Hi folks, here is the Flight Report related to my flight to Paris for a week off. I am used to SQ334, but only in Y or J but not in Suite.
I am a saver and I like to keep a small buffer of miles in my KF account… a strategy that the member G_G has convinced me to give up upon. Reasons are the constant increase in the number of miles needed for redemption tickets, the most recent being TK and LH (and DL but I'm not a ST folk). In addition, the upcoming arrival of AI in *A will open the gates to 000s of new members so the already-limited availability of First/Suite saver tickets will be an issue even more.
I have flown SQ enough in J and Y, so I have decided to treat myself to the very front cabin :)
So, I've broken my piggy-bank to spend miles, the routing will be:
- SIN-CDG on 388 SQ – Suites
- CDG-LHR on 320 AF – Eco
- LHR-SIN on 77WN SQ – new First (2013)
I will try to translate the LHR-SIN as well soon.
Thanks to the members of the SQTalk forum, I've gathered all the info and tips to ensure I make the most of this trip.
It all starts in SIN at check-in.
I have been to the T3 in Changi countless times… but not to he Fist class SQ check-in. On the ramp leading to the terminal building, the road splits just before the main terminal building to a separate entrance on the side. It's a not a separate building like JetQuay but a separate entrance and facilities for First/Suite SQ pax.
I had to ask the taxi driver to slow down upon reaching the terminal as he was not familiar either with this hidden entrance (although there is proper signage).
Here we are, it's like reaching a hotel. A hostess welcomes me and a groom takes my suitcase from the booth of the taxi.
Inside the building, SQ Boys & Girls are everywhere
First time I come across a check-in counter with a seat ;)
My BP - the last one with my PPS status, could not renew so I'll be *G again soon :(
Invitation to the The Private Room.
The inside of the First class check-in - It looks a bit like an airline lounge (of course), I have not seen any drinks or catering though.
A hostess guides me to the exit to bring me to the passport control. Not very far, around 5 meters to walk ! That's a SQ First dedicated passport control
There, 2 automated gates with fingerprint recognition and 2 manned-counter. I go through the gate, the door opens… being the only pax at that time, the policewoman at the counter saw me take this picture :( She scolds me mildly, I can go through ;)
Once the security cleared, another SQ staff is waiting for me. She takes me through the airside area to the SilverKris lounge.
Here we are. I have been many times to the left section of the lounge but never to the right section, the First Class section…
Which I go through without stopping to go to the Private Room. I will describe the FCL in a next FR. Now, the Private Room (TPR) : it’s a sub-section of the FCL, reserved for SQ First/Suites pax, regardless of their class of travel and Krisflyer status. Unlike the FCL where Solitaire PPS can join even if not travelling First.
Inside, my first impression is to be in a private club, very cozy and quiet. A hostess welcomes me, guides me to a free seat and offers me a drink.
If there is a lounge, there must be a dining room too ;) here it is
9 :15pm : time for a drink, Dom Pérignon 2004. That’s the only choice here, while airborne Krug GC is also on the menu.
Principle is that of a restaurant. Except for cheese and desserts, everything else is ordered on the menu and cooked on the spot.
The food menu :
The wine list :
The hostess asks if I’d rather have my dinner in my current seat or in the dining room. The latter is better, she will inform me when my food order is ready to be served in the dining room.
Time for food, the lobster from the menu turns out to be crayfish. I picked that dish in the TPR because I have ordered something else from Book the Cook for the dinner onboard. Like all dishes, this one comes in a reasonably sized portion. This will allow me to sample more than one dish and silent the critics who said I have not eaten enough on my JFK-HKG ?
2nd dish : the burger with duck liver, yummy meat.
And a drop of Pichon Longeville (Pauillac) 2007 to go along the DP. La champagne glass is very common unlike the wine glass, which is from Schott Zwiesel.
My closest neighbor wears a Jaeger Reverso Squadra, a watch I’ve been eyeing on since months but which is a tad pricey. He ordered the dim sums selection.
