Singapore Changi Airport

At an awful early hour we took a taxi from the Holiday Inn Parkview to the airport. The streets were empty at this early hour, it was not even 04:30 as we left the hotel. We arrived at Changi after 18 minutes and the driver let us off at the doors, where row 09 - the counters of United – are located.

While searching for the Star Gold counters an agent addressed us and after my Star Gold Status was verified by showing the Senator Card, I was accompanied to the right counters. The agent at the desk was not able to access an exit row but told us he would request a better seat for us than the two middle seats he was able to get right now. I was addressed by name and so was my colleague. I was given a lounge invitation for the SATS Premier Lounge which uses United in Singapore.

We passed the immigration counters and after a quick visit in one of the duty free shops we took the escalator up to the lounge. We took a seat on the balcony styled area and I grabbed a cup of coffee for me and my colleague and had a sandwich.

We relaxed and then walked through the terminal, which become slowly busy, to our gate B 5. There, a long line of passengers queued but the lines moved quickly. I had to be manually searched since I caused a beep. Another beep as we entered the boarding area. The requested exit row seats had come through and we got new boarding passes for seats in row 45.

16. November 2009
SIN – HKG
[Singapore Changi – Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok]
UA 896 (United Airlines); Boeing 747-400 (N174UA)
Gate B 05
06:50 – 10:30 [effective 06:46 – 10:26.]
Economy Class
Seat 45 A

Boarding started in the usual order with First Class and Global Services Members first soon follows by Business Class and 1K Members and then Premier Executive and Star Gold Members. We had this time seats in the rear part of the Economy Cabin.

The cabin filled with passengers and we were among the first passengers in Economy and therefore could secure overhead space for our carry ons.

The captain came over the microphone and informed us about our expected flight time, that he hope to leave SIN in time and – for some of us the most important information – channel 9 would be available during the flight.

The safety video was shown while being pushed back at 06:46. This time no one approached us sitting in the exit row. Newspapers were distributed also while being pushed back.

We rolled to our runway and I was listening to channel 9. Two A 380ies of SQ were sitting at the terminal among a few 747-400 and 777.

At 07:07 we took off and soon later the fasten seat belt signs were switched off.

One crew members distributed the immigration form and the health declaration for HKG while the rest prepared the snack service, which started roughly 25 minutes after we took off in SIN. The snack box consisted of a muffin, an almond-apple pastry and a bowl of fruit. A beverage service soon followed. It took a while until the beverage chart had finally made it to our row and I opted for a cup of coffee.

The crew was more attentive and they smiled and looked at you while serving.

As I had finished my cup of coffee and my snack box, I placed them on the door in front of me and used my laptops for the next two hours and put a bit work into my trip report.

The crew was by far more attentive than the one on our flight to Singapore three days before. They were seen in the cabin, answering question and doing a duty free round through the cabin and opposite to their colleagues on the flight from Hong Kong to Singapore they also distributed glasses with water and orange juice throughout the flight.

The captain gave us an update of the weather in Hong Kong. The flight was uneventful, partly a bit bumpy, but nothing to worry about.

The crew began the preparation for the landing in Hong Kong quite late with a remaining flight time from less than 15 minutes but did so quite fast. We approached Hong Kong from the sea and therefore did not get the terrific views of downtown Hong Kong this time.

We touched down around 10:16 and taxied for our gate 63, where we arrived ten minutes later. All passengers were requested to leave the plane. It took some time before we finally were at the doors, since we were sitting in the very rear part of the cabin this time.

Unfortunately I could not find my immigration form and headed for the table to fill out another one. While doing so, I found the one I got in the plane. Argh, another couple of minutes lost. We queued for immigration which was quite a long line this time, but the officers worked quite fast and we waited only for around 10 minutes before it was our turn. Our luggage was already circling on the belt as we arrived there. At customs, my colleague was picked for a randomly customs inspection and since I had to wait anyway I joined her to the very surprise of the customs officer, who did not really know what to think about this.

Of course everything was okay, and we headed for the airport express for our ride to Kowloon station where we changed into the shuttle bound to the Intercontinental Grand Stanford Hotel, again our home for the next two nights.

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