Review of Singapore Airlines flight Mumbai → Singapore in Economy

Trip Report : Singapore Airlines SQ422 Mumbai - Singapore

This report is from return trip in 2007. Click the bold text to read the earlier flight: Singapore Airlines SQ422 Singapore - Mumbai

Flight details:
Airlines: Singapore Airlines
Flight :SQ 422 SIN - BOM
Reg : 9V-SQD
Aircraft: Boeing 777-212/ER
Dep - BOM : 11.45
Arr - SIN : 19.35
Flight time : 4 hours 55 minutes
Distance : 3,899 kilometers

AiRPORT Arrival

I was dropped at the airport 3hrs before departure.

View of airport road

Mumbai Airport was run by AAI -  government organisation, before privatisation.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

International Airport Terminal directions

Singapore Airlines and Air India operated from Terminal 2C

Ramp to Departure area

Terminal 2C was on the left

Peacock feather was the logo of newly privatised Mumbai airport.

Terminal 2A in view

Gate 3 was used to enter check-in

Mumbai Airport Terminal view

Security Check, Check-in and Immigration

Upon entering the terminal. All Check-in bags were scanned and secured tape.  Being a mid-morning flight, it wasnt busy.

Check-in queue was short, after receiving boarding card. Entered the immigration.

After completing immigration , there used to a customs check.

For security, had to go down a floor. Security check was conducted with metal detectors and hand patting. Hand bag was scanned. All handbag had to be  tags which were stamped along with boarding pass.

Waiting Area

After completing security, entered the duty free area, few government shops selling handicraft and tea/coffee shops were open along with airline lounge. Airport was undergoing temporary renovation as the Terminal building was to be demolished.

Passengers waiting for Air India Express flight  boarding call.

Table used during boarding

Air India Express passengers flying via Nagpur to Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Planespotting

I had completed all formalities and with spare time before boarding, spotting through 2 layers of glass. Singapore Airlines had just landed and arrived at gate

Singapore Airlines 9V-SQD Boeing 777-200ER. Hard to take a good photo.

Air India Boeing 747-400 named "Sanchi"  which was leased from Malaysian Airlines

Corridor for departing passengers as was prepared for next flight to Singapore.

Boarding

Singapore Airlines flight was to depart from Gate 52 Boarding call was made, Queue was formed at the gate, Boarding pass and handbag security tag was checked along with passport.

Boarding was smooth and Crew was waiting at the door to welcome passengers.

Onboard

After boarding, I walked to the rear section as I had booked a two seater. The flight being full, I had a companion from Singapore. View of Air India express Nagpur to Dammam, Saudi Arabia flight parked in remote gate. Passenger boarding had commenced for both flights simultaneously.

Newly acquired Air India Boeing 777-300 had arrived and was parked near the Air India hangers. As passengers had boarded, doors were closed and pushback commenced.

Closer view of Air India Boeing 777-300 in new livery along with Air India Express Boeing 737-800.

Air India Boeing 747-400 in old livery. Crew conducted safety demonstrations manually and headed to their seats for departure.

Vacated gate

Air India Express prepares for departure.

Air India Airbus A310 in old livery. Mumbai was Air India hub in those days.

Taxi to runway 27

View of aircrafts in remote bay.

Kingfisher N727VJ Boeing 727 private jet

Kingfisher was a growing airline during those days.

Kingfisher following the Singapore Airlines along the taxiway.

View of Spicejet landing while taxing

Terminal view along with Kingfisher jet

Holding short before entering runway.

Entering the main runway 27 at Mumbai airport. In those days, landing and takeoff was from this runway always.

Kingfisher next to depart.

Departure

View of  Juhu airport in Western suburbs of Mumbai soon after departure.

CAbin view

No viability below due to smog as aircraft turned east after departure,

Cabin view after attaining cruising altitude.

Smog cleared as aircraft flew over South Eastern Maharastra.

Being mid-day most passengers were resting.

Cloudy over Southern India due to Northeast monsoon

Cabin Service

Crew distributed menu to passengers before the lunch service.

Crew distributing lunch in the front section.

Outside view while waiting for lunch.

Checked menu option - Veg and non-veg [chicken]. under Indian selection and Non-veg[lamb]under international selection

Flight information

Flight map

Crew began lunch distribution in rear section.

Non Veg Lunch - Chooza Kesar malai chicken tikka in saffron sauce, corn with spinach and raisin pilaf rice, Kulcha bread

Inflight

After lunch, cabin was quiet and passengers had window shades down.

it was bright outside till close to Malacca strait.

It was bright on the being a day flight as flight was heading East.

Evening sky as sun became less harsh

View of flap

View of Indonesian island. Crew handed the Singapore Immigration form, which I filled.

Flight map along with the inflight magazine.

Silverkris with cover of Singapore Airlines Airbus A380's first commercial  to Sydney starting in a month

Singapore Airlines fleet information in Oct 2007.

Flight information

Flight map

VidEO: OnBoard

Window on Boeing 777-200ER

Sun disappearing in Cloud

Closer to Singapore

Sun was disappearing as sun set approached.

Departure Schedule

Approach in Singapore

Cloudy outside as descent commenced.

on final

Landed as it got dark outside.

Taxi to Terminal 2

Arriving at GATE

Arrived at gate after a short taxi.

Disembarkation was organised, No one was rushing. After exiting the aircraft, passed the Airbus A380 waiting area,

Walking towards immigration

Immigration and EXiting Airport

Arriving at immigration, handed the Singapore immigration form as I had visa on arrival. Passport was stamped, I waited few minutes to collect bag and was soon outside, took taxi to city.