Airliners-India.com Forum Index Airliners-India.com
Flickr Group & Facebook
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Short(er) TR: A final flash of brilliance from SQ!

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Trip Reports
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:02 pm    Post subject: Short(er) TR: A final flash of brilliance from SQ! Reply with quote

Hey all, here is the last part. This a short(er) TR compared to my usual standards, expect this to be the norm from now on Smile

So, the story so far:
We had arrived into Hong Kong after a 4 year gap on SQ's A330 and A380, which led to some unfortunate and unnecessary drama, due to positive vibes in Hong Kong. Once the drama was overcome, it was time to head for Taiwan, on the ultra rare (outside the US, at least) MD-90 aircraft. Taipei was most certainly a fun experience, but it ended much too soon. It was time to get to the airport on the
Taiwan High Speed Rail
. I put a significant tick mark on my bucket list as the long dream of being on a 747 flight was finally done as we came back from Taiwan into Hong Kong for a final night. It was now time to head back to Colombo. Talk about depressing Sad
So that meant, one final flight on the A380 into Singapore, while we had a 3 hour transit to kill, and one final flight with Singapore Airlines....

FLIGHT #6: SQ468 SINGAPORE-COLOMBO 26TH AUGUST 2014

SQ468, as shown on one of the interactive touch screens, was from gate F54 in T2. Headed towards T2 on the SkyTrain, and instantly, it was a more cramped feeling as compared to T3. Speaking of which, parts of the new T3 were already being renovated!
We found a sports bar in T2, I had an iced tea. A Jet..er..Etihad A330 was parked, along with a Silk Air A320. There are only a few common places like this where spotting opportunities are decent, other than this, due to SIN’s security at boarding gates, spotting is rather restricted. Luckily, there wasn’t much to see as some birds took off and landed close by.


Koi pond in T2


For the kids Smile


Advertising the 2014 Abu Dhabi GP...in Singapore!





I don't know what this is...but its really pretty darn cool! (Saw it in TPE, too)





That's us! Codesharing with (VA) Virgin Australia 5592.

BOARDING
We headed for the gate next, really not much to do here. Oh yeah, bought some perfumes and stuff. At gate F54, oh yes, all the familiar looks of Sri Lankan people! Sri Lanka were taking on Pakistan that night. Although eventually Pakistan lost, I did make a comment in Bengali to Dad, finishing with the English words ‘Yeah, I hope Pakistan beat Sri Lanka tonight…’ That was enough to get a horrified look from a (about) 30 year old man next to me, who decided to get up from the chair beside and go sit somewhere else! So that is Jish 2, others 0 Twisted Evil (Un)Luckily for him though, the different place he went and sat in, there was an elderly woman, who like any elderly woman started off about everything in her life: just flew in Melbourne, daughter been staying there for 6 months, heading for Colombo now, etc, etc, etc…..
Anyways, I then saw someone who sat rather awkwardly... There was only one person whom I knew (in this world) who sat like that. He put his iPad away from his face: its him! It was one of my Korean friends from the grade lower. I remembered his sister telling me in Paris that they'd go to Saigon, she would stay back, he'd come back to school in Colombo. Still though, I couldn't go up to say hi to him... Since I was very close to performing another dance recital. Yes, I wanted a washroom. Too much ice tea and the other fluids on SQ861. Some of the security people came in and manned the gate, while the SQ people walked in to start the boarding process. I took a place close to the aircraft's nose, yet close to the aerobridge.
Aircraft, you may ask. 9V-STS was the bird in question. She had flown in from Osaka (Kansai) about 5 hours ago. 9V-STS was the last bird delivered in SQ's first batch of deliveries, so it was, on that day, 3.9 years old. 9V-STT onwards (including my bird to SIN STV and the SS* series) are the second batch of A333s, barely a year old, all of them.

