A QF WP Ventures into the SQ Wilds...

[Tooner]

After asking for some help with my recent trip SYD - LHR and back, a trip report was requested, and so...

Back in October I was asked to go to London to take part in an offsite for a couple of days. For a number of reasons, this trip was a little last minute and resulted in a pretty committed QF WP (despite my long membership of VS with no flights) travelling on SQ was the cheaper option.

Armed with the helpful advice from the forum (thanks everyone), the itinerary was booked, paid for and on a bright sunny Sydney afternoon, I prepared to head to London at the start of autumn. I must have been mad.

Part one of the itinerary was in place.

Flight Departs Arrives

SQ0222 Sydney(SYD - Kingsford Smith Terminal 1) Singapore(SIN - Changi Intl)
18 Oct 2009, 16:25 18 Oct 2009, 21:50



SQ0322 Singapore(SIN - Changi Intl Terminal 3) London(LHR - Heathrow)
18 Oct 2009, 23:30 19 Oct 2009, 05:55


Passenger Name and Seat Number

SQ0222
1. MR TOONER 25K

SQ0322
1. MR TOONER 18D

Check-in 48 hours before the flight was novel, and following the instructions carefully, I didn't print the boarding pass immediately to allow flexibility to change in need.

Selection of 18D was based on advice from dajop (thanks). As the flight to SIN was during the day, a window was in order, while the flight SIN to LHR would be the night leg, so the best seat for sleeping was called for.

First things first. Despite the advice to check both the NZ and SQ lounges, the fact that I had no status meant that the old desire to be at the airport long before the flight was not there.

I did think it would be best to get there around 2 hours before and did get there just after that. After farewells from Mrs Tooner and the 3 little Tooners, it was off the check-in.

First thing I noticed was the SQ check-in: spartan but reasonably quick. Compared to the elaborate check-in at the QF F counter, it was a little underwhelming (particularly if you are travelling in a suite). In the end the nice lady at the Suites counter checked me in anyway. It did take a little extra time as I was essentially double-dipping (crediting to the VS Card, but recording PPS credits with SQ). Talked to the nice lady about how full the flight was. Ours wasn't too bad, but the later flight at 7pm was full, so they were expecting a scrum. Amongst the boarding pass (with invitation to SQ lounge printed on it; quaint) also received a glossy piece of paper as express card rather than the QF card version.

As other posters have pointed out, it is now an extremely long walk from Check-in (SQ is essentially the last row) to the combined entrance, but all went smoothly with the new set-up and the dedicated express pass screening point. Just how good this set-up is became clear in LHR in about a week's time, but I'll get to that.

After immigration/security the now compulsory walk through the duty free, but found my way to the walkway to the other side of the terminal (noting the bakc way to the QF lounges is now gone). A very long walk back to gates, up the lift to the SQ Lounge. The little J lounge was quite full, and given the agent's comment about the later flight probably wouldn't have been pleasant later. Food and drinks range were quite nice, with some tasty yum cha, while the other food looked basic but OK. The quality reminded me a bit of the QF J Lounges in CHC or WLG. In the end, I managed a squizz at the entrance to the NZ lounge before the flight was called.

From the SQ lounge it is only a quick ride down the escalators to the gate. To be honest, the vision which unfolded reminded me of queuing for rides at Disneyland. Lots of economy passengers were totally confused by the 2 entrances (one for upper deck at the rear of J, the other for the bulk of Y). J/C entrance was very clear and so on to the plane for the first look inside at seat 25K.

 

[Danger UXB]

we await with baited breath
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[Tooner]

Leg 1: SYD - SIN A380, Seat 25K

After the scrum at the gates, the upper aerobridge saw me quickly on board. I'd have to say it is a bit strange walking straight on to the second floor of an aircraft. You feel totally disconnected to the floor below. This feeling remained even later in the flight when moving to the front to the rather grand staircase down to ... a rope barrier!

First problem: can't find the seat numbers! A helpful FA pointed my seat out to me, and at the same time I realised the seat numbers were in the hard to read orangey-red light on the side of the seat. You'd need to be 5 ft tall to read them!

The lack of center bins gives a very spacious feel to the cabin. The seat itself is magnificent. Lots of room to spread out, can leave control (which I actually felt was a bit hard to find) and headphones on seat and leave computer and papers where they are and get out. As this leg was to be time for study (assignment and exam all happening the week after getting back from London), this was a big issue! I've tried similar on QF in J, and found it a nightmare of tangled cables and headphones.

