SQ Business: SIN-HKG (Part 1 - Lots of Photos)

[Julian L]

Hi all, and welcome to my first ever trip report. This will cover the Singapore to Hong Kong leg of my trip.

Background

Back in October of 2012 I got an email from Singapore Airlines saying I had 30,000 miles expiring at the end of October. So instead of expending them I decided to spend it on a business class flight somewhere, as I have never flown business class. After looking around I decided on going to Hong Kong. It had the aircraft I wanted to fly and I have always wanted to visit Hong Kong. I had chosen my flights, as I wanted to try both of SQ’s business class offerings, the regional seat and the long haul seat. I had also never flown on an A330, shocking I know. So it was decided, I would fly when I was in Singapore visiting family, which I will cover in a different trip report as it is a lot less interesting.

Flight 1
Date: 12/01/13
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight: SQ 890
Aircraft: Airbus A330-300E
Registration: 9V-STC
Seat: 16A
Route: SIN-HKG
ETD: 7:25
ETA: 11:20

Fun Facts
21st Flight on Singapore Airlines
1st Flight on an A330-300
1st Flight on 9V-STC

At The Airport

I arrived at the airport nice and early at 5 am. This was to maximise my time in the lounge. T3 was quite as per usual and check in was very quick in typical Changi fashion as there were multiple counters open for business class with absolutely no wait. I got my lounge invitation printed onto my boarding pass with a nice Blue strip at the top indicating business class.


My Boarding Pass

I didn’t delay and went straight through immigration again with no lines. I headed for the lounge which having never been there before took me towards the KrisFlyer Gold lounge rather then directly to the SilverKris Lounge, but no problem, they are next to each other. I found a seat in a dark looking and very very crowded lounge near to the food. I settled down and went to get some breakfast. I had virtually everything they had on offer. Sorry no pics, I was too hungry.


A sneaky shot of the lounge, too many people to take everything

Having had breakfast and a really bad coffee thanks to the automatic machines, I headed to A13, the gate I would depart from. It was a fairly long walk to A13 but I didn’t mind. I still couldn’t see much outside due to the very low light and multiple layers of glass.


Almost there!

At the gate there wasn’t much of a line and I quickly passed through security without any hassle. The lounge was fairly full and I spotted my A330 outside. It was still dark and the reflections were too much for me to get a clean shot of it. Boarding was called fairly quickly and for once I was one of the first to board.


Only shot of my A330.

The Flight

I boarded through door L1 and was greeted by name and directed but not escorted to my seat in the last row of business class. I chose this seat, as it would give the best view of the wing in business class. I then got a glass of orange juice as a welcome drink. During boarding I had no view out of my window except for the grey jet way connected to door L2. I settled down and got acquainted with the biz seat. Not a bad product, the only annoying thing is that there is no under seat storage. But not to worry the very friendly stewardess offered to keep my camera bag in the overhead bins. The load today wasn’t too bad. Only 4 or 5 seats were empty.


Obligatory legroom shot


Seat controls and remote


SilverKris Magazine and Menu


Socketts

Socketts were handed out and our orders taken for breakfast. I chose the “Selection of Dim Sim” as from previous experience “eggs + altitude = disgusting” and I didn’t fancy having noodles. Yes I know this menu says brunch and it is from SQ 856/861 but it has exactly the same menu and I couldn’t be bothered to take two shots.


Breakfast selections

The jet ways pulled back and pushback was imminent. I could finally see the apron, and the rest of SQ land. We taxied towards 20C, where virtually all the aircraft depart from. We were 4th in line for take-off but had to wait for one landing Air India.


Pulling away


9V-SWR next to us


It’s definitely Singapore. The land of SQ heavies


Our gate


Pins out, we are ready to go


9V-STN, One of my aircrafts sisters