Some of Dad's pics, again:



And back to mine...oh, what a drop in quality Rolling Eyes


The pilots and the crew walked in in quick succession - yes, the first officer was an Indian! Smile Passengers started filling in the gate. Once again, a few minutes after boarding time, boarding started. The desperate bladder-filled me was eager to get on the plane, go to the washroom and then calm down. Usual calls for the J class pax, PP Flyer, SilverKris, etc.. Were called. Following this, even before the agent could announce Economy, I decided to jump into the line. Hoping that whoever would check our passes allow me to go through, due to my intense bladder filling. Luckily though, there was no one checking on us. So really, anyone could bend the rules and go on for boarding then! A Y class pax goes in while only J class has been announced, I'm sure things like that happen on the India or SL or Bangaldesh bound flights!



Uhh...sorry about that Rolling Eyes

Anyways, boarding was.. Pleasant! The nice FA greeted everyone by name! This was very nice - finally the boarding experience I was looking for onboard SQ!
However though, this was no time for me to enjoy.. I dumped my bags on to 36A, thankfully I selected a seat in the first section itself! I rushed for the washroom...
And um.. It didn't smell very pleasant.. There was a hint of an unpleasant you-know-what smell. But then, this was the only flaw I could find in an otherwise pleasant flight. Relieving my bladder off of its strains, I decided to look around a bit - yup! There were some amenities, including dental kits, combs, etc. and the usual cologne and lotion, shop, etc. Shaving kit. There was just one. I took it obviously Laughing





A Sri Lankan tamil (or India..?) with a Singaporean Passport took seat 36C. And yeah, he looked like someone who flew Singapore Airlines very frequently! He kept his KrisFlyer (?) card out, so I knew…
Again, usual stuff such as menu card distribution and hot towel service followed. SQ formality.


Sumantra sir, your question has now been answered Smile



F1 themed duty free catalogue. How much I wanted ALL of the products!

DEPARTURE
Usual flight deck announcements and the crew welcoming us onboard were done. Departure? 2253 hours, pushback. 2 minutes before time! Smile
A beautiful hymn followed, more commonly known as the start up sound of the RR Trent 700 engines Smile There was some weird sound….something along the lines of the rattling sound of a cricket…weird how even natural sounds can be heard inside planes, which are, lets face it, some of the most polluting modes of transport around the world!


Like departure from SIN to HKG, we taxied quite a distance to runway 20C….yeah, not as long as SQ856’s taxi! This didn’t take too long thankfully, and pretty much a non-stop taxi, no holding short! Very Happy
A powerful take off followed, as we took off towards the south, which was followed by a long way round turn to the west. Yes, that also included flying above the airport! I got some pictures, not too good though. Oh well, it was the night, I’m excused! Razz



Changi Airport right below! And a not so clear picture of T2!



Soon, all the lights of Singapore had disappeared. We were now above the clouds, seat belt sign off at 10k feet. A final flight on Singapore Airlines was now.

IN FLIGHT
I think I forgot to mention (I did forget to mention), I used the power port to charge my phone, while my co-pax used the USB to charge his. Both worked. Mine was down to 8%, and by the time we were in the air, it was up to 80 odd percent. Pretty decent power supply!
I got my drink, this time an orange juice, at 2326 SGT, accompanied with a pack of peanuts. Where have you been all this time?! I also worked on the TR.



Speaking of which. Space.
The A330 is a comfortable aircraft. It truly is. But then, if you just step into an A330 after an A380 flight, that too on the upper deck….well, you feel the crunch. Yes people. I was now an A380-spolit brat. I missed the stowage bin beside me. It was a cramped feeling with all the bags around Sad
I also kept an eye on the IFE system…airshow, specifically. This time, STS was consistently above 900km/h while cruising at 38000 feet.

