Trip Reports - SQ/Lauda Air SIN/BKK-VIE in C-class

Flying RTW *alliance Asia to Europe I wanted to try something different from LH & SQ. By recommendation of our FT friend Rudi I decided to give NG a try.

On 3/6 I started on SQ # 64 from SIN-BKK. I was able to check my luggage thru, spent a little time at the fabulous Silver Kris Lounge before boarding. Boarding was efficient and took my seat 17K, a window seat on the 747-400, exit row upstairs.
The flight left on time, a light dinner was served consisting of a small chef salad, choice of Curry chicken, Beef or Fish, followed by a desert cake. I choose the chicken which was tasty and quite spicy.
Landing in BKK I got my boarding passes for my NG flights and was given an invitation to the LH business lounge.

I checked it, but it was quite crowded, so I found the Senator lounge entering with my *gold card. Besides the regular drinks they offered some hot dog type sausages as snacks which did not look very appealing. I then decided to try the TG lounge. It was less crowded and offered some tasty snacks: finger sandwiches, egg rolls and a couple of other goodies.

Soon it was time to board the Lauda flight where I was very friendly greeting by the FAs. The crew was about 50/50 Austrian/Thai female FAs - a nice mix of blond and black pony tales. The unique dress consisted of black jeans type pants, white/red blouse, a red vest and red Niki Lauda type baseball/F1 hats. The hats were only worn for the boarding/deplaning process.

I settled in my seat 2G, a second row window on the right side of this 767-300. I had actually asked for an aisle seat, but the plane was completely full - so no seat change was possible. All overhead bins filled up quickly.

We were handed out the amenity kits, head sets and menues. The kit consisted of a larger than ususal bag, handy to be reused as a bag to belt around your waist. It consisted of shaver, shaving cream, moisturizers, tooth brush with paste and a comb. Pre-departure drinks were served immediately after sitting down. Pushback was on time.
20 min. into the flight drink service began. Besides the usual aperos/cocktails the wine selection included 3 ea. of sparkling, white and red:

Schlumberger Sparkling Brut, Wien
Piper Heidsieck, Reims
Prosecco Brusole

Riesling 1999, Weingut Nigl Oesterrreich
Vina Sol 2000 Bodegas Miguel Torres Spain
Chardonnay 2000 Penfolds wines South Australia

Blauer Zweigelt 2000 Weingut Sepp Moser Oesterreich
Rioja Marces de Caceres 1997 Cenicero Rioja Alta
Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 1998Wynns Conawara Estate, Australia

I tried a glass of Prosecco, followed by some Rioja, both were excellent.

The dinner menue read:

HORS D'OEVRES VARIES FROM OUR TROLLEY

Spinach-feta cheese Won Ton
Smoked salmon with chive sauce
Mediterrean seafood salad
Prosciutto di Parma
Chickenbreast on Ceasar' salad
Shrimps Extra Vierge
Grilled asparagus with Parmesan cheese

I had some Prosciutto, Cesars Salad and asparagus - all very tasty, except the Parmesan on the4 asparagus was missing.

CREAM of BROCCOLI
with crouton

it was a nice soup served hot

MAIN COOURSE:

Red Snapper in Cilantro Butter,
on sauteed onions with Gaspacho relish & crispy fried cilantro, parsley potatoes
or
Roasted loin fo Veal in Basil Butter, with pommes gratin & grilled vegetables
or
Yellow Chicken Curry, with steamed rice.

I choose the veal, cooked perfectly to a rosa color inside.

ASSORETED CHEESE & EXCOTIC FRUIT from our trolley

DESSERTS:

Tarte of Citron
and/or
Sweet Curd Strudel, with creamy vanilla sauce
and/or
Pineapple-Mint-Sherbet, with mangoragout

I had a piece of cheese and skipped dessert as it was well past midnight time.

Coffe/Tea with a wide selection of digestifs finished up the meal. Afterwards the FAs asked us to fill out the breakfast order enclosed in the menu. Besides cereal, yoghurts, it offered eggs with bacon or ham-cheese omelet.

One of the reasons for the nice meals was certainly the chef who prepared them in the galley. Congratulated him to a job well-done
I learned that the catering firm sends a chef along all long-distance flights.

Flight entertainment showed some movies and the map. I did not use it as I then tried to get some sleep in the adequate but a bit cramped seat, especially once the pax in front of you went into full recline. Getting in/out of it without disturbing my seat neighbour was next to impossible.

1 1/2 hrs before landing breakfast was served with a wide variety of juices & breads.

Landing of the 11hr. 30 min. flight was 10 min early. I proceeded to the lounge awaiting my connecting flight.

Overall assessment: very friendly crew and absolutely outstanding food/beverage service.
Seating could be better. I heard that NGs 777 offer wider seats with longer pitch.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

where is the LH Senator lounge in BKK? (I have visited either the poor LH business class lounge, the RCC (with a small first class compartement), the TG lounges (nice cold sandwiches) and SQ Kris Lounge.

and, wasn't there a small grey 'special' package in your NG-business-class-gift (a condome?).

thanks for a good report. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

The LH Senator lounge was across the hall nearby the one TG lounge I visited (don't recall the gate #s), but it was virtually the same as the C-lounge, inluding the poor snack selection, mainly consisting of the suspicious-looking hot dogs.

Re lounges: The ones in VIE did not open until 5h30 a.m., so pax had to wait around up to that time. The *gold lounge on the lower level is a bit nicer, but the business class lounge upstairs offer a (single) shower.

I have to recheck later the amenity kit for that little gray pack, as it is not with me. Do you "collect 'em", Rudi? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Anyway, unless someone's absolutely starving it is strongly suggested to hold yourself and safe your appetite for the wonderful inflight food service.

Do you "collect 'em", Rudi?

well, you know (do you?), it is one of the few airline gifts you really can and do share ... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redface.gif

actually, i am just sitting in the OS lounge in VIE having arrived from BKK on this NG flight... (arr. was at 4.40, lounge only opens at 5.30... annoying!)

i completely agree with your report. seat recline is imho not sufficient, the do&co catering outbound VIE is excellent.

but overall i felt a bit like in a comfort class of a charter operator and not like in a business class... but i guess this is just the special lauda way. just not my piece of cake after an exhausting business stay in BKK. but definetly worth trying.

thank you for your report!

I'm glad to have read this - just after I've paid for a D class from SYD-VIE in summer. It was very cheap from travel.com.au , so I cannot complain - but at least I know what to expect now.

Very informative report. What was the seat like? Does it have good pitch? Was there a hot breakfast alternative?

Seating in the 767-300 was 2x2x2 = 6 across.
The width was comparable to a business class seat such as in a AA, UA 767. Pitch and recline was less than in UAs 767-300 for example. The leg rest did not move up too much and the foot rest did not extend to allow stretching your legs fully (I am ~ 181 cm in height). Cushioning was firm. I was told by a FA that pitch (and I would assume recline, leg/foot rests) in NGs B-777 was more generous and the seat more comfortable.