quirrow

This trip started as I redeemed a North Asia to South Asia award on US Airways Dividend Miles, providing me the opportunity to try out Singapore Airlines First Class to New Delhi, as India is one of the few destinations which has First Class cabins on Singapore Airlines. In addition, this trip will also add another new country visited in 2013.

When I started planning for the trip, I was fascinated by the travel packages offered by Oberoi Hotels and Resorts around India due to the beautiful scenes but I decided that it probably was not worth the money since they would cost me about $575-585 per night and I am not sure if I am ready yet to pay those kind of prices for hotels in India. Thus I decided to forgo Oberoi and instead chose to stay in a Park Hyatt since India probably has the cheapest Park Hyatt stay anywhere in the world. And they do have up to 3 Park Hyatts to choose from, which I settled on the Park Hyatt Goa.

The winter Fairmont promotion also allowed me to take advantage of the promotion between AMEX and Fairmont allowing me to save further on my stay in the new Fairmont Jaipur. For the rest of my stays in India, I chose to stay with Hyatt since they have some decent properties for a good value around the city. And for the landmark Taj Mahal visit, I picked the ITC Agra, a Luxury Collection property part of the Starwood Hotels Group, which was running a promotion that would include a major meal.

After finalizing my destinations and lodging, it was time to decide on transportation arrangements within India itself. When I embarked on the trip, I had no plans on how to get myself from Delhi to Jaipur, then to Agra and finally returning to Delhi. All I knew was there was a way to hire a driver and cab for the ride and thus I negotiated with a driver for a rate of 30,000 INR (~US$500) for 5 days of driving between Delhi, Jaipur, Agra and back to Delhi. This would cover all tolls, parking fees and any other incidentals related to the car. I thought this was a decent price since I know the car was clean and the driver was a decent guy who speaks good English.

With me returning to Delhi, I would take a flight from there to Mumbai that was booked on an Air India 777-300ER and one that I was eagerly anticipating for. There was also a short Mumbai to Goa flight on JetKonnect and a Goa to Mumbai to Delhi flight on Jet Airways that would connect to a Malaysia Airlines flight to bring me back to South East Asia. Well that was the plan until the domestic flight segments got messed up big time, but that would be in the tale from here on!

How did I end up on Malaysia Airlines on a US Airways miles redemption? Well that is because I got an additional ticket between Delhi and Bangkok and Malaysia Airlines was selling tickets in J for US$700 which was a good deal when prices for economy was around US$500. This was due to the need to attend a friend's wedding in Bangkok and thus I had a same-day KUL-DEL-SIN turnaround later in the trip. I have completed some of the reports but this would take some time to complete so bear with me and enjoy this TR!

The contents in this report are as follows:

Le Méridien Jakarta Executive Suite
SQ Regional First Class to Singapore
The Private Room by Singapore Airlines
SQ First Class on the 77W to Delhi
Hyatt Regency Delhi
A Day in Delhi and Dinner at Bukhara
Hyatt Regency Gurgaon
Fairmont Jaipur
Amber Fort and the Pink City
Lunch at the Rambagh Palace Hotel
Fatehpur Sikri and Taj Mahal
ITC Mughal Agra
Air India Economy Class Delhi to Mumbai
Grand Hyattt Mumbai and Dinner at Soma
A Day in Mumbai
JetKonnect Economy Class Mumbai to Goa
Grand Hyatt Goa
Park Hyatt Goa
IndiGo flight from Goa to Delhi
Malaysia Airlines Business Class Delhi to Kuala Lumpur
Thoughts on India

quirrow

My journey to India started from Jakarta as I needed to collect my passport from the Indian Embassy with the newly minted Indian visa. Such is the hassle of being based in small town in Indonesia. But it allowed me to do an overnight stay at the Le Méridien Jakarta. Having stayed there countless times, this would be the first time I accepted the suite upgrade since I usually required double beds and suites in this hotel usually come with single King beds.


