After an amazing 12 days or so, it was time to head home. Our journey home would consist of 4 flights TOS-OSL-CPH on Scandinavian Airlines, then CPH-SIN-MEL on Singapore Airlines (all in SAS Plus and SQ Business), landing some 30+ hours later back home.
Our first flight was early (very early), so meant a 3am wakeup to ensure everything was packed etc with a taxi booked to the airport for 04:10, which arrived very promptly. Given several legs we had to travel, we tried to queue up at the check-in desks but was told by the staff to go to the automated kiosks to check-in instead. Of course, this decided it wouldn’t work so it was back to the check-in desks where staff had said it was because the kiosks only could manage upto 3 flights on a single booking. A bit annoyed, given we had said we had 4 flights previously. Oh well.
Curiously, all 4 boarding passes were printed on the one card, which was interesting as it did cause some confused looks from gate staff when they tried to work out if we could board or not as it wasn’t something they were used to seeing!
Went through to the gate area and waited out the departure time given there is nil SAS Lounge in Tromso, and most shops were still closed given the early hour.
SK4403 TOS – OSL 0615 – 0825
Boarding commenced early at 0540 and pushed back 10mins early in order to commence the de-icing process given the a/c had overnighted. Flight was quick and arrived in Oslo slightly early, but couldn’t see much during the decent due to the very low cloud cover.
Given the tight connection, we didn’t bother going to the lounge so we just headed to the international area which our flight was departing from for some reason, and found that boarding had just commenced at gate E2.
SK455 OSL-CPH 0915 – 1030
Flight was very full and pushed back 5mins early for the short hop to CPH. Landed ontime at 1015 and parked at the furthest gate there was at A23 and walked the million miles (well, it seemed like that!) back to the central area of the terminal and proceeded to the SAS Lounge that we had access to as part of our onward SQ Business Class flights. We had plenty of time in transit (90mins) so weren’t in any rush, and with the International Concourse in CPH right next to the SAS Lounge we didn’t have far to walk thankfully from there.
The SAS CPH Lounge is pretty much like a mini Qantas Club, where you can get some basic food and drinks, but nothing substantial. Given it was late morning, I only really wanted a coffee and something small to eat knowing that quality of the SQ meals that await on the next flight.
SQ351 CPH SIN 1200 0730
Following the SAS Lounge, we walked through the International Area and got the passports stamped (still a thing apparently) and arrived at Gate C33, where we entered a holding pen whilst awaiting permission to board.
Boarding commenced ontime, and before we knew it we were on our way to Singapore on schedule.
To start with, we were served a Canape of the famous Singapore Chicken Satay. This was amazing!
Followed by an appetiser of Slow Cooked Scallops with Pickled Turnip Flower
Then a Main Course of Poussin en Crepinette with Gastrique Sauce (Stuffed Chicken), with a side of Garlic Bread that I can honestly say only spent about 10 seconds on my plate before it was consumed!
Before finishing the meal off with both fresh fruit and Coconut Ice Cream
All these meals were fantastic and very much enjoyable.
Then it was time to relax with a movie (can’t remember what exactly it was) and Whiskey, before settling in for a good sleep given the early wake up earlier in the day.
Closer to arrival, Breakfast was served where I enjoyed Sen Lek Phad Si-ew, which was Fried Rice noodle with glazed chicken, squid and Chinese greens
The flight from CPH landed on schedule at 0725, and parked at Gate A3 in Terminal 3 before we made our way into the Terminal to check where our next flight would be departing from, before making our way to the Silverkris Lounge for spend the next 3hrs relaxing.
I used this time to copy photo’s from both the Phone and Camera around from the trip and share these with mum whilst time permitted as I wouldn’t have time once back in Melbourne.
Before we knew it, 3 hours had passed and it was back onto the last flight home.
SQ217 SIN MEL 1100 – 2125
We left the lounge and made the long walk down to the end of the terminal at Gate A15 and pushed back early, and in the air 15mins later. Nil photo’s for this leg unfortunately, as I must’ve forgotten to take any!
We started off with the Canape’s again of the Singapore Chicken Satay and an appetiser of Silken Chicken Salad, before having the main course of Baked Herb Crusted Barramundi Fillet. Finishing off this again awesome meal was a personal favourite – the Viennetta Ice Cream!
Closer to MEL, a supper service of Friend Hokkien Mee was served that finished what had been an outstanding 2 flights with Singapore Airlines.
Our Flight arrived into MEL approx. 25mins early, which was ideal as it was the first international arrival due to other delayed flights. As a result, we were able to get through Duty Free, Immigration and Customs quite quickly with minimal wait times. A quick call to collect my car and finally arrived home around 11pm