Etihad Airways has finally reintroduced its beloved Airbus A380 superjumbo on flights to the US after years of uncertainty.
04.04.2024 - 17:25 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines
While I might be one of TPG's hotel reporters, I still consider myself an AvGeek with an appreciation for the flight service of yesteryear — even if I did come of age at a time when bags of mini pretzels were considered an inflight luxury.
Chateaubriand sliced seatside aboard Pan Am first class, TWA napkins placed so the logo was always facing up at the passenger: These are the things I thought belonged to air travel days gone by.
It certainly appears that way anytime you board a flight from Boston to New York City, and there isn't enough time to pass out even a cup of water — even in first class.
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But after a few days on the other side of the world at the Singapore Airlines Training Center as well as a nearby catering facility at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), I'm happy to report the golden age of travel is alive and well. However, it takes a lot of training and prep work to make sure this airline, viewed as one of the world's best, lives up to its lofty reputation.
There were 133 graduating classes of 20-person flight attendant training groups in 2023 at Singapore Airlines — the most of any year in company history. The rigorous 14-week training — one of the longest in the industry — combines communications skills, product knowledge and safety training.
By comparison, training at U.S. airlines takes about half the time. It focuses primarily on safety and less on the intricacies of inflight service
What to know: Ultimate guide to the new Singapore Suites
Aspiring Singapore Airlines flight attendants start with five weeks of training focused on service and product knowledge. Each training batch begins with communication and interpersonal skills. This is evident in the numerous "Good morning!" and "Hello!" greetings I received from smiling flight attendants-to-be in the hallways of the training center.
On my 18-hour flights to and from Singapore, the robust communication skills training was clear from every flight attendant working the business-class cabin; they all greeted me by name and provided consistently friendly banter over the span of the world's longest flight. Trainees are assessed on these skills at the beginning of their path to working at 38,000 feet in the sky.
While some of us might be exhausted by the thought of mile-high small talk on just a 45-minute flight to Washington, D.C., there's a reason why Singapore Airlines flight attendants can keep the conversation going for more than 18 hours. Until the communication skills are perfected, trainees can't move on to the next stage of training.
If you're thinking of applying for a job here, it might be a good idea to brush up on Dale Carnegie's "The Art
Etihad Airways has finally reintroduced its beloved Airbus A380 superjumbo on flights to the US after years of uncertainty.
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