The Problem With AFF

[Solid]

Flight 2:

SQ495 Dubai to Singapore on 777 in F.

First time on Singapore Airlines and in F! This was a flight I was looking forward to.

A short taxi ride to the airport and checked in promptly. SQ doesn't have their own lounge in Dubai but according to their website you can access four affiliate lounges. On check in it was suggested we go to the Dubai First Class lounge which is operated by the Dubai International Hotel.

After some shopping and with low expectations we entered the lounge to be quietly surprised. Compact but with its own dining area including table service. The table service covered breakfast and dinner which included a short dim sum menu and a good selection of hot dishes on the buffet. A reasonable stocked bar including champagne and we settled in. What more could you want really?

On boarding our flight we were warmly welcomed by the attendants and CSM and directed to our seats for a welcoming glass of Krug before a procession of amenities etc were unwrapped for us.

Close to doors closing the reality hit us - we were the only ones in F! Our own private cabin!

Not long after take off the flight attendants suggested they make up the seats behind us into beds which sounded like an excellent idea.

Apologies to Cruiser Elite, but after a couple of glasses of Krug we both switched to the Dom 2004 that was on board. And apologies to the champagne gods because I only had one glass out of the second bottle that was opened for us. What a waste!

Dinner was served and breakfast orders taken. After dinner it was into the PJs and off to sleep.

No pictures to load sorry, the lighting didn't really work out.

The service was exemplary, so much so that Ms Solid asked a couple of days later "can we only fly Singapore from now on when we go overseas?"

Will see what I can do!

 

[robd]

... And apologies to the champagne gods because I only had one glass out of the second bottle that was opened for us. What a waste!

Excluding the above faux pas, you sound very much like a seasoned AFFer .

Job very well done indeed.

 

[drron]

The service was exemplary, so much so that Ms Solid asked a couple of days later "can we only fly Singapore from now on when we go overseas?"

And now you have found out what a problem AFF can be!

 

[GarrettM]

After the meals and a movie it was off to bed. The crew came and made up the bed while getting changed into pyjamas and a solid 7-8 hours sleep was had by all.

A light breakfast on waking and then arrival at Abu Dhabi where our Etihad chauffeur transferred us to Dubai at a leisurely 140k-150k per hour.

Checked into Hilton Dubai creek with a creek view room. The view in the morning.

View attachment 61272

We found the service at the hotel fairly ordinary, but the room was spacious and well maintained.

Creek view?

 

[drron]

Yep that's Dubai Creek.We stayed at that hotel quite a few years agnly difference we had a room at the front so could see up and down the creek.

 

[GarrettM]

Yep that's Dubai Creek.We stayed at that hotel quite a few years agnly difference we had a room at the front so could see up and down the creek.

Yes well. By the standards of the creeks I am used too, that is SOME creek.

 

[Pushka]

They are currently extending the Creek in Dubai. Lots of construction happening now. Its a big creek.

 

[Limewood]

and don't forget to fly the A380 simulator at the Dubai mall.

 

[Pushka]

and don't forget to fly the A380 simulator at the Dubai mall.

Queue for that, and Sega Town a mile long! Boys toys and all that

 

[Solid]

Singapore!!

 

[GarrettM]

View attachment 61658

Singapore!!

Looks decidedly spicey!

 

[Solid]

Ok, after a couple of days in Singapore enjoying the food, back home to Sydney via QF82 in J.

The flight was on an A330 and we were lucky enough to have snagged the new business product which I have had a couple of times domestically.

Check in experience was probably the best of the trip, with access to the check in lounge and alternate entrance meaning a seamless entry to the airport.

First stop the QF lounge in SIN which is done in a similar style to the QF HKG lounge where we enjoyed one of the table dining dishes.

No pictures of the flight but just a couple of observations. I'm a BIS WP with Qantas predominantly domestic economy and generally enjoy their service but tonight just wasn't one of their flights with a number of things adding up to an overall underwhelming experience.

1. Crew just didn't seem to have it and looked like they were really going through the motions. However in an affront to the DYKWIA brigade the CSM did go through and speak to everyone in J individually which I thought was a nice touch, although the conversation seemed a little robotic and seemed to be the same sentence over and over again.
2. IFE issues with the system getting reset twice, once when the row near me requested theirs to be reset it also triggered mine. On a new product it's disappointing to see glitches.
3. Dining options. Qantas J just seems to be continually going backwards and I would have thought for a flight leaving at 7 you would have dinner rather than "supper". That and the dessert being ice cream still in the tub, really shows a lack of effort / cost cutting.
4. The food service was painfully slow which is the second time I've experienced that on the new J layout.
5. No assistance offered in putting on the overlay mattress, just was a case of fend for yourself, even when staff nearby.

Anyway, enough grumbling and sometimes you just have those flights, but it was chalk and cheese to the other flights (albeit a different class) and certainly from other carriers apart from the hard product everything else is falling behind.

Landed back into Sydney about ten minutes late and into a cab 17 minutes later. Got to love smart gates.

Now back to reality and planning the next trip, still some AA, SQ and too many QF points to burn.

 

[drron]

Very good TR.Nice to see and hear about other products.
Definitely QF need to up their game.Just too inconsistent.That said having experienced JAL F recently including being tucked into bed by the FA I fear I am going to be disappointed many times in the future.

 

[RooFlyer]

Nice report, thanks. Once again SQ and Ey the winners (along with the OP and family!)

 

[JohnK]

Very nice trip report.

Good to see a plan come together.

 

[Solid]

Thanks for reading.

Close contest between EY and SQ overall. if I had to give it a winner I would say SQ purely on service but EY were very close. Of course these things can change between crew but I got the impression it wouldn't change much.

As a couple who like to be able to see each other the EY centre seats on the 777 were very good hard product. With the divider down, the doors closed and the "stars" in the ceiling it was a little like having your own room on the plane. Very nice experience and very comfortable.

Unfortunately for me now after EK, SQ and EY F and a fair bit of other J on holidays a standard has been set for Ms Solid. I travel predominantly Y for work so have a rule when travelling privately it shouldn't be Y unless a short flight. Since Ms Solid recently started travelling more domestically for work the great SC chase has started (currently QF Silver soon to be Gold) so hopefully she can repay the favour some time

 

[incumbent]

Close contest between EY and SQ overall. if I had to give it a winner I would say SQ purely on service but EY were very close. Of course these things can change between crew but I got the impression it wouldn't change much.

My own experience is that it's extremely unlikely you'd ever encounter sub-standard service on SQ... somewhat less unlikely on EY.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Solid trip report, Solid!

Seems like an ongoing issue across a few airlines – meal timings. They drive me crazy, particularly some of SQs. I guess I'm a fan of EY's dine anytime/on-board chef where they can be a bit flexible.

That said, it'll never sway me – SQ's service wins every time.

 

[incumbent]

I guess I'm a fan of EY's dine anytime/on-board chef where they can be a bit flexible.

I'm a fan of the concept, and they definitely handle it better than EK, but I find it works better if you give them a rough idea of what you might like (and when) during the initial greeting. And it hasn't worked at all well for me when the loading has been 8/8 rather than just one or two.