Darren
Mar 18, 05, 3:36 pm
I had just enough time to check my email before heading to the gate and on to the plane. The Singapore Airlines Megatop sat majestically on the tarmac and seemed to be a bit admired by the other airplanes. That, or I was so tired I was delusional. My seat was right in the nose of the aircraft, literally. After sitting down and getting settled, a pretty Singapore Girl appeared to take my coat and offer a pre-departure drink. A bit dehydrated, I asked for water and began to fiddle with the seat. I had heard that SQ is installing on-board Internet and should have been on this flight by now but it unfortunately wasn’t. Maybe by my return it will be. I am definitely in the camp that believes that cell phones should be banned and Internet encouraged. When we landed in LA on the USAir flight, our taxi to the gate was serenaded by an ill behaved northeastern woman yelling into her squaky talkie to someone who was waiting in front of security to pick her up. Yes, she would be speaking with this person in no more than 10 minutes but proceeded to talk during the five minute ride at the top of her lungs.
I will make some comparisons between Singapore (SQ) and Cathay (CX) only because I have flown Cathay many times and so it is my reference point. This is my first SQ experience.
Flight attendants: Both equally friendly. I like the cabin leader’s uniforms on CX better because they are more elegant, in my opinion, but overall the Singapore uniforms are very attractive. I glanced at a story about some French designer making the first “Singapore Girl” uniform about 30 or 40 years ago but I don’t remember the specifics. I find that the CX attendants are more doting than the SQ attendants. They seem to be very, very concerned about the passengers’ comfort and are always coming by to make sure that you don’t need anything. It’s very sweet. The SQ attendants are excellent but more professionally excellent. More like, “ask me for something, anything, and I will get it for you.” I think it’s just a matter of taste and preference as to which is considered better. Both CX and SQ did thank and say goodbye to the pax at the door on debarkation. Very nice touch since they appear to say it with sincerity and not only because it’s in their job description.
Seat: I gotta go with Cathay on this one for only a couple of reasons. The SQ first cabin has 12 seats arranged with three rows on each side by the windows, a single in front, a single behind it, followed by two pair of tandem seats. Overall, the seats are a dream. The leather is soft and beautiful. I believe it’s Connelly or Coach. I really like the table that slides rather than comes out of the seat armrest. That feature I need to really applaud SQ on since the other style I find to be uncomfortable to work in a reclined position. My complaints are limited to only two. First, the controls on the armrest are positioned that if you are reclined then your arm rests squarely on the lumbar support button. As I said in another post, I think that the lumbar support is one of the most uncomfortable and torturous inventions ever made so it’s annoying to have it constantly bulge out every time you put your arm on the rest. Second, the controls are missing two buttons. It is not possible to adjust only the seatback without the seat either raising or lowering the footrest because the same button controls both. But then the controls have a separate button for only the footrest. What happens is that to adjust the seatback without changing the foot rest, you need to let the seat automatically put the foot rest down while it adjusts the seatback and then just put the foot rest back up. I don’t have any clue as to why this was done but it’s a crazy and quite obvious design flaw, in my opinion. In all fairness, the buttons are large, easy to see, and easy to press which is nice except when you put your arm on one. For sleeping, a mattress pad, duvet, and blanket are provided. I like Cathay’s duvet better but the mattress pad is a very nice touch. Pillows are fat and fluffy with satin covers.
Entertainment system: Singapore, hands down, though the system is due for a hardware upgrade. Now that you can virtually buy a new processor at your local 7-11, it’s time that SQ replace the processors for something faster. The menus are slow and the access to the hard drive is slow. But the array of movies and games available on the gorgeous 14-inch screen is staggering. I want to say there are about 100 movies, half as many audio choices, and about the same number of games available.
Food: I preordered the lobster thermador after reading rave reviews on the forum but was a little underwhelmed. I had lobster thermador once before and wasn’t wholly impressed even though I love lobster. I guess I just like it better in its pure form. Since I have the menu here (I am on the plane), I will just list some of the most interesting choices.
International selection:
Ossetra caviar
Celery root and caramelized pear soup
Chilean bass with clam chowder sauce topped with bacon and spinach
Braised chicken and ginger
Grilled pork chop with Burgundy sauce
Soft center chocolate cake with almond ice cream
Kyo-kaiseki (all part of same meal):
Prawn wakakusa, rolled crabmeat, braised clam
Red and white sushi, fish cake
Tuna, squid, and daikon
Cold noodles
Beef teriyaki, bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed
Clams, steamed rice and pickles
Soup with seabream, leeks, and seaweed
I had the lobster thermador, celery root soup (strange but good), and chocolate cake (wonderful). There is an impressive list of non-alcoholic drinks including several teas and four different types of coffee including Jamaican Blue Mountain. That was a very nice touch. Those who know me know I am a tea and coffee fanatic and I can’t afford the JBM so it was a welcome treat. There was a somewhat usual assortment of alcoholic drinks and some specials including Singapore Sling, Silver Kris Sling, Premium Ginjo Sake Tamanohikari, Dom Perignon 1998, Krug Grand Cuvee, Meridian Edna Valley Reserve Chardonnay 2001, Beaune Premier Cru 1999, Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 1999, Chateau Gruaud-Larose 1998 Saint Julien, and Warres 20-year Tawny Port
The rest of the trip to Tokyo was uneventful and we landed about on time if not a minute or two early. The plane was parked off-gate and a bus shuttled us into the terminal. I have been at Narita several times and find myself always wondering why such a world class city has such a dingy airport. It’s dated and confusing and can get very, very crowded. I headed up to the lounge which mirrored the terminal. The Los Angeles flight was getting ready to leave so there were a lot of people waiting. The agent tried to tell me how to access the Internet but there was a significant communication barrier so I just wandered around until I found a signal to piggy back on to. An email or two sent and it was back to the plane. I am not sure why Narita wants transit pax to deplane since I would have been happy to stay but they are obviously worried about something so I will trust that they have their reasons.
