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- Apr 29, 2012
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- Qantas
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- Gold
Brief Travel Report - SYD -SIN - KUL and return - March 2015 (sorry - I'm having issues uploading photos - is there any limit - I can't seem to add any more)
I provided some corporate governance training in Kl over two days, and for a number of years have preferred travelling on SQ/MI between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, assisted by my VFF membership.
This client only pays for Y class but will pay the fee for exit rows. It is a little annoying that my travel agent (AMEX - Platinum) is not able to select, but and pay for these as part of the original booking, not sure why SQ doesn’t permit this.
Fortunately, I am adept at using the SQ site to find exit row seats, and was able to get them, even thought the booking was only made about 4 weeks prior to travel. I managed to get an aisle on the way out and middle on the return. Unfortunately this facility does not extend to Silk Air (MI).
I have become Plat on VFF since my last trip, so I thought it would be interesting to see if there was any difference in recognition - still the same, none by SQ.
Check-in at the SQ Business counter in Sydney is painless, provided with express path (which I really don’t need as I have APEC BTC), proceed through immigration and security without any issue (fully body scan).
Arrive at SQ Lounge - welcomed well, provided Wifi code and find my seat along the bench with the stools, (this is where I usually end up).
Asked if there was any gluten free bread for toasting - staff checked, and then came back and advised they have run out. I have never succeeded in getting gluten free bread in the SQ Sydney lounge (NZ lounge very good in this regard), I wish they would simply say we don’t cater rather than we have run out. I will keep asking as one day they might see the need, and they know from the PNR’s that gluten free meal requests for the flight. GF break stays nicely in the freezer for quite a while.
I always think that breakfast in the SQ Sydney lounge is a little underdone and they always seem to be refreshing hot foods rather late.
Boarding through the priority lane not a problem, but do need VFF card as no status is on the SQ boarding pass, and find and settle into my seat quite well aboard SQ 212 B777-300 (refitted)
Flight appeared to be sold out, but about 6 Y seats, I couldn’t see any vacant J seats, don’t know about F.
Onboard service its usual efficiency, special meals out first. I think SQ could find a better GF bread supplier in Sydney (there are some good ones available now at a much better price).
Worked much of the way up, but did have a break to check out a movie. I do find the SQ movie selection a little bit limited these days, but maybe I’m expecting too much.
Arrived in SIN about 15 mins early, which is good as a relatively tight connection to the Silk Air flight (just under 1.5 hours). We came in at the end of the Terminal 3, so a long walk to the transfer train, there when I arrive so quickly across to Terminal 2.
MI don’t allow SYD SQ to allocate passengers into their exit row seats, and I have found it a bit of pot luck at the departure gate. On this trip I thought I would try the transfer desk in Terminal 2 before heading to the lounge.
Staff at the transfer desk saw seats available and were on the phone to get a seat released - will try that next time - then off to the Kris Gold lounge for a quick coffee before heading to the departure lounge. Staff at the SK Gold Lounge can not provide any boarding passes or update seats, not talk to MI about exit rows, bit of a lack of service at the lounge.
I don’t think there is a need to comment on the Kris Gold Lounge - but to say that SQ doesn’t look after their partners well with this lounge.
Priority boarding - no-one on the door, so anyone could have boarded - found seat as expected - buckled in for the flight.
(for pictures for the rest of this report - please see subsequent posts.)
Flight to KUL is uneventful - quick trip - the only thing I was watching a comedy on their inflight wifi entertainment system and we had a very chatty Captain who was playing tourist guide and trying to be a comedian. A change of routine, but not every flight please.
Caught the KLIA Ekpress Train - which works well, but I think I will go for the VIP service next time. When we got to Sentral, it was bucketing down, and took for ever to get an executive (blue) taxi, but eventually got one and arrived at a reasonable hour at my hotel.
The course I was delivering was at the Renaissance Hotel. I have had a love hate relationship with this hotel. Food wise they look after me fantastically well, but from a hotel security perspective, I have had a number of issues. From the last trip, apart from upgrading me to a 1 bedroom suite, the offered my 2 nights free accommodation. Given that I was unlikely to use that, they agreed to upgrade me to a tower room for this trip.
The rooms are very poorly laid out, to work at the desk you are looking at the wall with the TV behind you. When I am working in a hotel room, I like to have the TV on with one eye on it.
On the return, car to the airport (early start), check in was fine, asked for and provided (see below) an exit row seat, to SIN and then my purchased seat to SYD. Always have a giggle when I see the “Hot” message on the luggage tag.
Went through usual process to get to the Kris Lounge, which has had light refurb since my last visit last year, walls painted, furniture recovered, and they have re-introduced scrambled eggs. Still an uninspiring lounge for the number of SQ/MI flights from KUL. At least this time they recognised my VFF card without any issues.
Priority boarding ok. When I boarded the flight (A319!) I discovered I was not in an exit row. Fortunately the flight was not full and most of the exit rows were not allocated so the FA allowed me to move.
Boarding is rather last minutish, however we depart on time and easy flight to SIN arriving on time.
Quick transfer to Terminal 3 - quick dash to the SK Gold Lounge - coffee before heading off to the SQ flight. Priority boarding was accepted, but again no-one at the gate door to monitor.
A bit late due to traffic at SIN, which seems to be a consistent theme with my few flights ex Sin of the last year or so. Managed to pick up time on the way and arrived pretty much on time.
Flight uneventful, lunch, movie (comment as above), dinner, which was really a light snack, which is a little bit light given the evening time of arrival.
Generally I found the GF food ok, dessert is boring as it is alway fruit. Fruit for breakfast, then lunch on the way up, then lunch and no fruit on the way back.
