Chitchat KLM paid accommodation for one but not for the other

[scroobal]

Interesting, KLM paid for food and accommodation for foreign expat but not for the local Singaporeans.

In the old days the press would have sought out the answers from KLM press office. It could be because of fare, FF, airline holiday package etc but it would be good to know. A great opportunity for an journalist or the editorial office to seek things like this out.


Bali flight disruptions: Airlines scramble to reroute passengers
Singaporeans Hazel Mei (left) and Natalie Neo in Bali on Sunday. They had to extend their stay due to flight cancellations.PHOTO: COURTESY OF NATALIE NEO
PUBLISHED
4 HOURS AGO

Melody Zaccheus
Heritage and Community Correspondent

With the Denpasar airport shut as Bali's Mount Agung continued to erupt and spew thick plumes of steam and ash yesterday, some airlines have been scrambling to reroute passengers.

Scoot said it managed to arrange transportation for its passengers from Bali to Surabaya. From there, they will be flown back to Singapore on Scoot planes.

The journey, which includes a ferry crossing, is expected to take 18 hours.

Scoot has also stopped the sale of tickets for flights to and from Bali till Dec 4, it said.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is also assisting customers who have been affected by flight disruptions. It said it is accommodating some travellers in hotels, among other measures.

SIA is also offering customers the option of rerouting their original flights to Denpasar for Monday and yesterday to other South-east Asian destinations in the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir network.



The new flights must be "within the same cabin class, subject to seat availability".

Singaporean Natalie Neo, 26, an analyst at a bank, was among tens of thousands of travellers who were stranded in Bali.

She was there with her friend Hazel Mei, 29, who works in finance, for a weekend getaway. Initially scheduled to arrive in Singapore on Monday night, they had two flights cancelled on them.

Ms Neo said: "First, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines informed us it had cancelled our flight, as it said it was not safe to fly or land at night in Bali as long as the volcano was active."

The duo were then rebooked on an SIA flight scheduled to return to Singapore yesterday afternoon, but this, too, was cancelled.

Ms Neo said: "We've had to extend our stay in the hotel. We've not heard any news of compensation or if accommodation will be covered by either airline if the disruption continues."

Singapore permanent resident Simon Kyte, 45, a banking executive, was in Bali for a week-long holiday with his wife and two children.

He was scheduled to be on a KLM flight back to Singapore at 9.30pm on Sunday.

Mr Kyte, who is from Britain, said: "KLM has transferred us to the Hilton Garden Inn next to the airport and has been paying for our stay and food."

He said his employers have been considerate. "The understanding is that I will be working remotely on my work phone until I can get home."

 

[johnny333]

An example of the Brit having the more powerful passport.

 

[Seee3]

In this kind of chaotic situation, ang mo is good. They know who and where to go to kpkb to get assistance. For those who are not well versed and did not know how to follow the correct group, they will end up like the 2 girls.

Many years back, flights to London were cancelled due to heavy snow. Delays were everywhere. Was stuck in transit overseas. Was transferred from airport to hotel them back again many times. Ang mo were the ones fighting with the airline. We take turn to wait at hotel lobby for the first news from airlines of transfer to airport when flight is available. For those who think that airline will contact them, they took a few more days to leave after we had left.

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

Ang mors are the best in KPKB. But ask them to do things, is different hor.

 

[eatshitndie]

In this kind of chaotic situation, ang mo is good. They know who and where to go to kpkb to get assistance. For those who are not well versed and did not know how to follow the correct group, they will end up like the 2 girls.

Many years back, flights to London were cancelled due to heavy snow. Delays were everywhere. Was stuck in transit overseas. Was transferred from airport to hotel them back again many times. Ang mo were the ones fighting with the airline. We take turn to wait at hotel lobby for the first news from airlines of transfer to airport when flight is available. For those who think that airline will contact them, they took a few more days to leave after we had left.

the initial post and kind of reporting can be misleading and half-fucked. doubt it was favor over amdk vs. sinkies. sinkies need to know how to work with the system for best options. if they request for assistance at the counter without quietly going back to their hotel and extending their stay and not coordinating with airline, computer entries at counter will register a request number, and ground crew need to follow up with trouble ticket until it's resolved and closed. in this case they may recommend another hotel affiliated with airline or offer discounts on existing room rates if hotel is not within their preferred list. no matter what there's a request generated and counter must find closure to that request. in these sinkies' case most likely request for hotel nor compensation for extended stay not initiated, and they expect airline to compensate after the fact, and airline can say no as there's no need to close request ticket as there's none.

 

[Seee3]

In situation like this airline staff are overwhelmed. Singaporean are too sheltered. They think there will be a system to take care of them.

From my last experience, the backlog of passengers was so huge it became first come first serve. When I boarded the bus from hotel to airport for the flight that finally took off, I noticed that many in my original flight were not there. The airline just load the plane with whoever is present and take off. I guess those who didn't keep vigil at the hotel lobby would have to wait. Interestingly all the ang mo were there.

It was a good lesson on want to do in a massive flight delay. Follow the right group.

the initial post and kind of reporting can be misleading and half-fucked. doubt it was favor over amdk vs. sinkies. sinkies need to know how to work with the system for best options. if they request for assistance at the counter without quietly going back to their hotel and extending their stay and not coordinating with airline, computer entries at counter will register a request number, and ground crew need to follow up with trouble ticket until it's resolved and closed. in this case they may recommend another hotel affiliated with airline or offer discounts on existing room rates if hotel is not within their preferred list. no matter what there's a request generated and counter must find closure to that request. in these sinkies' case most likely request for hotel nor compensation for extended stay not initiated, and they expect airline to compensate after the fact, and airline can say no as there's no need to close request ticket as there's none.