Around The World and From Sea to Shining Sea (AA F/Y, CX F, SQ F, UA F, DL F, WN Y)
Jul 30, 2012, 3:54 am
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: En Route
Programs: Many
Posts: 6,798
I hope they are KF miles or AMEX points that can be moved to KF...I wouldn't expect another glitch that allows a *A redemption bonanza like the one we just saw.
Aug 3, 2012, 4:25 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BTR/MSY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,258
SQ Check In and Lounge Hopping in HKG
My few days in Hong Kong passed way too quickly. I had a great time visiting with all of my relatives; though, it was sprinkled with a few somber moments.
One of the hardest things to do while on the road is maintaining a decent diet and exercise routine. My diet while on the road for work consists of a lot of horribly delicious chicken fried steak, burgers, and biscuits and gravy, all the while praying there’s a decent gym and/or jogging trail near the hotel. While I was in Hong Kong, it seems as if my relatives were hell bent on keeping me on my road diet, albeit with the multitude of fantastic restaurants found in Hong Kong. Additionally, my workout routine essentially shot to pieces with so many people to see, sans the aforementioned run along the Avenue of Stars. I definitely was feeling a few pounds heavier.
And of course, flying in premium cabins certainly did not help my cause. After my fantastic feast on board Cathay, I was definitely looking forward to see what Singapore has to offer. Speaking of Singapore, I was still feeling pretty antsy, as there were no confirmed reports of tickets being honored, until the last full day of my trip. So like a good OCD FTer, the first thing I did each morning was log in on united.com and singaporeair.com to check on my reservation. Everything looked good on the United side, sans their ability to tell time, as you can see below.
I’m sure Boeing wants to know what modifications SQ made
On the SQ side, I could never get my reservation to pull up desktop site, but it showed just perfectly on the mobile site. The night before my flight, I checked in online for my flight just before dinner, and I was able to choose seats at that time.
The next morning I stupidly headed to the Conrad Executive Lounge for breakfast, which was quite nice. I say stupidly because I knew I had nothing to do but eat and get hammered over the next 40 hours or so. After breakfast, I packed and then headed out for mid-morning tea with my uncle. Yes I know, more food. My cousin dropped by a little while after to check out my room at the Conrad. Afterwards, we went for a delicious late lunch with my grand aunt. Over lunch, my cousin told me about an express bus that runs from Tai Koo, where we were, to the Airport with only few addition stops. The cost of the bus was $45 HKD, nearly 1/3 of the cost of the taxi and Airport Express combo. Although the cost wasn’t a big deal for me, I did end up choosing the bus as it would save me the transfer at the Airport Express station. I managed to catch the 3:20 bus, which deposited me in front of Terminal 1, a little over an hour later.
After entering the ridiculously cavernous terminal, I quickly located the SQ check in desks, which are located in Row 7. There was a substantial line for Economy, and a few people in the Business Class line. However, the First Class desk was wide open. Ok, this is the moment of truth. With my heart pounding, I approached the desk with my passport in hand and mustering the most dazzling smile I was capable of, all the while trying to look as first class as possible. Just before I reached the podium, the agent asked, “Are you on SQ 865?” I answered yes, and she then took my passport. I actually expected a comment about how I got my ticket, given how stingy SQ is with award space, but the agent didn’t bat an eyelash. Boarding passes were printed and baggage tags were affixed to my bags along with First Class priority tags. Unlike CX, SQ does not issue separate lounge invites. Instead, the lounge invite is printed on the boarding pass itself. Directions to lounge were only given after I asked. Though she was efficient, the agent was not particularly friendly. She did attempt to start small talk several times, but it seemed forced, even unnatural. It wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, though it was an underwhelming reintroduction to what is billed as one of the world’s best airlines.
I arrived at immigration only to find literally a few hundred people queuing in the visitor lines. Despite this, I was through immigration under 10 minutes. Then off to security, which is huge contrast to what is experienced in the US. Agents are polite and friendly. Shoes, belts, and jackets stay on. All we need is the laptop. Again despite the large volume of passengers, I was through very quickly. After picking up a souvenir for a friend, I made my way over to SQ SilverKris Lounge, which is located near Gate 17. I was admitted by a friendly agent after my boarding pass was scanned.
Although the lounge is large, it was rather dark, as there are no windows in the lounge. There is a separate First Class section, which was empty when I visited, but there seemed to be no controls preventing crossing over without the appropriate boarding pass. A decent buffet was on offer, but it was located all the way on the other side of lounge from the First Class section. Perhaps the biggest negative is that there are no restrooms, let alone shower rooms, in the lounge. After snapping a few pictures, I left and headed off to United’s Global First Lounge.
