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To the Cape with SQ (Pics and Vids)
This trip was booked with my Krisflyer miles, costing my about 47K miles for a return economy ticket. Taxes came up to nearly S$400. I and my friend decided to go to Cape Town as it is definitely something different from the European cities and of course, a continent I have not step foot on.
On the day of departure, arrived at Terminal 2 where the check-in hall seemed like a ghost town. It was almost practically empty as there were not many flights departing from T2 late at night. Check-in agents were just talking to each other or looking bored. Check-in was swift as we had performed an online check-in and baggage was sent on the way. My boarding pass. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/...26f9d314_b.jpg Immigration again was painless and our first stop was to the Greenmarket for a quick meal which luckily, we had as will be explained later. Starters from buffet http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/...06d16fcd_b.jpg Tempura Set http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/...e4f13a6a_b.jpg Grilled Mackerel Set http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/...b01b90b5_b.jpg Exploring T2 after the meal. It was very quiet at 12am at night. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/...42e2c447_b.jpg Silkair A320 and SQ B772 resting for the night. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/...a03dc75e_b.jpg Maintenance works going on another Silkair plane. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/...cbcb5434_b.jpg 19 January 2011 Singapore Airlines SQ 480 Singapore (SIN) - Cape Town (CPT) B777-200(ER) 9V-SVL Economy Class The departure gate, which was at E12, meant a long walk down the finger of the terminal to the last gate. Boarding was just started as we reached the gate. It was very orderly with the ground staff emphasizing that boarding has to be done by row numbers. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/...52a61413_b.jpg Our plane for the journey. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/...86b722a1_b.jpg Boarding in process. The flight was quite full, with about 220/255 pax load, mainly South Africans returning home after their summer vacation. Luckily our middle seat remained empty. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/...d477d426_b.jpg At the gate. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/...41ddc625_b.jpg Already on the seats were a pillow and blanket. Pillows were the smaller blue ones and not ones used in the new cabins. However legroom was great as usual on the 772ER planes. And as I had chose row 55 where the cabin starts to curve towards the rear, the window seats get an extra 1-2 inches pitch! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/...189ddc9b_b.jpg The seats on the older cabins, though quite hard, are more comfortable than the new economy seats, especially for long-legged guys like me. We are able to stretch our legs under seat in front but we could not do that on the new seats as the seat base is lower, restricting the movement of the legs. You can refer to my previous review of the new seats on SQ's A330 flight which was extremely flawed in design comfort. After passengers had completed boarding, the same process starts of giving out hot towels and menus. Headsets were distributed after takeoff. We pushed back on time and taxied for takeoff. Flight time was announced to be 11hrs 30min. Taxi to the runway. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/...2f7dbf57_b.jpg Crossing the bridge to T3 and Runway 02L. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnohIfm-KsQ Takeoff into the night skies! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX---oBpw3w Climbing. Lights of Singapore in the distance. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/...253852db_b.jpg Lets have a look at the seat pocket contents. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/...ba358c34_b.jpg After seatbelt signs were turned off, headsets and amenity kits (which comprises of socks and toothbrush only) were handed out. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/...46892eac_b.jpg Firstly, cabin crew came round with packets of nuts and drinks on trays. I had an orange juice. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/...91534eae_b.jpg Lets take a look at the menu and see what is served for supper (if you think that supper would be served). refreshment SINGAPORE TO CAPE TOWN light bites Warm masala chicken with potato wrap or Warm double deck tuna sandwich hot beverages Coffee - Tea Rooibos tea Horrors! Where is the supper that is normally served on long-haul overnight flights?? On similar long-haul flights, SQ would serve a supper after takeoff but to South Africa, SQ won't even serve a proper meal? Shorther flights to Oz or NZ would get much better meals! I guess SQ's notion is that since there are no competition, why bother? Well I guess MH which also serves Cape Town is not much of a competition for SQ, and I am very sure MH would serve better meals. Our "refreshment", masala chicken with potato wrap. One word, PATHETIC. It was the type used to be served on short Penang flights. Not even a chocolate bar on the tray which Ozzie flights would get on their refreshment trays. Even the crew, though they were very nice and friendly, seemed embarrassed serving it. I spoke to one of the crew regarding it and he was also surprised that no supper was served for the long flight. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/...5f7c5f3c_b.jpg 2 bites and it was gone. Luckily we had a meal earlier. Other passengers would have to starve for the next 10hrs till breakfast. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5138/...8b9e7bb0_b.jpg |
After the "meal", I had a visit to the lavatory. The lotions and mouthwash are still there..
