September 5, 2001
CX 751 HKG-BKK Lv1425 Arr1610
Boeing 777-300 B-HNE
Check in was efficient and my bags were a bit overweight, but the agent gave me a bit time to repack my bags. This day was also the first day that the pilots decided to step up the industrial actions. I asked the agent about possible delays and fortunately, the flights had been on time for the day. She attached the bag tags to the SQ e ticket receipt, so the agent would remember to check the status of the bags. A terrific agent… Then I caught the airport express to the airport, but I could also spend little time at the “Wing.” I did not even have time to grab a noodle soup. Unfortunately, the Evian water had been replaced by a local brand, “Snow Mountain.” Anyhow, there were more magazine selections and my flight, which parked at Gate 1, called for boarding at 2:10pm. The flight was pretty full in economy and decently full in business, but I did not have a neighbor. Since the flight continued into Mumbai and Dubai, there were a few number of Hindu speaking flight attendants. Push back was delayed a bit due to late passenger and the arrival of a Swissair MD-11 (HB-IWQ) with the Swiss flag winglet, which was parking next to us. As usual, pre takeoff drink of champagne, orange juice, or water was offered and we turned to Runway 25L after passing a South African’s Boeing 747-200 Swartberg ZS-SAP. We took off at 2:57pm.

Seat belt sign was turned off at 3:15pm, but due to instable air in the South China Sea, service was interrupted couple times. Anyway, the service began with the usual warmed roasted almonds and beverage, and the refreshment service quickly followed.

Fresh Seasonal Fruit
5 orange segments, melon slice, cantaloupe slice, watermelon slice, & grapefruit

Sautéed Prawns with Egg Fried Rice & Sitr-fried Broccoli
*A special creation by Chiuchow Garden Restaurant
Or
Achari Alu (Potatoes with Yogurt Sauce)
Tomato Rice and Bean Poringal served with Raita and Hot Pickles

Movenpick ice cream
Expresso Croquant or Raspberry Sorbet

Garlic Bread or Italian Roll, Butter

The flight attendants handed out hot towels on 4:30pm, and then began our descent at 4:37pm. But then a thunderstorm was around the airport area. We were circling around north of Bangkok. Finally, after fifty-four minutes, we landed at Runway 21R on 4:31pm. As usual, we were parked at a stair gate, 73, and a Qantas’ Boeing 747-400 (VH-OJL) parked next to our Boeing 777-300. All the passengers were asked to stay aboard due to short turnaround time, but unfortunately, the flight did not depart till 6pm to Mumbai.

SQ 67 BKK-SIN Lv1830 Arr2145
Boeing 747-400 9V-SPI
The transit desk was polite and I went to the Silver Kris Business Class lounge. However, the situation at the Business Class lounge was crowded and could not even find a seat. With the additional Star Alliance members, the small lounge could not handle the number of passengers here. I hope SQ will expand its lounge when the new pier opened in Bangkok’s terminal two. Fortunately, I got a seat and enjoyed some plane spotting. List of planes – China Airlines’ A340-300 (B-18803), Lauda Air’s Boeing 767-300ER (OE-LAE), Saudia’s Boeing 747-300 (HZ-AIL), BA’s Boeing 747-400 (G-CIVE) Flag livery…

Since Gate 11 was at Terminal 1, boarding began at 6:06pm. Push back time was 6:31pm. Of course, the flight attendants passed out the usual choice of orange juice, water, welcome cocktail, or champagne, and menus and newspapers. I was seated in the main deck, which was not fully occupied. I got no neighbor and unfortunately, this aircraft was not equipped with the Wisemen system. I have yet to experience the wisemen system this summer. We took off from Runway 21R at 6:45pm. Seat belt sign was off eleven minutes later, and on this brief two hours and five minutes’ flight, a beverage and dinner service was offered. The F/As first passed out our choice of beverages followed by packages of mixed nuts. Then the dinner tray with appetizer and dessert was served, followed by the bread basket, which included sesame seed roll and delicious onion soft rolls, and then the entrée was served. Here is the menu transcript:

Dinner
Appetizer
Assortment of sliced smoked fish
It basically included smoked salmon, trout, and halibut (or white fish). It was not too appetizing.

