Ok, apologies for the delay...am back home in SYD again!
back to KHH...
Yes, not a large airport by any means, but does cater for international flights. Because of all the transits I organised (small mileage run if you like to squeeze the mileage and SC's) to get from KHH to SYD I was hoping to get my luggage checked in all the way SYD, but the best they could do was to ADL (after all that was my 1st port of call in Oz) - if they did lose the luggage somewhere along the way it wasn't going to cause me too much dramas in any case since these were homeward legs. I was probably more concerned about flight delays/cancellations that would mess up my itinerary - and the fact I had a wedding to attend on the 15th and was only scheduled to be back in SYD in the evening of the 14th! (you'll soon realise I like to squeeze out as much as possible...:shock
KA lounge was similar to the free PG lounge in BKK (you don't need to be flying a premium cabin to have access to this) in the sense it was small and quiet - not more than 10 people at any one time - but without the internet terminals. Didn't really have the time to try much food, but the green pumpkin drink went down nicely - have yet to see what a green pumpkin really looks like however!
KA451 to HKG business cabin is configured as 2x2x2 with 7 rows but it was empty as - only 9/42 seats occupied! I suppose that there really isn't much demand out of KHH but I certainly think it is a viable alternative to TPE, considering it is only 90mins by their "bullet" train (plus ~30mins to actual airport terminal via their new metro system, though I haven't tried this so estimate might be out a little...). And if you get the chance to head out of the city in the countryside, so much more pleasant...this in comparison to a 1hr bus ride from TPE city to the actual TPE airport (though admittedly bus is dirt cheap @ ~ $5AUD! [sigh] if only PT was that good in Australia!)
With 2 attendents looking after only 9 passengers service was prompt with pre-flight drinks offered (only juice/water) and then once we are in the air, a hot b/fast (the dim sims are quite nice). No plastic in sight, except for the chopstick holders and there are separate trolleys with hot food on one, drinks and bread on another. When they come around offering tea/coffee, I ask for Japanese green tea and she's back in a min! Certainly not bad for a first time experience in Business!
Only a short flight to HKG so no real time to enjoy the seats, though they do recline further than ECON and footrest come up; all tables, entertainment units are tucked away in arm rests - which at first is a bit of a mystery to me so I'm fiddling away like a little kid (remember this is my 1st Business flight!
)
Deplane @ HKG and out to transfer desk to find gate info for next hop to SIN (I later realise this really isn't necessary if I've got a boarding pass, which I do - just check up on the indicator boards!) and then it's off to find the CX lounge...it's BIG!!! Separate lounge areas, internet areas, eating areas, bars overlooking departure bays, heck there's even a gaming area (didn't have time to check this out); you can even order hot food! Gotta get here earlier next time!
CX739 to SIN is pretty full with same config as KA451 but cabin is showing a bit more wear and tear (KA451 looks pretty spanking new in comparison!). Accidently take someone else's seat but they are happy enough to take my centre aisle seat so I'm next to the window again. Flight leaves some 20 mins late but have plenty of transit time in SIN so not too concerned. Video unit is not one of those "on-demand" ones so only time for 1 movie - "We own the night". Try their "signature" drink, Oriental Breeze which goes down well, as does the sea bass main. No shortage of food going around - fruits/cheese, cake, chocolates; but served from the back of the cabin again (I'm in the "2nd" row).
You can see the importance of shipping as you fly in to SIN with cargo ships aplenty dotted around the coastline - they seem to be lined up in some queue, seemingly all facing the same direction.
Now with almost 7hrs to will away until the next flight the plan was to head into town for a bit of shopping. Plan being the operative word...I had read that there was a free 2hr tour available so I ask about it the first info desk I come across - lady there didn't seem to know too much about it, points me out past immigration to another info desk but arrivals immigration was a dog's breakfast, queues at least 30 deep, so I jump on the free internet kiosk that looks down at the arrivals, but with seemingly more and more people joining the queues, it looks no better so have to join the masses. Don't know where the planes are coming from, but this is horrible! It takes me more than hour after touchdown to get out of airside - there are so many people that don't fill out the forms correctly! They should all be banished to fight it out amongst themselves - I'm just transiting through and definitely could do without these hassles! Drama doesn't end there though - after finding another info desk on the other side of immigration and asking about the free tour they point out that I should have booked this at some info desk before passing immigration! HUH??
Get your act together Changi! People manning info desks that don't know their info?? grrr
- okay, option B free shuttle bus into town from T2 will do and I'm away @ 5pm (this after a flight scheduled to arrive 3:25pm).
Bus ride in is smooth and we are disembarking @ Suntec after some 30mins. Last shuttle back from Suntec is @ 7:30pm, but given my flight is not until 10:15pm and I have boarding pass in hand I figure I can skip that and take MRT back an hour or so later than that. How wrong I was to be...
