I had to be back home in MEL for a conference and a friend's 21st. So decided to come home for a week b4 heading off to Singapore and Europe again. This trip report will be in 2 parts, with part 2 of the report posted after my next flight.
SQ217, SIN-MEL Y seat 36H
ETD - 0955
ATD - 1012
Aircraft - B777-300
Check-in
I had requested for an emergency exit row seat prior to checking in. The phone check-in agent confirmed my request and gave me seat 36H upon my inquiry of aisle seat availability. Was told to pick up my boarding pass at either rows 3 or 4 at Changi.
Arrived at Changi at approximately 2 hours before departure. Row 3, the row designated for internet/phone check-ins was filled with long queues and I headed for row 4, the Star Alliance Gold row where 'queues' were at a maximum of 1 pax. At Changi Airport, in an effort to minimise queues, Krisflyer Elite Gold and Star Alliance Gold customers flying in economy on SQ check in at a designated row seperate from the Raffles Class rows. SATS check-in agent was extremely efficient but slightly surly in typical SATS style. Said agent noted that my boarding gate was right at the end (F59 - eep!) and invited me to use the SATS Lounge (now known as the SATS Premier Club). However I noted that he forgot to ask the mandatory security questions.
Lounge
As with check-in, non-SQ PPS Club Star Alliance Gold passengers (including Krisflyer Elite Golds) flying in economy on SQ at SIN are sent to the SATS Premier Club, an apparently inferior lounge to the SKL at SIN. Food was decent - a choice between chicken congee and mee siam (or laksa - can't remember). Limited selection of alcohol - only a few beers and 2 choices of red wine (a Shiraz and a...Shiraz Cabernet!), 1 type of champagne, and 2 choices of white wine (didn't notice what they were). To top it off, there were coffee makers all over the place. Seats were good and plentiful. The business centre was poor - only 3 computers with internet access, but no printing facilities. Overrall I thought it was a very decent lounge but then I havent been enchanted by the SIN SKL yet. :P The lounge receptionist kindly reminded me that I had to leave the lounge by 0930 in order to make it to the gate on time.
Boarding
I arrived at the gate just as boarding has commenced. No priority boarding zones at all, however the SATS agents were very efficient at clearing queues. Onboard, I was greeted by a smiling Singapore Girl who promptly gave me the standard directions to my seat.
Onboard service
Seat 36H had lots of leg space. I almost felt guilty taking it as I didn't need that much extra legroom, especially when there were a few very tall people sitting in the areas near me, but at the same time I could do without people climbing over me to get to the lavatory. The crew distributed hot towels before take-off. At this point I accidentally snuck a peek at the flight manifest and noted that at least 20-30% of the flight had Gold status of some description. So I must have been very lucky to snag an emergency exit row seat!
The crew sprang into service delivery as soon as the seat belt sign was off as the a/c levelled to its cruising altitude. Menu cards and headsets were distributed. Some pax at the exit/bulkhead row seats had difficulty getting up their PTVs and were promptly assisted by the crew. Nothing seemed too much trouble for the crew and I observed that the crew call button was responded to in under 10 seconds. Very regular drink runs were also made.
A continental breakfast was served after take-off:
Fruit
Fruit appetiser
From the bakery
Assorted breakfast rolls
Butter - Fruit preserve
Hot beverages
Coffee - Tea
Standard SQ Y class continental breakfast for flights under 12 hours with a main meal to be served. Nothing to rave about, the muffin was tasty though.
I decided to ask for a glass of red wine as I settled down to watch a movie. One of the ever friendly SQ Girl (regrettably I can't remember her name) suggested some peanuts to go along with the red wine. She came back with my glass of wine along with 2 packs of nuts, and a brief description of the 'French Shiraz.' Most impressive! The wine was delicious and I was tempted to ask for its name before I realised that it would taste different on the ground.
At this point I noticed that the crew on this flight was extremely professional in going about their duties. Efficient and attentive without being overly intrusive. It had none of that SQ robotic-ness that others enjoy complaining about. The Girls (and Boy) in my aisle were totally friendly. I also noted that almost all of the Singapore Girls (and Boy) were extremely young. I hope it's only because the airline puts junior crew in economy and more experienced crew in business and first, and not because it discriminates on the basis of age (and I might add - appearance) like Virgin Blue (who was sued successfully in court by ex-AN cabin crew).
Lunch was served about 3 hours prior to landing:
Appetiser
Pasta and ham salad
Main courses
Panfried chicken in mustard sauce with skewed vegetables and new potatoes
OR
Braised fillet of fish in hoisin sauce with Oriental mixed vegetables and steamed rice
Cheese
Cheese and crackers
Dessert
Ice cream
From the bakery
Roll and butter
Hot beverages
Coffee - Tea
I chose the main course of chicken which was absolutely tasty. The meat was very tender. The appetiser was yummy too but I would have preferred a healthier selection of starter like the often fresh garden salads on QF. I asked for a glass of white wine. There happened to be a choice of 2 white wines on board and when the Singapore Girl (Miss Janice Foo) saw me hesitate she let me taste both wines. In the end both were just as good as each other so the ever smiling Janice offerred to serve me both wines. I didn't want to look greedy so I asked for the 2nd glass of wine to come along a while later. Sure enough when the ever friendly Janice saw that my glass was empty she topped it up with a second glass of wine. The wines were a French Chardonnay and a German Riesling respectively. Both were sensational.
Krisworld was great as usual, especially with the Wisemen 3000 system. Watched 2 movies ('In Her Shoes'; 'Fantastic 4' )and a couple of sitcoms. Unfortunately there was no 'Friends' - my fave of faves.
Thankfully there were 'Little Britain' and 'Kath and Kim.'
Have you ever heard that one drink in the air = 3 drinks on the ground? It must be true because by my 4th glass of wine (I also had 2 cans of beer b4) I was already feeling tipsy and asked for water instead. The ever efficient Janice (and her colleague whose name I can't remember) noticed that my face was red and ensured that I had a liberal supply of water. I chatted with Janice and her colleague and upon learning that it was my first time in a long time on SQ/*A I was given some SQ postcards and soft toys, which I decided to keep for my 2 year old nephew.
Landing was very smooth. We parked at the terminal about 5 mins behind schedule.
In summation SQ inflight service was faultless. However SATS ground staff needs to smile a bit more. Hopefully there'd be 'Friends' on my next flights with SQ.
pics to come...