Review of Singapore Airlines flight Singapore → Mumbai in Economy

Trip Report : Singapore Airlines SQ422 Singapore - Mumbai

This report is from a trip in 2007. Click the bold text to read the earlier flight:  Trip Report : Singapore - Mumbai on Singapore Airlines. Aircraft in this trip report is Boeing 777-300 - non ER version.

Flight Details:
Airlines: Singapore Airlines
Flight :SQ 422 SIN - BOM
Reg : 9V-SYI
Aircraft: Boeing 777-312
Dep - SIN : 07.30
Arr - BOM : 10.45
Flight time : 4 hours 55 minutes
Distance : 3,899 kilometers

Introduction

I had stopped in Singapore enroute to Mumbai to visit relative working in Singapore. I had to arrive early,at the airport for catch this flight, took a taxi from city. I had spare time and while away taking photos.

Changi ATC

View of Terminal 3 under construction.

Planespotting

I had spare time and did planespotting from viewing deck in Terminal 1.

Air China Boeing 737

Valuair A320

Arrival Area

Time flew and I went to the arrival area to pick my luggage from the left baggage counter.

Arrivals schedule

Arrival area in Terminal

Mumbai flight would be departing from Terminal 2.

Check-in counter was not opened as I had arrived early.

Check-in

Check-in counter opened 2 hours before departure. Check-in row was 7.

Terminal 2 morning flight schedule.

Self-check Kiosk- was not available for this flight.

I was one of the early passengers to check-in, ground staff checked my ticket, passport and visa. Got the boarding pass and I was ready for immigration.

Immigration and Shopping

I had kept the immigration stub received on arrival. When exiting, handed the stub and visa checked and passport was stamped.

I was allowed to enter the departure. Terminal 3 model on display in the public area.  I purchased gifts from the duty free shops. Walked towards gate area for security check.

Boarding

Gate was opened, I passed through security, had boarding pass checked and was allowed in the waiting area. Aircraft registration was 9V-SYI which is a Boeing 777-300, a non ER version.

Boarding call was made,  The waiting area was not crowded. Crew was waiting at the door to welcome and direct passengers to their seats.

OnBoard

I reached my seat and settled down. Had chosen 2-seater in the 2nd last row. The next seat was empty.

Departure

Boarding completed soon, crew distributed cold towel on boarding.  Pushback commenced with crew demonstrating the safety details.

After a short taxi, departed from Singapore.

View of Changi airport in 2007

Cabin Service

On reaching cruise, crew distributed menu cards.

Menu on board for Economy passengers. Cabin service commenced with drinks

Window view heading West towards Bay of Bengal.

Morning flight, most passengers were still resting and it was a quiet cabin.

Breakfast

I chose the Thosai with chicken kheema option, which was soft and chicken kheema was good,

Top view of tray

Flying over Malacca strait

Cabin view

Cabin view after breakfast, not much activity. No IFE in use as most passengers were resting. Probably due to early arrival at the airport. Crew on board served water and drinks during the flight.

As I was not interested in entertainment, I watched outside the window.  Sun was on the other side. My row of seats was empty except the window seat on other side.

Inflight

Apart from turbulence over Bay of Bengal, the rest of the flight was uneventful. Flight path was close to Chennai. Crew started distributing the immigration and custom form.

I took 1 form and filled before arriving in Mumbai.

Form distribution in other aisle

Video: Crew Distributing Immigration Form

Most of the flight was quiet with very little activity.

Window shades were down as sun was blazing inside the cabin from starboard side.

I got up to stretch my legs.

Window on Boeing 777-300

Last section on Boeing 777-300

Arrival

Captain came on the speaker and announced descend will commence shortly.

Series of turn to reduce altitude.

Crew checked the cabin and cleared rubbish. Seat were set upright, window shades were drawn up.

Clear skies above clouds in September.

Landing

Approach was from the East to land on runway 27. It had rained in Mumbai during September. Landing was on wet runway. After landing exited the runway and taxied towards International terminal.

Kingfisher Airlines and Indian Airlines - Both have ceased operations. Kingfisher due to bankruptcy and other merged with Air India.

Terminal 1A - Domestic

Indian Airlines ready to taxi

Terminal 1B

Sahara Airlines and Het Airways both have ceased operation. Sahara had merged with Jet Airways.

Jet Airways was a big airlines in 2007

Go Airways had colourful aircarfts.

Sahara Airlines

Taxi took around 10-15 mins

Old ATC tower, which is now demolished. Being close to runway 14, Singapore Airlines used to stop or change flight times on non- availability of main runway 09-27

Cargo terminal

Jet Airways Boeing 777

Fedex MD11F

Biz jet

Air India A310 parked in remote bay.

view of taxi way, looking towards domestic terminal.

Exiting taxi way towards International terminal

Air India Express Boeing 737-800

Mumbai Airport Terminal 2A which is demolished now.

Indian Airlines A300 at Terminal 2B

Terminal 2B was not used during this time, Just the gate were used for boarding and disembarkation. Leased Boeing 757 operating Kuwait flight.

Singapore Airlines was in alliance with Air India which used Terminal 2C

Arriving at gate

Airside view as flight was connected to airbrdge

Leased Air India Boeing 767-300

Disembarkation

Disembarkation was orderly, seated in the last seat, I chatted and thanked crew.

Immigration and Custom

I chose this flight to avoid the chaos at immigration. International terminal was not busy in the morning as few international flight arrived.

Evening Singapore flight arrived in peak time along with Middle east flight, which used cause delay at immigration and custom.

After clearing immigration, I used the green channel in custom as I want carrying anything declarable.

Exiting Airport

Upon clearing customs, I exited the terminal 2c, felt the humidity and start sweating. Met with relatives and headed home.