Short hair Francis

The sad thing was the salad was lettuce and nothing else.
And catering didn't even drain the leaves properly, it still had water on the bottom.
Thought it was against Quebecois law not to travel on Air France

As I said above, the top looks ok, the bottom was still wet and wilted
And I prefer it not to be drenched in dressing obviously, but man, they could've at least thrown a tomato or something else vs. just a bowl of lettuce.
I looked back at some of my own photos, when the likes of RJ are beating you on the catering front, good luck
Or even CX, CX is not known to be good on the catering front either

Here are some better comparison for other airline who trying to make a salad

American Airlines Salad


Cathay Pacific Salad




Lufthansa Salad


Qantas Salad, pretty close to Air France sadly


Singapore Airlines Salad


United Airlines Salad, I know its First Class not Business

Short hair Francis

Part 5 – Can we just hit the Skip Button, United Airlines P.S First Class JFK-SFO


A quick clearance with the US CBP and I’m back in New York again, should’ve planned for more than 14 hours layover.
As my parents were also in NYC and DC for their New Year’s holiday, I simply crashed at their Andaz Wall Street room for the night.

Now this is Christmas spirit, not the Hong Kong style one, YUCK








And what’s a trip to New York City without the usual oysters of course




But with my crazy Whirlwind Style flying, my body gave out yet again around 9pm so right back to sleep until 3am for the next flight

Jan 5, 2013 – Saturday
UA 303 JFK – SFO 6:00am – 9:30am (752/F)

Ding Ding Ding, wake up time, 30 mins then back to JFK Airport, going for the more expensive taxi ride today, gave up trying to ride at the A train from Fulton at such an ungodly hour.

Same as 1/2 a year ago, when I flew my last P.S. First, nothing has changed yet.

New York Kennedy Airport Terminal 7




JFK United Airlines First Class Lounge







I was very curious as to how old some of the chairs were, the lounge for lack of a better word, needs to move into something called 21st Century Décor, eek…
Strangely the club agent said, this chairs are less than 2 months old, really????
Look like it came out from a Walmart, or Grandma’s basement….

Either way, it’s Happy Hour somewhere in the World, and in my Brain too
Apple Cran and Vodka, just like the old college days


Part 5 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Around 5:10am, I decided to stretch and head down to Gate 9 for the flight

United Airlines 303
New York Kennedy to San Francisco
6:00am – 9:30am, 6 hr 30 min flight
First Class, Seat 2C
Food – Breakfast
Equipment – Boeing 757-200 (12F/26J/72Y)



It was showing an somewhat empty First Class cabin, but it still went out full nonetheless


And at 5:20am, boarding commenced and I proceed to take a pic of the P.S. Business Class Cabin. And the FA literally bit my head off, no photos in the plane, WHAT!?!I
Seriously, you think people want to steal the airline’s technology when you’re replacing them within the year.
Luckily the 2 B!tchy FA were working in Business Class

Hence these First Class cabin/seat photos are recycled from my last report

United Airlines Boeing 757-200 P.S. First Class Cabin



United Airlines Boeing 757-200 P.S. First Class Seat






United Airline Boeing 757-200 P.S. Business Class Cabin


Let’s keep up the drinking for the Pre-Departure


Door closed at exactly 6am, and 15 minute taxi to 31L, and the usual Breezy Point climb to San Francisco, today’s flight time 5 Hour 52 Minutes.


Digiplayers were handed out during the flight but I basically wanted to have the breakfast then sleep a couple extra hours for the upcoming 18 hours of flying Singapore First Class.

UA 303 Breakfast

To Begin
Fresh Seasonal Fruit
Yogurt Parfait with peaches and granola

Main Course
Cheddar Cheese Omelette
Broccoli-Potato Gratin and turkey sausage

Cinnamon-Glazed French Toast
Turkey Sausage and Maple Syrup

Cereal and Banana
Served with Milk

Cinnamon rolls and croissants with butter and fruit preserves

Light Snacks are available at any time following the meal service
Please help yourself or ask a flight attendant for today’s selection

Please stop trying United Airlines, what a shame of a meal, ugh




And after 1 1/2 hours in, and with the breakfast meal completed, as the title, there is a button in the old videotape player called “Skip”

That being said, United did do its job today as we started descent into the Bay Area at 8:30am, they got me to SFO on time for my Singapore connection, not bad
UA 303 finally parked at the gate at 9:09am, 3 hours 40 minutes connection time to SQ 15, Perfect


Next Part
Part 6 – On top of the World, Singapore Airlines First Class SFO-ICN

tomofmaine

Loving this so far.. The salad montage was a good piece of TR journalistic genius!

