Across the Globe in 5 Continents Again

[Kiwi Flyer]

Christchurch to Wanaka (CHC-WKA) Economy Class on NZ Beech 1900D

I leave the Qantas Club a few minutes before boarding is due, since there are no calls made there and the monitors only show a small number of NZ flights (for some odd reason?). I had first checked online Air NZ's website to see that the flight was on time and not delayed.

The flight was fairly empty and so boarding was late but it only takes a minute for us all to cross the tarmac to the aircraft and get seated. I was glad I'd remembered not to preselect the first two rows which have no windows on this aircraft.

As we taxiied I noticed a couple of big old aircraft being loaded up for flights to the New Zealand and US Antarctic bases at McMurdo Sound and Scott Base. Our takeoff roll into the wind is very short and we are soon heading across the plains to the mountains.

The storm cloud is still obscuring a lot of the view of the mountains, but here and there they part to give glimpses of the inner valleys, gorges and brimming rivers. Further along we also get snippets of views of the glacial and hydro lakes.

The approach into Wanaka is dramatic - a shame it was so cloudy. Not quite as enclosed as Queenstown, it is still a basin that you descend into, twisting down the valleys to avoid the mountains towering on each side. Below the powerful Clutha river gouges its tortuous path lower into the landscape.

The airport is very small. On the short distance between runway and apron I notice a speed camera - presumably to pick up the a/c regos for landing fees during times the airport is unmanned. I waved to it The terminal is like a small shed. Toilet is outside. A couple of vending machines for those who need food and drink.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Wanaka to Christchurch (WKA-CHC) Economy Class on NZ Beech 1900D

Brrr it is cold with the impending storm approaching, so I don't dally across the tarmac for the return flight.

This flight is much the same in reverse. Only tantalising glimpses of the great scenery. Due to the strong winds we only take 40 minutes going back, when it was 60 minutes for the flight in.

Again I have a moderate connection that is long enough to visit the Qantas Club which I do so.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Christchurch to Wellington (CHC-WLG) Economy Class on NZ A320

Yup once again I spotted the opportunity for a business seat domestically for the price of some extra time to get back and a couple of dollars extra taxes, with the added bonus of additional miles. So of course I nabbed it.

The gate area was very congested with a few flights all leaving around the same time from adjacent gates and all full. Boarding was called slightly late - if I'd known I could have waited a bit longer before coming across from the Qantas Club. Oh well.

Once again not all the business seats were taken! I'm fairly sure it wasn't due to active blocking but rather someone has changed or cancelled their flight.

Even though the expected flight duration was a short 30 minutes, you know it is going to be a long flight when even before the doors are closed the parent sitting diagonally behind you asks the FA for extra sick bags and towels because her son is really, really sick Sure enough within a minute of take off I hear the unmistakeable sound of retching. Well I guess it had to happen eventually - it has been literally hundreds of flights since I last had someone vomiting beside or behind me on a flight.

We do a pirouette over the city and along the landward edge of the Banks Peninsula volcanoes, getting some extra bumps along the way. Then alongside the coast. As we head further north the sinking sun beams through notches in the coastal cliffs creating wierd patterns in the shadows. The rivers carrying snowmelt are not directly visible from my seat, but clearly indicated by the fresh water tongue that is in sharp contrast to the dark deep saltwater.

The Kaikoura peninsula is obvious along with its 4 finger + a thumb shape of the rock formations at its tip.

Due to the shorter flight time (compared with between Auckland and Wellington or Auckland and Christchurch) there is no hot drink service only cold water and the boiled sweets just before landing. It's a shame that it is considered too short - it wasn't too many years prior that it got a full meal service. While I understand the changes (and with the improved lounge offerings, current CHC temporary closure notwithstanding, an overall benefit to frequent flyers) were necessary, I would think there would be at least enough time for coffee or tea as well as water.