Dusk View from the Suite

The best room available upgrade usually places SPG Platinum guests in the newer 'Tower' wing which is closer to the Middle Eastern restaurant. However when taking a suite upgrade guests are assigned suites in the older wing. Actually I do prefer rooms in the older wing which have a better bathroom layout. Anyway I was given an Executive suite which was located on the 8th floor. The interesting part of this is that while it was the upper floors, there was a function or meeting room just down the corridor near the elevator. This might mean some crowds or noise in the afternoon but did not pose any problem during my stay.


Executive Suite Entrance


Living Room of the Suite

Upon entering the suite, I was happy with regards to the space since it is a full suite with a large living room. There is a wardrobe on the left upon entering and a powder room on the right. The living room has a center sofa with 2 armchairs by the side. There is also a window facing work desk which is similar to those in the standard rooms. Beside the work desk is a chair that leads to the bedroom itself.


Separate Bedroom Chamber

The bedroom has a display cabinet similar to the living room and features a separate flatscreen TV unit and 2 more armchairs. There was another large wardrobe in the bedroom along the walkway to the bathroom.


King Bed in the Room

Unlike the bathroom in the standard rooms, this has a rectangular layout and features a separate shower stall and bathtub. There was also a Euro-style bidet in addition the toilet. Double vanity counters are standard in the suite as well. The suite also features upgraded amenities from Club Mondes like those in the Club Rooms.


Bathroom with a Bidet


Club Mondes Amenities in the Suite

There was no lack of bottled water in the suites with 2 bottles provided above the minibar in the living room and another 4 bottles in the bathroom. The staff in the hotel would also gladly provide more for guests and that is something I have grown accustomed to when staying in SPG properties with only one exception during my stay at Westin Nagoya. Moments after I checked the room, a staff member came over and passed a generous fruit platter which I enjoyed during my stay.


Lounge Central Walkway

As a guest in the suite and a SPG Platinum member, I had access to the Club Lounge which is located in the Tower wing and this meant connecting via the lobby or the 4th floor corridor that will connect both wings with the health club, spa and the gymnasium. The Club lounge is a nice space with their own check-in space and provides snacks and drinks throughout the day. Guests having breakfast in the club lounge would be able to order from an a-la-carte menu which was another great benefit. I did not have breakfast in the club lounge as I had it in the main floor restaurant on the first day and left the hotel too early for breakfast on the second day.


Le Méridien Club Floor Breakfast

The gym in the hotel is equipped with modern exercise machines similar to other hotels of this calibre in Jakarta so that was appreciated. The gym also has some fruits, bottled water, earphones for rent and towels for guests to use after their workout which was great. Location of the hotel is right in the city centre with the World Trade Centre office complexes just opposite and several large shopping malls just a taxi ride away. The hotel also has a pretty good restaurant serving Middle Eastern cuisine and a great cafe on the lobby floor.

While in Jakarta, my preference would be to stay in Keraton at the Plaza which is attached to the Plaza Indonesia complex but the hotel was fully occupied for the duration of my stay and it is also usually twice the price. Rates for the Le Méridien, meanwhile varies between US$90-180 most of the time and that is a fair price for this property. For more review of the standard room, please refer to my <a href="http://quirrow.wordpress.com/2011/08/19/long-way-to-vancouver-le-meridien-jakarta/">earlier stay in 2011</a> at the Le Méridien Jakarta.

quirrow

Singapore Airlines plies the SIN-CGK route up to 9 times daily with the routes being served mainly by Boeing 777s in a regional configuration (aka old configuration). This is probably one of the routes I have flown in numerous times, and I have taken it in Economy Class, Business Class but never in their First Class. This flight would complete the 'trilogy'.

