First Class section of the SilverKris lounge. Almost pretty much the same as The Private Room, just with different seating.


First Class buffet section...


...and here is the hot stuff, including a small cooking section where made to order noodles (I presume) can be ordered.


Entrance sign to the Business Class section.


Seating in the Business Class section.


An even bigger buffet selection in the Business Class section. Hey, how else are you supposed to feed the "masses"?


Long marble benches with seats for dining.


Orchids

When I returned to The Private Room, I wanted to get onto the internet, except that there were no power points in The Private Room, and the normal business centre was closed for renovation. So the only option was to use the bigger business centre outside. I found a desk spot with a power point looking out to the rest of the terminal concourse, whereupon I also ordered a dessert of ice cream and coffee.


Ben and Jerry's ice cream, removed from its tub, dolled up and served on a nice plate.


I asked for a soy latte, although I forgot that "soya milk" is much different in Asia compared to Australia; notably, it is sweeter.

I checked my messages, Twitter stream and Facebook, but couldn't muster up enough energy to tend to some of my work or even write this trip report. As it was getting close to boarding, I headed back to The Private Room to relax, and by this time the numbers in the lounge had swelled (hey, I couldn't be the only person flying First Class tonight, right?). The leather chairs in the lounge are quite comfortable, with a couple sporting some scuff marks. I whiled away the time before boarding with some chocolates and generally doing nothing (sometimes a great thing to do). Soon enough, we were told it was best to go to the gate to board.


My last glimpse of The Private Room before I had to leave.

I thanked the lounge staff before I left, then headed out of the lounge. Although I normally don't mind walking far to get more steps, my gate was almost at the end of the concourse and I didn't like the idea of pushing my luck with both the security checkpoint and the gate closing times, so I used the aerotrain to cut down the time to gate. (Apologies to all my team mates in the Global Corporate Challenge!)



Flight: Singapore-Changi (SIN T3) — Frankfurt am Main (FRA T1)
Depart: Sched 2350h; Actual 0010h+1
Distance: 6,394 mi (10,290 km)
Aircraft: 9V-SPP Boeing 747-400
Class: First
Seat: 1B


Security was thankfully not a zoo, so I managed to get through that quickly and similarly speed into the aerobridge thanks to the priority boarding lane (yes, it actually worked for once at SIN - perhaps one of the few things Changi Airport actually gets quite wrong). At the aircraft, I got a warm welcome and a gesture to turn to the left. Ah, that phrase almost never fails to please most of us...


The First Class cabin on the SQ 747-400.


My seat - 1B.

For the uninitiated, you're probably wondering what a choice of seat was 1B; it is, after all, a middle seat, and what nut - especially a frequent flying nut - would select a middle seat. Well, you'd select it too if it was the only seat in row 1! Whilst 1B lacks the proximity to a window, there's a clear line of sight out to the windows on either side of me. 1B is the most forward seat and, had it not been for the cockpit above me and the fact that there is no window in front of me, I'd feel a lot more like Captain Kirk on the USS Enterprise. For a moment there, I almost felt like pressing the call bell button and yelling, "Mr Scott! Give me full power!" Just kidding...

Instead of a call bell, a FA appeared almost immediately offering an amenity kit, a menu and an offer of pre-flight drink. I requested champagne, quickly followed up by the question, "Krug or Dom Perignon?" Having had and not quite enjoyed the latter before, I opted to try the Krug. I was not disappointed by the Krug (but my mainstay drop is still Taittinger).


The label says it all - drinking pleasure masquerading as Krug.


The golden elixir is poured in another oversized flute.


First Class amenity kit of Salvatore Ferragamo products in a clear zip case. I didn't check if the clear case could pass off as a LAG compliant bag or not. Additional accessories like a razor or toothbrush are not included, but can be found in the bathroom.