We are flying out of SIN (to NRT) on May 1st at 6:00am in WBC. We are staying at the Ritz Carlton while in Singapore. A question for you veterns, what time should we leave our hotel for this flight? I am not a get to the airport super early kinda guy, and am generally spoiled by my PE status.

Thanks for the help.

I presume that you will be using a hotel car or taxi -- I would be in the taxi at 4:30. As you are in WBC there shouldn't be much of an issue with checkin -- if you have luggage (I never check any) then maybe somewhat earlier.

I do this flight every two weeks and have gotten it down pat. If you want to stay at the Ritz and wake up early and taxi to the then leave the Ritz at 3:00am. (You may know its one of the closest to the airports). The tix counter opens at 3:00 and your taxi should get you there by 3:20-3:30. The check in line goes rather smooth even when the Airbus is full which is almost always. The Biz class or Elite status doesnt much help as security takes everyone one by one before the can segregate the classes. Once cleared by security you will be allowed to the first open agent, Elite line or not. Only half of the check in agents are real NW agents so if you have any problems (sometimes they drop my pre-assigned seats . The head SIN station chief is x and he is very efficient in resolving problems) Unfortunately he can not always get back seat assignments dropped but he did once protect the 3 seats around me in economy. Even came to talk to the crew to make sure they understood. NW needs more like him. The latest I would arrive at the airport if you plan to go straight to the plane would be 4:30am


If you dont go to the lounge there is a 24 hour Subway (landside) or a good bookstore (airside) plus some free Samsung terminals for internet access once past immigration.


Boarding starts at 5:00 to 5:15 and is again a long process as WBC and elites have no special line. As this flight is almost always full it pays to get there around 5:15. Before you get there you must clear immigration though. At this time in the morning it is empty. I have never waited for more than one person. The lounge is a third party longe, not a NW one. It is good though and has sandwiches and some hot muffins in addition to a full open bar. It has a free internet terminal but it is slow dialup. There are two good massage chairs there to use. Many new US & European language reading materials. The lounge is upstairs across from CX one so you must take the esculator up one flight and wind around to get there. SIN-NRT leaves from gate 44 which is a 5 minute esculator assisted walk from the club.

The Airbus 300 200 series has power ports WITHOUT need of an adaptor so you can just plug in for rows 1 -22. The plug is on the base of the seat supporter between where your foot and kneecap would be. Often the flight atendants are not used to this new equipment so they dont know about them. You can use then when the light (near the plug in) is on green. Sometimes the pursor forgets to turn the system on while inflight so just ask him if the light is red and you are at cruising altitude.

Remember the key seats in economy are 11-C or 11G. I do anything to get these seats or ncy emergerow 29. This Airbus series is good because the emergency door has no protrusion.
see:
http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Nor...irbus_A332.php

actually I think WBC is not good on the Airbus--too narrow seats no matter what NW says.

PS Taxi is the only choice. The last MRT to the airport is at 11:50pm and doesnt open to 6:00am

hope this helps!

Thanks for the good info guys. I have flown the atlantic version of the airbus, and am one of the few who like the seats. We have seats 1H/J for NRT-BKK and SIN-NRT. I hope they don't lose them, but its good to know who to talk to if they do. We have car service to and from the Ritz, so that is what we plan to take.

Again thanks for the good information ... your not flying on May 1st are you?

Not going to be on May 1, I hope. But I never know till the last minute.
I assume you know about the two different NW clubs at Narita right?

Enjoy the trip

I think Attila123 knows best. At first, I'd say that at SIN, you could literally arrive at 5:15 and easily make it--especially without luggage, since there are NO flights leaving at the same time as NW (in the whole place, I think NW is the first AM flight, so you won't encounter trouble at immigration). Security is, unfortunately, at each gate, so you have to wait there.
However, at least when the 742 was flying that route, Op-Ups seemed to be done early, rather than later: The 2 times I was Op-Upped ex-SIN, I was on WorldVacations packages (so in a super-cheap, group ticket class) with an ungodly airport shuttle departure time: 2:30AM! As one of the first people checking in, both times the agent saw my PE card, called over her boss, and they Upgraded me to WBC. I know there are many fewer WBC seats on the 332, but I will say that I have had luck on early check-in at SIN!

Attila, I know that there are two clubs in Narita, and think I have heard that the upstairs one is better .... your info has been very helpful, so I would appreciate any club advice from a seasoned vet.

Kyushman: 2:30am almost makes me want to cry ... I was not happy with a 4:00 ride to the airport. I'm having flashbacks to a bad trip home from New Orleans after a late night, actually late morning on Bourbon street.