Entry way
Business center
Empty first class section
After hearing many good things about the GFL at HKG, I really wanted to check it out. The GFL is located near Gate 40, which is a bit of haul from the SilverKris lounge. The lounge is actually located above the gate area, requiring an elevator or escalator to access it. After the lounge dragon entered some of the details of my boarding pass into the computer, and escorted me to the GFL. The lounge was small, but nice and airy. There are a decent number of seats, and unlike the SilverKris lounge, the GFL has showers. Additionally, large windows allow for great views of the tarmac and runway. I was the only in the lounge during my entire visit.
Tarmac
My SQ 77W arriving
There was a small but decent buffet, with both and hot and cold items, as well as an a la carte menu. The hard and soft drink selection was quite extensive.
Buffet
Drink selection
SHOT, SHOT, SHOT, SHOT
After grabbing a little chicken satay and some fruit, I had about 30 minutes before boarding time. So I broke camp and headed to the Thai Royal Orchid Lounge. Many people say that the Thai Lounge is directly across from the United Club/GFL. In reality, you follow the hallway leading away from the United Club for a couple hundred feet. I was admitted by an agent after photocopying my boarding pass. After some debate, I was escorted to First Class side of the lounge which was just cordoned off by a rope barrier. I was offered a menu as I sat down, but I declined all offers of food and just went with water. After perusing the Wall Street Journal for a bit, I left the lounge, thanking the agents on the way out, and headed to my departure gate, ten minutes before boarding.
One of the hardest things to do while on the road is maintaining a decent diet and exercise routine. My diet while on the road for work consists of a lot of horribly delicious chicken fried steak, burgers, and biscuits and gravy, all the while praying there’s a decent gym and/or jogging trail near the hotel. While I was in Hong Kong, it seems as if my relatives were hell bent on keeping me on my road diet, albeit with the multitude of fantastic restaurants found in Hong Kong. Additionally, my workout routine essentially shot to pieces with so many people to see, sans the aforementioned run along the Avenue of Stars. I definitely was feeling a few pounds heavier.
And of course, flying in premium cabins certainly did not help my cause. After my fantastic feast on board Cathay, I was definitely looking forward to see what Singapore has to offer. Speaking of Singapore, I was still feeling pretty antsy, as there were no confirmed reports of tickets being honored, until the last full day of my trip. So like a good OCD FTer, the first thing I did each morning was log in on united.com and singaporeair.com to check on my reservation. Everything looked good on the United side, sans their ability to tell time, as you can see below.
I’m sure Boeing wants to know what modifications SQ made
On the SQ side, I could never get my reservation to pull up desktop site, but it showed just perfectly on the mobile site. The night before my flight, I checked in online for my flight just before dinner, and I was able to choose seats at that time.
The next morning I stupidly headed to the Conrad Executive Lounge for breakfast, which was quite nice. I say stupidly because I knew I had nothing to do but eat and get hammered over the next 40 hours or so. After breakfast, I packed and then headed out for mid-morning tea with my uncle. Yes I know, more food. My cousin dropped by a little while after to check out my room at the Conrad. Afterwards, we went for a delicious late lunch with my grand aunt. Over lunch, my cousin told me about an express bus that runs from Tai Koo, where we were, to the Airport with only few addition stops. The cost of the bus was $45 HKD, nearly 1/3 of the cost of the taxi and Airport Express combo. Although the cost wasn’t a big deal for me, I did end up choosing the bus as it would save me the transfer at the Airport Express station. I managed to catch the 3:20 bus, which deposited me in front of Terminal 1, a little over an hour later.
After entering the ridiculously cavernous terminal, I quickly located the SQ check in desks, which are located in Row 7. There was a substantial line for Economy, and a few people in the Business Class line. However, the First Class desk was wide open. Ok, this is the moment of truth. With my heart pounding, I approached the desk with my passport in hand and mustering the most dazzling smile I was capable of, all the while trying to look as first class as possible. Just before I reached the podium, the agent asked, “Are you on SQ 865?” I answered yes, and she then took my passport. I actually expected a comment about how I got my ticket, given how stingy SQ is with award space, but the agent didn’t bat an eyelash. Boarding passes were printed and baggage tags were affixed to my bags along with First Class priority tags. Unlike CX, SQ does not issue separate lounge invites. Instead, the lounge invite is printed on the boarding pass itself. Directions to lounge were only given after I asked. Though she was efficient, the agent was not particularly friendly. She did attempt to start small talk several times, but it seemed forced, even unnatural. It wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, though it was an underwhelming reintroduction to what is billed as one of the world’s best airlines.