Some more bumps coming in to Wellington, but mild for this city as it appears the wind has died down significantly.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Wellington to Auckland (WLG-AKL) Economy Class on NZ 737

As I headed to the Koru Club I noticed my next flight was delayed. I asked about the possibility of taking an earlier flight but bluntly told no, you aren't on a high enough fare (ok so I wasn't on full fare but not the cheapest fare either so I thought it was worth a shot).

This meant arriving later in Auckland at a time inconvenient for dinner, so after a shower to freshen up I had dinner in the lounge. They had a reasonably good variety of food. Gourmet pies, cold cuts, salads, fresh fruit and vegetables, some desert thingys, cheese, etc. I noticed they also still had some of the nice specialty beers which had gone from Auckland.

Eventually boarding was called. I headed through gate security to find an almost deserted departure gate. Did I have the right one? Yes. It turns out most pax on the flight had been attending a sports tournament, and with the delay had adjourned to the bar. Well they now were having some difficulty in getting everyone from the bar to the gate So boarding is really slow, easily the slowest for a domestic flight in NZ that I've experienced. Great - so not only were we late due to earlier delays with the aircraft but made even later thanks to a lot of not so thoughtful passengers.

We had a short taxi and took off into the darkness, with views of the lights of Wellington wrapped around the hills and harbour before we climbed through some cloud. No further view until on final approach, when we see the lights of the sprawl that is Auckland.

Since it is a slightly longer flight we get tea and coffee or water, plus an apricot yoghurt coated shortbread biscuit (small). With being an evening mainline flight there is also a buy on board option.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Summary days 1-24

• map
• 85,283 flown miles
• 40 flights
• 12 a/c types
  • 747-400
  • 767-300
  • 777-200
  • 767-200
  • A319
  • MD-80
  • 757
  • Jetstream 32
  • 737-400
  • A320
  • Beech 1900D
  • 737-300
• 8 airlines
  • SQ
  • QF
  • BA
  • AA
  • LA
  • Air National
  • Jet Connect
  • NZ
• 12 countries
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Oman
  • Spain
  • United States of America
  • Argentina
  • Chile
  • Peru
• 22 airports (number of transfers)
  • 6 AKL
  • 3 SIN, LHR, DFW, LAX, CHC
  • 2 AUH, ORD, BOS, SCL
  • 1 NRT, SYD, MCT, BCN, ELP, SEA, EZE, IPC, LIM, WHK, WKA, WLG
• 3 seated in higher cabin than paid

 

[infoworks]

Subject to client whims - should be passing thru SIN 13/14 Nov, 17 Nov (transit to BKK), 25 Nov (transit to SYD). Dec possibly 9 and 16 (depends whether I am SQ or CX on way to MNL). Jan 20 and 27/28 also likely at this stage.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Based on current plans it could be a while before we meet up.

 

[infoworks]

Based on current plans it could be a while before we meet up.

I'm sad about that!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Auckland to Singapore (AKL-SIN) Raffles (Business) Class on SQ 747, again

Just a few days later and I'm heading off to the airport again. At least I'm back on longhaul, so this will be much more comfortable than the recent few trips around New Zealand.

Rejuvenated's recent report My Longest Flying Hours: SQ First Class AKL-SIN-LHR (Text & Photos) reminded me that what I think of as normal - flying for a 24 hours or more (sometimes much more if I am trying to maximise mileage or minimise price) - is not normal for most people who don't live or regularly visit the far side of the world. For most people a 5 hour flight is long, but not for me.

Since my previous post, Singapore Airlines have unveiled their new product on the new 777-300ER (see SQ forum discussion). Already I am thinking up ways to reroute my travels in order to experience the improved product. Am I addicted? Maybe so, maybe so.

But I digress. The end of the (non-calendar) month is approaching and I will revert to the comforts of the trip at the beginning of the month - long haul on SQ. As I head to the airport already I feel a calmer state of mind taking over.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Before I forget I should mention how well the flights have credited. So far no problems.

SQ PPS sectors post instantly (usually before landing or not long after), miles to another FFP appeared within several days.