Dinner was served at 2345 SGT. I went for the fish option. Since this was a tier 2 city flight, the tray was much smaller, but the portion sizes were more or less the same, giving a much more ‘filled with food’ feel on the tray!
The salad was once again outstanding! Nice succulent sliced chicken mortadella, fresh veggies (including cherry tomatoes), and a nice sauce to go along with it.
Main course? Dear oh dear, what I can say? Amazing juicy piece of fish, nice tangy mustard sauce, not overpowering or overly pungent, vegetables were done JUST the way I like it! Yes, I guess the veggies on SQ861 was a one off then…. And there was enough gravy to mix with the spaghetti, which was, as you’d expect, delicious! Well done to SQ for another fantastic meal!
The dessert? Again, amazing balance of sweet and taste, not overly filling, light and healthy!

Choices for supper tonight! Smile






A word about the FA serving us - he was a slightly more experienced man, compared to the others. He took great care of his passengers. He offered a hot beverage while serving the meal trays, something which did not happen on the other flights. He kept offering top ups for drinks, which did happen on the other flights, but without the personal touch he had. He also switched off my PTV monitor when I fell asleep as the meal trays were collected…yes that woke me up a bit, for which he apologized profusely! Clearly, Singapore Airlines had left the best for the end….just when I decided to sleep it off, mostly.

ARRIVAL
The brightness of the lights being turned on woke me up, as the Captain said something over the PA system…I was too sleepy as you can see. One FA went down the aisle serving juices, water, etc. Again, that didn’t happen in any of the 3 flights previously.
A smooth touchdown at 2355 IST, it was a short taxi towards the gate. I was drifting in and out of sleep, but I was, obviously, mostly on the awake side. Bid my friend adieu, while the crew gave us warm goodbyes. My experience with Singapore Airlines had come to an end. And boy was I smiling at the end of it all!


The only Golden Swan among the many peacocks. Singapore Airlines, you've won my heart. Thank you for such an amazing experience, and obviously, finally giving me my much awaited A380 flight! Very Happy

Immigration…well. To sum it up: long line, slow dude working on the visas, taking his time chatting with others, giving priority to the white people, smiling at them while they walked away (and not working on the computer, wasting 20s on average), frown on his face rather than the annoying smile when he saw my Indian passport. Oh, Hong Kong and Taipei felt like a dream in a land far far way, all of a sudden. Total time in line with that idiot at the helm? 45 minutes. I won’t be saying much, I could rant on and on…..

Bags were already there, thanks to the annoying immigration guy. Took a cab, and back home we were…..the trip had concluded, and it was time to go back to normal life.

SUMMARY
And on to the summary then.
Singapore Airlines delivered, no doubting it. But there were somethings which perhaps didn’t match up my expectations: all the flights had aesthetic marks all over, slightly dirty washroom on SQ469, generally sorry state (for an A380) of interior on SQ856, food messed up on SQ861, and the stinky washroom on SQ468. Other than these, the crew too, didn’t have the generally warm feeling, expect the last flight, of course. But then again, its hard for me to find any other faults and generally, I can term then as a fantastic airline! Nimish sir was right - these flights aren’t long enough to experience the legendary SQ service - the long EK flights to and from South Africa is the reason why I fell in love with EK. Since I haven’t flown long haul on SQ, I will reserve my judgement as to whom are better - SQ or EK. They’re both brilliant in both their ways, and I’m a happy camper after experiencing it all Smile

EVA Air though, was a surprise. Like AI or UL, I had my expectations low for these flights. But they surprised me with some quality service, decent crew, maintained aircraft (for 17-18 y/o birds!), smooth on ground services, etc. Like UL in SL and OW, BR in Taiwan and *A is one of those secrets which might pleasantly surprise you! And honestly, you won’t get any other airline other than BR who’d offer a combination of a MD90 and B747 combi from point A to B, and back to A. Check anywhere, this deal is RARE!