Food service was very good. Chicken salad followed by beef caserole and fruit and Rowies cake (special diet). Watched Wolverine on the excellent screen (wanted especially to see the scenery from around the Dart River/Glenorchy we had travelled through on our holiday in March: same road!) then listened to some music while writing my Uni asignment. Tried out the USB for music but couldn't see the files. It looks like the file explorer won't look beyond the folder structure?

The bathrooms are impressive compared to QF J and on a par with QF F on a 747 (though no window): spacious with good toiletries. Having heard some complaints about SQ not providing a full amenities pack and PJs in J/C, I was ready for the sockettes and eye-shade delivery, but I can't say it worried me too much. I had my QF F PJs (they are very light), and found adequate toiletries in the bathrooms.

Refreshment prior to landing was nice chicken skewers, then off at SIN - very smooth. Once out at the B gates, I had to orient myself to find the SQ lounge. I'd have to say after slumming it in the QF terminal only a month previously, T3 is seriously impressive. From the gates went to SKL via the immense shopping mall and into the vast lounge. A massive step up from the SYD lounge: plenty of room, lots of food, plenty of drinks and it all felt relaxing. The Lounge Dragons were anything but, although I missed the coda to their greeting ("no boarding calls"), but worked it out later!

The lounge may be large, but I don't think it has enough showers. I looked in a couple of times, but there always seemed to be a queue. Even though there were heaps of people, it didn't appear overly full. As the time got near, headed to the gate.

After a long walk back to the B gates, an easy boarding (despite the couple in front trying to board our flight thinking it was going to Paris) with the multiple security guards to make sure everyone goes to the right door.

Then it was on to the flight and the sleep leg to LHR!

 

[thewinchester]

great report thus far, look forward to reading the rest of it as you go. Shame the IFE isn't smart enough to browse a folder structure

 

[Danger UXB]

I sense Tooner may well be realising the grass is greener on the other side of the fence!
Cheers Danger UXB

 

[albatross710]

The lounge may be large, but I don't think it has enough showers. I looked in a couple of times, but there always seemed to be a queue. Even though there were heaps of people, it didn't appear overly full. As the time got near, headed to the gate.

Always a matter of timing in any lounge. I didn't have a problem when I was there - they were very quick to clean and refresh them.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Great TR so far.

I'm off to BKK on Saturday and might be doing some J Internal flights with Thai while l'm there. If so, l'll take some pictures of "the other side", lol.

 

[Tooner]

Always a matter of timing in any lounge. I didn't have a problem when I was there - they were very quick to clean and refresh them.

I agree, and on the way back it was hardly a problem. I guess it had a lot to do with the time: peak departure time to Europe.

Sorry for the tardy report - been busy the last couple of nights.

 

[Tooner]

I sense Tooner may well be realising the grass is greener on the other side of the fence!
Cheers Danger UXB

You sense correct

 

[Tooner]

SIN - LHR A380 Seat 18D

Again, easy getting on board, and walked through to the second bank of J seats on the upper deck, but this time to the front bulkhead. As there are no overhead bins for luggage, I was always going to have to "borrow" a window bin, but also, sitting at the bulkhead bench seats, there was no space for bags, so had to find spots for the 2 bags. Though I was one of the first on board, finding somewhere to put them was difficult. Ended up with one bag in the bins next to me, and the other on the other side altogether.

Small aside: I noticed on this seat and the other seat I sat at the little symbol of a mobile phone with red cross through it: what is it there for? People seemed to be using mobile phones until the doors closed, and there was the announcement "now is the time to turn off your mobile phone, if it has flight mode etc". The only difference was SQ don't allow you to turn your phone on until you are in the terminal. Strange

I'd have to say sitting at 18D was quite good. The screen is further away than the regular seats, and the footrest is a full bench rather than a small hole slightly less than half the seat in front (it allows for the sleeping slot as it were for the seat behind in the other rows). Good wide seat, but the benefit came later when it was sleeping time. While some people go straight to sleep on legs like this one, I always try to wait a little, watch some TV or read and then sleep. I worked out that 2-3 hours of wind-down, 7-8 hours of sleep and then the remainder breakfast and get ready.