I do not have the same watch but at least I have the same dim sums ;)
Unlike those from the Skyview lounge in T1, these seem to be freshly made.
3 main courses, is that allright for one FR ? Good, so I’ll skip the cheese and desserts, which selection is not outstanding anyway.
Time for toilet-break : I’ll spare you the pictures. They are the same than in the J section of the lounge except for the cosmetics, which are Ferragamo-branded (like the amenity kit on the flight)
The atmosphere in the lounge is very quiet (not that I expected anything else), being in this lounge seems to be very normal for all these folks. But for me it’s not, I keep moving all over the place and taking tens of pictures lol
And the excitement is growing, I want to board that plane to enjoy every minute of it !
So I leave the lounge to go to my boarding gate.
On the way out, a quick picture of the Business section of the lounge, very packed tonight (that’s a Saturday night)
My aircraft for tonight, a 388 9V-SKI, born in 2009
All one needs to do is follow the signage, that’s easy
On SQ’s 388, the Suites are located on the main deck just behind the flying deck. The rest of the main deck is economy class. Upper deck is for business class entirely or with a small economy section at the back, depending on the aircraft configuration.
A Leading Stewardess welcomes me. Good evening Mr. Durian, welcome back, let me guide you to your seat. She presents me with the main features of the Suite.
My seat, 3A, on that flight.
She offers to take a picture of me. She indeed noticed I took at least 20 pics in the 3 minutes since I boarded the plane :)
My arm raised is nothing political, just to show that there is indeed lots of space around : I can barely touch the window on my left
The overall layout is 1-2-1. The 2 Suites in the center can be merged into one to make for a 2 pax-bedroom. The height of the partitions must be around same than my height, 1m80 (5’11), so it guarantees a good level of privacy.
More pics of the cabin
12 suites in total. This picture is taken from the area close to door 1L. On the left is the staircase leading to the Business class.
The seating layout is as such that seat are alternate. If I look 90 degrees to my write I see the partition between Suite 2 and 3, I won’t see a pax.
6 pax tonight. And 3 crews to pamper us, which should be fine :)
The LS will come twice: one for the newspaper selection and another one to bring me the SQ bears I asked for ;)
In terms of lighting, the Suites are fitted with 3 sources of individual light (other than the general lighting in the cabin, which I can’t control lol): 1 is in the partition next to the IFE screen. Another one above my head on the partition. And a third, a mood/night light under the IFE and under the ottoman.
So, the first light is in front, above the ottoman
Like in an hotel, this card mentions the name of the person who has been in charge of preparing the Suite.
The controls on my left, with the usual connectivity.
Seat pitch and ottoman, that’s generous !
I have 3 windows ! I think I read somewhere this is specific to row 3, other Suites have 2 only.
The tablet. It’s foldable into 2 halves.
The IFE remote control on my right. Unlike the brand new Panasonic IFE system installed on the latest 77WN, this is the very common Panasonic that can be found on many airlines, including SQ current fleet.
The seat control panel
On the right of the IFE screen, a courtesy mirror
On the left of the IFE screen is a small cabinet
Allright, enough talking, time for a Krug Grande Cuvee, fantastic !
The crew takes this opportunity for small talk, asking if I leave in France or Singapore. My turn to ask questions now : while in Paris, the crew stays at a small boutique hotel in the hip neighborhood of the Marais, way nicer than staying at the CDG Sheraton !
At midnight, the Captain takes on the mike, announces a 13hrs20 flight with turbulences… for the first… 8 hours !
The crew is 4 pilots and 24 cabin crews, wow.
Pushback at 00:05am. To celebrate the pushback I ask for another glass of Krug :)
Take-off at 00:25am, more or less on time.
A quick look into the washrooms: for those preferring the toilets to their Suite, this couch can be reclined to form a rather large seating area. The washrooms are large by any mean compared to J or Y. But smaller than those I have see on reports in EK First class.