The aircraft…the A330 is as always, a generally comfortable aircraft…but oh my the A380 is something! Quiet, more comfortable, spacious! What more can one ask for on a ULH flight? All desperate attempts, including a failed plan to go CMB-DXB-JED to get the A380, were finally paid off! Its truly a glamorous piece of engineering. Speaking of glamorous, I must not overlook the fact that…the B747, is one heck of an amazing aircraft. Noisy on take off, yet so quiet in the cruise…this bird had some classy signs written all over it! And this is the original Jumbo bird, the A380 is just a new entrant. From what I know, BR’s B74E’s are going to have their last flights sometime in Jan 2015, so I’m glad to have gotten this out of the way Smile

MD90? I’m just glad to have logged in a McDonnell Douglas aircraft! I never knew I’d be on one..ever, in my life! Its a very smooth narrow body aircraft, and like the 747, soon disappearing. Obviously, being in front of the engines obviously meant that the overall flight experience is quieter!


For Hong Kong and Taipei, they are two very contrasting cities: one’s bustling with people, while another is calm with everyone smiling and willing to help. Its hard to draw comparisons, but these two cities, especially Taipei, are a pair which I would rate highly. Although, I am quite taken aback looking at what's been happening in Hong Kong off recent - the protests started exactly a month after I left Hong Kong! I do hope everything becomes fine soon....

A few tips I’d like to share:
-If there is a choice: A380 upper deck ANY DAY! Its a blessing, trust me. Its amazing, the amount of space you have!
-Leave your passports in the hotel only. Seriously. Rolling Eyes (for HK and Taiwan)
-Take a day time flight into TPE. The bus/HSR option is more cheaper.
-You need at least a week to experience Taiwan, all of it. I suggest an integration with the High Speed Rail. That helps a lot!
-U.S. Residents - its a visa exempt country for you! Very Happy
-Hong Kong airport. Anything more than 3 people, take the cab. There is a significant difference. Otherwise, the airport express would make more sense for 2 people, or less.
-Do not use the cab so much…they could be rude.
-On the other hand, while expensive, cabs in Taipei are the complete opposite!
-Octopus card. This saves your life. You can use it for almost anything and everything in Hong Kong!
-Be at the airport (HKG) well before check in: the SkyDeck is something else…..
-….or just stay at the Regal Airport Hotel for a night! Very Happy

THE NEXT TRIP?
Yup, I do have a next trip to announce Smile
Once again, I have pulled out something completely insane and unorthodox - 4 flights on 4 airlines between colombo and Bengaluru! (And 4 different aircraft, one of them with 4 engines!)
Flight details are:
UL121 CMB MAA 0710 0840 24OCT A343
9W2354 MAA BLR 1110 1200 24OCT B738 (finally, the Boeing 737!)
I51217 BLR MAA 1835 1935 25OCT A320
SG001 MAA CMB 0100 0220 26OCT DH8
The bold parts indicate new aircraft type or airline Smile

Will I be writing a TR? Yes, but with cut backs. This HKG TR has a lot which I did not write about, the next one will have a visibly significant cut back, due to time constrains.

Till then!
This is Jishnu signing off from the widest TR yet

Regards

THE OTHER TRIP REPORTS!
2014
Voyage scolaire: Paris pour une semaine avec SriLankan!
Mumbai with my mates: madness multiplying massacre?!

2013
2 A's and an A - beloved Bangalore, cheery in Chennai!
Jaw-rattling to joyful Jaffna!
Dreamy Diversion to Delhi: Mumbai, here I come!
Finishing off Singapore: Comprehensively Contrasting Cathay!

