- Joined
- Jul 12, 2018
- Posts
- 798
- Qantas
- Bronze
- Virgin
- Platinum
Hour 16 of 36…
With Singapore Airlines, you know what you’re going to get – and almost all the time, what you get is fantastic.
The flight departed late due to the late arrival of the incoming SQ207, but it made up enough time that it arrived in Singapore less than 30 minutes late.
As for the flight itself: with Singapore Airlines, you know what you’re going to get, but there were a few little surprises (for me at least).
First, it’s amazing what a difference a bulkhead seat makes.
This is my first time in one, and the difference while sleeping, in particular, is pronounced. I can sleep in whatever position I want to sleep, rather than being constrained by the size and shape of the seat.
Second, there’s not as much storage around the seat area as I would like. Most of my last few long-haul flights have been in Qatar business class, with its massive storage, and I was surprised by how little there is in my seat by comparison.
Third, the lack of air nozzles makes a difference. The cabin is quite warm and it most definitely affected my ability to sleep.
Nevertheless, what you get with Singapore Airlines is fantastic.
I was pleasantly surprised to find Big Bash cricket playing on the live sport channel.
I only drink Singapore Slings when I’m flying on Singapore Airlines. But I do like Singapore Slings!
The sunset was spectacular…
Appetiser was a “Smoked salmon Caesar salad”.
Main course was barramundi with fried rice (Book the Cook). The fried rice was a bit bland, but the barramundi was delicious. I also had a 2018 Bordeaux. Yes, it no doubt shows my uncouthness that I paired fish with a red wine … but I really wanted to try the Bordeaux and I was not disappointed!
For dessert I couldn’t choose between the fruit platter and the hazelnut ice cream, so of course the FA insisted that I have both. The ice cream was rock hard when it was served to me – I mean rock hard. I struck it with my spoon and it emitted a perfect A natural … so now I know how to tune a guitar at 40,000 feet.
I showed the ice cream to the FA who was refilling my drink, more in amusement than anything else. A few minutes later another member of the crew came and swapped the rock hard ice cream with a softer version. That’s Singapore Airlines service for you!
The Business class cabin was totally full – I couldn’t see an empty seat anywhere. Made me realise how blessed I was to secure a bulkhead seat … in fact to secure a seat at all, given it’s a reward seat.
We landed about half an hour late, but in Terminal 2. My flight to Houston departed from T3. So it was a walk to the Skytrain stop, only to see this:
It was a longer, and sweatier, walk to the Skytrain stop opposite F50.
In the end I arrived at the SilverKris Business Lounge about 30 minutes before boarding was to commence for SQ52. I had planned that my time in the Lounge would be chiefly a food stop. But I was sweating and not looking forward to potentially another 30-hours plus without a shower, so I decided that a shower would be a priority and immediately was allocated Suite 2.
Public Service Announcement. Before one turns a bidet on, one should know how to turn the bidet off. Of this matter I will speak no more.
I walked out of the shower with 10 minutes to go before having to leave, so I had a very quick, but delicious, plate of dim sum.
The bad news is that boarding was at gate B9: at the far, far end of T3. By the time I got there, I was well-and-truly sweaty again and feeling a little flustered. But there wasn’t much of a queue at Security and boarding commenced about 2 minutes after I sat down in the departure area. Almost everyone on the flight appeared to be British.
I’m very glad that I have brought these:
I acquired them last year on my first and, so far, only Singapore Airlines First class flight. I changed into them on boarding and was immediately struck by how comfortable they are.
SQ52 departed on time. I have caught a couple of these post-midnight SQ long-haul flights before, and on each occasion I have regretted pre-booking the “Supper” meal as all I wanted to do was sleep. So, having learned my lesson, I politely declined a meal and the FA immediately offered to make my bed for me. I put my head on the pillow with 13 hours and 10 minutes to go until arrival in Manchester…
And woke up with 10 hours and 30 minutes remaining of the flight. Having slept for maybe an hour on the first flight, this was starting to get frustrating. And my frustration was exacerbated by the discovery that the Test cricket was not playing on the live Sport channel…! At least the cabin is noticeably cooler than it was on the last flight – that makes it easier to sleep and overall more comfortable.
