Full Service Airline – Page 2

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 114 – Singapore to Kuala Lumpur – Delayed Short Hop on One of the World’s Busiest International Routes [June 2022]

In 2019, OAG, the world’s leading provider of digital flight information, hailed the Singapore to Kuala Lumpur route as one of the busiest international routes in the airline industry. According to a report made by Simple Flying, in 2019 alone, this route catered to almost 30,000 flights & offered 5.5 million seats on 9 different airlines. The numbers have gone down since the start of the pandemic but according the OAG’s report for the busiest routes for July 2022, this route is the third busiest for the month with 307,848 offered seats. It is also the busiest in Asia, overtaking the previous busiest Hong Kong-Taipei route.

Last 29 June 2022, I had the chance to fly this busy route from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ 114. How did this connecting flight go? Check out the newest flight report below.

In case you missed it, I also flew with Singapore Airlines on the SQ 915 flight from Manila to Singapore before actually taking this flight. Check out the SQ 915 flight report here.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. This award-winning world class airline is based in one of the world’s best airports – Singapore Changi Airport. The airline starred as Malayan Airways in 1947; it then re-branded & commenced operations as Singapore Airlines in 1972. The airline has been a top contributor in terms of the world’s revenue passenger kilometers & the number of international passengers carried worldwide.

The airline currently flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. Singapore Airlines is one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot. The airline’s previous regional subsidiary, Silk Air, has been incorporated into SQ’s operations as of March 2021.

Singapore Airline flies a modern aircraft fleet consisting of Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max & Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator with 60 currently in service & 5 more on order. 7 of the 60 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business & premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used in the North America routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities & services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals & in-flight entertainment. The airline has a frequent flyer program called KrisFlyer & PPS Club. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance – one of the world’s biggest airline alliance networks.

Singapore Airlines is not a new airline on this website. In fact, it is the 2^nd most reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Airfare

As mentioned in my previous SQ 915 Manila to Singapore flight report, I only paid US$146.69 for the return ticket from Manila to Kuala Lumpur via Singapore. The ticket initially cost US$199.70. I redeemed 7,665 KrisFlyer miles (which I earned back in 2019 from my trip to Europe) & got the ticket for the lower price mentioned above.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. As mentioned in my previous post, I think it was really a great deal from Singapore Airlines. The ticket already included 25 kilograms baggage allowance on all 4 flights, inflight meals, inflight entertainment & 5-star cabin crew service from one of the world’s best airlines. Believe it or not, this SQ ticket was cheaper than the tickets sold by the country’s low-cost airlines at the time of booking. The tickets from these LCCs cost around ₱10,000 without any add-on.

This Singapore Airlines ticket was definitely a steal! Glad I thought of using my KrisFlyer miles before they even expire.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Singapore Airlines , Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Travel Requirements

Malaysia is now open to tourists. However, it’s not like before that you can enter with only your passports. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has imposed some entry requirements for all arriving passengers. Entry protocols depend on the person’s vaccination status.

As of 1 May 2022, fully-vaccinated passengers are exempted from providing a negative RT-PCR test result. They also don’t need to undergo quarantine upon arrival & to present proof of travel insurance. Fully-vaccinated passengers only need to register to the MySejahtera mobile application. They also need to verify their vaccination status in the application & fill-out the traveler section at least 3 days before the trip. Each fully-vaccinated passenger will be issued a Digital Travelers Card (Blue Traveler Card) which will be checked during check-in.

Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers are required to provide a negative RT-PCR test pre-departure; take a supervised antigen test within 24 hours of arrival & undergo 5 days of quarantine upon arrival. They also need to download & register to the MySejahtera mobile application. Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers will be issued a Digital Home Surveillance Order (Red Traveler Card) which will be checked during check-in.

Please take note that Malaysia has a different definition of vaccination status depending on the type of vaccine you received. For more details about this & for the country’s updated entry requirements, you may head to the government’s MySafeTravel website. You may also check Singapore Airline’s Covid-19 Information page for additional information.

Before The Flight

Like my Manila to Singapore flight on SQ 915, I also received an email reminding me to check the entry requirements of my destination country. The e-mail arrived days after booking this flight & contained helpful links where I can find the said entry requirements.

I did not receive an upgrade offer for this flight (the business class cabin was full) but I got a check-in reminder from the Singapore Airlines mobile application 48 hours before this flight. I checked in for this flight together with the Manila to Singapore leg & had the chance to choose my seat free of charge.

Flight Information

This Singapore to Kuala Lumpur SQ flight was operated by a 7-year-old Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. This 737 NG aircraft was originally delivered to then SQ subsidiary, Silk Air, in August 2015 & was converted to a Singapore Airlines aircraft in April 2021. The plane has 12 business class seats & 150 economy class seats.

The plane took off from Singapore Changi Airport an hour behind schedule at 1:49pm & landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at exactly 2:32pm. This short international flight only took 43 minutes & covered a distance of 297 kilometers or 185 miles.

Ground & Airport Experience

This Singapore to Kuala Lumpur flight is a continuation of my first flight from Manila to Singapore. I only stayed on the airside of Singapore Changi Airport.

CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Transit process during this flight was back to pre-pandemic times – no negative Covid-19 test result of proof of vaccination required. Passengers must have both flights under 1 booking or itinerary & have their checked-in luggage tagged from their airport of origin to their final destination to enjoy a seamless transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport.

My flights to Kuala Lumpur were booked under one itinerary (shown above) & my bags were already tagged up to Kuala Lumpur when I checked in for the flight in Manila Airport. I had a very quick but fun transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport before this flight to Kuala Lumpur. I walked around Terminal 3 for a few minutes & checked out the shops & restaurants in the terminal. The airport facilities are still one of the best in the world – very modern & efficient. Too bad Jewel Changi Airport was not accessible (even via inter-terminal trains like before) to transit passengers.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After walking around Changi Airport Terminal 3, I went straight to our assigned gate. Our boarding gate opened an hour before the flight. I went through final security, then waited for boarding. Gate A16 shares a spacious waiting area with other gates. These gates were mostly used for smaller regional flights departing Singapore. At 12:33pm (18 minutes after the scheduled boarding time), the ground staff announced that boarding will be further delayed by 15 minutes due to the late aircraft turnaround.

BOARDING

Boarding started late at 12:55pm. Business class passengers, KrisFlyer, PPS & Star Alliance status holders boarded the aircraft first. Economy class passengers seated in the rear cabin came next. Forward economy class passengers, including myself, boarded the plane last. The boarding process lasted for 30 minutes. Cabin doors were closed at exactly 1:25pm.

