Singapore Airlines clarifies

I would like to thank Mr. Adrianus Hiyung Tjung for his letter headed Prompt service needed which appeared in this column of The Jakarta Post on Oct. 16, 1999.

I am sorry Mr. Tjung had difficulties getting a seat on one our flights. I need however to clarify how the reservation system works.

As he pointed out, we have seven flights a day on the Jakarta- Singapore route. We are usually able to accommodate requests for bookings. There are, however, occasions when our flights are fully booked. When this happens, even on the day of departure, control rests with our reservations office in town. If seats are available, the booking will be confirmed. If the flight is fully booked, then the customer will be advised to go to the airport to take his or her chances and stand by for the flight. With our frequency of flights, it is often possible to get a seat on a later flight.

Certainly our airport office does not control reservations on the flight. Neither is it equipped to handle large numbers of reservation inquiries. It is quite correct to say that our airport staff cannot guarantee a seat; no one can if the flight is full. To guarantee a seat when the flight is full may result in a booked passenger being denied a seat, something that is certainly undesirable for both the customer and ourselves.

While we do have the highest number of flights to Singapore from Jakarta, we are continuously monitoring demand. If our current capacity offer is inadequate, we will look into introducing an additional flight in the near future. We hope then to meet the request for seats, and reduce occasions where passengers are disappointed.

RAJA SEGRAN

General Manager Indonesia

Singapore Airlines

Jakarta