Entrées
Seared beef tips with peanut sauce, peppered pineapple and pasta with vegetables
Or
Wok fried turkey with hot garlic sauce, leafy greens, carrots, mushrooms, and braised noodles
Not a bad choice… the turkey was not rubber like and sauce was nice
Or
Thai seafood in green curry, pak choi, carrot, mushrooms and steamed rice

Dessert
Dark Chocolate Crème Brulee
Very delicious and chocolate like

Shortly after dinner, tea and coffee were offered and I watched a bit of the laugh lounge. We began our descent at 8:11pm and candies and hot towels were offered. However, the final approach seemed forever, which was caused by some military action in the area. We finally landed on SIN at 9:50pm, and parked at gate E12. The pilots were really polite and explained the cause for our late arrival time.

September 6, 2001
SQ 12 SIN-NRT Lv0950 Arr1735
Boeing 747-400 9V-SPP
After staying a night at the Le Meridien Changi, I headed off to the Changi airport for my first flight on its infamous daytime flight to Los Angeles via Tokyo. As usual, I went to the wonderful Silver Kris lounge for breakfast. There is the usual full breakfast buffet, with pastries, yogurts, cheese/deli meal platter, fresh fruit platter, and for the Chinese, there is the famous Fish Ball Kway Teow, which is a rice flat noodle soup with fish meat beaten in a ball shape. I had two bowls of it. Time flew by, as boarding began at E4. The aircraft, 9V-SPP, is supposedly one of the latest Megatops received, but there is no Wisemen system installed or even the email system. There was a slight disappointment, but the rest of inflight service was as good as any Singapore Airlines. The load was pretty light this morning, and the main deck was not full at all. I had the seat 24D and the middle seat remained empty. As usual, the flight attendants passed out the usual pre-takeoff beverage, newspaper, menus, headphones, and menus. Although boarding was on time, we had to wait for a few passengers arriving from a late connecting flight. Finally we pushed back at 10:01am, and headed to Runway 20L for takeoff. We lifted into the air at 10:11am and the seat belt sign was off a few minutes later. Flying time today was six hours and sixteen minutes. We first climbed to 33,000ft and passed through Tioman and then headed Northeast. We further climbed into 11,277m and then entered the coast of the Southern Taiwan and passed through Naha, Okinawa, before entering Tokyo.

Unlike other airlines, Singapore Airlines first served a refreshment and a full lunch prior to arrival. First, the F/As passed out our drink order, and then they came with the refreshment tray, which was pretty basic. Here was the menu transcript. Of course, they also passed out slippers and eye masks.

Light bites
Warm Walnut bread with beef pastrami and cheddar cheese, fried potatoes
Or
Braised Udon Noodles with fish, Chinese mushrooms and leafy greens
Basically a noodles dish with a few pieces of fried fish on top of it… it was delicious…

Hot towel was handed out after the tray was collected, and the usual tea and coffee was offered. The refreshment was pretty basic, but I think SQ could use an addition fruit appetizer or some light dessert. For the rest of the flight, I took a nap and some passengers watched the Kris Vision. As I was getting up, we were hitting some turbulence along the Taiwanese coast and the flight attendants are busy preparing the lunch service. Hot towel was passed out at 1:33pm and the F/A pushed out the food trolley. Here was the description of lunch.

Appetizers
Smoked salmon with fusilli salad and accompanied by basil pesto
The appetizer was quite delicious and the sauce was fine.

Salad
Seasonal mixed salad
Tomato, cucumber, corn, green lettuce with miso vinaigrette or Thousands Island dressing
Bread choices include foccacia bread and assorted rolls

Soba

Entrees
Sauteed prawns and scallops, gnocchi with tomato and tarragon cream sauce
Or
Braised five spices flavored short ribs of beef, vegetables and egg noodles
The ribs tasted fine and SQ’s entrees were always good.
Or
Deep-fried chicken Japanese style, seasonal vegetables and steamed rice

Cheese
Selection of cheese with garnishes
Walnut, brie, and gouda

Fresh fruit
A selection of fresh fruit
Mango, banana, pear, grapes, and plums
I had the mango, and the F/As insisted on cutting it for me. I think SQ is afraid that we will make a mess with the seats. Anyhow, that is nice gesture, and a hot towel was placed next to the mango.

Dessert
Citrus sorbet with berry compote
Very sour dessert – not recommended it

Another hot towel service ended the lunch and the crew began the final preparation for landing. We began our descent at 4:02pm and surprisingly, we were able to touch down on R/W16 at 5:35pm, considering the single operation of Narita’s runway. As we were taxing towards gate 16, SQ 11 from Los Angles had also just arrived, and was parked at gate 15.