With Singapore Airlines, you know what you’re going to get – and almost all the time, what you get is fantastic.
The flight departed late due to the late arrival of the incoming SQ207, but it made up enough time that it arrived in Singapore less than 30 minutes late.
As for the flight itself: with Singapore Airlines, you know what you’re going to get, but there were a few little surprises (for me at least).
First, it’s amazing what a difference a bulkhead seat makes.
This is my first time in one, and the difference while sleeping, in particular, is pronounced. I can sleep in whatever position I want to sleep, rather than being constrained by the size and shape of the seat.
Second, there’s not as much storage around the seat area as I would like. Most of my last few long-haul flights have been in Qatar business class, with its massive storage, and I was surprised by how little there is in my seat by comparison.
Third, the lack of air nozzles makes a difference. The cabin is quite warm and it most definitely affected my ability to sleep.
Nevertheless, what you get with Singapore Airlines is fantastic.
I was pleasantly surprised to find Big Bash cricket playing on the live sport channel.
I only drink Singapore Slings when I’m flying on Singapore Airlines. But I do like Singapore Slings!
The sunset was spectacular…
Appetiser was a “Smoked salmon Caesar salad”.
Main course was barramundi with fried rice (Book the Cook). The fried rice was a bit bland, but the barramundi was delicious. I also had a 2018 Bordeaux. Yes, it no doubt shows my uncouthness that I paired fish with a red wine … but I really wanted to try the Bordeaux and I was not disappointed!
For dessert I couldn’t choose between the fruit platter and the hazelnut ice cream, so of course the FA insisted that I have both. The ice cream was rock hard when it was served to me – I mean rock hard. I struck it with my spoon and it emitted a perfect A natural … so now I know how to tune a guitar at 40,000 feet.
I showed the ice cream to the FA who was refilling my drink, more in amusement than anything else. A few minutes later another member of the crew came and swapped the rock hard ice cream with a softer version. That’s Singapore Airlines service for you!
The Business class cabin was totally full – I couldn’t see an empty seat anywhere. Made me realise how blessed I was to secure a bulkhead seat … in fact to secure a seat at all, given it’s a reward seat.
We landed about half an hour late, but in Terminal 2. My flight to Houston departed from T3. So it was a walk to the Skytrain stop, only to see this:
It was a longer, and sweatier, walk to the Skytrain stop opposite F50.
In the end I arrived at the SilverKris Business Lounge about 30 minutes before boarding was to commence for SQ52. I had planned that my time in the Lounge would be chiefly a food stop. But I was sweating and not looking forward to potentially another 30-hours plus without a shower, so I decided that a shower would be a priority and immediately was allocated Suite 2.
Public Service Announcement. Before one turns a bidet on, one should know how to turn the bidet off. Of this matter I will speak no more.
I walked out of the shower with 10 minutes to go before having to leave, so I had a very quick, but delicious, plate of dim sum.
The bad news is that boarding was at gate B9: at the far, far end of T3. By the time I got there, I was well-and-truly sweaty again and feeling a little flustered. But there wasn’t much of a queue at Security and boarding commenced about 2 minutes after I sat down in the departure area. Almost everyone on the flight appeared to be British.
I’m very glad that I have brought these:
I acquired them last year on my first and, so far, only Singapore Airlines First class flight. I changed into them on boarding and was immediately struck by how comfortable they are.
SQ52 departed on time. I have caught a couple of these post-midnight SQ long-haul flights before, and on each occasion I have regretted pre-booking the “Supper” meal as all I wanted to do was sleep. So, having learned my lesson, I politely declined a meal and the FA immediately offered to make my bed for me. I put my head on the pillow with 13 hours and 10 minutes to go until arrival in Manchester…
And woke up with 10 hours and 30 minutes remaining of the flight. Having slept for maybe an hour on the first flight, this was starting to get frustrating. And my frustration was exacerbated by the discovery that the Test cricket was not playing on the live Sport channel…! At least the cabin is noticeably cooler than it was on the last flight – that makes it easier to sleep and overall more comfortable.
If you ever encounter one with an ENEMA button, seriously do not press it!