I arrived at immigration only to find literally a few hundred people queuing in the visitor lines. Despite this, I was through immigration under 10 minutes. Then off to security, which is huge contrast to what is experienced in the US. Agents are polite and friendly. Shoes, belts, and jackets stay on. All we need is the laptop. Again despite the large volume of passengers, I was through very quickly. After picking up a souvenir for a friend, I made my way over to SQ SilverKris Lounge, which is located near Gate 17. I was admitted by a friendly agent after my boarding pass was scanned.
Although the lounge is large, it was rather dark, as there are no windows in the lounge. There is a separate First Class section, which was empty when I visited, but there seemed to be no controls preventing crossing over without the appropriate boarding pass. A decent buffet was on offer, but it was located all the way on the other side of lounge from the First Class section. Perhaps the biggest negative is that there are no restrooms, let alone shower rooms, in the lounge. After snapping a few pictures, I left and headed off to United’s Global First Lounge.
Entry way
Business center
Empty first class section
After hearing many good things about the GFL at HKG, I really wanted to check it out. The GFL is located near Gate 40, which is a bit of haul from the SilverKris lounge. The lounge is actually located above the gate area, requiring an elevator or escalator to access it. After the lounge dragon entered some of the details of my boarding pass into the computer, and escorted me to the GFL. The lounge was small, but nice and airy. There are a decent number of seats, and unlike the SilverKris lounge, the GFL has showers. Additionally, large windows allow for great views of the tarmac and runway. I was the only in the lounge during my entire visit.
Tarmac
My SQ 77W arriving
There was a small but decent buffet, with both and hot and cold items, as well as an a la carte menu. The hard and soft drink selection was quite extensive.
Buffet
Drink selection
SHOT, SHOT, SHOT, SHOT
After grabbing a little chicken satay and some fruit, I had about 30 minutes before boarding time. So I broke camp and headed to the Thai Royal Orchid Lounge. Many people say that the Thai Lounge is directly across from the United Club/GFL. In reality, you follow the hallway leading away from the United Club for a couple hundred feet. I was admitted by an agent after photocopying my boarding pass. After some debate, I was escorted to First Class side of the lounge which was just cordoned off by a rope barrier. I was offered a menu as I sat down, but I declined all offers of food and just went with water. After perusing the Wall Street Journal for a bit, I left the lounge, thanking the agents on the way out, and headed to my departure gate, ten minutes before boarding.
Last edited by dat4life; Aug 18, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Aug 3, 2012, 9:19 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
I knew this would be a great TR the moment I read your snippets of conversations with friends/ family. Something to relate to 
Great report and great pictures - CX F looks like something I need to try out. I was in CX Y a few weeks back to HKG, and while the hard product is quite poor (on those 'new' seats), the service was impressive. My IFE didn't work, and after the FA couldn't sort it out, the Y cabin purser came over, and when she couldn't do anything, the Inflight Manager eventually helped sort it out.
As for check in at HKG - I don't think it is specific to any airline, but the airport in general. Having checked in on Thai (in F) and with a friend checking in on China Eastern (in J), I found the staff to be quite blunt in general.
And I also thought the UA lounge was much nicer than the SilverKris lounge in HKG - at least in terms of food and beverage. I'm not a big fan of SQ (in J), so I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about the F experience.
Great report and great pictures - CX F looks like something I need to try out. I was in CX Y a few weeks back to HKG, and while the hard product is quite poor (on those 'new' seats), the service was impressive. My IFE didn't work, and after the FA couldn't sort it out, the Y cabin purser came over, and when she couldn't do anything, the Inflight Manager eventually helped sort it out.
As for check in at HKG - I don't think it is specific to any airline, but the airport in general. Having checked in on Thai (in F) and with a friend checking in on China Eastern (in J), I found the staff to be quite blunt in general.
And I also thought the UA lounge was much nicer than the SilverKris lounge in HKG - at least in terms of food and beverage. I'm not a big fan of SQ (in J), so I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about the F experience.
Aug 3, 2012, 11:16 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BTR/MSY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,258
Sq 865 hkg-sin
SQ 865 HKG-SIN
It was a bit of a walk from the Royal Orchid Lounge to my departure gate, Gate 20. But it passed quickly, as I was busy admiring some of the traffic outside.
Got you beat, little bro.
I arrived the gate to find this beauty waiting for me.
9V-SWG
I arrived at the gate just as an agent announced boarding would be delayed about 10 minutes, though an on time departure is still expected. Judging by the gate area, it did not appear as if the flight would be full. My excitement increased as boarding drew nearer. As I mentioned before, the last time I flew Singapore was in 1993, on SQ 2. It was also on that flight I realized there was something a little better than economy, as I took a peek at Business Class, as we deplaned. My desire to fly up front festered for years, until I flew China Airlines in Business Class on my way back from Hong Kong in 2003. But it was on that flight I discovered the existence of international First Class, and vowed to one day truly fly “up front”. When Singapore first took delivery of their A380s in 2007, I spent quite a bit of time on their website reading about the Suites and the new First Class. The few trip reports I’ve read on SQ F over the last few years only stoked the fire even more. And now, almost exactly 19 years later from when I first started to dream, I’ve come full circle, on SQ F.
