Part 2:
JFK-FRA-SIN in Singapore Airlines Suites
SQ25
A380-800, Seat 3F
I was second to board and was warmly welcomed by the flight crew. I went to my seat and the inflight supervisor came to welcome me. Singapore doesn’t have duty-paid alcohol in JFK so I ordered a Midsummer Breeze, one of the nonalcoholic cocktails on the menu. It was refreshing. I love the SQ suites. They feel spacious and comfortable, yet private.
I started watching Moana, but paused to take off the noise-cancelling headphones for takeoff. I really love hearing the powerful roar of the A380 engines (even though well-muffled by the aircraft’s soundproofing) and feeling the takeoff roll. After a long taxi and lineup to takeoff, we were airborne.
I was brought a lovely glass of Krug with some mixed nuts and my dinner order was taken. I had ordered a book-the-cook entrée, but I made my selections for the other courses.
I started with the Caviar. I really enjoy Singapore’s caviar service, though it’s surprising that they don’t offer a mother of pearl spoon. Perhaps it’s embarrassing, but I really liked having the caviar on the garlic bread. Singapore Airlines offers really tasty garlic bread! This was served with a chilled shot of Belvedere vodka.
After the caviar, I had soup. This was probably the weakest course of the meal. The cold cauliflower jelly in the middle was actually tasty and interesting, but the soup around it was lukewarm and it just seemed a bit of a strange combination.
The salad with Thousand Island dressing was a nice refreshing course. I normally don’t order Thousand Island, but this one seemed lighter (and wasn’t slathered on) and I enjoyed it.
I then had my book-the-cook entrée, the short rib of beef braised in Chinese wine. This was really good comfort food. Braised meats with sauce heat up well on aircraft. I had expected an Asian-style flavor, but it actually tasted like a very tasty American pot roast, which was perfect comfort food. Nice dish overall. This was nice with the Bordeaux red wine.
I was getting full and asked which dessert was tastiest, but I was convinced to have a few bites of both. The chocolate dessert was the much better of the two. I enjoyed it with some Hennesey XO Cognac brandy.
I then changed into my SQ pajamas and asked for my bed to be made up. I took a look around the lavatory to explore what amenities were available. A nice selection is on offer.
I asked not to be woken for breakfast, as I knew I’d be eating pretty much nonstop for a day and a half, between my JFK-FRA-SIN-HKG flights, lounges, and Singapore hawker stalls! I woke up about an hour before landing and had my bed turned back into a seat. I asked for a croissant and some Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee (which apparently sells for over $100/pound.) My table was set and I had a nice snack before disembarking. The aircraft is fully cleaned and security-cleared in FRA, so continuing passengers were instructed to take all of their belongings with them when exiting. Upon disembarking, an agent had a sign with three names, mine and two other Suites customers continuing on to Singapore. She escorted the other two to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, but I wanted to walk around a bit and have a shower in the Maple Leaf Lounge. She very kindly told me that I would be welcome anytime in the Senator Lounge and she told me where to find it. I then walked through the entirety of Terminal 1B playing Ingress and then headed to the Maple Leaf Lounge for a shower.
FRA AC Maple Leaf Lounge
I was welcomed to the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge in English and I responded in English. The agent scanned my boarding card and said something in German to me. I then asked where the showers were, and he profusely apologized for the German. I laughed and said “no problem at all! I have one of the most German names around.” He said, “indeed” and directed me to the shower area with a smile.
It’s a cute touch that the four shower rooms were labeled with Canadian airport codes. I decided to shower in YYC since I had never been to Calgary. This was a really nice shower, mostly because it was a rainfall shower with great water pressure, but also because I needed to wake up after just a few hours of sleep. I took my time relaxing and drying my hair.
The lounge is recently renovated and modern and very comfortable.
Unfortunately, when I came out of the shower, I could see the morning Air Canada flight pulling away and they had removed all of the breakfast food, cleaning the buffet and preparing to put the lunch food out. I wasn’t ready for lunch, so I decided to head to the LH Senator Lounge to get a little breakfast.
LH Senator Lounge
The Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Terminal 1B East was quite busy, but still had the breakfast spread available. I got some eggs and a pretzel, and a German wheat beer. Hey, I can literally say it’s 5:00 somewhere because it was about 5:30pm in Singapore!
