INB O X YOUR LE T T E R S Star letter
TOP OR B O T TOM? I am sitting in one of the worst lounges I have ever experienced around the world. The last two months I have had the misfortune to travel through it many times... So imagine my surprise to read it’s in your
“Top 100 airport lounges” article in the June issue. The Malaysia Airlines lounge in the satellite
terminal of Kuala Lumpur International Airport is a disgrace. The service is pitiful at best. The food and beverage offerings, if available, are inedible. How you rate it at all is beyond me. My current visit today: the staff simply
glanced up and carried on talking to each other. No welcome at the desk, no “you will depart from gate x”, etc. The food buffet was empty with just a
20
couple of cakes and old, dry fruit left. “More food soon,” I was told… At the bar, I struggled to order a sprite. Eventually I was handed a can. I had to ask for a glass and ice. What a contrast with my previous experience
in Amsterdam, where I had wifi problems and a staff member let me borrow her personal mobile so I could make an urgent call. No chance at a Malaysia Airlines lounge.
Scot Toon, New Zealand
B U SINE S S T R A V E LLE R A S IA - PAC IFIC RE P L IE S : Hi Scot, thanks for your email. As you mention, the Malaysia Airlines new business class Golden Lounge in the Satellite Terminal is one of the lounges included in our Top 100 Airport Lounges feature. This list was a combination of
our experiences as well as recommendations from other readers. In this case, the lounge was recommended for its smart design and wide offering of Malaysian and Western food options. However, your email goes to show just how important consistency is in delivering service, particularly in a flagship lounge at a carrier’s home hub – a lesson worth remembering for all service providers.
STAR L E T TER PR I Z E
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suitcases from Timothy Travel Essentials
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Star Letter, email us at editorial@ businesstraveller
asia.com and include your full postal address and daytime telephone
number. We
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DIGITAL DR E AM Entering the digital era has made our daily lives so much easier. The number of digital products and offerings are mushrooming as the demand for digital products also grows across the globe. While this is of course useful at work, I am constantly
amazed by how much the digital experience has revolutionised travel, providing great perks, convenience and security. These days, I use online channels to purchase my
flight tickets, hotel bookings, car rental and a lot more, for both leisure and business trips. Not only do I have 24/7 access to the booking engines,
I can usually find great deals and bundles online. Another amazing facility is the e-wallet, which
allows me to combine various payment options from different accounts into one digital purse for a hassle-free payment option. It is also a worry-free experience, as transactions via
PayPal and Visa, for example, are highly secure with a minimal risk of fraudulent transactions, and are accepted in more than 40 countries. The e-wallet also allows me to collect points and take
advantage of attractive promotions. It’s great to see more airlines start to explore e-wallet
facilities for their passengers, as the channel gives benefits to both parties. I encourage fellow business travellers to embrace and
support the use of digital channels in their lives, and particularly for travel. It not only makes our lives easier, but offers better value for money and saving potential. Hazlina Hassan, Malaysia
S K Y -HIGH S HUT -E YE Sleep. We’re all deprived of it, and could certainly use a few more hours of deep snooze. When you hit the skies, it becomes even more elusive. After having bedded down on several business class
flights, I still think that Singapore Airlines woos and beds the best: ample leg room, a clever mattress release and ambient lighting truly allows for a good slumber. My usual repertoire is several Singapore slings with a
foreign movie before snuggling under the warm blanket and soft pillows for at least six or seven hours of sleep. In the morning, I stir to gentle voices of the crew
asking if I want a meal before touchdown, and a hot towel brings me back to reality. If you want a good sleep, at a good price tag, I’d opt for Singapore Airlines.
Kim Lee, Singapore
T E LL US ABOU T YOUR T R A VE L S AT EDIT ORIAL@B U S INE S S T R A VE L L E R A S IA . C OM SEP T E M B ER 2 0 18 bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
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