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AsiaTwo “News”: Singapore Airlines offers corporate frequent fliers option to maintain membership status (for a fee)
Singapore, Mar 18, 2010 (AsiaTwo) - Facing declining revenues amid the ongoing economic crisis, Singapore Airlines yesterday quietly launched a new scheme specially for its core base of corporate frequent fliers.
In an e-mail sent to travel managers at some of its top corporate customers, the airline offered to extend PPS Club membership to corporate employees for an annual fee of S$25,000. The fee is equivalent to the standard S$25,000 annual spending requirement on First or Business class for PPS Club. However, members who take up the option will not be required to travel First or Business class to accrue credits, and can instead fly Economy class or not at all.
When contacted by AsiaTwo news, an airline spokesperson commented: “We understand the challenges which our valued customers are currently facing,” she said. “Our corporate customers are under pressure to save on travel costs, and in some cases even face travel freezes. This generous, though temporary, scheme will allow corporate executives to retain their exclusive PPS Club and Solitaire membership even if restricted to flying economy class, or not travelling at all. Our legendary God-like treatment has never been so attainable!”
However, initial reaction to the new scheme was mixed.
The head of human resources at a leading bank now majority-owned by the British government said, “We will offer this option to our executives who may choose to pay for it from their own pocket. In the meantime, our new corporate directive from head office is to fly on budget carriers when travel is unavoidable, or preferably teleconference on Skype.”
A senior executive at a leading global consulting firm, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Frankly I have better things to worry about, like whether I’ll have a job next month. But having said that my wife might divorce me if we lose our Solitaire cards, and that would cost a lot more than $25k, so I’ll think about it.”
Finally, when interviewed outside the First Class kerbside check-in at Changi Airport Terminal 2, B. Surnalim, Presiden Director of Indonesian cement producer PT Semen Bagus said, “I am already LPP. My employees, they only fly economy class, so no need, thank you.”
Although no statistics have been released by Singapore Airlines, the total member base for PPS Club is thought to have fallen by more than 60% since 2008.
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AsiaTwo “News”: Singapore Airlines offers corporate frequent fliers option to maintain membership status (for a fee)
Singapore, Mar 18, 2010 (AsiaTwo) - Facing declining revenues amid the ongoing economic crisis, Singapore Airlines yesterday quietly launched a new scheme specially for its core base of corporate frequent fliers.
In an e-mail sent to travel managers at some of its top corporate customers, the airline offered to extend PPS Club membership to corporate employees for an annual fee of S$25,000. The fee is equivalent to the standard S$25,000 annual spending requirement on First or Business class for PPS Club. However, members who take up the option will not be required to travel First or Business class to accrue credits, and can instead fly Economy class or not at all.
When contacted by AsiaTwo news, an airline spokesperson commented: “We understand the challenges which our valued customers are currently facing,” she said. “Our corporate customers are under pressure to save on travel costs, and in some cases even face travel freezes. This generous, though temporary, scheme will allow corporate executives to retain their exclusive PPS Club and Solitaire membership even if restricted to flying economy class, or not travelling at all. Our legendary God-like treatment has never been so attainable!”
However, initial reaction to the new scheme was mixed.
The head of human resources at a leading bank now majority-owned by the British government said, “We will offer this option to our executives who may choose to pay for it from their own pocket. In the meantime, our new corporate directive from head office is to fly on budget carriers when travel is unavoidable, or preferably teleconference on Skype.”
A senior executive at a leading global consulting firm, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Frankly I have better things to worry about, like whether I’ll have a job next month. But having said that my wife might divorce me if we lose our Solitaire cards, and that would cost a lot more than $25k, so I’ll think about it.”
Finally, when interviewed outside the First Class kerbside check-in at Changi Airport Terminal 2, B. Surnalim, Presiden Director of Indonesian cement producer PT Semen Bagus said, “I am already LPP. My employees, they only fly economy class, so no need, thank you.”
Although no statistics have been released by Singapore Airlines, the total member base for PPS Club is thought to have fallen by more than 60% since 2008.
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