Because competition in the airtravel industry is so fierce, the airlines try to outdo one another with more and new amenities. They try to lure business class and first class passengers with their executive lounges at the airports, offering more luxurious facilities, superb cuisine, electronic devices geared for traveling businessmen, atbp. All of which are designed to make traveling as one would say — worth the trip!

So here comes a new one. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched the Boarding Pass Privileges (BPP) programme for SIA passengers arriving in Manila on the 3 daily flights from Singapore.

By simply showing their boarding pass, SIA passengers get to enjoy fabulous discounts in partner hotels, restaurants, leisure and shopping outlets within 7 days of their arrival or flight.

In Manila, the first to sign up at SIA partner in the BPP program is Mandarin Oriental Manila in Makati which offers 50 percent discount on published room rates on weekdays and 60 % discount on weekends to local and foreign SIA passengers.

This includes a 10% discount in the hotel business center, transportation and laundry services plus a free overnight stay on the 3rd night.

On their next stay at the Mandarin Oriental, SIA PPS club members will get a complimentary room upgrade certificate.

For business travelers, the Mandarin’s business room boast of SPEEDConnect, a broadband internet service in the guest rooms and wi–fi facilities in the 24 hour business center, function rooms and restaurants.

The Mandarin Oriental Club situated in four private floors comprising of 104 guest rooms comes with complimentary breakfast, cocktails and all day refreshment in the Club Lounge.

The bonus doesn’t end there. SIA passengers get 20% discounts in the Mandarin’s fine dining restaurant, the Tivoli, and at The Oriental Spa.

And the list of SIA partners is growing!

Recently, Chocolate by the Bald Man Max Brenner, a popular restaurant in Greenbelt 3, Makati City, also signed up as a SIA boarding pass privilege partner.

Then, there’s the restaurant group of Sentro 1771 in Greenbelt and Chateau 1771, plus Malate Pensionne in Malate and Hotel Pontefino in Batangas City.

Watch for more partners in the SIA BPP program.

You can avail also of the SIA BPP programme in Singapore, Australia, Bali, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Vietnam. The SIA BPP programme was a Gold Award winner in the Pacific Asia Travel Association Awards 2005. For inquiries, log on to singapore.com/boardingpass.

*****

THUMBS DOWN to another airline which I had the misfortune to taking recently on a trip to Hong Kong.

The airline used to be my favorite since I specially liked their inflight service and food… that is, until I took it to Hong Kong in economy class.

Our flight was the very first in the morning, virtually at dawn, out of NAIA. Of course, I was expecting to get breakfast in flight. Dear, dear, talk about expectations! Evidently, there is a world of difference between business class and economy class on the airline.

What we got was a chicken sandwich in a bun, a fruit salad and a choice of beverage — juice, soda, coffee or tea. The chicken in the sandwich evidently had been prepared the night before. It was dry, tasteless and had no mayonnaise or anything to ease our pain.

We had coffee which was okay except that… refills? Forget it. The attendants were nowhere in sight until it was time to collect the trays.

Our flight home was at the dinner hour. Dinner was… guess what? … a sandwich bun (same as breakfast) which the stewardess said was "chicken" but tasted suspiciously of canned corned beef which I didn’t eat because I don’t eat meat. And yes, I didn’t bother to look for refills of my coke.

Airlines have been cutting corners to reduce operation costs — and I don’t blame them. But I think economy class passengers also have a right to a decent hot meal. Those fares aren’t exactly cheap, you know!