Inflight Product & Experience

SEAT FEATURES

This Singapore to Kuala Lumpur flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. The plane has 12 business class recliner seats on a 2×2 configuration & 150 regular economy class seats on a 3×3 configuration. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 38 inches & a seat width of 22 inches. On the other hand, economy class seats have a pitch of 30 inches & seat width of 17 inches.

All seats have adjustable headrests, individual reading lights & air vents. Seats also feature a tray table, seat pocket with aircraft safety card & universal power outlets under the seat. Pillows, blankets & earphones were not provided on this short flight.

INFLIGHT DRINK SERVICE

Singapore Airlines stated in the ticket that this flight won’t have a meal service due to its short duration. Instead of meals, the cabin crew gave out drinks after the seatbelt sign was turned off. Choices included apple juice, coffee, tea & water. Passengers also had the option to request for special drinks like soft drinks or beer. Crackers were also available by request.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

The Boeing 737-800 NG used for this flight doesn’t have personal entertainment screens. Passengers can enjoy KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, on their own personal devices. They only need to connect to KrisWorld after take-off. Passenger safety video was shown on the foldable screens found under the overhead cabins.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft are not equipped with Wi-Fi. This includes the aircraft used for this flight.

LAVATORY

This short hop to Kuala Lumpur only lasted for 43 minutes. I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory because I was seated in a window seat.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew assigned on this aircraft were lovely, polite & service-oriented. The greeted all passengers upon boarding & during disembarkation with their best smiles. They catered to all the needs & special requests of passengers during the drink service.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Those seated in the forward economy cabin disembarked first. All passengers had to take the airport train to the main terminal building to clear immigration. After immigration, all bags were already ready for pick-up in the assigned baggage belt.

Final Thoughts

It was a so-so flight with Singapore Airlines. The flight remains outstanding in terms of the hard product & services offered onboard, but its lacking in some aspects.

I enjoyed the following because of the following. First, the transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport was smooth & efficient. No additional documents & tests are required. Second, the lack of personal entertainment screens didn’t hinder the airline from providing onboard entertainment options. KrisWorld was still accessible on passengers’ personal devices. Third, they provided onboard refreshments / drinks for this short 43-minute hop to Kuala Lumpur. They had a great selection of drinks to choose from & even had some available by request. Fourth, the cabin hard product remains competitive in this 7-year-old aircraft. The seats remain comfortable & the headrests are useful. Lastly, the cabin crew hospitality on this flight was topnotch.

This flight also had areas in which they could further improve. First, the ground staff didn’t provide updates about the flight status. We were scheduled to board the aircraft around 12:15pm but we were only told about the delayed boarding schedule at 12:33pm. The delay would have been bearable if ground staff had kept the passengers informed of the flight’s status. Second, the boarding process was chaotic. Only the business class passengers & status holders boarded the plane in an orderly manner. Some economy class passengers didn’t follow instructions & boarded at their own convenience. This resulted to longer waiting times on the jet bridge. The whole boarding process took 30 minutes, slower than my Manila to Singapore flight that only took 26 minutes with almost double the number of passengers. Lastly, I hope the airline can improve their snack service on board this short flight. I’ve flown other airlines which offered nuts (Malaysia Airlines) or cookies (Philippine Airlines) plus drinks for flights less than an hour.

Nevertheless, it was an okay flight with Singapore Airlines. I don’t mind flying with them again in the future. In fact, if there’s an affordable ticket to anywhere with the airline, I will still grab it.

For those who want to know more details of this flight, check out the items below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 29 June 2022
Flight Number: SQ 114
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Duration: 43 minutes
Seat Number: 51K
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 Next Generation
Aircraft Registration: 9V-MGL
Engines: 2 x CFM International CFM56-7B27E
Age: 7 years old
Delivered: August 2015

Have you recently flown Singapore Airlines on their Singapore to Kuala Lumpur route? What do you think of the airlines offerings on the said route? Feel free to share your comments & recent experiences in the comments section below. Do you have a question about the airline or this flight? You may post them in the comments below. If you are shy to post below, you may send your questions, experiences & thoughts via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! Watch out for my onward flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur also on Singapore Airlines. In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – First International Flight After 31 Months [June 2022]

You read the title right! After 31 months of being in the Philippines, I finally flew out of the country again. The last time I went out of the Philippines was when I flew to Europe in 2019 via Singapore. Believe it or not, my last flight out of the country was also on Singapore Airlines SQ 915 back in October 2019. How does this recent SQ 915 flight compare to the pre-pandemic Singapore Airlines flight experience? We’ll find out in this flight report!

Singapore Airlines

Airfare

Late May 2022, I randomly saw an affordable ticket to Kuala Lumpur on Singapore Airlines for travel within 30 days. With borders now opening & Malaysia dropping the test entry requirements, I decided to immediately book this ticket to Kuala Lumpur.

The return ticket initially cost US$199.70. I used up my KrisFlyer miles (earned when I flew with Singapore Airlines to Europe in 2019) before they expire in the next 12 months. The ticket price went down to just US$146.69 including 7,665 redeemed KrisFlyer miles.

The ticket included 4 flights in economy class – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila – with 1.5-hour layovers at Singapore Changi Airport both ways. The ticket also includes 25-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, inflight meals & snacks & even inflight entertainment on board.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. It was a really good deal from Singapore Airlines considering the current world market situation & inflated fuel prices. For context, other airlines’ ticket prices were around ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 return at the time of booking this SQ ticket. Some of these airlines don’t even include baggage & meals in the ticket prices.

Travel Requirements

I am only transiting at Singapore Changi Airport & I’m flying to Kuala Lumpur afterwards. On the day of the flight, Singapore does not have any requirements for transiting passengers as long as the passenger has an onward connecting flight under the same booking reference number. Those with split bookings will be required to fulfill the entry requirements of Singapore. Check out the requirements for my flight to Kuala Lumpur & transit in Singapore as per the airline’s website a day before this flight.

Singapore Airlines regularly updates their travel requirements page. You can find the latest destination & transit requirements on this page.

Before The Flight

Days after I booked my flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminding me to check the entry & transit requirements for my trip. The e-mail had links where I could check the entry protocols for each flight.

3 days before my flight, the airline sent an e-mail informing me about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program from economy to business class for a hefty price. The instant upgrade offer cost around ₱30,000 – almost 4 times the price of my return ticket. I did not avail of this upgrade offer.

