Flying with class, Singapore Airlines Business

There is always a silver lining beneath every cloud, and that everything happens for a reason were just the two familiar phrases ringing in my mind as I was sitting at the lounge whiling time away, waiting for my flight, and for a good reason too, especially after the harrowing experience just the day before as I was about to get on my flight.

While it was definitely an unforgettable experience, it did make two of them as I could not believe that I was about to be boarding the flight and this time, seated in the business class section.
It was about to my first experience, and one that I will not forget.
(It may be common for many people who have been traveling business class for years, and may even chuckle at me :-) but I don't mind, as I will probably laugh at myself too years from now on).

Flying business class does not makes one rich, and it is also not all about the prestige and luxury but rather the comfort and the experience especially for the long haul flights; sometimes even
Of course, it elevates one's status with the priority check-in counter designated for the Business and First Class flyers and also the business lounges available for these priority flyers on Singapore Airlines operated flights; the Silver Kris Lounge or the Krisflyer Gold Lounge.

Silver Kris Lounge is accessible for Singapore Airlines Suites, First, Business Class and PPS club members while the Krisflyer Gold Lounge is accessible for the KrisFlyer Elite Gold Member on Singapore Airlines economy class.
(Requirements may differ for codeshare flights though).

Silver Kris Lounge in KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) is well-equipped with the basic facilities; from comfortable couches and Wi-Fi Access to the mini bar counter serving food and drinks, and washrooms/bathrooms to the racks filled with magazines and daily news. To top all that, there is the friendly and hospitable service from the staff to make your waiting time a pleasant one.







Enjoy the view of the daily scenes taking place at the airport while sipping the juices or typing away at your laptop as you relax in their comfy seats.



Boarding the plane was smooth and swift, as the moment the boarding commences, priority is given to the elderly, the infirm and those traveling with children for the economy class while the Suites, First, Business Class and PPS Club members are all free to board at their own convenience anytime.
A different gate for access to the First and Business Class section for the short flight to Singapore.



Luxe leather seats, larger and more comfortable seat spacing and for one to stretch their legs are just the few things to enjoy at first glance.



The flight attendants are attentive as always (even in economy class), and they would be ready with fresh juices and beverages to serve the Business Class passengers while the other passengers are boarding the plane. It may be a short flight, but Singapore Airlines definitely took to note the comfort of their passengers with their hospitality.
The refreshment snack served on my morning flight was the Croissant with seafood otak-otak; a common yet down-to-earth snack but served in a classy gourmet meal setting, complete with napkins and stainless steel cutlery.


The experience made the flight seemed shorter than usual, not to mention the first class service provided by the flight attendants.

However, the real deal came with the long haul flight which was truly a memorable experience and one with class with every detail being taken care of to make the long hours as comfortable as possible  for us passengers.
Larger and well-spaced seats promised more privacy to the passengers with their cube-like enclosures .
Take note that the seat numbers are on the side rather than the top as in economy class, and the slightly encapsulated area of one's seat is a good idea for one to enjoy their movies, reading or even sleeping at their own comfort without feeling like they are being watched by everyone.


There is more than sufficient space for one's seat to recline in a graceful manner, in fact; the seat was designed to recline all the way to make a flat bed for one to sleep on.
The space behind the seat; before it folds and flattens, stores the pillows and blankets reserved especially for the personal use of the seat owner.



There is also different sections in the tv screen panel in front; with USB ports and sockets for charging and for electronic devices use, alongside with a hook for hanging coat, vanity mirror with light, and a foldable and adjustable foot rest as shown below.


There are also additional compartments by the side (for window seats) to store their personal belongings in a tidy manner when one goes to sleep or during the flight.



When it comes to service with a class, Singapore Airlines proved that they are into the details with their aim to ensure their passengers enjoy a comfortable flight.
It lies all in the details; from the design of the seats to the materials used and the space, to the special menu and the settings for a good dining experience which make all the difference for the Business Class (and I am sure it is even better in the First and Suites Class).


