Singapore Changi Airport Silverkris lounge review

Welcome to my next trip review, covering my short, but fulfilling trip to Bangkok, Thailand. This will be my third time to Bangkok, one of the most visited city in the world, I think. As I mentioned in my previous post, my outbound flight was on an award ticket on SQ business class, sadly on the A330, and not the B787-10 aircraft.

I ticketed this one-way trip thanks to the monthly krisflyer spontaneous escape, saving me substantial krisflyer miles. The offers are available from the middle of each month, for specific flights and to specific destinations in the following month.

As Singapore is the hub of SQ, I was able to check in very early for my late day flight. Thereafter, I spent the remaining time relaxing and enjoying myself in the Silverkris lounge. 

There are currently 4 terminals in Singapore Changi Airport, and SQ has a lounge in  terminals 1, 2 and 3, with terminal 3 being the largest due to the number of flights departing from that terminal. There are much more seats and shower rooms as well.

For this trip, I visited the lounges in terminals 2 and 3 airside, conveniently connected by a skytrain ride. It is possible to visit all 3 lounges multiple times if one wishes. Other than the lounge size and the slightly different shower room design (I prefer the ones in terminal 3), the food offerings are similar.

Refreshing fruit-infused water

Local-flavoured ice-cream !

Free wifi available in the lounge, as well as in the airport terminals. Hoping to try out the new SQ suites class one day. Haha !

Clean and well-equipped shower rooms

I believe all 3 lounges are open 24 hours. Buffet style hot dishes is served for breakfast, then it is changed for lunch by 12 noon.

SQ's flights are concentrated mainly at night for long haul European, Australian and the medium haul Asian overnight flights. So the lounge does get crowded late in the night, especially at terminal 3. 

Then there are the regional flights that leave around 8 in the morning for short to medium haul Asian destinations. Between these timings, the lounges are fairly quiet with plenty of empty seats. There is no queue for shower at all.

In conclusion, the silverkris lounge is definitely a comfortable place to relax for hours, with a great variety of food and beverages and cushion seats. 

However, it does lack natural light since it faces indoors. There is no nap room or even sloping seats such as those found in some parts of the terminal for travelers spending a longer time in the lounge.

SQ A380 business class JFK to Frankfurt to Singapore flight review

This is the sole reason for me to embark on my quick round-the-world trip. The return leg of my SQ business class flight from New York City via Frankfurt to Singapore.

I took the first leg of the flight in June. Currently SQ operates two daily flights from Singapore to Frankfurt. A daytime flight on the B77w aircraft and the more popular overnight flight on the A380 aircraft. 

This particular ticket requires me to travel on the daytime flight, overnight in Frankfurt (which I did in the airport airside) and continue to New York City on the A380 the next day.

Fortunately for the return leg, there is no such restriction. So I took the A380 all the way to Singapore, with a short layover in the Frankfurt lounge for a quick shower.

By now, I have travelled in SQ business class on various routes, on the A330, B787-10, B77w and A380. The SIN-FRA-JFK route being my second time. With top-notch service, excellent food and beverages and a flat bed, well, except on the A330 aircraft, but otherwise it is always pleasant to travel with SQ, one of the best airline in the world. 

Excellent food from the book-the-cook menu

Complimentary 30MB wifi for all premium class passengers

Only the Frankfurt outbound leg features the satay service

A great way to complete my round-the-world trip !

Swiss business class lounge @ JFK airport review

After a quick tour of New York City, I made my way to the airport with plenty of time before my SQ flight departure. So that I can check out the business class lounge in JFK airport.

SQ doesn't have its own lounge at JFK airport since there is only one SQ daily flight to and from Frankfurt. So, its passengers uses the swiss lounge.

The lounge is on the small side, though it has all the necessary amenities.

Shower facility

Window views of many aircrafts

Octoberfest. An annual beer festival in Munich in October. I'm quite keen to experience it myself, to see what the hype is all about 😀

Champagne with a great window view. Bliss... haha!

Overall, the Swiss business class lounge @ JFK is not too bad, with all the lounge amenities provided and a great window view for aviation enthusiasts!