2 days before this flight, the Singapore Air mobile application notified me that my flight is already open for online check-in. I immediately checked-in for my flight to Singapore & onward flight to Kuala Lumpur & chose forward section seats for both flights. The airline allows passengers to choose their seats for free during online check-in.

Flight Information

This Manila to Singapore Singapore Airlines flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft delivered in February 2021. This A350 has the airline’s 2-class regional configuration with 40 seats in business class & 263 seats in economy class.

The flight departed Manila at exactly 8:00am from Runway 06/24 & landed Singapore Changi Airport at 10:58am. It only took 2 hours & 58 minutes to reach Singapore. The flight was generally quiet & stable; not much turbulence happened.

Airport & Ground Experience

AIRPORT CHECK-IN

Singapore Airlines segregated check-in counters per cabin class & frequent flyer status. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers have dedicated check-in counters. Economy class passengers have their own queues as well. Economy class passengers who checked in online have a separate & a faster queue.

I already checked in 2 days before so I lined up at the internet check-in queue. The lady at the counter checked my vaccination certificate & travel requirements for Malaysia & then issued my boarding passes to Singapore & Kuala Lumpur. She also weighed my carry-on bag & advised that passengers are only allowed up to 2 carry-on bags each. The whole check-in process took about 25 minutes; it was not as fast as my previous SQ 915 flight in 2019.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After immigration & security check, I walked to Gate 110 where we’ll board our flight to Singapore. The airline divided the pre-departure area into groups according to their assigned seats on the plane. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers were assigned at Groups 1 to 3. Economy class passengers seated at the rear of the aircraft were placed in Group 4. Those in the middle were assigned to Group 5. I, together with the other passengers assigned in the forward economy cabin, were placed under Group 6.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced 30 minutes before the flight at 7:10am. Business class passengers & status holders under Groups 1 to 3 were asked to board the aircraft first. Passengers who require assistance & those traveling with kids & infants boarded next. Economy class groups 4 & 5 followed. Our group, group 6, boarded the plane last.

Economy class passengers were offered earphones at the jet bridge, just a few steps before the aircraft door. The friendly Singapore Airlines cabin crew welcomed every guest & directed them to the aisle where they will walk to their seats. The whole boarding process only took 26 minutes. Aircraft doors were closed at 7:36am.

Inflight Product & Experience

Singapore Airlines is a full-service airline. This means that the airline features personal entertainment screens, has a more comfortable seat & provides inflight meals & drinks. Check out what Singapore Airlines offers on this flight from Manila to Singapore.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service & a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Singapore flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 with 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch & 28-inch seat width. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access. All business class seats are equipped with a large personal entertainment screen paired with noise-canceling headphones. Each seat also includes a pillow, a blanket, several storage spaces & a large tray table.

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches & seat width of 18 inches – slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5 inches seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest & a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a fold-able tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a fold-able cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet in between seats. Pillows & blankets are now available by request.

Check out the screenshot below for the amenities available on this flight:

Singapore Airlines’ economy class seats provide more than what you actually need for a 3-hour flight. The seats & adjustable head rests were comfortable.

INFLIGHT MEAL

The airline offered a complimentary hot meal on this flight to Singapore. Physical menus have been phased out & meal menus can be accessed through the airline’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had 2 options – Chicken Adobo & Egg Tortilla. I chose the Chicken Adobo meal & was surprised that it still came with a yogurt, a bread roll with butter & drink of choice (coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice). I know Singapore Airlines announced in 2020 an enhanced economy class dining experience for short haul flights under 3.5 hours. I expected meals to come in food boxes with sustainable tableware, but I guess the Manila-Singapore-Manila routes were not included in the said changes. I’ve added screenshots below of the menu for this flight.

The chicken adobo tasted great; the meat was full of flavor. The food portions were just right for a 3-hour flight. The crew went around after the meal service to offer a 2^nd round of drinks to passengers. An hour after the meal service, I asked for their signature Singapore Sling drink – still their best drink onboard.

I love how the airline continues to use metal cutlery on this route instead of disposable plastic tableware. I hope they can find an alternative for the plastic cups. Oh, one thing! I noticed that they had already removed the towel service before the meal service.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airline’s entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies & TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play & a few local media content to check out. All these options can be accessed via the touch screen personal entertainment screens found in front of every seat. The touch screen screens were responsive & easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path & even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They aren’t noise canceling but they did its job.

Krisworld also gives frequent flyers the option to personalize their experience. The system asks for the passengers KrisFlyer membership number & then shows the passenger’s favorites or the last song, movie to television show he/she watched / left unfinished. I hope Singapore Airlines install cameras in their A350’s which passengers can access / view during flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines offered Wi-Fi service on this flight. PPS Club members & business class passengers are given 100MB of data to use up during the flight. The airline also gives complimentary 2 hours of messaging service to KrisFlyer members in economy class. Non-members can opt to either register to KrisFlyer to avail of the data plans on board. Check out the data plans below (rate as of writing this blog) as per the airline’s website.

LAVATORY

I didn’t get the chance to visit the lavatory on this short hop to Singapore. I got a window seat; my neighbor by the aisle was asleep most of the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

Cabin crew service is one area where Singapore Airlines excels the most. The crew on this flight to Singapore were super friendly & accommodating. They welcomed all passengers with their best smiles, served the meals with the happiest faces & catered to the passenger’s needs with utmost attention. They made sure all passengers had an enjoyable onboard experience. The cabin crew service made this flight even more memorable. Thank you, SQ!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Business class passengers headed out first, followed by economy passengers in the forward cabin. The rest of the passengers came next. I didn’t go straight to baggage claim since I was in Singapore only for transit.

Final Thoughts

It was another memorable flight with Singapore Airlines. Aside from it being my first international flight out of the Philippines since the pandemic, it turned out as how excellent flights should be – with or without the current crisis. The pandemic may have changed some onboard amenities, but it didn’t stop Singapore Airlines from offering a world-class flight experience on this flight to Singapore.

I enjoyed this flight because of the following. First, the ticket price was cheaper than the Philippines-based low-cost carriers. It even provided more value than those from LCCs. Second, the cabin is clean & very modern. Third, the cabin crew service was topnotch. Fourth, the pandemic may have happened, but the airline has not downsized meal service on their Manila to Singapore flights. It had the same portions, 2 options & sides & even retained the metal cutlery with it.

Fifth, they offered a 2-hour complimentary messaging service to KrisFlyer members. The Wi-Fi service was good. They had connectivity issues but overall worked fine. Sixth, the entertainment system remained updated & competitive. They have the latest movies & TV series seasons. They even had the list of connecting flights & respective boarding gates for those with connecting flights. Lastly, the pandemic has forced the airline to digitalize some onboard amenities. Inflight menus & magazines are now digital.