I am one person who follows the rules. In everything lol In an aircraft I never go beyond the curtain of the class I’m travelling into ;)
So I wondered if the Suite cabin would be flooded during the flight by Y pax coming to take pictures of the Suites. Well, rest assured ( !), no such thing. Starting from the front of the aircraft, first is the cockpit of course lol Then the Suites, the First toilets and galley. Then a curtain. Then the Economy toilets and galley. So the likelihood of a Y pax reaching the front cabin is rather low. And, knowing SQ, I think making sure this does not happen is part of the First protocol.
Similarly, upstairs, velvet cord prevents Business class pax to walk down the stairs.
Here is the QuietComfort noise-cancellation headset from Bose.
The menu is handed over to me by a SQ Boy.
Menu
The alcoholic beverages selection.
And now the amenity kit is handed over to me along with the pajamas. The kit is Sothys-branded, which I find not really high-end for a First class. Once again, be it in Y, J or First, amenity kits are not one of SQ’s strengths !
That’s the pajama, Givenchy. Good quality. The SQ Girl gives me a XL, which turned out to be too large for me. The crew serving me on my upcoming LHR-SIN will have a better judgment and give me a L size which is better suited for me ;)
Size of the IFE. It’s simply enormous.
I kept the slippers after the flight as they are of better quality than those usually given away in hotels.
Sorry for the blur pic: sleeping mask and socks. Again, the sleeping mask is made of plush material and very pleasant to wear, I have kept it too.
Time to eat soon ! Another crew brings my pre-meal drink, a Singapore Sling served with warm nuts. It’s nice but it simply can’t compare with CX’s Cloud Nine.
A meal on SQ cannot be considered complete without garlic bread ! However, no satay due to the late timing of the flight.
And now is the caviar. Sorry the picture is blur too. Not only the portion is small but I’m not such a caviar fan. I would have happily traded it for AF’s duck liver.
The LS comes check on me : « is everything OK Mr Durian ?», to which I reply « I can’t complain » lol
Let’s try another wine… that’s a Cos d’Estournel 2007, very high end. French red often ends up in Bordeaux as that’s where the big names are. Of course it’s very good but, living in Singapore, I have now almost completely gave up on too-heavy cabernet sauvignon. Instead, I’d rather go for lighter Burgundy/Loire valley wines, which are better suited for Singapore climate.
Bread again
My Book The Cook order, “US grilled Prime beef fillet”, delicious and very tender meat.
Time for cheese. I like the way they are presented with the small flags.
After that 10,000 calories evening, you can’t blame me for skipping dessert… but I won’t skip the dessert wine, which is a sweet Sauternes
The SQ Girl comes back to clear the dinner table and ask me if I need something else. No thanks, I’m done ! However, if I ask her to set up the bed for the night.
Time to sleep. I go to the washroom to change into my pajamas… while I could have done that in the Suite, not used to it yet :)
Passing in front of the galley, a crew sees me and hand over to me a hanger to put my clothes on.
When I come back, the SQ Girl is almost done with the bed.
The bed unfolds from the partition behind the seat, unlike the non-Suite P (or J long haul) whereby the back of the seat is the actual bed.
I have not watched the actual setting up of the bed but the secret is unveiled here. That’s an actual bed. And you see also that the whole table on the left of the seat is retracted into a lower position.
I think the bed is more than 2 meters-long, I had plenty of space around my head and feet.
Overall, the quality of the material is closer than what one can expect from a hotel rather than in an aircraft. So is the same for the quality of sleep :)
Durian wishes you a good night zzzzzz
I wake up after a 6hrs30 very good sleep. I switch on the light. Soon after, I hear someone is knocking at the door ! Come in ! A smiling SQ Girl appears and asks me Good morning Mr. Durian, did you sleep well ?. Great way to start the day :)
I go to the washrooms (yes, that’s fascinating, I know ;)
Once back at my seat, the bed has been rearranged neatly. It’s way better than when I was a kid ! Here I can leave my bedroom in a mess ! And not only my mom is not here to scold me but someone actually has been clearing the mess :)
That’s where we are at this stage
SQ has recently changed the layout of their inflight magazine Krisflyer. Only improvement is that it now shows clearly how wide the choice of movies/TV shows is !
I know there is wifi onboard this aircraft and ask the crew if it’s for free. Considering I’m travelling Suite, I would expect that (although I know it’s not). He tells me he will check about that. Moment later, he comes back with this card… I appreciate the gesture yet 15 Mb is so little. That’s very stingy of SQ…
Anyway, even if enjoyed free wifi on TK’s 77W, I truly enjoy being disconnected for a few hours as part of the flight experience. When the day comes that cellphones are allowed on board, I’ll be very sad.
A hot towel is handed over to me. I have only pictured this one. Throughout the flight, I think there were 8 to 10 in total.
Let’s talk privacy now : partitions are high enough and one cannot see through the door and side panels when closed. However the blinds on the side panel are see-through in their lower section, allowing for a crew bending to see inside the Suite. No Mile High club is possible !
Probably for safety reasons, the inside of the sliding door is not made of « hard » material but made of fabrics instead. I suppose, in case of an emergency, that it’s possible to break through them even if the sliding doors are closed or blocked. Sorry I won't try it although I try to make a very comprehensive report ;)
The handle, nice design and leather material
I really enjoyed the warm colors of the Suite. I’m a little less enthusiastic about the wood panels, although less clear and tacky than those on EK.
Time to change back to my clothes. A crew puts my polo shirt on a hook in the washroom. Once I’m done, one of the crew asks me if I need to carrier to take the pajamas away after the flight.
When I’m back at my seat, the bed has been fully folded and the seat is in normal position. Good point is apparently some light deodorant has been spread in the cabin, not a bad idea after an overnight long-haul flight.
2 hours 20 minutes before landing, it’s time for breakfast. I start with a brazilian double-espresso, one of 6 illy coffees available.
All here is Givenchy: plates, cutleries, pajamas, blanket and pillow.
Fresh fruit to start with and a fresh orange juice (well, fresh from the day of departure, that is)
Yes we love mango !
A warm croissant, quite good considering the next Parisian bakery is a few thousands miles away !
Are we there yet ?
And burger for breakfast, from Book the cook as well, the meat is also very good.
Come on, eating greens is good for you !
That’s my first First/Suite flight…, which I intend to enjoy to the fullest… Krug for breakfast, yeah !!
Caviar toast with scrambled eggs (prepared onboard, so waaaay better than those I’m used to in Y class !)
Hot towel #243
A view of the seat in a reclined position.
A then go for a walk around to stretch my legs. At the galley, a crew asks if I need anything. I tell him I’m just walking around and he ask me if I want to help ;)
I think I did quite a good flight-reporter job so far but there is one point I did not check fully : I think the toilets are refreshed after each use, and the paper-roll put in a hotel-like V-shape style.
We are now close to landing. I am handed over the Number 1 fast track pass for passport control in CDG, which can be JFK-like (yet in a more messy fashion),
I did not notice this at first. A small hanging cabinet is outside in-between 2 Suites.
My first-ever pic of the 2 engines on a 388 !
Landing soon.
Some air-to-air spotting now, that’s a 73x Smartwings
With the zoom at its maximum (I carry a 2nd camera just for that purpose), this is a AA 767 in its final then after landing
That’s the SmartWings I spotted earlier
Ok, time to go, you want to stay here or you come along ?
In the bowels of the ugly T1
Perfect, very little waiting time at passport control this morning.
My luggage will be delivered quickly. As usual on SQ, luggages for Suites/Business/PPS/*G are delivered on carousel #5 while economy class luggages are on #6.
Welcome to Paris !
Overall logistics of the morning: landing was at 7:43am and I’m on the bus to Paris Opera (Roissybus) at 8:18am ! Impressive ground performance from CDG !
Thanks for reading and see you soon for the return flight !
I appreciate your account of this perfect trip that undoubtedly will be the benchmark by which some will use to compare other subsequent trips in F.
