UA0896 SIN-HKG 20 Nov 07 (Business)
Posted: 20 Nov 2007, 08:06(I'd stayed for 1 night at this hotel both coming into and leaving SIN. It's quite a nice hotel. The first room I had was quite dated but the second room looked to have been recently renovated and was very nice. This hotel is OK for a stop-over but I wouldn't recommend it for longer stays, it's just too far out.)
The shuttle arrived at 04:00 and by 04:15 I was at terminal 1 which is where UA flights arrive/depart. As with VS, UA have seperate pre check-in passport checks. Check-in was just opening at this point so armed with my BD*G card and my economy ticket I joined the short business/1K check-in line. The agent was very nice and quickly had my checked in. She proceded to ask with if I was happy with my current seat selection (seat 47H) so I asked if I could have either an exit row or a bulk head row. She said an exit row seat was available.
Handing me my boarding card & lounge invite, she also stated that due to todays flight been full, I had been given an upgrade to business class - result [y]
One thing I thought was a nice touch was that once she had tagged my bag, she then actually got up and came over to my side of the check-in desk and went though the boarding card and lounge invite with me. I was now sat in seat 22B.
Headed though immigration which was quick and painless (if you have not used SIN airport before, you dont go though security until you actually reach the gate area. Each gate has it's own security lanes. KUL is the same.)
UA use the premier lounge which is located on the second level close to check-in. It's quite a large lounge with the usual self-service lounge snacks and drinks. There's about 8 PC's and a few flat screen TV's dotted about the place.
Before long the flight was called and so I made my way to gate C24 which was about a 5 minute walk. By the time we where called in the lounge, most of the other pax had already gone though so it was sriaght onto the A/C. First use door 1 and business can use either door 1 or 2. Not knowing where 22B was I used door 1. It turns out 22B is the very first row as you baord door 2. By this point most economy pax where onboard so there wasn't too much traffic coming past me.
As I settled in, pre-flight drinks where served, breakfast menus and the crew went round the cabin offering an amentiy basket with the usual tooth brush kits etc. The seat is quite comfy with the usual business class controls. You also get your own video screen. Doors where closed and we pulled back 5 minutes early at 06:45. We soon lost this time as we had to hold on the taxi way for 10-15 minutes whilst waiting 'to get clearance to fly with a small problem the A/C had developed' [:0] The captain didnt say what the problem was but said it was nothing to worry about. We soon started moving again and we rotated at 07:15. Todays flight was be a little over 3 hours.
The IFE was started stright away. There are about 9 video channels about 12 radio, the ATC channel and a skymap to choose from. The screen is about the same size as the VS economy Odyssey ones.
At this point the FSM (or what ever they call themselves on UA) came and introduced himself to me and had a quick chat about where I was going and where I had been etc. I didn't see anyone else in business class get this [:?]
Breakfast was severed after about 1 hour. You start with a selection of pastries and a fruit platter followed by your choice which was either poached eggs, minced chicken and noodles or a continental breakfast. I opted for the eggs which where was very nice.
After finishing waching one of the films (Under Dog) I switched to the ATC channel which was starting to get busy as we approached HKG. For those that dont know you can listen to the air traffic control for all flights including your own UA one.
As we where approchaing HKG the cabin was cleared and secured and before long we landed, only 5 minutes late. After a quick taxi we where on stand next to another UA B747.
Business class pax get the option to leave either via door 1 or 2. I opted for door 1 where the FSM was saying his goodbyes. He actually stopped me and shook my hand and using my name once again, thanked me for flying UA.
During the entire flight all the crew addressed me by my surname. This really does make a difference [y]
All in all an excellent flight. I would have no hesitation in using United again on this route either in business class or economy. UA economy fares are about 1/4 the price of SQ fares on this route (I paid 135 return for a V economy fare booked via the United UK website). No idea what business or first fares are like though. Also racked up a fair few BD miles in the process as well [y]
Regards