My unfortunate SQ aircraft change from Singapore to Bangkok flight

I'm currently in Bangkok for a short holiday. It's been a great day sightseeing here. Visiting magnificent temples such as the Grand Palace and shopping malls such as Platinum and MBK.

The sole reason for coming to Bangkok? 

A redemption in SQ business class for a discounted number of miles. The flight was originally to be flown with a B787-10 dreamliner, featuring the latest generation regional business class seats on a 1-2-1 configuration that impressed me on the Singapore to Osaka return sectors.

Unfortunately, there is an aircraft swap and I couldn't really do anything about it. The aircraft is now an A330, featuring 2-2-2 business class seats. Certainly less impressive configuration and window seats don't get direct aisle access. Not exactly a flat-bed.

I will do a review of this flight in a subsequent post. I have tried out SQ A330 business class previously on the Ahmedabad and Colombo sectors. Though they are still relatively comfortable, but certainly less so than on the B787-10.

Hopefully, SQ doesn't do aircraft swaps too often.

A quick visit to Philadephia & a Megabus trip review Philadelphia to New York City

After alighting from Frontier Airlines at Philadelphia airport, it was a quick exit from the airport terminal building due to it being a domestic flight.

I followed signages towards the airport train station located on ground level opposite the airport terminal.

The airport train ticket can be purchased from the ticket machine but only using a credit card. Something to take note. The train ride itself was uneventful. A short wait, clean and not crowded train carriage in the late morning hours.

I alighted from the airport train at the 30th street station. Made my way across the big train station and bought some pretzels on offer for my breakfast.

The megabus arrived and departed pretty much on schedule. Every seat is numbered and seat may be reserved by paying extra. Just like airlines. The megabus only picked up passengers at two stops in Philadelphia before heading towards New York City, again with a more or less on time arrival.

The megabus is clean and is a civilized way to travel across cities in the U.S. Definitely will try the inter-city bus journey again. Maybe I will try a different bus company such as greyhound for comparison.

The Times Square, New York. With a new statue this time!

Halloween decor in disney store, New York

Replica of the Cinderella castle in the disney store

Frontier Airlines Orlando to Philadelphia flight review

Frontier airlines is a budget carrier with domestic flights in the United States. Its fares are lower than premium carriers, though not as low as Ryanair's fares in Europe for the same distance flown.

For this sector, Frontier's flight came out the cheapest for the date I wanted, so I quickly booked the flight.

I'm connecting between two domestic flights at Orlando airport. As my arriving and departing flights are in two different terminals, I have to exit and re-enter security. Given the extremely long queues I encountered in the early morning, this adds considerable waiting time. My connection time of 1.5 hours is just sufficient.

I have checked in online through the airline's app and has a mobile boarding pass, so I need not check in at the airport, saving me some time.

Unfortunately, due to my Fiji Airways flight changes, I'm not able to visit the Orlando theme parks this time. I'll certainly revisit Orlando again in the near future.

Anyway, Frontier airlines is a no frills airline. Nothing is provided complimentary. For this short haul segment, I'm alright with it. This sector is flown with an Airbus A321 aircraft in a 3-3 seating configuration.

Legroom, pitch and comfort level is similar to any other budget airline. Most importantly, this flight departs and arrives on time. If the fares are the cheapest, I would definitely fly with Frontier again on a domestic route.

Thus far, these are the airlines I have taken on the U.S. domestic route:

Alaska airlines

Delta airlines

Frontier airlines

Virgin America (before it merged with Alaska airlines)

This year end, I will have the opportunity to try out United airlines as well as Delta airlines (again) on a domestic route.

Next time, I hope to try out other U.S. budget carriers Southwest and Spirit airlines. Southwest airlines doesn't participate in google flight searches so need to access the airline's website for fares. For premium carriers, I will like to try out American airlines.

Delta airlines Los Angeles to Orlando flight review

I booked this Delta flight to Orlando just two days before the flight departure. That was when I learnt of the changes to my Fiji Airways flight. I needed an alternative overnight flight from Los Angeles to Orlando and this flight suits my timing and budget.

This is probably the second time I'm taking Delta airlines. I have vague memories of taking my first Delta international flight from Singapore to Tokyo on my trip to Japan many years ago.

