Has anyone ever requested assistance from an airline when flying? Mrs Temuchin was a bit concerned about travelling alone with Singapore Airlines on a route that entailed Manchester-Munich-Singapore-Davao-Cebu (and vice versa), so I asked for assistance for her. And we're impressed with the service they provided. But what's particularly prompted me to post about it is that she arrived back in Manchester yesterday morning, the day of the strike, and having "assistance" seems to have got her fast-tracked through Passport Control: an SA representative took her away from the queue for immediate checking, and she was out in no time. Is this normal? If so, I'm going to plead nervousness and confusion next time I fly...
I haven't but my friend has as his wife has a spinal problem that means she can only walk a very small distance without her wheelchair. When their son was getting married in Manila in June 2010 he asked KLM for assistance and they were great with her, both at the gates and on the plane and with notifying and obtaining help at immigration when we all arrived, I was travelling separately on the same flight but I was able to watch everything, my friends entire party of 7 people got fast-tracked through NAIA and my pal could not speak highly enough of KLM. Myself I've had elite status on KLM for so long that it's going to be a shock to me next year when I lose that status and have to wait in queues like everyone else
I've only flown SIA once on Manila-Singapore-Manchester routing and was very impressed with the service, its no wonder SIA gets voted one of the best airlines year after year.
Plenty of airlines will provide special assistance services at a very reasonable cost. When our daughter travelled with Cathay Pacific we requested special service. They actually provided it very well and declined to make any charge. It also included personal guidance at Hong Kong airport to ensure smooth flight change. She was very happy and impressed with the way they took care of her from Manila to London Heathrow. She certainly got through all formalities at LHR in double quick time. I think the published cost for special service was USD100
Yikes - $100?! Is special assistance something above and beyond plain assistance, then? SIA said they would help Mrs T through transit and passport control, but would not help with her luggage. Yet they did help at Cebu and Manchester, by carrying her hand luggage out to Arrivals. And no suggestion of a charge was ever mentioned. Anyway, it's proved to be an impressive service.
Since we have to fly Manchester-Cebu rather than Manila, the choice of airline is more limited. We've used SIA, Qatar, and Cathay, and SIA have been far and away the best. Plus, even though I find airports depressing places generally, I love Changi, and could willingly spend a couple of weeks marooned there. :boing:
