V-Flyer

A brief TR, written from the Changi T2 SilverKris lounge, while awaiting my connection to MNL. Bit of a long stint this time, still 4 hours to go, and while it's a pleasant enough lounge, it's no CH.

So, I'll fight back the jetlag, and begin...

This was the first of 4 legs in my trip over to Manila this week. In the past, I'd done this using the VS200 to HKG, which only leaves a fairly short hop to MNL, but the SQ option carries a few advantages.

Firstly, it's a handy little earner for TPs, carrying 16 in total for a round trip. Not quite so generous for miles, but at least it means I'm all but there with AU requalification for another year (and after only 3 months...), so I might be more tempted to toy with BA a bit for long haul later in the year.

Secondly, it means that I might get a half decent lounge on my way back through MNL, not to mention business class check in (due to the restrictions of my corporate travel policy, HKG to MNL is considered short enough to do in economy). Anyone that's been to the delightful Ninoy Aquino airport (AKA "No Wang-Wang") will appreciate the value of avoiding flying economy...

And finally, the HK flights all seemed very full, which could I guess have something to do with the Sevens next weekend. And that's all I'm going to say about rugby after this weekend, thank you very much.

Back to the flight. Easy security, ok if rather small and basic lounge at T3 (ok ok, I'm just spoilt with the CH I know...), and a fairly painless traipse to the gate. As I handed over my boarding pass, the agent made some comment about changing my seat. I held my breath for a second, thinking, surely not, I couldn't be so lucky as to score an op-up to a suite??

Nope, you're right, I couldn't be so lucky. Apparently my original seat had got some sort of defect, but it was ok, they had put me in another one. Still a single by the window, so nothing lost.

I was one of the first on the plane as I didn't feel the need to loiter in the lounge. It turned out that my 'new' seat was one of the bassinet ones, which basically meant a bench for a footrest rather than the little wedge that most seats give you. However the big downside of this is that the 'bench' had to be stowed during takeoff and landing, which cramped my style a bit in terms of putting my feet up.

Actually, on the subject of the seat, I've found myself starting to get a bit irritated by the overall design on my last few flights. It's wide enough to slide about on, despite the bolster cusion you get; but not wide enough to really stretch horizontally on. I find the material of the seat itself not ideal, hence the comment about sliding, and then there's the footrest, which in the case of my seat was not always available, and was pretty hard when it was down. And it doesn't seem to me that the tray table extends out as far as it could do.

Maybe I'm just getting picky in my old age, but I swear I liked it more the first time...

The flight itself was good overall - A380s are nice and quiet, although there was a bit of rattling coming from somewhere for the first hour or so. Food and wine was excellent - definitely a strong point for SQ. And the service was impeccable, if slightly impersonal, but I accept the cultural aspects there.

And thats it really. Now, just got to stay awake for 3 more hours. If only they had cabanas here...

RC

Thanks for the very prompt TR.

I have always felt I was being ultra critical when I mentioned that I found the SQ seat design lacking (for all the reasons you have pointed out) so good to know I am not alone. I also find the foot rest is off centre so although the bed is flat it isn't as comfortable as it should be.

I Hope the rest of your trip goes well.

I've taken the same flight and route on to MNL - as you say VS doesn't have any options to connect at HKG so leave you on separate flights if you do, and with SQ you do get all the TPs. MY experience of the SQ A380 is similar, perfunctory, food OK, seat not all its cracked up to be ... lounge at T3 is poor, the lounge at MNL is also poor but as you say it is quiet, comfy-ish, with views, basic food and drink - but it is not the terminal!

The other option is EK.

I'm with Jacki and slinky on this one, too.

Nice to know that I'm not being over critical then! Anyway, survived the wait and the connecting flight, although I was pretty much dead to the world for the whole 3 hours, apart from briefly being roused to try my 'book the cook' beef rendang - which typically enough after what I said before, was not that good at all. Anyway, not really worth a TR for the little bit I remember.

Slinky - another option for the future could be Qatar via Doha - once they get their OW earning status sorted out. Comes out vey cheap indeed on our corporate system...

ratechaser wrote:Slinky - another option for the future could be Qatar via Doha - once they get their OW earning status sorted out. Comes out vey cheap indeed on our corporate system...

Yes indeed - or another is Cathay Pacific. I'd like to try the Qatar option some day - that would be good to help maintain BAEC Ag.

Yep, either Qatar or Cathay are options, Qatar better for food although I do love the Cathay C seat, probably better than any of them right now.