Tag: Trip Report

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 921 – Manila to Singapore – Almost-Perfect Intraregional Flight Under 3 Hours [August 2023]

A few months ago, I flew to Australia for over a week. I brought my parents to Sydney and Brisbane for some long-overdue family time. I walked them around Sydney for 3 full days and took them to my aunt (my dad’s sister) for the rest of the trip.

I have been to both Sydney and Brisbane in 2018, and I have written about my previous trips to these cities. I hope you can check out the following: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City, Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours, BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches, and BRISBANE Weekend.

My parents and I flew with Singapore Airlines on our way to and from Australia. We flew from Manila to Sydney via Singapore and left the country from Brisbane to Manila via Singapore. Our first Singapore Airlines flight, SQ 921, from Manila to Singapore will be today’s flight report feature. Allow me to share with you how this supposed-to-be delayed flight turned into an almost-perfect one.

Singapore Airlines

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

The airline currently flies to over 70 destinations in more than 30 countries across five 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 the Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max, and Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator, with 63 currently in service and two more on order. 7 of the 65 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business and premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used on North American routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities and services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals, and 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 second-most-reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

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, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare

This SQ 921 flight is part of a four-sector ticket from Manila to Australia and back on Singapore Airlines. The return ticket, booked 5 months before the intended flight date, only cost $497 (US dollars) per person. This return ticket includes a 25-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance, inflight meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens on all flights, and a 5-star flight experience with a well-trained and passionate cabin crew.

I booked our ticket directly with the airline using my credit card and paid $1,491 (US dollars) for three people. I got charged ₱83,537.75 for all three tickets, including foreign transaction service fees. This translates to only ₱27,845.92 per person. Considering when the ticket was booked against the intended flight schedule, this ticket was definitely a steal. It already has everything a passenger needs on a long-haul flight, from food to amenities to entertainment. The other airline competitors offered way more expensive ticket prices at the time of booking for our planned August schedule.

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

Travel Requirements

Regular Philippine passport holders are required to get a visa to enter Australia. I applied for my visa back in January last year, and I was approved for a multiple-entry visa valid for one year. I helped my parents obtain their visas, and I was pleased to see they were granted the same validity as mine.

All departing passengers from Manila are required to fill out the details and obtain a QR code from the eTravel website. The QR codes are scanned by the immigration officers on the day of the trip.

In case you missed it, I wrote about the steps on how to get an Australian tourist visa. I hope you can check out this quick guide.

Before The Flight

Unlike previous Singapore Airlines flights, I did not receive any premium economy or business class upgrade offers for this SQ 921 flight. I only got a flight check-in reminder on the airline’s mobile application 48 hours before this flight.

Upon getting the said check-in notification, I immediately chose our seats for both Manila to Singapore and Singapore to Sydney flights and checked-in for both flights. Singapore Airlines allows its passengers to choose their seats for free during mobile or web check-in.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Manila-Singapore SQ flight was operated by a 4.6-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This plane, delivered in February 2019, features the airline’s regional configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 economy class seats.

Flight SQ 921 took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport about 45 minutes late at 7:17 p.m. and landed at Singapore Changi Airport 13 minutes ahead of time at 10:07 p.m. The flight only took 2 hours and 50 minutes, an hour shorter than its declared flight time.

Ground & Airport Experience

Singapore Airlines flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

CHECK-IN

Singapore Airlines check-in counters at NAIA Terminal 3 open three hours before the flight. The well-manned counters opened earlier than usual, at 2:55 p.m. and were divided into the following: Business Class, Regular Economy Class, Internet Check-In Economy Class, and Special Assistance.

I was traveling with two senior citizens, so I accompanied them to the special assistance check-in line. I noticed that this line moved slowly (20 minutes in line), and I asked them to join me in the internet check-in line.

We were immediately entertained at the internet check-in counters, and we finished our check-in process in about 5 minutes. We checked in our bags all the way to Sydney, Australia.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, my parents and I cleared immigration and security and spent some time at Marhaba Lounge. I used my Security Bank Platinum Mastercard (not sponsored) to access the lounge and to bring in my father using the yearly complimentary passes.

We stayed in the lounge for a few hours, stuffed ourselves with food and drinks, and waited for boarding. A few minutes before the scheduled boarding time, we left the lounge and walked towards Gate 108.

BOARDING

We reached Gate 108 before 6:00 p.m. and noticed that boarding has not started. The pre-departure area was chaotic and did not have the usual by-group segregation by Singapore Airlines. The pre-boarding preparations were announced at 6:25 p.m. Five minutes later, the formal boarding process started.

Business class passengers and PPS Club passengers boarded the plane first. Krisflyer Elite and Star Alliance Gold members came next. Economy class passengers boarded the plane by seat numbers. Those seated at the back (group 4) boarded the plane first. Groups 5 and 6 economy class passengers eventually boarded the plane.

The entire boarding process only took 21 minutes. The aircraft doors were closed at 6:51 p.m. The plane pushed back after three minutes at 6:54 p.m.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila-Singapore flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch and a 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, and a large tray table.

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches and a seat width of 18 inches, slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5-inch seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest, and a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a foldable tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a foldable cup holder, a USB charging outlet, a comfortable pillow, and a universal power outlet in between seats. Blankets, face masks, and disinfectant surface wipes are available upon request.

The seats on this Airbus A350 aircraft are complete and comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight. It has more than what a normal economy class passenger needs for a 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT MEALS

Singapore Airlines served complimentary hot meals on this 3-hour flight. The airline has let go of physical menu cards and have incorporated them in the inflight entertainment system and in the onboard connectivity service. The airline has also brought back the appetizer which went missing during the pandemic.

Passengers had the option to choose between creamy tuna pesto pasta and chicken rice as the main course. The main dish came with a mixed seafood salad, a bread roll and butter, coffee jelly with tapioca, a cup of water, and another drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, or juice. The crew went around again to offer a second round of drinks and offered water, coffee, and tea to those who wanted them.

I went for the chicken rice meal with a glass of apple juice and enjoyed it. The chicken was soft; it tasted good. The food portions were just right, enough to make me full during the flight. I admire the airline for using metal cutlery and recyclable food containers during meal service. It helps a lot in eliminating solid waste; it is environment-friendly. I hope they can find a sustainable alternative to plastic cups.

An hour after the dinner service, I requested for the airline’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling. The crew came back and gave me two Singapore Slings and two packs of peas and crackers. This Singapore Sling drink is already a staple every time I fly with the airline.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies and TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play, and a few local media pieces 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 and easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path and even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They are not noise-canceling, but they did their job.