SQ953 Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta CGK - Singapore Changi SIN
STD-STA: 0825-1100
Actual: 0836-1050
Boeing 777-200 9V-SQF
Gate D7 Seat 1F


SQ check-in counters at Jakarta airport

As I departed from the hotel early, I arrived early and proceeded to a relatively empty check-in area. I was met with a surprise as I discovered SIA will allow passengers to use the Premier check in lanes with a dedicated immigration counter and direct access to the lounge. There was no problem in tagging my bags all the way to Delhi and I was provided with both boarding passes with the 'First Class' logo emblazoned at the top. There was 'First' baggage tags as well that ensures my bags would be first to come off the belt.


Premier check-in at Soekarno-Hatta

One problem with the Premier check-in facilities is that SIA uses the Esplanade lounge which is opposite the lounge that is linked to the check-in lanes, thus there was an agent waiting to direct us. In addition, there was a queue for the immigration. I should have just used the electronic kiosk which might have been faster, but this would entail the need to walk around the terminal. Choices, and indeed a first world problem to have. The good part is perhaps the privacy that the Premier check-in offers and the shorter walk without having to pass through the numerous duty free shops.


SQ First boarding passes and lounge invite


Singapore Airlines First class lounge entrance

Feeling excited, I headed right to the First class section of the lounge which seems to offer similar choices of food like the business class lounge but it does have upgraded seats in the form of 'Stressless' loungers. I got myself some breakfast and coffee to start the day since I did not have any breakfast at the hotel earlier on.


Breakfast in the lounge

I proceed to the gate a little while after the boarding announcement was made and there was some queue for security but fortunately it went by fast. Boarding has not yet started and they are just preparing for the elderly and families first. However I was one of the first passengers to board next as I wanted to get some photos of the cabin but the other passengers were just too fast. The usual greetings by the stewards and I placed my luggage in the overhead bins and relaxed in the seat which is in a 2-2-2 configuration.


First class recliner seat

Once seated, the usual procedure onboard every premium flight onboard SIA takes place, starting from the welcome drinks, hot towels, newspapers and magazines. The crew does all these with a smile and that makes for a pleasant start to the flight. There was a short queue for take-off and definitely faster than usual in Jakarta (or maybe because I am much more comfortable up front now that it feels the time goes faster).

As we attained cruising altitude, the crew went into action immediately by handing out menus for the flight. The menu for this morning flight read as follows:

Breakfast | From Jakarta to Singapore

Juices
A choice of apple, tomato or freshly squeezed orange juice

Fruit
Fresh fruit plate

Wholesome Beginnings
Beef rendang
A popular Singaporean dish of spicy braised beef with vegetables in coconut gravy and turmeric rice

Pan roasted garoupa with tomato-caper sauce, sauteed garlic buttered baby carrots, asparagus, yellow zucchini and parsley potatoes

Poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce, chicken sausage, tomato and polenta

From the bakery
Assorted breakfast rolls
Butter, jam, marmalade or honey

Hot Beverages
A selection of gourmet coffees & fine teas

I picked the beef rendang for the meal and the meal was definitely better than that in Business class since I did finish more of it. Though I still prefer the book-the-cook offerings out of Singapore which is to be expected as catering out of an airline's home hub would usually be better. I did enjoy the really fresh orange juice onboard First Class though and that for me sets the difference between First and Business.


Fruit plate appetizer


Beef rendang meal

During the meal I also opted for a cup of coffee since I really like even the standard brewed coffee in Singapore Airlines' premium classes. In fact I think Singapore Airlines serve a better cup of coffee than Starbucks if that means anything.


Cup of coffee

After the meal, I just took the time to recline the chair and try it out for comfort. Generally there was not much of a difference except for the width and upholstery colour compared to the Business class seats in this regional configuration. I spent the rest of the flight resting and reading the inflight magazine and look forward to the inflight entertainment on offer for this month.


