Singapore Airlines clarifies

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