Considering the cost and exclusiveness of SQ First, it seems a bit stingy that the airline does not offer the signature satay sticks and chooses to differentiate between a supper vs dinner flight. I feel that nothing should be too much for a passenger of this caliber flying on the world's most decorated airline and SQ should pull out all stops to provide the full F experience. I concur with you about the quality of the amenity kit as well, at least the brand that was presented to you. As a matter of fact, the AZ Ferragamo one in J exceeds the quality of this one. In all fairness, SQ has also provided the former brand as kits in F, but this rotation doesn't seem to measure up as well.
For some reason, it looks like the seat's width is slightly more compact than expected. One of the things that defines a F cabin is spaciousness with plenty of room to stretch out and in that sense, it seems that the seat is somewhat confined. Did you feel this way or is it the angle of the picture?
The chinaware pattern is distinctively elegant and sober, reminding me of the texture of caviar. Speaking of which, I also happen to profess a lesser appreciation for it when compared to a more satisfying foie gras.
Tomato panna cotta for dessert? A bit daring in my humble opinion, even though tomato is scientifically a fruit developing from the ovary in the base of the flower and containing the seeds of the plant.
I appreciate your authoritative report full of details and engaging images, particularly told with humor and charm through your small companions.
The seat at the check in counter sets the mood : customer comfort is priority #1. The check in area looks more like the lobby of a 4-5* hotel, actually, and the same could be said of the lounge. Bon voyage : the message at passport control took account of the nationality.
The cabin has been designed with privacy in mind, but I guess I would find it somewhat claustrophobic.
I remember that when SQ introduced its F double bed suites, they issued a very carefully worded statement that chastity was requested from passengers. And also that SQ FAs stop passengers from visiting the other cabins, of the upper class of course, but also of the lower class, unlike on other airlines (I seldom peek at the Y cabin when traveling in J).
As I mentioned in my comment of the return flight, I like the zipped pocket of the amenity kit bag, which improves its reuse-ability.
The hand is OK for measuring the IFE in Y of cheap airlines. A tape meter would have been more appropriate here ;)
The French cheese is apparently a Saint Albray. Its size is convenient, and it is reasonably tasty, but this cheap industrial cheese does long belong to a First class meal. On the other hand, I now know that I eat First class at home :)
I share your enjoyment of being disconnected from the internet while flying, so I would not criticize the charge for the wifi. The teddy bear pictures are so cute !
Great air-to-air picture !
Thanks for the time spent to take so many pictures and post this comprehensive report !
I liked your report, very nice pics :) sq is the best
Thanks a lot for sharing this fantastic and unforgettable trip.
I'm even more hungry and thirsty now...
SQ leads the way !
Wow...now that's what I call a report! A pleasure to read this report and your enthusiasm to be in Suites for the first time shines through. The grade of perfect 10 is well deserved....it just doesn't get better than the Suites on SQ...the epitome of travel luxury. Beautiful pictures with lots of detail pictures that add an artistic touch. The catering pictures are really good and made me hungry :-) The bears are so cute!!! I want one.
I give your report a grade of 10 as well :-)
Thanks again for sharing!
007 is right. Airlines act like banana Republics : they devaluate their money whenever they need to, regardless of inflation. So take the money and spend it !
I will be *G again :( : please some decency and turn the smiley the other way round ;)
The lounge seems exceptionnal. I would love to try it...I hope to some day soon, although I don't even own a watch ^^
Once onboard, the suite is indeed very nice, but SQ offers such a nice J that the difference with P isn't striking. And the catering doesn't help differentitate more (but the drinks do). The beef looks great though !
Good night sleep is what I expect at the front of the plane, but even the best P doesn't match a good hotel bed. The V-shaped paper roll in the toilets is a nice touch though.
Seriously, your poloshirt is a size 4 ?! Maybe you were sold a fake crocodile in Asia ;) ?
The breakfast is lavish. Watch your calories ^^ !
Thanks for this great FR !