Short hair Francis

One Lucky guy, I'm not quite as lucky, the Suites for me will be a one time occurrance

Short hair Francis

Bahaha, haven't you heard the Hyatt Cold Shower benefit is an unpublished benefit
The SFO Airport one is a reliable steady property, a club and every 10-15 mins airport shuttle, plus a hot shower, can't ask for much more.
The cash & points back is a big one, at least the LAX property owned up to what did they screw up on.

I'll miss the 762 for its wide-bodiness, was never one to take the Captain Kirk Seat, never like being front and center. My favorite seat was always 3H on that one.
Not too many 2-1-2 out there nowadays

Short hair Francis

MEL-SIN-HKG, interesting redemption, its bit of a short/middle-haul flight. I would be interested to see what they will cater for that flight.

If you could, I would really advise on your Euro redemption, try to get a daytime departure.
The end of the SQ Suites section, I wrote a bit of a critique on it which will indicate in better deal.
As for photos, I think I have about 80+, didn't fully count but hopefully will satisfy the FT community

Short hair Francis

Bahaha Momma SHF isn't that extravagant lol
Don't put Mrs. SFO777 and Momma SHF in that same category, it's not even the same lounge

PS. She has enough kids as-is, now its the grandkids they want to see and hold

spizzy

The MEL-SIN is a fully catered flight eg. caviar, etc. and not a Supper service. I checked before booking and got SQ to email me the menu stopping in SIN for about 4 days before continuing on to HKG stopping, and then onwards with other carriers.

Looking forward to the TR.

Short hair Francis

If MEL-SIN goes the whole 9 yards out, then its probably a good redemption!
Coming now, the SQ Suites section ^

Short hair Francis

Part 3 – SQ Redeems itself, Singapore Airlines Airbus 380-800 Suites SFO-HKG


Mar 19, 2013 – Tuesday
SQ 1 SFO – HKG 11:50pm – 5:50am(+2)[Mar 21](388/R)


Just around 9:30pm, I vacated the room at the SFO Hyatt for the parents, bid them farewell and caught the shuttle over the airport.
20 Minutes later, I arrived over to the International Terminal

San Francisco International Airport




How did the likes of US and AI get tagged along with SQ, wrong grade?


No wait in line, with an acknowledgement of Mr. SHF, awesome.
They seem to know have an idea of whom are the Suites Customers tonight.
Check-In agent indicated tonight’s load was 6/12 and the agent went off to put a couple extra SQ Suites tag on my fragile package.
5 Minutes later I’m off to security checkpoint, maybe other SFO based people can help with me on this one?
What is the fastest way to clear security to SFO G Concourse???
This time it took me 30 minutes and no, I did not stand in the Economy line.
Plus add another 10 – 15 minutes for the all American body massage
So now, its 10:40pm, and I finally cleared security, thought I would just hop into the UA Global First Lounge for a quick bite, closed, D’Oh


By now, it was already 10:45pm with a Boarding Time of 11:05pm, definitely was between a rock and hard place tonight with limited lounge time.
So I gave up and just went to Gate 101 for some preliminary photos prior to the Suites flight.

The Economy Class boarding line was down on the bottom floor, while the Business and Suites were on the Upstairs Level, plus the Suites line was also separated by yet more Rope barriers.

I feel so special tonight
And being my younger self with college kids look/clothes tonight, I got a lot of deadly snares from the Business Class line people.

I hate to say 1 Percent, but this boarding concept really puts it to a tee



Singapore Airlines 1
San Francisco to Hong Kong, Continuing Service to Singapore Changi
11:50pm – 5:50am(+2)[Mar 21], 15 Hr Flight
Suites Class, Seat 3F
Food – Supper, Breakfast
Equipment – Airbus 380-800




Sadly for tonight, the other Suites Class passengers were very much on-time so I had to hurried up my photos a bit and soon enough, at 45 mins prior, boarding began.

