Uli
Mar 5, 04, 1:18 am
March 05, 2004
SIN-SZX
SQ 808
Boeing 777-200
10:40 -- 14:15
Flight time: 3:15
I waited a long time for international air service to Shenzhen. Our cargo has no problem to get in and out of Shenzhen on an international airline, but as a person who does not want to travel in a container I have not yet been able to. Normally I am always travelling via Hongkong. The SQ flight times to Shenzhen are not yet adjusted properly, the flight comes in mid-day and leaves mid-day, so it is not really useful for business people who just want to stay in Shenzhen for one working day. But, anyway, better than nothing. Also, there is no F class on this flight. They offer the international old C class product on this route.
Even if you are on a ten-sector international F trip, SQ does not let you use the F part of their lounge. They insist your flight is C class so you can only get the C class breakfast in the lounge and not the F one. OK, accepted, as my waiting time was very short anyway.
The flight was leaving from F59, a very remote location. C class was 1/3 full, Y completely booked at 100%. The cabin crew was very nice and helpful. The usual SQ experience: if you desire something, you will get it just about before you ask for it. After the welcome champaign and take-off, sockets and hot towels were presented and the beverage service started immediately. Other than on LH were you have to wait until one hour in flight before you get a drink, this works much faster on SQ. The wine list is quite nice for business class: Pieper Heidsieck Rare Cuvee and four wines. Of course, I tasted all of them. From the white wine selection, I can recommend the German Hattenheimer Riesling by Balthasar Ress, which is on the sweet side, and from the reds, I recommend the 1999 Chateau Cantin Grand Cru (St. Emilion).
As I hate to eat fish, I always order a vegetarian meal. Most airlines load this meal additionally, so you can still have everything from the menu that you like. Besides, I like to have an extra choice because as a frequent flyer you frequently receive the same menu and may become bored. For this flight, it was a good decision to have the extra meal as the starter was one choice only, and this was a fish dish. Instead, I received a nice plate of Mozzarella Cheese with different vegetables. Three main courses were offered (seared beef fillet in madeira sauce with spinach; oriental style roadt chicken, sake teriyaki). I took the veggie one which was steamed vegetables with couscous, a very delicate choice. Most appreciated of course is the "Ben and Jerryīs New York Super Fudge Ice Cream" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
On my boarding pass, SQ printed the special meal choice as "VLML" -- "vegetarian light meal". When the pursor asked me if I had ordered a special meal, I showed him my BP and told him I ordered the "VLML" which translates into: "very large meal". he was laughing about it but it might have been an old joke http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
The "selection from the cheese board" is disappointing: no cheese board, just a pre-packaged plate. three cheeses sitting on it, one packaged in aluminum foil, with some grapes. if i hate something more than eating fish, then it is supermarket cheese, and this sure is supermarket cheese. a good idea is to take the port wine with it to wash it down http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I like SQs IFE system a lot. On this flight we dont have the interactive version, but for the short duration the offers are more than enough. I just have the feeling that Star Alliance also harmonizes movie purchases, because the SQ IFE system includes about most of the LH movies.
A nice example of SQ service was when one stewardess asked me if I want some more red wine. I said yes, and she went to the galley. as my glass was empty, the other stewardess and the pursor both asked me if I want more wine .... so during three minutes, three people noticed my glass was empty. I just compare this with my LH F flight where sometimes the stewardess walked though the cabin making sure they do not see anything around them and nobody would stop them asking for a drink etc unless the call button was used. On the other side, maybe SQ already had a note on the manifest that it is better to get me drunken quickly so I will sleep and do not bother them any longer http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
shenzhen arrival was very nice: door opened, about 15 customer officers blocked the exit. cabin crew discussed with them five minutes and then we were allowed into the terminal. really, the terminal looked very modern, it was spotless clean and immigration was very fast.
right after customs i was expected by the crowne plaza driver and he brought me to the hotel in an Audi A6 fast and safely.
all in all, if SQ reworks the schedule for this flight, i would stop all my travel via hongkong and go to shenzhen directly on SQ.
