Singapore Changi

I left the Conrad around 18:00. A friend who joined me during my stay in Singapore, had already left earlier, since he was doing a quick turnaround in KUL before flying to Munich as well, but on SQ not on LH like me. So we decided to meet in the SQ Lounge in terminal 3.

The ride to the airport was fast, the location of the Conrad is more convenient than this of the Sheraton if it comes to accessing the expressway to the airport. I paid the driver and approached check in, which was already open but busy checking in other guest. And this took some time, because they had a lot of luggage and also filled out a form for joining miles and more. They did not really care about the line behind them which grew from only me to five other guests. Finally the agent asked the lady at his counter to move over to a free counter, which was not used, to fill out a Miles and More application form. I got the stamp on my boarding pass, and after being ten minutes in the queue I left the counter after 45 seconds. To access the terminal it is necessary to stamp the boarding pass, which could only be done at the check in counters. As nice as it is to use online check in and print the boarding pass prior to reach the airport, as bad it is if it does not get you any advantage as one has to queue anyway for the stamp.

I passed Immigration without problems and decided to make a quick visit in the SQ lounge in terminal 1. As showers were available, I decided to go for a shower, since I was again sweating. The showers are nice, but were not as clean as they have been in the past. Nothing serious, but being this a lounge of SQ, one has high expectations and it is not nice, if they are not fulfilled. After a refreshing cold shower and a glass of water, I took the skytrain to terminal 3. I walked through the departure hall towards the lounges. I have only been once in terminal 3 before, as I left on UA for HKG back in November 2009. I took the escalator up to the second level where the lounges are located. The entrance is a bit hidden and I think the hallway is a bit uninspired without any decoration and not really that nice. But the lounge is of course better and bigger than the one in terminal 1.

The agent was a bit surprised to see me there, but of course it was possible to access the lounge. The lounge is huge and as I was only flying in Business Class, I could only enter the Business Class part. The buffet has a lot of different selections of food. The beverage selection is also quite good, but there are a few lounges, which offer a wider range of beverages me thinks.

I grabbed something to eat and used the WiFi for an update of e-mails. I also continued to write my trip reports, which were far behind, since I had not written anything due to the project work. But I was not really in the mood of writing, so I shut my laptop down and read in the papers and a magazine and waited for my friend to arrive from KUL, relaxed and watched the people arriving and leaving the lounge.

His flight was nearly on time and we had around 30 minutes in the lounge, before it was time for me to head back to terminal 1.

The lights were already indicating final call but knowing Singapore, this means there were still some time, especially, as boarding time was not even reached.

As I already experienced during my previous flights out of Singapore a separate line for Business and First Class Passengers as well as Star Gold Passengers was available. The Economy Class line was long with twenty or so passengers, but moved fast. The priority line was short with four passengers, but a couple in the Economy Class line was a bit upset that we were allowed to pass the line. From what they talked (they were Germans) they feared they miss their flight and also were annoyed about the layout of the airport with the security checkpoint at the gate. I had the impression they have not flown out of Singapore before otherwise they would have know the ridiculous early announcement of last call. On the other hand, it shows that airport authorities fasten up the check in process as usually everybody is in the gate area if boarding is announced.

Security was quick and soon I was in the gate waiting area. Boarding had not started yet and I took a seat and put all the things I needed during the flight at one place, so it would be easier to get them out of the carry on.

Boarding was also the same procedure than on my last flight. Passengers traveling in First Class as well as HONs and family with small children and those, who need some additional minutes for boarding were allowed to board the plane ahead of all other passengers. I think, it was not enforced, as I noticed two passengers who were only FTLs in Business Class entering the plane at this time. I had seen their boarding passes in the waiting area, so I knew. Soon later it was Business Class, Star Gold and I headed to the jetbridge.

Onboard the plane, I was greeted and shown directions to my seat.

15 May 2011
SIN – MUC
[Singapore Changi – Munich Franz-Josef Strauß]
LH 791 (Lufthansa); Boeing 340-300 (D-AIGU / ‘Castop Rauxel’)
Gate E 5
23:05 – 05:50 (+1) [effective 23:05 – 05:40 (+1)]
Business Class
Seat 3K

My seat mate had not yet arrived and so I stored my belongings in the overhead bin. My jacket was not taken, despite the fact that the crew walked through the cabin. But they only collect blazers, but not jackets and coats. This was somehow a bit strange. The first part of the Business Class cabin had no overhead space, so we had to rearrange a few things and I put my smaller trolley in the compartment between Business and First Class to allow a fellow passenger to store his trolley in the overhead bin above his seat.

