adhere to their preferences. Why she didn’t do that is beyond me. But maybe she rarely flies and doesn’t know pre-ordering is an option. But when crew give up their meal for her and she still side eye crew, then she deserve some kind of punishment.. like fly US3 repeated for a year and eat their delectable meal!!! I’m sure after a year, she will repent her ways! 😉
CI is a very good airline whether in economy, premium economy or business and whether short or long haul. Most of the FAs have come across as very kind and professional. But for her to say that every flight attendant came off as there was something wrong with her would most likely imply that there was/is something wrong with her actually.
Just on my last flight with CI no less than three FAs keep asking me and the passenger next to me if we wanted any coffee or tea. That passenger was a Paragon member but the flight attendants never made any other passengers feel less important than their top tier member. We all felt welcomed abroad.
I knew he was a top tier member based on the FA interaction but she addressed those comments to both of us whereas on other airlines it would only be directed at the top tier member. I thought that was such a subtle but interesting approach.
as a longtime resident of Singapore, I've felt that Singaporeans have grown extremely rude towards customer service workers. It does not help that Singapore has a significant class of migrant service workers, somewhat similarly to the Gulf countries, which some locals feel they can take advantage of. I hope that Singaporeans can foster greater understanding towards customer service workers
We’re sorry if your choice isn’t available. It’s complimentary. Preorder a special meal. I can testify that Singaporeans are amongst the biggest complainers in SE Asia.
While we only have her side of the story, it to me that CI made a big deal about it and that’s what the problem was. Like it doesn’t seem as though she asked for them to get her a meal she just said she couldn’t eat that one. If she demanded that they find her a meal that would be one thing, but if they proactively gave her a crew meal when she didn’t ask for one and then were making a big deal about it, that’s a CI problem. I agree that’s not quite gaslighting but it kind of negates whatever goodwill they would have merited from trying to make it right.
If one is new to flying (at least with meal service), I can be sympathetic to a back-of-plane, no-choice scenario. If you have dietary restrictions or preferences, pre-order. And, if you are not new and find yourself in this situation, we'll, you're paying the price for your laziness, lack of attention, etc.
Nice stereotyping you got there. Nah, as with any group, they’re mostly polite; anyone expecting ‘better’ isn’t necessarily a bad thing; in some cases it leads others to pursue a higher standard.
As for SE Asia (and everywhere), from experience, I watch out for Russians looking for fights over nothing and anything. Some interesting interactions with them in Phuket, Bali, Maldives, and Sri Lanka over the years (apparently, they have good taste in tropical destinations!) Yet, I’ve also met lovely families from St. Petersburg and Vladivostok that I’d happily spend more time with. It’s not always easy, and I’m not perfect, but, maybe we should try to pre-judge less.
Is there a single flight from Columbus, Ohio, that offers meals in the back of the plane? I highly doubt it. At least you’ll get that new terminal in 2029! #CMH #homeport #Thiscomestomind #trolling
Sounds like she got really good service from China Airlines. I realize that she is complaining the facts as stated point toward excellent service to the passengers sitting in the last row of economy
Unfortunately in Singapore, we do have a lot of entitled people who just complains about everything and not be more diplomatic.
Being a Tiktoker explains a lot... Equals to a brainrot.
It takes literally five seconds to find out CI offers a No Beef Meal/NBML as a pre-order in all classes.
But did she ask for anything? Like her issue seems to be more with the way CI made a big deal about it than she did. A good gesture like bringing a crew meal to the passenger that she don’t ask for (we only have her side of the story, but it doesn’t seem like she asked for them to do anything about it) is completely negated if you then lecture said passenger about how they are taking away the meal from a crew member. If she really was ok with not getting a meal (and fair, we only have her side of the story) then the CI crew’s reaction is pretty wild.
Also, how long was the flight anyways? My Mercator-pilled brain often makes it hard for me to imagine distances near the Equator properly (also why Trump is so horny to buy an island that is not as big as it seems and mostly uninhabitable), but like maybe she was just fine not getting a meal.
Considering China Airlines has consistently excellent customer services, far above average, I am inclined to disbelieve the passenger's allegations [For the record, I am neither Singaporean nor Taiwanese]
She seems like an attention-seeking entitled brat to me. Apparently the crew did everything they could to remedy the situation.
What did this moronic self-centered „influencer“ expect - that the plane stops somewhere en route and caters an extra meal which is to her liking?
The level of idiotic narcissism in this world is really appalling, and social media doesn‘t help here …
Thanks, Willy. It’s mostly my own work. 😉 Can’t take credit for “cram a ham in it” though, that was squarely stolen from Bender in Futurama.
"Singaporeans are certainly known for having very high service expectations." - I think a fairer description would be that they are entitled.
We had the fortune of expanding our business a while back there and were looking for a driver during our 6 months there, the "recommended" person was a gentleman in his 50s and my partner and I were 30 at the time. The amount of times that he suddenly had "back issues" that coincided with me having a suitcase to load was interesting to say the least. Then in the background, I found that he was commenting to a friend I had him drive around once how it's unfair that he needs to drive someone so young around while he doesn't earn enough for serving the younger generation.
I relieved him of the unfairness about a month into his job and also the staff that "recommended" him to me.