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

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Since July 2023, Singapore Airlines has offered complimentary unlimited onboard Wi-Fi access on all its flights except those operated by Boeing 737-800s. Passengers are required to log in using their Krisflyer accounts to use the onboard Wi-Fi service. Those not registered with Krisflyer can register during the flight to access the said service.

Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi service on this flight did not work. I tried to connect multiple times, but I always got no internet in my mobile browser.

LAVATORY

The lavatory on this Airbus A350-900 aircraft was clean throughout the flight. It had additional amenities such as paper cups, dental kits, and moisturizing hand lotion. The sink had cold and warm water and had hand soap and tissue beside it.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was excellent. From the time we entered the aircraft, to the meal service, and until disembarkation, the cabin crew served us with their biggest smiles. The crew had to pause the dinner service due to turbulence, and the crew apologized for the delay. Several members of the flight crew went around the cabin throughout the flight and attended to every passenger’s requests. They even went around and offered glasses of water to those who wanted them.

The assigned crew on this flight showed true Singaporean hospitality. They made sure that passengers had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines. Their top-notch service made the flying experience a lot better.

Disembarkation

Before arriving in Singapore, the airline displayed on the inflight screen the list of flights and assigned boarding gates for passengers with connecting flights. The airline also indicated the assigned luggage belt for those who need to get their bags to Singapore. They also had the same announcement in the mobile application.

Upon arrival in Singapore, all passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. The business class and forward economy class passengers went out first. The middle and rear economy class passengers followed.

Flight Experience

It was an almost-perfect flying experience with Singapore Airlines on this SQ 921 flight from Manila to Singapore. It could have been a perfect mark if only everything went right during boarding and onboard. The onboard product is indeed one of the world’s best, especially on the modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Let me share with you the hits and misses of this short hop to Singapore.

The first and probably biggest win of this flight is its cheap return tickets. My parents and I got the return Manila-Australia-Manila tickets for only US$497 each, or around 28,000 PHP. The tickets included carry-on and check-in baggage, inflight amenities, and superb service on an Airbus A350. Second, the Manila-Singapore legs utilize modern Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 aircraft. The A350 we used on this flight had modern cabin features, state-of-the-art inflight entertainment systems, and comfortable seats.

Third, Singapore Airlines onboard hard and soft products are exceptional. The entertainment system had thousands of choices, and the onboard meals and snacks were great. The airline has brought back the appetizers to the meals. Fourth, the cabin crew service on this flight was warm, hospitable, and world-class. Lastly, the airline’s sustainability efforts are worth commending. The airline uses metal cutlery, reusable food containers, and has removed physical menus.

The flight also had its misses. First, the ground staff did not make any announcements regarding delayed boarding. They announced that the flight from Singapore has arrived, and that is it. It would have been ideal if the passengers were informed that there would be delays in boarding. Despite this delay, the flight still managed to touch down in Singapore ahead of schedule. Acceptable.

Second, the onboard Wi-Fi did not work during the entire flight. Bummer. Lastly, I hope the airline can find sustainable alternatives for the plastic cups used on this flight. There were over a hundred plastic cups used on this flight alone. Changing these cups to environment-friendly options is ideal.

Despite these misses, I still had an enjoyable and almost-perfect flight to Singapore with Singapore Airlines. I was happy to introduce and let my parents experience the airline’s world-class and 5-star service for such an affordable fare. Will I fly them again? Definitely. I am already excited for my next flight with the airline, even if I do not have anything booked as of this writing.

Here are some of the aircraft and flight details about this quick hop to Singapore:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 26 August 2023
Flight Number: SQ921
Route: Manila, Philippines (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Seat Number: 63K
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHC
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 4.6-years-old
Delivered: February 2019

Have you flown Singapore Airlines recently? How was your experience? Will you fly them again soon or by any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your ground and flight experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them 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 Sydney also on Singapore Airlines. In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: VUELING VY 6333 – Milan Malpensa to Barcelona – Superb Flying Experience with a Spanish Low-Cost Airline [December 2022]

My time in Milan went by too fast! After spending days around the city and the nearby Lugano and Lake Como, I had to say goodbye to the beautiful Milan and my friend Leng who flew back to the Philippines ahead of me.

I flew to a new city and country – Barcelona, Spain – on a new airline (for me) – the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling. I took their VY 6333 flight from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona last 3 December 2022. This Vueling flight is today’s flight report feature. Join me as I share with you what happened on this superb flight to Barcelona.

Vueling

Vueling S.A. is a Spanish low-cost airline owned by the International Airlines Group (IAG). This low-cost airline commenced operations in 2004 and is currently headquartered in Viladecans, Greater Barcelona, Spain. The airline started out operations from Barcelona to Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Brussels and Paris. Over the years, it has expanded its footprint to other hubs like Madrid, Seville and other Spanish and international bases. In 2012, the International Airlines Group (IAG) announced a buy out of the shareholders and a takeover of the airline. The group completed the takeover a few months later in 2013.

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, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Vueling is currently the largest Spanish Airline based on number of destinations and fleet size. It operates to over 140 destinations using over 120 all-Airbus aircraft. The airline’s main hub is Barcelona El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Spain. It also has hubs and stations in other Spanish cities like Madrid, Seville, Palma de Mallorca, Gran Canaria and even other European cities like Paris, Rome and London.

Vueling’s frequent flyer program is called Vueling Club – part of the Avios loyalty program. The airline is not a member of any airline alliance. It has current codeshare agreements with British Airways and Iberia, both part of the International Airlines Group.

Vueling is a low-cost carrier. This means that the airline offers bare fares; any additional service or perk comes with a fee. The airline does not provide complimentary inflight snacks or meals, entertainment screens and complimentary baggage allowance. The airline has 4 fare bundles which guests can choose from. The Basic Fare only includes a complimentary underseat bag which measures 40cm x 20cm x 30cm. The Optima Fare has everything the Basic Fare has plus 1 x 25-kilogram checked luggage and free regular seat selection during booking.

The Family Fare has everything the Optima Fare offers plus dedicated check-in desks in main airports and priority boarding for those flying with kids under 2 years old. The TimeFlex Fare includes an underseat bag, a 10-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance, flight cancellation to flight credit, unlimited flight date changes, complimentary flight time change on the same day, fast-track security in selected airports, priority check-in and boarding. All these add-ons are also available for individual purchase in case you only avail of a certain fare bundle. Also, all these fare bundles can earn Avios points.

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

I booked my flight 1.5 months before the intended date and paid €57.99 for the Optima fare bundle. I was charged by my local bank ₱3,442.29 including foreign currency transaction charges. At the time of booking, the airline had different policies and inclusions on fare bundles. They changed these bundles and inclusions (as mentioned above) for tickets booked after 4 November 2022.