SIN-SZX
SQ 808
Boeing 777-200
10:40 -- 14:15
Flight time: 3:15
I waited a long time for international air service to Shenzhen. Our cargo has no problem to get in and out of Shenzhen on an international airline, but as a person who does not want to travel in a container I have not yet been able to. Normally I am always travelling via Hongkong. The SQ flight times to Shenzhen are not yet adjusted properly, the flight comes in mid-day and leaves mid-day, so it is not really useful for business people who just want to stay in Shenzhen for one working day. But, anyway, better than nothing. Also, there is no F class on this flight. They offer the international old C class product on this route.
Even if you are on a ten-sector international F trip, SQ does not let you use the F part of their lounge. They insist your flight is C class so you can only get the C class breakfast in the lounge and not the F one. OK, accepted, as my waiting time was very short anyway.
The flight was leaving from F59, a very remote location. C class was 1/3 full, Y completely booked at 100%. The cabin crew was very nice and helpful. The usual SQ experience: if you desire something, you will get it just about before you ask for it. After the welcome champaign and take-off, sockets and hot towels were presented and the beverage service started immediately. Other than on LH were you have to wait until one hour in flight before you get a drink, this works much faster on SQ. The wine list is quite nice for business class: Pieper Heidsieck Rare Cuvee and four wines. Of course, I tasted all of them. From the white wine selection, I can recommend the German Hattenheimer Riesling by Balthasar Ress, which is on the sweet side, and from the reds, I recommend the 1999 Chateau Cantin Grand Cru (St. Emilion).
As I hate to eat fish, I always order a vegetarian meal. Most airlines load this meal additionally, so you can still have everything from the menu that you like. Besides, I like to have an extra choice because as a frequent flyer you frequently receive the same menu and may become bored. For this flight, it was a good decision to have the extra meal as the starter was one choice only, and this was a fish dish. Instead, I received a nice plate of Mozzarella Cheese with different vegetables. Three main courses were offered (seared beef fillet in madeira sauce with spinach; oriental style roadt chicken, sake teriyaki). I took the veggie one which was steamed vegetables with couscous, a very delicate choice. Most appreciated of course is the "Ben and Jerryīs New York Super Fudge Ice Cream" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
On my boarding pass, SQ printed the special meal choice as "VLML" -- "vegetarian light meal". When the pursor asked me if I had ordered a special meal, I showed him my BP and told him I ordered the "VLML" which translates into: "very large meal". he was laughing about it but it might have been an old joke http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
The "selection from the cheese board" is disappointing: no cheese board, just a pre-packaged plate. three cheeses sitting on it, one packaged in aluminum foil, with some grapes. if i hate something more than eating fish, then it is supermarket cheese, and this sure is supermarket cheese. a good idea is to take the port wine with it to wash it down http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
I like SQs IFE system a lot. On this flight we dont have the interactive version, but for the short duration the offers are more than enough. I just have the feeling that Star Alliance also harmonizes movie purchases, because the SQ IFE system includes about most of the LH movies.
A nice example of SQ service was when one stewardess asked me if I want some more red wine. I said yes, and she went to the galley. as my glass was empty, the other stewardess and the pursor both asked me if I want more wine .... so during three minutes, three people noticed my glass was empty. I just compare this with my LH F flight where sometimes the stewardess walked though the cabin making sure they do not see anything around them and nobody would stop them asking for a drink etc unless the call button was used. On the other side, maybe SQ already had a note on the manifest that it is better to get me drunken quickly so I will sleep and do not bother them any longer http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif
shenzhen arrival was very nice: door opened, about 15 customer officers blocked the exit. cabin crew discussed with them five minutes and then we were allowed into the terminal. really, the terminal looked very modern, it was spotless clean and immigration was very fast.
right after customs i was expected by the crowne plaza driver and he brought me to the hotel in an Audi A6 fast and safely.
all in all, if SQ reworks the schedule for this flight, i would stop all my travel via hongkong and go to shenzhen directly on SQ.