This flight report covers the outbound leg of a recent return trip from Sydney to Singapore
777-312ER 9V-SWJ SQ222 SYD/SIN 20K BUS 34575 SINGAPORE AIRLINES This report
A380-841 9V-SKF SQ221 SIN/SYD 32G PremEco 12 SINGAPORE AIRLINES
There are 4 daily flights from SYD to SIN operated by a mix of 777-300ER, 777-300, 777-200 A380 and A330. There is a bit of inconsistency in the business class product as nearly each aircraft type offers a different business class product.
I have deliberatly chosen the mid afternoon flight as it is operated by the 777-300ER which offers the latest generation business class product. That product is superior to that of the A380.
The other aircraft offer a more classic 2 x 2 x 2 configuration which are a far cry from the far more superior A380 and 777-300ER 1 x 2 x1 product.
I am not sure if all the 777-300ER have been fitted with the new product, as I have received confilicting information from the SQ staff, including the staff at the lounge who did not know whether the aircraft was fitted with the new seats…
Whenever possible I track the inbound aircraft. Here she is in Western New South Wales. It is 9V-SWJ, featuring the Star Alliance livery (pretty dull and boring to say the least!)
Check in area at SYD Airport. Spacious and never crowded. I have a mobile boarding pass, yet I have to check in at the counter to drop my bag and have my passport controlled.
There are 3 SYD-SIN flight within a few minutes SQ222, BA16 (777-300ER) and QF5 (A330).
Going through immigration is a breeze, as the Automated Border Control Smart Gate have been installed. It is a one machine - two step process 1) Passport check 2) biometric reading
as opposed to the inbound smart gate which are a 2 machines ( a koisk passport reader and a biometric gate) 2 steps process.
Sydney Aiport is going through a major overhaul of the international terminal. It is still very much work in progress. The duty free area has been moved back which gives the passenger a larger area to recompose after the stress of security. Happy passenger will shop more, more so that if airport put the duty free right in their face! Some studies actually demonstrate that.
Artistic posters to hide the construction depicts cities served from Sydney
Convenient recharging station. Is that Jean-Paul Gaultier ? Bet that guy is French. Mind you, he was!!!!!
Walking towards Pier C
Plane spotting
Qantas vintage truck !
My plane
Jetstar A320-200 parked at the Domestic Terminal (T2)
VH-OEH just arrived from Johannesburg. Long live the Queen of the sky and I am not looking forward to seeing her disappearing from the
commercial aviation landscape.
BA 777 with wich we will race to SIN, a few minutes apart!
United 777-200 seen from the Lounge
Pier C occupied by Singapore Airlines
The R&M William Shop
The Singarore Airlines Lounge
A small area of the lounge is made of little pod which are very similar to the business class seat! Clever!
Time to board
The new seat - latest generation - A little smaller than the ones found on the A380 but more functional space. This seat does recline further than the one on the A380 however it does not recline all the way to a flat position. See further down the report for the flat bed position.
Details of the various practical features
Leg space on an angle
The cabin
Amenities - very basic, but just what I need.
Bathroom - Convenient mixer to regulate warm and cold water
Pretty cool to have two windows
Ready to go - just checking on Flight Radar 24!
Taxiing to the active runway - That Air Canada 777-200 looks very much AOG ! Not going anywhere
Take off video:
Panasonic eX3 Inflight Entertainment System : very intuitive interface, similar to what your find with smart phone or tablet. However I find the remote does not work very well (too sensitive or not enough!)
The coolest feature is the possiblity to watch the moving map and the airshow on the remote while watching a movie on the main screen1
See Vincent Kassel and Francois Cluzet in action !
Video demonstration of the IFE
The movie selection is very comprehensive on Singapore Airlines. Most likely they offer the widest selection of French and Foreign movies.
Now dinner. I have order my meal on line (cook to order). My selection is seafood thermidor. This is the second time I order that dish and it is just delicious.
See what's on offer. Very broad selection of beverage including soft drinks, coffee and tea. Apologies for the up side down pictures but I can't seem to rotate them!
The dinner: Entree, Main, Desert and Cheese - No wine as I never drink when I fly.
Sunset over Northern Australia
Although this is a day flight I decide to install the bed to try it. To do so the passenger needs to get up and fold the back seat by pushing it forward.
The position is comfortable although my feet are placed in an angle.
Prior to landing we are served refreshment (fried rice)
Arrival at Changi Airport
Customs Hall - Never many people, cleared customs within one minute!
Baggage Claim area
Our flight is code shared by at least 5 other airlines, which means I have to wait for 30 seconds before the SQ22 flight is shown…
Bonus photo: The tray of the premium economy dinner serve on board the A380 return service back to Sydney.
Other bonus photos:
Departure Flight Board: Codeshared flights are giving Airport nightmares….
View from the Jen Orchard Gateway Hotel, right in the heart of Orchard Road
Xmas decorations on Orchard Road
View from my friend's place on Bayshore Rd, not far from Changi. The haze was gone that day, yet for a Sydneysider this looks hazy enough…
He has a great sense of hospitality. Saucisson anyone ?
Would you rather go to this restaurant ?
Or perhaps here, at the Raffles ?
Christmas wreaths already up at the check-in counters, Australians are worse than Americans…
That’s convenient that your plane was leaving from Italian Bite.
“as I never drink when I fly..”
- Good idea, that way you never have to use the lavatory either.
Sarcastic comments out of the way :), thanks for sharing this first peek at the new SQ cabin. It looks like a solid product with plenty of privacy and storage space. I’ve never really liked how you have to sleep at and angle, but I guess that is a sacrifice they have to make. Still setting the bar for J products.
Did I miss something or is there no salmon on your starter? The tray free service on SQ is always nice to see with well-plated dishes. I guess something other than an entrée would have been nicer to see on arrival since that is at a quasi dinnertime.
Fantastic spotting at SYD.
Thank you NGO85 for your sharp comments.not drinking is Australian colloqualism for not drinking alchool. I thinkI have been living in Australia way too long lol ! I don't recall salmon in the starter either....
I was just being obnoxious with the literal meaning :) That saying has the exact same connotation in American English.
I'm glad I was finally able to pick out a mistake in SQ's catering with my eagle eye.
See you on the next series :)
not obnoxious, just cheeky. Yes next series is a trip to NZ, when I get a chance to get around to do it!