After replaning, we joined the long queue to take off and about a half hour later we were airborne. For dinner, I decided to try the kaiseki meal. Again, here are the more interesting choices.
International selection:
Lotus root soup with peanuts and pork
Cream of cauliflower with prawns and scallops in tomato ragout
Chicken stuffed with ricotta and spinach
Deep fried seabream
Rosemary rack of lamb
Opera cake with vanilla ice cream
Kyo-kaiseki (all part of same meal):
Soba and sesame beancurd with salmon roe
Broad bean and shrimp paste, squid roll, simmered beef, clam
Marinated half beak with kelp, firefly squid
Cold noodles
Grilled miso melo fish, bamboo shoots, green beans
Steamed rice and tile fish with sakura leaf
Hen clam with mustard miso
Steamed rice and pickles, miso soup
I had the kaiseki since I had never had it before and I have been told that the airlines spend a lot on the kaiseki meals in first so they are quite good. I think it’s something that you have to really be into Japanese food to enjoy. It was okay but I began to feel a bit ill from it since I am not into a lot of the foods. I am especially not into seafood with certain notable exceptions like crab, lobster, and shrimp. I did try everything but I don’t think I would order it again. The same drinks were available on both flights.
Right now, we are over Manila on the way to Singapore and expect a reasonably on-time arrival. Overall, so far, I have to say that I am very, very, very impressed and that SQ has exceeded my expectations. All that I spoke of and noticed were only various differences in tastes with the exception of the seat controls (which I find absurd, especially with the amount the seats were presumably tested). But then Cathay has its demons as well with its seating. But I can see so far from the airlines that I have flown why all the ranking lists consistently rank both Cathay and Singapore Air as number one. They are both very world class airlines and a pleasure to fly with.
Past Episodes:
#1: Intro, PHL-LAX-LHR-DXB, Dubai (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409654)
#2 : London : The Flumps (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412328)
#3 : London : The Great Navigator (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412333)
#4: PHL-LAX-SIN : Surviving USScareways (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412336)
I will make some comparisons between Singapore (SQ) and Cathay (CX) only because I have flown Cathay many times and so it is my reference point. This is my first SQ experience.
Flight attendants: Both equally friendly. I like the cabin leader’s uniforms on CX better because they are more elegant, in my opinion, but overall the Singapore uniforms are very attractive. I glanced at a story about some French designer making the first “Singapore Girl” uniform about 30 or 40 years ago but I don’t remember the specifics. I find that the CX attendants are more doting than the SQ attendants. They seem to be very, very concerned about the passengers’ comfort and are always coming by to make sure that you don’t need anything. It’s very sweet. The SQ attendants are excellent but more professionally excellent. More like, “ask me for something, anything, and I will get it for you.” I think it’s just a matter of taste and preference as to which is considered better. Both CX and SQ did thank and say goodbye to the pax at the door on debarkation. Very nice touch since they appear to say it with sincerity and not only because it’s in their job description.
Seat: I gotta go with Cathay on this one for only a couple of reasons. The SQ first cabin has 12 seats arranged with three rows on each side by the windows, a single in front, a single behind it, followed by two pair of tandem seats. Overall, the seats are a dream. The leather is soft and beautiful. I believe it’s Connelly or Coach. I really like the table that slides rather than comes out of the seat armrest. That feature I need to really applaud SQ on since the other style I find to be uncomfortable to work in a reclined position. My complaints are limited to only two. First, the controls on the armrest are positioned that if you are reclined then your arm rests squarely on the lumbar support button. As I said in another post, I think that the lumbar support is one of the most uncomfortable and torturous inventions ever made so it’s annoying to have it constantly bulge out every time you put your arm on the rest. Second, the controls are missing two buttons. It is not possible to adjust only the seatback without the seat either raising or lowering the footrest because the same button controls both. But then the controls have a separate button for only the footrest. What happens is that to adjust the seatback without changing the foot rest, you need to let the seat automatically put the foot rest down while it adjusts the seatback and then just put the foot rest back up. I don’t have any clue as to why this was done but it’s a crazy and quite obvious design flaw, in my opinion. In all fairness, the buttons are large, easy to see, and easy to press which is nice except when you put your arm on one. For sleeping, a mattress pad, duvet, and blanket are provided. I like Cathay’s duvet better but the mattress pad is a very nice touch. Pillows are fat and fluffy with satin covers.