I assumed you guys were staying the night at the Ritz but I agree with you Puck, I hate the early morning thing so bad sometimes I do all the SIN business first then on the return from Kuala Lumpur just schedule it so I can arrive around 10:00pm and directly get a room at the Ambassador Transit hotel (Airside right near the WBC club lounge). Sleep until 4:30 and then while leaving all my carry on bags in the room, clear immigration enter Singapore check in to the NW flight and run back to the hotel room. Total time 20 mins(with no bags checked). But I think this might be for your future trip as you sound like you are already land bound the night before.

The NW Clubs in Narita are decent and certainly better than the former Greyhound style old terminal but they are nothing to get very excited about. (Although my younger travelling partner enjoys the tilting beer dispenser machine). Yes I think the upstairs club is "better". It certainly is bigger. Remember both these clubs are subbed out to contractors so the "NW agents" in them can only give but the most basic information. You must go downstairs to the transfer desk to find a "real" NW agent.

The NW corporate web site has a PDF file with a photo of the two at:
http://www.corporate.nwa.com/images/sprcor03.pdf#search='worldclubs%20tokyo'

The both get very full. I prefer the upstairs club. Most travellers after checking in upstairs head to the left. The left side of the club gets very crowded. The right seems to elude people though and is subsequently less crowded. They have the except same amenities. There are three free internet broadband terminals on EACH side of the upstairs lounge but most people don�t know about those on the RIGHT side so they are usually available. The snack and food there are a joke though. My biz partner with me on the last trip was laughing and how there was such a big club but nothing edible. Funky Japanese crackers and some small Oreos. Anything else I have blocked from memory. Sometimes I am so hungry between flights I eat the martini olives (which aren�t good either). These clubs are nothing like CX�s. Also they can get very very crowded if you hit the rush time. They are usually not so busy from 14:00 until 17:00. Before and after it can get bad. Beware the efficient cleaning crew that takes magazines/business papers/drink if I step away from my seat for more than 5 minutes to go to the restroom.

The downstairs club is ok too and seems to have more magazines. Also most people don�t seem to know that the PCs bolted to the solitary terminals are free so occasionally I head down there if all the upstairs ones are in use. Also for private business calls the downstairs club is the only one with private telephone cabins. Neither club has a shower although both have their own restrooms. The upstairs club on the right are the least visited.

The Worldclubs Narita are nothing special but better than nothing I guess

Thanks again for the info ... this is the end of our honeymoon. We fly into Bangkok spend 4 days, then a week in Phuket, then 3 days in Singapore at the Ritz and then back to Minneapolis. I earn my PE status flying around the US so have low expectations for clubs , so I doubt I will be disapointed.l

Thanks! This is a great idea. I'll be splitting a week between KUL and SIN at the end of the month and plan to fly from KUL to SIN a few hours before my flight home. I may head in to SIN for a few hours but was looking to skip a hotel room in SIN for 6 hours.

Cmd,

The Ambassador Transit Hotel is a pretty good place (small rooms). 6 hours= 48 USD.
The terminal plus the terminals (airside have lots going on) up until 24:00. There are restaurants and the bookstore is open 24hours. There is a 24 Gloria Jeans. The ambassador hotel also has a free fitness center. Terminal 2 has alot more activity (including a free movie theater). ID you take the KUL-SIN shuttle asn end up on SG youll land there. It is funner to hang out there than Termainal 1. Remember though the inter-terminal train stops at 01:30 so you'll have a long terminal to terminal walk if you miss it. Go to the Subway and get a sandwich doubled wrapped to go so you can have a real lunch once you get to NRT as the Worldclub has zippo food.


Puck

If this is you honeymoon make sure you get a room at the Ritz at least above the 11th floor. And definitely kick in the extra $50-75 USD for a corner "Suite" room. It is the best deal in town. I can give you the name of a consolidator if the Ritz asks for more than that--a much larger room with corner view. The best is obviously the Singapore city skyline view--the back bay ones are that special for a honeymoon. The bathtub view will make this a special stay . So romantic it could make you fall in love with Joan Rivers. The best rooms are the corner ones on the SOUTWEST side. The spa isn't so great but the pool is excellent. Sometimes the staff says rooms above the 11th floor are not available...Ask politely to speak to the Duty Manager. They were trained by Ritz in ATL not Marriott so they are very accomadating.
Happy Honeymoon!

Attila: I have us booked in a club level room, and through a very helpful connection in the business loyalty world, we have been upgraded from that to a corner suite room with a marina view ... is that the view that we want?

Sorry I just reread my posts and my spelling is so bad it makes it almost unintelligible.

The Club level is excellent. Your future wife will be impressed. The views are amazing and the club itself is one of the finest run I have seen in the world. The food service at night is amazing. You know at this level I think it doesn't pay to be too obsessive but as it is your honeymoon you may want to ask for the city view rather than the Marina (back bay) one. You just overlook darkness at night expecially at that Club level (30th floor?). While the Kallang or city view would be my preference on a special stay.. I am sure they can accomodate you--