SQ 12 NRT-LAX Lv1845 Arr1250
Boeing 747-400 9V-SPP
During the short transit time, I decided to spend it at the duty free shops, rather than the crowded Silver Kris lounge, especially SQ 11 had arrived early from Los Angeles. Then I waited at the gate. Economy class seemed full, and boarding began at 6:30pm, and the agents maintained order. To my surprise, Raffles Class was even more deserted than the last leg. I was able to move to seat, 24A, and the person at 23C also moved to the aisle seat across with all three seats. Door was closed at 6:53pm, as we were waiting for the cargo to be loaded. We had to wait for a JAL’s Boeing 747-300 pushed back behind us, and we did not start our taxing until 7:00pm. The pilots immediately apologized for the slight delays and told us that our flying was only nine hours and twenty-eight minutes, and we would still make it on time.

We took off from Runway 16, after an ANA’s Airbus A320 took off. The pilot had warned us about possible turbulence over the first two hours of our flight, which was normal during this time of the year. Flight route took us first to 10,300m and heading Northwestern. Then we climbed to 11,277m and 11582m and continued our great circle over water routes towards California. We entered the North California City of Ukiah and flew over San Francisco, which had us decent to 10058, before entering the San Joaquin Valley for our descent to LA basin area.

Since the turbulence will happen, the flight attendants wasted no time in serving beverages. Then they pushed out the satay cart and prepared for our dinner service.

Canapés
Satay
With onion, cucumber, and spicy peanut sauce
The satays include three pieces of chicken and one peiece of beef

Appetizers
Seafood bouillabaisse terrine with vegetables and balsamico vinaigrette
the appetizer contained scallop and shrimp dices in a jelly type thing, but tasted fine

Soba

Salad
Seasonal mixed salad
cucumber, green peppers, cherry tomato with the choice of Japanese soya sauce vinaigrette or Thousand Island dressing

Entrees
Chicken with tomatoes, capsicums, Italian cured pork belly and couscous
This chicken entrée was delicious and was created by SIA International Culinary Panel
Or
Braised Halibut in oyster sauce, seasonal vegetables and steamed rice
Or
Soya flavored beefsteak, sautéed vegetables and steamed rice

Cheese
Selection of cheese with garnishes
Camembert with crackers, dried walnuts, and apricots

Fruit
peaches, banana, orange, and grapes

Dessert
Macadamia ice cream with mango coulis

In the breadbasket, there was the garlic bread and twist rolls. Unfortunately, after the entrée service was served, the rest of the service was carried out in trays, rather than trolleys, due to turbulence. Anyway, it was just like first class. The service was excellent as usual. I took a little nap after the meal service. Then I woke up and decided to watch a movie, Bridget Jones Diary. It was certainly a funny movie and I loved it. It was funny, but touching. I watched various short subjects along the way, and the flight attendants kept on serving me ginger ale. I was perhaps the only passenger awake. Then the lights began to shine over the Pacific and the breakfast light was turned on at 2:45am Tokyo time, with hot towel and juice service. Linen was set up at 2:52am, and the breakfast service quickly began.

Juice
A choice of apple, tomato, and freshly squeezed orange juice

Fruit
A selection of fresh fruit
Apple wedge, orange segment, melon slice, 2 kiwi slices, grapes, and grapefruit

Light starters
Cereal – Cornflakes
With low fat or full cream milk

Wholesome beginnings
Japanese breakfast
Sweet simmered flat fish with selected seasonal vegetables and steamed rice
Or
Mixed grill of beef, chicken and pork sausage with herb jus, roasted tomato and roesti potatoes
I had this entrée, which was pretty good, and was surprisingly light and not heavy at all.
Or
Parsley omelette with chicken sausage, grilled tomato, mushroom and potatoes

From the Bakery
Assorted breakfast rolls
Butter – Fruit Preserve
Apple croissants or wholemeal rolls, I love the apple croissants…

The breakfast service was completed within an hour and the F/As were busy preparing the cabin for arrival. We began to show the destination video and hot towel was served at 3:40am. We began our descent at 4:18am. We landed on Runway 24R at 12:44pm. As usual, it took us over twenty minutes to park in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Finally we found our way to gate 104 and we passed by the Qantas’ Formula one aircraft. Immigration and custom had tons of people, but the agents were okay friendly. No question was asked and I was off my way in twenty five minutes.

In general, SQ service was wonderful and it was another successful journey. I will continue to fly SQ.

Carfield


[This message has been edited by Carfield (edited 09-25-2001).]