2012
Kolkata during the Durga Puja
Quick quick! Formula One in Singapore!
I'm coming home! (Flight 4 of 4).
I'm coming home! (Flight 3 of 4).
I'm coming home! (Flight 2 of 4)
I'm coming home! (Intro and flight 1 of 4)
Emirates to South Africa! (4/4)
Emirates to South Africa! (3/4)
12 days in South Africa. And a flight with Kulula.
Emirates to South Africa! (2/4)
Emirates to South Africa! (1/4)

2011
An International Transit with 9W: BOM-MAA-CMB
They know how to be brilliant! 9W BOM-CMB-BOM (Okay, maybe not anymore Rolling Eyes)
Konnecting to Bhubaneshwar
16 Hours in Colombo
Mumbai-Colombo-Mumbai on Jet Airways
Nagpur (not its oranges) on Jetlite
North Bengal (And CCU) 54 pictures & few videos (9W/IT)

2010
Kolkata during the Durga Puja (2010)
International on Jet Airways: Hong Kong! (2010)
Brainstorming! CCU-BOM (via BBI & HYD) on S2 & 6E
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
rakesh959
Member


Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Posts: 58
Location: Chennai

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome Tr Jish!Enoyed reading it!So SQ is almost quite consistent in their service and prove why they are one of the best in the business.And did u get any chance to interact with the flight deck crew on any of the flights on this trip?Once again Very good writing and looking forward to your home coming I5 and SG TRs because I have read a lot of 9w and UL TRs from You Razz
Cheers!
Rakesh.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

An all-too-usual flash of brilliance from you, Sir!
- Your new precis-style introduction is beautiful, with helpful links being subtle, as opposed to my garrulous in-the-face ones, for instance
- Oh now-a-days, they do not allow gate photography at SIN: this is unfortunate. In my pre-Indian photography time (2002, 2004) visits, I had a gala time at the SIN gates.
- What is this deep-cleaning flower power thing? It cleans to the bone? That is a bit scary. Flower-scented Sulphuric acid?
- The SIN Stanley Kubrik-styled carpet (The Shining'). Many on this forum do not like carpets, though I like the DEL T3 and BOM T2 ones.
- The `dance ritual': all-too-familiar for me as well. At all places.
- Nice: a welcome by name, and a relatively stocked washroom.
- Hmm...why do SQ have the power-port on the arm-rest, of all places? The usual bone of contention between passengers. The arm rest also goes up and down. While it is better to have it passenger-side rather than the seat-back side (which inconveniences passengers trying to cross across), among all choices, I find AI's under-the-seat to be relatively ok, with the only disadvantage being a slightly loose adapter, which may come out, and not be exactly convenient to put back in again, in the darkness, for instance. Further, in the armrest: does this mean one for a pair of passengers, or one per passenger? It seems to be the former, since you said that your neighbour took the USB port. AI scores over this in its Dream)liners: every passenger gets a power-port. The AI 777s have one shared between a pair of passengers.
- The food description was awesome, and has got me hungry, as usual!
- SQ's service was also wonderful, with the small personal touches, which give it a stellar reputation, as compared to the unfortunately a bit more usual robotic one.
- `golden swan among the peacocks': lovely description!
- Interesting set of tips at the end!
Thanks a lot for putting it in, in spite of your time constraints, we really appreciate this! The next four trips sound exciting...thanks for promising a TR, and all the best for this short trip!
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ameya
Member


Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 3671
Location: Pune,Maharashtra

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 11:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Awesome end to your trip Jishnu.

Some great food by SQ. A well stocked washroom is such a rare thing in Y now. WOnder how many airlines have this apart from SQ?

Looking forward to your India trip TR and the I5 experience! Hope I get to try the DH8 and I5 after you, like it happened with the MD80 Smile
_________________
www.networkthoughts.com
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Spiderguy252
Member


Joined: 10 Aug 2007
Posts: 4259
Location: Indian Ocean

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great closer to your trip to the East, and some top night shots too.

Did you mention that the FAs greeted everybody by name in Y? That's a nice touch.
_________________
Yeah.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Nimish
Member


Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 4:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What a super last sector - glad that SQ was able to showcase it's service as well as it's hardware!

The Immigration at CMB sounds horrible - I should check with my friends who regularly fly into CMB whether they face the same "discrimination"...
_________________
We miss you Nalini!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Spiderguy252 wrote:
Did you mention that the FAs greeted everybody by name in Y? That's a nice touch.
Varun, did I mention that FAs actually want to call me names, after seeing me attack the food trays? Razz
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey all, thank you so much for your replies! Very Happy
And rather quick, that too.
So I guess this new format works perfectly and is appealing to you all!

