Did a quick turnaround in KL on 7 Nov to meet a dear friend who was in transit in KLIA enroute from Brisbane to Tokyo Narita. She was due for a 5 1/2 hours transit so I thought I'll fly up there to catch up with her. We made arrangements for her to meet me at the gate since she was arriving earlier.


Booking Process

I was thinking I would fly up to KL from JHB and thereafter purchase a MAS F class ticket back to SIN, but after doing some planning I realised I would have to actually leave home at 4.30am in SIN to catch the first flight up from JHB, which didn't look very alluring, and I didn't want to spend $500 on this short turnaround trip ex-SIN. So I logged onto Singaporeair.com and did an award ticket instead (what a waste of miles, but what the hell). I would have ticketed an one-way award but it would cost me 10000+miles, and the return after the 15% online redemption promotion cost me only 12000+ miles, so making the more economically-viable decision decided to fly SQ both ways. My friend was bound to arrive from BNE at 0555hrs and leave for NRT at 1130hrs (or something like that) on MAS, so the best option I had was to fly SQ102 SIN-KUL departing at 0630, and to return on SQ107 at 1020hrs. I logged on and tried to make the booking, everything seemed fine and availability was all there (being a sunday i suppose), but apparently there is supposed to be a 4-hour lapse between the arrival flight and the next departure flight. Darn! I called up the members desk and was initially told that they can do it over the phone, but after 10 minutes of holding I was given an apology that appaently it's an illegal booking (or whatever that means). I went back online to book the next available flight, SQ111 at 1420hrs, and after successfully doing that and paying over SGD70 in taxes (they are bloody expensive!) I called SQ reservations and said something along the lines of "I'm sorry but I think I clicked on the wrong flight, would you be able to do an amendment for me please?" It worked! She did ask why the quick return, and I said it was to meet a friend in transit in KL ("oh you're so sweet, blah blah"). All seemed well at this stage.


Online Check-in

Knowing that all is well I logged back on singaporeair.com and tried to do the online check-in for both my flights. SQ102 seemed pretty simple, almost all the seats seemed to be open, although they now block the bulkhead window for parents with babies with a B (Bassinet), and I didn't want the bulkhead aisle, so I booked the next row available that which is 33A. Fair enough for a 30-45mins flight.

I tried to check-in for the return flight but alas, there wasn't any option and it has been greyed out. It does say SQ107 though, instead of SQ111, and being the worry-beast I called up reservations again and asked the deal that's going on. When the call was answered, I told my story, and it's definitely a different agent who answered this call but she said, "oh, are you mr. XXX?" I got a shock, apparently my less-than-important story has spreaded around the call centre. "mr XXX, i'm sorry to inform you that because the booking is illegal, you cannot do the check-in online, but we have already sent a telex to our colleagues in KL who will be able to help you when you check-in." fair enough. I enquired if I had to clear immigration to do that, but they say i can just do it at the transfer desk in KLIA. Ok then.


SQ102 7NOV SIN-KUL SCH DEP0630 SCH ARR0725

Went to the airport at 0530 and as usual, everyone is grumpy. The renovations are a real b*tch. Instead of the usual Row 5 for internet check-in the row has now been sealed closed due to reno, and with the huge horde of people standing around a pathetic row 6 to wait for their check-in row to open was like trying to juggle twently plates on your head as you squeeze past them. Row 2 apparently is now the designated early/internet check-in row but it's closed, so I had to walk all the way to the other end of the terminal to Row 12, squeezing past the I've-never-been-on-a-plane-before-so-i'm standing-here-till-i-get-on-the-plane people standing around row 6 broadcasting their life story to whoever is interested in listening.

Security agents at the front of the check-in is as dumb as usual (not sure if it was the time of the day but they should really start employing people with at least secondary education!!!), and check-in agents are realllllllly slow and what can i say, grumpy. Nothing like the sort who will even say good morning to you. Nothing. It's like the less people they have the easier their job will be. They take your passport, do their stuff, and send you on your way. They will say absolutely nothing beyond their legal obligation. No thanks, no goodbye, no pleasant trips, no hello, no window or aisle, nothing!! I asked about my return check-in and she said she can't do it, do it in KL. I asked if I had to clear immigration in kL and she said no, just do it in the transit area. Fair enough. I went into the airside, and lo and behold the immigration officers were joking and laughing, but as I stepped up to a counter, her facial expression changed with the snap of the finger into a cold, emotionless, and even vaguely hostile expression.

By this time it was 0545 and while the screen says 'Boarding' I couldn't care less. It was the first flight on the board at this time. I wandered around the airside shops, surprised that they were opened at this hour. Tried the free internet terminals to update my blog to whine about the security and the check-in. Tried to flash my citibank gold to get into the premier lounge but the very nice lady (FINALLY!) said it's actually the premium lounge i want, not the premier. Decided that it was too long a trek there so I went walking around the DFS shops to check out the perfumes and stuff. By this time it was 0610 and it says LAST CALL on the board so I though, ah well, time to walk to the gate. Don't quite remember what gate it was, but it was in the region of F3X... so not too far a walk.

By the time I got to the gate boarding has just commenced. There were two metal detectors and x-ray machines, and in typical singaporean-want-to-please-the-caucasian fashion, the security guards were all smiles and greetings to the middle-aged couple (from Australia apparently) who was in front of me. You have no idea how shamelessly major sucking-up the guards were to the couple, that I was just left stranded behind the x-ray machines with no attention whatsoever. So I just put my bags on one of the empty x-ray machines and i was told sternly to "WAIT!" So I just stood there again, and they scanned my bag and passed me through. Was I pissed? Yes. Would I have done anything differently? No. No point fighting with low-life peasants who would otherwise be cleaning the streets if they hadn't found this job acting out on their power struggle.

Boarded the plane and was greeted by one cheerful stewardess and a steward who wished he was home doing something else. The flight was very empty being sunday and the first flight of the day. After I took my seat (had all 3 seats to myself), the stewardesses were seen congregating around the entrance, *****ing and talking about their personal life. Three stewardesses on the OTHER aisle were asking this other stewardess about whether this is her first flight, and pinpointing her apparent anxiety to all the passengers in the cabin. That must have been fun for her. Very unprofessional I must say. SIA has sunk to a new low of being a LCC wannabe with crew entertainment instead of IFEs.

The flight pushed back at 0625, first time I’ve experienced an earlier-than-scheduled pushback, and it taxied to runway 2R for take off. Smooth take-off, and drink service commenced. It was the same drinks offered 20 years ago when I first had my SIN-KUL trip. “OJ, coffee or tea for you sir?” It said ‘MEALS’ on the ticket, and bloody hell I expected at least a muffin. Nothing. Zilch. “An OJ is fine, thank you”

The flight cruised at 550km/h (can anyone explain why?) and descent began 15 minutes after leveling out. Uneventful flight, but what can you expect for a 35 minute journey? (A MUFFIN AT LEAST DAMNIT!)

Touch down was pretty smooth and we docked at gate C4.