At the time of booking (October 2022), my Optima fare bundle included the following: an underseat bag measuring up to 40cm x 20cm x 30cm, 1 x 10-kilogram carry-on / cabin bag, 1 x 25-kilogram checked baggage allowance, complimentary regular seat selection during booking, complimentary flight changes and free cancellation, conversion to flight credit and even flight credit refund.

Looking at the bundle inclusions, I got the best possible add-ons for such an affordable fare. It may not include a meal or an entertainment screen, but it still had the necessary add-ons needed by someone traveling around Europe for weeks. It was sad seeing the airline change the bundle inclusions but it was also great taking advantage of the previous inclusions before it was changed.

Travel Requirements

Flights between Italy and Spain operate like domestic flights here in the Philippines. At the time of this flight, both countries no longer require a negative test result or vaccination documentation to board the aircraft. Passengers only need to present a government-issued ID – passports for non-EU residents. Spanish authorities, at the time of this flight, still required face masks on flights. I believe this requirement has already been removed nowadays.

Before The Flight

The airline did not send anything via e-mail before the flight. The first and last e-mail I received from them is the booking confirmation after I booked the ticket. Strange.

Nevertheless, I still checked-in online for the flight 24 hours before schedule. This made the airport check-in process faster and smoother.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Vueling VY 6333 flight from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona was operated by a 9.5-year-old Airbus A320-200 aircraft. The plane has 180 seats in all-economy class cabin – as expected from a low-cost carrier.

The flight took off from Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) at 12:58pm and landed at Barcelona El Prat Airport (BCN) at 2:15pm. The journey in between 2 airports only took 1 hour and 17 minutes. The plane pushed back from the gate 2 minutes ahead of schedule but took some time going to the runway. Nonetheless, the flight still arrived ahead of schedule. Thanks, Vueling!

Ground & Airport Experience

Vueling operates its flights out of Milan Malpensa Airport Terminal 1.

CHECK-IN

Check-in counters for flights within the Schengen zone normally open 2 hours before the flight and 40 minutes before the departure. I do not remember the exact reason but I read from the website that time that check-in counters during this season (December 2022) opened 30 minutes earlier at 2.5 hours before the flight schedule.

I arrived the airport exactly 2.5 hours before the flight and immediately lined up for bag drop at 10:20am. I finished check-in at 10:38am. The check-in process went by quickly considering I was 10th-ish in the line. The whole process took only 18 minutes.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went up to the 2nd floor and had my early lunch. The boarding gate information was not available up until an hour before flight. Thankfully, the gate details became available at 11:33pm.

I immediately walked to Gate A04 and waited for the boarding announcement.

BOARDING

Boarding by groups commenced at 12:04pm. Priority passengers including those travelling with infants boarded the plane first. Passengers seated in the rear section of the plane went in next followed by those seated in the middle cabin. I was among the last passengers to board the plane because I was seated in the front section of the plane.

At the time of the flight, the Spanish Authorities still required masks in all modes of public transportation. Passengers were requested to wear their face masks during boarding. The airline provided masks for those who do not have one.

The whole boarding process finished at 12:39pm. The plane pushed back from the gate 9 minutes after.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

The Airbus A320-200 aircraft used for this flight to Barcelona, Spain has 180 seats in a 3 x 3 all-economy class configuration. According to Seatmaps.com, all 180 non-reclining seats have a pitch of 29-30 inches and a width of 17.5 inches.

Each seat is equipped with a tray table, a coat hook and a seat pocket with a magazine, an air sickness bag and the aircraft safety card. The seats also have dedicated reading lights and air nozzles. Each row has 1 crew call button. Unfortunately, the seats do not feature USB or standard power outlets, headrests, pillows and blankets.

I prebooked seat 6F for this flight to Barcelona; I got this complimentary seat included in my Optima fare bundle. I enjoyed the beautiful views of the Italian and Spanish coasts during the flight.

INFLIGHT SNACKS

Vueling does not provide complimentary meals and snacks onboard. The airline offers snacks and drinks for purchase during the flight. After take-off and after the seatbelt sign was turned off, the crew went around to distribute pre-orders snacks and drinks. They also went around and offered some eats to the rest of the cabin.

The list of available snacks and drinks are found in the airline’s online catalogue available when connecting to the onboard flight portal.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Being a low-cost airline, Vueling does not offer in-flight entertainment options to its passengers. Like Cebu Pacific Air and Air Asia, the airline’s seats are not equipped with personal entertainment screens. The only available entertainment option for passengers is the inflight magazine found in seat pockets in front of every passenger.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Inflight connectivity of wi-fi connection was not available on this flight. The passengers can only access the airline’s flight portal for the snack and drinks menu, the airline’s destination activity offerings and a simple flight status section.

LAVATORY

I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this short flight to Spain. I did not want to bother my seatmates who were both asleep throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was just alright; it was not remarkable but it was also not terrible. The crew did their job and assisted the passengers when needed. Somehow, it lacked the level of hospitality that is offered by crew on Southeast Asian low-cost airlines.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

The cabin crew announced an organized disembarkation process – they called 5 rows at a time to disembark. Gladly, all passengers followed. Those not yet called remained seated and waited for their turn.

I got off the plane at 2:23pm and reached baggage claim section after 10 minutes. The bags eventually came out and I was out of the airport in no time.

Flight Experience

I had a superb first flight with the Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling. I went on the flight with close to no expectations and I only wanted to arrive in Spain safe and sound; but I was blown away by the experience I had on this short hop from Milan Malpensa to Barcelona. It was my first ever flight with a European low-cost carrier and it did not disappoint!

On this flight to Barcelona, I believe Vueling excelled on the following areas or points. First, fares were low and competitive considering the ticket was booked only 1.5 months before schedule. The Optima fare (that time) only cost €57.99 one-way and already included complimentary regular seats, 10 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance, 20 kilograms check-in baggage allowance and flight credit options. It is a shame that the airline had to change these inclusions 2 weeks after I booked my ticket; but it was still great because the previous ticket inclusions at the time of my booking were honored on the flight.

Second, Vueling offers great schedules between Milan Malpensa and Barcelona. Low-cost airlines normally get only early morning and late-night flight schedules; but not Vueling on this route. They have multiple flights mostly leaving Milan in the morning or in the afternoon. Third, the flight left the gate in Milan ahead of schedule and arrived at Barcelona ahead of schedule on a busy Saturday.

Fourth, given masks were required during this flight (back in December 2022), the airline staff proactively handed out masks to passengers who do not have one. It is a simple but nice gesture that made the experience better. Lastly, the crew implemented an orderly disembarkation process. All passengers complied and everyone had a smooth disembarkation process.