Rakesh, been a while since I've heard from you! Unfortunately, I did not get time to do interact with the crew (both cockpit and cabin), but either way, SQ is known to be quite strict with policies, so meeting the cockpit crew almost always seems like a long shot. Again, thank you for comment, but my last 4 of 6 flights on UL were on school trips, so I had no say in that choice, hehe Razz I chose UL this once again for the sole reason of an A340 flight Smile
Thanks for reading! Very Happy

Sumantra sir, thank you ever so much for going through this TR in such high detail! Very Happy
-Hah, well I do not think that necessarily is an in-the-face thing, your precise formatting ensures that the links fit in just perfectly!
-No photography in SIN? Hmm, I went there thrice in 1.5 years (2012, for the grand prix, 2013 with the parents and 2014, this trip), and all three times I had absolutely no issues with gate photography. While in 2013 and 2014, Dad and I had no issues and went berserk clicking photographs in the beautiful night light, in 2012 I went to the extent of changing my lenses, to a big telephoto and I had no issue with that, either! I'll compile these pictures for you to see on Picasa soon Smile
-From what I understand, the deep cleaning flower power thing is something to do with skin and pores, cleaning them really well. Its been portrayed in a very scary way, no doubt!
-Sir, I completely agree about the power port thing. Having it on the arm rest is a big disadvantage: not only does ONE passenger get it, it also blocks the way for the passenger away from the aisle! Cathay's new product have the power ports on the seat back itself, that perhaps is a winner, as well. And yes, 1 port for 2 passengers, thank God none of us a laptop which was out battery during the flight! So the USB worked just fine. I hope SQ have looked into this matter and rectified it in their newest product.
-SQ's greatest asset, as a whole, is their entire Y product. The class which is mostly used by everyone. And since passengers are treated extremely well there, SQ have a winning formula. And its pretty consistent, too!
Once again, thank you so much for your reply! Very Happy

Ameya sir
Thank you for your reply!
I honestly do not know which other airline(s) in this world would have such a well stocked washroom, especially for a Tier-2 city flight! EK perhaps? QR, VS? EY, with some 9W stuff thrown in here and there? Wink
Haha, great observation! Glad that my MD90 flight triggered an MD80 flight for you! Razz And I do hope you get on I5 or the DH8 soon, we know the latter might not be here for very long, hope it works out well for them Sad
Again, thank you for your reply! Very Happy

Varun, great to hear from you! Very Happy
Thank you for word kind words! Smile
Yes, names-greeting in Y class. Just to confirm, J class is only between door 1 and door 2. So all Y class passengers boarded from door 2 and were greeted by the crew, so that definitely was top stuff from SQ!
Looking forward to catching up with you, soon! Smile

Nimish sir,
Thank you for your lovely words! Very Happy
I had my expectations quite high after you mentioned on the WhatsApp group 2-3 times about 'SQ's legendary service'. Boy did they live up to that!
Do ask them about their CMB experiences - stuff like this has only mostly happened when a) lines are long and b) late night and / or wee hours in the morning. Oh well!

Sumantra sir again,
I think the crew on my return A380 flight called me names because I lost count as to how many times I asked them to get me oolong tea and / or soya milk! Very Happy

Thank you all so much for this positive response!
I have began working on the 4 part TR already, so do stay tuned!

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sumantra wrote:
Oh now-a-days, they do not allow gate photography at SIN: this is unfortunate. In my pre-Indian photography time (2002, 2004) visits, I had a gala time at the SIN gates.