SIA regional First class cabin

Given the short timing of this flight, many might wonder why Singapore Airlines even bothers with a 3 class service, but the secret lies in the fact that many Indonesians prefer SIA which provides multiple connections to destinations in Australia, North Asia, Europe and North America as compared to flying on Garuda Indonesia which has less global coverage and was beset with operational problems until its recent rejuvenation. With the level of service that SIA has maintained in Indonesia with a more or less dedicated lounge and added frequencies, I would still prefer to fly them for long distance flights. Next up would be a review covering The Private Room, the exclusive lounge for passengers flying First Class on Singapore Airlines.

quirrow

Arriving from Jakarta meant I disembarked at Changi Airport Terminal 2. However this did not deter me from making my way to Terminal 3 since it was just a short skytrain away. Unlike other airports where the various terminals might be separate buildings, Changi is actually one huge terminal in the shape of the alphabet 'H' and Terminal 2 and 3 are at the opposite ends. This would mean a long roundabout if one was to walk, but Changi Airport made it convenient by installing a skytrain or light-monorail system and it has separate skystrain systems heading to Terminal 1 and 3 from the departure points. Upon arriving in Terminal 3, I headed straight for the Silver Kris Lounge. As I presented my First class boarding pass, I was led to the First class section of the lounge. For a look into the Business Class section of the lounge, I posted my impressions here during my flight to Guangzhou.


Bar at the Silver Kris First class lounge

As one of the lounge agents escorted me, I casually mentions about 'The Private Room' and she brought me to the end of the First class lounge where there was another agent manning a counter underneath the sign that leads to this exclusive lounge specifically for First class passengers travelling on Singapore Airlines. This is what SIA does for its premium passengers, ensuring some exclusivity and providing the best for its customers.


Silver Kris First class lounge dining area


Entryway to The Private Room lounge


Main Foyer of the Private Room

While the First class lounge offers little in differentiation compared to the Business class section, it does have less people. The Private Room, on the other hand, is close to empty and features furnishings that would grace luxury hotels around the world.

Individual loungers by the window

The name 'Private Room' is fitting considering the fact that this part of the lounge has individual solo loungers by the windows, while the main foyer has well-spaced out armchairs for groups. There are definitely lots of space to relax. The first thing I did was to head to one of the 2 noise-insulated rooms that has a couch with an ottoman. This allowed for some privacy in case guests wants to 'Facetime' or 'Skype' with family members. I do think they could have more of these rooms though since Cathay Pacific does have a few cabanas complete with bathtubs. Other facilities in The Private Room includes a kids play room with vanity sinks and countertops to change diapers I guess.


Individual noise-insulated rest chamber


Area for families with young children

Service was outstanding in the lounge as once I got into the room, I had a staff who came over to offer me beverages and food. As I was not hungry yet, I took the offer of mineral water and she brought it over with cold towels, placeholder and straw. It's like calling for room service! After conversing with my family, I proceeded to the sit-down dining area which once again resembles the interior of a posh restaurant. The staff came over with food menus while taking orders for drinks. And surprise, this lounge actually offers fresh juices and I was able to ask for a custom apple and carrot juice since they do offer them individually. Being able to enjoy what you like and are used to at home while being out and about is luxury at its best!


Menu at the Dining Room


Dining table set-up

I ordered a 3 course meal from the menu starting with a Chinese-style wintermelon soup for starters, a rosemary roasted lamb leg boulangere and a phish food ice cream sundae. The soup was delicious and I liked it so much I actually ordered another bowl. One interesting thing I noted was that the First class lounge does serve Wintermelon soup as well in those big pots at the buffet counter but the colour was slightly different and I thought it was catered by a different kitchen. However the lamb leg was a bit on the dry side and was not very well presented. It was not as tasty as I would prefer it to be but still better than some lamb dish I have ordered in the past.


Wintermelon soup


Rosemary roasted lamb leg boulangere

I forgot to take a photo of the phish food ice cream, but it was one of the largest ice cream sundaes ever served and was served with a variety of toppings from chocolate sauce, shavings and almond slices. It was a very 'chocolatey' dessert and extremely heavy on the calories such that I only finished half of it. Definitely a great way to end the meal though.


