SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[jkbaus]

Coffee's hot and the drinks are cold.

That's breakfast if you don't want brown toast sweethearts

 

[iamsuperandrew]

Speaking of bars @Cruiser

The refurbished F lounge in T2 is gorgeous!
It’s also the only SQ lounge that still serve PH Rare

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Are the reds different to TPR?

 

[boomy]

Are the reds different to TPR?

Some are the same but I don’t this 2005 Chateau Pichon Longueville was offered in the F lounge.

 

[mel-world]

I had a couple of opportunities to try the new T2 F Lounge at SIN over the Christmas period as well as the T3 F Lounge. I did find the T2 Lounge a better environment and generally less crowded than the T3 Lounge. The view of the airport from the windows will be better when the building works are complete outside.

Early evening of the 29th December, the space was almost empty and I had a choice of any shower after a long day in the heat. The only comment on the shower is a lack of a seat to sit on when dressing.

A few photos:







And a view from the walkway on exiting the Lounge:


Food options around Christmas - only one dish reflected the festive season. These are from SYD F Lounge and the two in Singapore on either end of the return flights. (One of the benefits on TPPS is arrival access to the Lounges on arrival).

Sydney - a haven after a chaotic T1 terminal on Christmas Day morning.





This was about the only recognition of Christmas of the 380 to and from SIN.


However the crew were, as usual, absolutely excellent and even got together to sing me a happy (80th) birthday during the flight. I got another bear to add to my collection and a card signed by the crew.

And with 9600 cabin crew now employed by SQ what do you think my chances of getting one senior (red) crew on a flight to HKG on 27 December and again on SQ231 back to SYD on the 30th. She was just as enthusiastic in welcoming me back to the second flight as she was getting all the girls together to wish me happy birthday on the 27th.

Those with long memories may know that one of the very few opportunities of getting a voluntary upgrade on SQ is for PPS members within 2 days either side of their birthday. Well, due to the current excellent loads - all flights quite full - there were no F or R upgrades available on any of four flights I took around my birthday. I know I will never get this so close to Christmas - but worth a try.

It was a memorable short trip none the less. I still really enjoy SQ after 25 years as a TPPS.

Mind you, the lady in 11D was not at all impressed that I had chosen 11F to sleep on SQ231 - her husband was somewhere else on the plane and she was not happy that the cabin crew would not even ask me to move.

My only complaint was the common believe that the breakfast on these short overnights in lacking in the J cabin. (And finally, why can't SQ get bread right on-board. It really cannot be eaten - my breakfast roll was so hard that I'm sure it could have been used as the new ball at the Ashes Test!!)

 

[Melburnian1]

@mel-world , most impressive that you can still extensively travel at age 80. Happy Birthday..

In contrast to you, I was annoyed on a recent SIN_MEL SQ southbound that the crew switched on lights three hours prior to landing, to serve breakfast. This meant little time for sleep in the J cabin given the time in the air is only c. six hours 40 minutes.

 

[mel-world]

@mel-world , most impressive that you can still extensively travel at age 80. Happy Birthday..

In contrast to you, I was annoyed on a recent SIN_MEL SQ southbound that the crew switched on lights three hours prior to landing, to serve breakfast. This meant little time for sleep in the J cabin given the time in the air is only c. six hours 40 minutes.

Thanks for your best wishes.

I cannot disagree with you. That's why I only take day flights normally but this was a points ticket. I just cannot sleep much on any flight. Our lights only went on 2 hours before landing but J was not completely full. It must take some time to feed 78 J meals on a full 380.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It must take some time to feed 78 J meals on a full 380.

It’s frustrating when you still have a 60-90 minutes, or more, after they have completed the breakfast service and cleared everything away. And it’s not like people need time to get changed out of their PJs.

 

[boomy]

It’s frustrating when you still have a 60-90 minutes, or more, after they have completed the breakfast service and cleared everything away. And it’s not like people need time to get changed out of their PJs.

Actually they do, sometimes the wait for toilets in J is quite long, particularly 60-30 min before landing and I only get to use the toilet to quickly change out of my byo PJs once seat belt sign is on and everyone went back to their seats.

 

[dajop]

I had a couple of opportunities to try the new T2 F Lounge at SIN over the Christmas period as well as the T3 F Lounge. I did find the T2 Lounge a better environment and generally less crowded than the T3 Lounge. The view of the airport from the windows will be better when the building works are complete outside.



