Drrons off to Asia with Lifemiles.

drron · Tuesday at 10:39 PM

The last night in the lounge.

Now the wines were not of a great standard so I stuck with G&Ts. Mrsdrron had the white blend. It was at least drinkable. The staff were taken aback a little when we said a bandicoot is a large rat that likes digging holes in your garden..

drron · 2025-07-31T13:25:10+1000

Sunday and time to leave Bangkok. Booked our Exclusive transfers ride for 0845 and as usual they turned up a few minutes before. and less than half an our later at the airport. We went to SQ's business class line and were first in line with check in open 5 minutes later.

Had a bit of delay at the premium security as both lines had a family with young children. No problems at Immigration and soon at the SKL where I started with a coffee then just a simple breakfast -scrambled eggs, bacon and a sausage. Left a bit early as a bit further than usual E gate for departure. When we arrived once again all the premium seats were full of youngsters but one of the agents seeing my walking stick brought us 2 chairs to sit on. The walking stick is worth it's weight in gold.

When boarding started the same agent went to notify the fellow in a wheelchair to board and then took us behind him. When we went through they then called pre boarding for those with young children. And there were quite a few of them. The premium line were probably a bit annoyed. A few of the young kids were in J but for a day time flight a bit less than 3 hours it was not a worry.

To the flight. The compulsory leg view. This was a 789 and it has more room than the A359.

I went to the IFE to see if they had different episodes of White Lotus. They did have the complete set of Season 3 so I got to watch Episodes 5 and 6 hoping it would be the same on our next SQ flight. However the first thing I saw when I switched to entertainment suggests SQ was keeping up with current affairs,

Now the wine list and menu.

Our seat assignments had changed from 15D,F to 15F,K. Mrsdrron got the window seat. On boarding we were offered a choice of juices and I had apple. however a little wait and the FA brought us each a glass of champagne.

drron · 2025-07-31T13:56:48+1000

A fairly straight forward flight except for an hour when the seat belt sign went on for minimal turbulence. Although the Captain in his announcement left the decision to stop service to the crew they all went to their seats. So meant missed a glass or 2 of wine. We had been served the meal. The kicker was less than 5 minutes after the sign went off we hit real turbulence and the sign went back on.

So for the meal I had the pork. Mrsdrron had the prawn salad. Because of the staggered seating no picture of her meal but here is mine.

Just OK. The service also was not to what I would consider normal for SQ. In fact on this trip I would rate the service on TG superior to SQ.

Once again landed at T2 with a long walk to Immigration. Today it was a shambles. The machines would flash red after 2 or 3 pax went through. And it appeared to be every machine. As we do when a reasonably long line Mrsdrron and I lined up at adjacent lines and at first went at about the same pace. But when the machine I had lined up to starting flashing red for a young women she treated the message that comes up - please go to another line - as gospe so her and the 5 behind her obviously traveling with her all went to a different line so I ended up being number 3 when the machine started up again. So I was a fair way in front of Mrsdrron.

naturally though I was stopped by the flashing red light. But just waited and through not long afterwards. Then I had to wait for Mrsdrron. That wasn't easy as a lot of folk were waiting for friends and family. As she approached her machine I lost sight of her and she just disappeared. After I had waited about 15 minutes I thought she might have missed me in the crush so started walking slowly towards customs. However she soon caught up with me. When she got the red light the officer insisted that it was because she hadn't filled in the Arrivals card. Well she hadn't but I had done it for her and had checked it before submitting and got the email saying it was accepted. To be fair ton the agent they were hassled with all the problems as well as copping abuse from a few idiots. However a major fail for Singaporean efficiency.

Then a fair walk to the train for T# but then you ge out close to the CP. So into the lounge and checked in and paid as we would leave early the next morning. But we did have a nice meal in the lounge that evening. No photos this time as I have posted the lounge offerings quite a few times.

drron · 2025-07-31T20:20:04+1000

Up and left the CP at 6am>you walk straight out to the check in area. A little wait as a few in line but with 4 agents wasn't too bad.. So off to Immigration. Always a good orchid display just before you get there. Really good this time..

No troubles at Immigration so straight to the SKL. For the first time in a while our flight to Darwin was leaving from terminal 3 although at the far A gates. We didn't leave quite enough time so got the train to the far A gates.
The SKL was very busy but easily found a seat -a group of 4 seats 2 each side with a table with power plugs each side. We just had a cup of coffee, mrsdrron a couple of muffins and I a couple of pork sausages, grilled tomatoes and some lovely mushrooms. I guess the appeal of lounges is gradually wearing off.
Not so long after sitting down a family of chavs, by their accents, without asking sat down on the other chairs. But ther were 5 of them so 2 sat in the seats and one on the table. They were obviously trying to get us to move by swapping bags then swapping people in the chairs. We totally ignored them so after about 10 minutes they moved on. An older Australian guy then asked if he could sit opposite. Not a problem.

No other dramas until at the gate. It was set up differently to all others we have had at Changi and you boarded right near security so we were sitting at the wrong end so with my slow walking we actually ended up boarding with the first few Y pax. And this being a 738 Max boarding was only by the front door. Flight next.

drron · 2025-07-31T23:28:13+1000

We were in 11A,C the first row of J. I had originally selected 12A,C. It was off no cosequence as the bin above us could be used. So I grabbed the window. quite a comfortable J seat for a 737 and much preferable to the QF or VA offering. As well a really good crew on this flight to Darwin. Our FA, James, was a gem so 2 glasses of the good stuff before departure.