Finally, an announcement was made for persons who needing assistance for boarding to approach the jet bridge. At that time other passengers began rushing to line up in both the Economy and First/Business/Elite boarding lanes. Not wanting fight my way through throng, I just went to the end of the line. I got to the end of the line just before a middle aged American gentleman, who was yakking on Blackberry about “sealing some deal”. When I looked out the window, I could see him glare at me out of the corner of my eye. I had absolutely no idea why. Anyways, I got to the agent who scanned my boarding pass and wished me a pleasant flight. About halfway down the jet bridge, I hear “Hey, Buddy.” I stopped and turned around, and saw it was the guy behind me. “You’re in the wrong line” Huh? “The Economy line is over there,” he said pointing toward to the other side of the jet bridge. “Use the right line next time.” Oh, that’s why he was glaring at me. I was dressed pretty decently, so I assume it’s because of my age. I resisted the temptation to flash my boarding pass at him right there. I’ll get my revenge a little later. “No, I’m pretty sure I’m in the right line,” I said as I started walking again.
SQ 865
Hong Kong (HKG)-Singapore (SIN)
Monday July 16, 2012
Depart: 6:30 PM
Arrive: 10:10 PM
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (9V-SWG)
Seat: 1A (First Class)
I was greeted by one of the First Class flight attendants at the door, who then glanced at my boarding pass. “Good evening Mr. Harrison, and welcome aboard. Please follow me to your seat.” Now, this is more like it! I had chosen Seat 1A, which was just around the corner. The FA then proceeded to introduce himself and asked if I’d care for a drink. At that moment, the guy behind me trudged by on his way back to Business Class. I had noticed his blue boarding pass when he was “admonishing” me, thus I held my tongue. I guess he didn’t see my boarding pass when I handed it to the gate agent and missed it again in the jet bridge, as I kept it tucked in my passport. Making eye contact with him, I replied to the FA, “ Champagne, please,” with just a hint of a smirk. The guy looked away and kept on walking. Man, that was sweet.
Now it was the FA’s turn to smirk and ask a question, that you will only hear on one other airline. (Please correct me if I’m wrong) “Dom Perignon or Krug, sir?”. Since I had my fill of Krug on CX, I decided on Dom. As the kids say nowadays, YOLO. Although I do cringe every time I hear anyone say that, it did seem appropriate for this occasion. Besides, I might as well get started on my Macabus challenge. Not long after, I heard a cork pop in galley and the FA returned with the lovely dark green bottle and a glass. On CX, a glass is set at your table before the champagne is poured. On SQ, champagne is poured with a bit more flair, as it is poured into the glass, which is still on tray. No biggie, but again it’s the details.
Ahhhh, I could really get used to this. Great champagne, incredibly comfortable seat…. Oh yeah, the seat! Forgot all about that.
Taken after landing at SIN
It was wide and very comfortable, and I definitely loved the “armrest cushion” (visible in the first seat pic) which definitely made things a little more comfortable while in the seated position. The feature for me that really sets SQ apart from CX, is the soft brown leather covering the seats. Even on my SQ longer flights, I was never “stuck” to my seat. But one area CX definitely has SQ beat is privacy, due to their 1-1-1 configuration.
As I sat in my comfortable seat, sipping what would be my first of many glasses of champagne, I made a silent toast to Jeff (aka SMI/J) and the poor guy in SQ revenue management who made this trip possible. Thanks guys, this one is for you. Not long after my champagne arrived, the other First Class FA came by to introduce herself and to offer me selection of reading materials as well as slippers. I chose the Financial Times, but declined the slippers. As my glass was just a ¼ full when she first came by, she reappeared a few minutes later with the bottle to top my glass off. In fact, by the time we pushed back I just drained my fourth glass by the time we pushed back, smack dab on time. The male FA came by, with the bottle in hand, to give me, in his words, “something to enjoy while we taxi.” He then proceeded to pour me the rest of the bottle. The load tonight up front was 4/8, with all of the window seats taken. In 1A, I have a great vantage point over the entire cabin, and I can tell you with absolute certainty, I was the only one in the cabin drinking bubbly. We’re not even off the ground yet, and I’m already one bottle of Dom in. Oh, yeah. This is going to be a great flight.
