The Dom Perignon & Caviar Diet (AKA SQ to Asia)
I used to travel a lot but have not had time to lately. This summer, though, I had an opportunity to get away for a couple of weeks. I thought it a good time to cash in some UA miles for a ticket to Asia on SQ. You have to love that “Star Alliance”! I was lucky in that I fairly easily found F award space from LAX to BKK, a feat that is not always so easily accomplished. I even changed my reservation a few weeks before departure and again was able to obtain a seat! So, for the whopping sum of 120,000 miles and $32 in taxes, I was off.
My flight from SBA to LAX was uneventful and short. I had a long layover in LAX before my 2:30 departure on SQ11. So, instead of heading over to the international terminal right away, I hung out in the UA International F lounge. This is actually a very good lounge with an entire wall of floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ramp area and part of a runway. Food offerings are what you would expect from UA (Sandwiches, cheeses, fruits, full bar, cookies and other sweets) but nothing spectacular. I asked about WIFI access and they said that they did not have it yet, but quickly added they had a new TV in the lounge! About 2 hours before my flight I walked down to the Tom Bradley International Terminal to check in for the SQ flight. The check in was smooth except that the agent was concerned that I had been ticketed as two segments (LAX-NRT and NRT-SIN). Apparently, since the flight number stays the same for both segments, you typically have one boarding pass. After a brief discussion with a colleague she decided it was okay and issued the two boarding cards (plus the card for my BKK flight two days later) and was given directions to the SQ lounge. I had read that the SQ lounge was nothing special, and I have to agree. SQ does great in the air (as you will see) but the lounges I visited on this trip were not so great. I suppose it can be attributed to the fact that SQ only has a couple of flights a day from LAX. For UA, of course, it is a hub so their lounge is nicer. The SQ lounge does have WIFI though and the staff was quite pleasant. The woman at the front desk was able to confirm that my bags had not only been transferred from UA successfully but that they were in fact already boarded on my flight. After some small chitchat she said I should keep an eye out for her in BKK as she would be coming the next day!
Nothing could quite prepare me for the sight of the interior of SQ’s first class cabin on the 747. I had seen pictures, even the virtual reality tour on the SQ website. I have to say though that siting down in row 2 with five windows at my side is a very nice experience. The cabin was further enhanced by the fantastic crew as well as the fact that only only two other passengers would join me. As I entered the aircraft I was immediately escorted to my seat and helped stowing my bag. I was always addressed by name, and the service was non-stop (newspapers and magazines, headsets, slippers and eyeshades, pajamas, Bvlgari amenity kit). I was asked if I would like a drink before departure. I said sure, how about some champagne. Then came that question that SQ attendants love to ask. They say it with a little coy smile too. Mr. Peter11 would you prefer Dom Perignon or Krug? That’s like asking would you like a Rolls Royce, or a Rolls Royce! I opted from the Dom, which I am now thoroughly addicted to. Between two of us (that were drinking in F) we finished off that first bottle before takeoff!
Shortly after our takeoff, the Dom reappeared along with a bowl of warm cashews and macadamia nuts. About 25 minutes into the flight I looked out the window and saw my house! Yea, we literally flew right over SBA . After we finished our cocktails we began our 8-course dinner. The menu is (See post number 32).
MENU LINK Basically the menu consists of Caviar (I had two servings), Soup, Salad, Entrée, Cheese, Fruit, Dessert, Chocolates. I never could make it though all the courses. SQ has a service called Book The Cook (BTC) where you can preorder your entree. You may still choose from the regular menu too (unless they run out of something). I had ordered the Lobster Thermidor which was excellent. I had to skip the salad, cheese, fruit and the final chocolates (though they all looked great) because I was, um, full of Dom Perignon!
After dinner I flipped on the entertainment system, and checked out the language courses offered. Yea, that’s right SQ has Berlitz language courses as part of the IFE system. I now speak Mandarin! Well, only sort of I guess. I tried it out on someone after the flight and they said it was pretty good, but my accent sounded like I had been drinking! Hmmmm…..note to self: Do not take language course and drink champagne at the same time!
I was feeling a bit tired after my studies so I put on the pajamas while the attendant made up my bed. I came back and settled in for a few hours of rest. The beds are very comfortable and for once I actually really slept on an airplane. I woke up after a few hours and decided to watch a movie, Million Dollar Baby. My eyes had been kind dry and irritated before the movie. Well, if you have seen that movie you know, dry eyes were not a problem after it was over! I spent the next couple of hours chatting with one of the crew, a very charming attendant from KUL. Although the other two passengers will still sleeping it was time for the second meal. I was still full from the first one! The attendant egged me on though so I ate a couple of the courses. It was delicious but I was very full.
