Review of Singapore Airlines flight Singapore → Jakarta in Business

Hi guys,

Welcome to the second installment of my series of trip reports.

1. CMB SIN - SQ469 - Airbus A330-300 - 02 Sep 2018 - Follow this link
2. SIN CGK - SQ956 - Airbus A350-900 - 02 Sep 2018 - You are here

After deplaning we checked the FIDS located right next to the arrival gate.
The gate for our flight has been already allocated and F50 is the first gate of the particular concourse, so we can come back leisurely.



I've mentioned in the previous report that we are heading to Bali. So the optimum connection for our arrival from CMB would be SQ942 at 9.15am but we are not taking it today!
This is where the avgeek aspect of this trip starts to kick in. Being a big fan of A350 I had the urge to ride one for a long time.
Unfortunately none of them come to Colombo and most of the flights with a connection are long hauls to Europe, Aussie or America.
From the few regional ones operating, the most sensible choice was SQ956.
As it matched our itinerary, we were happy to detour a bit :)

The plane which brought us in from CMB.



Towards the lounge.



Me too, dear. Me too… :D



Still some more to walk.



Finally!



Our boarding passes were scanned and let in to the Business Class section of the lounge.



It was really crowded as there were many departures at this time of the day.



We sat down and after getting refreshed, it was time for some light breakfast.
Standard breakfast buffet was on offer with Western, Chinese and Indian options.

Char Siu Bao (Steamed bbq pork buns) is one of my favourite Chinese breakfast dishes.



I was hoping to have a Laksa at SKL but they have changed their soup to Mee Siam for this week.
I'm ok to try anything new when it comes to food but regretted after having one spoon of this.
It was really pungent and had a deep dried shrimp taste, which I didn't like it at all.



With having less than a hour for departure, we decide to head for the gate.



Security at the gate was a breeze.



The moment I have been waiting for a long time had come! I was so excited!!



It is beautiful from any angle you look at it!



Boarding was called around 25 mins to the departure.



We were welcomed and directed to our seat by the leading flight attendant.

Newspapers on the offer at the front galley.



Today I will be seated on 11A and my wife will be taking the seat behind me.
I doesn't sound romantic for a couple on honeymoon trip to sit apart, right :D
Can't help when both are window seat fans!



The seat looks so spacious. Compared to other rows, bulkhead seems to have more leg space.



The cool IFE screen.



IFE Controls.



The small stowage compartment.



The ottoman. I didn't have the time to check the flat bed due to short flight time.



Welcome drink and hot towel were offered. I chose apple juice.



Wifi was on offer but I couldn't connect to it either.



No overhead bins on the middle making the cabin looks spacious.



Middle seats.



Safety information card.



Menu for both onward and return legs.



IFE was responsive enough.



Push back on time. The Tigers have become little Scooties now.



Safety video is being played while we wait for taxiing.



Our plane from Colombo, yet again.



Singapore's weather can change pretty quickly. It was sunny when we were boarding but now it has become really gloomy.

UA2 which should have departed 40 mins ago, still at the jet bridge.



It was lighting at this moment but no rain!



After a slow taxi run we were at the edge of the runway 20C. There was some traffic ahead of us.



SQ32 to San Francisco, which departed right before us.



It was only after 24 mins from the STD, we took from Changi.



The cloudy sky was making some nice patterns.



The iconic wingtip of A350.



The sudden change of weather meant that there was some heavy turbulence which hampered the in flight services.
Flight time was only 1 hour and 20 mins thus crew had to rush through the meal service.

The dessert was served first. The young Singapore Girl politely informed me that I can enjoy it if I like until they come back with my special meal.



The Panna Cotta was delicious.



We both ordered Hainanese Chicken Rice from the Book the Cook menu and it was delivered piping hot.
Pastries were also offered with the mains.



Due to turbulence, hot beverages were not offered. I had a Singapore Sling while watching the flight map.
41000ft was the cruising altitude for this short flight.



More clouds…



Cabin crew did an efficient job to conclude the meal service in quick time.

When I mentioned the leading flight attendant that I really like this aircraft he told me to try their new 787-10 Dreamliner too. I said I'm looking forward to do so ;)



Just as the tray tables were cleared, we were already descending to Jakarta. The city looked quite hazy.



We landed on Runway 25R with the views of Terminal 3.



The short taxi run to the Terminal 2D.



Lion Air 747-400 PK-LHG, mainly used for Hajj flights plus in high density domestic routes such as CGK-DPS.



We docked to the jet bridge, 5 mins before the scheduled arrival time.

The long walk towards the immigration…



The line at the immigration was short and after few standard questions about our trip details, we were let in with Visa Exemption stamps on passport.

Baggage took an eternity to arrive. Even the first baggage with priority tags came out only 30 mins after the arrival.



I would have like to spend more time in Java with a train ride to Jogja and a visit to Borobudur.
Unfortunately time constraints prevented us from doing so. May be next time with a dedicated trip for it!
We had to continue to Bali on the same day with the next flight departing in four and half hours, so it was time to move to the domestic departures in Terminal 2D.

This ends the onward journey to Indonesia with SQ. Await for the domestic flight and return journey reports. Thanks for reading!