Dining space in The Private Room

It was back to the room for me after the meal to check on my e-mails and catch up on the morning news. After a short while in the lounge, a staff member came over to check up on how I am doing and offered to bring me anything I might need. I requested for more of the apple and carrot juice and this was once again brought to me with a placeholder and straw.


Shower room in the First class section

After a short while in the lounge, I head for the shower to freshen up since I have a longer flight in the evening. Sadly the shower rooms in the First class section was the same as those in the Business class section with the same built-in metallic soap dispensers by the wall that is really unfriendly to use. If they wanted to use soap dispensers, they should at least use better ones like the shower rooms in Cathay Pacific's lounges. At least there was still enough space in the lounge to place my hand carry luggage and the furnishings were maintained in good condition. From the showers, I head out to the terminal to change some Indian rupees and shop for some travel gadgets. I did not find what I was looking for in the Apple reseller at Terminal 3 though and thus returned to the lounge shortly thereafter.


TV lounge in The Private Room

Compared to Cathay Pacific's The Wing First Class lounge, I do think there was something lacking. I did enjoy the food provided but I think SIA should have added more day rooms with bathtubs and beds maybe to make full use of the large empty spaces. The Private Room has been described by visitors as 'a lounge within a lounge' and I think that was apt which means there is really nothing special about it in terms of hard amenities. Though I really enjoyed the atmosphere, ambience and the extra attention by the staff of the lounge and that for me makes a whole lot of difference.

BuildingMyBento

It should read, rendang, a popular Indonesian dish...

marcuslai

Wow, great trip report - my first time to see the SQ regional F !!! Really superb photos too !! (And good on you for not needing to preface them with "I happen to be a professional photographer" )

roastpuff

Amazing photos, I am quite impressed you made Jakarta look quite beautiful in your first shot! Definitely different from what I remember of it since I moved away, haha.

oneworld82

Wonderful photos, as usual. Where in Indonesia are you located? I sorely miss my days in Jakarta!

tsastor

Yes, the Meridien ... Does it still have a rather popular night club downstairs?

quirrow

That is true of being a Malaysian dish as well but this beef rendang was more like a stew and missing the spiciness of the beef rendang in Padang cuisine that I prefer

Thank you marcuslai! Photography is just but a hobby...

Thank you roastpuff! The city is undergoing some upgrading after Jokowi became the governor of the city. Little wonder why so many Indonesians are supporting him!

Thank you oneworld82! I am based in south Sumatra

Yup tsastor, I am assuming you're referring to the Tiga Puluh music bar?

quirrow

SQ406 Singapore Changi SIN - Delhi Indira Gandhi DEL
STD-STA: 1725-2040
Actual: 1805-2054
Boeing 777-300 9V-SYI
Gate F42 Seat 1F

Since my flight was departing from Terminal 2, I had to leave the lounge earlier and proceed to the other terminal by skytrain. Not to mention security screening is conducted at the gates itself. The security process was interesting as one of the agents enquired about the cost for me to book the First class flights and I just answered that it was a miles redemption which was the fact. Upon entering the gates, boarding was just about to start for the elderly but as I was close to the door, and the agent spotted the First class boarding stub, he invited me to board anyway. That was great customer handling by airports. Why does airport guard agents not use the same principle to cater to travellers?


First class cabin on boarding

The aircraft I boarded was one of the several 777-300 with a refitted First Class seat that serves some premier Asian destinations like Beijing, Sydney, Melbourne and Delhi and sometimes does head out to Jakarta as well. As many would have known, Singapore Airlines is updating to new First class seats for its 777-300ER so the cabin I entered would probably be obsolete soon. However it was still in good condition and has a nice warm earthy tone to the whole cabin. The seat itself was one of the widest I have been in, probably comparable to that of Cathay Pacific First Class.