I noticed some services have been downsized compared to how they were pre-pandemic. First, the towel service prior to the meal service has been omitted. Second, pillows are no longer provided in every seat. They are now available by request. These are only minor & have not affected the overall flight experience.

So happy I was able to try their signature Singapore Sling drink onboard. Can’t wait for the next!

At this stage, I will choose to fly with Singapore Airlines over any Asian airline. I’ve had high expectations from the airline & I can confidently say that they delivered. I cannot wait for my next flight with them. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for this enjoyable flight to your home country, Singapore!

Allow me to share with you the technical details of the flight & the aircraft used. Please see below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 29 June 2022
Flight Number: SQ 915
Route: Manila (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 2 hours & 58 minutes
Seat Number: 44A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHU
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 1.4 years old
Delivered: February 2021

Have you recently flown with Singapore Airlines? What do you think of their service after the dark ages of the pandemic? Feel free to share your recent experiences in the comments section below. Do you have a question about the airline or this flight? You may post them in the comments below. If you are shy to post below, you may send your questions, experiences & thoughts via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flying 101: Comparing Low-Cost & Full-Service Carriers

It’s been months since leisure travel was banned for us, Filipinos. If not for Covid-19, many of us might be somewhere else blending with beautiful nature, walking around modern & vibrant cities & enjoying the sunset in islands & beaches. The pandemic stopped tourism or leisure activity & forced people to stay in their own homes.

I can’t believe my last leisure travel was my solo trip to Europe in late 2019. It’s the first time I’ve been on the ground this long. I may have run out of recent trips to share or post but it doesn’t mean I’ll stop sharing travel-related information & experiences with you. Since we’re all stuck at home, I figured out it’s the best time to go back to basics.

Today, I will start a blog series called Flying 101. It is a blog series that will talk about the basics of flying & all other details around it. By the end of this series, I hope you’ll know the ins & outs of flying & you’ll learn to maximize it once leisure travel is back to its pre-pandemic level.

The first topic in this Flying 101 series is a comparison between low-cost & full-service carriers. There are thousands of airlines around the world & all these airlines are either low-cost or full-service carriers. Join me in today’s topic as I define to you what are low-cost & full-service carriers, what are their similarities & their differences. Find out at the end of the post which type of carrier you should fly with in your next flight.

DEFINITION

A low-cost carrier is an airline that provides flights & fares at a low-cost & eliminates the luxuries of flying. On the other hand, a full-service carrier, from its name, is an airline that provides a comfortable (up to some point luxurious) full-board flying experience. A full-service carrier has a long & eventful history & are usually the flag carriers of the country of origin.

Of the 3 main carriers here in the Philippines, Philippine Airlines is the only full-service carrier. The other 2 carriers – Cebu Pacific Air & Philippines Air Asia – are low-cost carriers. I will mostly use these 3 airlines to point out the similarities & differences between the low-cost & full-service carriers.

SIMILARITIES

Even with the different service models they use, low-cost & full-service carriers still have similarities as detailed below:

Destinations & Hubs – A low-cost carrier has almost the same destinations & hubs with that of the full-service carriers. All the 3 Philippine carriers mentioned above fly out from Manila, Clark, Cebu, Davao & other smaller hubs to various domestic & international destinations. 2 out of 3 carriers, if not all, fly to almost the same destinations depending on their fleet & the approved passenger traffic by the authorities.

Loyalty Programs – Airlines, regardless of the service model they use, offer loyalty programs to their passengers. These loyalty programs allow passengers to earn points & miles every time they fly or they avail from partner establishments. All the 3 airlines above have their own loyalty programs – Philippine Airlines has Mabuhay Miles frequent flyer program, Cebu Pacific Air has GetGo lifestyle rewards program & Philippines Air Asia has Air Asia BIG loyalty program.

DIFFERENCES

Believe it or not, low-cost & full-service carriers have a longer list of differences. Know more about these differences in the detailed list below:

Pricing – The biggest difference between low-cost & full-service carriers is pricing. Low-cost carriers offer the cheapest fares to & from their destinations. These carriers are known for providing no-frills fares – meaning fares only include a guaranteed seat in the flight & a limited carry-on baggage allowance. Their base fares can go as low as ₱1 or even ₱0 or free. Any extra service or benefit in a low-cost carrier comes with a fee. On the other hand, full-service offer flights at a higher price but with added benefits included.

Here’s a sample PROMOTION ticket FOR 1 to Taipei, Taiwan on EVA Air – a full-service carrier.

This is a ticket FOR 2 to Taipei, Taiwan on Cebu Pacific Air – a low-cost carrier. Cheap-o, right?

Cabin Class – Low-cost airlines usually adopt an all-economy class cabin; they pack airplanes with its maximum passenger capacity. Both Philippines Air Asia & Cebu Pacific Air pack their Airbus A320 with 180 economy class passengers. Cebu Pacific Air’s Airbus A330 can accommodate up to 436 passengers – the densest seating capacity for that type of aircraft.

Full-service carriers offer up to 4 cabin classes in their flights – first class, business class, premium economy class & economy class. First class is the most luxurious cabin & economy class is the cheapest. Only selected airlines fly all 4 classes but most airlines either have either business & economy classes or business, premium economy & economy classes. Philippine Airlines offer both business & economy class experience to most of their network & offer premium economy to selected routes.

Please take note that some low-cost carriers outside the Philippines, like Air Asia X, Scoot, Jetstar & Norwegian, have started offering premium cabins (their own version of business class) on their medium to long-haul routes.

Baggage Allowance – Baggage allowance in low-cost carriers come with a fee, depending on how big the baggage allowance is. On the other hand, baggage allowance is included in full-service carriers. Allowance depends on the cabin & fare classes but it’s usually 25 to 30 kilograms for economy class passengers on international routes.

In the effort to earn some revenue & to offer lower fares, some full-service airlines like Malaysia Airlines & Philippine Airlines have started offering baggage allowance for an additional fee on economy light fares.

In-flight Food, Entertainment & Experience – Full-service carriers outweigh low-cost carriers in terms of in-flight experience. Full-service airlines offer free snacks, liquor & up to 2 meals on board depending on flight duration. Each seat in a full-service airline plane has a bigger leg room & seat pitch & features personal entertainment screens in most flights. If not, they offer entertainment options via the airline’s mobile application. Each seat also offers a pillow, blanket & an earphone or headphone. Some full-service carrier airplanes even offer in-flight Wi-Fi. Premium cabins have wider seats, lie-flat beds, bigger entertainment screens & luxurious food options.