After supper (nice beef filet with veges after smoked fish) I put the bed together very easily (though the video they put on helps a lot for the uninitiated). I'm inclined to agree with the opinion of most that creating a bed is better than simply reclining the seat more. The width also increases the feeling of bed-i-ness too!. Off the the forward bathroom to get changed into the QF F PJs brought along (Ok, a bit naff but they are very light!) Settled in .... Eventually! I can say it is much more comfortable than BA new Club World seats which I had experienced about a month before, but not quite as comfortable as QF F beds, but not by much! The good thing is it is wide, and the bench gives more options for rolling over. The only problem I found is some velcro stuff at the head of the bench, which I managed to bark my elbow on at one point. I guess the big test is: can you sleep on it in the way you sleep at home. The answer is no, you can't sleep naked No, seriously, I was able to sleep pretty well, but it helped that at that stage it was nearly 4 in the morning as far as my body was concerned. The surprising thing I found was despite the lack of ear-plugs offered, it wasn't really noisy. In fact BA was a little noisier, and that was with ear plugs.

Sp, got roughly 8 hours rest and then got changed in the forward bathroom, shaved etc. Here the forward bathroom with extra room was handy - plenty of room to change into more respectable clothes and put that carefully folded shirt on ready for the day's work. The shaver was OK, but got choked with my weekend beard. Lucky I was able to use the toothbrush to clean it out :shock: Nice aftershave from L'Occitane. All in all a good experience.

Breakfast and descent landing etc all pretty uneventful, and we landed pretty much on time.

T3 struck me as pretty airy and spacious, and not as much of the institutional grey like the old T4. T$ always seemed dark and unwelcoming. Quick walk off the plane (first off the upper desk) to passport control (the fast track lane was not really required, as we were pretty much the first flight in), then to the baggage carousel to wait....and wait.....and wait. 15 minutes later, luggage started to emerge and a couple of minutes later, out came mine.

Quickly through the green zone and into the T3 exits. I've always remembered these exits as a gauntlet, which they still are, and then they are split by some pillars. Nevertheless, found the driver arranged by the apartment company, and then set off through the early morning traffic to the apartment.While he drove, I checked Monday's emails from Aus. In the end, we left T3 at 6:30am. Got to the apartment in Cowcross Road in Clerkenwell
(EC4 near Smithfield markets) 45 minutes later. The Driver was staggered, especially for a Monday morning! Following the instructions to get into the apartment, I found my way in, and after signing papers etc, had a shower and changed into a suit ready for the day to begin!

In summary, painless, and quite relaxing!

Next, the return leg....

 

[Tooner]

LHR - SIN SQ317 (A380) Seat 15F

So to the return leg! After a busy 3 days in the office, including 2 nights out at dinner with friends, a 2-day offsite including team dinner in Bermondsey (off-site in Southwark), and dinner with a colleague, Saturday saw me catching up with my Aunt (who came up from Plymouth to visit me), shopping in Oxford Street and then Sunday morning pick-up from the apartment at 7:45am.

Check-in was pretty easy. SQ's check-in opens 48 hours prior, and although I intended to double check the seating via the web-site, my laptop started to play up, so no joy there. But never fear: if you sign-up for SMS, they will send a test, a quick reply and you are checked-in! Nice.

In the event, I got to LHR reasonably early (about 8:30am) and managed to find my way through the half-term crowds. Check-in for SQ is at the end of the VS end of the airport, and only took a little longer than in SYD, but was pleasant enough. Agent double and triple checked that I wanted to credit points to VS (but didn't do it properly as I found out), and then it was on your way.

I'll pause now to breathe and relax, before describing Security at LHR T3 ....:evil:
Sorry, its not possible to describe. Last time I flew BA from T1. Sit-down desk, processed quickly and then personal security line and immigration. Completely the opposite here: unless I missed something, you are left to join the long queues, unless you have status with VS (which I didn't, then). So I queued, and queued.... eventually through, through the quick passport check and on to the lounge.

Given the time, I thought I'd check out the SAS lounge. LD wasn't too surprised to see an SQ passenger, and duly let me in (twice as I went out to check out the duty free shops, which seem really cramped compared to SIN), and was good for the number of computers, the good drink selection and despite the IKEA style furniture

Unfortunately, I was over it all, and in the words of Adrian from the Young Ones "Bored, bored, bored!"