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/...49cbb885_b.jpg Only toothbrushes and combs. No more shaving kits. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/...7d9f8d82_b.jpg Paper towels have been replaced with facial towels. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/...7c33d5d7_b.jpg I settled into a movie and the lights were turned off. Crew did came around with water frequently. A "delectable" snack was also served mid-flight in the darkness, which was quite forgetable. light bites SINGAPORE TO CAPE TOWN Fancy a snack in between your meals? Simply take your pick from our range of delectable snacks when our cabin crew comes around during snack service. Sandwiches Savoury sandwich Vegetarian sandwich Snacks Roasted peanuts Granola cereal bar Ferrero Rocher chocolate bar Lay's potato chips Fruit After nodding off for a few hours, the sun began to rise. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/...751899b8_b.jpg Clear blue skies. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/...7218dc5b_b.jpg Lights were switched on about 2.5hrs before landing. Crew first came around with hot towels followed by juices. Well, I must say that this set of crew has shown that the service on SQ is till up there among the best, apart from a few younger ones who were quite robotic in their service. Probably it is due to the crew being excited to go to Cape Town (since they only get to go there 3 months each year when there are non-stop flights, the rest are only shuttles from Jo'burg). Landfall into South Afican, or the Africa continent. My first glance of Africa too!. We were somewhere over Durban. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/...ba777930_b.jpg Crew serving breakfast. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/...003fd2af_b.jpg Lets have a look at the breakfast menu. breakfast SINGAPORE TO CAPE TOWN fruit Fruit appetizer wholesome beginnings Fried noodles with char siew style roast pork, vegetables and mushroom or Mushroom omelette with chicken sausage and hash brown potatoes from the bakery Breakfast roll Butter - Fruit preserve hot beverages Coffee - Tea Rooibos tea Seems normal right? Lets look at the breakfast tray... http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/...36f89d48_b.jpg Something's missing? The tray seemed too empty? Yep, missing are the yoghurt, muffin and tub of water!! Terrible! We passengers to South Africa are not even worthy of a full SQ breakfast! Passengers on regional overnight flights get even better breakfasts than this! And the main courses are so small that I need to have 2 of them (compliments of the crew) to even feel a bit full. Hard-as-rock roll, butter and jam, green chilli for noodles. Boy, do I miss TG's breakfast croissants. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5060/...f76ed87a_b.jpg Pork char siew noodles. Nice but I could finish it in 3 mouthfuls. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/...7e15c63d_b.jpg Mushroom omelette. It was ok. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/...154466c1_b.jpg Fruits. Slightly more variety this time round. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/...61f2ef29_b.jpg Sea of clouds. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/...13b6d268_b.jpg We started our descend about half hour before arrival. Headsets were collected. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC4WBeMG1A0 |
Descending into Cape Town with awesome views.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/...48eb47e7_b.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbw4BILHL4w http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5253/...3c7a8d4b_b.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0UqDcq6qaI Spoilers up... http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/...69e7e644_b.jpg For this sector, the crew did not rush to prepare the cabin for landing. The cabin crew only requested everyone to be seated and belted up about 15min prior to landing, which was different from the norm when the whole cabin would be in landing mode even before descend started. Break in the clouds. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/...52fddce3_b.jpg The view during approach and landing was beautiful! Cape town, lion's head and table mountain can be seen in the distance. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/...0b79d1a9_b.jpg We are lower than table mountain! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/...9940d3db_b.jpg Landing on Rwy19. The morning mist was very thick just before touchdown! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrN2Zge0Y7U South African Airlink ERJ135 http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/...dfe75c3e_b.jpg Russian cargo plane http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/...701a2bf0_b.jpg We parked beside a MH 744 which had also just arrived before us. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/...22b6b475_b.jpg Our aircraft during disembarkation. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/...bbf1afc8_b.jpg Air Namibia B732 http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/...95cd60b4_b.jpg Neighbours! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/...95d4ef04_b.jpg Welcome to South Africa! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/...d9c0ffc6_b.jpg Cape Town airport arrival hall. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/...96a56c1b_b.jpg Overall, the service provided by the crew had been excellent. Apart from the newbies (whom one can easily tell by their "robotic" interaction), the rest of the crew are warm and friendly. Inflight entertainment is fine, of ocurse not as good as the ex3000 system. However, the food served is a real disaster. Most other airlines can serve much better food on similar length flights (budget airlines like Jetstar and Air Asia serve 2 full meals on their long haul flights even though it is payable). I am disgusted that passengers travelling to South Africa are "discriminated" against, probably due to low yields? However, being a world-class carrier, SQ should provide similar service wherever you are flying to. I have sent SQ a feedback regarding this but they have not got back to it regarding this issue. |
Safari!
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Even more!
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It was 4 amazing days in Cape Town and I had to drag myself back to Singapore. How I am gonna miss the clear blue skies, the natural scenery, the food... Our flight back was at 12pm and I had booked the airport shuttle to pick us up at our hotel at 0930am. It was only a 20min drive to the airport.
Cape Town airport only has 1 departure check-in hall for both international and domestic flights. It was spruced up for the World Cup and was looking quite modern. Not an "african" airport that we would imagine it to be. SQ has 6 check-in counters opened for check in and they were not too busy. According to the staff, our load today in economy would only be 150/255. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/...3710372b_b.jpg I could not get row 55 during online check-in and so settled for row 54 instead. Notice something different in the boarding pass? http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/...36cb7490_b.jpg Printed on it is the sentence "Have a pleasant flight" instead of the usual "be at the gate 15min before departure" thingy. After check-in, we proceeded to grab some food (just in case) as well as some plane spotting. The viewing area where all the restaurants are is fantastic! It offers an unobstructed view of the gates and the runway! International flights that has arrived. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/...1da50861_b.jpg BA/Comair B737-400 arrived from a domestic flight. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/...9426d109_b.jpg South African B738 preparing for departure. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/...35d2cf9a_b.jpg Virgin A346 has also just arrived. Unfortunately no gates were available and it had to be parked at the remote stand. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/...a0e4bc54_b.jpg 1Time MD80 in zebra livery. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/...b8556e5c_b.jpg Etihad A332 departing for J'burg and Abu Dhabi. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/...dfa07c64_b.jpg Kulula B738 in a boring white livery http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/...cfa84c8f_b.jpg Now that's more like a Kulula jet! (B734) http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/...faca2af3_b.jpg View of check-in hall. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/...c774bed9_b.jpg International departures for the day. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/...cec6f5bb_b.jpg Of course I have! And I will be back! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/...bae801d6_b.jpg Departure gates area. Some duty free shops and nothing much else. Very empty as not a lot of international departures are scheduled around this time. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/...baa39734_b.jpg South African A346 http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/...073961c6_b.jpg Some cargo jets in the distance. A B727 and B732. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/...f4b7bef9_b.jpg 23 January 2011 Singapore Airlines SQ 481 Cape Town (CPT) - Singapore (SIN) B777-200(ER) 9V-SVL Economy Class Boarding was announced about 40min before STD. Our aircraft would be 9V-SVL again! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/...0b95816f_b.jpg Boarding was not by rows but with the light load, there was no problems with this. In fact we finished boarding 10min before STD! This set of crew appeared to be great again. In fact, I was greeted by name on both sectors when I stepped into the aircraft! At the gate. Another BA aircraft , a B772, just arrived. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/...8e049603_b.jpg Seat pitch at 34" at normal rows. It was still great. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/...117bb05a_b.jpg As usual, the normal procedure began. Hot towels, menus, amenity kits, headsets etc. After doors were closed, my friend jumped over to another ow to grab 3 seats for himself. So we had now a bed each! We pushed back on time with the safety video playing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTt_KwFmx8g |
Pushing back. A Lufthansa B744 has also arrived.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/...237abb7e_b.jpg Taxi to the runway with Table Mt in the background. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/...ee125d05_b.jpg Taxi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7UgE-2xzUo Take off from Rwy 19. Bye Cape Town! It has been a wonderful stay! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UB8zDIOiao Final view of Table Mountain. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/...a8d331dc_b.jpg Climbing http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/...c3131e11_b.jpg More mountains. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/...b7175c75_b.jpg After seatbelt signs are switched off. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2pnHXxZeDo Over clouds http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/...d42dc66d_b.jpg Soon after, crew came around with a bar service using bar carts. As usual, all liquors/spirits were "hidden" in the cart. Only soft drinks, juices and wines on the cart top, unlike TG which displays all the liquors as well. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/...cbc1eba6_b.jpg But the stewardess was kind enough to give me 2 packets of nuts. I ordered a Singapore Sling and a apple juice to go along. This is one of the few times when the crew actually got the sling right (pink and not red in colour). The stewardess even came back during 2nd round of drinks and asked whether the sling is good. Of course! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/...4077706a_b.jpg After bar service, lunch was soon served. Lets take a look at the menu. lunch CAPE TOWN TO SINGAPORE appetiser Pasta-roasted vegetables and ham salad main Courses Deep fried fish in sweet and sour sauce, seasonal vegetables and steamed rice or Roast chicken with herb gravy, seasonal vegetables and potatoes cheese Cheese and crackers dessert Marble sponge cake from the bakery Roll and butter hot beverages Coffee - Tea Rooibos tea Tray set-up. You may have noticed that there were no side-trays on the tray itself to place the rolls/crackers/cheese/butter. It was quite messy with all the stuff randomly placed on the trays. Cost-cutting to save weight? Or again because it is a "african" flight? http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/...b4a3c320_b.jpg Appetizer, roll and dessert. No side-trays, side dishes were cling wrapped. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/...121ae5c9_b.jpg Pasta-roasted vegetables and ham salad. Only a few teeny weeny bits of ham. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/...8b9bdbee_b.jpg Roast chicken with herb gravy, seasonal vegetables and potatoes. Nothing exciting. Chicken was a bit dry. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/...12c6b2f1_b.jpg Cheese and crackers. The cheese was good though. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/...dbb74f0f_b.jpg Marble sponge cake. Cheap, unimaginative and very dry. I did not finish it, and I am a dessert person. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/...5ffe82be_b.jpg Overall the meal is average. It will fill that hole in the stomach and that is it. Not something that you will remember of. After lunch, passengers just relaxed and watched their IFEs or napped. Cabin view after lunch. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/...2052d57d_b.jpg |