Service is the usually SQ standard, absolutely no recognition as a VFF Plat, but that seems to be consistent with all of SQ partners.
I provided some corporate governance training in Kl over two days, and for a number of years have preferred travelling on SQ/MI between Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, assisted by my VFF membership.
This client only pays for Y class but will pay the fee for exit rows. It is a little annoying that my travel agent (AMEX - Platinum) is not able to select, but and pay for these as part of the original booking, not sure why SQ doesn’t permit this.
Fortunately, I am adept at using the SQ site to find exit row seats, and was able to get them, even thought the booking was only made about 4 weeks prior to travel. I managed to get an aisle on the way out and middle on the return. Unfortunately this facility does not extend to Silk Air (MI).
I have become Plat on VFF since my last trip, so I thought it would be interesting to see if there was any difference in recognition - still the same, none by SQ.
Check-in at the SQ Business counter in Sydney is painless, provided with express path (which I really don’t need as I have APEC BTC), proceed through immigration and security without any issue (fully body scan).
Arrive at SQ Lounge - welcomed well, provided Wifi code and find my seat along the bench with the stools, (this is where I usually end up).
Asked if there was any gluten free bread for toasting - staff checked, and then came back and advised they have run out. I have never succeeded in getting gluten free bread in the SQ Sydney lounge (NZ lounge very good in this regard), I wish they would simply say we don’t cater rather than we have run out. I will keep asking as one day they might see the need, and they know from the PNR’s that gluten free meal requests for the flight. GF break stays nicely in the freezer for quite a while.
I always think that breakfast in the SQ Sydney lounge is a little underdone and they always seem to be refreshing hot foods rather late.
Boarding through the priority lane not a problem, but do need VFF card as no status is on the SQ boarding pass, and find and settle into my seat quite well aboard SQ 212 B777-300 (refitted)
Flight appeared to be sold out, but about 6 Y seats, I couldn’t see any vacant J seats, don’t know about F.
Onboard service its usual efficiency, special meals out first. I think SQ could find a better GF bread supplier in Sydney (there are some good ones available now at a much better price).
Worked much of the way up, but did have a break to check out a movie. I do find the SQ movie selection a little bit limited these days, but maybe I’m expecting too much.
Arrived in SIN about 15 mins early, which is good as a relatively tight connection to the Silk Air flight (just under 1.5 hours). We came in at the end of the Terminal 3, so a long walk to the transfer train, there when I arrive so quickly across to Terminal 2.
MI don’t allow SYD SQ to allocate passengers into their exit row seats, and I have found it a bit of pot luck at the departure gate. On this trip I thought I would try the transfer desk in Terminal 2 before heading to the lounge.
Staff at the transfer desk saw seats available and were on the phone to get a seat released - will try that next time - then off to the Kris Gold lounge for a quick coffee before heading to the departure lounge. Staff at the SK Gold Lounge can not provide any boarding passes or update seats, not talk to MI about exit rows, bit of a lack of service at the lounge.
I don’t think there is a need to comment on the Kris Gold Lounge - but to say that SQ doesn’t look after their partners well with this lounge.
Priority boarding - no-one on the door, so anyone could have boarded - found seat as expected - buckled in for the flight.
(for pictures for the rest of this report - please see subsequent posts.)
Flight to KUL is uneventful - quick trip - the only thing I was watching a comedy on their inflight wifi entertainment system and we had a very chatty Captain who was playing tourist guide and trying to be a comedian. A change of routine, but not every flight please.
Caught the KLIA Ekpress Train - which works well, but I think I will go for the VIP service next time. When we got to Sentral, it was bucketing down, and took for ever to get an executive (blue) taxi, but eventually got one and arrived at a reasonable hour at my hotel.
The course I was delivering was at the Renaissance Hotel. I have had a love hate relationship with this hotel. Food wise they look after me fantastically well, but from a hotel security perspective, I have had a number of issues. From the last trip, apart from upgrading me to a 1 bedroom suite, the offered my 2 nights free accommodation. Given that I was unlikely to use that, they agreed to upgrade me to a tower room for this trip.
The rooms are very poorly laid out, to work at the desk you are looking at the wall with the TV behind you. When I am working in a hotel room, I like to have the TV on with one eye on it.
On the return, car to the airport (early start), check in was fine, asked for and provided (see below) an exit row seat, to SIN and then my purchased seat to SYD. Always have a giggle when I see the “Hot” message on the luggage tag.
Went through usual process to get to the Kris Lounge, which has had light refurb since my last visit last year, walls painted, furniture recovered, and they have re-introduced scrambled eggs. Still an uninspiring lounge for the number of SQ/MI flights from KUL. At least this time they recognised my VFF card without any issues.
Priority boarding ok. When I boarded the flight (A319!) I discovered I was not in an exit row. Fortunately the flight was not full and most of the exit rows were not allocated so the FA allowed me to move.
Boarding is rather last minutish, however we depart on time and easy flight to SIN arriving on time.
Quick transfer to Terminal 3 - quick dash to the SK Gold Lounge - coffee before heading off to the SQ flight. Priority boarding was accepted, but again no-one at the gate door to monitor.
A bit late due to traffic at SIN, which seems to be a consistent theme with my few flights ex Sin of the last year or so. Managed to pick up time on the way and arrived pretty much on time.
Flight uneventful, lunch, movie (comment as above), dinner, which was really a light snack, which is a little bit light given the evening time of arrival.
Generally I found the GF food ok, dessert is boring as it is alway fruit. Fruit for breakfast, then lunch on the way up, then lunch and no fruit on the way back.
Service is the usually SQ standard, absolutely no recognition as a VFF Plat, but that seems to be consistent with all of SQ partners.
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