I think this falls in the category of “no good deed goes unpunished.” Or perhaps it just reflects what a high quality operation Singapore Airline runs, if this is all that people have to complain about…
In this post:
Traveler angry over Singapore Airlines birthday cake policy
Some airlines have a generous policy, whereby they’ll offer you a free cake if you’re traveling on or around your birthday. The exact rules surrounding this vary by airline, and even by cabin. In the case of Singapore Airlines, it can be requested for travel within three days of your birthday in first or business class, or for travel within one day of your birthday in premium economy or economy.
That seems fair enough, not just from a cost control perspective, but also because it’s extra work for the crew, and you want to keep it special. After all, if a couple of dozen people on a plane request a cake, it becomes quite a chore, and it also feels less special. It’s really nice how crews try to make this a nice experience for passengers, as my dad can attest to during his “round” birthday a little over 10 years ago!
That brings us to a story by Mothership, about a recent complaint that Singapore Airlines has received. A 36-year-old Singaporean is traveling from Singapore (SIN) to Shanghai (PVG) in premium economy in the coming weeks, and his birthday is two days after he returns home.
He contacted the Star Alliance airline to request a free cake onboard, but was denied, because his flight didn’t fall within the carrier’s birthday cake policy.
The traveler was “disappointed” and “very displeased” in the response he received, and he believes the airline should “exercise flexibility” on “compassionate grounds” when receiving such “simple requests.” He even said he booked the flight because he needed an extra day to rest in Singapore before his birthday, so he shouldn’t be penalized for that.
He also committed to “escalating” the matter further if he didn’t receive the resolution he wants. Oh, he also accused the airline of showing favoritism toward influences, who reportedly received cakes even though they didn’t meet the criteria, though he didn’t provide any examples.
Talk about a petty and baseless complaint!
Singaporeans are blessed with having one of the world’s highest quality airlines as their flag carrier (sorry, Scott Kirby!). So I guess over time, that changes the goalposts of what passengers expect, and by extension, complain about. Unlike in the United States, you don’t have flight attendants blocking off the galley with elastic bands, or directing sassy comments at passengers.
But still, this complaint is not only outrageously petty, but also baseless. Respectfully to this passenger, he’s not even traveling in first or business class, and he’s not even traveling over his birthday. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking, but to then complain when the company enforces its policy is absurd.
Singapore Airlines is one of the few carriers that offers birthday cakes on a complimentary basis. Furthermore, what are his special circumstances that should entitle him to a cake outside of the company’s published rules? What exactly makes his circumstances worthy of “compassion?”
What if I want to celebrate my birthday a week in advance? A month in advance? Six months in advance? Should they also show compassion for these “simple requests?”
It really comes to show you that no good deed goes unpunished. Now, I don’t know which influencers he’s referring to, but one point on which I do agree with him is that airlines will sometimes do special things for influencers, they’ll show it off to their followers, and then people are disappointed when they don’t get that same experience. And that’s a fair critique, but I’m not sure to what extent that applies here.
Bottom line
A Singapore Airlines passenger is very angry after the airline denied him a birthday cake, for a flight two days before his birthday. He’s flying in premium economy, and the company’s policy is that in that cabin, you can get a cake for travel within one day of your flight.
It’s one thing to ask, but this traveler is ridiculous, and claims he’ll escalate the situation until he gets a satisfactory response. I hope the airline doesn’t budge!
What do you make of this Singapore Airlines cake scandal?
If I am a COE of Singapore Airlines, I will sue the person for insulting the Singapore Airlines, if you don't teach the person a lesson, he or she will make a lot of complain. It just a piece of cake.
I bet this was an American complaining.
The more we talk about this, more they are likely to stop doing it. Lets move forward!
My sister and I chose to travel on our actual birth dates (June and Nov) and we chose to fly with Singapore Airlines for the special occasion as it was my 70th birthday. This is the first time when I made the request for the birthday cake, it was done more than two weeks in advance. We chose the morning flight to have a good start on our birthday.
Thank you Singapore Airlines for the birthday cakes.
It only shows what kind of person that we are dealing with. Just for piece of complimentary cake to make a BIG complain??? Cheap sake and low class. Then some1 in the future may want a free upgrade because they are a SIA share holder owning 1 SIA lot.
i think since he made a specific request on this "very" premium economy , they should just give it to him - it's not champagne! And .. it's not worth the ruckus he's kicking up for sure
Another self-entitled snobbish shameless person who thinks the world owes him a living. As a Singaporean, i felt very disgusted and disapppinted at this Singaporean.
Lol. Even if he got the cake after 'escalated' the matter, no cabin crew on board would be singing, 'Happy Birthday to you' ... SAD.
SIA WIL NEVER OFFER FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE ON FLIGHT EVEN IF IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY WHEN YOU ARE SIITING ON THE PLANE.