QF flights posted within 24 hours of each flight.

BA flights posted in batches, seemed to be roughly every 3 days.

AA flights posted in batches, seemed to be roughly every 3 days.

LA flights posted in a single batch, several days after my last flight (over a week after my first).

NZ flights posted to another FFP within 3 days.


Not bad.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Auckland to Singapore (AKL-SIN) Raffles (Business) Class on SQ 747, again, continued

I arrive at the airport in good time and while the 2 Raffles and 1 First check in agent are all busy there is no queue. I see one of them is new so I decide to wait in front of my favourite agent. However the new one finishes up first and I am directed to her. Several moments of tapping (I don't remember it usually taking this long) later out spits a boarding pass. It is looking promising, for the agent spots straight away the PPS double dip isn't going to work. However she struggles to get my FFP number in, even after getting assistance from a colleague. Eventually I end up with a boarding pass for the first flight that is correct, a boarding pass for the second flight that is incorrect (I'll sort it out in Singapore) and I don't even bother asking for the boarding pass for subsequent flights.

At the elite immigration desk I also encounter a new immigration officer - kiwi flyer do you know how the pre-clearance works, have you used it before? Yes just a few (dozen) times, thank you. Upstairs there is no queue at immigration but the security check has bad queue at all 4 WTMDs open at the moment, so that the small area between security and immigration is jammed full of people. I'm not sure what the issue was.

After a brief stop to get something from one of the shops I enter the lounge and get the usual friendly welcome. I have enough time to catch up on email and FT before my flight is called.

By the time I reach the gate boarding has already started but I'm quickly settling in my seat - yup got my favourite (other than first of course) once again, upper deck exit row window.

We push back on time and take off into the murk. Due to the cloud cover there is no view of Auckland and the coast which we'd normally get on this flight.

I noticed the hot towel has changed slightly, more rectangular and slightly coarser than before. Maybe I fly too much to have noticed such a trivial thing? Nah, no such thing as flying too much I reckon.

Since it is a month since my last flight on Singapore Airlines there are many new movies and tv shows on the Kris World entertainment system. So I spend the flight lazily mixing reading some overdue papers and watching some more movies.

I don't recall doing so, but at some point I must have dozed off since I found I'd been missed in the meal orders for dinner (the 2nd meal) and nearly didn't get my choice of mains.

With a flight time of 10 hours 20 minutes, this is much longer than rejuvenated's recent flight. There is considerable variation I find depending on winds, position of jet stream, and of course traffic/routing into Singapore.

For a change we pull up, not at the F50-60 pier but instead at E12.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

AKL-SIN Raffles Menu

LIGHT MEAL MENU

A Savoury Note

Seared tuna loin with mizuna and seaweed salad
Sesame soya dressing

The Main Event

Beef noodle soup
Egg noodles soup garnished with beef fillet and vegetables

Panfried blue eye cod fillet in white wine sauce, roasted vegetables and potatoes

Indonesian curry chicken, spicy vegetables and steamed rice

A Sweet Note

Ice cream

A Connoisseur's Choice

Gourmet coffee
Selection of tea


SNACK MENU

Fancy a snack?
Simply take your pick from our range of delectable snacks and make your selection known to our cabin crew.

Noodles

Fish ball broth with kway teow or bee hoon noodles

Vegetarian and non-vegetarian instant noodles

Sandwiches

Focaccia sandwich with smoked chicken

Snacks

Roasted mixed nuts

Kjeldsens cookies

Fruit bar

Arnotts pizza

Cadbury chocolate bar

Potato chips

Bananas


DINNER MENU

To Nibble On

Satay
With onion, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce

A Savoury Note

Salad of feta cheese, tomato, olives with marinated prawns and mesclun
Balsamic coriander dressing
Honey mustard lime dressing

The Main Event

Pan roasted beef fillet with bourgnignonne sauce, sauteed mushrooms with bacon and potato mash

Braised hapuku fillet with Oriental XO sauce, seasonal vegetables and egg noodles