Nothing slips the mind of these folks behind Singapore Airlines, as each meal is served with proper settings and fine cutlery, and most importantly, with a smile by the friendly flight attendants.




The menu provided specially crafted meals by their very own chefs; who did an amazing job with the food selection and the presentation of each dish from the appetizers to the main course and the desserts.


Besides the main meals, there is also an all-day dining menu which offers tidbits and light snacks should one get hungry during the long flight.
Just request from the flight attendant and they will be delighted to serve you; the same goes for the drinks with many being special signature concoctions exclusive to Singapore Airlines.



Singapore Airlines Sunrise Sling (or something like that)






It was truly a wonderful experience and I look forward to many more to come.
Prices of the Business Class may be steep; with probably double the price that of economy, but the long haul flights promise a comfortable flight and a good rest throughout the flight.

Comfort, luxury, hospitality and class are all rolled into one on the Business Class of Singapore Airlines and is an exemplary standard to meet their passengers' requirements.

I am not in any way sponsored by Singapore Airlines to write this post, but just merely sharing my personal experience.
I am also not against the Economy Class, as I fly on economy regularly and they are still good too and there is no lowering of standards in the economy class though one can expect the difference in the offering of the facilities, but generally they still strive very hard to meet all their passengers' requirements.

Now, did I also mention that there are also priority tags for the Business Class passengers' luggages? *winks*




*Note: This is not a sponsored post, and is just a personal experience. I am in no way affiliated with Singapore Airlines and am not against Economy Class flights which I do fly on a regular basis.
Thank you.

How I ended up on an ALL Business Class Flight

"Welcome to Los Angeles International Airport", the sign read as I stepped onto the escalator heading to the immigration counter. I was all smiles after a long flight which I spent almost an entire day on and it must have been evident as I approached the immigration officer.
An elderly man who held up my passport to match it to my face, and while I was prepared to answer most of his questions, I certainly did not anticipate those that were to follow.

Officer: How on earth did you get on this flight? It's an all business class flight!
Me: *Smile* Erm, well, I had a bit of trouble with my earlier flight, which I had to cancel and with the limited time I had left, this was the flight which could fit my schedule.
Officer: You're here for business?
Me: No, I am here to visit my husband who is based here for work.
Officer: So, do they like, have a swimming pool or a tennis court on the flight? I'm just wondering since this is one unique flight which is fully business class
Me: *Laughs* None that I know of
Officer: *Laughs* I'm sure there must be something interesting on that flight, but sad to hear that they are going to terminate that flight soon. Guess with all that costs to maintain the flight, it might be hard to sustain the operations though...

Officer: Anyway, Enjoy your trip and welcome to the United States of America!

It was certainly a warm and wonderful welcome from the cool-looking immigration officer and also the crisp air as I stepped out into the cool temperature in the late afternoon in the famous City of Angels, Los Angeles. The fresh air was definitely a delightful greeting, and as my mind switches to that of exhilaration and excitement for my upcoming plans, it did momentarily take away all the stress I had just about a day ago, before I boarded the plane bound for US.

I was not kidding when I said that I had a bit of trouble with my original flight, which, by the way, was not even in the business class category. I had booked the flight two weeks ago, flying coach on Cathay Pacific with multiple transits; Hong Kong, Vancouver and finally, the destination.
I had checked all my traveling documents and also packed diligently, and was headed to KLIA on the day I was supposed to fly with excitement in my heart after enjoying a wonderful dinner with my family the night before.

As I approached the check-in counter, I was stunned when I was informed that I would not be allowed to board the flight as I did not have a Canadian visa.
I stared at the ground staff; a lady who was rather impatient, and asked politely, "But I am just there for transit.. and it's less than an hour"
Lady: I'm sorry, but this is the rules in Canada, even transiting passengers will need to have a visa
Me: But I am not entering Canada, I am still going to be in the airport; going from one gate to another!
Lady: Yes, unfortunately, based on the new requirements and legislations set by the Canadian government, all crew, passengers and even the luggages will need to be unloaded and screened through as they pass through Canada's airports
Me: When was this rule implemented?
Lady: Unfortunately, just two to three months ago. I'm sorry, I really cannot allow you on this flight because you will still not be allowed to board the next flight.

