Frankfurt Rhein-Main
Back at airport at 6:20 in the morning I wanted to visit the FTL Lounge in
the Terminal 1 B. The security check took some time, but immigration
was empty. Unfortunately the lounge was crowded, so I skipped it and
walked over to Terminal C, as friends of me were booked on an UA Flight to ORD at
8:20. We had talked about meeting, but in the end had not chosen any time or place.
I had an extended security check in the
concourse between Part B and C; I had to unpack my notebook, digital
camera, handheld and my razor, as they could not identify the
Gillette as razor as the only see some metal “T” piece in my
carry on. Oh boy, ….
I arrived at the gate for the OR
flight some minutes past 7 and my friend and her husband saw me at
once. We chatted a little bit, as my friend is (I think now I have to
say “was”) a little bit afraid of flying.
I headed approximately 25 minutes prior to my boarding time to C 13, which is
quite a distance to walk. If you have an arrival flight from A or B
you should calculate a walk and waiting time of 30 – 40 minutes.
From my point of view, I think a transfer of 45 minutes could be a
little bit short; from the Red Carpet Club at C you need 5 -10
minutes to reach C 13 and from the Priority Pass lounge between B and
C you have to pass security and this could take some time.
As
this was my first flight to the USA I rate this situation annoying.
You need a lot of time, have to walk nearly the whole way to terminal
2 (in fact gate C 13 is in the terminal 2) and if you are only FTL
you do not have a lounge over there. I was told the situation in MUC
is much better.
I headed to the gate and get the immigration
form for the USA. We waited and boarding was late. The plane came
form SIN and all passengers had to deboard the plane, so the waiting
area became quite full.
15
October 2004
FRA – JFK
[Frankfurt – New York / John F.
Kennedy International]
SQ 26 (Singapore Airlines); Boeing 747 –
400
08:30 – 10:45 [08:45 – 10:45]
Economy Class
Seat 63 C
With a little delay, boarding begun, as usual first First Class, Raffles
Class, PPS and Star Gold Passengers, followed by passengers with
small children and then by rows. As I had requested an aisle in the
last rows, where the seating is 2-4-2, I could board with first
Economy Passengers. But unfortunately the ground staff does not look
at the boarding passes of the boarding passengers, so – as usual – there were passengers in the first rows block other passenger on
their way to the back of the plane.
Boarding was completed a
little bit late and we were airborne with 10 minutes delay. My seat
neighbour was a very quiet man; we only had a few words to each other
but I was also not in the mood for chatting. I usually change some
words and greetings if my seat neighbour arrives, but I did not start
a conversation myself.
In the air, the crew distributed the
amenity kit, the menu for the flight and also the headphones. The
crew began the beverage service, with took some time, as the plane
was nearly full in Economy, I saw only remain two seats empty. After
an hour in the air, the crew began to distribute the meal.
Time for me to have a look in the menu 
(click on it to open new window). I am always amazed, that SQ distributes menus, since other airlines did not do so anymore.
I had the chicken, which was good and the portion was normal, not very
big, so that you could have had another one without feeling to full,
if you have skipped breakfast in the morning like I have done.
Although from my point of view the meal quality and quantity of TG
and sometimes of LH in Economy is better. With the meal service was a
beverage service with soft drinks, beer and wine, but I preferred to
stay with my diet coke. Okay, the connoisseur would have had a white
wine, but hey, he would be in the front of the plane not in the
back……
Our flight took us over The Netherlands, Great
Britain, Ireland and the Atlantic. We had strong headwinds and the
flight was a little bit bumpy. The captain informed us, that we would
have to expect heavier turbulence just some miles north of
Newfoundland. The seat belt sign was switched off as this time and
although there was some turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean he did not
switch it on. This was new to me, in the past SQ was very strict with
the seat belt signs by air turbulences. During the flight, there was
at least every 60 minutes a beverage service with water, apple juice
and orange juice.
The inflight entertainment system of SQ is
fantastic; the Wiseman AVOD system has a very large offer of music,
video and information channels. I preferred to hear some music
instead of watching a movie, but unfortunately my headphone had a
malfunction, the plug had some sort of lose contact. I requested a
new one but the flight attendant forgot to bring it, so I decided to
read my newspaper and a book.
To me, the air in the plane was
very warm, so at every beverage service I tried to get some water or
an orange juice.
Three hours prior to our expected arrival
time a snack containing of nuts and a drink service were offered.
During this time the lunch was prepared, and we could smell it in the
plane.
I again had the chicken, which was good, but as written above not as
good as the food on TG in Economy.
During lunch – over
Newfoundland – we had several heavier turbulences and the belt sign
were switched on and it was a little bit difficult to eat. The
captain reduced the altitude, but he had no effort in avoiding the
turbulence, as air traffic was very high and he could only reduce the
altitude some 400 meters (from 10200 m to 9800 m).
As we were
over Long Island the turbulence was over and the seat belt sign were
switched off. The rest of the flight – 20 minutes – was calm and
soon we begun our approach to JFK.
Once landed, some
passengers applaud, my seat neighbour and I looked each other and I
it seems we had the same thoughts: silly German tourists. I never understand why you applaud someone doing his hob (and nobody applauds if I have finished my work)
……
During the waiting time to leave the
plane I chatted with one of the male flight attendants, as he asked
me about the brand of my jacket (a small Gecko) and if I have a
connecting service or stay in NYC. I told him, I would leave to SIN
with the long stop and I asked him, if he is trained for it. He told
he was not and he also wanted not to be on this flight, as it is hard
work for the crew, but he wished me a good flight.
John F Kennedy International Airport
Before one leaves the plane two members of the ground staff of SQ checked
the arrival cards and several passengers had to fill out some
positions on the card they have forgotten to fill out.
My card was okay and I headed to immigration, where I had to queue, but
only a few minutes; as our flight was the only one arriving at this
time at this terminal. The immigration officer was friendly. I was
fingerprinted and a picture was taken and than I was on my way to the
belt. The whole immigration took 4 minutes 45 seconds (without
queuing). My luggage was on the belt waiting. I cleared customs and
headed for the JFK Airtrain to Jamaica Station.
As I had
booked the Newark Hilton Gateway, I decided to take the E to Cortland
Street and change a Cortland in the PATH to Newark Penn Station. The
ride took app. 10 minutes to Jamaica. I had a 17 kg trolley with me
and had no problems, also it would be nicer, if you have a direct
access to the subway at Jamaica, but there are lifts to the subway or
rollways to the platforms and it seems that in the future you do not
need to leave the building. From Jamaica the subway needs app. 45
minutes to Cortland Street, where you could change easily to the PATH
to Newark Penn Station. From the WTC Side the Path needs 22 minutes
to reach Newark Penn Station and there is a covered walkway to the
Hilton, so no problem.