In-flight experience in a low-cost carrier is nothing if you don’t pay for additional services. In-flight meals & snacks are available for purchase on the website & during the flight. Low-cost carries don’t offer entertainment options & amenities (pillow, blanket & earphones / headphones) on their flights. Every single added benefit on a low-cost airline comes with a fee.

In-flight entertainment on a full-service carrier (SQ)

Please take note that airlines have various policies on in-flight features. Some full-service airlines offer snacks or meals for a fee on certain routes, particularly in Europe. I remember when I flew with Brussels Airlines & Czech Airlines; both flights I flew with offered snacks for sale during the flights. If you want to experience the full-service airline benefits, it’s best to fly with Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates & the likes.

Airports & Airport Terminals – This may not be entirely true here in the Philippines but some, if not most, full-service carriers fly from the main & nicer airports & airport terminals. Low-cost carriers have their own terminals, if not secondary airports. Secondary airports are mostly applicable to European low-cost carriers like Ryan Air & WizzAir. These secondary airports keep taxes & fees lower than that of main airports making it more attractive & fit for the low-cost carrier’s service models.

For example, most full-service carriers fly out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Main Terminal while low-cost carriers fly out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2. Another classic example is Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi & Don Mueang Airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport hosts majority of the full-service carriers flying into Bangkok while Don Mueang Airport accommodates most of the low-cost carriers flying into the city. Here in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific Air uses the relatively newer Terminal 3 (for domestic jet flights) & the older Terminal 4 (for turboprop flights), Philippine Airlines fly out of Terminals 2 & 3 (for domestic flights) & Philippines Air Asia only uses the older Terminal 4 for their domestic services.

Code-Share Agreements, Alliances Networks – Full-service carriers have code-share agreements with other full-service airlines which make their networks even bigger. These airlines also are members of world airline alliances which make transfers easy & hassle-free. Passengers have access to farther destinations & even to smaller regional airports with only 1 check-in. It’s rare for low-cost carriers to have code-share agreements & alliances. It then makes their network only limited to their destinations.

Philippine Airlines is not a member of a world airline alliance but has code-share agreements with All Nippon Airways (Japan), Malaysia Airlines, Turkish Airlines & a few more. Cebu Pacific Air, on the other hand, is a member of Value Alliance. I am not sure if the alliance is still operational & I haven’t tried it too. Singapore Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, one of the world’s biggest airline alliance. Passengers can fly to various destinations worldwide as long as the destination is part of the Star Alliance network.

WHICH ONE TO FLY?

Now that we know what low-cost carriers & full-services area, its similarities & differences, you might ask me which one should you fly. I always consider 4 factors when choosing which one to fly – Fare, Flight Duration, Loyalty & Comfort.

Fare – I will always go with the low-cost carrier if the fare is way cheaper than that of the full-service carrier. If the promotional fare is at ₱1 or free base fare, no doubt I’ll go with the low-cost carrier but considering the 3 other factors below.

I won’t mind taking a 3.5-hour flight to & from Japan if the fare is this cheap – ₱2,873.74 return!

Flight Duration – I already flew 4 times a low-cost carrier on an 8-hour flight & I had a 50-50 experience. The passenger load was half empty on the first 2 flights so it was alright. The last 2 flights had full passenger load & it was the worst. I told myself that I won’t mind flying a low-cost carrier for flights up to 4.5 hours. I will take a full-service carrier for flights over 4.5 hours.

Loyalty – I collect & earn miles on selected frequent flyer programs; I also consider this when booking flights. Either I book with Cebu Pacific Air to earn GetGo points, with Philippine Airlines to earn Mabuhay Miles or with Singapore Airlines to earn KrisFlyer miles. As much as possible, when flying with other airlines, I make sure I will have the chance to earn miles or points for the program I am a member of.

Comfort – Comfort & in-flight experience is one factor that I recently started looking into. I make sure that I am okay with the carrier’s seats, service & promised in-flight experience when choosing on which one to fly.

I flew with both low-cost & full-service carriers in the past & I will choose the full-service airline at any time, especially on longer flights. If I am planning to save some cash, then I will go with the low-cost carrier. At the end of the day, you will be the one to decide which one to fly to your destination of choice.

Thank you for joining in today’s Flying 101 topic. I hope you learned something about low-cost & full-service carriers. Now you know which type of carrier you’ll fly with on your post-pandemic trip. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Be up to date with cheap fares, airline promotions & the upcoming Flying 101 posts by following me on these platforms – Facebook & Instagram. See you next time!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia

After 2.5 weeks of going solo around the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark, it is time to fly home. I flew out of Denmark from Copenhagen Airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport onboard Singapore Airlines. Today’s feature will be about this enjoyable Singapore Airlines SQ 351 flight from Copenhagen to Singapore on its Airbus A350-900 new generation aircraft. Find out everything about the airline’s ground & in-flight service, the aircraft used & flight information on this newest flight report.

In case you missed it, I also flew with Singapore Airlines from the Philippines to Europe in October 2019. I flew with their new-generation Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner on my 3-hour flight from Manila to Singapore & took another 13-hour flight from Singapore to Amsterdam, Netherlands onboard their newest (that time) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Check out those 2 flight reports to know more about those excellent flights.

For sure by now you’re aware that I went solo around 4 countries in Europe late last year. I spent the first few days in the Netherlands, around Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I went down to Belgium & explored the cities of Brussels, Bruges & Ghent. A few days after, I flew to Czech Republic. I had the craziest nights around Prague & the quietest days around the beautiful towns of Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov. I finished my European journey in Denmark – around Copenhagen, living like a Dane & meeting up with a friend. This solo trip is my best yet & I cannot wait to go back there after all these world happenings. I posted a lot about this trip to Europe, check them out under the Going Solo in Europe category. Now, let’s go back to the flight report!

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. The airline is based in the world’s best airport, Changi Airport in Singapore. This multi-awarded 5-star airline flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. They are one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of their subsidiaries – Silk Air (which operates to some regional destinations) & Scoot (which operates on a low-cost business model). The airline flies both Airbus & Boeing jets & boasts a young fleet of new generation aircraft.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. They offer free 30-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, in-flight meals & have personal entertainment screens in all of their flights. Please note that their subsidiaries, Silk Air & Scoot, do not offer the same services as the mother airline. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance & has a loyalty program called Krisflyer.

