SQ Tips, Trips and Tales

[MathNerd]

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..

I've only ever been offered a non-seafood appetiser once, on SQ303 BRU-SIN, and that was a mushroom soup. The FA couldn't believe I wasn't interested in the premium smoked salmon or duck liver or whatever the hell the weird slimy thing on the plate was. Nor could they believe the choice to decline the "nice" premium drinks on offer.

Thank goodness for BTC - the Singaporean Biryani and Satay are top notch; both excellent chicken dishes

 

[Zinger]

I've only ever been offered a non-seafood appetiser once, on SQ303 BRU-SIN, and that was a mushroom soup. The FA couldn't believe I wasn't interested in the premium smoked salmon or duck liver or whatever the hell the weird slimy thing on the plate was. Nor could they believe the choice to decline the "nice" premium drinks on offer.

Thank goodness for BTC - the Singaporean Biryani and Satay are top notch; both excellent chicken dishes

The look on flight attendants' faces when told I don't want seafood is often priceless. I have never been offered any alternative that they could piece together.

Those are my personal faves on any SQ menu as well. The biryani certainly is different depending on the departure airport and its caterer. Usually very good. I was told by one flight attendant that the biryani contains seafood. It didn't. Satay sticks are not always offered depending on the departure airport.

As for drinks they don't flow as well as in the past. It's common to be given a small amount of wine and to have it swiftly taken away by a flight attendant running between crew areas without any offer of a refill.

Standards have definitely fallen. My next flights are with QR, NH and CX. From recent experience, all consistent and offer a better product usually at a much lower cost.

 

[Human]

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?

Generally these airlines will offer a "Western" and a "Japanese" option. The "Western" options generally are less seafood-heavy so if you're not into seafood that's what you should go for. Even the "Western" food options are excellent!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Generally these airlines will offer a "Western" and a "Japanese" option. The "Western" options generally are less seafood-heavy so if you're not into seafood that's what you should go for. Even the "Western" food options are excellent!

That was what I was thinking, too! But then I looked at a random menu NRT-MEL in a couple weeks time and the western menu is also a single, seafood satarter! A variation on the Japanese menu.

It certainly used to be that the western was a safe(ish!j bet… but maybe theyre streamlining the menus in some cases.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is SQ inflight Menus seafood centric?. I don't believe so - Less than half of the offerings in my view.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Is SQ inflight Menus seafood centric?. I don't believe so - Less than half of the offerings in my view.

The issue is not the menu per se, just the entrees. Almost always a single, no-choice, cold seafood dish.

 

[Quickstatus]

just the entrees

I just looked at SQ232 menu for today.

The only seafood entree was in F/R and then there were a choice of seafood and non seafood (F/R has a choice of entrees) . The rest of the cabins' entree menu was non seafood

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I just looked at SQ232 menu for today.

The only seafood entree was in F/R and then there were a choice of seafood and non seafood (F/R has a choice of entrees) . The rest of the cabins' entree menu was non seafood

Well done! You found one of the only non-seafood starters! But that’s not usual.

By comparison the main menu out of singapore for lunch/dinner is either prawns (Asia such as Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong) or tuna loin (for example London).

 

[dajop]

I just looked at SQ232 menu for today.

The only seafood entree was in F/R and then there were a choice of seafood and non seafood (F/R has a choice of entrees) . The rest of the cabins' entree menu was non seafood

I was looking at 2 meal flights ex-SIN, SQ 326 and SQ24, both of these flights have two full meals and both of the full meals on these flights have seafood based appetizers.

Also looking at SQ 309- one full meal, one breakfast - seafood appertizer for the full meal. SQ21 - two full meals, both seafood appetizers.

 

[Quickstatus]

You found one of the only non-seafood starters!

SQ 306
Non seafood starter in Y and F/R

 

[MEL_Traveller]

SQ 306
Non seafood starter in Y and F/R

The 306 for today in economy is barley and cucumber salad… with smoked salmon!

 

[dajop]

The 306 for today in economy is barley and cucumber salad… with smoked salmon!

In any event it's not an issue in economy, easily manageable by pre-ordering a special meal.

Why? There's no real disadvantage to option for special meals as there is no BTC or inflight menu pre-order to choose for your main. You can opt for "non-seafood" (NSFML) option or the "hindu non veg" option (HNML) (whichI prefer as it tends to be less bland than the NSFML, and also seafood free, even though I'm not a Hindu), or any of the vegetarian choices.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In any event it's not an issue in economy, easily manageable by pre-ordering a special meal.

Why? There's no real disadvantage to option for special meals as there is no BTC or inflight menu pre-order to choose for your main. You can opt for "non-seafood" (NSFML) option or the "hindu non veg" option (HNML) (whichI prefer as it tends to be less bland than the NSFML, and also seafood free, even though I'm not a Hindu), or any of the vegetarian choices.

Yes, but ‘sort of’? I find the special meals come with all sorts of extras that I don’t want… like a wholemeal roll, and margarine. No cheese as well. And you don’t get any of the desserts

Airlines used to be ok when they offered ovo-laco… which they still technically do, although 9 times out of 10 you actually get vegan, because one size fits all.

 

[dajop]

Yes, but ‘sort of’? I find the special meals come with all sorts of extras that I don’t want… like a wholemeal roll, and margarine. No cheese as well. And you don’t get any of the desserts

Airlines used to be ok when they offered ovo-laco… which they still technically do, although 9 times out of 10 you actually get vegan, because one size fits all.

This is exactly why I go for the HNML tends to be tastier than the one size fits all bland/seafood free/ovo-lacot/low carb/etc special meal. And it has Paratha, sometime Pappadums and yoghurt to go with it all.

But you can also take your chances with the regular meal, unlike in J, say, the quantity of seafood in the salad is such a small serving that it's easy to pick out and usually not a problem if its a matter of taste (and if its a matter of allergy, then picking a special meal is the way to go).

 

[Cruiser Elite]

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

China Eastern

 

[MathNerd]

China Eastern

Wow - what was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's (Cruiser's) back?
You've been the biggest proponent of SQ for as long as I've been on AFF, so it'll be interesting to know what happened!