We had a rather long taxi to the runway, followed by waiting in the lengthy take of queue. Finally, we were holding short of the runway waiting for a landing CX A330, and the FA came really quickly to collect my glass. We lined up on the runway, after the A330 had cleared the runway. Take-off thrust, 80 knots, V1, rotate and we were airborne. The landing gear was retracted with a resounding thump, and our rate of climb noticeably increased due to the decreased drag. Soon we were punching through the low level clouds that had formed in the past hour. As the aircraft climbed through 10,000 feet, a chime sounded and the FAs sprang into action. The usual announcements were made about electronics, etc. Interestingly, they announced that cell phones were to be turned off for the entire flight. Airplane mode was not acceptable. I was worried, since I was using my iPhone for pictures. I decided use my phone unless FA asked me to turn it off, which didn’t happen on any on my SQ flights.
I had been asked what I wanted to drink after take off, while we were still on the ground. I ordered a Singapore Sling for the novelty. Though, I couldn’t imagine a much better place to have one for the first time. The drink was served with warm nuts.
“Mr. Harrison, what would you like for dinner tonight?” Hmmm…let’s take a look at the menu, shall we.
Tonight’s menu was designed by Chef Matt Moran.
APPETIZERS
Grilled asparagus with prosciutto ham, baby frisee and whole grain mustard
Marinated lobster and celeriac apple remoulade garnished with cherry tomatoes and mesclun
SOUP
Yellow tomato soup with cherry tomato, chili and cilantro
Double boiled clear quail soup with wolfberries and black mushrooms
SALAD
Rocket leaves with cherry tomato and parmesan cheese
Yoghurt citrus dressing
Herb walnut dressing
MAIN COURSES
Snapper fillet with green rice, labneb, caper salsa and edible flowers
Grilled beef with morel sauce, asparagus, fava beans and Dauphinois potato
Braised chicken with Chinese herbs, stirfried vegetable and steamed rice
Lamb loin with rosemary jus, roasted carrot, asparagus, cherry tomato and gratin potatoes
DESSERTS
Warm caramelized chocolate bread-butter pudding, Belgium chocolate ice cream
Sorbet of mango, lemon and raspberry with citrus fruit salad and mint
CHEESES
Selection of Camembert, Teleggio, Red Leicestor and Bleu d’Auverge cheese served with garnishes
FRUITS
Fresh Fruits in Season
FINALE
A selection of gourmet coffees & fine teas served with pralines
Unfortunately, I forgot to snap pics of the wine list on this flight, but I did get the SQ62 wine list, which I will post later. But I will say that the wine list is quite extensive and impressive.
A few minutes later, the lovely Indian Singapore Girl serving my side came back with a hot towel and to take my order. She returned again soon after to set up my table. SQ’s tray table is located under the IFE screen, making it much easier to deploy than CX’s, which is located in the side of the seat. This was followed by the male FA coming by with the bread basket.
My appetizer soon followed.
Marinated lobster and celeriac apple remoulade garnished with cherry tomatoes and mesclun
The lobster was served chilled. It was tender and tasty, though I wasn’t a fan of the apple remoulade. Garlic bread was good. I washed it down with more Dom. Next up was soup. It was…for the lack of a better word, blah.
The salad with yoghurt citrus dressing was equally as blah, accompanied by another glass of….
If you guessed champagne, you’re a winner! My salad plate was cleared a few minutes after I finished. And my main course was delivered a little while later.
The snapper was very good. It was perfectly cooked and the caper relish gave just the right amount of zest. The green rice was tasty as well, though I really couldn’t bring myself to eat the “edible” flowers. Service during the meal service was very personalized and I never felt rushed during the meal service. Courses were cleared as I finished, and the next course was always delivered after a nice lull. This was impressive, as all 4 passengers in first were eating at different paces on a relatively short flight. As far as I could tell, myself and 2F wanted to eat immediately, while 1F and 2A didn’t begin eating until nearly midway through the flight.
I declined the cheese course but asked for the warm caramel chocolate cake for dessert. It was served a little while later. It was delicious. I declined the offer of port and decided to stick with Dom.
After I finished dessert, my table was cleared and I settled down to watch a couple episodes of How I Met Your Mother. About half an hour later, the female FA came to pour me the rest of the bottle of Dom I had started. Again, I was the only one in the cabin drinking. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 2 bottles destroyed on my first flight. The rest of the flight passed all too quickly and we were soon descending into Singapore. We touched down on Runway 25C and made it to the gate smack dab on time.
How as my first SQ F experience? Absolutely great! The distance Singapore and Hong Kong is 1,588 miles, about the same as the distance between DFW and SFO. If only all 3 hour flights can be as good as this one. I can dream, right?
Now off to The Private Room for my 4 hour layover.