I honestly cannot think of anything bad that happened on this flight. There is one part where I believe the airline can improve on for a better flying experience. It would be nice to see the airline ramp up their inflight portal – not just showing the snack menu and flight schedule. I hope they can add games or other services like who Scoot is doing on their ScootHub. This will surely change the game in European low-cost flying experience.

Will I recommend Vueling to my readers? Yes, for sure! As laid out above, I had a superb first flight with them. Everything on the flight fell into place; I was a happy customer. I will not hesitate booking them again next time I fly within Europe.

For those who want to know more details about this flight, here you go:

Airline: Vueling
Flight Date: 3 December 2022
Flight Number: VY 6333
Route: Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Barcelona (BCN)
Duration: 1 hour & 17 minutes
Seat Numebr: 6C (window seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A320-200
Aircraft Registration: EC-LVS
Engines: 2 x International Aero Engines V2500
Age (at the time of the flight): 9.5 years old
Delivered: May 2013

Have you been on a Vueling flight in the past? How was your flying experience? Did you like it? Let us engage into a conversation by sharing your flight experiences below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Scoot flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 390 – Singapore to Manila – Affordable Low-Cost Afternoon Flight Back to Manila [March 2023]

Last March, I flew to Singapore for 5 days and 4 nights with my relatives. We celebrated my cousins’ birthdays by walking around the Lion City, enjoying the rides at Universal Studios Singapore and watching the beautiful sea creatures at the S.E.A. Aquarium.

I have been to Singapore a lot of times in the past so I will not write about this trip. Instead, I will share with you my flight experience with a Singapore-based airline – Scoot. A few weeks ago, I shared with you how my Manila to Singapore flight on Scoot TR 397 went. Today, I will elaborate my experience with Scoot on TR 390 from Singapore to Manila. Join me in today’s flight report as I discuss why this flight was worth every peso.

Planning to fly to Singapore soon? It is not a cheap country to visit. I have been there a few times and I want to share to you some hacks on how explore the country on a budget. Check out this Tuesday Tip post on how to save some cash while in Singapore!

Scoot

Scoot is a Singapore-based low-cost carrier that is wholly-owned by the Singapore Airlines Group. This low-cost subsidiary was first announced by Singapore Airlines in 2011. It took its first flight back in June 2012. Over the years, the airline has expanded its network from the neighboring Southeast and South Asian countries, up to North Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea), to Australia and even far west to Greece and Germany. In 2017, Scoot merged with another airline – TigerAir Singapore – with Scoot as the surviving entity.

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, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Scoot is based in Singapore Changi Airport. It flies more than 50 Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 787 aircraft to over 50 destinations across Asia, Australia and Europe. As of writing, it also has around 30 Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft on order to join the fleet in the next few years.

The airline has adopted the frequent flyer program of its parent airline called KrisFlyer. It also has a codeshare partnership with its parent airline. Scoot is a member of Value Alliance – an alliance of low-cost carriers across Asia Pacific. Alliance members include our very own Cebu Pacific Air, Nok Air from Thailand and Jeju Air from South Korea. The airline also has partnerships with other airlines such as Virgin Australia, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air.

Scoot is a low-cost carrier. The airline provides basic fares for an affordable price. Any extra flight perks like check-in baggage allowance, seat selection, inflight meals and inflight amenities can be purchased on top of the basic fare. This no-frills fare system allows the airline to offer low fares across their network.

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

My relatives and I booked our tickets 1.5 months before our intended flight dates and paid ₱9,758.39 each roundtrip. The competitors’ prices were way higher than Scoot’s at the time of booking.

This return ticket included a random seat assigned during check-in and 10 kilograms of carry-on baggage. It did not include check-in baggage and inflight snacks or meals. These ticket add-ons were available for purchase during initial booking and up to a few hours before the flight.

I believe this return ticket was affordable given tickets were booked relatively last-minute. Also, the ticket already included the high airport fees and taxes charged for flights from Singapore Changi Airport.

Travel Requirements

The Philippines has simplified its arrival procedure for all passengers and adopted an online travel declaration system. All arriving Filipino and non-Filipino passengers need to register in the online portal – www.etravel.gov.ph – and obtain a unique QR code to be presented upon arrival in the country.

Fully-vaccinated arriving passengers are exempted from providing a Covid-19 pre-departure test result. Partially or unvaccinated arriving passengers are still required to present a negative pre-departure test result. If unable to provide one, the passenger will be required to undergo a test upon arrival in the Philippines.

Please take note that some nationalities still require additional requirements such as a visa (if needed) or proof of onward ticket when entering the Philippines. These requirements can be changed anytime. It’s always best to check the Covid-19 Travel Information page of the airline you’ll be flying with to the Philippines.

Before the Flight

7 days before the flight, Scoot sent an e-mail reminding of the available add-ons for purchase. These add-ons include check-in baggage, preferred seats, meals, snooze kits, etc.

48 hours before the scheduled flight, the airline also sent an e-mail informing us that online check-in was now available. They also reminded us of the check-in process and the safety protocols for the flight.

A day before our flight, we checked in online and got our randomly assigned seats.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Singapore to Manila Scoot flight TR 390 was operated by a 1.3-year-old Airbus A321neo aircraft. This neo aircraft, delivered to the airline in December 2021, has 236 seats in an all-economy class configuration.

The flight took off from Singapore Changi Airport at 3:23 in the afternoon and landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 6:36 in the evening – 1 minute later than the scheduled time of arrival. The whole flight took 3 hours and 13 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Scoot operates from Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi Airport.

CHECK-IN

We arrived at Singapore Changi Airport a few minutes past 12 noon. We headed over to the mobile check-in kiosks and later found out that we need to check-in via the regular check-in counters. Passengers travelling with kids are not eligible for kiosk check-in.

We walked to the regular counters and the nice guy checked us in for our flight. The whole process took less than 10 minutes for 3 adults and 2 kids. The regular check-in desks had no queue because most people use the check-in kiosks and the bag drop counters.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we cleared immigration and headed to the food court for a quick grub. After lunch, we walked straight to Gate B7 and waited for the security lines to ease. Singapore Changi Airport is one of the few airports in the world that have the final security check in every boarding gate. The security process and boarding gates open only an hour before the scheduled flight departure.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 2:20 pm – exactly 30 minutes before the flight departure. Passengers who require assistance and those who availed of the BoardMeFirst add-on went inside the plane first. They were followed by those seated at the back of the plane. Passengers assigned in the front cabin boarded the plane last.