This was about the only recognition of Christmas of the 380 to and from SIN.


However the crew were, as usual, absolutely excellent and even got together to sing me a happy (80th) birthday during the flight. I got another bear to add to my collection and a card signed by the crew.

And with 9600 cabin crew now employed by SQ what do you think my chances of getting one senior (red) crew on a flight to HKG on 27 December and again on SQ231 back to SYD on the 30th. She was just as enthusiastic in welcoming me back to the second flight as she was getting all the girls together to wish me happy birthday on the 27th.

Those with long memories may know that one of the very few opportunities of getting a voluntary upgrade on SQ is for PPS members within 2 days either side of their birthday. Well, due to the current excellent loads - all flights quite full - there were no F or R upgrades available on any of four flights I took around my birthday. I know I will never get this so close to Christmas - but worth a try.

It was a memorable short trip none the less. I still really enjoy SQ after 25 years as a TPPS.

Mind you, the lady in 11D was not at all impressed that I had chosen 11F to sleep on SQ231 - her husband was somewhere else on the plane and she was not happy that the cabin crew would not even ask me to move.

My only complaint was the common believe that the breakfast on these short overnights in lacking in the J cabin. (And finally, why can't SQ get bread right on-board. It really cannot be eaten - my breakfast roll was so hard that I'm sure it could have been used as the new ball at the Ashes Test!!)

Firstly, Happy Birthday, a fine age. We just celebrated my mothers a few months ago and my partner has secured an F award for his mother from SYD-SIN the day after her birthday.

We visited the new F lounge in T2 a couple of times since opening, and it was much busier during the day time than T3, with the SE Asia flights vs very few flights in T3. We were there from around 11 and moved to T3 around 1 - much quieter and more peaceful. I know T2 has the windows, but the view is a bit meh, and was quite warm sitting near then. I can imagine T2 would be better in the evenings. (oddly I've been to the T3 FCL about 20 times since re-opening and nearly all late morning/early afternoon, only twice been there when the bar is open, so I've found the lounge very zen, very quiet.)

Mind you, the lady in 11D was not at all impressed that I had chosen 11F to sleep on SQ231 - her husband was somewhere else on the plane and she was not happy that the cabin crew would not even ask me to move.

There's a simple solution to this, but the aggrieved party never seems to offer it. Funny that. 11D could easily swap with her husbands seat mate - giving someone else the bulkhead seat as a treat. But no it's always wanting to send the other person in the good seat to an inferior seat.

 

[MathNerd]

There are some reports that the two last rows, 96 and 97 get good service as well due to the crew regularly passing by those seats on the way to and from the galley. So service is constant, and quick!

96D/F on a SQ A380 is my home-away-from-home, hands down.

Had the pleasure of being ensconced in these seats with Mrs MN a couple of weeks ago on SQ326 SIN-FRA (luckily got on it just in time before SQ shuffles their big birds from FRA to AKL to capture the southern summer increase in demand). A rare treat, when MEL doesn't get A380 service (so so jealous of you SYD-based SQ KF'ers who get 2 SQ A380s a day). The last time I flew an SQ A380 was back in January 2020 on SQ345 ZRH-SIN (and in the same seats 96D/F nonetheless).

The double-bed in 96D/F is as close as you can get to F/R when flying in J, especially when F/R is just out of reach (both in points cost and cash cost). And the fact that you don't need to "flip" the seat to make it into a bed? Bliss. Finally, being in the super-private section at the back with only 2 rows, its own dedicated cabin crew (AFAIK), and the spaciousness, makes it an easy choice.

 

[dajop]

Just a bit annoyed again (first world problem) with SQ and their seafood obsession. The Singapore-Chinese heritage and paradigm coming through strongly as always where seafood is adored.

2 trips coming up, one in J SIN-LHR return and the other in PE SIN-NYC return. 6 main meals + 2 breakfasts. All 6 main meals have seafood based appetizers. Matter of taste, but I guess we're the weirdos who don't eat seafood. Thankfully 2 of those involve tuna of the (non-canned type) which I don't mind as much. And whilst they do offer seafood free as a meal selection, you then have to forgo all the BTC and in flight menu choices for mains.

