Vietnam Airlines Business Class Singapore to London Heathrow Flight Reviews Part 1

We fly Vietnam Airlines (SkyTeam Alliance), Singapore to London Heathrow and return.  Excited!  This was the first time the entire family was flying together in a premium cabin, to anywhere.  So, let's get started.  From a cost point of view, this trip was made possible because Vietnam Airlines offers very competitive fares (by Business class standards) on the Singapore-London route.  So, we decided to give it a try.

SATS Premier Lounge
Our trip started with a visit to the lounge at Singapore Changi Terminal 3.  Vietnam Airlines (and a good number of other airlines) use this lounge, which is located right beside the Krisflyer Gold lounge.  The lounge wasn't too crowded when we were there.  It had a decent selection of hot food (including mee siam).  These Osim leg massagers as well as the Osim massage chairs kept my kids busy for a bit.


Vietnam Airlines Business Class Singapore to Ho Chi Minh
Airbus A321, Flight Time- 2 hours

Our first leg of the flight was to Ho Chi Minh.  The aircraft used was a relatively old Airbus A321. Curious that this version of the A321 had only 2 rows of Business class seats, in a 2-2 configuration, in front of the plane, making a total of only 8 Business class seats.  I was surprised because I had thought there were 4 rows.  The seats were wide and comfortable enough for a regional flight, however, they were old-school, and there was no individual inflight entertainment system.

Overall, service was very good for the short flight, even though the flight started out a little bumpy.   The usual hot towel and welcome drink (I got champagne) was served.  We had 3 choices for food, and the taste was not too bad.  More details in the video below.


Bus ride from plane to Terminal
Upon landing, there was no aerobridge, and passengers had to disembark via staircase and take a bus to the terminal.  Disembarkation is always tricky with stairs, because of cabin luggage.  Thankfully we made it.  Not sure how it is done if the passenger has difficulty climbing stairs!  For Business class passengers, there was a separate bus catered just for us.  So the 6 pax in Business took one small bus to the terminal, which meant we did not have to wait for the rest of the passengers and we arrived at the terminal very quickly.  Here is a video of the planes I saw on the way.  The bus had to stop because an Emirates Boeing 777 jet was pulling into an aerobridge.  If the bus didn't stop and we got in front of the jet, we may be sucked into (or blown away) the jet engines.


Lotus Lounge Ho Chi Minh Airport
The lounge was rather crowded when we got there.  Fortunately, the far end of the lounge was still empty and the four of us could find a very nice corner to park ourselves.  We would be here for quite some time (the layover was more than 6 hours!) because we arrived at around 7PM local time and the flight was not till close to 1AM the next morning.  If you were wondering why the flight connection time was so bad, well the answer was that we chose it to save money.  There was a later flight from Singapore to Ho Chi Minh that arrived at around 9pm.  However, taking the earlier flight saved us a few hundred dollars.  Since we had access to a lounge, why not.  Just chill, we were on holiday.

This review gives you a good overview of the lounge.  We enjoyed the hot Vietnamese Pho, even though we weren't very hungry as we had just had food on the plane.


In the next blog post, I will show you the Ho Chi Minh to London leg, this time on a brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.  But before I go, here is a video of us walking to the Lotus Lounge, while in Ho Chi Minh terminal.

Thanks for reading!

Singapore Airlines SQ 306 Singapore to London in Economy Class

We fly on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 306 from Singapore to London in early December. This is the first part of the flight review.  The aircraft was a Boeing 777-300ER carrying the new products, including the new Premium Economy cabin.  We were in the Economy cabin.  Check out part 1 of the video below, which includes boarding and the first meal service of supper.
 

In part 2, video below, I show you the breakfast - the hot item was awesome.
Thanks for watching!

Singapore Airlines - Flight SQ 308 to London (Economy Class)

Singapore Airlines Flight to London
SQ 308 Singapore to London Heathrow
0905 Hours departure

It was an exciting morning. We were going to the UK!  We would be flying to London before making a transfer to Southampton and staying for one night, before boarding the Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas from Southampton on a 13 Night cruise to Iceland and Norway.

Video of the SQ Flight Experience

Pictures from the Flight
Here are some pictures. Singapore Airlines operates mostly from Terminal 3 at Singapore Changi.  The check-in counters were rather busy and the ground staff re-directed us to use the Krisflyer Elite Gold check-in area, even though we were not Krisflyer Elite Gold.

Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall

This was after immigration.  I spotted this play area for kids.