Sir,
I have complied a set of pictures (apologies for the 2012 ones, I concede those are bad beyond acceptance!) from 2012-14, right from the gate itself. No one stopped either Dad or I Smile
But then again, I'm very surprised: why would SIN of all places not allow gate photography? Sad

Here goes: https://picasaweb.google.com/103606304914185982181/SINTerminalPics?authkey=Gv1sRgCNCZoO3Cse_l6AE

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:
But then again, I'm very surprised: why would SIN of all places not allow gate photography?
Sir, it is my misunderstanding of what you wrote, I apologise. Thanks for this wonderful set of pictures: they have come out really well, and all this is after dark. I have never seen Changi after dark, my flights on the then Indian Airlines and PM-AIr India were well in the day time, and apart from the usual rain, the planes around were a sight to behold. We all look forward to the 4-part TR. Already.
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Mon Oct 13, 2014 10:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sumantra wrote:
Sir, it is my misunderstanding of what you wrote, I apologise.

Come on, sir! No worries Smile

sumantra wrote:
I have never seen Changi after dark, my flights on the then Indian Airlines and PM-AIr India were well in the day time, and apart from the usual rain, the planes around were a sight to behold.

Did you get to fly on the AI A310s on this route? Dad sent me a picture (from 2007), before his 9W flight back to BOM, of an AI A310 during the day time. The windows looked WOW! Sad that these once work horses are no more Sad

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hey all, I uploaded the videos for this flight, and with that, it brings this TR to a close Smile

Start up (RR's have not sounded more beautiful to me Smile )
Take off (Too bad I didn't get the RR roar Sad )
Arrival

Also, do note the cricket-y sounds at times, it really was strange, that rattle!

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
me111993
Member


Joined: 04 Sep 2009
Posts: 3225
Location: MAA/AMD

PostPosted: Sun Oct 19, 2014 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

superb set of TRs and pics Jishnu, really well compiled.

As mentioned earlier, top night shots on this one.

Cheers for sharing.

Rishul.
_________________
Causal Determinism : We are hardwired to need answers. The Caveman who heard a rustle in the bushes and checked out to see what it was, lived longer than the guy, who assumed it was just a breeze.

- Greg House
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website Yahoo Messenger
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Mon Oct 20, 2014 8:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you so much for your reply, Rishul!
I hope you enjoyed reading them all Very Happy

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
avbuff
Member


Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 5031

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very nice TR once again..... aught up on all your recent TRs...

SQ and Changi never fail to impress me.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 7:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

avbuff wrote:
Very nice TR once again..... aught up on all your recent TRs...

SQ and Changi never fail to impress me.

Ojas, I really appreciate the fact that you took time off of your busy schedule and read all of my Trip Reports in one go! Very Happy

True about Changi - I remember reading your BG DC10 TR and your wide praise for SIN! And yes, SQ clearly are one of the market leaders today, with exceptional service and a functioning hub providing connections at different times of the day, similar characteristics to that of EK, of course!

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sri_bom
Member


Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 2365
Location: Singapore

PostPosted: Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great final TR to your long journey to SEA and good to know SQ did an exceptionally good job.

Unfortunate that immigration officers Discriminate based on the passport, their job is to welcome every guest into the country.

Look forawrd to more TR's from you.

Sri_Bom
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Yahoo Messenger MSN Messenger
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sri_bom wrote:
Great final TR to your long journey to SEA and good to know SQ did an exceptionally good job.

Thanks Sri! Yes, 4 hour long flights are nothing really, but really, all it takes 4 hours to get from one culture to another, its amazing. But also, 4 hours felt like so long here! Surprised

sri_bom wrote:
Unfortunate that immigration officers Discriminate based on the passport, their job is to welcome every guest into the country.