Seared chicken in herb jus, roasted vegetables in olive oil and polenta

Lamb curry Madras, spicy vegetables and pilaff rice

A Sweet Note

Passion fruit creme brulee

The Cheese Board

Gourmet cheese with garnishes

Fruit

A selection of fresh fruit

A Connoisseur's Choice

Gourmet coffee
Selection of tea
and pralines


BEVERAGES MENU

Special coughtail

Golden Spice

coughtails

Singapore Sling
Silver Kris Sling
Gin Fizz
Cloud Nine
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Daiquiri
Red or White Wine Cooler

Aperitifs

Campari
Dry Vermouth

Non-alcoholic coughtails

Citrus Royale
Tropical Sparkle
Orange Cooler
Fruit Spritzer
Sunrise Surprise

Spirits

Cognac XO Otard
Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
Gordon's Dry Gin
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
Bacardi Carta Blanca

Liqueurs

Cointreau
Tia Maria
Baileys Original Irish Cream

Beer

International Selection

Stout

Guinness Stout

Champagne

Piper Heidsieck 1999

White Wines

2004 St Clair Marlborough Sauvignon
Rheingau Riesling Kabinett 2004 Weinhas Ress

Red Wines

2003 Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Merlot
Churton Marlborough 2003 Pinot Noir
Chateau Cissac 1998 Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc

Port

Dow 2001 Late Bottled Vintage Port

Tea selection

Pure Ceylon Tea
Earl Grey
Darjeeling
Camomile
Decaffeinated Tea
Japanese Green Tea
Oolong

Gourmet Coffees

Brazil Santos Bourbon
Colombian Supremo
Kenyan AA Kilimanjaro

Specialty Coffees

Brewed Coffee
Cafe Royal
Espresso
Cappuccino
Decaffeinated Coffee
Mocha

Other Beverages

Chocolate
Milo

Mineral Water

Carbonated mineral water
Non-carbonated mineral water

Fruit Juices

Apple
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato

Soft Drinks

A range of regular or low-calorie drinks is available

Iced Drinks

Iced Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Mocha
Iced Chocolate
Iced Milo

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Singapore to Osaka Kansai (SIN-KIX) Raffles (Business) Class on SQ 777

Even the short distance on the airbridge the current smog problem in the region was apparent. I headed to the lounge and got my boarding pass fixed plus checked in for another couple of flights. Then to a shower to freshen up before having a leisurely dom or three while surfing FT and awaiting my next flight.

I noticed the boiled lollies have gone both from the lounge check in facility and from the inner desk. That's a shame since my current nagging tickly throat sure could use some soothing.

When I first checked there was very little food on offer, pretty much everything used up. This despite the lounge appearing to be fairly empty. However later the food was replenished, and the lounge filled to become almost crowded for a period.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Singapore to Osaka Kansai (SIN-KIX) Raffles (Business) Class on SQ 777 continued

Gradually the lounge emptied, for this red eye flight is one of the last of the night for Singapore Airlines, until it was time for me to also leave. The onward flight had gate E28 - not the closest gate (it is closest to Terminal 1) but not too far away either.

By leaving the lounge fairly late I miss the queues at gate security and straight through. I am asked to swap my aisle seat for a window to allow a couple to sit together - I say sure. I may have thought about declining for a daytime flight, but for a redeye a window is fine be me. Boarding was already well underway so I head straight on to my new seat. I have some water and they take my order for breakfast.

The flight is full and we push back a few minutes late. With the number of late night departures from Singapore, sometimes a small delay at the gate can end up as a half hour (or more) hold on the apron. Fortunately that is not the case tonight. Nevertheless by time we are airborne I am already asleep.

About 2 hours 20 minutes before arrival we are woken for breakfast (cabin lighting put on and anyone other than those who requested to sleep through is tapped on the shoulder). Given only about half the passengers (at least in business) have asked for breakfast there is no need in my view to start so early, especially on these short red-eye flights. Id like to see breakfast start say 80 minutes prior to landing, giving a valuable extra hour sleep.