I was looking forward to returning to my suite for the flight to Singapore…
FRA-SIN
SQ25
A380-800, Seat 3F
After a bit of relaxing, I headed to board my flight. There were agents holding “Singapore Airlines Last Call” signs sort of wandering through the hallways near my gate. I was one of the last to board (although I had asked when boarding closes when I disembarked and was told “11:40, so just make sure to be here by 11:30” and it was before that, so I was fine.) I was greeted with a “Welcome back, Mr. ChrisNY2” by several flight crew, one of whom escorted me back to my seat. My suite was refreshed and clean.
I was brought a new set of pajamas and this time, the flight attendant encouraged me to change to get comfortable right away. I did so.
I asked to have a Singapore Sling, but was told with a big apology that they didn’t yet have the bar open, but I could have my choice of Champagne, and a cocktail right after takeoff. I started with some Dom Perignon, which was tasty.
After a relatively short taxi, with lots of interesting aircraft to look at, we readied for takeoff. After another powerful takeoff roll, we were airborne.
My lunch order was taken. I had ordered the book-the-cook Suckling Pig with Beer Sauce. I asked if that was a good choice and was told “oh yes, from Germany, the German pork dishes are the best.” I was also brought my Singapore Sling, which was a nice way to begin the flight segment to Singapore. (Yes, there are so many interesting alcohol beverage choices on SQ, so I’m making sure to get my fill!)
Satay was brought out as a canape – I asked for just chicken though the menu offered chicken and lamb.
After a bit, my table was set for lunch. I started with the smoked egg, which I was very excited about, but which didn’t really live up to the menu description. The egg tasted mostly like a normal hard boiled egg. The pickled vegetables were good, and there was some kind of white sauce on the bottom that seemed like a flattened baked egg white. The dish was inoffensive, but just not that tasty. I had some Krug with it.
Next came a tasty Asian chicken soup.
I was getting full, so I told the cabin crew that I’d like to skip the salad course. She was personable and lovely throughout the flight – she said “would you like me to give you a few minutes to digest?” I said, yes that would be great! (I think they really had timed to start heating the entrée while I ate the salad and it wouldn’t be immediately ready. But that was fine – some digestion time was helpful!)
I quite enjoyed the suckling pig. The cabbage was an additional highlight! I had a couple of bites and she checked in on me to ask how it was. I said it was delicious and she then recommended trying the bites with some of the German mustard – she said it would bring out different flavors. She was right and the mustard really complemented the meat quite well.
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After lunch, I said I was too full for anything else at the moment, but that I might have a dessert later in the flight. She asked which I wanted and said she’d keep one aside for me.
I had my bed made up and this time it was set up with a Singapore Airlines teddy bear. I dozed off for a few hours of sleep and then woke up, feeling a bit puckish. I asked for a tray to be set up with noodles. The prawn noodles were recommended, so I agreed to those. She asked if I’d like a glass of champagne while the noodles were prepared, and I had a glass of Dom. I decided to finish up the last Harry Potter movie, which I had started earlier.
The noodles arrived, and some nice sake. This was a great midflight snack.
Then I was brought my Moscato Wine Sorbet, which was very delicious! I had it with some Choya Umeshu, a Japanese liqueur which I had never tried.
I decided to order some Macallen Whisky on the rocks and do a bit of writing on my laptop on the bed tray.
After a couple of hours, it was time for breakfast to be served. I had preordered a new book-the-cook option from the Wholesome menu. These options were added to the ex-FRA options in December 2016. The meal started with a nice fruit plate.
I was then served my Book The Cook Deliciously Wholesome Farro and Avocado Salad with Red Lentil Souffle in Red Capsicum, Lime and Jalapeno Dressing with an extra side of made-on-board scrambled eggs. This soufflé was one of the best things I ate on this trip. It was full of flavor and the salad served with it contained fresh avocado and some nice tomatoes. This was served with a dish of a tomatoey sauce. I really loved this dish. Highly recommended.
I finished off the meal with a cup of Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.
We landed in Singapore and I stopped by The Private Room in the SilverKris Lounge for some breakfast. I enjoyed an omelette with chicken sausage and a selection of dim sum.
After immigration, I ordered a carshare on Grab and headed downtown…