I just got off my UL flight from SIN to FRA via CMB and here are my brief observations for my fellow FTers...

Just to say.. if people find MH to be underwhelmed, you'd better avoid UL.

I tried checking in at 7am at SIN T3, Aisle 8, for my 955am flight to CMB on Thur 1st May. I was expecting balloons, streamers, cake and all the hoopla for their first day entry into Oneworld.. and I was sorely mistaken. There was nothing. The staff however seemed to be rather tense as they all have to learn new codes from the check in system. At 700am, I was asked by the security officer to move forward to check in but she wanted to see my proof of travel first. Seems rather paranoid I think... but anyway, it was only at the check in counter, that the fun began..

I have one ticket to FRA on UL and another ticket on SK continuing onto BGO via CPH. The check in agent did not know if she can check the bag through and only when the duty manager assured her that it can be done did she try to print the baggage label. She then asked me what I was doing in Europe. And for how long? And do I have an onward ticket? On which airline? ...

Then upon printing the baggage label , it is discovered that their current system cannot handle anything over 2 connections. If they are to print the tag as I requested it will end up having two tags ! So I said to just tag it to FRA and I will recheck the bag there.

In Singapore, UL uses the DNATA lounge. The same lounge that fellow OW member QR uses. The lounge is small and with limited food offerings. I wish that all OW carriers consolidate into one terminal in Singapore and we can use the fab QF lounge but they are in Terminal 1 and they don't open till 230pm.

At 915am, I make my way to the gate. Today, we're at gate B2. Boarding was orderly although another security officer prevented me from using the Business Class line until she saw my ticket. The BP does have a lovely OW logo on it though. And oh yeah, although they said that the system has my AA FFP on it, it didn't print on the BP. I couldn't enter my number till the 1st as their GDS did not accept any OW members prior to the joining date. I had booked my ticket through UL directly in HK.

The flight was full. Seating on this A320-200 aircraft was 2x2 with wide seats and a good touchscreen IFE. There are electrical sockets too for those who care but there are no leg or foot rests in the Business Class cabin.

Cabin crew came round with hot towels and drinks with nuts to accompany. Main courses were some curry dish. Actually 3 out of 4 of the choices were hot and spicy.

I didn't watch anything but tried to take a nap instead. Just as I wake we're about to land.

Now for a long layover, UL provides hotel accomodation. You go to the Colombo Stopover Counter as you walk up to the main hall. Arriving and departing passengers mingle together in the same building. The immigration counters are to the left of the terminal. But the problem with here in the Indian subcontinent is that no one queued. I was standing in line in the Business Class counter when a few guys just walked in front of me oblivious to the fact that there is somebody there. Thank goodness the woman behind the counter shoo'd them back to the other line. Transfers of less than 7 hours are given a refreshment voucher. There were nothing to indicate that UL is part of OW. No streamers. No signs. Nothing. I asked some staff and they said it was yesterday on the 30th and it was in town where OW members came in to party along with all 15 female flight attendants from the various airlines posing for photos I hear.

Finally at the counter , I was asked if I want to stay inside the airport or outside. I said outside and she picked up the phone to call 'someone' and said here, take this paper and go outside and meet the Colombo Stopover Counter people.

Off I went. But at the counter, I asked if the hotel was near a beach and the guy just said no, its in a large garden. Then he tried to sell me some tours for the day. I said no. Then he asked me to wait by the main seated area amonst the people waiting for their loved ones to come out. I was then led by another guy to the curb to meet my driver.

Amongst the decent looking cars, suddenly one whipped up around the corner, and I thought, 'Gawd, I hope not...' But surely it was as it displayed a 'Sri Lankan' sign in the front dashboard. The car was a Nissan circa 1980s and it was almost falling to bits. But in I went, and the driver had his music on rather loud and made no attempt to decrease the volume. He didn't have his seat belt on either. And I truly believe that the lines on the road were to guide the driver to drive in the middle of the road whilst dodging the oncoming tuktuk and the bus. The big big bus that doesn't seem to know where his side of the road was either.

Sri Lanka is still very much a Third World country. It may be developing but the road to the lovely Tamarind Tree Bungalows (and I say it sarcastically) seemed to go through farms, and areas were poverty is high. The bus coming head on seems to be falling to bits and crammed full of people - and May 1st is a holiday. I hate to see what a normal working day would be like.

The car turned left to a gated driveway lined with lovely trees. Then we turn up to a building that looked like something out of 'Out of Africa'... circa 1960. The building looked tired and so did some of the staff. They just advised me that lunch is from 1230-3pm and dinner is from 630pm to 930pm. Then a bellboy came up (and he's wearing slippers) to lead me to my bungalow. Which seemed a walk away. But no worries, I only had that and he away we went. Past the swimming pool. Past the meandering path. Past a couple of horses munching on the grass. I guess it cuts down on the gardening bill. Then my bungalow B8. It is 4 units and I am shared with B6 and B4 and B2.

There I was made away of where all the switches are.. while I eye a large spider staring at me up on the window sill. I didn't say anything while screaming silently 'Get me outta here'..

More to follow - I've got to board my SK flight now.