I think this falls in the category of “no good deed goes unpunished.” Or perhaps it just reflects what a high quality operation Singapore Airline runs, if this is all that people have to complain about…
Traveler angry over Singapore Airlines birthday cake policy
Some airlines have a generous policy, whereby they’ll offer you a free cake if you’re traveling on or around your birthday. The exact rules surrounding this vary by airline, and even by cabin. In the case of Singapore Airlines, it can be requested for travel within three days of your birthday in first or business class, or for travel within one day of your birthday in premium economy or economy.
That seems fair enough, not just from a cost control perspective, but also because it’s extra work for the crew, and you want to keep it special. After all, if a couple of dozen people on a plane request a cake, it becomes quite a chore, and it also feels less special. It’s really nice how crews try to make this a nice experience for passengers, as my dad can attest to during his “round” birthday a little over 10 years ago!
That brings us to a story by Mothership, about a recent complaint that Singapore Airlines has received. A 36-year-old Singaporean is traveling from Singapore (SIN) to Shanghai (PVG) in premium economy in the coming weeks, and his birthday is two days after he returns home.
He contacted the Star Alliance airline to request a free cake onboard, but was denied, because his flight didn’t fall within the carrier’s birthday cake policy.
The traveler was “disappointed” and “very displeased” in the response he received, and he believes the airline should “exercise flexibility” on “compassionate grounds” when receiving such “simple requests.” He even said he booked the flight because he needed an extra day to rest in Singapore before his birthday, so he shouldn’t be penalized for that.