It was a bit of a walk from the Royal Orchid Lounge to my departure gate, Gate 20. But it passed quickly, as I was busy admiring some of the traffic outside.
Got you beat, little bro.
I arrived the gate to find this beauty waiting for me.
9V-SWG
I arrived at the gate just as an agent announced boarding would be delayed about 10 minutes, though an on time departure is still expected. Judging by the gate area, it did not appear as if the flight would be full. My excitement increased as boarding drew nearer. As I mentioned before, the last time I flew Singapore was in 1993, on SQ 2. It was also on that flight I realized there was something a little better than economy, as I took a peek at Business Class, as we deplaned. My desire to fly up front festered for years, until I flew China Airlines in Business Class on my way back from Hong Kong in 2003. But it was on that flight I discovered the existence of international First Class, and vowed to one day truly fly “up front”. When Singapore first took delivery of their A380s in 2007, I spent quite a bit of time on their website reading about the Suites and the new First Class. The few trip reports I’ve read on SQ F over the last few years only stoked the fire even more. And now, almost exactly 19 years later from when I first started to dream, I’ve come full circle, on SQ F.
Finally, an announcement was made for persons who needing assistance for boarding to approach the jet bridge. At that time other passengers began rushing to line up in both the Economy and First/Business/Elite boarding lanes. Not wanting fight my way through throng, I just went to the end of the line. I got to the end of the line just before a middle aged American gentleman, who was yakking on Blackberry about “sealing some deal”. When I looked out the window, I could see him glare at me out of the corner of my eye. I had absolutely no idea why. Anyways, I got to the agent who scanned my boarding pass and wished me a pleasant flight. About halfway down the jet bridge, I hear “Hey, Buddy.” I stopped and turned around, and saw it was the guy behind me. “You’re in the wrong line” Huh? “The Economy line is over there,” he said pointing toward to the other side of the jet bridge. “Use the right line next time.” Oh, that’s why he was glaring at me. I was dressed pretty decently, so I assume it’s because of my age. I resisted the temptation to flash my boarding pass at him right there. I’ll get my revenge a little later. “No, I’m pretty sure I’m in the right line,” I said as I started walking again.
SQ 865
Hong Kong (HKG)-Singapore (SIN)
Monday July 16, 2012
Depart: 6:30 PM
Arrive: 10:10 PM
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER (9V-SWG)
Seat: 1A (First Class)
I was greeted by one of the First Class flight attendants at the door, who then glanced at my boarding pass. “Good evening Mr. Harrison, and welcome aboard. Please follow me to your seat.” Now, this is more like it! I had chosen Seat 1A, which was just around the corner. The FA then proceeded to introduce himself and asked if I’d care for a drink. At that moment, the guy behind me trudged by on his way back to Business Class. I had noticed his blue boarding pass when he was “admonishing” me, thus I held my tongue. I guess he didn’t see my boarding pass when I handed it to the gate agent and missed it again in the jet bridge, as I kept it tucked in my passport. Making eye contact with him, I replied to the FA, “ Champagne, please,” with just a hint of a smirk. The guy looked away and kept on walking. Man, that was sweet.
Now it was the FA’s turn to smirk and ask a question, that you will only hear on one other airline. (Please correct me if I’m wrong) “Dom Perignon or Krug, sir?”. Since I had my fill of Krug on CX, I decided on Dom. As the kids say nowadays, YOLO. Although I do cringe every time I hear anyone say that, it did seem appropriate for this occasion. Besides, I might as well get started on my Macabus challenge. Not long after, I heard a cork pop in galley and the FA returned with the lovely dark green bottle and a glass. On CX, a glass is set at your table before the champagne is poured. On SQ, champagne is poured with a bit more flair, as it is poured into the glass, which is still on tray. No biggie, but again it’s the details.
Ahhhh, I could really get used to this. Great champagne, incredibly comfortable seat…. Oh yeah, the seat! Forgot all about that.
Taken after landing at SIN
It was wide and very comfortable, and I definitely loved the “armrest cushion” (visible in the first seat pic) which definitely made things a little more comfortable while in the seated position. The feature for me that really sets SQ apart from CX, is the soft brown leather covering the seats. Even on my SQ longer flights, I was never “stuck” to my seat. But one area CX definitely has SQ beat is privacy, due to their 1-1-1 configuration.