YOU WILL NEVER GET YOUR BIRTHDAY CAKE. THAT IS MY PAST EXPERIENCE WITH SIA EVEN THE COUNTER AGREED TO OFFER THE CAKE. IT NEVER CAME :(
He should be banned from ALL airlines for three years. Bet he will become a more decent human being.
No need to ban, when he booked, the system auto set reply, fully booked
Must be an a*****e born from the mainland with such a degrading mentality
Just ignore such CHEAPO lah. Suah sway!
This is what Singapore and SQ has cultivated over the years.... always afraid of bad publicity and kowtow to complains ... a friend always complain when something happens on SQ coz the company is dumb enough to comp his something , mile , flights, free stuff etc .. funny thing is he is rich enough to pay for 1st class! Meanwhile people in cattle class dont complain and are subject to higher prices for things we never use or are compensated for.
Never fly SQ!
Please don't fly on our beloved SIA. One less obnoxious passenger to deal with!
I did not know Singapore has Karens too.
That is a some Singaporean people, they all way like to complain because they are in Singapore, but they will never complain about other country and other airline. I can say that he or she has not enough money to buy a birthday cake went they go on holiday. So they want to has a free cake. I can said that before he buy air ticket they should if form the Airline office can we...
That is a some Singaporean people, they all way like to complain because they are in Singapore, but they will never complain about other country and other airline. I can say that he or she has not enough money to buy a birthday cake went they go on holiday. So they want to has a free cake. I can said that before he buy air ticket they should if form the Airline office can we had a birthday cake on the fly. The ground office straight can tell them yes or no. They will explain to then. By the way how far is the distance. Please do not complain if you can not get anything you want just go can buy it, it no very costly the most is less the SINGAPORE $20.00 DOLLAR for a piece of cake. I feel very sad for asking a piece of cake FROM SINGAPORE AIRLINE.
Cheapo passenger, go flight budget bro
Bec of unreasonable pax like this, Airlines may stop offering this "Benefit"
what a a**hole can afford to fly first class or premium class can't even afford a cake please lah go buy your own cake and celebrate your birthday by yourself no need the whole world to know
A very typical Singaporean..Really xiasuay
Reading this we were travelling in Economy, my 1 year old grandaughter's first flight on SQ, on her birthday we flew to SFO on Oct 17th 2025 and i specifically went to Singapore Ailrines office to request for an infant meal for her but on the day of travel, there was no infant meal catered for a 16 hour flight. And what did the airline do? A service recovery was a $50 voucher... does this...
Reading this we were travelling in Economy, my 1 year old grandaughter's first flight on SQ, on her birthday we flew to SFO on Oct 17th 2025 and i specifically went to Singapore Ailrines office to request for an infant meal for her but on the day of travel, there was no infant meal catered for a 16 hour flight. And what did the airline do? A service recovery was a $50 voucher... does this help with no infant food for 16hrs??? Yes, i did check with the check in staff when we were at the check in counter. We were utterly disappointed as years back SQ would at least have spare infant food on board. This is not about us being fusdy on choice BUT TOTALLY NOTHING WAS PROVIDED AND the infant did pay what was required, it wasnt duty travel nor privildged ticket on FOC staff travel.
I was flying on SIA from Changi to Schipol on the 28th December a few years ago. My Birthday is the 29th. I had met the crew at a coffee shop at the Terminal and mentioned this, to be honest I just asked if I could a bulkhead seat with some legroom as I am well over 6ft tall. They said they would see what they could do once we were all on board. About...
I was flying on SIA from Changi to Schipol on the 28th December a few years ago. My Birthday is the 29th. I had met the crew at a coffee shop at the Terminal and mentioned this, to be honest I just asked if I could a bulkhead seat with some legroom as I am well over 6ft tall. They said they would see what they could do once we were all on board. About an hour into the flight a steward came up and requested me to move as a bulkhead was available. Not long after he returned with a big slice of Chocolate cake and wished me a happy birthday. Absolutely brilliant experience
Coz you're white.
SQ is known to serve white people first... then (China chinese) before Singaporeans
SIA serves troublemakers last. You got what you deserved.
As a Singaporean, I am embarrassed at how self-entitled some of us Singaporeans have become.
15/16 years ago, I travelled alone on my birthday for a regional biz conference. Sitting in SQ economy, I was pleasantly surprised with a little cake inflight. Brought tears to my eyes. And in Bangkok, the hotel also sent a little birthday cake to my room. I didnt make any requests. It was thus unexpected & extremely touching.
P2 wasn’t even aware of SQ’s birthday cake or teddy bear gifts, so it was a nice surprise for her in J on JFK-SIN. Better to have low or moderate expectations exceeded, than to expect special treatment then be disappointed when it doesn’t happen. I still really like Singapore Airlines and Singapore in-general.
