A woman from China recently claimed she was fired by Singapore Airlines (SIA) on her first day of work — all because she took a few bottles of water from an executive lounge, which she believed was free to take.
Spent a year chasing her dream
The woman shared her story on XiaoHongShu, saying it had always been her dream to become a flight attendant. She spent an entire year preparing for the SIA interview.
During that time, I polished her language skills, studied aviation manuals, and practised my etiquette daily to meet the airline’s high standards,” she wrote.
Cost her nearly RM35,000
After receiving the job offer, she moved to Singapore and spent nearly RM35,000 (about 60,000 yuan) on preparations.
This included rent, visa fees, medical checkups, and uniform fittings.
She said she believed the expenses would be worth it, as she would be able to earn it back slowly once she started working.
Fired after taking water bottles
On her first day, she checked into a hotel arranged by the airline with several other new hires.
That evening, they took a few bottles of water from a lounge area, believing it was part of the hotel amenities.
The next morning, they were called into a cold meeting room by HR and told they were fired for “violating company policy”.
“No phones or electronics were allowed during the session, and no proper explanation was given,” she added.
No room for appeal
The woman claimed that when they tried to explain or ask questions, the HR staff simply told them to pack their things and return to China.
She was also told that all her expenses were her “personal loss”.
She said the experience left her heartbroken, especially after signing the contract and starting her new life abroad.
Others shared similar stories
After returning home, she spoke with other former SIA trainees from China who claimed they were dismissed for minor reasons too.
The woman also admitted that taking the water may have been a mistake, but felt the punishment didn’t match the action.
She ended her post by warning others not to be blinded by the airline’s prestigious image, saying that any good job should be built on mutual respect, not fear or silence.
SIA reminds staff to act professionally
In response to media queries by Mothership, a Singapore Airlines spokesperson said they could not discuss specific details related to current or past employees due to confidentiality.
However, the airline stressed that all staff are expected to behave professionally and follow company policies and laws at all times.
Disciplinary actions will be taken when there is a breach of these rules, the spokesperson added.