Breakfast is merely okay. They forgot my special coffee order and I had to ask for it again. By then it was cold By chance the timing coincided with sunrise which seemed so peaceful in these cloudless skies.

Later on we see the early morning light over Japan. The sun shining on the cliffs. Shadows marking out valleys while ridges bathed in soft light. A thick mist filled one valley system marking it out like a white sea complete with bush clad islands from a few hills in the middle poking through and complex "coastline" highlighting the rugged terrain.

The further north we go the more coastal towns and cities we fly past, and the fishing boats and container ships are visible below as we descend over the waterways into Kansai.

We have a straight in approach and short taxi. The gate is close to the main terminal, yet we have to walk away, up a level, take the train to the main terminal, then down a level, to arrive at immigration/transfers which was only a few metres away from the gate Id started at. Hey, maybe Auckland Airport is mimicking their layout (with the addition of more shops)?

Id arrived shortly after Air Calin, which has lots of passengers connecting through to Paris. I am not sure why but the transfer queue was hardly moving and I contemplated clearing immigration (which had no queues at all), going up a level and then back through immigration. Nah - it wont take long. Sure enough the queue starting moving much more efficiently again. Perhaps the screener had needed to go to the bathroom? Once through security it was the same process in reverse, take the train, down a level, then backtrack to the lounge. For some reason the Silver Kris Lounge is not on the main concourse between shops like all the other lounges, but instead down this back alley which is devoid of everything.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

SIN-KIX Raffles Menu

MENU

To allow you a longer period of undisturbed rest, please let us know your preference for the following meal service options:

- To be served your meal soon after take-off
OR
- To be served your meal about 2 hours before arrival

To Start With

A choice of apple, tomato, freshly squeezed orange juice or soya bean milk

The Main Event

Chicken basil mayonnaise in croissant served with potato chips

Dim sum
Steamed rice sheet cake with char siew, pork siew mai and prawn har kow

American Breakfast
Fruit yoghurt
Spinach omelette with chicken sausage, roasted roma tomato, hash brown potatoes
Bread selection with preserves

Continental Breakfast
Assorted bread with preserves

Your meal will be served with a selection of sliced fresh fruits

A Connoisseur's Choice

Gourmet coffee
Selection of tea


HANAGOYOMI MENU

"Finding the change of the four seasons in a flower and translating it into cuisine."

An array of nine appetisers and entrees together with miso soup, served in Japanese style.

Sakizuke
Spinach with chyrsanthemum flower and matsutake mushroom salad, hijiki seaweed salad

Aemono
Jelly fish and mountain vegetables in sesame dressing, salmon roe

Yakimono
Grilled miso soya flavoured salmon trout, pickled turnip

Takiawase
Scallop with beancurd skin dumpling, spinach sauce

Kuchitori
Omelette, cod roes, prawn, kelp

Owan
Miso soup

Gohan
Mushroom flavoured steamed rice
Steamed rice with white bait

Kounomono
Assorted pickles

Mizumono
Assorted fresh fruit

Ocha
Green tea


BEVERAGES MENU

Special coughtail

Golden Spice

coughtails

Singapore Sling
Silver Kris Sling
Gin Fizz
Cloud Nine
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Daiquiri
Red or White Wine Cooler

Aperitifs

Campari
Dry Vermouth

Non-alcoholic coughtails

Citrus Royale
Tropical Sparkle
Orange Cooler
Fruit Spritzer
Sunrise Surprise

Spirits

Cognac XO Otard
Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
Gordon's Dry Gin
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
Bacardi Carta Blanca
Premium Ginjo Sake Tamanohikari

Liqueurs

Cointreau
Tia Maria
Baileys Original Irish Cream

Beer

International Selection

Stout

Guinness Stout

Champagne

Piper Heidsieck 1999

White Wines

Rheingau Riesling Kabinett 2004 Weinhas Ress
Montagny 1er Cru 2004

Red Wines

Chateau Cissac 1998 Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc
Serrata Belguardo 2003 Igt Maremma Toscana