According to this person here, sadly, not the Indians but everyone else. Oh well, I hope to make the most of the last few months here, and really, I'm sort of starting to like it Smile

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Wed Nov 12, 2014 2:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:
Did you get to fly on the AI A310s on this route? Dad sent me a picture (from 2007), before his 9W flight back to BOM, of an AI A310 during the day time. The windows looked WOW!
Actually Sir, I did! I did the AI 447 - AI 442 on the BOM-HYD-BKK-SIN and SIN-KUL-MAA-BOM route in 2004. `Tungabhadra' (in fair condition) and `Saraswati' (the less said about it, the better). The `tubbies' earned far more revenue than the competing B767 due to their greater cargo space (and yes, the cabin also went upwards towards the back). Those Hawa Mahal-inspired windows were simply awesome. The three arches made way for the current simplistic trends with the single-arch: this is one part of the old livery I really miss, in addition to the double cheat lines around the windows. A few tubbies made it to the new livery as passenger versions, and the tails looked awesome.
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 7:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote



I must say, the A310s looked amazing in the new colors, as well!
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:
I must say, the A310s looked amazing in the new colors, as well!
Wow, is this from your Papa's archives? He got the rare all-white A310...was it `Luni', by any chance? And is this Changi?
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, I didn't this was one of the rare all-white birds! Very Happy Always trust you to come up with these superb observations! Very Happy

Yes, this is Changi, but I'm not sure about the name...I think it is Luni, but I can't be sure.
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:
Wow, I didn't this was one of the rare all-white birds!
I do remember catching the elusive rare all-white IC A300 at MAA as well in 2004, in addition to `Luni' at BOM: though I am not that sure about the latter, since those pictures are somewhere at my parents' place. I was really excited about getting the former, and that too, in the initial pax-photography-allowed days in India. I had a Minolta P&S then.
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 9:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds really good, sir!
Always great to have these gems!

I remember glancing through a very detailed PDF format of the AI A310 seat map..apparently there was some 'dog cage' or some sort just behind the J cabin, do you know what that was?

Regards
Jish
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Thu Nov 13, 2014 10:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:
I remember glancing through a very detailed PDF format of the AI A310 seat map..apparently there was some 'dog cage' or some sort just behind the J cabin, do you know what that was?
Sir, I have no idea about the object that was the bone of contention: I make no bones of the fact that I have been fortunate enough to have a J experience only twice, and have never even caught sight of the AI A310 and B744 J cabins. Do you have the PDF seat map, Sir? I remember that AI had detailed PDFs of the aircraft interiors in those times.
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 8:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.iflybusiness.com/airline-seat-maps/air-india-business-class-seat-map.html

Have a look at the second one in the legend, it says 'Dog House', but the low resolution means that it isn't very clear, and perhaps you can't find it on the seat map Sad
Who knows, maybe these A310s were once with SQ? Smile
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
sumantra
Member


Joined: 28 Oct 2007
Posts: 4685
Location: New Delhi

PostPosted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

jbalonso777 wrote:
Who knows, maybe these A310s were once with SQ?
Beats me...I will ask some of my acquaintances who have flown the `tubbies' more than I have, and perhaps in J as well. Many of them were ex-SQ. At one time. AI was the largest operator of the A310, with 19 planes in service, most of them second-hand. I think AI had 24 of them in all, at different points of time. The Airbus site had listed this fact (the 19 at one time), and the pre-merger Air India website had listed those 19, along with their registration numbers, and names. Sean Mendis's site gives a comprehensive description as well: http://www.airwhiners.net/whine_cheez/aifleet.htm
Cheers, Sumantra.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
jbalonso777
Member


Joined: 05 Jul 2012
Posts: 1501
Location: Never, never land

PostPosted: Sat Nov 15, 2014 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great link, thanks for sharing!
And of course, thanks for sharing your amazing knowledge with us, especially of the now gone A310!

Looking at the registrations: 9V-ST* series used to be for the SQ A310s, and now they are for the A330-300s. 9V-STV and 9V-STS were the two A330s which took me to and from Singapore, but back in the day, they were A310s!
_________________
http://www.youtube.com/c/JishnuBasu777
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Airliners-India.com Forum Index -> Trip Reports All times are GMT + 5.5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com