Flight 3: SQ319 LHR-SIN 27MAR (FR), 747-400, First Class Seat 3F
STD: 1815 (On Time) STA: 1305 (On Time)

Once I landed and left the gate, I made my way through the surprisingly queue-free immigrations, did not need to collect any baggage, and went to the left luggage counter where my credit card weeped a little as it was swiped for the extortionate charge of GBP32 for storing my bags overnight. Oh well, it was bearable in the context of the exciting trip. Bags on trolley, then I went to the SQ check-in counter in Zone A.

Zone A is where Virgin have their check-in desks, and also where SQ recently moved the check-in desks from its previous location somewhere in the middle of the main building which always reminds me why I don’t like LHR. Thanks to the huge number of intercontinental flights departing from T3, the queues often spill well outside the check-in zones and into the main corridor of the terminal building, giving it a distinctly third world appearance. Zone A was much more pleasant in comparison, although this may well be because I was the only one crazy enough to be checking in 4 ½ hours before departure.





The check-in agent at the Business Class desk was the first to acknowledge me walking over so I went to her to check in. Check-in was uneventful except that I had to remind the agent to put the priority tags on by bags, otherwise I will be waiting forever at SIN for my bag which will no doubt be the last bag to come out due to the very early check-in. I also asked about the load for the flight – absolutely full in C and Y, and 7 empty seats in F. Although the Singapore Girls and Boys no doubt cope well even with a full cabin, things are naturally easier when it is less than full, and 5/12 was a pretty light load considering that the previous day’s flight went out 12/12.

With my boarding pass in hand and baggage no longer in my hand, I made my way to the Fast Track security checkpoint which, rather unusually, had very few people waiting. Quite often, Fast Track is a definite misnomer as you can end up waiting just as long as the regular queue.


No need to mention that it was another delightful affair – see above for the tedious procedure which was exactly the same here except they also have a rather ridiculous shoe x-ray. Who comes up with these sorts of arrangements?? Clearly not someone who travels with any sort of regularity…

Without further ado, I made my way to the Virgin Clubhouse which was one of the saving graces of departing from LHR. After showing my SQ boarding pass, I was welcomed into the lounge after being reminded that they do not call SQ flights.



Before anything else, I wanted to have a shower first to freshen up so I walked up to the Cowshed reception and asked whether I can use a shower, and also whether I can book a massage before my flight. The receptionist tried to hint that she had no free slots but I managed to convince her that my flight is not departing for another 4 hours so surely she must have a slot somewhere. She told me my neck and shoulder massage will be at 4:15, and told me I can just go into any of the showers to use it.

The shower room was nicely appointed with marble floor and surfaces and a big rainfall shower head. The shower booth was very large – big enough for two, at least – and doubled as a steam room but I just took a shower fairly quickly and got out, as I was beginning to be very hungry having declined the meal on the previous flight.

After the shower I walked over to the Brasserie area and sat down at one of the tables. A rather cute waiter appeared with a menu very soon, and the selection was quite impressive with a decent range of food and drinks. I didn’t want to stuff myself as I knew I will be eating a full dinner once on the flight, so I chose a few light bites.


Fresh orange juice


Brioche with smoked salmon and scrambled egg


Oriental platter – dim sum and sushi


Half pint of prawns and some marinated seafood

Unfortunately, the quality of the food did not meet the very favourable first impressions from the menu. The smoked salmon on the scrambled egg was sliced far too thinly which made it much less appealing, and the scrambled egg was too firm to be scrambled egg. I had a mental picture of fluffy scrambled egg with large pieces of smoked salmon on top. The oriental platter was also a huge let-down, with one lonely piece of fried dumpling and three pieces of sushi rolls that could barely qualify as sushi in my books. The plate of seafood from the Deli was better, but not great. Overall, the only saving grace of the meal was the very attentive waiter – perhaps I expected too much?


One of the booths in the Brasserie