Port

Dow 2001 Late Bottled Vintage Port

Tea selection

Pure Ceylon Tea
Earl Grey
Darjeeling
Camomile
Decaffeinated Tea
Japanese Green Tea
Oolong

Gourmet Coffees

Brazil Santos Bourbon
Colombian Supremo
Kenyan AA Kilimanjaro

Specialty Coffees

Brewed Coffee
Cafe Royal
Espresso
Cappuccino
Decaffeinated Coffee
Mocha

Other Beverages

Chocolate
Milo

Mineral Water

Carbonated mineral water
Non-carbonated mineral water

Fruit Juices

Apple
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato

Soft Drinks

A range of regular or low-calorie drinks is available

Cold Japanese Oolong Tea

Iced Drinks

Iced Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Mocha
Iced Chocolate
Iced Milo

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Summary days 1-28

• map
• 93,548 flown miles
• 42 flights
• 12 a/c types
  • 747-400
  • 767-300
  • 777-200
  • 767-200
  • A319
  • MD-80
  • 757
  • Jetstream 32
  • 737-400
  • A320
  • Beech 1900D
  • 737-300
• 8 airlines
  • SQ
  • QF
  • BA
  • AA
  • LA
  • Air National
  • Jet Connect
  • NZ
• 12 countries
  • New Zealand
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • United Kingdom
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Oman
  • Spain
  • United States of America
  • Argentina
  • Chile
  • Peru
• 23 airports (number of transfers)
  • 6 AKL
  • 4 SIN
  • 3 LHR, DFW, LAX, CHC
  • 2 AUH, ORD, BOS, SCL
  • 1 NRT, SYD, MCT, BCN, ELP, SEA, EZE, IPC, LIM, WHK, WKA, WLG, KIX
• 3 seated in higher cabin than paid

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

KIX-BKK Raffles Menu

LUNCH MENU

To Nibble On

Satay
With onion, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce

A Savoury Note

Smoked salmon garnished with nicoise salad served with thousand island dressing

The Main Event

Beef fillet stuffed with wild mushroom and herb duxelle, sauteed spinach and potato leek gratin

Chinese style roast chicken with hot garlic sauce, assorted vegetables and fried rice

Spaghetti pasta with assorted mushroom bolognese, shaved parmesan cheese

A Sweet Note

Haagen Dazs rum and raisin ice cream with grapes and yuzu

The Cheese Board

Gourmet cheese with garnishes

Fruit

A selection of fresh fruit

A Connoisseur`s Choice

Gourmet coffee
Selection of tea
and pralines


HANAGOYOMI MENU

"Finding the change of the four seasons in a flower and translating it into cuisine."

An array of nine appetisers and entrees together with miso soup, served in Japanese style.

Ha-Sun
Chicken terrine, gingko nut, sweet potato

Kuchitori
Eel with burdock, chestnut, chrysanthemum petal and leaves

Yakimono
Grilled scallop with sea urchin glaced, matsutake mushroom

Aemono
Chicken and mushroom in ponzu dressing, salmon roes

Sunomono
Marinated deep fried salmon

Takiawase
Simmered herring, eggplant

Gohan
Prawn sushi
Abalone flavoured rice
Steamed rice with kelp

Tome-Wan
Miso soup

Men
Cold buckwheat noodles

Mizugashi
Haagen Dazs rum and raisin ice cream with grapes and yuzu

Ocha
Green tea


BEVERAGES MENU

Special coughtail

Golden Spice

coughtails

Singapore Sling
Silver Kris Sling
Gin Fizz
Cloud Nine
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Daiquiri
Red or White Wine Cooler

Aperitifs

Campari
Dry Vermouth

Non-alcoholic coughtails

Citrus Royale
Tropical Sparkle
Orange Cooler
Fruit Spritzer
Sunrise Surprise

Spirits

Cognac XO Otard
Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
Gordon's Dry Gin
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
Bacardi Carta Blanca
Premium Ginjo Sake Tamanohikari