Short hair Francis

Haha, Thanks very much
Guess I need to eat my vegetables
While also taking photos

Short hair Francis

Part 6 – On top of the World, Singapore Airlines First Class SFO-ICN


If you look back into my introduction, I wrote that my ticket was originally YYZ-SFO-SIN-HKG, now how did I ended up in starting this ticket in JFK.
YYZ-SFO was originally offered as a 1x on UA departing 7am ex-YYZ, but was later cancelled for Saturdays. Guess what my travel day fell on, you’ve guess it, Saturday.
Scareways originally didn’t acknowledge UA cancelled that day flight, but after a couple phone calls, I did convince them of such fact. By the time this was caught, it was in early Nov, there is no ways you can get a reward ticket in Business or First Class from YYZ-SFO the weekend after New Years or the fact the SQ F part was pretty much unmovable, the only availability was First on the sat 6am JFK-SFO hence why my ticket starts in JFK and ends in YYZ

Jan 5, 2013 – Saturday
SQ 15 SFO – ICN 12:50pm – 6:35pm (+1)[Jan 6] (77W/F)

An on time arrival and about 10 min walk from Gate 80 over to International Terminal.

Singapore Airlines First Class Check-In



No wait for the First Class Check-In and I was checked in all the way to HKG, wonderful.
They were also looking for bumps for the day, which I did inquire, give up 3 hours of F for flying SQ Suites, we can talk about that.
Sadly they will not bump First Class customers


Another day, Another Time


Sadly the priority security at SFO int’l is always bit of a headache for myself, took just over 20 minutes plus a nice massage to get pass them today.

Time to hid in the SFO United Airlines First Class Lounge






Had a couple piece of sushi since the UA transcon breakfast wasn’t much, was trying to save myself for Singapore First however.
Around 12pm, I went over to gate G95 for the Singapore flight

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER


Boarding Line were clearly divided between First, Business and Economy.
You can’t mix the First and Business Class here lol

Singapore Airlines 15
San Francisco to Seoul Incheon, Continuing Service to Singapore Changi
12:50pm – 6:35pm(+1)[Jan 6], 12 hr 45 min flight
First Class, Seat 2F
Food – Lunch, Dinner
Equipment – Boeing 777-300ER




I was the 2nd person to board in First Class, I don’t win the Premium Gate Lice award every time, nonetheless, gotten a good mix of pics anyhow.
More SQ 77W cabin and seats photos in Part 7

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER First Class Cabin




Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER First Class Seat





Part 6 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

A Glass of 2012 Dom Perignon was served very quickly to me, and the SQ FAs let me go away on the photo barrage.



What I love about the seat, it’s big as in wide alright, real big, and the leather feels really good and classy.
However it is a bit short and the storage space underneath the seat barely fit all my carry-ons.
Storage Space for small item also seem to be somewhat limited, I would even give up and inch of width to have that.
And finally, where the headphone jacks are located right near your head, especially in the case where you have to flip the bed over for bed mode, you’re bound to break a headphone jack sooner or later.

Nice Lavatory to get changed in


Boarding was finally completed at 12:49pm, Full First Class cabin with 2 kids in First today and the parents sat back in Business, what!?!
I was never that lucky

12 Hours exact flight time to Seoul Incheon today


Its been a long time since I’ve flown you


United Airlines’ Asia Rush Hour


A slow taxi to Runway 28L then off across the Pacific
Have to love take-off pics from San Francisco






Singapore Airlines First Class Amenity, missing pajamas


With overcast and bumpy off in the Pacific, and since I was still tired from the Round the World flying, I decided to change things up and had the bed set-up and sleep off the 1st 3 hours of flight and held off the Lunch until later of course with my dining options noted first.

A quick Singapore Sling prior to sleep




Part 6 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

I’ve gotten my wake-up call after 3 Hours of Sleep as requested and slowly but surely the meal service began.

Mid-Flight Snack Basket already set-up


Is it a sunrise or sunset over Alaska?


