We have made it safely back home in Amsterdam.
The lads have already done the trip to Albert Heijn supermarket to fill the empty fridge.
You know the fairytale of holidays has ended when you open the fridge and that reality hits you of its emptiness.
Our flights from DPS to SIN to AMS/LHR where again in the capable hands of Singapore Airlines.
Bali airport departures was easy because it was offpeak in timing: departed hotel 10.15 morning for flight departure (13H)
DPS: departures car drop off point
Checkin counters for Singapore Airlines
To enter the terminal building,
all items must be put through the scanner,
not allowed in checkin luggage are powerbanks and lighters
Information for entering Singapore as destination
Departures board
International terminal lay out
We went together to security which was efficient and still the classic style with metal arches.
Immigration has counters open for all passports and seperate ones for crew/diplomatic/disabled.
No fuss at all because we departed during the less busy time of the day
Only 1 lounge open: the Premium lounge (others are closed : T/G and Garuda lounge)
Take the lift or stairs to go to the upperfloor
Lounges are upstairs
T/G priority pass was closed
It might open only during the busy evening bank of departures
Garuda lounge was also closed : might open only during the evening bank of departures
Hey!
What do we spot here: mention of ITA (ex-Alitalia)
We have all jumped on the Skyteam Elite Plus status ITA statusmatch bandwagon last year and have wondered where this newly acquired status can be milked dry as in gravy train for lounge access....... so it seems here!
Reference:
ITA Airways Volare (Skyteam) Status Match is back
EDIT:
ITA status match seems to be back!
https://loyaltylobby.com/2022/08/05/...ember-15-2022/
Premium lounge, third party contract lounge for Singapore Airlines
Entry business class per invitation only or starGold max +1
Many people turned away with extended families and not wanting to pay the 500.000 idr entry fee
I felt sorry for the staff dealing with turning away a fitty LH SEN in SQ economy with wife +4 childeren demanding to be let in.
For this reason i always buy business class when travelling with my teens as nobody get left behind and abide to the rules.
My S/O kicked my ankles and said: don't you dare guest them in with mine and yours SEN-card! Good to have them learn humility!
Some photos of the Premium lounge:
Handy seat count: 171 though is kinda streching to max
Perfectly fine for a contract lounge
Not to busy due to strict enforcement of entry rules
It is though a place to see and be seen :
I can only report most favourable of the clean toilets with basic Toto washlet and the dedicated attendant!
Most of the airport under renovation so limited shopping but enough places to have drinks/food.
Renovations at DPS getting it ready for G20 summit meeting later this year
Ofcourse being the most addicted Geordielander about : this is the price of a carton of fags
Transit in Singapore was easy, we first went to the transit hotel to checkin and drop our stuff.
https://www.changiairport.com/en/air...it-hotels.html
Expensive but a must to keep everyone sane and fit for the upcoming midnight departures.
I have booked 2x twin rooms as nobody wants to share the sheets when they are tired
Note: most rooms do not have windows, you must request those:
Transit hotel entrance: rates are steep but worth it to keep everyone sane & fit on a long layover
Entry room: you can pay at reception with creditcards
Internet connectivity via Changi Airport wifi
I booked 2x twin room with windows: most do not have windows so request these upon booking
Clean bathroom: shower pressure heavenly and heating excellent
All modern amenities are present
Windows to make any av-geek jealous
Universal power outlet everywhere
Bottled water and kettle for a spot of tea
Hotel provides automated wake up calls
Slippers and hygiene set
Connecting door to lads' room :
amazing how teens can mess up a room in 5 minutes that it isnt worth taking a photo anymore
Rates come with F&B roomservice
This is a remnent of those pandemic transits >5H where transit passengers were escorted to the transithotel to await their next connecting flight while still being fed according to duty of care rules
If you look down from the window you can see other ways how transit passengers relax
Book the transit hotel ASAP:
they had to turn away walk-ins due to full occupancy
and we spotted many passengers camped out in the terminal
Masks were enforced at the airport but we also spotted them infamous hazz-matt suits : glad to see the romance of travel is still alluring to take risks!
Then headed to the SQ business lounge for something to eat.
Reports indicated that the evening bank departures make the SQ business lounge a zoo and this was also confirmed by the lounge dragons.
To inform others:
This is the photo essay of the SilverKris business class lounge taken at 16.30 on wed 3 Aug 2022 in its own thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34489337-post140.html
The lounge is perfectly fine with now also a snooze room and nuggets+fries but i can see it needing to cope with crowds as the T2 lounges are closed for refurbishment.
The longer we sat eating, the busier it had become.
Thank G-d for imodium again but can report that SQ toilets have Toto washlets!
After the icecube fiasco i have a whole new outlook on the art of Water Closets (WC) an interesting addition to my world perspective!
After a good rest at the transit hotel we each headed towards our flights:
- me + sons to the SQ flight to Amsterdam
- S/O back to SQ flight to London LHR : how he can return and has energy to go back tohis job in the City the day after arrival beats me !
He reported the usual LHR circus upon arrival and was glad we took his suitcase back to Amsterdam
It might enlighten others whom are arriving into Amsterdam airport and wish to book the seperate VIP-service arrival using the private terminal avoiding the chaos of the formalities of the main terminal, my experience:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34484908-post60.html
Please forgive my musings and rants but i prefer to inform people because of 2 years lockdown and restricted travel, every piece of information helps to have a better holiday!