THE FINALE
SQ227 SIN-MEL, 22nd FEB 07
Seat - 54F
Aircraft - 744
ETD - 2100
We'd initially been allocated an emex row, however this meant that the person by the window had zero legroom due to the exit slide. We could not get rows 31 or 32 as they'd already been allocated. Instead, we were allocated seats 54DEF, a bulkhead row with ok legroom. The whole point of the bulkhead is of course - the distinct lack of a reclining seat crushing into us. My agreement with Dad meant that I would be stuck in the middle on this flight. I had a pleasant surprise onboard as my seatmate in 54G was none other than a friend who I haven't had the opportunity to catch up with ever since the Victorian state elections when we worked on a local campaign together.
SQ227 is my least favourite flight out of the 3 SIN-MEL dailies if flying in economy. Not only is it operated by a 744 with cramped seating in economy (compared to the 773), the flight arrives at MEL at the wee hours of 7am in the morning. Not only will immigration and customs be crowded then due to the presence of 2 other arrivals from Asia, but Tullamarine freeway can be choked at that time of the morning.
This flight featured the Chinese New Year menu:
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DINNER
Appetiser
Fa Cai Yu Sheng
Prosperity New Year Salad with salmon to usher in the "Year of the Pig"
Main Courses
Joyful and Auspicious Spring
Braised chicken in compoy sauce with deluxe vegetables and chicken flavoured rice
or
Roasted beef fillet served with mustard sauce, buttered vegetables and gratin potato
Cheese
Cheese and crackers
Dessert
Ice cream
From the bakery
Roll and butter
Hot beverages
Coffee - Tea
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For some reason I found the menu pretty amusing - it was like someone wrote it using a thesaurus while knocking back a bottle of tequila.
The appetiser was pretty delicious, although I didn't touch the sauce that it came with as I'm told it's sweet and I didn't particularly want something sweet as an appetiser. I had the chicken for my main course which was yummy. The ice cream was chocolate flavoured and came with a cone.
The crew on this flight showed SQ at its best. No request was ever too difficult to fulfil. For example, they actually remembered not to disturb Dad during the breakfast service as he'd previously indicated that he'd rather have an uninterrupted sleep. An FA actually asked him if he'd like something to munch on when he woke up and came up with a muffin and coffee. You'd think this would only happen in the premium cabins or to a PPS member!
It's been a long day so I fell asleep after watching 'The Queen' and knocking back some red wines and Singapore Slings.
It seems like no time had passed by when the cabin lights came on for the breakfast service.
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CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
Fruit
Fruit appetiser
From the bakery
Assorted breakfast rolls
Butter - Fruit preserve
Hot beverages
Coffee - Tea
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The continental breakfast is identical on every SQ flight I'd been on. They're typically served on flights under 12 hours when breakfast isn't the main meal service. It's not the most terribly exciting meal - rather uninspiring in fact. The muffin and bread roll were rather dry and bland. I had copious amounts of coffee instead.
We landed in Tullamarine airport ahead of the scheduled arrival time, ready to tackle the horror of a 7am arrival - 9 mile long lines everywhere. We only arrived at my parents' hotel at 0935!
And that, my dearies, concludes my 'Mini jaunt in Asia on *A.' Hope you'd all enjoyed it!