SQ 15 Lunch
*Featuring Suzanne Goin, chef from Los Angeles

Appetizers
Chilled Malossoi Caviar
With melba toast and condiments

*Crabmeat salad in chili-lime salsa, avocado, roasted baby beet and crème fraiche

Soup
*Roasted red bell pepper soup with ratatouille
Double-boiled Clear Quail Soup with wolfberries and black mushrooms

Salad
Mizuna with shaved fennel and cherry tomato
Honey Mustard dressing or Balsamic and extra virgin olive oil dressing

Main Course
Grilled Rib Eye of Beef with artichoke-potato hash and black olive chimichurri
Kingfish Korean Style, seasonal vegetables and steamed ric e with kimchi on the side
*Seared Lamb Loin with balsamic jus and grilled zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper and cherry tomato
Slow braised chicken with abalone and garlic, stir fried vegetable and steamed rice

Finale
*Warm Caramelized Chocolate Bread-Butter Pudding, chocolate sorbet
Warm Apricot Frangipane in chocolate tart with vanilla ice cream and apricot compote
Camembert, Cypress grove humbolt fog, Carmody California and Pint reyes blue with dried fruit, grapes, nuts and crackers
Fresh Fruits in Season
A selection of gourmet coffees and fine teas served with pralines

Hot Towel to start


Singapore Airlines First Class Dining Set-Up, love the dishes


Bread Basket


My Garlic Bread, seems like SFO couldn’t make Garlic Bread, almost broke my teeth trying to bite it


More Dom Perignon Please


Was able to have both Appetizer which was great
Appetizer 1, Chilled Malossoi Caviar With Melba toast and condiments


Appetizer 2, Crabmeat salad in chili-lime salsa, avocado, roasted baby beet and crème fraiche, fantastic appetizer


Soup, Double-boiled Clear Quail Soup with wolfberries and black mushrooms


Salad


Both Soup and Salad were pretty average, and I had planned for the Chicken with Abalone on steamed rice for Main Course, since I wanted a CX vs. SQ First comparison, and CX usually serves either lobster or chicken with abalone as a Chinese Main.

Now this was a big slip-up on SQ’s part, sir we don’t have another chicken.
Ah, my mouth literally drops, what do you mean you don’t have the chicken, I specifically requested and confirmed the chicken was available prior to sleeping.
Seems like our colleague counted the number of mains wrong, we were supposed to have 3 according to the cater sheet, and when we did our own check, there was also 3. Somehow now we only have 2, I’m so sorry.
Talk about a big thumbs down, that was big screw-up on SQ First I haven’t heard off before

Sadly I had to make do with the Grilled Rib Eye of Beef with artichoke-potato hash and black olive chimichurri, was good, but it wasn’t what I wanted


The FA did try to redeem herself with double dessert offerings
Dessert 1, Warm Caramelized Chocolate Bread-Butter Pudding, chocolate sorbet


Dessert 2, Warm Apricot Frangipane in chocolate tart with vanilla ice cream and apricot compote


Cheeseboard


And finally Pralines and Green Tea to end the service



Part 6 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Now I love the SQ First food, taste great, of course it doesn’t do crap if the FA decide let my Chicken fly-away mid-flight while I was asleep or the fact the Garlic Bread almost broke my teeth

Cool Photos flying above Alaska and over the Bering Sea






And after 2 hours of photo re-arranging and a movie,



SQ 15 Light Bites
Noodles
Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian instant noodles

Sandwiches
Croissant with creamy chicken and tomato
Focaccia bread with roasted vegetables and cheese

Snacks
Cashew Nuts, honeyed walnuts, macadamia nuts
Chips, Cookies, Chocolate Bar, Snack Bar, Krispy Kreme Doughnut
A selection from the fruit basket

I decided to go for a light snack, I promise, its really a light snack



And 2 1/4 hours out from ICN, we started the last meal service


SQ 15 Light Meal
Appetiser
Salad of Marinated Alaskan King Crab with Mango on Citrus Dressing

Main Course
Korean Style Marinated Beef with onion and steamed rice
Served on the side with Kimchi and pepper paste

Fish and Scallop Congee
Rice Porridge served with sliced fish and scallops topped with deep fried Chinese Cruellers

Baked Blackened Corn-Fed Chicken Breast
Served with salad and ranch dressing

Dessert
Berry Crumble with Vanilla Sauce and fresh Mixed Berries

Finale
A selection of gourmet coffees and Fine teas


Another Hot Towel to start the service


Dining Set-Up


Bread Basket


Gave another try for the freshly hot garlic bread

*No use, 1 Bite, Crust was still hard as a shell, what is wrong with SFO catering when it comes, YUCK

Appetizer, Salad of Marinated Alaskan King Crab with Mango on Citrus Dressing

They surely make those SQ Appetizer tasty, haven’t been disappointed on that front yet

Main Course, Korean Style Marinated Beef with onion and steamed rice





Part 6 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Dessert, Berry Crumble with Vanilla Sauce and fresh Mixed Berries


Time to settle for this moment of bliss, 1 Hour left inflight


Coming into the Korean Peninsula


And I soon vacated the seat to let the FA re-do the bed and for myself to get changed
After I came back, the adapter to my Bose was left in this state.