As I sat in my comfortable seat, sipping what would be my first of many glasses of champagne, I made a silent toast to Jeff (aka SMI/J) and the poor guy in SQ revenue management who made this trip possible. Thanks guys, this one is for you. Not long after my champagne arrived, the other First Class FA came by to introduce herself and to offer me selection of reading materials as well as slippers. I chose the Financial Times, but declined the slippers. As my glass was just a ¼ full when she first came by, she reappeared a few minutes later with the bottle to top my glass off. In fact, by the time we pushed back I just drained my fourth glass by the time we pushed back, smack dab on time. The male FA came by, with the bottle in hand, to give me, in his words, “something to enjoy while we taxi.” He then proceeded to pour me the rest of the bottle. The load tonight up front was 4/8, with all of the window seats taken. In 1A, I have a great vantage point over the entire cabin, and I can tell you with absolute certainty, I was the only one in the cabin drinking bubbly. We’re not even off the ground yet, and I’m already one bottle of Dom in. Oh, yeah. This is going to be a great flight.
We had a rather long taxi to the runway, followed by waiting in the lengthy take of queue. Finally, we were holding short of the runway waiting for a landing CX A330, and the FA came really quickly to collect my glass. We lined up on the runway, after the A330 had cleared the runway. Take-off thrust, 80 knots, V1, rotate and we were airborne. The landing gear was retracted with a resounding thump, and our rate of climb noticeably increased due to the decreased drag. Soon we were punching through the low level clouds that had formed in the past hour. As the aircraft climbed through 10,000 feet, a chime sounded and the FAs sprang into action. The usual announcements were made about electronics, etc. Interestingly, they announced that cell phones were to be turned off for the entire flight. Airplane mode was not acceptable. I was worried, since I was using my iPhone for pictures. I decided use my phone unless FA asked me to turn it off, which didn’t happen on any on my SQ flights.
I had been asked what I wanted to drink after take off, while we were still on the ground. I ordered a Singapore Sling for the novelty. Though, I couldn’t imagine a much better place to have one for the first time. The drink was served with warm nuts.
“Mr. Harrison, what would you like for dinner tonight?” Hmmm…let’s take a look at the menu, shall we.
Tonight’s menu was designed by Chef Matt Moran.
APPETIZERS
Grilled asparagus with prosciutto ham, baby frisee and whole grain mustard
Marinated lobster and celeriac apple remoulade garnished with cherry tomatoes and mesclun
SOUP
Yellow tomato soup with cherry tomato, chili and cilantro
Double boiled clear quail soup with wolfberries and black mushrooms
SALAD
Rocket leaves with cherry tomato and parmesan cheese
Yoghurt citrus dressing
Herb walnut dressing
MAIN COURSES
Snapper fillet with green rice, labneb, caper salsa and edible flowers
Grilled beef with morel sauce, asparagus, fava beans and Dauphinois potato
Braised chicken with Chinese herbs, stirfried vegetable and steamed rice
Lamb loin with rosemary jus, roasted carrot, asparagus, cherry tomato and gratin potatoes
DESSERTS
Warm caramelized chocolate bread-butter pudding, Belgium chocolate ice cream
Sorbet of mango, lemon and raspberry with citrus fruit salad and mint
CHEESES
Selection of Camembert, Teleggio, Red Leicestor and Bleu d’Auverge cheese served with garnishes
FRUITS
Fresh Fruits in Season
FINALE
A selection of gourmet coffees & fine teas served with pralines
Unfortunately, I forgot to snap pics of the wine list on this flight, but I did get the SQ62 wine list, which I will post later. But I will say that the wine list is quite extensive and impressive.
A few minutes later, the lovely Indian Singapore Girl serving my side came back with a hot towel and to take my order. She returned again soon after to set up my table. SQ’s tray table is located under the IFE screen, making it much easier to deploy than CX’s, which is located in the side of the seat. This was followed by the male FA coming by with the bread basket.
My appetizer soon followed.
Marinated lobster and celeriac apple remoulade garnished with cherry tomatoes and mesclun
The lobster was served chilled. It was tender and tasty, though I wasn’t a fan of the apple remoulade. Garlic bread was good. I washed it down with more Dom. Next up was soup. It was…for the lack of a better word, blah.
The salad with yoghurt citrus dressing was equally as blah, accompanied by another glass of….
If you guessed champagne, you’re a winner! My salad plate was cleared a few minutes after I finished. And my main course was delivered a little while later.
The snapper was very good. It was perfectly cooked and the caper relish gave just the right amount of zest. The green rice was tasty as well, though I really couldn’t bring myself to eat the “edible” flowers. Service during the meal service was very personalized and I never felt rushed during the meal service. Courses were cleared as I finished, and the next course was always delivered after a nice lull. This was impressive, as all 4 passengers in first were eating at different paces on a relatively short flight. As far as I could tell, myself and 2F wanted to eat immediately, while 1F and 2A didn’t begin eating until nearly midway through the flight.
