Give credit where it's due - don't judge Changi by single survey
MR RETNAM Thillainathan's unhappiness over Changi Airport's slip in rankings in a recent poll is, while understandable, completely baseless ("Customers first", last Saturday).
A single survey is not indicative of Changi's performance as a whole.
Over the years, the airport has bagged more than 200 awards and is renowned around the world for its customer service, efficiency and reliability.
Mr Thillainathan also claimed that Seoul's Incheon Airport netted the World's Best Airport award in a recent poll "because the management was on its toes to ensure that 'customers were kings'". I beg to differ.
On a trip to Seoul in December last year, notwithstanding the fact that Incheon was abundant with state-ofthe- art facilities, its staff sorely lacked the personal touch.
In fact, staff at the check-in counters and an airline lounge came across as indifferent and unhelpful, providing formulaic service at best.
Contrast this to Changi. On two occasions, my feedback drew instant replies from the airport's senior director (airport management) and senior corporate communications manager.
This speaks volumes of Changi's emphasis on customer service and its willingness to make improvements.
Furthermore, Mr Jorg Dietzel ("Changi still king", last Saturday) rightly pointed out that convenient access to the city sets Changi apart from Incheon, and even Hong Kong.
Certainly, Changi still has room for improvement. But credit should be given where it is due - for its amazing feats over the years and for putting tiny Singapore on the world map.
Kenneth Cheng Jing Wen
A spur to do better
As a young boy growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, I was always awestruck by how everything at Changi was kept so spotlessly clean. Sadly, in recent years, things have not been the same.
On many occasions while having dinner at Terminal 3, I have found the cleanliness of its toilets to be wanting. Instead of dedicated workers toiling away, I saw cleaners idling and chatting outside toilets.
Give more recognition to Changi's 'ambassadors' - those who keep the place clean - so they know their work's significance.
Mr Yeo Feng
An airport to be proud of
I make six to seven trips a year through Hong Kong airport from or to Changi. I cannot understand the Skytrax survey which put Changi behind Hong Kong.
There is no comparison between the airports of Singapore and Hong Kong. Changi is in a class by itself, and substantially better in all respects than Hong Kong.
The reception, immigration processing, ambience and services are without parallel. Singaporeans should take pride in Changi, which continues to set the international standard for air travel.
