Review of Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Seoul in Economy

Introduction

I've officially started a new job and my first assignment was in South Korea! This is also my first long duration overseas trip in which I will stay for just under 3 months. Glad to be able to leave the country again, maintaining my year departure from the country. Singapore being a hub meant I would be flying direct and hence only 2 flights on this series. I will explore the now defunct SIN-ICN VTL in this report and the much more relaxed travel lane to Singapore in the next report.

Singapore Airlines
SQ600
Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) - Incheon International Airport(ICN)
B787-10
9V-SCB
Economy Class
Gate A14 

ETD: 08:05AM
ATD: 08:08AM (on time)
ETA: 03:30PM
ATA: 02:57PM (33 minutes early)

Check-in

Arrived early at Changi to work through the VTL paperwork. Changi is still experiencing slow traffic even with the VTLs. Must be the difficulties and costs still deterring most Singaporeans from travelling. The flight load was not high so it didn't take as long as I expected to finish everything and make my way towards airside. Check-in is now mostly self-service and automated. Collected my boarding pass at a kiosk before heading to self-tag and check-in my bag

Just a giant lollipop. Nothing to see here.

Airside

Changi has not returned to its prime even with the VTLs. Also, probably because it's 5am.

My boarding pass for this flight. I believe I've seen the last of the traditional boarding passes and it will now be this paper boarding pass.

This receipt was issued to me after self checking-in my bag.

An early flight means the few open food places in Changi will generate a long queue.

CBTL seems to have been spared the brunt of the morning crowd.

A nice and quiet Changi, just the way I like it.

FIDS are finally filling up again compared to my previous trip last year. At least now they fill up all the screens.

My flight will be departing from Gate A14 this morning. A number of passengers were already waiting outside and judging by the numbers looks like a roughly 70% flight load.

There she is, 9V-SCB, the B78X which will be flying me to Seoul today.

After getting past security, I sat down and proceeded to fill in the VTL documents required for this trip. The waiting area isn't full but as expected, the flight load is roughly 70%.

20 minutes before departure, boarding is called, beginning with priority passengers.

Making my way onboard…

On-board

And here we are, finally onboard. 

Seated in 73K for this flight. The third row from the back. Perks of the seat is there is no seat behind so you can have no worries reclining back fully.

I like this welcome screen. Simple and straightforward.

Passenger instrument panel. Reading light, call button, USB charging and 2-pin headphone jack(It's time for a single 3.5mm jack SQ. We're in the 2020s).

Passengers were still slowly filing into the cabin.

The crew handed out a care kit to passengers on board. 

Seatback amenities are still limited to an airsickness bag and safety card.

Quick pre-flight trip to the lavatory. Interesting to see SQ still stock toothbrushes and combs in the economy lavatory.

A single lavatory is reserved for crew use.

I do enjoy the new Krisworld entertainment system. It's useful when you can link your account to continue shows after transiting. Sadly, I won't be doing any of that this trip. 

Doors are shut! And look at the number of free rows at the back.

Pushback and the safety video screening occur simultaneously.

A quick look at the flight map

And lift-off! Passing by Pulau Tekong and I can even see where I used to do my basic training. 

Into the blue morning sky.

Made a short southward detour before heading back up north.

The cabin crew began the meal service immediately after reaching cruising altitude somewhere over the South China Sea.

Breakfast options were a continental offering of omelet and sausage or kimchi fried rice. I opted for the kimchi fried rice and I was… underwhelmed. I couldn't taste anything at all. Never had such a bland meal on SQ.

Still finished my meal as I was pretty hungry.

Kicked back, relaxed and going to enjoy the rest of my flight.

More flight map details. 

I think the crew could have dimmed the cabin slightly but since it's not a red-eye I think they didn't bother.

Passing over Taiwan.

1 hour before arrival, the captain comes on the radio to give arrival details.

Landing into ICN.

Final stats for the flight!

Passengers seated while taxing…

And passengers disembarking.

Good-bye! Until next time!

disembarkation

Shuffled along with everyone else to complete the VTL procedures.

The whole process tool roughly an hour before finally being able to collect my bag from Belt 6.

Duty-free is open!

May look like plenty of arrivals but it's mostly codeshares.

After customs, VTL travelers are herded towards the PCR test sites which had to be booked before departure.