Seat 1K


Looking left from seat 1K

Beside the TV screen there was also a vanity mirror which was kind of a neat touch as there was also some lights above the mirrors that can be controlled from the seat. While the seat was excellent and comfortable, the cabin was kind of weird since it left a lot of space that was not utilized in the front and back of the 2 rows of First class. It felt like that with that space, SIA could have added an additional row of First class!


First class cabin on the 777-300

The service started as usual with hot towels, and the crew coming around with a selection of magazines and newspapers. I requested for a copy of 'Mens Health' and grabbed a copy of 'Businessweek'. For the welcome drink, I chose Dom instead of Krug but that was a bad choice as I think I very much prefer Krug. What made the difference for this flight was the how pro-active the crew were at making me feel comfortable as I went around the cabin taking photos, the steward offered to take one photo for me and even asked if it was my first time onboard First class on SIA. This created a relaxing ambience for the flight.


2004 Dom Pérignon champagne for welcome drink

Cabin occupancy was 6 out of 8 seats and that left for the pair of middle seats in the front empty. As we pushed back on time, there was some wait for the runway and I got to see the some interesting new planes including a Lufthansa MD-11 freighter and a Scoot 777-200ER. During this time, the inflight service manager also came over to greet the First Class passengers and I also got a immigration and customs form from a crew member.


Lufthansa MD-11 freighter


Scoot 777-200ER

The delay in getting clearance for take-off meant it was past 6pm when we took off. During the delay, the cabin crew came around, passed out the menus and asked for our pre-dinner beverage and I asked for iced milo which is probably one of my favourite drinks onboard Singapore Airlines. The clouds were converging into Singapore but this created a nice view once we were at the top. Once the seat belt sign came out, the crew came around once more with socks, eye-mask and slippers for this evening flight. This was the low point of Singapore Airlines I believe as Thai Airways even has the decency to offer a Rimowa amenity kit with L'Occitane amenities for their short 6 hour flight to Tokyo. I think SIA can do a lot better in this respect.


Take-off from Changi airport


Amenity kit on the day flight

After that the crew member took meal orders and for this flight, the menu read as follows:







The menu includes an Indian celebrity chef's specialty as well as the description of the dishes in Indian. Meanwhile beverages including wines are listed in a different menu:

















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Singapore Airlines has what is perhaps the most comprehensive drinks list ever and I thought they were excellent for such a short flight though I never did manage to try if they ever stock up on any of the choices they put in the list. I did have to say the iced milo provided before dinner was a bit bland and feels like they did not add enough Milo powder.

For dinner, I had pre-ordered the Chinese style cod and it was served with seasonal oriental vegetables, Chinese black mushrooms and egg fried rice. This dish was designed by Singapore Airlines International culinary panel chef Zhu Jun. But before the main meal itself, the crew came around with satays and I do love Singapore Airlines' satay service. I asked for an all-chicken satay selection as I prefer them to the lamb satay. And I did not forget to ask for extra peanut sauce! The satay was presented with a pack of refreshing tissue.


Satay as pre-dinner snack

I started the inflight entertainment system while enjoying my satay and noted that the interface was an older version that is also found in the Business class cabin of the 777-200s that serve regional Asian routes. This meant a much more cumbersome interface but it does have a better screen than the Business class seat. I started watching some TV series like How I Met Your Mother and House of Lies while enjoying my meal.

Next up in the meal was the king crab appetizer which was tasty and refreshing due to the pineapple slices. Though I think the tartness of the pineapple was far too strong for the sweet taste of the crab to register and makes it a bit of a waste of king crab legs.


Marinated alaskan king crab

In between the appetizer and the soup, the crew came around with a bread basket and I got the garlic bread as well as one of the crispy pepper roti.


Garlic bread and crispy roti

For the soup, I went with the chicken consomme which I enjoyed since it was light and tasty. The flavour in the soup was just nice and sets the balance between the appetizer and the main course.


Chicken consomme with vegetables

The next course was a salad of baby spinach, arugula and frissee, with semi-dried cranberry, pecan nuts and shaved parmesan, that was served with balsamic and virgin olive oil and honey mustard lime dressing.

