Singapore via anywhere

[OzEire]

First trip report, be kind yadda yadda...

Rough outline is OzEire +1, CBR to SIN for 4 days in December. Dates were mostly fixed as we were meeting two others flying in from Europe enroute to MEL and we agreed to stop over with them... sure we could have spent a few days with them in Melbourne but this is AFF !

Title refers to my booking made only days before SQ announced the direct "capital connect" service, so we had to via somewhere, and I had spent quite a while researching CBR-SIN via anywhere! Along with all of the usual suspects on the East coast, I compared (price and SCs) ADL, PER, DRW, AKL (almost got an EK 380 F deal on the way back), HKT, DPS, HKG... Then slapped myself back to reality and booked QF J via MEL.... Don't judge me I had a DSC.

 

[OzEire]

So, before I depart, is it ok to begin a TR with a few questions?

As a QF WP I would like to access the MEL F lounge with +1 ... I'm fairly sure this is ok but my question is whether I can use an F check in at MEL, and is this available kerb side? Or am I thinking of SYD ?

How early can/should we check in for QF 35 @ 1220 ?

We are staying the night prior at the Sofitel (Accor Plat, club room) so breakfast in Collins St or lounge ? Ps this is after dinner at one of the Masterchef host's restaurant so may want a light start!

I'm not fussed about a lounge treatment but would love to treat +1, any tips?

 

[Princess Fiona]

So, before I depart, is it ok to begin a TR with a few questions?

As a QF WP I would like to access the MEL F lounge with +1 ... I'm fairly sure this is ok but my question is whether I can use an F check in at MEL, and is this available kerb side? Or am I thinking of SYD ?

How early can/should we check in for QF 35 @ 1220 ?

We are staying the night prior at the Sofitel (Accor Plat, club room) so breakfast in Collins St or lounge ? Ps this is after dinner at one of the Masterchef host's restaurant so may want a light start!
It's
I'm not fussed about a lounge treatment but would love to treat +1, any tips?

You can access the MEL F check-in with your partner. It's actually situated on the outside wall of the Int terminal, look for the red velvet rope on the departures level footpath. You should be able to check in at least 3 hours prior to QF35. The Spa closes at 11.30 and re-opens in the evening. F Pax get first dibs on appointments booked the day before but ask as soon as you get into the lounge and your partner may get lucky. I've never been lucky on getting one on the day but plenty of others here have.
My favourite breakfast is the corn fritters with avocado and bacon. Champagne is available although probably not listed on the menu these days.
Enjoy
looking forward to the TR

 

[OzEire]

Thanks Princess Fiona, much appreciated.

So our trip started today, a few photos will follow from the phone but I thought it would be easier to start the TR writing on the PC (in the Sofitel Club Lounge, spoilers !).

Beautiful morning in Canberra as we pulled up at CBR to begin our journey. Amazingly we only had a single bag to check (I say amazing because I would have travelled with HLO but OzEire+1 does not HLO abroad !). Taking our seats 2A and 2C on QF811 I noticed the old livery (the gold strip running down the leading edge of the tail, and the less stylised roo). An un-refurbed 737 with the maroon seats and overhead IFE (ye gads! first world problems), but J is always enjoyable for the legroom and service.

Once OzEiress had her Grant Burge bubbles in hand we enjoyed a very smooth trip to MEL, departing and arriving on time, with a bit of an odd breakfast offering in-between. Photo to follow, but in short, it was a toasted sandwich with minced beef inside… not quite what I had hoped for. OzEiress passed, I sampled, noting to write home about, I might find this appetising after a big night out (on the night or morning after) but not something I would seek out for a nice breakfast.

Arrived at MEL and the bags were very slow to appear (another plug for HLO) and several QF811 pax approached the baggage services it took so long, but eventually our luggage appeared and we were off to the ParkRoyal to meet our UberX that had been illegally booked from a starting point about 2km outside the airport precinct, but I contacted and asked the driver to come and pick us up - he was happy to oblige. The driver made a detour into the airport BP (not happy at his lack of planning, but glad we didn't run empty on the Tulla). I have mixed feelings about Uber these days… some here may know I have been a big supporter in the past, an early adopter and big fan early on, but the cowboys getting decent ratings these days baffle me… this guy was just under 4.9 rating but the car was pretty poor and he seemed put out that we had disturbed his plans to hit the gym, and then there was the petrol stop. I guess the UberBlack would have been the option but twice the price. Lesson learned.

Arrived at the Sofitel at the "paris" end of Collins Street (marketing at its finest). Our Uber genius insisted he knew best, against my instructions, so we missed the driveway and had to jump out quickly in traffic (yeah, he got a 2 star rating). Luckily OzEiress is not easily phased so we laughed it off. The early check-in (11:30am), upgrade to a 50th floor suite, fruit platter and ganache chocolate treats in our room were all a nice touch and good recognition of our Accor Platinum status. So a quick tour of the Club Lounge then off to George Kolumbaris' restaurant Chiara for lunch with about 20 big tables of office workers having their staff christmas lunches, it was a good (if hectic) atmosphere.

Now I am back at the Club Lounge to charge the batteries for our next sojourn into the dry Melbourne heat this evening, then prepare for our next flight to SIN tomorrow … via the FLounge

Photos shortly. OzE.

 

[Major]

Any excuse to fly to SIN. Just love the food options.

 

[TomVexille]

Sounds like fun

 

[OzEire]

 

[TomVexille]

Yeah, that really doesn't look like a J meal IMO

 

[craven morehead]

Coming along for the ride !

 

[OzEire]

Yeah, that really doesn't look like a J meal IMO

Hmmm. My thoughts too.

I'll be sure to drop Neil Perry a personal thankyou note for creating this dining experience.