Liqueurs

Cointreau
Tia Maria
Baileys Original Irish Cream

Beer

International Selection

Stout

Guinness Stout

Champagne

Piper Heidsieck 1999

White Wines

Rheingau Riesling Kabinett 2004 Weinhas Ress
Montagny 1er Cru 2004

Red Wines

Chateau Cissac 1998 Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc
Serrata Belguardo 2003 Igt Maremma Toscana

Port

Dow 2001 Late Bottled Vintage Port

Tea selection

Pure Ceylon Tea
Earl Grey
Darjeeling
Camomile
Decaffeinated Tea
Japanese Green Tea
Oolong

Gourmet Coffees

Brazil Santos Bourbon
Colombian Supremo
Kenyan AA Kilimanjaro

Specialty Coffees

Brewed Coffee
Cafe Royal
Espresso
Cappuccino
Decaffeinated Coffee
Mocha

Other Beverages

Chocolate
Milo

Mineral Water

Carbonated mineral water
Non-carbonated mineral water

Fruit Juices

Apple
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato

Soft Drinks

A range of regular or low-calorie drinks is available

Cold Japanese Oolong Tea

Iced Drinks

Iced Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Mocha
Iced Chocolate
Iced Milo

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Osaka Kansai to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (KIX-BKK) Raffles (Business) Class on SQ 777

The lounge has a reasonable selection of food - dumplings, noodles, soup, sandwiches, biscuits and fruit. The drinks selection is small - sodas, water, apple and orange juice, 1 red wine, 1 white wine, beer, couple of spirits (eg JW Black), tea and coffee.

There are 3 computers plus a smoking room. Newspapers, magazine and a tv. However no shower. So I check if any of the other lounges have a shower - nope. The only shower is in the main terminal and a pay one. Ahh, I've left it a bit late to check this out and won't have enough time to take the train back, clear security, have a shower and take the train back all before boarding closes.

So instead I head to the gate, where I find boarding has started early despite the low load. I board and freshen up as best I can in the bathroom onboard while boarding continues.

I get a spare seat beside me so do my usual trick of using the screens of both seats to see and hear 2 things at once. Unlike the flight up, this time I get the non-avod version of IFE. Yes the SQ 2-class 777-200 (not to be confused with spacebed equipped 2-class 777-200ER) has some aircraft with avod and some without.

As usual for SQ flights in business ex-Japan I have the Hanagoyomi. This month's offering is particularly yummy and I think would be tasty even to those not used to Japanese food.

After the meal I doze the rest of the flight. On approach into Bangkok we dodge the thunderstorms but without much detour or delay.

We have a long taxi to our gate and then a 15 minute wait while they try to get the airbridge hooked up. In the end only door 1L is hooked up despite the airbridge being dual.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

BKK-SIN Raffles Menu

DINNER MENU

A Savoury Note

Thai style smoked chicken and potato salad

The Main Event

Pan fried chicken breast with tagliatelle in mushroom cream sauce

Grilled halibut served with creamy thyme sauce, buttered vegetables and new potato

Stir fried beef fillet with ginger and spring onion, selected vegetables and steamed rice

A Sweet Note

Fresh fruit selection

A Connoisseur`s Choice

Gourmet coffee
Selection of tea


BEVERAGES MENU

Special coughtail

Golden Spice

coughtails

Singapore Sling
Silver Kris Sling
Gin Fizz
Cloud Nine
Screwdriver
Bloody Mary
Daiquiri
Red or White Wine Cooler

Aperitifs

Campari
Dry Vermouth

Non-alcoholic coughtails

Citrus Royale
Tropical Sparkle
Orange Cooler
Fruit Spritzer
Sunrise Surprise

Spirits

Cognac XO Otard
Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
Gordon's Dry Gin
Smirnoff Red Label Vodka
Bacardi Carta Blanca
Premium Ginjo Sake Tamanohikari