So here I am @ Suntec City Mall, casually walking round, happen across a Harvey Norman store! The old fox Gerry has apparently got a few branches established across Singapore! So I check out a few laptops and sure enough leave with one in tow - an Acer Travelmate 6292 that comes with 1yr international warranty - sufficiently small enough and compact enough (12"; under 2kg) to take on my next travels without too much of a hefty price tag (~$1500AUD). Sony Vaio's also looked attractive being lighter and packing more punch in it's battery life (9hrs!) but didn't sufficiently justify it's premium price (for an extra ~$1k). Plus I can claim back part of the GST levied (less the admin fees apparently) so I'm feeling pretty pleased with my efforts. Time has by now ticked passed 7:30pm so I've missed the last shuttle bus back and am on my own but am confident of getting back no problemo.
Start making my way to MRT station City Hall ~8:30pm, which looks close enough to be a short walk from Suntec but is a bit further than anticipated. That's ok, time is still good. Hop on the MRT towards Changi for a el cheapo $1.50SGD! (how far do you think that'll get you in SYD??). On the way back I have this dreaded feeling I'm travelling a bit light and sure enough I've left something on my CX flight into SIN earlier - a puppet face mask I was carrying in a separate plastic bag. So now I've got an extra errand to run when I get back to the airport - check departure gate, obtain GST refund, rearrange itinerary for earlier flight back to SYD (plans to meet up with friend in CBR whilst in transit were scuttled) and now check lost and found!
Back in T1 where flight was to depart from and I scoot off to GST refund counter - whoa, queues are massive, grab a queue ticket then off to QF check-in to get departure gate - big queues all round (couldn't really find the premium check-in desks flagged to be behind check-in rows XX) but I go straight to "flight management" counter and after getting gate info, fire off questions about my other 3 errands - is there another GST refund counter (yes, other side of immigration), can I change flights (yes, but try service counter in lounge since the premium check-in queue seems long, which was apparently right around the corner in what looked like a restuarant), is there a lost and found (yes, but it's airside in arrivals so I need to go downstairs to police and get token to be admitted through), where is the QF lounge (don't think you'll have time to visit). I've now ~45mins to flight departure but being the ambitious me I think I can squeeze them all in!
So I'm off on my mission, thinking first to get to lost and found, then thru immigration, gst refund and then lounge and flight rescheduling. No problems if everything goes smoothly. Hah! If only! Down to basement I go to police (lift takes forever to come), fill out some form, get token and I'm back upto arrivals level, through the glass doors that only airport staff seem to be only allowed through and security checks my forms and passport and ask why I want to come through. Tell them lost and found, get the ok, exchange passport as "deposit" for another "pass" and off to lost and found I go. Counter I go to is a dummy; get redirected to another office round the corner where there are 3 ladies with seemingly nothing to do. A few checks on the computer and a couple phone calls later and they locate the missing face mask and someone is on their way up. Ask if they could get them to meet me at departure gate as I still I had to go through departure immigration; she makes phone call, but the person carrying the item has left and are already on their way. Wait anxiously for the said person to arrive (it seemed like an eternity but I'm sure it was only ~5mins) and then off I go back out through the glass doors, collect passport, back up to departures (take escalators instead of super slow lifts), across to immigration where there are queues ~10 deep. I now have about ~20mins to departure at which point panic starts to set in :-| (miss this flight and I'm in a bit of trouble considering next SIN-ADL flight is in 2 days!); ask one of the guys in front if I could jump in front of him (after explaining my flight is due to go) and he nods. Immigration officer checks my boarding pass (on which there is no boarding gate/time info) and asks when is my flight. I tell him 10:15pm at which point he looks at his watch and pauses (and I'm thinking come on, I can make it!). I get referred to another officer to be processed who gives me a bit of a hard time saying why I come through so late, I should allow 2 hrs to get through, etc., (and seemingly wouldn't shut up and just let me through) but in the end it is all kosher and I'm airside!
Now the mad dash to the departure gate to make sure I get there 10mins before departure (indicator boards were now showing the flight as "closing") which I'm sure would have been a funny sight for other passengers to watch - some dude running through the airport with backpack and a couple bags in tow! I make it no problems, a little flustered but plane is still there, and in fact there are still a few other passengers yet to show face! Hmph! Settling into my seat and recovering my composure I start to think I could have had time to drop by the GST refund counter after immigration and got back ~$80AUD for my efforts! It is unlikely the plane will depart if you've already checked-in right? (anyone had experience to the contrary?) Plus I was on a business class tix, so wasn't one of those expendable economy folks. Oh well, I'm all better for the experience, but in hindsight I think I would choose to forgo the face mask and collect the $$ instead (plus there is always the option of calling up later and arranging for them to courier the lost item back to its owner?).
Nonetheless I am still disappointed about my transit experience in SIN; it was well flagged in all their PR material how convenient it would be for transiting passengers to enjoy a bit of Singapore .... um ... well for starters they could make entry/re-entry airside easier for transit passengers, perhaps with dedicated lanes to process them! Better information and traffic control should there too many passengers trying to get through arrivals immigration (I've noted on the maps there are 2 such areas). Anyway, I've let off a bit of steam with a feedback email but have heard nothing back as yet and am doubtful as to whether any response will ever come back...
I think I'll finish this long post for now and return once you've all had a chance to have a laugh at me!
PS: sorry not sure how to post photos on here, but will have my travel blog up and running soon enough with some photos (hopefully)