Eventually, I decided to headed off the the SQ lounge, which is small, but quite nice. It wasn't too busy, and emptied just prior to our flight being called as a European flight departed (I think), which freed a computer for me to order flowers for Mrs Tooner to arrive before me (!), then off to the plane.

Same slightly confused boarding, particularly as the attendants were missing for a couple of minutes (I think they personally escort Suites passengers?), then onto the plane and settled in.

I was now an old hand at the J seat, so got myself together and read the papers (full of obits for Floyd).

After the meal (nominally lunch), I changed once again into PJs and settled in for a reasonably comfortable sleep, even though the time was only around 2 in the afternoon UK, but managed it anyway.

Fairly uneventful, although after the "breakfast" special was fish, again, I refused, and asked for the omelette! There is only so much fish you can take on one flight!

Eventually we landed at Changi, and it was off to the lounge, via the duty free shops for a couple of quick purchases!

Final leg to come, and then some observations!

 

[Tooner]

SIN - SYD SQ219 (B747) Seat 20K

Finally, with time to kill in a nearly empty T2 QP, a chance to finalise the trip report!

The final leg was in an old B747, which apparently had been substituted for B777s in recent times. It also departed from gate 21 (IIRC), and, of course, I hadn't realised the gate was a looong way away from the lounge!

With my 2 bags in tow, one of which was a wheelie (Thank God) I set off to the far reaches of the new terminal. Eschewing the shuttle (which was not there at the time anyway), I marched to the other end of the airport (getting there just after the shuttle), and into the short J/F queue and up stairs to my seat.

The only thing I can say, is that after the wonders of the new J, the old J seat (Skybed?) was a let down. In fact, it felt like being in a QF J seat, except when extended (as I discovered later) sinks really low (or feels like it does. Having said that, the upstairs window seats in J are fantastic, and the lockers at the side (I had 2) were perfect to fit everything except the wheelie in.

Having had the normal juice and champagne to start, and grabbed a couple of papers to read, I settled down to read until I could get the computer out.

Having slept from London to Singapore after dinner (pretty much), this was to be a study leg, and in order to get back into the swing of Sydney time, no sleep was allowed! Yeah right!

My duty to ensure I dind't bomb my last Masters unit resulted in me working on, and essentially finishing my final assignment soon after the lunch thing we were served. Even though the seats had power plugs, I found getting it to work a complete mystery, and naturally it wouldn't work until just after I'd asked for assistance. Computer plugged in, I was away.

Memory fails me a little, but I'm sure the meal was fish and chicken. I snuck a creme brule though. I noticed that the flight out of London served the wonderful satay sticks, but this one did not?

Having finished my study, and a few hours to go, I put the seat in full recline and had a snooze. I noticed most of the other PAX were sleeping, so maybe it was catching. After deciding any more sleep would seriously affect me later (as the flight gets into SYD just after 8pm), I woke up and watched Night at the Smithsonian to pass the time. I missed the screen on the A380.

After a quick refreshment, before long we were preparing to land.

We landed on time at 8:20pm. From gate to home, the time sequence was like this:

Walking off the plane: 8:30pm
At Smartgate: 8:34 pm
Through Smartgate: 8:35pm (it worked!)
Luggage in hand: 8:37pm (pre-checked by Customs at the carousel)
In taxi: 8:41pm
Home in Annandale: 8:59pm

Smartgate worked, but I followed others' suggestions and took my glasses off, but of course, I couldn't see the instructions on the screen (!) After a while I put the glasses back on, then saw the red light go, but it let me through!

Some final observations then:

• SQ Check-in doesn't come anywhere near QF
• SQ Lounges are generally nut as good as QPs, except in SIN
• SQ service is great
• SQ food was good, although too many of the specials were fish, but QF does this too
• SQ J seats, screens etc in A380's are awesome, and miles better than QF and as good as BA
• SQ J seats as beds are approaching QF F and heaps better than BA NCW seats (I've not had a long sleep leg in a QF J seat yet)
• SQ doesn't have amenities packs like QF, but provide more than enough in the Toilets
• SQ has no PJs, which is a bit of a bummer.

Overall, would I fly SQ to London again - you bet.

While flying SQ doesn't help me retain WP status, just these flights (except the last leg which was incorrectly credited to KF) made me Silver on VS, and one more flight (if I correct the points credit) would make me Gold.

I'm sold!