Pre departure drinks were offered; again it was champagne, orange juice, water and Singapore Sling. Blankets, pillows and amenity kits were already placed on the seat.

Pre-Departure Drink
Champagne

This time it was D-AIGU named after the city of Castrop-Rauxel – a city in the former Montan and Steel Area called Ruhrgebiet. D-AIGU was delivered from Airbus to Lufthansa on February 18th, 2000. It made its maiden flight 16 days earlier. This flight has eight seats in First Class, 36 seats in Business Class and 197 seats in Economy Class like on my previous flight to Munich on D-AIGO on May 09th, 2011.

The plane was sold out in all three classes. The captain had welcomed us on board as well and informed us about the flight time to Munich and that we can expect an on time arrival and a smooth ride with only minor turbulence shortly after takeoff. The safety video was also shown.

Glasses from pre departure drinks were collected and then we were pushed back and taxied for the runway. We had to wait a few minutes before the announcement “cabin crew take your seats” was made and the co-pilot pulled the thrust levers and powered the 4 CFM56-5C4 engines and we accelerated over the runway and left ground at 23:27.

We climbed into the sky and after a first bumpy 23 minutes or so, the seat belt signs were switched off and the crew began to prepare the service. A hot towel service was done first and later the menus were distributed before it was time for the first beverage round. I opted for a gin tonic and continued to read a bit in a magazine I picked up in the lounge.

Aperitif
Gin Tonic

After approximately one hour flight time, the crews laid the table with linen. A few minutes later the carts arrived and the first row was asked what they wanted a starter course.
Time to read the menu, which I already knew, but I was still unsure what to take. (click on the menu / opens new window)

First Course
Mixed Field Greens with Rocket Salad

Second Course
Teriyaki Salmon with Steamed Rice

Third Course
Sablé Breton topped with Strawberry and Basil Dome

I went with the salad as first course. I came with the cheese selection like on my flight to Frankfurt earlier and of course with cutlery and napkin. A beverage service followed and I went with a glass of white wine, the Riesling to be precise. The crew was not the best, especially for a Munich based crew. I was never addressed by name nor where they that attentive. We did not receive and refilling of the empty wine glasses or water glasses but hat to wait for the second and main course to arrive.

Trays were collected soon later and the second course arrived. I had the fish like on my flight to Frankfurt on May 05th, since I still found the other option either not that appealing or difficult to eat (wrapper). My wine glass was topped and so was my water. This time a flight attendant went through the cabin and offer refills of water and wine.

This time, I did not skip dessert. It was okay, like the rest of the food.

A colleague of my seat mate was a bit annoyed that the seat went not completely flat. He misunderstood the description on the homepage. My seat made told him, he had mentioned this before, but it seems, his colleague did not believe it at this time. I am not sure what they flew into Singapore, but it must have been SQ as it was another Star Alliance Airline offering lie flats on Germany – Singapore routes and I am not aware of any other non-stop flights.

After I had finished dessert I asked for a glass of port and read a bit in my magazine. As the first rush for the lavatories was over I fetched my amenity kit and made a visit to the lavatories. In the meantime the lights were dimmed further down. I lowered my seat and put it in a nearly lie flat position. My seat neighbor was already asleep.

I was tired, it was a long day and I did not get that much sleep in the nights before either. And also the alcohol during the meal (and in the lounge) did help. I slept quite well. I woke up a few times but I had two bottles of water and there was no need to get up. As the lights were switched on again, I did not noticed it and only wake up as my seat neighbor was served breakfast. I skipped breakfast and slept and dozed a few more minutes before it was time to wake up. The trays of the most passengers in the front section were already cleared.

The crew had also already begun to prepare the cabin for the arrival and the seat belt signs were turned on soon later. The captain updated us with new information about remaining flight time and the weather in Munich.

We touched down at 05:36 and taxied to our gate at terminal 2. I was again among the first passengers off the plane and headed upstairs to immigration. I took the stairs and was the first one there. From what I could see, the SQ flight had arrived much earlier and this time also the flight from Hong Kong was already there and as feared the line at immigration was much longer this time. I had to wait ten minutes before I finally could pass immigration and head downstairs for my connection flight. As I entered the security checkpoint I saw my friend at the ticket counter. I later heard from him, that they arrived around 05:00 and he already showered and changed clothes as I saw him.

Since I was a bit in a rush as I wanted to take a shower I continued to the security check point where the lines were long and a few passengers with tight connections skipped lines. I still think without status a 30 minutes connection is not really the thing you would like to do on a busy Monday Morning if you are in the back of the plane.

Another ten minutes later I had security passed with the standard check of my camera.

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