Singapore Airlines Airbus 380-800 Suites Class Cabin











No Business Class for me tonight



Part 3 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Singapore Airlines Airbus 380-800 Suites Class Seat












Half Drawn Blinds


Go Away, the bottom part of the mesh is see-through, so don’t get any ideas
Plus, we don’t want anyone getting a caning on FT either



Suites Class Features







Part 3 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

The crew saw I was very excited for the flight, so they promptly served me a glass of Dom, then gave me all the time/space I wanted. As this is my 1st Suites flight ever, I didn’t realize the photos, especially very good photos weren’t so easy to take in this cabin, hope it wasn’t too bad.

Pre-Departure Beverage, Dom Perignon 2002 + Still Water



Suites Class Amenity Kit + Pajamas, same as SQ First Class




By the time I really got settled down, with the pictures all taken. The plane was ready for door closure. 11 Mins early, wonderful, Pax door closed at 11:39pm.

However, one key fact, this is a 380, it takes FOREVER to push back and to taxi out.
With a prolonged hold at the gate plus slower procedures, pushback was at 0:06am, odd indeed.
Flight Time wasn’t as long as I hope either, 14 Hours 20 Minutes to Hong Kong tonight.



And continuing on the slow trend of pushback, taxi also took its time as we had to wait for the ATC permission to cross runway Runway 1 which took even more time.
Finally airborne at 0:33am, and barely on schedule for HKG in the morning.

Bye Bye Bay Area at Night



Seat Recline Mode



First of all, it might be a pet peeve of mine but I love eating in bed/full flat mode, doesn’t matter at home or on a plane.
Sadly with the Suites seat, you can’t do that, you either have the bed or have the seat with access to the table and the extra storage space.


SQ 1 Supper
*Featuring Suzanne Goin, chef from Los Angeles

Appetizers
*Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto Ham, Baby Frisee and whole grain mustard

Marinated Lobster with Vegetable Confit, balsamic dressing

Soup
*Carrot Puree Soup with Gingered Beet and cvilantro

Double-boiled Duck Soup with Chinese Herbs

Main Course
*Seared Lamb Chop with Tapenade, Baby Spinach Salad and potato-tomato gratin

Fish and Seaweed Vermicelli Soup
Rice Noodles in rich broth with sliced fish, seaweed and vegetable

Smoked Chicken and Mango quesadillas serves with Pico de Gallo and Lime Cream

Finale
Cambozola, Brie, Manchego, and Smoked Cheeses served with Dried Fruit, Grapes, Nuts and crackers

Fresh Fruits in Season

A selection of gourmet coffees and fine teas served with pralines


Luckily Suzanne Goin is back again on another ex-SFO flight, last time (SQ 15) the appetizer I had were fantastic, but the garlic bread almost broke my tooth.
And looking at the menu, it’s good but hey SQ,
1) It’s a scheduled 15 Hour flight, you would think they shouldn’t been cheapening out on the salad nor the Dessert.
2) You don’t call Flight 1 for nothing, it’s a Flagship as it gets, don’t give me this impression.
Luckily I had a heads-up to the weaker menu from other flies and decided to do the BTC Lobster Thermidor, but with tonight’s light dinner at the hotel, plus no lounge food, I was ready to rock ^

The Push Table from the Center Console


A Singapore Airlines flight, A Singapore Sling


Dining Set-Up


Bread Basket, I’m staying well away from the Garlic Bread tonight, went with Breadstick


Appetizer #1, Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto Ham, Baby Frisee and whole grain mustard


Appetizer #2, Marinated Lobster with Vegetable Confit, balsamic dressing


Decided to change to Cranberry Vodka for more drinking


Soup, Double-boiled Duck Soup with Chinese Herbs




Part 3 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Main Course #1, Lobster Thermidor with buttered asparagus, slow-roasted vine-ripened tomato, and saffron rice

Both the cooked and raw Lobster tasted fantastic, the cooked one was especially nice, chewy with great taste.
That being said, I needed seconds

Main Course #2, Seared Lamb Chop with Tapenade, Baby Spinach Salad and potato-tomato gratin

Sorry it turned out a bit blurry, was cooked to a nice medium range despite being the 2nd Main.

