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Singapore Airlines - Sin-Bom-Sin Trip Report

 
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sri_bom
Member


Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 2365
Location: Singapore

PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:47 am    Post subject: Singapore Airlines - Sin-Bom-Sin Trip Report Reply with quote

Trip route:
Singapore – Bombay - Singapore
Airline – Singapore Airlines
Flight no. SQ 422/SQ421 Dep: 7:40/11:50
Date: December 8th/25th
Aircraft type – Boeing 777-300
Flight duration – 5 Hours

Background Info:
For my vacation, I decided to take the SQ flight back home. I had heard a lot of horror stories from my friends about Air-India flights being cancelled. Hence did not opt for it although that’s the cheapest way to fly. Although originally I had booked a window seat, I had to exchange seats as one of the families had 2 kids sitting besides me and the mother made a request to switch from my window to the middle seat in the middle row. Normally I don’t like to give up my window seat, but decided to do a “selfless” deed this time; hence no tarmac photo.

I arrived at Changi airport 2 hours before departure at Terminal 2. Departures for economy start from row 4 onwards including self check-in. As I had checked in on the internet I used gate 4, but does not matter which gate you take, as once you are inside the distances are not that far apart.

Photo – Gates

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2186383159_3b0dcb1a72.jpg?v=0


The queue for the internet check-in was not that long as compared to the general queues but still had to wait about 10 minutes. I think its time that they open more internet check in counters as a lot of people now days check in from home. In fact, I recall the internet check in queues were much longer then the general one.

Photo – Check In

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/2186383079_a57f6ac985.jpg?v=0

Changi does have self a check in Kiosk. But if you have luggage, it could be a problem. There is a signage indicating that the weighing scales are not operational and one needs to check in at the counter.

Photo – Self Automated Check in Machine

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2187166448_5ca7d74e4c.jpg?v=0

Photo – Weighing Scale not in use

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2187166570_0420c06ba4.jpg?v=0


As it was around Christmas time, the entire airport was decked up for the festive season. Although Singapore is still predominantly a Buddhist majority country all religious festivals like Diwali, Ramzan & Christmas are celebrated with equal fervor.

Christmas @ Changi

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2224/2186383267_8bb8191736.jpg?v=0


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2285/2187167040_47fa3fbb45.jpg?v=0


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2186383505_641f785c27.jpg?v=0


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2186383623_944d5ec838.jpg?v=0


I did try to go to the viewing gallery to click a few quick snaps but at T2 you only get to see SQ birds. Besides, it was still a bit dark hence did not try clicking any photos.

Since boarding commenced for my flight, I made my way to the gate:

Flight Status

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Boarding was quick and the doors were shut once all passengers were on board. The usual hot towel and head phones handed to us and the safety video was played. As there was no queue ahead of us, we quickly taxied and made a very fast roll on the runway and were up in the air within 25 seconds of our roll.

The aircraft also was decorated for the festive season

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2187167922_e91c4783e2.jpg?v=0




Since this was an early morning flight, only juice was being offered after the seat belt signs were turned off. Although alcohol was available on demand, I guess nobody feels like having alcohol first thing in the morning. The crew came around with the drinks service and also distributed the menu.

Menu

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I did observe someone in the forum commenting about the SOP for vegetarian meals on SQ flights for India where they treat it as a special meal and there by service being poor as 70% of the people prefer Vegetarian meals but it is not served via the food cart.

SQ has now changed their SOP as I guess someone from SIA is reading our forums. As I am a vegetarian, no special meal sticker was stuck on my seat. Only those seats whose passengers had ordered western, child or Hindu meal were stuck with the special meal stickers. My vegetarian meal came of the cart.

The breakfast came to me almost after 2 hours after departure. Don’t know whether this had to do anything with my seat position. Anwyas, the meal was quite tasty and consisted of one Vada with Chole and Paneer gravy & 2 paratha. Although I never understand this north-south fusion, I was famished and so just enjoyed the good food. I also think SQ needs to change their menu as I remember having the same food when I flew on the Bom-Sin route in June.

Breakfast:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2094/2186383853_289fa33987.jpg?v=0

The menu had listed Masal Chai as one of the drinks, hence decided to give it a shot. I must say that although not exactly like your dhaba style chai, it was not bad either and its nice to have a masala chai option at 34,000 feet & I will try it again if fly to India. Of course the stewardess took 20 minutes to get back to me with my masala chai as she had run out of it.

I did manage to catch up with 2 movies - The Bourne Identity and Sivaji for which SQ has got special rights. Although not a great fan of Tamil movies, I did enjoy Rajnikant’s younger look along with his new antics and style of throwing the mint (instead of a cigarette) in his mouth:

Screen Shot Sivaji:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/2187167838_3ac41e1f95.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2318/2187167994_0e6f3a90c0.jpg?v=0

Soon the captain announced that we were somewhere over Pune and that he would be commencing descent shortly & hence asked the crew to prepare the cabin for arrival.

Overall a pleasant experience flying SQ as always, in spite of my masala chai taking a good 20 minutes to arrive. Although I am not a fussy traveler, but SQ being a premium expect certain standards from a premium airline like SIA. After all, they charge super premium fares, so one does not expect even a single slip in service.