I feel dumber for reading this stupid article!!!!!!
@Ben -- I think this should read "favoritism toward influencers" rather than "favoritism toward influences."
Although in this article might be petty and unreasonable to complain since the criteria were not met, my wife birthday criteria met the requirement exactly. But we're rejected by two of their customer service agents. It was only upon further confirmation did they realised the requirements were met. But my wife birthday were already over.
I think SQ needs to start supplying tiny violins with the slippers for occasions like this…
Meanwhile on United I remember being happy I got a free drink in domestic economy flying on my actual birthday. The FA checked my ID to verify, but it was indeed free! Lol
I've always described Singapore as like living at home with your strict parents for the rest of your life. But I like the nation of kindergartners even better. Also, back in the day I"d go to Singapore regularly on business, The days didn't start until ~10am in the office and we'd read the Straits Times. The letters to the editor were priceless... the trivial things that they would write in about... It was hysterical. This...
I've always described Singapore as like living at home with your strict parents for the rest of your life. But I like the nation of kindergartners even better. Also, back in the day I"d go to Singapore regularly on business, The days didn't start until ~10am in the office and we'd read the Straits Times. The letters to the editor were priceless... the trivial things that they would write in about... It was hysterical. This would have rated a letter to the editor for sure -- and some responses.
On a very long haul SQ flight (SEA to SIN) in biz class my partner overheard an FA telling another FA 'don't offer her the chocolate cake as she's already had a dessert'. Meanwhile my partner had barely touched her main meal (it was too salty for her) and she was hungry and she had wanted a second dessert. She's an introvert, so she didn't say anything when the FA did not offer her the...
On a very long haul SQ flight (SEA to SIN) in biz class my partner overheard an FA telling another FA 'don't offer her the chocolate cake as she's already had a dessert'. Meanwhile my partner had barely touched her main meal (it was too salty for her) and she was hungry and she had wanted a second dessert. She's an introvert, so she didn't say anything when the FA did not offer her the chocolate cake, but it did sting - tickets are $5000+ but no don't offer her a second dessert. I didn't know any of this as I would have requested she be given one provided others had all had their desserts. Our experience on SQ was not the best, meanwhile Qatar biz class blew us away - the FAs could not have done more for us.
And now you know Singapore is full of spoiled, overly pampered, self-entitled cry babies.
I find people who think their bday deserves celebration tend to be toxic narcissists.
He certainly comes across as a prized douche. Next time he travels to Shanghai he might want to try Air China or China Eastern. I doubt that SQ will mourn the loss of one regional premium economy traveller.
Wow. Oh yes. I think gas stations should have free birthday cakes. McDonalds and Uber too. Great idea. Also barber shops. Cakes on plane….ridiculous.
It is so disheartening that SQ is penalizing this person for needing a day of rest after traveling before his birthday. Corporate greed has reached new levels.
How is this person being penalized? Penalized would be changing his seat assignment or downgrading them.
SQ are offering pax a service that no other airlines really provide.
I tend to believe he was being sarcastic.
Correct.
only someone who used to live in Singapore can truly understand this complaint. its called the world's largest kindergarten for a reason. I love watching all the miles and points people visit SG and say they enjoy it but no one has any idea on what its really like.
Couldn't agree more. I've told friends to imagine a city of millionaire kindergarteners with legal autonomy and a heightened sense of entitlement.
Having said that, I do like Singapore very much.
Try living in Doha for a while. In the spoilt, boorish kindergartener stakes the Qataris could have the Singaporeans for breakfast.
i flew J from NRT--LAX.
i was denied a teddy bear.
WHERE IS MY COMPENSATION!!!!?!! /s
I see 2 problems here. First is this persons petty entitlement mindset. Second Influencers, Never has one of these ever influenced me! They are just self promoters who add nothing to society.
I believe celebrating a birthday is a personal occasion for the individual, so why burden everyone else with it?
The traveller is an entitled brat with a huge ego. Complimentary means at the discretion of SIA. Should SIA bend the rules, where is the criterion or boundary to enforce?
Stop whinging & appreciate what you have in life. Life is transient but good if you wish it & make it to be so. Good luck to your new perspective in life for contentment. Each moment of discontent is a moment of happiness lost; not worth your time, mate.
Do we have another case of login ID misappropriation, or, could it simply be that it is one of the dancing monkeys who has been found to be posting racist remarks yet again?
Please do a list on airlines that offer birthday cakes or other goodies on your birthday
Air Force One.
other goodies?
Epstein Air
Houseflies.
I got rejected before as well via email, the carrier has a strict policy of +- 3 day for birthdays, but not very strict for any anniversaries.
Articles like this makes me realize Singapore, and its citizenry, are much more similar to places like Dubai, where entitlement reigns supreme, rather than the more egalitarian great cities of Europe.