I declined the cheese course but asked for the warm caramel chocolate cake for dessert. It was served a little while later. It was delicious. I declined the offer of port and decided to stick with Dom.
After I finished dessert, my table was cleared and I settled down to watch a couple episodes of How I Met Your Mother. About half an hour later, the female FA came to pour me the rest of the bottle of Dom I had started. Again, I was the only one in the cabin drinking. For those of you keeping score at home, that’s 2 bottles destroyed on my first flight. The rest of the flight passed all too quickly and we were soon descending into Singapore. We touched down on Runway 25C and made it to the gate smack dab on time.
How as my first SQ F experience? Absolutely great! The distance Singapore and Hong Kong is 1,588 miles, about the same as the distance between DFW and SFO. If only all 3 hour flights can be as good as this one. I can dream, right?
Now off to The Private Room for my 4 hour layover.
Last edited by dat4life; Aug 21, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Aug 3, 2012, 11:19 pm
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BTR/MSY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,258
I knew this would be a great TR the moment I read your snippets of conversations with friends/ family. Something to relate to
Great report and great pictures - CX F looks like something I need to try out. I was in CX Y a few weeks back to HKG, and while the hard product is quite poor (on those 'new' seats), the service was impressive. My IFE didn't work, and after the FA couldn't sort it out, the Y cabin purser came over, and when she couldn't do anything, the Inflight Manager eventually helped sort it out.
As for check in at HKG - I don't think it is specific to any airline, but the airport in general. Having checked in on Thai (in F) and with a friend checking in on China Eastern (in J), I found the staff to be quite blunt in general.
And I also thought the UA lounge was much nicer than the SilverKris lounge in HKG - at least in terms of food and beverage. I'm not a big fan of SQ (in J), so I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about the F experience.
Great report and great pictures - CX F looks like something I need to try out. I was in CX Y a few weeks back to HKG, and while the hard product is quite poor (on those 'new' seats), the service was impressive. My IFE didn't work, and after the FA couldn't sort it out, the Y cabin purser came over, and when she couldn't do anything, the Inflight Manager eventually helped sort it out.
As for check in at HKG - I don't think it is specific to any airline, but the airport in general. Having checked in on Thai (in F) and with a friend checking in on China Eastern (in J), I found the staff to be quite blunt in general.
And I also thought the UA lounge was much nicer than the SilverKris lounge in HKG - at least in terms of food and beverage. I'm not a big fan of SQ (in J), so I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about the F experience.
Aug 4, 2012, 4:37 am
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
Great TR!!! I am really enjoying it...
Thanks for the details and pics of the CP Hong Kong... I am staying there on my next trip, and I think it looks a wonderful hotel! ^
Thanks for the details and pics of the CP Hong Kong... I am staying there on my next trip, and I think it looks a wonderful hotel! ^
Aug 4, 2012, 8:31 am
#42
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: BA Gold | SK Gold | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,553
Re SQ it's great that they managed to refill your pre departure beverage before take off. My biggest gripe with them is that they completely ignore my empty glass of champagne (when in J) and I don't like having to keep asking for it to be refilled.
Aug 12, 2012, 2:12 pm
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: BTR/MSY
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,258
Originally Posted by utpharmdoc
Waiting in anticipation... my SQ F trip starts in 4 days!
Originally Posted by NYBanker
Enjoying the read...
Originally Posted by fevercity
Great TR, "Mr. Harrison"!
Just wanted to say thanks for all the effort you put into writing this up.
If I had 3 thumbs, this is when I'd use 'em. ^^^
Just wanted to say thanks for all the effort you put into writing this up.
If I had 3 thumbs, this is when I'd use 'em. ^^^
Originally Posted by BingBongBoy
Great TR!!! I am really enjoying it...
Thanks for the details and pics of the CP Hong Kong... I am staying there on my next trip, and I think it looks a wonderful hotel!
Thanks for the details and pics of the CP Hong Kong... I am staying there on my next trip, and I think it looks a wonderful hotel!
Originally Posted by ung1
SQ it's great that they managed to refill your pre departure beverage before take off. My biggest gripe with them is that they completely ignore my empty glass of champagne (when in J) and I don't like having to keep asking for it to be refilled.
Originally Posted by LH738
Great report. I'm looking forward to the next parts.
Originally Posted by hktramz
Great report!!!!
You are so lucky that you've experienced the best products in the sky in this trip.
Earning miles through business trip is fantastic, LOL
You are so lucky that you've experienced the best products in the sky in this trip.
Earning miles through business trip is fantastic, LOL
I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but again I got caught with some training for work and a little weekend run to NYC where I spent 2.5 days walking around in the same clothes. More on that later. Next installments up in a bit.
Last edited by dat4life; Aug 13, 2012 at 8:21 am