 

[OzEire]

Nice suite


Great view


Looking "down" upon the Hyatt


OzEiress enjoying the fancy lift lobby...

 

[OzEire]

The Sofitel on Collins has been great, we realky enjoyed the Club Lounge evening drinks and nibbles before heading out ibto the balmy Melbourne evening.

Good selection of local (Mooroduc Estate) and other wine (a Hawkes Bay merlot and a delicious Cotes du Rhone), to accompany spicy sweet chilli prawns, chicken, sushi and the usual selection of antipasto, dips, cheese, etc.

With a decent selection of aperatif and spirits we also had the pick of after dinner treats while watching the sun set over the city. Seems everyone else left when the bar closed and we had the place to ourselves (and the staff preparing for breakfast).

About 8pm we strolled to Fitzroy for a nightcap, tram back due to the night still being 27 degrees well after sunset.

 

[OzEire]

Sofitel breakfast was fine but nothing amazing so a minimal nibble to await the Flounge feed.

A much improved Uber to the airport, with a bit of a discount from some credits applied after yesterday's ride... thanks Uber.

A very streamlined F check-in then through the madness of the terminal, security and immigration.

Side note, first time I have seen the new automated immigration departure gates. Very quick and efficient, but im not sure if I would be so happy if any issue arose and so few actual humans around to resolve it.

On through the terminal past the MASSIVE line at TRS (i would guess 3+ hrs) to the serenity of the FLounge. OzEiress secured her spa appointment, quick nod to John Singleton (one for the Celeb spotting thread) and we relaxed back with some bubbles and the corn fritters. Neil Perry made up some ground at this point.

Slight delays so I am writing this from my A333 domestic config seat.

 

[OzEire]

Not sure what to expect from the domestic version. My recent trip to PER was in the refurbished international config and I think the TV was much bigger and the suite seemed to have much more space... am i dreaming?

 

[mannej]

Not sure what to expect from the domestic version. My recent trip to PER was in the refurbished international config and I think the TV was much bigger and the suite seemed to have much more space... am i dreaming?

I don't think there is a domestic or international version of the suite apart from the leather v cloth material (The 333 only has one layout). What you are finding is that certain suites have up to 2 inches less width compared to others in the same cabin. I believe the screen size is the same.

From my quick check, the suite in front of yours has more space.

 

[OzEire]

I knew that upon landing a milestone would be reached, so now having crossed 14,000 SC I am LTG... and I'm sure QF will figure this out at some point too. I was going to raise it with the CSM but some other fella chewed her ear during intros and clearly Tanya wanted to get along swiftly after that. If only crew had access to a piece of mobile technology for storing such personalised data on frequent flyers, a quiet "congratulations onbreaching LTG Mr OzEire" would have gone a long way.

Well the domestic config on the QF A332 could be better. The suite is nice enough, but just doesnt seem as roomy or private as I had recalled from earlier flights on the A333s. Providing just one bathroom so small i could not stand fully upright due to a curved wall (allowing for the narrowing fuselage), for a full J cabin is downright uncivilised.

Alas, it is still a nice seat and the meals were tasty. Mezze plate to start:



Rattatoulie of lamb for main, with some delicious Margaret River CabSav from Leeuwin Estate.



I skipped dessert and asked for Red Rock Deli chips from the menu, but only 2 hrs into the flight they were all gone.

Nitpicky point but our J crew decided to bring out the snack (a tasty duck/rice combo in a cardboard chinese take-out container) only 30 mins from touchdown. I felt rushed as they dropped the meal then came to clear it only moments later... reminiscent of many CBR-SYD sectors.

While I am venting first world problems, to 'ell with it, I can get an espresso on some carriers, why can't Qantas get some decent coffee. Sure, Im a coffee snob but this was unfit for consumption.

At the 4 hr mark we finally deaparted Aus near Derby, what a remarkable country:

 

[OzEire]

Club room at the Intercon and we had time to freshen up before coughtail hour finished in the lounge. After a Sling (what else ?!) with some delish scallops, we were off exploring.

View attachment 85856

Mrs OzEire wanted to stop at a local place so nekminit we were chatting over Tiger with Stephen, a taxi driver on break ... he comes from a Kampong on the NE of the Island and was so proud to have recently become a grandfather for the first time. Got some great tips on good hawker food which we will try out over the next few days.

$5 for a plug converter (you always forget something), and $15 for a SIM with 100GB of data (yes Giga bytes) and we were ready to retire after a day of eating, drinking and travelling. Till tomorrow.

 

[OzEire]

Well I've tried to post a few times during this trip, but the app is just not playing along. So I will be posting from the full site on a desktop when I get home.

Edit. Last day and it seems to be working now but still cant add pics.

 

[amaroo]

Looking forward to reading the rest. We'll be in SIN in a week or so - always looking for new ideas.

 

[OzEire]

This was the great SIM deal I picked up upon arrival at SIN (the carrier / reseller is M1, one of the majors in town it seems):



Frustration that my supposedly unlocked phone wouldn't accept the SIM but I had a old school backup for just such an eventuality and it provided a nice "hotspot" capability for our devices during the stay (particularly away from the hotel wifi).

Coverage was universal as you would expect in Singapore, even quite good in the subway (MRT). Naturally, most of the population was head down in a phone during all of our MRT journeys so the coverage is probably expected. Speaking of the MRT, we loved the driverless trains and always tried to stand in the front carriage when we were lucky enough to snag one. Not the best photo but you get the idea. I hear that Sydney is introducing these in the future (Erkpod ?).



Anyway, can't complain about the SIM deal - we saw a few cheaper options being sold on the street or in the market places, but honestly S$15 isn't much for 100GB and unlimited calls, great for a short visit.