5 cities in 5 days

[tea&coffee]

I recently completed a quick work trip that encompassed Tokyo, KL, Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney all in 5 days so for the airline geeks out there here’s a quick report as this time I remembered to take photos! I flew:
SYD-SIN SQ F Suites (old suite)
SIN-HND SQ F B777
NRT-BKK JL J B787-8
BKK-KUL MH Y A332
KUL-SYD MH J A333

Connecting flights to my home town were on VA 737’s so we’ll skip them given we all know how they work....

 

[tea&coffee]

First up, Singapore Airlines First Class check in at Sydney was a breeze as usual, I just wish they weren’t so far from the express entry!

Off to the F Lounge for a quick snack...

Was escorted right to the door of the plane from the lounge which is a great touch.

Then on board, sitting in 2F which is my pick of the Suites on the A380. Quick drink to settle in, currently serving 2004 Krug which is a nice drop.....


Once up in the air settled in for the meal, incredible as always. I also love that it was served about 90 minutes after takeoff so wasn’t rushed and aligned closer to dinner...




And the book the cook favourite....

Then....


And...


Not surprisingly after all that food I slept until just before landing. Fantastic service as always from the SQ crew and love the extras such as the PJ’s on a day time flight. Only negative was the very hot cabin temperature which seems to be a SQ standard...

 

[moa999]

Looking forward to it.
Hotel reports as well please.

 

[tea&coffee]

Stayed in Singapore at the Changi Village Hotel - it’s not 5 Star but I’ve lived in Singapore previously and love the area - there’s no better place for a morning walk....

and a great hawker centre nearby for breakfast....


The following day off to Tokyo in SQ F - unfortunately I lucked out with the aircraft assignment and got a non-refurb B773.

The Private Room is interesting for me, it’s no where near the wow’ness of the QF F Lounge for example but it’s always very empty & private which I do like... I asked for a cheese plate and wow did I get some cheese...



On this flight I ordered the Kyo-Kaiseki through Book the Cook, while it’s available on board I’ve learnt it often is hard to get (even as PPS) so I now always pre-order as it never disappoints....





The rest of the flight was uneventful, again love the little touches including PJ’s for a 6 hour day time flight and the crew on this flight were one of the best SQ crew’s I’ve had in years, including a relatively young Purser who has some great stories behind the food. I will also add when I told the crew the cabin was hot they turned it down to 21c and said “we always get complaints about how hot it is, we’re always hot too”. First SQ crew I’ve ever had who actually really adjust it so qudos to them...!

 

[tea&coffee]

In Tokyo I stayed at the ANA Intercontinental Hotel, it was nearby where I had business and importantly was relatively close to HND Airport (which I arrived at) and had Limousine Buses to NRT Airport which I was departing from.

It’s the first time I”ve stayed here and it was fantastic, great local area with lots of eateries (above a shopping complex and a 15 minute walk to major shopping areas), convenience stores a 2 minute walk away and incredible service. I booked through Agoda the day before arrival as my trip changed last minute and was upgraded to an Execuitve Suite, which was exceptional - especially the view.


I also ate dinner in the Steakhouse which was a great meal (although relatively pricey even by Tokyo standards!).

It was off to BKK for me next, on JAL. I rarely fly JAL even as OWE as their times don’t normally work for me but on this occasion the day time flight across to BKK worked. I got the limousine bus out to NRT airport (took just on 60 minutes for about AUD$30) - it is a fantastic service. Then off to JL First check-in which was a quick process and then into the F Lounge. I love the sushi bar in the main lounge, but after that it was off to the much quieter satellite F lounge to wait for the flight.


Once on board, settled into my window seat, I know that a lot of people love the JAL Sky Suite (also available on Korean), I do love the privacy but the seat space is very narrow (not much wider than an Economy Seat) - it’s fine for a day time flight but overnight wise it’s difficult to sleep in. Has a small amenity kit, headphones, slippers and blanket/pillow. Also offered a cardigan to borrow for the flight.


Great view over Mt Fuji...

I selected the Japanese lunch which wasn’t too bad (the presentation was fantastic)....

 

[VPS]

Interesting looking cheese plate but not very exciting crackers

 

[tea&coffee]

Few more pictures from JAL....
The western dessert.....

Cheese plate.....


Once in Bangkok it was off to the transfer desk where I received great news - my B737 flight had been canceled and as a result I was moved onto an A332 flight earlier. MH only got this A332 2 weeks before and it was operating to BKK for crew training purposes. Y Class seats are an improvement on this aircraft, although the Purser advised the IFE wasn’t working as “Engineering haven’t uploaded the content yet” - after 2 weeks... this was also one of those MH crews who just don’t want to be at work.... sorry no images of the MH flight, but I did enjoy the CX lounge in BKK which never lets down with it’s Pad Thai....

 

[tea&coffee]

Once in KUL it was the usual 60 minutes wait for the checked bag before heading off to the KILA Ekspres - 30 minutes later I was at KL Sentral.
As a Hilton Diamond member I booked in at Hilton KL - great location right at KL Sentral which means you can get anywhere in KL quickly. Upgraded to a King Executive Plus room which was a corner room with a great bathroom and roomy living area. Enjoyed a couple of nights here, although my only negative was some ridiculous dress code rules in the Exec lounge where a number of guest (including yours truely!) were kicked out and asked to change for wearing casual clothing over the weekend!


The pool area is great, although it’s actually better over the Le Meredian side where you can also charge back food/drinks to your Hilton room..

 

[tea&coffee]

After a quick fire trip, it was book off to KUL on the train for my flight home on MH. First Class check-in was again a breeze and then I was looking forward to checking out the new MH First Lounge.

Firstly into the dining area for breakfast, the furnishings/view were great but the food was clearly from the same old chef/kitchen (average...)



The overall lounge area was OK - but not close to other OW F Louunges (QF/CX/QR)...


Off to the aircraft, boarded on time and off to Sydney we go. I had 4K - the “throne seat”which is always my choice on MH J - lots of privacy and great fo a day time flight due to all the bench space - I watched Netflix on my iPad all the way home without the need to have the tray table out. The Proche amenity kits are also a cool addtion. For brunch it was a bit of fruit followed by the Nasi Lemak - this is a favourite of mine on MH...



Mid flight snack of a pie.... it was actually really good....

And of course no less then 3 servings of the Satay Sticks before landing.....!

That’s it - hope you enjoyed the trip!

 

[LadyC]

Thanks for posting - some nice food there. But I imagine you must be tired, that was a lot crammed in to a few days!

 

[kermatu]

Thanks for posting. Very hectic few days...

 

[lakeman]

Thanks for the frenetic (changed this from hectic !) report.
Enjoyed the photo of Mt Fuji in front of the engine, nicely composed !

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for this - you showed some impressive stamina.

 

[RooFlyer]

Great report, thanks. Now I'm worried about the JL Skysuite I have booked LHR-HND soon ...

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks for posting - some nice food there. But I imagine you must be tired, that was a lot crammed in to a few days!

Especially as it was a work trip so I am thinking there must have been a fair bit of work to get through as well.

 

[carls888]

Thanks for sharing, drooling at the food photos!