The FA that let my chicken flew away screwed up yet AGAIN!?!
When she reset the seat back into seat mode, she didn’t notice my headset was attached. Remember what I said earlier about the position of the jack. Hence completely twisted the jack adapter so 1 prong was broken and 1 was twisted, ...!
What am I going to use for the next 6 hours to Singapore
No airline can be this bloody awful, period.
And no FA should ever break a customer’s item EVER
She tries to apologize yet again, but I told her to stop, I’ve had enough today
The ISM came around to talk to me, by this time, I would be fuming and holding myself from going ballistic. He agreed to get the SQ personnel at ICN to come onboard at door opening to see if they can replace it immediately. And I’ll have that talk after when we’ve landed on the ground







With the short flight time to Incheon today, SQ 15 finally parked at the gate at 5:53pm, over 40 mins early.

After the ISM relayed the info to the SQ personnel, I had a rather fuming 5 minutes talk with him on the jetway in the cold 19F/-7C temperatures of Incheon.
Basically, it was, convince me why I should fly Singapore First ever again, because today was atrocious, simply atrocious.
First Class dine at leisure, that’s a given in most int’l First Class, but if you can’t bloody count the amount of catered food you have. And how my main course disappear out of the blue, how can I trust your FA to perform in more important task like open an exit door in an emergency.
And also I know it was a full cabin today, but I vacated my seats 40 mins prior to landing, plenty of time to get it reset and have the bedding put away. They shouldn't go rushing themselves and in turn go break customer goods.

The ISM did leave his contact details with me so my adapter can be replaced.
And after blowing off some serious steam, off I went to the transit security.

There are a lot of outsourced Asiana agents (at least 10) working for SQ pointing the way to transit security. But with my little talk with the ISM, the lines were all jammed up with the Economy Class pax. I located one of the outsourced agents, and tried to explain the idea of escorting a First Class pax to the front of the line. Sadly they had no handle of English or what the idea was all about.
Stuck in line with all the other folks

All in All, took me over 40 Minutes in the Incheon transit security to get back to the departure level.
Another big minus to Singapore First

Top of the World, More like the Bottom of the Pits so far

Next Part
Part 7 – I’m flying too much, SQ F ICN-SIN, UA F SIN-HKG

SeamasterLux

Way too much flying but so impressive... And even if I repeat myself, awesome way of presenting and writing your TR

SFO777

Very impressive even by your standards.

LH4116

Nice report! What a bummer about the crew though, first giving away your meal and then breaking your adapter? Though to be fair those only cost 2 bucks, and I always carry an extra one in my QC15 headphone case just in case one gets lost. Perhaps you are a little hard on the crew.

Weren't you able to select a book the cook from SFO?

JALlover

Great report!! Look forward to the latter part.
The experience you had with SQ really changed my view of the airline. Ok, maybe losing a meal or two is still kind of acceptable if I dont mind the other choices, but breaking a customer's personal belonging? Dont expect it happening on a 5 star airline

Did SQ offer any compensation for this particular incident?

Short hair Francis

Bahaha, that's not Way too much flying by my standards
If you want a crazy level of SHF travel's then this is a better gauge, think of 50K BIS in 1 month
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...sq-j-ba-f.html

Once again, thanks for replying, it's very nice and encouraging to hear feedback from FT community on how to improve the TR in better ways

Oh come on, its only 3 dessert's plus a donut, your talking about a guy who cleaned out a First Class catering before

It was a big bummer, in fact seeing it was my 1st time on SQ First, really felt deflated after the deal.
In reality, you can't call it giving away the meal because she can't give out what she didn't had.
But instead of counting the right amount of meals and matching that to the cater sheet given by the caterer. And to have skip this is a clear oversight for a First Class product and the responsibility of a 1st Class FA.

I do agree, I can be harsh in the judging scale, especially in a 3 Class First, and the fact it is Singapore First makes it even harder.
That being said, it bring out that when crap blow the fan on SQ, they stink

Oh ya, there still is ICN-SIN, so hopefully that changes the judging a bit.
Ya, as I said, not even in Economy can FA go breaking a customer's personal belonging, its a hard #1 Rule no matter what the value or perceived value is.
I'll answer your latter question in the next part so I'll wait until I reveal it then.