Liqueurs

Cointreau
Tia Maria
Baileys Original Irish Cream

Beer

International Selection

Stout

Guinness Stout

Champagne

Piper Heidsieck 1999

White Wines

Rheingau Riesling Kabinett 2004 Weinhas Ress
Montagny 1er Cru 2004

Red Wines

Chateau Cissac 1998 Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc
Serrata Belguardo 2003 Igt Maremma Toscana

Port

Dow 2001 Late Bottled Vintage Port

Tea selection

Pure Ceylon Tea
Earl Grey
Darjeeling
Camomile
Decaffeinated Tea
Japanese Green Tea
Oolong

Gourmet Coffees

Brazil Santos Bourbon
Colombian Supremo
Kenyan AA Kilimanjaro

Specialty Coffees

Brewed Coffee
Cafe Royal
Espresso
Cappuccino
Decaffeinated Coffee
Mocha

Other Beverages

Chocolate
Milo

Mineral Water

Carbonated mineral water
Non-carbonated mineral water

Fruit Juices

Apple
Orange
Pineapple
Tomato

Soft Drinks

A range of regular or low-calorie drinks is available

Cold Japanese Oolong Tea

Iced Drinks

Iced Tea
Iced Coffee
Iced Mocha
Iced Chocolate
Iced Milo

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Singapore (BKK-SIN) Raffles (Business) Class on SQ 777

When I made the booking months ago the date of the move from Don Muang to Suvarnabhumi was in doubt. Given the anticipated teething troubles, I only hoped that I wasn't flying one of the first few days to the new airport. As it happened the new airport opened late September - even a coup a week earlier did not stop the changeover. So I was glad that I would be travelling a few weeks after the change. Soon enough to get an early experience, but late enough that hopefully a lot of the bugs would be sorted out.

As I mentioned previously, the airbridge docking was not particularly quick. Once deplaned it was an easy short walk to transfers, although we were lucky in getting one of the closest gates - others would be quite a hike. The signage was confusing with transfer desks both to the left (a long way left) and right of the gate, but each accessing different concourses - and no signage to show which airlines/flights were applicable to each transfer desk. This is a step backwards from Don Muang.

The transfer itself is painless. If you have your onward boarding pass (as I did) then just head up the escalator and proceed to the gate, or the lounge, as applicable.

The terminal is much more airy than the old airport, and is reminiscent of Munich airport.

The D concourse TG lounge is before any further security check, left for business and right for first class. It is a big lounge, but long and skinny in shape. At the far end is an exit up one level (to the shops) - I'm not sure how to get from there to the D concourse (didn't look obvious from within the lounge) so I exited the same way I came in. There are areas for children, smoking, computers, lounging, tvs. There is a selection of newspapers and magazines, some food and drink. No showers - another retrograde step in my view.

I have enough time to check some email before heading to the nearby gate (maybe 5 metres away) 30 minutes prior to departure which I figure is plenty of time. Bzzzt wrong answer. Just outside the lounge entrance is a security check which is processing extremely slowly the dozen or so people in front of me. It takes about 15 minutes for me to clear security, by which time I am envisaging the gate closing and being the last SQ flight to Singapore for the day, being stuck overnight here. Fortunately I get through just before the gate closes, but almost the last passenger to board.

We push back a little late, and then have a very slow but short taxi to the runway. Maybe I am befuddled from lack of sleep, but it seemed to me that the takeoff and landing runways intersected at right angles thus slowing the rate of takeoffs or landings possible.

I try to catch up on some more sleep in the flight which is thus uneventful. We land in the early tropical darkness of Singapore, and I again head to the lounge.

First port of call is the check in desk where I check in for the next 2 flights, but am only able to collect 1 boarding pass. Yes, some SQ destinations seem to have a rule about not issuing boarding passes remotely - I experienced the same thing recently at Fukuoka.

Then I meet up with pps04 and have a nice chat while drinking some more Doms.