Zurich-Singapore
Singapore Airlines SQ 341 First Class
777-300ER
10:05P-4:10P+1
Wow, where do I start on this one?
In summary... the best flight I have ever experienced, period!
I selected this flight because I wanted to fly the 77W and "The New First Class", and the FRA-SIN 77W was sold out in A. After a 4 hour DB ride from Frankfurt..."Thank you for traveling DB"
...our driver met us and gave us an hour and a half private car tour of Zurich before dropping us off at the airport at 6PM.
After check in and passport control, I opted for the SWISS Lounges since it was the closest. Tried to talk us into the HON lounge but the ornery LX dragon-lady was not buying it especially since LX had a ZRH-SIN flight leaving 40 minutes later than ours, so we headed left into a virtually empty Senator Lounge. I showered upstairs in the HON and noticed no discernable difference between the two including the food offerings which looked pretty lame.
Departure was from the new mid-field terminal and in stark contrast to the chaotic boarding at JFK, classes were separated at the gate and First and Business were priority boarded. Double jetways were in operation with a separate jetway for the 8 First Class pax. As we walked toward the door, one of the 3 First Class FAs came up the jetway to meet us and help with our carry-ons.
Great first impression on stepping on board the 77W with an elegant entry and galley area. The new First Class suites are incredibly spacious...35" seats, front of suite console which included a 24" LCD TV, counter top, another seat level counter with space to stow both carry-on and brief case. We had the middle two which are great for a twosome. If I were traveling solo, I would opt for one of the four window seats.
3 fabulous and friendly FAs for 8 F pax, 2 Boys and 1
VERY attractive Singapore Girl. Each stopped by to personally introduce themselves and each and every time they spoke to us they prefaced it with "Mr. SFO, ..."
Did I mention our Singapore Girl?
After take-off, a couple glasses of Krug while playing with the cool IFE, way better than the old IFE (744s) and on a par with VX Red but with much better video. Hand controls sometimes have a mind of their own, or maybe I'm just a little impatient. Anyway, big screen and some nice features with lots of cool choices...
The near two hour dinner was absolutely amazing... not just a great in flight meal, but a great meal period.
Service settings were completely different than on the 744, a sophisticated and more contemporary style...
I opted to go all Georges Blanc, as this Michelin 3-star chef was featured x-ZRH.
Crabmeat with candied tomatoes and avocados, ginger and corriander sauce...
Mushroom soup with spices... best I've ever tasted.
Baby mixed lettuces with shaved palm heart and truffles... yummy
Did I mention our Singapore Girl Adeline?
Not on the menu itself, but a surprise from Georges tonight, Insalata Caprese in a bowl.
Pan seared beef filet served with green peppercorn sauce, sauteed wild mushrooms and baby spinach. Melt in your mouth, could have been a tad rarer but I'm not going to quibble.
Nut biscuit savarin with praline cream, absolutely to die for!
Selection of fine cheeses and garnishes... offered on a tray with a name flag placed in each cheese, of course we're SQ.
After the Krug, I opted for the delicious 2006 Beaune du Chateau Premier Cru for my first three courses, then the excellent 1999 Chateau Leoville Polferre Saint-Julien, and finally Dow's 20 Year Tawny.
Off to the lav to change for bed (while they convert my seat to a bed) and 3 preventative Tylenol. And wow, not just any old lav. The F lavs on the LH 340s are nice and big, but the SQ 77W F lavs are lots of mirror with wood, chrome and polished brass. Actually it looks like gold but even SQ wouldn't do that. Would they?
Slept like a baby for 5 hours in a most comfortable 6.5' long bed.
Worked a little in bed as I sipped on a couple of glasses of freshly squeezed OJ. Then, since the seat belt sign was on for some turbulence, the crew served us "breakfast in bed".
Nice fresh fruit plate...
And the delicious Pork congee, Singapore style sliced pork and meatballs in rice porridge with deep fred Chinese cruellers.
Some daytime pics of the cabin just prior to landing, including hard-working Adeline, our SG.
Prior to landing, the FAs all stopped by to say good-bye and thank us for flying SQ. Thank us? Thank you for giving us a memorable 12 hour flight. And as I mentioned earlier, the best flight I've ever had the pleasure to experience.
Upon arrival, we disembarked thru the F jetway where a lovely JetQuay Girl (not to be confused with our lovely Singapore Girl) was waiting for us and sped us thru the terminal on a red JetQuay golf cart.
I had read about this service in a nearby thread and thought it would be good with my dad, since the walks thru the terminals are at times tiring for him, not to mention slow.
Our JG stopped so I could use the ATM and we arrived at the JetQuay/CIP terminal some 5 minutes after pick up, all without leaving the AC of the main terminals. Four JetQuay employees met us, walked inside their terminal to clear C&I (20 seconds), loaded our bags in the limo (at the curb right outside) and gave me a tour of their facility, which included plush lounge areas, conference rooms, gym and spa center, kitchen and bars.
All this for S$107 total for both of us! Forget the SQ FCL, we booked JetQuay for our return tomorrow... they have their own security station and passport control, and will beep-beep us right to the gate.