Airfare & Inclusions

As mentioned in my first Singapore Airlines flight report, I got this return ticket to Europe from Singapore Airlines & Bank of the Philippine Islands credit card promotion. The return economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam (via Singapore) & from Copenhagen to Manila (via Singapore) cost me $719.23. My credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including conversion charges.

The ticket includes 30-kilograms check-in baggage allowance in all sectors. It also provides access to complimentary in-flight meals & snacks (drinks & liquor included) & a personal entertainment screen in front of every seat. Add to that the airline’s excellent service & hospitality. Not bad for a 5-star carrier, right?

Flight & Aircraft Information

This flight from Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) to Singapore (SIN) took 12 hours & 24 minutes. It flew 10,713 kilometres non-stop from Denmark to Singapore. We left Copenhagen on-time & arrived Singapore 24 minutes late. We had a delay because we had a last-minute route change causing extra flight time.

Singapore Airlines used a 3.5-year old Airbus A350-900 for this long-haul flight. The aircraft was delivered to the airline in late 2016. The plane has 253 seats across 3 classes – 42 business class lie-flat seats on 1-2-1 layout, 24 premium economy class seats on a 2-4-2 seat configuration & 187 economy class seats on a 3-3-3 layout. This flight used the same aircraft type (not exactly the same body) I flew with on my Singapore to Amsterdam SQ flight.

Airport & Ground Experience

Singapore Airlines flies out of Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. Their check-in desks are found on counters 88-94, near the escalator up to security check. The counters are sorted according to class – economy class, premium economy class & business class plus an additional lane for those who checked-in online.

This is Singapore Airlines’ check-in area in Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. Not busy, no queues.

The airline offers online check-in 48 hours into the flight. Passengers who use this option can choose regular seats at no extra charge. I checked-in before the flight & chose window seat 53A. I normally prefer aisle seats for long-haul flights like this but there were no aisle seats during my check in. I didn’t want to end up in the middle seat so I opted for the window one. Check-in process didn’t take long. The guy on the counter was friendly & accommodating. I checked in for both Copenhagen-Singapore & Singapore-Manila flights. I left my heavy luggage in Copenhagen & picked it up in Manila Airport upon arrival.

Copenhagen Airport has a very efficient airport security screening process. I finished the whole security check in less than 5 minutes. There was also no queue in immigration. It didn’t take long for me to clear the border control. My flight’s assigned gate was gate C37 – one of the farthest gates of the airport. It took me around 10 minutes to reach the gate. I also saw an Emirates Airbus A380 arrive & park near our gate.

Singapore Airlines boards its passenger by class. Business class passengers & Krisflyer & Star Alliance status holders boarded first, followed by premium economy class passengers. Economy class passengers boarded the plane last – those seated at the rear part of the aircraft went in first, followed by us in the middle rear part of the aircraft. Forward economy class passengers boarded the plane last. The boarding process took less than 30 minutes.

In-Flight Product

Singapore Airlines is known for its quality in-flight product. Check out what this flight offered to its passengers.

Seat – Singapore Airlines’ economy class seat on the Airbus A350-900 has a pitch of 32 inches & width of 18 inches. Seat recline is generous enough. Each seat has an adjustable headrest & a foldable footrest. Leg room is adequate for an average person like me. All seats feature a touch-screen personal entertainment screens with remote. Seats also had USB & power outlets & many seat pockets in front of the passenger. Seats also have a foldable table with the signature mirror. It also features a coat hook & a separate cup holder. Seats are comfortable to sleep especially for this long-haul flight.

Meals – The airline gave 2 full meals for this flight with unlimited snack & drink options in between. The started the meal service with the menu & a hot towel for all economy class passengers. They gave out crackers & drink of choice while the main meal is being prepared. They gave out lunch about 1.5 hours into the flight. The crew offered snacks & drinks almost every hour. 2 hours before landing in Singapore, they served breakfast for everyone. The meal servings were just right but they tasted great.

I got the sweet & sour pork with rice & vegetables option for lunch. What a complete meal by SQ!

Had raspberry ice cream for dessert. It was really good. I’m happy to see SQ use metal cutlery! 🙂

In-Flight Entertainment – All seats in this Airbus A350-900 have decently sized personal entertainment screens. The system had a separate remote control but its touch-screen feature responded very well. Krisworld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offered over 100 recent movie choices & television series to watch on this 12.5-hour flight. It also had over 800 music albums to listen to. I didn’t get bored on this flight like I usually do on other ones.

Flight Amenities – Singapore Airlines offered a long list of amenities & features in this flight. All seats had earphones, newly cleaned pillows & warm blankets upon boarding. The crew gave out menu to all passengers & offered hot towel to all passengers. Passengers can personalize an amenity kit (from those available in the menu) & ask it from the crew. The lavatories had complete amenities – dental kit, moisturizer, mouthwash, hand soap & tissue. It was also spot clean throughout the flight.

Passengers can ask for amenities such as eye shades, earplugs, comb & a small kit from the crew.

This particular SQ flight from Copenhagen to Singapore offered a complimentary 30 MB internet chat access to all its premium economy & economy class passengers. The free data allocation was valid for 2 hours after log-in. This promotion / offer was only available for a limited period last November 2019.

All premium economy & economy class passengers on this flight got a free 30MB internet session.

Cabin Crew Service

Like my previous Singapore Airlines flights from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam, cabin crew service on this 12.5-hour flight from Copenhagen to Singapore was outstanding. The crew welcomed all guests with their warmest greetings & smiles. They checked on everyone before take off & landing. The set of crews on this flight was friendly, nice & hospitable.

This is my favorite drink on every Singapore Airlines flight – their signature Singapore Sling! 🙂

The crew made sure passengers don’t get hungry & dehydrated throughout the flight. They served snacks & drinks between meals. They gave out chocolate biscuits midway through the flight. Water service runs almost every hour. They granted by request of crackers & Singapore sling about 7 hours into the flight. They even gave me a glass of water with it – even if I didn’t ask for it. Cabin crew service was top-notch!

Verdict

It was another enjoyable flight with Singapore Airlines. I never thought I’ll enjoy this 12.5-hour flight from an economy class window seat! Let’s start with my airport experience. Check-in process, security check & immigration queue didn’t take long. If I remember it correctly, I arrived in the airport 2 hours before the flight & made it to the gate (after long minutes of walking) after 45 minutes. Copenhagen Airport has a very efficient passenger flow system.