I did not blame her for the rules, and I was probably to blame for not verifying my travel details and to look into all these.
I tried not to hold the line but I had to get further assistance from the staff on changing my flight schedule. There was not much help from her, as she just waved me away with the hotline to contact for my flight bookings, and that would be to talk to the Hongkie crew directly.
I tried calling the hotline, but there was no one available and it was not even lunch hour!
I was exasperated, and it was really frustrating with no one ready to assist us, and the lady earlier was deliberately trying to avoid eye contact.
However, I was thankful for the man behind the business class counter of Cathay Pacific who beckoned to me and assisted me with my inquiries. Though I still had to make my phone call to the Hong Kong office, who were very friendly and helpful by the way, the man was still able to wait and attend to all my questions patiently.

Due to the conflicting times in the flight schedules for Cathay Pacific, I had to cancel my entire flight schedule with them which was taken care of by the staff in Hong Kong and I have to commend his efficiency and professional attitude in handling the entire issue. It was a really smooth process and he took care of everything; telling me not to worry at all about the flight and even hoped I would fly with them in the future. I definitely will, with service like this ;-)

I switched to my default and favorite international airline; Singapore Airlines and as most of the flights were booked, I was booked on the business class flight to United States since the fees for the flights were almost comparable to that of my original Cathay Pacific flight which I also booked at the very last minute. It was going to be my first business class flight, but what I didn't know was that my flight, SQ38, was going to be an ALL Business Class Flight.

Yes, it was all firsts; from flying Cathay Pacific, to canceling my first flight with them and to flying business class to being held at the airport and stranded at the airport, and well, not being able to board my flight, for the first time....

As they always say, there is always a first...for everything...

Note:
My personal thanks to the Hong Kong Cathay Pacific staff who helped me through the process and explained and even checked all available flights to meet my schedule.
You are one awesome airline crew who definitely made a difference to the image of the company, and to us passengers *Thumbs up*

My first experience with Cathay

As far as I can remember, I have always only taken the few airlines since I started traveling; other than that first time I flew out of the country for a camp which I attended on a scholarship years ago when I was still in high school; and that was Northwest Airlines, and other than that, it has always, or at least, almost always the same airlines.
My frequent mileage points are accumulated on those few usual airlines, though I do board different airlines occasionally.

Cathay Pacific airlines is always this airline which I have heard of; which is no surprise as it is one of the highly acclaimed airlines originating from Hong Kong. My first experience was supposed to be last year where I was booked on a flight to the States (which I have yet to blog about, bummer, but will be coming up soon after this series, I promise), and unfortunately got cancelled due to some circumstances which was rather unpleasant. In short, I would not say that was really that memorable of an experience and I would rather dismiss it as it left a bitter taste that I was quite skeptical about the airlines for a short while.
Anyway, you don't avoid airlines for long especially with a major airline like Cathay, which flies regularly to Hong Kong and Taiwan unless you just avoid traveling to those countries.

My recent trip got me booked on Cathay Pacific again, and this time, it was for real, as in I boarded the flight and flew to and from my destination (to be revealed soon).
I have noticed that the seats and space in the aircraft were definitely larger compared to my usual (MAS and SIA), leaving much more leg space right in front.



No complaints about the punctuality, and the ground staff service too, as checking in was quite efficient and swift at the counters. We were bound on a early morning flight, and it did not take us long to get ourselves on board the aircraft.


Raining early in the morning, on the day I was taking off 

Interesting features to take note of on the aircraft: 
1. Touch screen television (selection of movies could be improved to include more variety)

2. Standard power outlet ports available for phone/tablets/laptop charging (the usual 3-pin used in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong).

3. There is this option available on screen where one can view the flight taking off and landing through the camera installed in front of the aircraft

Moving on to the meals, Airlines meals rarely got anyone excited, and I am sure most would agree with me though I have not had much to complain about when I was on my usual airlines.