Entertainment system: Singapore, hands down, though the system is due for a hardware upgrade. Now that you can virtually buy a new processor at your local 7-11, it’s time that SQ replace the processors for something faster. The menus are slow and the access to the hard drive is slow. But the array of movies and games available on the gorgeous 14-inch screen is staggering. I want to say there are about 100 movies, half as many audio choices, and about the same number of games available.
Food: I preordered the lobster thermador after reading rave reviews on the forum but was a little underwhelmed. I had lobster thermador once before and wasn’t wholly impressed even though I love lobster. I guess I just like it better in its pure form. Since I have the menu here (I am on the plane), I will just list some of the most interesting choices.
International selection:
Ossetra caviar
Celery root and caramelized pear soup
Chilean bass with clam chowder sauce topped with bacon and spinach
Braised chicken and ginger
Grilled pork chop with Burgundy sauce
Soft center chocolate cake with almond ice cream
Kyo-kaiseki (all part of same meal):
Prawn wakakusa, rolled crabmeat, braised clam
Red and white sushi, fish cake
Tuna, squid, and daikon
Cold noodles
Beef teriyaki, bamboo shoots, wakame seaweed
Clams, steamed rice and pickles
Soup with seabream, leeks, and seaweed
I had the lobster thermador, celery root soup (strange but good), and chocolate cake (wonderful). There is an impressive list of non-alcoholic drinks including several teas and four different types of coffee including Jamaican Blue Mountain. That was a very nice touch. Those who know me know I am a tea and coffee fanatic and I can’t afford the JBM so it was a welcome treat. There was a somewhat usual assortment of alcoholic drinks and some specials including Singapore Sling, Silver Kris Sling, Premium Ginjo Sake Tamanohikari, Dom Perignon 1998, Krug Grand Cuvee, Meridian Edna Valley Reserve Chardonnay 2001, Beaune Premier Cru 1999, Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 1999, Chateau Gruaud-Larose 1998 Saint Julien, and Warres 20-year Tawny Port
The rest of the trip to Tokyo was uneventful and we landed about on time if not a minute or two early. The plane was parked off-gate and a bus shuttled us into the terminal. I have been at Narita several times and find myself always wondering why such a world class city has such a dingy airport. It’s dated and confusing and can get very, very crowded. I headed up to the lounge which mirrored the terminal. The Los Angeles flight was getting ready to leave so there were a lot of people waiting. The agent tried to tell me how to access the Internet but there was a significant communication barrier so I just wandered around until I found a signal to piggy back on to. An email or two sent and it was back to the plane. I am not sure why Narita wants transit pax to deplane since I would have been happy to stay but they are obviously worried about something so I will trust that they have their reasons.
After replaning, we joined the long queue to take off and about a half hour later we were airborne. For dinner, I decided to try the kaiseki meal. Again, here are the more interesting choices.
International selection:
Lotus root soup with peanuts and pork
Cream of cauliflower with prawns and scallops in tomato ragout
Chicken stuffed with ricotta and spinach
Deep fried seabream
Rosemary rack of lamb
Opera cake with vanilla ice cream
Kyo-kaiseki (all part of same meal):
Soba and sesame beancurd with salmon roe
Broad bean and shrimp paste, squid roll, simmered beef, clam
Marinated half beak with kelp, firefly squid
Cold noodles
Grilled miso melo fish, bamboo shoots, green beans
Steamed rice and tile fish with sakura leaf
Hen clam with mustard miso
Steamed rice and pickles, miso soup
I had the kaiseki since I had never had it before and I have been told that the airlines spend a lot on the kaiseki meals in first so they are quite good. I think it’s something that you have to really be into Japanese food to enjoy. It was okay but I began to feel a bit ill from it since I am not into a lot of the foods. I am especially not into seafood with certain notable exceptions like crab, lobster, and shrimp. I did try everything but I don’t think I would order it again. The same drinks were available on both flights.
Right now, we are over Manila on the way to Singapore and expect a reasonably on-time arrival. Overall, so far, I have to say that I am very, very, very impressed and that SQ has exceeded my expectations. All that I spoke of and noticed were only various differences in tastes with the exception of the seat controls (which I find absurd, especially with the amount the seats were presumably tested). But then Cathay has its demons as well with its seating. But I can see so far from the airlines that I have flown why all the ranking lists consistently rank both Cathay and Singapore Air as number one. They are both very world class airlines and a pleasure to fly with.
Past Episodes:
#1: Intro, PHL-LAX-LHR-DXB, Dubai (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=409654)
#2 : London : The Flumps (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412328)
#3 : London : The Great Navigator (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412333)
#4: PHL-LAX-SIN : Surviving USScareways (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412336)