Cheeseboard


Fruit Basket


Sadly this is what SQ Supper fails, a legit dessert, I went with the only item on the menu that can remotely constitute as a Dessert


Overall SQ food again were very good, crew was also more attentive vs. last time , with the wine, other drinks/food offering at every opportunity.
However when you cut out the Salad and Dessert from the menu while your competitor CX F offer them on the same departure, really shows up SQ isn’t bring their A game to the table.
And overall it’s sad because SQ R would beat CX F on the red-eye departure, if they didn’t cut out things like Caviar, Salad, Dessert etc….

And after the 2 Hour meal Service, the bedding were made.














Bed was firm and very comfortable. That being said, I did find it somewhat narrow especially for one’s shoulders compared to a more conventional 1st Class Seat.
Additionally, since the table and storage space were part of the center console, in order to have the bed set, the center console must be depressed into the ground to have the bed made. Another small issue I discovered with the Suites seat.

Off for 5 Hours of sleeping, zzz…….

And waking up with 7 Hours of flying left, let’s eat!



SQ 1 Light Bites
Noodles
Create Your own Noodles dish in a Rich Chicken Stock
Choice of Fresh Noodles – kway Teow, Egg Noodles or Rice Noodles
Garnish with either – Chicken with Black Mushroom, or Prawn with Lettuce or Black Mushroom and Chinese Greens

Sandwiches
Croissant with creamy chicken and tomato
Focaccia bread with roasted vegetables and cheese

Snacks
Cashew Nuts, honeyed walnuts, macadamia nuts
Chips, Cookies, Chocolate Bar, Snack Bar, Krispy Kreme Doughnut
A selection from the fruit basket

Seeing the bed was already set in my 3F seat, I decided to have the snack in 4F to make things easier for the FAs


Went with the Instant Noodles with Prawn and Lettuce



Part 3 Continues Below

Short hair Francis

Mid-Flight Snack Basket


I wanted to have another Donut but only halfway thru the flight and they were already out.
The box of Krispy Kreme was catered for both First and Business Class passengers
Had to settle with Chocolate Bars and Packaged cookies instead.

Caught a movie then decided to sleep it off a bit more, 5 hours left in the flight, flying a bit more North then usual


And 3 Hours out, woke up yet again, flying above Beijing


As my video system and lights were crashing at the weirdest of times, I moved over to 3A for the rest of the flight


SQ 1 Breakfast
To Start With
A Choice of Apple, Tomato or Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

Fruits
Fresh Fruit Plate with Cottage Cheese

Starters
Choice of Cereals or Yoghurt
Cornflakes with Milk or Granola with Yoghurt-Berry Compote
Plain or Fruit Yoghurt

Entrees
Pork and Century Egg Congee
Rice Porridge with pork and Century Egg

Griddled Pancake with Berry Compote, Chicken Sausage and Tomatoes

Selection of Dim Sum
Steamed Radish Cake, Seafood Roll, Beef Siew Mai, Beancured with Pork and Vegetable Dumpling

Fresh Eggs Prepared On-Board (Baked, Boiled, or Scrambled)
With Your Choice of Mini New York Steak, Turkey Scallion Sausage, Vine Ripened Tomato and Mushroom

From the Bakery
Assorted Breakfast Pastries and Bread with Butter, Jam, Marmalade or Honey

Finale
A selection of gourmet coffees and Fine teas

Cabin was lighten up about 2 1/2 Hours out for the Breakfast Meal Service


Hot Towel and Tomato Juice to Start Breakfast Service



Dining Set-Up


Starter, Fresh Fruit Plate with Cottage Cheese


Breakfast Bread Basket


Cereal, Cornflakes With Non-Fat Milk


Main Course #1, Freshly Baked Eggs Prepared On-Board with Mini New York Steak, Turkey Scallion Sausage, Vine Ripened Tomato and Mushroom

Seeing I wasn’t full enough, decided to go with extra Dim Sum below

Main Course #2, Selection of Dim Sum
Steamed Radish Cake, Seafood Roll, Beef Siew Mai, Beancured with Pork and Vegetable Dumpling


Meal Service finished around 4:15am, giving another 1 Hour 30 Minutes to go before landing in HKG.

