Long Overdue - SQ F/R MEL-SIN-FRA

[Cruiser Elite]

Well basically hard product doesn’t vary / soft product hardly misses a beat from pre Covid - service still spectacular just some adjustments to way it is delivered - no written menus etc / WiFi was very hit and miss but that was the case before also - all in all very much same same IMHO except obvious Covid forced changes

SIN Lounges just a zoo at moment but now they are hoping for end May completion if Covid doesn’t force more delays

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And so much for that rubbish about no pre-takeoff Champs:
FTR - 4 pax in F and 5 botts Krug + 3 botts Dom loaded for this sector

So what did the other 3 pax get to drink?

 

[MathNerd]

SIN Lounges just a zoo at moment but now they are hoping for end May completion if Covid doesn’t force more delays

Oh wow I remember the days when the SIN SKL had an end-of-March schedule for completion... now that it's been pushed back to May that's quite a delay.
Ah, was hoping for a relatively smooth SIN SKL J experience this Saturday. If I take enough pictures along the journey I might even put together a little TR (won't even come close to the depth and breadth of CE's posts here but we can try)!

 

[boomy]

New SQ lounge is very underwhelming. It was already a zoo when I visited back in December and most SQ flights weren’t even operating back then. I’ll be transiting again next week, not looking forward to the lounge experience. Was hoping TPR will open by the time I return in early May but it is what it is.

A point to remember, the lounge is far busier during late evenings when most long haul connections take place. In the morning it should be more civilised.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

TBH I think once the TPR and F Lounge do open we will look at the J Lounge as pretty smicko - I think layout and amenities will be very goood but needs some breathing space

I did have a shower there and there are couple of mind boggling design failures in the shower I used - I assume they are all the same. I have 4.5hrs transit there on return so I will grab the manager on duty and point them out- they really do need attention

Oh I forgot to mention the full service bar in J will be a fabulous addition - poor old Mahomed Was so busy last Thu nt we did not have time to talk

I did see open pour in help yourself drinks section of Laurent Perrier Champs - that’s a long way better drop than most other F/J Lounges offer - LH Senator Lounge for R/F pax in FRA for a start - cheap shiiity sparkling wine - or those undrinkable Turkish vinegars they serve in TK J Lounge IST

Before too many go sticking the boots in I’d suggest at least give them a chance to get the lounges open before being too critical - with what ALL airlines have had to endure over last 2.5ys we are damn lucky to have any left

 

[Melburnian1]

TBH I think once the TPR and F Lounge do open we will look at the J Lounge as pretty smicko - I think layout and amenities will be very goood but needs some breathing space

Excellent reporting, but you are using a fair amount of unfamiliar jargon, so maybe the initial time you include any such terms, spell it out in full.

I had to look up 'TPR' to discover its meaning. Needless to say, I wouldn't qualify.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

One fat finger typist here - abbreviations reign and I guess most will work them out

 

[dajop]

Needless to say, I wouldn't qualify.

You'd be surprised for as little as 27,500 KF miles and you can (in theory) access TPR when departing or arriving into SIN.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Main course - beef tenderloin:
View attachment 274001

To quote Manu..."where's the sauce?"!!! It needs sauce!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

To quote Manu..."where's the sauce?"!!! It needs sauce!

To quote me I love the taste of steak so I always have it naked

 

[FlyingFiona]

To quote me I love the taste of steak so I always have it naked

Just so long as there was the option for sauce...! I'm flying SQ J class soon...I want sauce!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Might be best to BYO

 

[FlyingFiona]

Might be best to BYO

they don't even offer mustard?!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Ok so return is in J as I just could not secure R/F booking so late - and it would have required mixed class booking as only F into MEL is overnight flight - just a waste - so I will continue this thread now with J review.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

First job was to secure that pre flt RAT supervised test - was easy as a test centre walking gf distance from hotel I was staying at just out of Frankfurt

Test normally €15 but lively lady in charge said I could be a German for the day and waived fee.

Back to hotel armed with certificate - take picture and upload to complete DPD - all went smoothly

Managed to secure bulkhead seat 11D for FRA- SIN sector - missed 96 D/F - its ok

Checkin in FRA so straight forward - plonk Passport, Cacciatore Cert and RAT Test Cert on counter and all completed in 2 mins. Scottish dude next counter having a terrible time yo check in cause not have docs - go figure

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Advised at check in can use Senator Lounge which is usually F Lounge as Business Lounge too far from gate

Asked about Air Canada Lounge and checkin agent said YES can use that too and it is better anyway

So up to Canada Lounge and yes it is much newer but F & B offerings nothing spectacular - not that I need food anyway

Wandered over to Senator Lounge and it is still same old tired Lounge with ordinary F & B offerings - it was also almost emoter whereas AC Lounge very busy - I guess pax have sorted this one.

Then took one for the team and walked to other end of terminal to check out Business Lounge - even sadder but pretty full.

Interesting that basically same shiiity sparkling wine offered in all 3 lounges:



And the reds:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Gotta tell you boarding SQ25 in FRA was an absolute abortion - continually continually Y pax turned away whilst Prem cabin pax trying to board - It wouldn’t have it so hard to organise but clearly there is scant interest in doing so

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Being so long since in J you forget so many things - like how small the J seats are compared to F or R - like how pox the size of storage space on upper deck 380 is as o/h buns are just so small - about how when you lean on those fricking buttons each side shyte just happens that you don’t want like seat going forward - lights coming on - crew coming and asking ‘what can I do for you?’ - far from complaining as I have done >400 long haul sectors in SQ Y - all is good

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Speaking of Y loading today is R 6/6 - J 55/78 - PE 22/34 - Y 250/330.

Now as reported elsewhere pre-takeoff beverage no longer exists - BUT - ask nicely and it can still be had:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Just had a quick chat to Gavin the J Cabin Manager and he said most positive thing at the moment is gradual easing of strict Covid enforced protocols - many pax won’t even see these - but he explained things are slowly drifting back to pre-Covid status and that nobody wants that more than crew do

Edit: Yep confirmed is policy that pre-takeoff drinks are ‘by pax request’ rather than aircraft wide - so don’t be backward my AFF friends - ‘go forth and slurp’