Tuesday, December 23, 2003
This has to be one of the funniest things i've ever seen.
I think I can safely say that LOTR whipped the matrix with one hand tied behind its back. Is it me, or have we, in this shiny, superficial techno-age forgotten the art of story-telling? JR Tolkein did it all in words; technowizardry turned it all into awe-inspiring, full-motion pictures. But at the heart of every winner is a rock-solid storyline. The Wawhosit brother's got everything right except that last.
I'm still toying with that idea for a blog-review site, having just recently recovered from a weekend spent pursuing utter rest and relaxation with the grimmest of intents.
Oh and here's a personal experience I had on Singapore Airlines recently, which just goes to show that there are black sheep, and pedigree chums in every organisation.
On my trip back home, thanks to gremlins in the machine my seatback Krisworld entertainment system showed everything in black and white. Naturally, I pointed this out in the hopes that it could be repaired. A steward politely told me he would restart the system for me; twenty minutes later when I tried again everything was still film-noir. So I tentatively raised my hand again. Another twenty minutes passed with little change. Film orange would actually have been an improvement - I settled for watching the latest spy-kids in black and white (well, why not. one of the few movies colour wouldn't really improve)
After that, I hunkered down and caught a few films in good-old greyscale, without complaint, because I'm not really the kind of guy who minds, and thanks to krisworld the rewind and pause buttons are always good for moments when too much grey gets in the way (hey that rhymes...)
Eventually, however my tv went on the blink entirely. I was a little sleepy by then and more in the mood for some interactive shuteye, but I noticed my charming two companions for the flight, a sister-act from England had the same problem - their TVs were down. So I buzzed for attention, and the male steward arrived yet again - this time, however, he started by loudly saying,
"I ALREADY told you, SIR, that..."
I figured, well, flights are testy business anyway and he's probably been bugged half-to-death already by irritably inebriated passengers, so I cut him off and explained that my two lady friends were not Kris-ened and unentertained.
Another promise to restart the system, which unsurprisingly, didn't work. I snuck a glance out the window to make sure the turbines were still attached...
A good three hours passed, and I'm ashamed to say, I began to wonder what had happened to SQ of legend. No offers for recompense, despite claims to stellar customer service. Not quite their usual selves - not that I minded, I just couldn't help noticing that perhaps the best airline in the world had let itself go a bit, after the SARs crisis. And then along comes a steward to save the day, bearing a US $75 gift-voucher from the flight supervisor apologising for my inconvenience suffered during my flight. My two lady friends received the same, but graciously told the steward that I should receive more because I had suffered for much longer than they. The steward politely ignored them. Quality staff SQ hires, no?
Anyway, after making some enquiries from him I was informed that I could use my voucher for mail-order deliveries, so I paid cash for some Davidoff cologne (which I would otherwise have bought on voucher) and used the voucher to buy a... mail-order minibar fridge. (don't ask).
Shortly before leaving the plane post touchdown, I thought it prudent to ask the flight supervisor if that would be okay, since, well the ordinary air-crew had been less than helpful.
(In fact, a stewardess cooly "mocked" my purchase of the davidoff's cool water, with "waaaaaaaaaah. DAviDOFFs siah. What IS this Har? in passing to another stewardess, right there in front of me. Apparently hair colour alters customer support on SIA.)
The supervisor was shocked that his steward had misinformed me, and told me that my purchase was nullified. After a long, embarrassed silence during which he offered to do... nothing (I guess he was caught offguard) I suggested I cancel my mail order purchase, and retain the voucher for my next flight. That's when the cogwheels started turning, and helpful flight supervisor turned into champion white knight. Not only did he agree, he offered to call up the mail order department for me, and attempt to wrangle a deal, since I'd suffered so many inconviences on one flight. I figured that it was a nice thought, and thanked him for his effort, and left it at that.
Imagine my surprise when he telephoned my mobile two days later and told me he'd actually managed to swing a deal for me - fantasy transmuted into reality. This chap actually took the time and effort to go above and beyond his call of duty, in quest of customer satisfaction - and well, pulled strings for me. Not because I'm important, or because I deserve it -- he didn't know me at all. And I'm certainly not female and/or attractive either. He simply did.
Stellar. Give that man a tiger. Better yet, give him a Stella.
I did try to write in to the ST to thank him personally but, unsurprisingly, it wasn't published. So here it is in full, on my blog. Amongst the chaff, the cream rose to the top. The saving grace aboard SQ 319 was a remarkably concientious flight supervisor.
Now, persuading the aircrew on the return journey that this deal had actually been swung for me... that is a different story which doesn't bear recalling.
But I won't forget that bloke in a hurry, and I sincerely hope he gets his payrise and promotion soon.