After landing at NRT I decided to sprint down to the UA F lounge for a shower. It’s about a 10-minute very brisk walk. I had read that it was a nice facility and, wow, is it ever. It is a two-story lounge with the RCC on the lower level and the F lounge above. The F area is very nicely set up, decorated less like an airline lounge and more like a five star hotel. Food offerings were similar to LAX with some sushi and noodles added. The shower suites are excellent, with a big granite shower (4 foot by 5 foot), toilet and sink. UA has thoughtfully included a full amenity kit of Crabtree & Evelyn products (shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, bath gel, toothbrush, tooth paste, razor and shaving cream, q-tips) all in a small zippered bag to take along. After a relaxing shower I headed back to the SQ lounge. As I arrived, there was a ground staff person who was looking for me. She wanted to give me a new boarding pass (something to do with that issue at LAX with being booked for two segments). The lounge staff allowed us to relax until the very last minute when we were told it was time to board. We went downstairs to find no less than 15 (probably more like 20) ground staff people waiting for us. We were thanked over and over again, bowed to and sent off like we were VIP’s or something. It was quite a sight.
Once again, more Dom, more caviar and yet another huge meal enroute to SIN. Actually, this one had an extra course, SQ’s signature Satay with peanut sauce. After a couple of servings of Satay, and the caviar, I told the attendant I only wanted my entrée and I would skip the rest of the courses. The full menu is here
HERE (See post 39) . I had ordered the Beef Sukiyaki which was excellent. Then, I enjoyed the ultimate luxury of flying in F; I slept for the rest of the flight.
Once we landed I made my way to the transit hotel in terminal 1 (terminal 2 hotel was full). For those of you who do not know at the Changi airport they have two hotels within the departure lounge (airside). There is no need to clear immigration. They are quite reasonable (around $35 for a block of six hours). My wakeup call came all too early but I was excited to get to BKK. I first went to the lounge, and this being SQ’s hub, it was very nice. It lacks a view, but the food and bar offerings are top notch. Moreover, it was perfect hangover food! Well, I am joking (sort of) about the hangover. That morning they were offering Laksa, which I had never had before. My memory is a bit fuzzy but it was a noodle soup made with a coconut broth. Just what the doctor would have ordered!
My flight to BKK would only be about 2 hours on a 777. SQ only has the skysuites on the 747 so, I had to rough it! Actually the seats are very comfortable and more than adequate for regional travel. In case you were wondering, they still serve the Dom (though not the Krug on all flights) on a 2-hour flight. The attendants on all the flights were really very charming. They each have their own style but are very engaging, easily conversing with passengers on numerous topics in a way that does not seem phony or rehearsed. With only three of us in F again, the service was excellent on this short hop. The menu is
HERE (see post 61) I had preordered the Singapore Chicken Rice which was perfect.
After clearing immigration I went down to baggage claim to see if my bags, which I had checked two days earlier, had arrived. Once the belt started my bags were among the very first out. What was especially impressive was that they did not only have the Star Alliance Priority tags on them that UA had put on, but somewhere along the line (presumably at LAX), SQ had added their own priority First Class tags as well as another Star Alliance tag!
Outside of customs, I was met by a representative from the Peninsula Hotel and taken to a waiting car. I only had a minute in the BKK heat and humidity before I was ushered into the nicely chilled Mercedes! As I closed the door, I noticed some familiar music playing. Yes, it was Hotel California playing on the CD player! About 25 minutes later I was being ushered up to my suite to complete my registration. There is a long thread on BKK hotels
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...8&page=5&pp=15 Including my comments on the Peninsula at post number 65. Bottom line is it is a great hotel, and I would certainly stay there again when I am in BKK next.