This person should grow-up and get a life. I assume they have never had a job before. Blatant foolishness.
SIA should refund him his money and then ban him for life from flying the airline since it does not meet his standards
Singaporians are also prone to complaining. Such a brat. You can’t demand a goodwill gesture or birthday gift. If anything, it would be a surprise if someone had been able to do it. I wouldn’t contact a business snd inform them it’s my birthday so you must do something.
Sounds like Divine in the film Female Trouble demanding cha-cha heels.
That's racists.
I feel you, but we now live in a (one sided) politically correct world filled with woke snowflake cancellers.
Lol being anti-woke means you support racism, honophobia, hating members of some religious groups, sexism, etc.
@Aaron
You're exactly why the world is f up.
You're part of the problem.
The world isn't just with me or against me.
Being not-woke DOES NOT equal to anti-woke.
A concept that you couldn't grasp because their successful propaganda that brainwash and radicalized a whole generation generation.
Actually, you are the problem of the world. You and your regressive backwards thinking.
You don’t even know what woke means.
And being brainwashed to be easily triggered is very progressive of you and your kind.
Of course I don't know what woke means to you anymore. You progressives are progressively progressing too fast even your kind doesn't progress at the same progressiving rate.
And by the way, unfortunately dumb and brainwashed people like you can only see one dimension in a four dimensional world. So there is nothing more to explain.
It's you not us.
Fake Eskimo is racist.
What’s racist about my comment ??
Nothing. Nothing whatsoever.
There's actually TWO problems here.
First, the obvious entitlement issues.
But also how Singapore is OVERRATED in every aspect. They're no doubt good, but never that great, never is never was.
They run a great airline and regularly release award space. What more can I ask for?
Nothing.
But that just makes them a well run airline.
Doesn't make them over the top great like what their marketing team wants you to believe.
SQ might not always win head-to-head against competitors' absolute best products, but their baseline standard is the highest of any airline. They are the only carrier where you are guaranteed WiFi, a lie-flat seat, and full catering on any flight over two hours, regardless of when or where you fly. Unlike many airlines that reserve their best experience for a few selected premium routes, SQ offers consistency: if a flight is operated by Singapore Airlines,...
SQ might not always win head-to-head against competitors' absolute best products, but their baseline standard is the highest of any airline. They are the only carrier where you are guaranteed WiFi, a lie-flat seat, and full catering on any flight over two hours, regardless of when or where you fly. Unlike many airlines that reserve their best experience for a few selected premium routes, SQ offers consistency: if a flight is operated by Singapore Airlines, the quality is the same.
@LEo
And you're the example of a victim of marketing.
Baseline my laksa assa.
Their 737NG does not have lieflat and guaranteed NO WiFi.
Full catering? Even book the cook has limited options on short hauls and all they need to do is just to reheat the prebooked meal.
They are good but never great, not even close, except maybe in their marketing department.
Just like EK and their A380 showers and bars but no one talks about how bad is 777 middle seat J.
Yeah, the catering is nothing special, even in first & suites. On a recent flight to CDG they offered a prawn noodle soup that you can get at literally 1000 different hawker stands, a grilled beef medallion, or “chicken supreme” that any barely competent home cook could produce in under an hour. I know it was late at night, but cmon… this is supposed to be first class. The trip back wasn’t much better, and...
Yeah, the catering is nothing special, even in first & suites. On a recent flight to CDG they offered a prawn noodle soup that you can get at literally 1000 different hawker stands, a grilled beef medallion, or “chicken supreme” that any barely competent home cook could produce in under an hour. I know it was late at night, but cmon… this is supposed to be first class. The trip back wasn’t much better, and the connecting flights in biz between Singapore and Australia aren’t even worth mentioning. So many people seem to get a boner about eating some smelly fish-eggs with a glass of mass-market champagne. Heaven only knows why.
Eskimo they've retired their 737-800s
A few quick things:
A. If I'm not going to worry about something in 5 years, I'd rather not worry about it at all.
B. The passenger should be grateful enough that they're able to fly somewhere. There are plenty of people in a much worse position than them. No one is going to get everything they want in life, everyone has faced a setback.
C. I'd go to my local bakery, bring it home...
A few quick things:
A. If I'm not going to worry about something in 5 years, I'd rather not worry about it at all.
B. The passenger should be grateful enough that they're able to fly somewhere. There are plenty of people in a much worse position than them. No one is going to get everything they want in life, everyone has faced a setback.
C. I'd go to my local bakery, bring it home and enjoy it rather than having a cake in a confined space wit tons of passengers. I'm also supporting a small business at the same time.
D. Birthday celebrations are just flexing ego and entitlement for the person and marketing genius for business brainwashing a need to celebrate.
You're merely celebrating how close to death you're getting.