Immigration was a breeze in Bombay and I was quite impressed. But luggage took a good bit of time to arrive. Also incidentally this time the customs people were randomly asking people to put their bags through the X-ray. Luckily for me, he just waved me away, which was good as I find it is a back breaking exercise to put your heavy luggage in through the X-ray. Not sure whether this is a new process or the X-ray machine was down.

My return trip from Bombay to Singapore was on Christmas day and similar to my earlier experience hence nothing much to write about. The entire airport is under renovation, hence did not feel like taking any snaps. Unfortunately in Bombay SQ does not have a special counter for internet check-in passengers, so find it of no use if you do internet check-in as you have to wait in the normal queue. Anyways while waiting for our turn to check in one of the ground staff sporting a Santa cap gave us a small box of Taj chocolates consisting of Mazaripans & dark Chocolate, which was quite good.

As on my return journey I was traveling with my wife we had booked the 2 seater seat options the so called “couple seat” which I think is quite convenient if only 2 people are traveling together.

Photo:

Muruku with my Bacardi and coke.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2186383949_8995b9cc2d.jpg?v=0

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/2186384031_6a22cc7397.jpg?v=0

Photo:

Lunch

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2246/2187166162_61caa25bf9.jpg?v=0

This lunch was very tasty, and liked the part where the yoghurt was fresh with cucumber pieces rather then the regular Swiss/Nestle yoghurt that one gets on the regular flights.

Although my wife had initially ordered Indian Vegetarian meal (as she prefers vegetarian food), she suddenly decided to give the international meal a try. It consisted of chicken and vegetables in white sauce. She found the chicken meat tough and the sauce rather tasteless. She had seen a passenger on a previous flight from SIN being served a black forest cake for desert and was hoping for the same. Instead desert consisted of an extremely disappointing and unimaginative chocolate cake. She spent most of he time eyeing my food and suffice to say will not be ordering an international meal next time. It could be that international meal selection may be much better from Singapore then in India, just as the Indian vegetarian meal tastes better from India then Singapore.

That’s it, will come back with more trip reports as I travel. In the meantime please do let me have your comments and views.

Sri_Bom
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Megatop
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Joined: 14 Feb 2007
Posts: 257
Location: Bangalore

PostPosted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

NICE TR ! a pleasure to read; i waited for it since ur sked in the pinup sec.

good SQ flts as usual. now with the competition heating up, SQ cannot afford blunders on india sectors; i'vent heard of any illperforming flt on the BLR-SIN runs though. occasionally, BOM & CCU seem nasty more towards the front cabins.

how was the crew as most of the complaints seem to stem from them, & the load.

'Normally I don’t like to give up my window seat, but decided to do a “selfless” deed this time'

hard to give up an allocated window seat.

'I did try to go to the viewing gallery to click a few quick snaps but at T2 you only get to see SQ birds. Besides, it was still a bit dark hence did not try clicking any photos.'

strange but SQ's first morning flt from changi is SQ 500 to BLR at 6:45 am, in contrast with the indian metros where deps start at 5 am.

'Although Singapore is still predominantly a Buddhist majority country all religious festivals like Diwali, Ramzan & Christmas are celebrated with equal fervor.'


i presume diwali in SIN is restricted to little india, nothing compared to dec 25 (but for the day off on diwali); also goes with the asians' tendency to go all out to please caucasians.

'I did observe someone in the forum commenting about the SOP for vegetarian meals on SQ flights for India where they treat it as a special meal and there by service being poor as 70% of the people prefer Vegetarian meals but it is not served via the food cart.'

imro, SQ has the best indian veg options. many transatlantic flts repeat the same stuff over again even on connecting flts. atleast SQ menu varies on sectors. for instance i ate the same palak thrice on an LH bos-fra-blr leg.

also imo, only SQ has an IVML as among the standard menu options on non india flts (SIN-SFO/LAX) owing to the large veg meal requests.

' The breakfast came to me almost after 2 hours after departure. Don’t know whether this had to do anything with my seat position.'

a meal 2 hrs into flt is quite late, a way to kill time?

'Although I never understand this north-south fusion, I was famished and so just enjoyed the good food'

no fusion on MAA flts, BLR gets more of south indian & i guess DEL gets pure punjabi stuff.

'Indian vegetarian meal tastes better from India then Singapore'

agreed, SQ's indian meals in Y get a thumbs up over the other choices (atleast from SFO). no reason to ask for the veg thing from the special meals section.
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Nimish
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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 9757
Location: Bangalore, India

PostPosted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great TR - and good pictures as well!
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stealthpilot
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Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 2325
Location: BLR, DXB

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice pics, the food looks good!
Any pics of the a/c?
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sri_bom
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Joined: 22 Dec 2006
Posts: 2365
Location: Singapore

PostPosted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 3:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you all for the reply unfortunately no photo's of the aircraft:

how was the crew as most of the complaints seem to stem from them, & the load.

Most of the crew were OK but found 1 or two bit struggling with the work load as flight was full.

strange but SQ's first morning flt from changi is SQ 500 to BLR at 6:45 am, in contrast with the indian metros where deps start at 5 am

Agree but sky was overcast hence dark

presume diwali in SIN is restricted to little india, nothing compared to dec 25 (but for the day off on diwali); also goes with the asians' tendency to go all out to please caucasians.

Yes agree, I guess its more to do with the colonial hangover
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