The cabin crew gave out masks and wipes to every passenger boarding the aircraft. The whole boarding process took 32 minutes; the aircraft doors closed at 2:52pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This flight to Manila used an all-economy class configured Airbus A321neo. The plane has 236 seats configured in a 3 x 3 set-up with a single aisle in between. According to SeatMaps website, the seats feature 28 to 29 inches of legroom and 18 inches of seat width.

Each seat features a decent recline, a foldable tray, a seat pocket with the aircraft safety card and onboard menu and a coat hook. The seat also comes with an individual air nozzle, a reading light and a crew call button. Unfortunately, the seats do not feature headrests, pillow and blanket and USB or universal power outlet.

I was assigned window seat 7A in the forward section of the cabin. I got a seat with a decent legroom and a perfectly-positioned window beside the seat.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Scoot does not offer complimentary inflight snack or meals onboard. Passengers can pre-book inflight meals up to days before the flight; they can also buy snacks and drinks during the onboard service. The snack service immediately commenced after the seatbelt sign has been turned off. The ‘shop’ remained open until 45 minutes before landing. I did not avail of any snack or meal on this short flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Scoot aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Instead, they have a feature called ScootHub – an inflight portal accessible from the passenger’s mobile devices. ScootHub offers fun games, real-time flight map, magazine and other inflight features. In future, it will also offer food and drink order services and duty-free shopping.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Scoot did not offer in-flight Wi-Fi on this short flight to Singapore. Passengers can connect to the onboard connection only to access ScootHub and not to use the internet or messaging applications.

LAVATORY

I was seated by the window and I did not have the chance to visit the lavatory on this 3.25-hour flight back to Manila. Besides, the front lavatory was always occupied by one passenger after another.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this flight was more visible and noticeable on this flight compared to the Manila to Singapore flight on TR 397. The crew welcomed the passengers with the warmest greetings and distributed face masks and sanitary wipes upon boarding. They gave the same greetings when we deplaned in Manila. They were strict with the flight safety measures and made sure that all passengers complied during the flight.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Disembarkation was a little chaotic because many passengers wanted to leave the aircraft as soon as the aircraft doors were opened. Upon leaving the aircraft, all passengers went through the E-travel QR check before going through immigration.

The whole immigration and baggage claim only took us 10 minutes. By the time we finished immigration, we already saw our bags and strollers at Baggage Belt B.

Flight Experience

It was an excellent flying experience with Scoot on flight TR 390 from Singapore to Manila. I would say that this flight was better than the Manila to Singapore leg because of Singapore Changi Airport – obviously one of the best in the world.

This flight has a long list of plus points than negatives. First, the return fare price was affordable and reasonable. The fares were competitive and cheaper than other low-cost cost airlines, like Cebu Pacific Air and Jetstar Asia, flying the same route. Second, the flight schedule was just perfect. It was ideal after hotel check-out and the arrival was in time for dinner here in the Philippines.

Check-in Kiosks at Changi
A321neo Legroom

Third, the airline’s 10-kilogram carry-on policy in economy is above the industry standard. Most full-service and low-cost airlines only allow up to 7 kilograms of carry-on luggage. The only airline I can think of that offers more in economy is Air France with 12 kilograms carry-on allowance. Fourth, the airline’s check-in system and process at Singapore Changi Airport is modern and efficient. There were no queues at all even if there were multiple Scoot flights departing during that period.

Fifth, Scoot’s inflight portal, ScootHub, is something worth noting. It is great to see low-cost airlines investing on this type of amenity for the passengers. Lastly, the airline provided face masks and sanitary wipes to passengers during boarding. It was something I did not expect from a low-cost carrier like Scoot.

This flight is not all good; it also had some minor inconveniences. First, the security process at the boarding gates took longer than expected. There were only 2 lines for more than 200 passengers. On top of this, the boarding dates only opened an hour before and boarding commenced 30 minutes after it opened. It was more of how the airport was designed but it was just a minor setback. Second, the disembarkation process was chaotic. Everyone was excited to stand up and leave the plane once the aircraft door was opened.

Nevertheless, it was still an amazing flight with Scoot. Will I fly them again? Yes! The airline may not have the 1-peso base fare but they still have a great product with competitive fares. The good schedule (for this flight – not the red eye ones) also adds value to it. Scoot has interesting and affordable long-haul routes which I aim to fly with in the future.

Here are the geeky flight details for our aviation enthusiasts out there:

Airline: Scoot
Flight Date: 28 March 2023
Flight Number: TR 390
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila (MNL) Philippines
Duration: 3 hours & 13 minutes
Seat Number: 7A (window seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: 9V-NCF
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 1.3 years old
Delivered: December 2021

Have you flown Scoot in the past? How was your experience? I hope you can share your flight experience in the comments section below. If not, I hope I convinced you to try them in the future. They are a good budget carrier! Do you have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to shoot me an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com with your question.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Scoot flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 397 – Manila to Singapore – Reasonably-Priced Early Morning Flight to the Lion City [March 2023]

Last March 2023, I flew to Singapore with my relatives to celebrate my cousin’s birthdays. We spent 5 days and 4 nights around the beautiful Lion City. We explored the usual areas and mostly went to the kid-friendly places such as the S.E.A. Aquarium and Universal Studios Singapore.

Unfortunately, I will not post our itinerary and trip details because it was just all fun, fun and fun with the kids. Instead, I will share with you the details of and experiences on our flights to and from Singapore with Scoot. Join me in today’s flight report as I go you through the first leg – our Manila to Singapore flight with Scoot on TR 397.

Planning to fly to Singapore soon? It is not a cheap country to visit. I have been there a few times and I want to share to you some hacks on how explore the country on a budget. Check out this Tuesday Tip post on how to save some cash while in Singapore!

Scoot

Scoot is a Singapore-based low-cost carrier that is wholly-owned by the Singapore Airlines Group. This low-cost subsidiary was first announced by Singapore Airlines in 2011. It took its first flight back in June 2012. Over the years, the airline has expanded its network from the neighboring Southeast and South Asian countries, up to North Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea), to Australia and even far west to Greece and Germany. In 2017, Scoot merged with another airline – TigerAir Singapore – with Scoot as the surviving entity.

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, Emirates & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Scoot is based in Singapore Changi Airport. It flies more than 50 Airbus A320, A321 and Boeing 787 aircraft to over 50 destinations across Asia, Australia and Europe. As of writing, it also has around 30 Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft on order to join the fleet in the next few years.

The airline has adopted the frequent flyer program of its parent airline called KrisFlyer. It also has a codeshare partnership with its parent airline. Scoot is a member of Value Alliance – an alliance of low-cost carriers across Asia Pacific. Alliance members include our very own Cebu Pacific Air, Nok Air from Thailand and Jeju Air from South Korea. The airline also has partnerships with other airlines such as Virgin Australia, Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air.