The awkward via-Mainland Routing today for SFO-HKG


And prior to landing, I wanted some Pralines and Green Tea.
Sadly the flight did not catered any pralines, had to settle for these substitutes.


And about 5:30am, we started our descent into HKG


Today’s final Routing of SQ 1, bit odd for SFO-HKG


And at 5:58am, we finally landed into HKG, couple minutes late and pull into the usual SQ gate, 15 in HKG, the closest one into immigration. Finally parked at 6:04am.

And after landing, the IFE decided we’re now flying to somewhere South of West Africa???



No Escort Agent was given to Suites Class customers, and with no special notice about my fragile Suites Class box, it took close to 25 minutes to wait for it, HKG baggage service failure here
Back in HKG for a little bit, then my actual B-Day trip to Montreal in 2 weeks, guess I’ve gone kinda crazy flying 4 North America – HKG trips in 13 weeks.

Overall I enjoyed the SQ Suites, the FA were good, no chaotic meltdown this time around.
It’s a very unique product, décor is excellent
The seat is overall comfortable although I did point out some quirky points
1) The shoulder width in bed mode, at times I felt like I would fall out of bed
2) The inaccessible personal storage (center console) while in bed mode
3) The inability to have a meal while in bed mode are annoying
They might reflect on you or not obviously.

Food, the quality is great, but the choices, moreso limited choice is horrible.
No Caviar, no salad, no dessert, no pralines in the 1st meal, noodles or sandwiches and running out of donuts for mid-flight snacks were disappointing.
Breakfast made it up some of the deficits well however.
The 1st Meal really brought out the cheapening aspect of the catering choices which is bad choice on SQ’s part because overall it reflects badly on the Suites product, which most thinks of it as a “Top of The Line” including myself.
That being said, if SQ could put SQ 15’s food on this product, it would be very hard to match up to SQ Suites for any airline.

And with that, I guess I will sign off on yet another SHF TR.
Hope everyone have enjoy this one and Opinions, Comments are very much welcome and appreciated

jfkeze

Courtesy call from Prilosec for Mr. SHF!

Two appetizers and two mains! Always making sure you try and photograph every meal option so other FTs have an idea of the menu hehe

SFO777

Excellent pics of the Suites cabin, especially considering those darn partitions get in the way. Funny about the meal, but I guess SQ figures because it's after midnight and supper, not dinner, so most pax don't want the full monte. Does CX have the full regular dinner on the midnight departure?

LOL. You expected anything less? But my favorite was the Krispy Kreme donut for dessert. They could have at least had a light "regular" dessert option.

LH4116

Nice report as always SHF. Never seen anyone eat as much food as you do, and it always amazes me how you are able to ask for seconds whereas most people struggle to get through the whole. I suppose that may have been the reason to why SQ decided to cut desserts? Though it seems that SQ have never been much of a dessert airline since they only seem to serve ice cream as dessert in the C and Y cabins. Too bad they cut it from R…



This brought me a big LOL. Never seen anyone wear their A3 tags on their carry on.
I suppose it's either due to the fact that there are too few of them, or that people are simply too shy. Given all your C&F flying, have you ever had the chance to use it while flying Y?

SeamasterLux

Another very cool TR. Man, you sure know how to fly, don't you. Mom has made a nice birthday present to you. Pictures are really good and I love your anecdote telling, especially regarding the Hyatt experience.