While Cathay had surpassed in the space and comfortable seats in her aircraft, I can't say the same about the meals served on board. Perhaps it was my own picky tastes when it came to food, or the excitement which enveloped my thoughts at the time of the flight, but frankly, having the same type of food presented to you on both of your outgoing and incoming flight is not exactly my idea of a vacation. I just felt that there could be a little more variety in the choices of food on the menu, or perhaps it was just my luck.














Overall, I wouldn't say my experience was bad, as besides the food, I did find the entire experience an extremely pleasant one and it helped that we had signed up for the Marco Polo membership which entitled us to privileges during boarding and checking in. (find out more at the Cathay Pacific's official website).

To be continued with my destination in a bit....stay tune~

My Escapade to Bangkok

I have to admit, that when my friends asked if I wanted to join on an all-girls' trip to Bangkok, I was rather skeptical. Security may be one of the reasons of course, but there was also the part of planning six months in advance which posed a lot of doubts and uncertainties especially when dealing with a work schedule like mine (well, even with work aside, personal things could come up at the very last minute too).
I am not one for early travel planning or for making booking in advance mainly because my schedule can be rather unpredictable and I like to play safe. At least I could travel with a peace of mind once I have everything under control.
However, I decided to take the risk this time for; it sounds like fun, and besides, I have not traveled with the girls before and Bangkok was one place where I hopped on and off the plane most of the time for layovers or extremely short trips where all I remembered of the city was how the airport looked like, and probably the busy traffic. (I was in the cab most of the time, trying to get to the hotel or the airport anyway).
It was really a spur of the moment thing and to be frank, I was almost caught in last minute changes prior to the trip! Apart from that, I was convinced by my best gal pal who was really like me in lots of ways, who was rather familiar with the city and could help us get through the itinerary planning.

There were news of demonstrations the same week of our trip, but nothing major and we went ahead on the trip. It was a rather good reason for me to catch my breath from the stress piling up to my chin; and I was really looking forward to having a relaxing time; traipsing the streets for interesting sights, do a little shopping and catching up with my old school girlfriends.

Flight food (to be frank, I personally find that Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines serve better in-flight meals than any other airlines I have taken).


Our luggages; not planned but somewhat turned out to be in a rather unique sequence in height =)


It was a short flight from KL to Bangkok; probably an hour plus with our neighboring country (our destination) lagging an hour behind us. The one-hour difference did get us muddled up at times, but it was manageable as we were only there for a couple of days. Besides, the worst scenario would be either sleeping an hour earlier or waking up an hour later, right?

A glimpse of our hotel lobby;  recommended by our 'guide' - Novotel Siam Square.



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This is just a short post as a sneak peek into my trip and will be followed by more posts on the vibrant and bustling city...

To be continued...

Long Flight and meals on Delta Airlines

As I left the comforts of Malaysia Airlines and embark on Delta Airlines for the first time, I did not want to harbor high expectations of the comfort and luxury level.
Anyway, I was not really disappointed in the airlines either although the food, yeah, the food did bug me a little.


In-flight entertainment was still good, thank God, to make us through yet another long flight to our destination. I was extremely excited but I tried to make myself go to sleep to avoid the effects of jet lag when we land at the destination and spoil the first part of my vacation, or honeymoon!

The food we had





Fresh fruits


Chocolate cake


Fresh and moist towelette to freshen ourselves up as we are about to land...

MAS and Flight meals en route to Narita

Taking off at 9am in the morning, I was equipped with books, updated playlists to keep me occupied for the first 8 hours of the flight from my origin to the transit destination; Narita International Airport.

Of course, Malaysia Airlines also made sure that we had a good time by feeding us a full meal and also snacks and constantly hydrating us with rounds of drinks.

There is never a moment of boredom with the updated lists of movies, tv series, and songs on the in-flight entertainment.


Flight meals


Braised chicken with rice


Cold Soba


Chicken salad


Fish with potatoes


Thai mango with shrimp salad


Cake with caramel milk for dessert


Eight hours of flight, a meal and a snack and tons of new movies to watch and a good book, well, not too bad for the first part when one is excited :)