Seating at 53A gave me amazing views of the A350’s wing & winglet. The windows were huge; it gave me beautiful views of the clouds & sunset somewhere in the Middle East. I sat beside a friendly & nice Danish couple who were on a holiday. The seat was pitch was just right. It was also comfortable to seat in for a 12.5-hour flight. The footrest & adjustable headrests helped me have a good sleep during the flight. I particularly liked the separate cup holder & the small mirror found in the foldable tray table. It was a simple but nice touch from Singapore Airlines. The entertainment system was alright – not the best in the market but it had decent movie, series & music choices. The earphones were so-so.

Food portions & service were excellent. It started with a hot towel, crackers & drink of choice – I went for red wine. I chose the sweet & sour pork with rice & vegetables option for lunch. It came with salmon salad, bread roll with butter & cheese with crackers. It also came with a delicious raspberry ice cream & a drink of choice. I got full up to the point where I only had crackers, chocolate & Singapore sling for snack. For breakfast, I went for the stir-fried noodles with prawn, chicken & vegetables served with fruit bowl, bread roll with butter & fruit-flavored yogurt. It came with a glass of water & orange juice. Oh, we used metal cutlery & reusable food containers for both meals. Overall, these are pretty nice meals by Singapore Airlines.

Went for the stir-fried noodles with prawns option for breakfast. I really liked the yogurt here! 🙂

The lavatory was clean & well-maintained. It had enough amenities throughout the flight. The free 30MB internet allocation was a plus! Connection was fast even if we were above the clouds. I used it to connect with my family & friends back home & those I met in Europe. Two things I didn’t like about the flight were the following: Too much use of plastic & lack of individual air vents per seat. The flight used a lot of plastic throughout the flight, from blanket covers, to cutlery covers & plastic cups. I hope they reduce the use of plastic in the future. The seats didn’t have individual air vents. It’s always a struggle for people who easily sweat like me. Good thing I already removed my jacket before seating down & only wore a shirt throughout the flight.

The flight’s highlight was the cabin crew service. The crew on this flight were passenger-friendly, accommodating & outstanding. They truly cared for the passengers & I felt it. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for another amazing flight with you; thank you for making this 12.5-hour flight enjoyable. Will I fly Singapore Airlines again in the future? Definitely. I was supposed to fly with them to Melbourne & from Brisbane last April but I didn’t push through because of the risks of Covid-19. I still look forward to flying with them once the pandemic is over.

Here are some details of this flight I took with Singapore Airlines:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 9 November 2019
Flight Number: SQ 351
Route: Copenhagen (CPH) Denmark to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 12:24 hours
Seat Number: 53A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SMH
Aircraft Engine: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 3.5 years old
Year Delivered: 2016

It was another excellent flight with Singapore Airlines. I never thought I’ll enjoy that long-haul flight from a window seat. Have you flown with Singapore Airlines on their long-haul sector? How was your experience? Share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about this flight or the airline in general? Feel free to shoot me an e-mail with those questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Stay up-to-date with all my recent posts & blogs by following my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Don’t forget to check out my posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Thanks again & please stay safe.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn't Feel Like One

Hello & happy new year! Let’s open the year with a new flight report. I mentioned in my 2019 review post that I flew to Europe with Singapore Airlines. My previous flight report covered the Manila to Singapore leg on the new generation Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Today I will cover my onward flight to Amsterdam. Allow me to share with you details of my first ever 13-hour flight which didn’t feel like one.

singapore airlines

As mentioned in my earlier SQ flight report, Singapore Airlines is the national carrier of Singapore. This 5-star airline flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. They are one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of their subsidiaries – Silk Air (which operates to some regional destinations) & Scoot (which operates on a low-cost business model). The airline flies both Airbus & Boeing jets & boasts a young fleet of new generation aircraft.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier which offers complimentary baggage allowance, in-flight meal & entertainment in all of its flights. It has a loyalty program called KrisFlyer & is a member of the Star Alliance.

fare

I mentioned in my SQ 915 flight report that I booked this multi-city ticket from Manila to Europe for $719.23 or ₱37,669.40 as charged by my credit card. This economy ticket includes flights from Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Amsterdam, Copenhagen to Singapore & back to Manila from Singapore. All legs include 30 kilograms check in baggage, in-flight meals & entertainment. I know you can get ticket for as low as $500 return or even cheaper in a low-cost airline but I can say that the ‘upgrade’ to Singapore Airlines was worth it.

flight & aircraft information

Singapore Airlines used an Airbus A350-900 for this 13-hour flight from Singapore to Amsterdam. This new generation aircraft has 253 seats in 3 classes – 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy & 187 in Economy. Business class seats are in 1-2-1 configuration. All passengers have lie-flat beds & direct access to the aisle. The premium economy class is at 2-4-2 configuration with wider seats & leg-room & a generous recline. Economy class is configured into 3-3-3 seating arrangement with generous seat pitch & a decent recline.

This flight to Amsterdam was operated by a 4-month-old A350 with aircraft registration 9V-SMV. The flight took 12 hours & 54 minutes & traveled 10,939 kilometers. We left Singapore a few minutes after the scheduled departure time & arrived in Amsterdam around 7:40 in the morning. The flight was full (with only 2 economy seats vacant in the cabin) but it was great. I didn’t experience any turbulence or any trouble.

Check In, Baggage & Boarding

Beautiful & classy Changi Airport Terminal 3!! This area is found after Singapore immigration.

Singapore Airlines’ flights to Europe (as far as I know) all depart from Changi Airport Terminal 3. The airline divided the Terminal 3 check-in counters according to classes & groups. They have designated check in counters / areas for first class & business class passengers. Premium economy passengers & KrisFlyer status holders also have designated check in counters. Economy passengers & those who checked in online also have a separate queue. The check in counters in Terminal 3 have no lines & are generally quiet. I already got my Singapore to Amsterdam boarding pass when I checked in at Manila station so there was no need to go through check in process again.

All Singapore Airlines economy passengers are given 30 kilograms of check in baggage allowance. This is already included in the paid fare. I was on a connecting flight so I already dropped by baggage in Manila. There was no need to check in my luggage on this flight to Amsterdam. I left my luggage in Manila & collected it in Amsterdam upon arrival.

This Airbus A350-900 flight to Amsterdam had about 200+ passengers. In order to maintain order in boarding, the staff boarded the passengers by group. Business class passengers, Star Alliance & KrisFlyer status holders boarded the aircraft first. Premium economy passengers came next. Economy class passengers also boarded by groups. Passengers seated at the rear part boarded first & those in the forward economy seats boarded last. I was assigned in the forward economy section so I was one of the those who boarded the aircraft last. Boarding process didn’t take long; the next thing I knew cabin doors were already closed.