Salad course

It is probably the best salad I had on a plane since the vegetables were fresh and crunchy while the crew was light on the dressing just the way I like it so that I could taste the nuts and berries included in the salad. It has a very nice overall texture and would be something I would enjoy in a gourmet restaurant!

Chinese style cod with fried rice

For the main course, the cod was not very well presented at all with a lot of rice. Fortunately the cod was well cooked and marinated. In addition the fish was very fresh and cooked just right which is something not easy to do for a thick piece of cod. While this dish did not look good, I did enjoy the main course.

Warm chocolate-cashew brownie with coffee ice cream

Finally for the dessert, I picked the brownies and ice cream and I was so happy with this choice that I asked for an extra serving of ice cream since I really love coffee ice cream, especially the ones by Haagen-Dazs! During the meal I also ordered mango lassi for my drinks in addition to mineral water both of which were refilled constantly. At the end of the meal, the crew also handed a bottle of Evian water to every passenger in First class cabin.


Center row seats

Feeling full after the meal, I made my way to the lavatory to freshen up and one of the crew came by to ask if he can change the seat to a bed. Once I was out from the lavatory, the seat has been converted to a plush bed with comforters and blankets. Turndown service is another of those things much appreciated in First class! During this time, I also took the opportunity to ask for postcards and playing cards and the crew came back with some goodies for me as a memento presented in a SIA branded bag. This is what I call attention to detail and the crew for this flight did not disappoint!


Bed after turndown service

I continued watching the rest of the House of Lies before catching nearly 2 hours of shut eye before the captain announced the start of our descent into New Delhi. The crew actually came by the cabin with more hot towels (which should be the third after providing one at the end of the meal service).


Inflight moving map after my short nap

The purser also came by to ask about the flight and ask for any suggestions for improvements and all these are signs that SIA does take into account passenger feedback. For the remainder of the flight I just relaxed as the plane landed without any incident into a slightly foggy winter night in Delhi.


A last look on SQ First

Arriving into Delhi, I noticed a great clean airport that shares many similarities to Changi airport including having an efficient baggage claim. The immigration was also quick with a separate queue for First and Business class passengers so that made it fast. At the baggage claim, my luggage was the first to appear after being tagged with the First class priority labels. It was not a hassle clearing customs for me and there was stalls selling SIM card and currency exchanges after exiting into the arrival hall. The arrival terminal also has a dedicated radio taxi queue similar to Indonesia as I caught one for the 20 minutes drive to Hyatt Regency Delhi. It was a cool and crisp night with a little bit of fog as I would enjoy the nice winter weather in Delhi.


Watching House of Lies on my bed in SQ First

I would have to say I was sufficiently pleased with this flight and the only way to make it better would probably be to add a nice amenity kit (something by Rimowa would be excellent) as a memento. For the short flight, I was pleased with the food offerings and impeccable service from the crew for a nearly full First class flight. From the moment I boarded I knew the crew serving this flight would be great by the way they interacted with the passengers and they do try to make this flight a memorable one for me! This once again proves Singapore Airlines is a great way to fly!


tsastor

Music bar? Ahem, yes, indeed..
This really makes it easier, especially for a foreigner and alternatively makes arranging for a hotel car not necessary.

Thunderroad

Wonderful TR and photos!

Really appreciate the SQ 777 section as my wife and I will be on it next month (SIN-HKG-SFO). I'm also really looking forward to your Hyatt Goa review as we plan to visit there next year. Any advice you could provide on which rooms and/or areas of that large hotel to request would be great, as well as your thoughts on any of the nearby food shacks on the beach if you try them.

We may also get to Jaipur, Delhi and/or Agra on our India trip, so your TR for those places is especially welcome.

Regardless, happy trails!

HangukStyle

A Wee, stunning photo's as always!! Also this is the first time I see a Pocari Sweat can shaped in that 'big' size. Normally it's always a thin one...

injian

Great TR