Nearing Madagascar.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/...4332eb5e_b.jpg Leaving Madagascar http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/...acda61dc_b.jpg First class bed with economy class service. Who needs NZ's Skycouch? http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/...c4c7e39f_b.jpg As we were flying into the night, it got dark rather soon. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/...c4e0520a_b.jpg Dusk. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/...11b2ab74_b.jpg About 3hrs after lunch, the crew came around with baskets of snacks. Lets see what is on offer. light bites CAPE TOWN TO SINGAPORE Fancy a snack in between your meals? Simply take your pick from our range of delectable snacks when our cabin crew comes around during snack service. Sandwiches Savoury sandwich Vegetarian sandwich Snacks Roasted peanuts Chocolate bar Assorted biscuits Potato chips Savoury snacks Fruit I had some biscuits and a chocolate bar. The crew asked me to grab as much as I want. Great of them! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/...e3432644_b.jpg I tried to sleep after having the snacks but was unable to do so as my body is telling me that it is only dinner time in Cape Town. So I just lazed on my "bed" watching movies. Another hour later, a round of snacks and drinks was offered again. Great service! About 2.5hrs prior to landing, lights were switched on and hot towels offered before breakfast was served. Lets have a look at the breakfast menu. breakfast CAPE TOWN TO SINGAPORE fruit Fruit appetizer wholesome beginnings Braised fish with Oriental sauce, vegetables and vermicelli or Scrambled eggs with chicken sausage, grilled tomato, mushrooms and potatoes from the bakery Breakfast roll Butter - Fruit preserve hot beverages Coffee - Tea Rooibos tea Well, looks like no yoghurt or muffin will be offered again. Kind of expected by now. Surprisingly, breakfast was even served using a refreshment tray (the one used to serve the pathetic wrap on our way up). Other than continental breakfasts, I don't ever recall SQ serving breakfasts on such a small tray. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/...72f0c6bd_b.jpg Fresh fruits. Quite sweet. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/...b5b59425_b.jpg Braised fish with Oriental sauce, vegetables and vermicelli. Very salty! http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/...1811ce44_b.jpg As it was too salty, I asked for the eggs which the crew gladly passed one to me. According to them, they had lots of leftovers. Scrambled eggs with chicken sausage, grilled tomato, mushrooms and potatoes. Better choice but the potatoes were the exact same ones as served during lunch earlier. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5057/...d461ecef_b.jpg After breakfast was cleared, we were nearing Singapore. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/...25bdfed8_b.jpg Last wash up and we were soon preparing to land in Singapore. http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/...37518122_b.jpg For this flight, the crew performed the normal "get your seat upright 30min before landing" ritual but I was already getting too tired to care. We approached from the south and flew along the southern part of Singapore in darkness. Can you spot Marina Sands and Singapore Flyer? http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/...a6e1be3f_b.jpg Smooth landing into Singapore. The flight took about 11hr10min. We landed at 0515am, 10min ahead of schedule. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDI9KTwyxW4 Parked at gate F56. I guess we were one of the first few flights that landed so early as the terminal was practically deserted. Shops were still closed and according to the arrival screens, we were the first flight to land at the F gates. The service provided by the Singapore Girls and Boys have affirmed that SQ still delivers one of the best and consistent service onboard among all airlines. But the food offering has definitely gone downhill. Maybe because this is a low-yielding flight or due to lack of competition, but the meals served are really depressing. Lets see how the food differs on my SQ flight tomorrow to Paris! One last note, go visit Cape Town!! |
wonderful n detailed. as if I was flying into Cape.
job well done! |
Very nice Photos and report, Thanks for sharing, what Safari were you on?!
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Superb TR! Enjoyed all your pics.
Sad to see the dismal quantity of the meal in SQ Y. But, happy to see a TR in Economy!! |
Wow!!! What a fabulous TR!!!! I'm glad you are so enjoyed the trip to CPT. How is it? I can't see the city & terminals where you descent approach into CPT. What is happening the weather in CPT? Is that too fogged days in CPT?
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Originally Posted by snod08
(Post 16350417)
Superb TR! Enjoyed all your pics.
Sad to see the dismal quantity of the meal in SQ Y. But, happy to see a TR in Economy!! |
Fantastic report and photos. Bought back many memories, especially the photo of the Bay Hotel in Camps Bay. Stayed there so many times. There used to be a fabulous fish resturant just up the road, is it still there?
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