Scoot is a low-cost carrier. The airline provides basic fares for an affordable price. Any extra flight perks like check-in baggage allowance, seat selection, inflight meals and inflight amenities can be purchased on top of the basic fare. This no-frills fare system allows the airline to offer low fares across their network.

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

Fares to and from Singapore are probably one of the most expensive here in Southeast Asia; it is because of its relatively high airport taxes and fees. My relatives and I booked our return tickets 1.5 months before our intended flight date and paid ₱9,758.39 each.

This return ticket included 10 kilograms of carry-on baggage per way and a randomly-selected seat during check-in. It does not include check-in baggage and inflight meals or snacks. These add-ons were available for purchase up to a few hours before the flight.

I personally think that this was a reasonably-priced return fare considering it was booked relatively close to the intended trip schedule. A return ₱1-fare ticket with Cebu Pacific Air costs a little over ₱6,000 and it must be booked over 6 months before.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

Singapore has removed all Covid-19 restrictions as of February 2023. The country still requires all incoming tourists and visitors to fill out the SG Arrival Card declaration form at least 3 days before arrival.


Philippine passport holders can enter Singapore without a visa and are allowed to stay up to 30 days after entry.

I have been to Singapore a few times in the past. In fact, I previously shared with you 2 Singapore trips which you can read about in this website: Throwback Thursday Treat: 2016 New Year in Singapore & SINGAPORE Stopover: Quick & Packed 24 Hours In The Lion City.

BEFORE THE FLIGHT

7 days before the flight, Scoot sent an e-mail to remind me of the latest Singapore entry requirements. The airline also offered me to purchase add-ons for the flight such as check-in baggage, meals, etc.

48 hours before the flight, I did not receive an e-mail notification saying that online check-in is now open for our flight. My theory is that I needed to check-in through the counters because I was flying with 2 kids.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Scoot flight TR 397 from Manila, Philippines to Singapore Changi Airport was operated by a 1.3-year-old Airbus A321neo aircraft. This neo aircraft, delivered to the airline in December 2021, has 236 seats in an all-economy class configuration.

The flight took off from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila at exactly 6:22am and landed at Singapore Changi Airport 23 minutes ahead of schedule at 9:27am. The whole flight only took 3 hours and 5 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Back in March 2023, Scoot operated out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. The airline has now transferred its Manila operations to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 as of 16 April 2023.

CHECK-IN

I arrived at the airport at 2:43 in the morning and noticed that check-in counters are already open. I paid my travel tax and went to meet my relatives in the priority lane (we were travelling with kids). The whole check-in and bag-drop process, including the queue, took 48 minutes. The regular check-in lines moved faster than the priority lane queue.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, we passed through immigration and final security check. We decided to kill time in the central common areas because the boarding gate and lounge were still closed.

An hour before boarding, Gate 16 opened to all Singapore-bound passengers. This pre-departure area lacked proper ventilation; it was small and cramped. There were not enough seats for all passengers of a 236-seat plane.

BOARDING

Boarding process started at 5:28am. Passengers who availed the BoardMeFirst add-on and those who need assistance went inside the plane first. Passengers travelling with infants, small children, persons with disability and senior citizens boarded the plane next. Regular passengers came in last and boarded the plane by zone.

The boarding process on this Singapore-bound flight was chaotic. Priority boarding was not followed; passengers lined up from everywhere. The ground staff had difficulty managing the boarding process and ended up boarding all passengers at the same time. The whole process took over 30 minutes. Aircraft doors were closed around 6:00am; the plane pushed back at 6:06am.

INFLIGHT HARD & SOFT PRODUCT

SEAT FEATURES

The Airbus A321neo aircraft used in this Singapore-bound flight has 236 seats in a 3 x 3 all economy-class configuration. According to SeatMaps website, each seat features 28 to 29 inches of legroom and 18 inches of seat width.

Each seat features a tray table and a seat pocket with aircraft safety card and onboard menu. It also features individual reading lights, air nozzles and attendant call button. The seats on the A321 do not have headrests and USB or power outlets.

I was assigned seat 13E, a middle seat in the front section, on this 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT SNACK

Scoot does not offer complimentary inflight snack or meals onboard. Passengers can pre-book inflight meals up to days before the flight; they can also buy snacks and drinks during the onboard service. The snack service immediately commenced after reaching the flight’s cruising altitude. The ‘shop’ remained open until 45 minutes before landing. I did not avail of any snack or meal on this short flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Scoot aircraft do not feature personal entertainment screens. Instead, they have a feature called ScootHub – an inflight portal accessible from the passenger’s mobile devices. ScootHub offers fun games, real-time flight map, magazine and other inflight features. In future, it will also offer food and drink order services and duty-free shopping.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Scoot did not offer in-flight Wi-Fi on this short flight to Singapore. Passengers can connect to the onboard connection only to access ScootHub and not to use the internet or messaging applications.

LAVATORY

I was seated in a middle seat and I did not have the chance to get up and visit the lavatory during the flight. The person seated next to me was asleep almost throughout the flight.

CABIN CREW SERVICE

Unfortunately, I did not have a direct interaction with the cabin crew on this flight. I noticed that the crew did their job in greeting and assisting passengers from boarding to the snack service and up to disembarkation.

DISEMBARKATION & BAGGAGE CLAIM

The aircraft touched down at Singapore Changi International Airport at 9:27am. It taxied to gate D35 in less than 10 minutes. All passengers disembarked from the front door into the terminal.

We finished the whole disembarkation, immigration and baggage claim process in less than 20 minutes.

Flight Experience

I had a pleasant flying experience with Scoot on this Manila to Singapore leg last March 2023. Allow me to expand this statement further by sharing the positives and points for improvement for this specific flight.

In my opinion, Scoot excelled in the following areas. First area is price point. The airline offered budget-friendly and competitive airfare for such last-minute tickets. The return fare from Manila to Singapore cost ₱9,758.39 per person, a few thousands cheaper (at the time of booking) than other low-cost competitors such as Cebu Pacific Air, Air Asia Philippines and JetStar Asia.

Second, the ticket included a generous carry-on baggage allowance of 10 kilograms per passenger. Most airlines only allow up to 7 kilograms of complimentary cabin baggage while a low-cost carrier like Scoot offers more than the industry standard. The only airline I can think of that offers more in economy is Air France with 12 kilograms carry-on allowance.

Third, the airline used a modern Airbus A321neo aircraft on this flight to Singapore. This newer plane provided better inflight experience and offered more optimized cabin spacing and features. Lastly, Scoot has improved in the inflight experience with ScootHub – the airline’s inflight portal. It is rare for low-cost airlines to offer this type of portal but it is nice to see that Scoot is pioneering it here in Southeast Asia.

