There are currently 2 flights to Osaka daily (3rd one coming in April), either the red-eye at or a noon flight. Although I would have preferred to try out the Dreamliner, the timing was rather not conducive for my short travel as I end up losing one day. I opted instead for the ungodly hour of SQ618 which departs at 130am (for 5.5 hours flight).
I had written on it before and this is just and update. The flight is pretty much similar except that TV is available and they even distribute headphones on such a short journey.
They also finally have an airside lounge, which is still a third party lounge (Sama-sama lounge)
We had to do a last minute trip to Wuhan for a few days. It was unfortunate that we had to give up the same ticket we redeemed in September using the 50% discount on spontaneous escape. I had wrote a brief review on Silkair Economy Class for our travel in June (exact destination) and let’s see how does Silkair’s Business Class stand?
After 2 nights in The Big Apple, it is time to come back. A very short trip indeed, but this is all the time I could afford to be away from work.
I had both a confirmed advantage Business ticket and a waitlisted Business saver ticket. I was very much hoping for my waitlist to clear but by 12 October, I did not receive the clearance email. I know my waitlist was unlikely to clear. I had problem checking in online the day before flying as my saver waitlist was still active. I tried cancelling my waitlist and I had trouble doing it using the SQ app. I was prepared to go to the airport early to do it but by the night before flying back, my waitlist booking automatically disappeared and I could finally check in! On checking in, I noticed that the cabin is full!
With the 787-10 serving mainly the regional sector, how does it fare compared to the Business Class cabins of the A380 and 77W? I shall let the pictures do the talking (courtesy of my business partner, AF).
Unlike my previous flight, my return flight had no BKK stopover (phew….). Hong Kong International Airport has city check in counters at their Airport Express Stations in Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Station. It has check in facility for many major airlines (which is listed here). I decided to do one dim sum stop before flying back and boy it wasn’t the best decision. My flight departs at 4:40pm and I did my city check in at 12:30pm. Unfortunately, my dim sum stop took longer than expected (we waited for 1 hour before we were seated and we were still in the restaurant at 2:30pm!). However, there was no regret as the dim sum was good (we tried the dim sum in Maxim Palace in City Hall). We got back to the station at 2:50pm and we managed to catch the train (the train leaves once every 10 minutes). The journey to HKIA took about 25 minutes and with the boarding pass in hand, we can go straight into the departure area. Even though HKIA has a courtesy lane, they are not meant for premium customers. Thankfully, getting through security was a breeze and the wait was even shorter for the immigration (thanks to the autogate).
One of the best use of British Airways Avios is for short haul/regional flights. For my March trip, I spent 7500 Avios for one way Club Europe between London and Munich. Intra-Asia flights are also a good way to use your Avios, where a one way Business Class from Singapore to Hong Kong cost only 20,000 Avios (vs 30,000 for Asia Miles prior to devaluation). The tax cost about SGD $50-60 per person.
I intended to redeem the SIN-HKG direct flight but due to mistake on my part, I did not manage to get the ticket on time and the availability was gone by the time I tried to redeem it. Hence, I ended up with CX 711 that flies thru Bangkok.
Avios has very good value for short haul flights (especially for Club Europe) where single way seat cost just 7500 Avios and up. I paid about 15000 Avios at SGD $96 for 2 person. No doubt Club Europe is nothing spectacular, one still get Priority Check in and Security Screening (which is helpful), Lounge Access in Terminal 5 Galleries Lounge and of course priority boarding. So how did the flight go?
After 2 years of launch, I finally get to try the Airbus A350-900 XWB. SQ 327 was originally operated on a 77W which was changed to A350 since 2017. With the change, Munich no longer has any First Class.
Singapore Airlines fly out of Terminal 2 (while the S-Bahn stops at Terminal 1). There is a Priority Security screening line for Business Class passengers and once through, you will be in the Schengen Area. There is a Lufthansa Lounge in the Schengen Area but international travellers need to use the one that is located after the immigration screening (which unfortunately has no priority line).
QR303 (DOH-HEL), QR302 (HEL-DOH) and QR848 (DOH-KUL)
I decided to lump the review of all 3 flights under one post as these flights offered similar experience using the same type of plane (and hence cabin).
Unlike the A330-200, the A330-300 experience was much better. Unlike the former, A330-300 seats are 180 degree full flat and newer with more storage space allocated. As A330-300 is longer, the Business Class Cabin thus has more seats (30 vs 24 in A330-200) and is not cut off by the galley. Seats are still configured in 2-2-2 making it less attractive than those on Dreamliner and A350-900 (or Qsuites).
That Time Of The Year! 