SQ 221 (747-400)
Scheduled duration: 8hrs 30mins
Seats 17 H &K
This Trip Report follows on from my KUL-SIN flight here
We waited in the Kris lounge for our flight to SYD. There are no announcements in the lounge, which make things interesting, all too easy to get caught up doing something and lose track of time. I took advantage of the internet terminals to check my email and see what the family were up to. Sadly i had no room to avail myself of the wonderful buffet in the lounge.
We wondered down to the gate around 20.30, which was our scheduled boarding time. There were quite a few passengers waiting and no seats available. Fortunately we noticed the staff make their way towards the two magic doors that lead to the aircraft and headed over to be first in line to board. We had about five or six Economy passengers in front of us, and the staff directed them to the next door that clearly says Economy (as opposed to Business/First) I bet they were just trying their luck as the queue for Economy was building to a snake at this point. We were first on board and headed upstairs to find our seats!
[img]http://www.v-flyer.com/photos/1323.jpg[/img]
The cabin was empty and it was nice to have a bit of a look about and get chatting to the crew. Some of them said they were excited to be going to SYD and that they enjoy the Aussie destinations more than the Asian ones. I got chatting to our Male steward who said the same, he also said that seemed to get a lot of Japanese destinations, and mentioned a few places that they all despise going to!. Its great to find out where the crew do and dont like going to - gives me an idea whether or not i would enjoy somewhere.
Yesterday was the day of the London bombings, the crew, on recognising our accents, all asked us about it, whether any of our family were there and how we felt about it. They all told us they were so sorry - which was very nice and genuine. I told them that i felt strange being away from home with all this going on.
The cabin started to fill, and we waited patiently for push back, to be told that we were to be delayed. Apparently, flights entering SYD before 6am are subject to a fine? The Captain advised that as we had a ridiculously short flight time of 6hrs 28mins the flight would be delayed a little to ensure we got there just after 6am. I was a bit put out to be honest, although the scheduled flight time was about 8hrs something, so i guess there must have just been phenomenal tail winds out there! We sat on the tarmac for an hour - and the crew did a great job refilling glasses and helping passengers with queries. Top marks crew!
The guy directly behind me had a cough, not his fault but he coughed every minute and a half or so. I was imagining that he was going to do this all night - even the crew kept looking at him and frowning.
We finally pushed back around 21.55 and took a long taxi out to the runway - and were in the air.
The crew came round with newspapers, bubbly and nibbles, and asked us how we could be addressed. Hot Towels also came round. I cant fault the SQ crew, havent met one sour-puss, they are all so helpful and polite - and damn gorgeous too! (and this is coming from a fellow Woman!!) I do find it disturbing that they all have the same obligatory hairstyle - as the ladies all start to look alike after a while - as if SQ were breeding them in some secret laboratory.
The meal service started shortly after drinks, starter was a mozzerella salad and was very tasty - although the rolls were semi-cold. I do like a nice warm roll. I cant recall choices for the main course but i believe there were four courses, i opted for a curry which was very nice but very hot (again) I soothed my burning mouth with a glass of bubbly (yeah i know ... this is turning into a habit!!) I passed on pudding and cheese, although the pudding was a bit strange, it seemed like orange segments with ice cream! We were asked quite a few times if we were sure we didnt want anything else, and to call a crew member at any time if we changed our minds. Nice touch I like it when you feel the freedom to eat and do what you wish onboard. I had a nice coffee and settled into the Wiseman IFE. Decided to watch Speed, a good old classic that should send me nicely to sleep.
Almost towards the end of Speed i went to brush my teeth in the loo, i wish that SQ's amenity kit contained a few more useful items. These had been handed out before most people had boarded (and left in seats) but only contained eye shades, earplugs and socks - and not even socks but like soft moccasins. Its funny, the Y kits on VS are actually miles better - ok they come in a plastic bag (which can be useful for water parks and stuff) but they are full of stuff - pens, notepad etc. I was also wishing desperately that Sleepsuits would be offered. Next time i travel SQ on a long haul flight i will bring a VS one out of rebellion! I hate sleeping in my clothes now and have gotten used to VS offering them.
I trundled back to my seat and went to full recline. This seat is awesome to play with (which i had the pleasure of a few weeks back) but now it was time to sleep - and could i get comfy in this seat of a million positions? I have to sleep on my stomach to go to sleep (have done since childhood) and i felt like i was surfing in the slanted position of the bed. I tried going foetal but that didnt work, so i spent a good hour trying to get into a good position. I found one - then slid down the seat (or it felt like it anyway). This continued for about an hour, to which point i got a bit wound up. The window blind a few rows back was open and i could see the flashing of the wing lights in the gap between my seat and the window - and thought 'so thats why you are asked to close your blind'. I put my iPod on, and made a nest in the very top part of the seat/bed and tried to sleep. I checked SkyMap before getting my head down, and left it on.
Remember the guy with the cough? He was still going - and i turned up my iPod full whack to drown him out.
It took me a good couple of hours to go to sleep - i darent look at SkyMap!
I must have drifted off to sleep soon after, as the next thing i knew i was woken with a light tap to my leg. Did i want breakfast? No, i wanted to bloody sleep! LOL I was offered a hot towel and sat there a bit dazed for five minutes or so, most people were being woken, i guess with such a short flight time you dont get into deep sleep until its time to get up. I had an O.J and took a couple of croissants. They did look a little squished but were lovely and warm and crisp. I polished those off and sat there pondering life over a cup of strong Coffee. SkyMap showed us as flying over Alice Springs!
I did feel a bit disappointed with the transformer on this long haul flight. I imagined i would get a lot better sleep in the seat than i did. Maybe it was because i expected to sleep? Having recently been in the UCS i guess its a natural comparison, but then its no different to the J2000 seat really - and i slept in that perfectly well. More alcohol needed next time i think!!
We landed at 6.15am local in SYD - missing that fine by a clear 15mins. SYD was still pretty dark with the streetlights still on, i had hoped to get a better glimpse of the city from the air - but would have to save that one for another time.
We disembarked and headed down the hall to Sydney arrivals. We were greeted with a 'G'day' (and a large poster of Steve Irwin advertising Customs restrictions with a crocodile - oh i love Australia!) We got our SYD stamp in the passport and went to head off to baggage when we were stopped by customs. The chap asked us a million questions (one being 'what countries did you visit on route to Australia' ... erm ... well as we are on a great escapade, let me think ... half of Asia! LOL) After that he inspected our cases, tapping them (i believe to see if they were full or not) and asked for our travel documentation and proof of hotel booking? We went to fish it out and as soon as he saw we had plenty of paperwork he let us on our way. An odd experience but harmless nonetheless.
We walked into arrivals and were met by a Shangri-la representative, he escorted us and our luggage to a waiting car, and of we went for our break Down Under!