This flight is not all good; it also has areas where the airline or the staff can improve on. First, the priority line check-in process took longer than the regular check-in line. We were 6th on the line and took 48 minutes to finish the check-in process.

Second, the airline’s pre-departure area for this flight was small, crowded and cramped. This concern has now been addressed with the airline’s recent transfer of operations to Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. Lastly, the boarding process was chaotic. Priority boarding was not followed; the ground staff had difficulty managing the boarding queues.

Overall, it was still a good flight with Scoot. I flew with them years ago from Penang to Singapore and I can confidently say that the airline has improved a lot in terms of passenger flying experience. I cannot wait how can they can further improve their product. Will I fly with them again? Yes! I am keen on trying their low-cost long-haul routes in the future.

Let me share with you some geeky details of this flight:

Airline: Scoot
Flight Date: 24 March 2023
Flight Number: TR 397
Route: Manila (MNL) Philippines to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 3 hours & 5 minutes
Seat Number: 13E (middle seat)
Aircraft: Airbus A321-271NX
Aircraft Registration: 9V-NCJ
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines
Age (at the time of the flight): 1.3 years old
Delivered: December 2021

Have you ever flown with Scoot? When and to where was this? Also, what did you like most about your flight with the airline? I hope you can share your trip details and experiences in the comments below. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to also post them below. Alternatively, you may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Scoot flight report. I hope you can also check out my previous flight reports with Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines and Air France. All previous flight reports can be found under the Flight Reports category. Feel free to check them out. Please look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like and follow my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 916 – Singapore to Manila – Excellent but Turbulent Flight Back to Manila [July 2022]

After deplaning from my Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 107 from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, I immediately walked to the assigned gate for my onward flight to Manila. This Singapore to Manila SQ 916 flight on Singapore Airlines will be the subject of today’s flight report. Join me as I share with you details about this excellent but turbulent flight back home.

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 2nd most reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

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..

Airfare

This SQ 916 flight from Singapore to Manila was part of a 4-sector ticket from Manila to Kuala Lumpur & back on Singapore Airlines. The return ticket cost me US$147.69 + 7,665 KrisFlyer miles I earned during my Singapore Airlines flights to Europe in 2019.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. This return ticket includes 25 kilograms check-in baggage allowance, 7 kilograms carry-on allowance, inflight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens on 3 of 4 flights & a 5-star flight experience with well-trained & passionate cabin crew on all 4 sectors or flights.

This return ticket was a great deal considering it was booked a month prior to the scheduled flights. It also gave me all the benefits of a full-service airline. Believe it or not, return tickets on Philippines-based low-cost carriers were more expensive than this SQ ticket!

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.

Travel Requirements

A few months ago, the Philippine government relaxed entry requirements for those who want to travel to or go home to the country. The requirements differ based on the individual’s vaccination status.

Fully-vaccinated passengers who have received a booster dose are exempted from providing a negative antigen or RT-PCR test result. They only need to provide their vaccination certificate issued by the respective health authorities. Fully-vaccinated passengers who have not received a booster dose need to present a negative antigen test result taken 24 hours before departure.

Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated individuals need to present a negative RT-PCR result taken 48 hours before the departure or a negative antigen test result taken 24 hours before the flight. They also need to undergo facility-based quarantine, take a test on the 5th day & if negative, continue quarantine at home until 14th day from arrival.

On top of these vaccination or test requirements, all incoming passengers, regardless of nationality, need to register on the One Health Pass website 72 hours before the flight. He/she must also save a printed or digital copy of the QR code at the end of the form.

Please take note that some nationalities still require additional requirements such as a visa (if needed) or proof of onward ticket when entering the Philippines. These requirements can be changed anytime. It’s always best to check the Covid-19 Travel Information page of the airline you’ll be flying with to the Philippines.

Before The Flight

A few days after booking the flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminder to check the updated travel requirements of the chosen destination. The e-mail included helpful links where I need to check the updated protocols for both transit area & destination.

Fast forward to a few days before the flight, the airline sent an e-mail about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program for economy class passengers who want to pay for a business class seat on that specific flight. I didn’t bother to check the minimum upgrade price because I don’t have the funds for it.

48 hours before my Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight, the Singapore Airlines mobile application notified me that check-in is now available for both flights. I immediately checked-in & chose my seats for both Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & this Singapore to Manila flights. Singapore Airlines allows their passengers to choose their preferred seats for free during the online check-in process.

Flight Information

This Singapore to Manila flight was operated by a 6.5-month-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft, which was delivered to Singapore Airlines in January 2022, has the two-class regional configuration consisting of 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy class seats.

SQ 916 took off from Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) at exactly 1:48pm & landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) at 5:13pm. The flight had a smooth & quiet take-off & landing but also had a very turbulent journey up in the air. It experienced several turbulences throughout the 3.5-hour flight. The whole journey from Singapore to Manila took 3 hours & 25 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

This Singapore to Manila flight on SQ 916 is a continuation of my Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight. I did not clear immigration in Singapore & only stayed airside at Singapore Changi Airport.

CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Transit at Singapore Changi Airport is back to pre-pandemic times. The airport does not require a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination during transit. The only requirement they have for transit passengers is to have both flights (to Singapore & out of Singapore) under the same ticket or itinerary & have the passenger’s baggage tagged from the airport of origin to the final country or airport of destination.

My flight back to Manila was booked under the same itinerary. I checked in for both Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila flights in Kuala Lumpur. I also had my check-in luggage tagged from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to my final destination, Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.

SQ 107 from Kuala Lumpur arrived a few minutes behind schedule. After disembarking from the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, I immediately headed to Terminal 3 Gate B9 to board this flight to Manila. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go around Terminal 3 on this short connection. This transit experience was seamless & hassle-free.

PRE-DEPARTURE

I submitted myself & my carry-on bag for a final security check at the doors of Gate B9 & went to the staff counter to request a seat change. I mentioned in my SQ 107 flight report that I tried to request a seat change during check-in at KLIA. I was advised by the check-in agent that the system doesn’t allow her to do it & mentioned that I can request this in Singapore before I board the flight to Manila. I went to the flight staff & was immediately granted a new seat at the 2nd to the last row – 69B.

I went to the pre-departure area, took a seat & enjoyed the view of the beautiful Airbus A350-900 aircraft that will fly us to Manila. Ah, such a beautiful plane!

BOARDING

At exactly 12:58pm, the ground staff called all business class passengers & status holders to board the aircraft to Manila. 2 minutes later, they called all economy class passengers seated at the rear part of the cabin (that’s us) to board the plane. Shortly after our batch, those seated in the forward economy cabin boarded the plane last. Boarding was done by group & took 28 minutes to finish. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors at 12:28pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Singapore to Manila flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ newest Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration 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.