 

[Human]

Just a bit annoyed again (first world problem) with SQ and their seafood obsession

Protip: if you don’t like seafood, make sure that you never fly on one of the Japanese airlines!

 

[dajop]

Protip: if you don’t like seafood, make sure that you never fly on one of the Japanese airlines!

Have flown ANA several times without issue, but I know where you're coming from!

But the thing is .... I have been to a couple of Omakase's and for generally a non seafood eater I was surprised to enjoy it. I guess the flavours and quantities are so delicate and it is very fresh. On the other hand SQ usually just serve up a lump of something on a salad with drizzle over dressing, and not quite so fresh.

 

[boomy]

Have flown ANA several times without issue, but I know where you're coming from!

But the thing is .... I have been to a couple of Omakase's and for generally a non seafood eater I was surprised to enjoy it. I guess the flavours and quantities are so delicate and it is very fresh. On the other hand SQ usually just serve up a lump of something on a salad with drizzle over dressing, and not quite so fresh.

I love SQ but the food onboard can be hit and miss.
On the other hand food onboard the Japanese airlines is probably the best in the air.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I have no idea why you dudes continue to persist with SQ - I have moved on many moons ago

 

[daft009]

I have no idea why you dudes continue persist with SQ - I have moved on many moons ago

You've switched away from SQ? :O to whom?

 

[MathNerd]

You've switched away from SQ? :O to whom?

Haha I think it was tongue-in-cheek, @daft009, unless I'm severely mistaken!
My only guess would be CX (if a move has in fact happened), but I highly doubt it.

 

[MathNerd]

Just a bit annoyed again (first world problem) with SQ and their seafood obsession. The Singapore-Chinese heritage and paradigm coming through strongly as always where seafood is adored.

2 trips coming up, one in J SIN-LHR return and the other in PE SIN-NYC return. 6 main meals + 2 breakfasts. All 6 main meals have seafood based appetizers. Matter of taste, but I guess we're the weirdos who don't eat seafood. Thankfully 2 of those involve tuna of the (non-canned type) which I don't mind as much. And whilst they do offer seafood free as a meal selection, you then have to forgo all the BTC and in flight menu choices for mains.

I'm with you on this one @dajop, I'm not a seafood lover (or even eater, apart from prawns if they're cooked well) at all.
Every appetizer I've had to decline (I just say "can I just skip straight to the main", which happens to be a BTC which I've carefully chosen - usually a chicken based dish).

In my case it goes another step - I'm not a fan of champagne, wine, or beer (I like sweet drinks, which the above are not), so whenever the FAs go through the list ("would you like a nice red with your meal?" "No thanks". "How about a champagne?" "No thanks", etc etc, until they ask "then what would you like" and I'd ask for something like a Singapore sling, a Cuba libre or just a regular coke/sprite/masala chai/etc), they look at me with confusion. I must be the only one in the J cabin that declines all the usual spoils of J flying (high tier alcohol, caviar, seafood, etc)

Maybe I'm not the target audience (I've got extremely cheap tastes for a J flyer? I can't find any joy in the tastes of the high end stuff - is that weird?)?

Though, I will say, Mrs MN does love the above, so she certainly makes the most of it. I guess I'll stick to eating satay and drinking cuba libres. Anyway the biggest thing I like about J flying is the lie flat seat, the lounges, the priority entitlements and the smaller density of pax; the food comes second!

 

[MathNerd]

Protip: if you don’t like seafood, make sure that you never fly on one of the Japanese airlines!

Haha, I'm wondering why Japan hasn't been on my "want to go" travel lists (though Mrs MN really really wants to go)!!
How are the non-seafood options aboard JL/NH/etc?

 

[Zinger]

Just a bit annoyed again (first world problem) with SQ and their seafood obsession. The Singapore-Chinese heritage and paradigm coming through strongly as always where seafood is adored.

For some of us it's not just a first word problem. Seafood for many of us presents a health problem.

Just a small seafood item can quickly bring on an anaphylaxis reaction which could become an even more dire event on a plane with no ready emergency medical assistance available.

On my last 12 SQ flights I have only been offered just one non seafood appetiser which from memory I didn't bother eating anyway..

Even when choosing meals using Book The Cook there is no option to choose an appetiser or to check a box to indicate none is required.

QR can manage two appetiser options.