I think I can safely say that LOTR whipped the matrix with one hand tied behind its back. Is it me, or have we, in this shiny, superficial techno-age forgotten the art of story-telling? JR Tolkein did it all in words; technowizardry turned it all into awe-inspiring, full-motion pictures. But at the heart of every winner is a rock-solid storyline. The Wawhosit brother's got everything right except that last.
I'm still toying with that idea for a blog-review site, having just recently recovered from a weekend spent pursuing utter rest and relaxation with the grimmest of intents.
Oh and here's a personal experience I had on Singapore Airlines recently, which just goes to show that there are black sheep, and pedigree chums in every organisation.
On my trip back home, thanks to gremlins in the machine my seatback Krisworld entertainment system showed everything in black and white. Naturally, I pointed this out in the hopes that it could be repaired. A steward politely told me he would restart the system for me; twenty minutes later when I tried again everything was still film-noir. So I tentatively raised my hand again. Another twenty minutes passed with little change. Film orange would actually have been an improvement - I settled for watching the latest spy-kids in black and white (well, why not. one of the few movies colour wouldn't really improve)
After that, I hunkered down and caught a few films in good-old greyscale, without complaint, because I'm not really the kind of guy who minds, and thanks to krisworld the rewind and pause buttons are always good for moments when too much grey gets in the way (hey that rhymes...)
Eventually, however my tv went on the blink entirely. I was a little sleepy by then and more in the mood for some interactive shuteye, but I noticed my charming two companions for the flight, a sister-act from England had the same problem - their TVs were down. So I buzzed for attention, and the male steward arrived yet again - this time, however, he started by loudly saying,
"I ALREADY told you, SIR, that..."
I figured, well, flights are testy business anyway and he's probably been bugged half-to-death already by irritably inebriated passengers, so I cut him off and explained that my two lady friends were not Kris-ened and unentertained.
Another promise to restart the system, which unsurprisingly, didn't work. I snuck a glance out the window to make sure the turbines were still attached...
A good three hours passed, and I'm ashamed to say, I began to wonder what had happened to SQ of legend. No offers for recompense, despite claims to stellar customer service. Not quite their usual selves - not that I minded, I just couldn't help noticing that perhaps the best airline in the world had let itself go a bit, after the SARs crisis. And then along comes a steward to save the day, bearing a US $75 gift-voucher from the flight supervisor apologising for my inconvenience suffered during my flight. My two lady friends received the same, but graciously told the steward that I should receive more because I had suffered for much longer than they. The steward politely ignored them. Quality staff SQ hires, no?
Anyway, after making some enquiries from him I was informed that I could use my voucher for mail-order deliveries, so I paid cash for some Davidoff cologne (which I would otherwise have bought on voucher) and used the voucher to buy a... mail-order minibar fridge. (don't ask).
Shortly before leaving the plane post touchdown, I thought it prudent to ask the flight supervisor if that would be okay, since, well the ordinary air-crew had been less than helpful.
(In fact, a stewardess cooly "mocked" my purchase of the davidoff's cool water, with "waaaaaaaaaah. DAviDOFFs siah. What IS this Har? in passing to another stewardess, right there in front of me. Apparently hair colour alters customer support on SIA.)
The supervisor was shocked that his steward had misinformed me, and told me that my purchase was nullified. After a long, embarrassed silence during which he offered to do... nothing (I guess he was caught offguard) I suggested I cancel my mail order purchase, and retain the voucher for my next flight. That's when the cogwheels started turning, and helpful flight supervisor turned into champion white knight. Not only did he agree, he offered to call up the mail order department for me, and attempt to wrangle a deal, since I'd suffered so many inconviences on one flight. I figured that it was a nice thought, and thanked him for his effort, and left it at that.
Imagine my surprise when he telephoned my mobile two days later and told me he'd actually managed to swing a deal for me - fantasy transmuted into reality. This chap actually took the time and effort to go above and beyond his call of duty, in quest of customer satisfaction - and well, pulled strings for me. Not because I'm important, or because I deserve it -- he didn't know me at all. And I'm certainly not female and/or attractive either. He simply did.
Stellar. Give that man a tiger. Better yet, give him a Stella.
I did try to write in to the ST to thank him personally but, unsurprisingly, it wasn't published. So here it is in full, on my blog. Amongst the chaff, the cream rose to the top. The saving grace aboard SQ 319 was a remarkably concientious flight supervisor.
Now, persuading the aircrew on the return journey that this deal had actually been swung for me... that is a different story which doesn't bear recalling.
But I won't forget that bloke in a hurry, and I sincerely hope he gets his payrise and promotion soon.