Still, this is my first time taking Delta on a U.S. domestic flight, and on a B757 aircraft, a type that is seldom seen in Asia. I believe this is my second time on a B757 aircraft. The first time was on a return Icelandair flight from Glasgow to Reykjavik, Iceland. Icelandair operates mainly B757 aircrafts, connecting Europe and United States via their Reykjavik hub.

The B757 aircraft is an longer version of the narrowbody aircraft, with a 3-3 seating configuration.

My first U.S. transcontinental flight from West to East

This is the extent of service on this flight, typical of a U.S. domestic flight or even European regional flight in economy class. For a flight of this length on a premium carrier, I wish they could serve more food and drinks, just like Asian premium carriers.

There is PTV at every seat, but unfortunately the entertainment function is not working. Only the seatmap and some tv shows are functioning. For a domestic overnight flight, it is not a big concern. Overall, the flight itself is alright. 

One day in Los Angeles

My Fiji Airways flight arrived Los Angeles flight at mid-day. My Delta airlines flight is due to depart at night for Orlando. This leaves me with about 9 hours in the city.

This is my second time to Los Angeles. The first time was some years back and I have explored the theme parks Disneyland and Universal Studio as well as Hollywood boulevard.

This time round, I decided to just wander along Hollywood boulevard and catch the crazy rich asian movie at the chinese mann theatre. The movie showtimes are available online and is suitable for me.

From LAX airport, there is the convenient flyaway shuttle linking the airport with several routes into the city, one of which is Hollywood. 

Fortunately, the shuttle arrived after a short wait. It is actually not full at all, so tickets can be bought on-board with the driver using credit card only. No cash payment at all. The hollywood shuttle stop is marked with a stand. So after my visit to Hollywood, I returned to the same spot to catch the waiting shuttle back to the airport.

Anyway, after alighting the shuttle, it is about a 30 minute walk to where the happening area of Hollywood is. I took a guided tour of the Chinese mann theatre. It is informative and fun.

LAX flyaway shuttle timing at the stop

Hollywood walk of fame

The famed Hollywood sign. The actual sign is actually on a hill some distance away, but visible from Hollywood boulevard.

 

Grand interior of the mann theatre

Chinese mann theatre red curtains

star wars costume on display inside the mann theatre

Next, I checked out the adjacent Hollywood & Highland shopping mall.

Last but not least, I went to watch the crazy rich asian movie in an almost empty theatre in the shopping mall. A great hollywood movie that features some popular attractions of Singapore such as Gardens by the Bay, Merlion Park and MBS. I left just before the movie ended and hurried back to catch the shuttle back to the airport.

All in all, a great day spent in Los Angeles, a.k.a. la la land !

Fiji Airways Sydney-Nadi-Los Angeles flight review

While checking in for my Fiji Airways flight at Sydney airport, I just realized that Sydney airport actually has shower rooms both landside and airside. I recalled seeing two rooms landside and one room airside. 

The best thing is, they are free to use, first-come-first-served. As I have available time before boarding, I decided to try out the shower airside. The room is equipped with hot shower and toilet facility. And that's about it. No soap, shampoo, towel or any other amenity is provided. Still, it's better than no shower. Hopefully, other airports around the world provide such basic shower rooms free.

On to my Fiji Airways flights. Both sectors Sydney to Nadi and then Nadi to Los Angeles are operated by A330 aircrafts, which I believe is the only aircraft type that it has for long haul flights. Economy class seats are arranged in the typical 2-4-2 configuration. Seat wise is fairly comfortable, as any other premium carriers. 

PTV, in-flight literature, headphone and usb port at each seat

For the short sydney to nadi sector, one hot meal is provided. Wines are complimentary.

 Checking out the flight route. It's my first time crossing the Pacific from the South.

Nadi airport offers free wifi, albeit for 30 minutes only. 

On the second longer flight to Los Angeles, two meals are served. Dinner...

And breakfast

Taking Fiji Airways economy class is a good way to cross the Pacific. Nadi airport is a small airport, with few retail shops and eateries airside. There are many locally-produced merchandise and souvenirs for purchase. Prices are reasonable as well for an airport. 