After 5 days in BKK I was off to Bali with a change of planes in SIN. I headed down to the gate in BKK with the understanding that the flight was already boarding. When I got there, in fact, they had not started. I joined the line for First/Raffles customers, which was already about 12 deep. After waiting for a few minutes, one of the ground staff noticed my F boarding pass and quickly pulled the ropes aside, took me to the front of the line, and sent me to the plane. How is that for service? I soon learned that I was to have one of those fabled experiences where I was the only passenger in F. It almost feels like you are on a private jet! I know this comes as no surprise to most of you but those flight attendants do not even bat an eye at opening an entire bottle of Dom for one passenger. Of course I did my best to finish it (I came very close) before I suggested that they might want to serve some to Raffles! The attendant politely laughed assuring me that Dom is for F only! A few minutes after takeoff I started to doze a bit. The attendant noticed I was reclined and he quickly RAN around the cabin closing the window shades, including those in the galley. Seriously, you are treated like royalty on these flights. The menu is
HERE (see post 85)
One side note here. On the SQ boards, once in a while, you get people saying that SQ’s attendants are “robotic”. Whoever came up with this term is an idiot. In my experience they were consistently well trained, attractive, and very service oriented. They each imparted some of their own personal style in the way they served customers. I was very impressed and, well, okay, I might have been in love once or twice!
Once in SIN I hit the lounge again while I waited for the flight to DPS. I should have only been allowed into the Raffles lounge as my continuing flight was not in F (no F offered to DPS). However, the charming person at the door allowed me in since I had arrived in F. Just smile a lot and ask, they will probably say yes! On this visit to the lounge I decided to check out the shower. Not that I needed one after a 2 hour flight but I thought it would help me sober up after all that Dom! The showers here are good, but probably ¼ the size of the UA ones in NRT. Anyway, after a shower and some Satay, I was all sobered up and ready for Bali.
Frankly, things get a little fuzzy here. So many flights, so much Dom, so many late nights, time zone changes, I am having a hard time recalling much about the flight to DPS. Again, since it was Raffles, maybe it was best that I don’t remember much after all my F flights! I do remember that I, again, could not eat. I was still full from the Dom on the BKK flight and the snacks from the lounge! Hmmm…..maybe this diet is working!
Bali was great, very relaxing. I stayed for a while at the FS Jimbaran and then briefly at the RC. The review is
HERE (see post number 13)
After Bali I had a couple of shopping days in SIN before heading home. Checking in at SIN as an F passenger is pretty slick. Again, I was made to feel like I was royalty or something. I was met at the curb by skycap as well as a young woman who both escorted me to the first class check in office. Its not the usual check in line with a red carpet it is an office with desks where you sit and check your luggage. Actually, I just sat in a lounge chair and the woman took my travel documents and returned a couple of minutes later with all of my boarding passes and claim checks. Cant ask for better than that.
The flights home were more of the same excellent service and staff. These flights, (SIN-NRT and NRT-LAX) were operated on the 744 again with the those lovely skysuites. The menu is
HERE (See post 85) I will just relate two stories from these flights. From SIN to NRT I realized I had lost my lip balm and my lips were pretty chapped. I asked the flight attendant if there was any on board. She returned after checking to inform me that the amenity bags will be on board for the next segment but were not on yet. She then offered to kiss me to moisten my lips! I’ll leave the rest to your imaginations.
The other story is from NRT to LAX. I think there were six of us in F. After I had placed my meal order, the head steward came by. He said, so, Mr. Peter 11, you like caviar do you? I said, well yes I do. He said, so, is a large serving okay? I said sure. He said, well, then I shall serve you the entire can! What followed was a plate with a mountain of caviar, followed by second plate full. All washed down with some more of that lovely Dom!
There are so many other things you could praise SQ about. One thing that really stood out though was how clean the planes are. I often travel on UA and you can readily find a whole meal hidden in the cracks of the seats, or in the grooves in the floor around the seats. Not on SQ, every crack and crevice was spotless. The lavatory too is kept immaculate throughout the flight. The attendants were in the lav after virtually each use freshening it up. Oh, yea, one other little thing. In the lavatory, the dispenser has both paper towels as well as terry cloth towels. Never saw that on any other plane.
After clearing customs in LAX I headed over to the UA terminal. I was surprised that I was readily welcomed into the UA International F lounge even though my continuing flight was on UX in coach. I don’t know what the official policy is but I just smiled and was nice and they let me in. They even reissued my boarding pass since the one I had was on SQ stock. I had a couple of hours to wait so even though they do not have showers, I was glad to be able to relax in peace.
I am home now and have not had any Champagne or Caviar for nearly 2 weeks. It is not a diet that most doctors would recommend, but I did lose five pounds over my two-week vacation. It is an expensive diet, that is unless you have a lot of mileage to burn!