Seat Amenities, In-flight Meals & Entertainment

Economy class seats on Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 have a seat pitch of 32 inches & seat width of around 18 inches. Each seat is already provided a plush pillow & a nice brown blanket. It also comes with an adjustable headrest which makes sleeping more convenient than ever. The leg room is not as generous as those in premium economy but it was great for a 13-hour flight. The seats also come with new-generation personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table with mirror, a seat pocket (with in-flight literature), a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a foldable cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet. The aircraft is Wi-Fi enabled but I didn’t bother checking the rates.

LOOK! Generous leg room in this Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft to Amsterdam. 🙂

Economy class passengers can also ask for a simple amenity kit from the crew. The kit includes a toothbrush & toothpaste, a pair of socks, eye shades, ear plugs & a comb. Passengers can ask for these amenities piece by piece. Seat comfort was great; seat recline was generous. I normally don’t sleep on flights but I had a nice long sleep in this flight. It didn’t feel like I was seating that long!

This 13-hour flight had 2 main meals & unlimited rounds of snacks in between. The crew distributed in-flight menu to all passengers after boarding. The menu includes the 2-3 food options for each main serving, the list of drinks & snacks available. It came in English & Dutch languages. The crew distributed hot towels to all passengers before they rolled out the food.

SQ 324’s first meal service – oriental chicken rice with tuna macaroni salad, bread roll & drinks. 🙂

One of my favorite parts of this flight – SATS double chocolate ice cream. Perfect post-meal treat!

I chose the chicken rice for supper & vermicelli noodles for breakfast. All meals came with side fruits / vegetables, bread roll with butter & drinks of choice (either coffee, tea, fruit juice, beer, white or red wine). The supper came with ice cream for dessert while the breakfast had a large cup of yogurt. The meals were tasty; the servings were just right to make me full & fall asleep for a few hours. What I really liked is the use of metal cutlery in all meals. However, they also use plastic cups for all drinks & a lot of plastic in the meal service.

Breakfast served to us before landing in Amsterdam Schipol International Airport. YUM SO GOOD!

The crew rolled out snacks about 5-6 hours into the flight. Passengers can request snacks at any time of the flight. The rear galley was also stuffed with food by the crew. Passengers can go there & get any snack they want.

KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offered hundreds of local & international movies & television series to watch on-board. It also comes with podcast choices & hundreds of songs & albums to choose from. Each seat comes with a touch screen portal & a pair of not-so-great quality earphones. The entertainment system was alright – probably not the best in the market – but it has enough content to make you busy in a 13-hour flight.

lavatory

I only used the lavatory at the back of the forward economy section & I can say the crew did a fantastic job in maintaining the cleanliness & orderliness of this lavatory. It was also nice to see dental sets, mouthwash & a moisturizer available for the passengers. Tissue supply was not an issue in this flight. Kudos to the crew who maintained the lavatories on this flight.

crew service

Apart from the impressive & new-generation economy class product, Singapore Airlines is also known for their warm Singaporean hospitality. The crew on this flight is not an exception; they provided the passengers of this flight an excellent service. The head of the economy cabin welcomed us to the aircraft with his best smile, he helped out the passengers in putting the luggage & bags in the overhead cabin & he even checked on us before the settled for take-off.

The rest of the crew was pleasant to deal with. I requested for their signature Singapore sling drink & minutes after, I was given the drink plus chips & nuts as snack. The crew also did several rounds offering fruits, sandwiches, chocolates & chips to passengers who are awake. They also made sure that everyone’s hydrated by serving water almost every hour. Service was lovely. I sensed that the crew on this flight really wanted to give the passengers the best in-flight experience. Happy to say they did. It was a lovely 13-hour flight!

verdict

What can I say – it was an exceptional flight with Singapore Airlines! Considering this was my first ever extra long haul flight & it was with SQ, I boarded the aircraft with reasonably high expectations. Believe it or not, I was happy & satisfied passenger! It was a 13-hour flight but to be honest, it didn’t feel that long.

Massive pre-departure area in Changi Airport Terminal 3 – with charging stations & comfy seats.

The flight departed from the gorgeous Changi Airport Terminal 3. The waiting areas were massive; there were several charging stations. Immigration & security check didn’t last long considering I was in the terminal during peak hours. Boarding process was fast & efficient.

Now into the flight. Seat comfort was amazing. The amenities provided complimented each other – pillow was soft, blankets were thin but warm & headrest was a comfortable to sleep in. The amenity kit was a bonus – not all airlines provide an option for an amenity kit in economy class. Personal entertainment system was modern but the content was just alright. I watched about 2 movies before I fell asleep. The earphones were a bit of a letdown – they were not that comfortable to wear. The lavatories were well-maintained throughout the flight.

Here is SQ’s signature Singapore Sling with chips & crackers. Lovely snack in between flight meals!

The in-flight meals were tasty; its serving sizes were just right. I enjoyed every part of the meal plus the ice cream after supper. The Singapore sling was worth the try again & again. It was nice to see the galley full of snacks. I was asleep during the first snack service – I asked for snacks as soon as I woke up. I only asked for a drink & I was given chips & crackers too.

Look at the amount of food available in the galley! Passengers can get anything they want here.

The highlight of the flight was the cabin crew service. I felt the genuine & warm Singaporean hospitality during the flight. The crew was magnificent, all smiles & always ready to help. They made sure all passengers are stuffed with food & drinks & had a pleasant flight with Singapore Airlines. Service was exceptional!

Is Singapore Airlines something I will recommend to everyone? Definitely. Was it worth the ‘upgrade’ from cheaper flights? Of course. To be honest, I think I actually got more than what I paid for. I suggest that you try flying with Singapore Airlines; you’ll know the reason why.

As expected, Singapore Airlines again delivered another excellent flight from Singapore to Amsterdam. Thank you for the wonderful flight experience in this 13-hour journey.

Attention avgeeks! If in any case you want to know the specifics of this flight & the aircraft used, check out the details below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 23 October 2019
Flight Number: SQ 324
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Amsterdam (AMS)
Duration: 12:54 hours
Seat Number: 42C
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SMV
Aircraft Engine: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 0.5 years old
Year Delivered: 2019

Have you tried flying with Singapore Airlines in their long haul routes? How was your experience? Did you like the in-flight meals & cabin crew service? What was the highlight of your flight? Share your comments & experiences below. I’d love to hear from all of you. Do you have any comment or suggestion on how I can improve the posts & content in this blog / website? Feel free to send them in via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to turn your notifications on for my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thank you for joining me in this flight report. I hope to see you again in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.