I stayed within the transit area since it's a short layover. It's a full flight on the second sector to Los Angeles. Although there is supposed to be a second security check at the gate, it seems that only random checks are carried out instead on some passengers on the walk towards the plane. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to visit Fiji this time. Hopefully, I can take Fiji Airways again and have a long layover for me to explore Fiji !

My 2019 draft travel plan

As we are into the last quarter of 2018, it is now time to begin setting my 2019 travel goals. Currently, I have yet to make any concrete travel plans for 2019. 

Over the past few days, I have more time to catch up on my travel readings (inspiration for my next trip). And a travel idea is beginning to form in my mind.

In my previous post, I have shared my interest in visiting Russia for the first time. Initially, I wanted to visit this year end, but due to time constraints, I decided against it and to leave it till next June.

My plan is to begin my travel with a budget airline flight to South Korea and spend some time visiting some cities. Then I would take the weekly ferry from Donghae, South Korea to Vladivostok, Russia. 

After a day in Vladivostok, I would then board the epic trans-siberia train to Moscow. The train comes in three classes, with the third class only costing ~S$105 if taken non-stop for seven days.

For more enjoyment, I thought it would be better to break up the train journey and have a day's layover in some cities such as Irkutsk to see Lake Baikal, as well as Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia. So I would leave the train in the morning and re-board the next train at night. With this itinerary, the ticket would cost ~S$150. A reasonable fare to me.

Once in Moscow, I would like to visit the famous red square and perhaps a couple of the Russian golden ring cities.

Beyond Russia, depending on the number of vacation days I have, I may want to visit some exotic tourist destinations such as Iran, Israel or Armenia. That will, to a large extent, depends on whether I can snag cheap flight tickets.

For my return from Europe, I will most likely rely on budget airlines such as Scoot (from Berlin), Condor (Frankfurt to KL) or Norwegian (multiple routes from Scandinavia to Thailand).

Yup. So this will hopefully for my travel plan for June. As for the first half of the year, I will probably be taking a regional flight for a short holiday in February. Some nearby places include Bandung, Medan, Hat Yai, Krabi and Koh Samui.

As I'm starting to make travel plans for 2019, my focus is still on finalizing my 2018 year end travel plan. Just the thought of it is getting me excited! 😀

Getting started on my Round the World (RTW) trip - Qantas flight and Sydney tour

My first Round the World trip wasn't what I had hoped for. In my previous post, I had mentioned about the unfortunate schedule changes to my Fiji Airways flight from Singapore to Los Angeles. This then produced a trickle down effect which affected some parts of my planned itinerary.

Still, I made the best of the situation and enjoyed the trip once round the Earth. 😀

First destination on my RTW trip - Sydney

In Singapore Changi Airport, Qantas operates an early check-in lounge in terminal 1. Passengers can drop their baggages and obtain their boarding passes early in the day before their flight. 

Not sure why they called it a 'lounge'? This is not a typical airline lounge, no complimentary food or beverages. 

As I entered the 'lounge', I obtained a queue number from a machine based on my flight number. Then I waited among a few rows of seats for my turn to check-in with an agent. This check-in process is quite fast. I was issued boarding passes on all 3 flights, all the way to Los Angeles. After that, I left the 'lounge' and the airport. I returned to the airport that night for my flight.

My Qantas flight, QF32, codeshares with Fiji Airways, FJ5323. An overnight flight from Singapore to Sydney on an A330 aircraft.

Blanket and headphone are provided at each economy class seat.

A usb port is available to charge my devices

Qantas' in-flight safety video, instead of showcasing Australia's scenery, displays beautiful pictures of countries around the world. Enticing me to visit them!

Flight map to Sydney

On my 6 hours layover in Sydney, I left the airport and went into the city on the airport train for a quick tour. The airport train station is within walking distance to view the Sydney harbour bridge and to enter the Opera house.

 

I felt great to be able to visit Sydney again after some years. 

After a leisurely walk in the cold, grey morning of Sydney, as the Southern hemisphere is leaving the winter season, it is soon time to return to the airport for the second leg of my trip.