In retrospect, I should have booked this on TG rather than SQ, since TG J pax get access to the Spa for 30-minute massages while SQ pax don’t. However, despite decades of relatives flying SQ, I myself have never flown the airline, nor have I ever transited Changi or visited Singapore. Plus the best-timed BKK-SIN flight for my needs was SQ 973, as I wanted to maximize my time in the city before my late-night flight to BOM.

I reached BKK about 8:15am and checked in at the SQ counters. With a premium lane pass, I was through security and immigration in no time. Like the Preferente security line at SCL, the premium lane drops you off just in front of where normal security is, and it’s obvious that those passengers have a much tougher time through the process. Hooray for miles. And status.



I began to make the long walk to the SQ SilverKris lounge. While the lounge is nice and quiet, it was a bit of a walk, especially when I later realized a delay and gate change placed the aircraft right across from the TG lounge. The food selection here wasn't that great either.



With the SQ staff predicting a delay, I set up a notification on my phone for when the inbound flight arrived. Once it did, I made my way to the TG lounge to check that out, before seamlessly heading to the gate.


A loooooooong lounge. I got an awkward buggy ride through this hallway on a later visit to the F lounge, with J/*G pax looking on. But more on that later...


A bit better food selection than the SQ lounge


Yumm ...

I saw the words “Go to gate” on the FIDS and did just that. I was excited to board my first Singapore Airlines flight, though not as excited for the EK flight the day before. Part of it was that I knew it would be the old J product. Perhaps if SQ wants to start Dom service in J, the buzz can inspire some elevated eagerness.

SQ 973
BKK-SIN, 2h05m
Boeing 777-200 (old J)
Seat 14A, J


777 for two hours. Better than a CR7

But anyway. Boarding was called for Business Class and I made my way to the jetway for Door 1L and eventually seat 14A. The aircraft doesn't have a 13th row because of superstition, but people in the 14th row, you know what row you're really on. Luckily, I’m not one of those superstitious types. Unless a sports team I love needs some divine intervention. Now where’s a ladder I can walk under?


Old J seat. Still plenty comfortable, and much more comfortable than the garbage AA 762 J seats for 5-hour transcons

Pre-flight drinks and hot towels were passed out, though I wonder why hot instead of cold. It was burning up outside.

Okay, one cannot talk about their first experience on SQ without mentioning the crew. The J cabin was replete with Singapore girls as well as one male crew member. This crew seemed rather robotic at first but over the course of 4 flights with SQ, I realized that their FAs deliver a solid and reliable service. You get into the groove after a just a couple of flights.

I was offered a boarding drink, of which I took some sort of juice. I think it was the Tropical Fizz, a mix of pineapple and lemon juice. Whatever it was, it was cool and refreshing.

I perused the menu and found one dish that looked interesting. Unfortunately, I later realized it was for the SIN-BKK sector ... SQ prints one menu for both outbound and return sectors. Nothing interested me in the BKK-SIN menu. However, an FA came by and asked if I had ordered a Hindu meal. I didn't recall doing so, but ended up taking it anyway. I was also asked what I wanted to drink and asked for a cup of Indian Masala Tea, only to be told those are only served on flights to/from India.

Then why is it on the BKK-SIN menu? I ended up just going with a Diet Coke.

Here's the menu for both sectors. Not bad for a 2h flight, though I prefer the menu for the inbound flight:

In the end, I received my Hindu meal, which I wasn't in the mood for and ate only a few bites. I was looking forward to the hawker centres in Singapore.


Meh ...

I knew that the TV screen for the Krisflyer IFE was hiding somewhere and finally realized it was under the armrest. Seat 14B had a hefty American who decided to take up both his armrest and mine, and it took a few taps on his arm to get him to move out of the way. Hey buddy, it's not like you're in the middle seat.


Small IFE and my remote barely worked


Not a fan of any business class with a middle seat

Before the mediocrity of this flight could get to me, we began our descent into SIN. It's a short flight, barely 2 hours, and much better than any 2-hour flight back home in the States. A 777, a full meal service, wonderful crew ... can you really ask for more?

One thing I will say about SQ, and pretty much all foreign carriers, is I love how they stick to a script for announcements. "Ladies and gentleman, welcome to Singapore, and to all Singaporean residents, a warm welcome home." If I were a Singaporean resident, that would warm the cockles of my heart. Just following a script makes for a more pleasant experience and gives me the information I need in a quick format. None of the "umm" and "we do ask you to..." stuff we get in the States. If you're a frequent flyer, you can drown out the script if you want to, since it's been engrained in your head as well.


In with the new, out with the old ...

Even with the 30 minute delay, we ended up landing right on schedule, 1:05pm. Our gate was at the end of the concourse and it was a long walk to the SQ SilverKris Business lounge. I checked my emails, loaded up some iPhone maps over the wifi, and headed out to immigration to catch the MRT into the city for the day.


I love this table in the corner of the SKL