This was at the boarding gate.

Boarding was smooth.  Economy class cabin seats.  It was going to be a long flight (13 Hrs).

In the air, flying along Peninsula Malaysia.

The first meal, breakfast.  It was good.

Noodles with shrimp dumpling.

Loved the green chillis.  Very Singaporean.

Time for the oat clusters, with chocolate and long life milk.

Breakfast was over and cabin lights were dimmed.  As this was a day flight, most people were not sleeping. Watching movies was the norm.  In between the first and second meal, I asked for a sandwich and drink - Singapore Sling!

This was the sandwich.


It was tasted, some beef I think.


Where were we?  Over India. Still more than 8 hours to go.

It was time for the second meal service.  Rather quick.

Pre-meal drinks.  I asked for a beer.

The Child's Meal was delivered first, as usual.  This time, it was nuggets.

With plenty of junk food!!  Hello Panda!

My meal, for the adults.

Appetizer, tasted ok.  Notice that I ate up my hot food first.

Heading to London, arriving in 45 minutes.

Landing was uneventful, which was good.  We were promptly met by our ride to Southampton.  This photo was taken as we were leaving the parking terminal.

The M3, to Southampton.

This is the company we used - Smiths for Airports.

Thanks for reading.

Return to my Adventure of the Seas Cruise Landing Page.

Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ 321 London to Singapore October 2013 (including SilverKris Lounge Heathrow)

SilverKris Lounge London Heathrow Airport
SQ 321 London to Singapore
Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class

After a most hectic Business trip, it was time to go home.

Flight Review Video.

London Heathrow SilverKris Lounge Video
We booked private transport which picked us up promptly from our hotel near King's Cross.  The traffic was heavy, and often we came to a standstill.  It took us 1 hour to get to Terminal 3 at Heathrow.  Fortunately the ride was very comfortable (it was a big van just for 2 of us) and I slept almost throughout the entire journey.

This was a nice model at the staircase landing near the entrance of the lounge.

Now, we re-wind to the time we arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3.  From the drop-off point, you could see that it was a busy evening.  I think most evenings would be like this.  Many cars/vans dropping off passengers.

There was a huge line outside the Terminal.  When I saw the queue shortly after getting off the van, I thought the Airport was so crowded that we had to queue right out into the open for check-in!  Fortunately I was wrong.

The line was for VAT Refunds and the line was at least 200 passengers long, snaking around the open area. Looks like many tourists have done plenty of shopping and are now trying to claim a VAT Refund before departure.

Here is the video I took of the queue - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrsJsTgEJbc&feature=youtu.be

Inside the Terminal building, this was the line for SQ Business Class. There was nobody in line so I was served immediately.

There were 2 flights to Singapore that evening, one departing at 2030hrs, the other departing at 2205hrs. The earlier flight was on the Boeing 777-300ER.  The later flight was on the A380.

Singapore Airlines is part of the Star Alliance network.

After a swift check-in, it was time to clear security.  Now, this can be a nightmare at Heathrow and the lines were really, really long!  Fortunately, I was able to use the Fast Track.

Even then, Fast Track took me 20 minutes.  The Airport was just very busy indeed.

I walked for a short while around the Transit Area and noticed that it was also very crowded.  Almost every chair in the public area was taken, and the restaurants were also almost full.  Heathrow certainly has very good business!

I made by way to the SQ SilverKris Lounge, also called Lounge D.





Beers available in the chiller.  A decent selection.  Of course, Tiger was a must.

Some cookies and biscuits available beside the coffee machine.

Some of the teas available as well as hot chocolate.

Those are condiments for the hot food - Nasi Lemak!  Nasi Lemak is a fragrant rice dish cooked with pandan leaves and coconut milk.  It is very popular in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Riau Islands of Indonesia.  Some say that it is the national dish of Singapore, but that claim is not technically accurate. I believe Singapore has no one national dish, but we have a melting pot of dishes that are Singaporean, including Chicken Rice, Roti Prata, Laksa, Chilli Crab and of course Nasi Lemak.

The lounge had a small selection of hot food. This was vegetarian option, some curry and Bee Hoon. (or rice vermicelli)

This was the Chilli Corn Carne and white Jasmine Rice.

A closer look at the condiments. To the left of the cucumbers, that is ikan bilis (anchovies).

There was a screen inside the lounge.  I also heard lounge announcements when the SQ flight was boarding.

