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.
Along those lines, a Singaporean TikToker’s rant is going viral, where she shared what she claimed was one of her “worst flight experiences” ever, where she was “lectured” by the crew. So, what exactly happened?
In this post:
Singaporean who doesn’t eat beef “lectured”
A Singaporean shared one of her “worst flight experiences ever,” as she traveled with Taiwan’s China Airlines from Taipei (TPE) to Singapore (SIN). To summarize:
- She was seated in the last row of the plane, and was the last to be offered a meal, and they “naturally did not have any choice left” with what to eat
- The only remaining meal choice was beef, but this woman doesn’t eat beef for religious reasons, so she said “no,” and the flight attendant “had such a sh*tty face or pissed off face”
- The manager for the flight “came barreling down and got in our faces, and said that ‘in future if you don’t take beef, remember to go and pre-order in the website'”
- 15-20 minutes later, another flight attendant showed up with another meal choice, saying “this is not usually available,” as she was handed a crew meal; the passenger described this as unnecessary, and intended to make her feel gaslit
- This woman was then “pissed off lah, like who are you to kind of lecture us about what we should and should not be doing”
I am confused and amused by this drama
I’ve gotta say, on the one hand, this woman came across as rather personable and reasonable. She even acknowledged that “naturally” there’s no choice left when you’re seated in the last row, which is a very rational perspective.
On the other hand, I can’t even begin to make sense of her perspective. To recap:
- The flight attendant “had such a sh*tty face” when she said she doesn’t eat beef, and they realized they had no meals for her; maybe they were just empathizing with her, and felt bad that they had no food for her?
- The flight manager “came barreling down,” “got in our faces,” and reminded them that in the future, it could make sense to order a special meal on the website; to me, it seems like good customer service to explain to passengers how they can avoid a similar issue in the future
- A crew member graciously gave up their meal so that the passenger could have a non-beef dish, and informing her that this isn’t usually available made her feel gaslit?!
- Then this all finished with her commenting “who are you to kind of lecture us about what we should and should not be doing,” which… I’m just speechless at this point?
Quite honestly, if she has this much to complain about on a fairly short flight with a full service airline within Asia, I’d pay good money to hear her take on the domestic flying experience in the United States!
Bottom line
A Singaporean woman traveled on China Airlines from Taipei to Singapore in the last row, and the airline only had beef available for the inflight meal. She doesn’t eat beef, which is fair enough. However, she felt insulted when the crew suggested she pre-order her meal next time. Then when she was offered a crew meal because the crew felt bad for her, she felt “gaslit,” because the crew shouldn’t have even told her it was a crew meal.
What do you make of this China Airlines complaint?
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
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...
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.
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...
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! ;)
This woman does not represent all Singaporeans.
Oooooooo Sum Ting Wong? Lol
Stop making dumbass comment that is not even funny @Faron Key aka Karen Stain
Speaking of China Airlines, I'm curious on the product they come with on their upcoming 787s!
Me too Mike
Character is most truly revealed by how a person treats those who can do nothing for them. Nothing else to add to that.
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...
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.
Sounds like the airline acted with professionalism and compassion and the passenger is an entitled bitch.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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...
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!
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.
“Unfortunately Singapore is populated by mostly Chinese and Indians.”
Unfortunately you are vile.
Exactly Willy! A dumb comment by Jenny