Originally Posted by
stylo4444
I am due to take this flight to SIN on Monday, returning on Saturday (via SQ62...I live in MCO). I had the option of taking EK via DXB which has always been a good product, but chose SQ just for changing it up a bit...so I am looking forward to it!
Sorry to temper your enthusiasm but...
I flew SQ25 in First last week. In flight was outstanding but for those contemplating it... Be warned about the JFK ground experience. How can such a great in flight airline be so horse crap on the ground? SQ needs to do some serious reflection on the entire JFK ground experience, which dismayed me and brought Mrs. SFO to question my sanity and why the hell we weren't flying LH? I believe her words were "we left a day early and stopped in NY for this crap, when we could have flown LH nonstop?"
After check-in, it was off to the VS Clubhouse, where unfortunately, there were so many people in the lounge, that we couldn't find any open seating pairs other than in the closet alcove at the back of the lounge, where the AC was working overtime and CNN was a loud annoyance. After a quick scouting trip, we moved to the relative tranquility of the LX Lounge... much more relaxing but minus the service of the Clubhouse with clearly lesser business class offerings. I checked back twice at the VS Clubhouse but nothing had changed... overcrowded with no acceptable pair seats available.
At around T-70 minutes, we decided to head for security and A6. The A2-7 security and gate situation was the same third world experience if not worse than last time. Although there was priority security, the economy security line moved faster than F/J especially with numerous flight crews cutting the line.
Gate A6 was utter chaos. A sea of gate lice everywhere with no announcements from the SQ (presumably contract) staff. The GA finally announced boarding for First and Business pax. Naturally 50-60 people tried get around, over or through dozens of economy pax blocking the way. What an absolute disgrace. With only 7 pax in First, is it too much to announce and board First pax first??
On board and up in the pointy end, it was calm and serene but Mrs. SFO was in a bad mood, not at all enamored by the cramped seat and closed-in feeling compared to her favorite SFO-MUC LH 346. Not many people would put up with the crap on the ground at JFK. Indeed I doubt I would start another RTW from JFK until SQ figures out how to leave the third world behind there.
Complete narrative and pics in my related trip report...
Part 3. SQ Check-in and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and SWISS Lounges JFK
Part 4. JFK-FRA on Singapore in First