As a Singaporean I agree we are very vocal about complaing. But what you may have missed out here is the choice of words said in Mandarin Chinese. It might have been the tone that is triggering. While we don't know how the crew really said it, the tiktoker did say the words in the dialogue and I can sort of imagine how it's went already.
Bu hao yi si - it might translate to Sorry, but in Taiwanese context they always say that even if they're not really apologetic, to be passive aggressive while looking like they are polite on the surface (think of it as equivalent to the Southern people in USA calling people Honey or Sweetie).
And then they tell the pax not to do it again next time. Imagine saying that with the words and tone that is passive aggressive.
(For a clear picture of how the Taiwanese typically speak, there's this American on tiktok/ ig reels that mimics their mannerism accurately
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCQ7OxUpC4I/?igsh=MWdubTQwNGJ2MnYyNQ== )
But what I think could have been done better was the pax could've looked at the menu and inform the crew once she's on board that she doesn't take beef
"That's ridiculous. If you don't eat beef, and you don't eat cow, how can you be alive?"
AC/Pete, one finds it very easy to dismiss your comments as unreasonable. However, I will simply say …. as an Englishman who spent his youth in Singapore, has family living there and visits at least once every year, my opinion of Singaporeans does not align with yours. Knowing the various cultures, how they respond to others and how they expect to be treated, is key to one’s understanding. Most Caucasian visitors treat the locals with contempt and then wonder why they are standoffish.
pudu, this comments page is becoming so too …. reading uneducated comments from the likes of PeteAU, is typical of so many know nothing’s.
Ben, you and anyone else here has no nothing about the passenger and yet are eager to condemn her to bad etiquette. Your predisposition, to me, seems like the airlines can do no wrong. Some of the folks here, methinks, should be open to the possibility that at least once in a while a passenger's bad experience is real.
One suspects that few who have posted on this subject have ever been to Singapore. Have absolutely no idea of the complexities of the islands ethnic mix, the history, customs or culture. In my extensive experience of living, visiting and over a century of family business connections to Singapore; I can only conclude that the subject woman is more typical of an American TikTok influencer, than a normal Singaporean of any ethnicity.
Oh! Trust me Christian, America, truly has the honour to be the Karen’s capital of the universe. Via social media, insufferable reality TV programs and films they spread their gospel unceasingly.
Why do you think Mr Apple, invented the iPad and Musk Starlink? Yes, you guessed it …. so that air travellers do not have to watch the pathetic inflight movies.
Also, it appears that she receives ample nutrition elsewhere. If going without a meal for a few hours entirely because of personal preference is the worst thing to happen to her, she is the luckiest entitled brat on the planet. I'm not worried about her.
Not sure how familiar people are with Singaporeans, but they’re some of the most entitled, uncultured, and rude people you will ever come across.
No one needs a Singaporean trying to explain the nuances of Mandarin or English - you people can’t even speak either properly.
Joel, you have very graphically exposed your ignorance of the highly educated Singaporean population. Singapore excels at producing consistently high academic performers through structure, discipline, and rigour. Students are bilingual in both English, English and their mother tongue.
Joel, once again I must thank you for your total lack of understanding of the social, racial and economic issues which are experienced in Singapore. I find your assessment of the Singaporean population to be biased, uninformed and that of someone who displays unmitigated ignorance. One would be best advised to wind your neck in old bean, yes?
However, Ben, will be pleased to benefit from your clicks if nothing else.
And no Chinese speak Mandarin properly, least of all the people from the capital (Beijing)
SHE is why we can't have nice things. I'm of Asian descent as well and sadly, I've seen this all too often. No in-flight service manager - especially on an Asian carrier - is "barreling down" any aisle and "getting in your face," much less openly lecturing a passenger. The fact that a crewmate offered his/her meal to satisfy the dietary requirements of a passenger should have been more than enough. What I would pay to see her on a Spirit flight!?!
President Trump will sort this out with the Federal ICE Officers. Send her back where she came from.
Chris Zou perfectly explains what bu hao yi si means when Taiwanese people say that
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSaUNg75b/
Oh, "Joel"....were you perhaps jilted by a Singaporean who's patience with your mediocrity ran out? Methinks there's a backstory here which you're too embarrassed to recount. Inadequacy issues?? I've been in Singapore more than any other foreign destination since 2012. The people are just fine. You clearly are not.
Are you a bot? Or are you the product of family members who got inebriated and had a relationship? One simply cannot tell..
I'm no bot and my loving parents didn't drink. I just support President Trump and ICE Officers. MAGA.
Man I had hkg to sfo with united last summer seating in premium economy like middle row, and unimaginably thy still ran out of my pre selected choice of meal in tenderloin and gave me a super dry left over chicken from economy sear. The foot rest of seat also broken and when I told FA , he just gazed at me saying nothing she could do and won’t let me switch seats, so try that even with intl flight on United
Came to comment section expecting TedCruz-ish moronic types to "barrel down" on the opportunity to accuse the "C-C-P" (has to be pronounced with extreme disgust!) of all the evils of the world, but was pleasantly surprised when I saw none! Except for that one "proper" English gentleman" who felt the need to lecture everyone on the etickete and danger of using stereotypes (while oppressing and killing half of the world for 400 years).
Having recently booked a CI flight, I know first-hand that you are given the option of meal selection during the booking process.