I was famished that evening.  We headed straight to the airport after our last business meeting and I hadn't had anything to eat since noon.  So this was very comforting indeed.  Nasi Lemak with spicy chicken wings, beer and red wine!  I can't remember exactly why I chose the Stella Artois and not the Tiger.  Maybe I wanted to try something different.

Round 2 of dinner - Bee Hoon with spicy chicken wings plus wine.  I had to remind myself not to eat too much because there would be food on the plane!

There were crisps at the counter, but I don't recall anybody eating them.

The liquors and wine were behind the bar counter.  You had to ask the counter staff for assistance.

This was the Business Class wine list.  Choice of Chilean and South African Whites, Chilean and Argentinian Reds.  I had a Red, but I can't remember which one, probably the Merlot.

Some fruits.

Some biscuits, butter and other stuff.

Still/sparking water as well as OJ.

Enough to make some potato and corn salad?  Also some cheeses.

Not much variety where sandwiches were concerned.

Another chiller with sodas and beer.

There was a work area, but only one computer.  There was free WIFI throughout the lounge.

A view of the lounge from the work station area.

Bar counter.

These were mints.

Assorted magazines.

After some food, I headed back to the T3 transit area to do some last-minute shopping and to stretch the legs, before heading to the plane.

The gate for SQ was a good 15 minute brisk walk or 20 minute casual walk from the main shopping area.  On the way, I managed to catch this picture of a Thai B-747.  Rather cool.

SQ 321 scheduled to depart at 22:05.  Time was 21:07.

Signage at the gate.

Once boarding started, I got myself onboard.  This was the welcome drink, champagne.

Stretching the legs.  I was still in Business garb.  No time to change. Had been up since 5am and worked and had meetings throughout the day.  We checked out of our hotel this morning, went for our business meetings, went back to the hotel to pick up the luggage, took the private transport to Heathrow, checked-in and finally we are on our way home.

Just a pillow.

Singapore Airlines has 105 aircraft in its fleet and we have one of the youngest fleets in the world.   It has always been a business strategy of SIA to operate young and fuel efficient planes.  This is also one reason why SIA is selling away the A340-500 planes.  Those 4-engine long-range Airbus planes have become very fuel inefficient by current standards.  The planes are also about a decade old.  By comparison, British Airway's fleet average age is 13 years.

I hadn't realised that the A380 had so many slides.

Some warm nuts with the welcome drink after take-off.

I got the Singapore Sling, as usual.

Table set up for meal service.  Supper time!

It was the parma ham and salad dish.  Same dish as I had on my way to London.  Honestly, I didn't care much for this dish, so I definitely didn't finish it.  I was still rather full from my Nasi Lemak!

The garlic bread was good though.   The reading light is shining on the dinner plate, that's why the bread plate is in the shadow.  I take all these photographs without flash, otherwise I would be disturbing the neighbours.

That's my main course, the 'Cantonese Duck with Rice", a 'Book the Cook' selection.

Another view of the Duck.  The dish wasn't bad, but I had very good Duck in London Chinatown.

The cheesecake dessert, which was very yummy.

After dinner chocolates.

This was my mid-flight snack of noodles.  I had slept for while by then.

Loved the red chillis.  Very Singaporean.

I took the opportunity to try this very sweet wine.  It was way too sweet for me.  At least I know what it tastes like!

Looks like we are just leaving the Indian sub-continent.  3.5 hours to Singapore.

Time for some fun pictures.  That is the King and his foot soldiers standing on the arm rest of the seat, looking down at the Dark Knight.

A view of the same from further away.  This is the lie-flat bed.

Quite cool, I thought.

Now, the 4 of them taking a nap, while I perform guard duties.

Nice sleeping formation.

Now it was my turn to rest on my seat.  There's the King.

King and his 2 soldiers.

Close-up view.

Second Meal Service

Breakfast time.  Selection of fruits.

Halfway through the fruits.

I asked for a Cappucino.

And the King came along to check it out too.

I had some cereal.  It was rather nice, though very filling.

The King wanted some breakfast?  LoL.

This was the main course, not too bad.  It went well with the chilli sauce.

This picture shows the power sockets and 2 USB ports.

Thanks for viewing!

Check out my review of SQ 322 Singapore to London.

Swiss Flight Links

a) Singapore to Rome (via Zurich) Economy Class, Nov 2013

b) Rome to Singapore (via Zurich) Economy Class, Dec 2013

Cruise Links

Celebrity Silhouette Ship Pictures and 13 Night Med and Adriatic Seas Cruise Content Page