Business Class Seat
Economy Class Seats

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, face masks & disinfectant surface wipes are now available by request.

The seats on this Airbus A350 aircraft are complete & comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight. It has more than what a normal economy class passenger needs for a 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT MEAL

Singapore Airlines served complimentary hot meals on this 3-hour flight to Manila. The airline has removed the physical menu cards & integrated the whole food & drink information in the flight’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had the option to choose between Herb Crusted Fish Fillet & Roasted Chicken Rice. The main dish came with a bread roll & butter, ice cream & a drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice. The crew went around again to offer a second round of drinks & offered water, coffee & tea to those who want. Check out the full menu below.

I admire the airline for using metal cutlery & recyclable food containers during the meal service. It helps a lot in eliminating solid waste; it is environment-friendly. I hope they can find a sustainable alternative to plastic cups.

I chose the roasted chicken rice meal with a glass of red wine & enjoyed it. The rice, chicken & vegetable portions were just right. For dessert, we had Udders Dark Chocolate ice cream. The ice cream was thick & tasty; it was probably the star of the lunch service.

Immediately after the meal service, I asked for roasted nuts to help me finish my small glass of red wine. After this, I asked for the airline’s signature cocktail, Singapore Sling. I think I had 2 more glasses of this drink paired with their roasted cashew & almonds. Don’t worry, I didn’t feel tipsy or what.

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.

Sad to say this, but the Wi-Fi on this flight was close to not working. I had to try a lot of times before having access to the inflight food & drinks menu. I didn’t get to use the free 2-hour messaging service because I always got the ‘network error’ or ‘service unavailable’ notification.

LAVATORY

The rear lavatory on this Airbus A350 was spotless & well-maintained. It was clean; it had the amenities needed for a 3-hour flight. The sink had cold & warm water & had hand soap & tissue beside it. The lavatory console had a moisturizing hand lotion & the drawer had more amenities.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was excellent. The cabin crew welcomed all passengers with their best smiles & wished us a pleasant & enjoyable flight. Upon arriving at my seat, I saw that the tray table had leftover crumbs. I notified one of the cabin attendants in the back. The cabin attendant apologized & immediately got back to me with disinfectant wipes & tissue.

The crew had to pause meal service a few times due to turbulence. They kept apologizing to the passengers every time the meal service was halted. They continued with the meal service after the turbulences. The guy who served my meal was polite & attentive. He asked what meal & drink options I preferred & gladly served it.

After the meal service, I asked for a glass of Singapore Sling. The cabin attendant misunderstood it, & thought I asked for a Bloody Mary. She came back & apologized that they don’t have Bloody Mary onboard; she also immediately offered to mix a special drink for me. I told her that I actually requested for Singapore Sling. She again apologized & came back with my requested drink with 2 packs of roasted nuts. Lovely!

Several members of the flight crew went around the cabin throughout the flight & attended to every passenger’s requests. They even went around & offered glasses of water to those who want.

The assigned crew on this flight showed true Singaporean hospitality. They served the passengers with their best smiles & catered to every request throughout the flight. They made sure that passengers had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines. Their top-notch service made the flying experience a lot better. Cheers to the crew on this flight!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. The ground staff checked every passenger’s One Health Pass QR code & instructed where to fall in line for verification / scanning. Immigration didn’t take long & check-in bags were available as soon as we arrived at the baggage claim hall. Believe it or not, I finished the whole arrival process (from stepping out of the plane to the arrivals area) in less than 10 minutes.

Final Thoughts

It was another excellent flight with Singapore Airlines. Both the hard & soft products stood out on this 3.5-hour flight from Singapore to Manila onboard their new Airbus 350-900 aircraft. I’d like to point out a few things that actually made this experience a great one.

First, the transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport was seamless. No requirements, no whatsoever. I just went from one airport gate to the other. Second, both the ground staff & cabin crew provided excellent service. The ground attendants in Kuala Lumpur & Singapore were polite & accommodating. Those in Singapore station even allowed me to change seats last minute. The cabin crew teams onboard the flight were hospitable & service-oriented.

Third, Singapore Airlines’ hard product on the Airbus A350-900 is modern & solid. The seats are comfortable; they have good leg space. The personal entertainment screens area big; it has thousands of entertainment options to choose from. The cabin also feels very spacious.

The airline’s soft product on this flight was as awesome as the hard product. Cabin crew service, as mentioned above, was top-notch. The inflight meal portions were just right. They also offered a long list of drinks for economy class passengers. I particularly liked the dark chocolate ice cream offered as dessert. Lastly, I also noticed the airline’s sustainable efforts by using recyclable food containers, providing metal cutlery & getting rid of physical menus.

This flight was not perfect. It also had some drawbacks which I hope the airline can improve on. First, the onboard Wi-Fi was close to not working. It only worked when I tried to access the inflight menu. Second, the airline still uses plastic cups for the drink service – particularly for water, wine & other alcoholic beverages in economy class. I hope they can find an environment-friendly alternative for it.

Third, I somehow felt a downsize in economy class service compared to how it was before the pandemic. Pillows & blankets are no longer provided to every seat & the towel service in economy class has stopped. I hope they can find a way to re-introduce them in the future. Lastly, not entirely the airline’s fault, but this flight was very turbulent. The meal service had to stop several times due to turbulence. I think the seatbelt sign was turned on for more than an hour in total. The frequent turbulence somehow affected the overall experience on this flight to Manila.

Putting these aside, I still enjoyed this flight with Singapore Airlines. I wish the flight time from Singapore to Manila was longer than 3.5 hours. Will I fly them again in the future? Definitely! In fact, I am already considering taking them again for another set of flights for next year.

Here are some geeky details about this excellent 3.5-hour hop from Singapore to Manila:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 7 July 2022
Flight Number: SQ 916
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 3 hours & 25 minutes
Seat Number: 69B
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHW
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 6.5-month-old
Delivered: January 2022

This sums up & ends by journey with Singapore Airlines on the trip to Kuala Lumpur last July 2022. Don’t forget to check out my other flights with them: Manila to Singapore on SQ 915, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on SQ 114 & Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on SQ 107. Feel free to also check out my post about this quick international trip to Kuala Lumpur by clicking this link.

Have you flown with Singapore Airlines recently? How was your flight? Please share details about your experience in the comments section below. Do you have questions about this flight or anything related to the airline? You may post them below or send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you are shy to comment.

Thank you for joining me in today’s trip report. If you’re interested in my previous flight reports, feel free to check them out under the flight report category. I hope you’ll look forward to the next one. Also, 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.