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From: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
To: Singapore Changi (SIN)
Flight: SQ173
Monday 12th May 2008
Departure time: 14:50 (GMT+6)
Arrival time: 17:45 (GMT+7)
Distance: 679 miles
Scheduled flight time: 1hr 55mins
Aircraft type: B777-200
Seat: 11K
Miles accrued: 1017
My final day in Saigon and I woke up just before 08:00 (02:00 GMT). My flight was at 14:50 so I had plenty of time to pack and get ready to fly home. I checked out at a quarter to one and hopped in a taxi for the short drive to the airport. Traffic wasn't anywhere near as bad as it was when I arrived on Friday and it took me less than twenty minutes to get to the international terminal. The fare on the meter was 77,000 Dong which is less than US$5.00.
As I was walking slowly over towards the SQ business class check-in counter this guy comes rushing over, waving his KrisFlyer Gold card in front of him for all the world to see, walking as fast as he could to get to the check-in counter, rollaboard and laptop bag in tow. It was ten minutes past one in the afternoon. The flight wasn't about to leave just yet. I watched him as he checked-in, standing there looking ever so important and a right twat. Why the need to flash his Gold card like that, way before he'd even reached the desk?
After he disappeared I went up to the same counter to check-in for my flight to SIN. I didn't even show my BD Gold card as I knew my number was attached to my booking. I spoke in Vietnamese, greeting the check-in agent politely first - how hard is it to say hello?
I produced only my passport and was not asked for my credit card used for the booking. My bags were checked through to LHR and I was given a lounge invitation to the Star Alliance contract lounge.
As I was in no rush to get to the lounge, unlike Mr. DYKWIA, I had a little wander around the new terminal first just to check out the facilities. The Vietnam Airlines lounge certainly looks better than the old one. Then I made my way over to the lounge for some light Vietnamese snacks and fresh fruit.
I didn't spend much time in the lounge, just enough to have some spring rolls and plenty of fresh fruit and a cold ice lemon tea. By the time I boarded the plane I wasn't hungry. The flight itself was uneventful so I'll keep it brief. We pushed back at 14:45 and were in the air by 14:58. I can't remember what was on the menu as I wasn't interested in eating a three-course afternoon meal. Usually I do not eat a lot of food when flying, especially if I have eaten in the lounge beforehand. And fruit certainly does fill you up! When I see fruit I just can't help myself! So all I had on this flight was the dessert, which was a bowl of...fruit!
Plus a few cappuccinos.
Landed into SIN T3 at 17:45 on the dot and I was off the plane before six. My flight to LHR would be departing at 23:30 so I had quite some time to kill. I certainly wasn't going to spend five or so hours in a lounge so had decided to go into Singapore to look for some electronic gadgets. Now, because my flight had landed in T3 I decided to drop by the KrisFlyer Gold lounge just to check it out before heading into town (plus I needed my caffeine fix). I had already seen the new C and F lounges but not this one.
As I reached the lounge entrance a guy in a suit produced his Y SQ boarding pass. The receptionist asked for his card. He said he didn't have it. She shook her head and said she needed to see his card. He then took it out of his wallet and literally threw it down on the counter, huffing and puffing and moaning about always being asked to show his card when he had his status printed on his boarding pass. "But sir, your status is not printed on your boarding card" said the receptionist. I stood next to this idiot and watched him make a right fool of himself. "That's your fault" he huffed. The receptionist remained cool and calm and told him about the rules but he just wouldn't listen, talking over her and moaning and being a right total PITA . I tried to intervene but Mr. DYKWIA No.2. told me to mind my own business before going through inside. Fair enough but he didn't have to be quite so rude to the receptionist.
I felt sorry for her - see what morons they have to put up with?! Anyway, I went in, less than two minutes and a quick coffee later I was out. I'd seen enough.
To: Singapore Changi (SIN)
Flight: SQ173
Monday 12th May 2008
Departure time: 14:50 (GMT+6)
Arrival time: 17:45 (GMT+7)
Distance: 679 miles
Scheduled flight time: 1hr 55mins
Aircraft type: B777-200
Seat: 11K
Miles accrued: 1017
My final day in Saigon and I woke up just before 08:00 (02:00 GMT). My flight was at 14:50 so I had plenty of time to pack and get ready to fly home. I checked out at a quarter to one and hopped in a taxi for the short drive to the airport. Traffic wasn't anywhere near as bad as it was when I arrived on Friday and it took me less than twenty minutes to get to the international terminal. The fare on the meter was 77,000 Dong which is less than US$5.00.
As I was walking slowly over towards the SQ business class check-in counter this guy comes rushing over, waving his KrisFlyer Gold card in front of him for all the world to see, walking as fast as he could to get to the check-in counter, rollaboard and laptop bag in tow. It was ten minutes past one in the afternoon. The flight wasn't about to leave just yet. I watched him as he checked-in, standing there looking ever so important and a right twat. Why the need to flash his Gold card like that, way before he'd even reached the desk?
After he disappeared I went up to the same counter to check-in for my flight to SIN. I didn't even show my BD Gold card as I knew my number was attached to my booking. I spoke in Vietnamese, greeting the check-in agent politely first - how hard is it to say hello?
I produced only my passport and was not asked for my credit card used for the booking. My bags were checked through to LHR and I was given a lounge invitation to the Star Alliance contract lounge. As I was in no rush to get to the lounge, unlike Mr. DYKWIA, I had a little wander around the new terminal first just to check out the facilities. The Vietnam Airlines lounge certainly looks better than the old one. Then I made my way over to the lounge for some light Vietnamese snacks and fresh fruit.
I didn't spend much time in the lounge, just enough to have some spring rolls and plenty of fresh fruit and a cold ice lemon tea. By the time I boarded the plane I wasn't hungry. The flight itself was uneventful so I'll keep it brief. We pushed back at 14:45 and were in the air by 14:58. I can't remember what was on the menu as I wasn't interested in eating a three-course afternoon meal. Usually I do not eat a lot of food when flying, especially if I have eaten in the lounge beforehand. And fruit certainly does fill you up! When I see fruit I just can't help myself! So all I had on this flight was the dessert, which was a bowl of...fruit!
Plus a few cappuccinos. Landed into SIN T3 at 17:45 on the dot and I was off the plane before six. My flight to LHR would be departing at 23:30 so I had quite some time to kill. I certainly wasn't going to spend five or so hours in a lounge so had decided to go into Singapore to look for some electronic gadgets. Now, because my flight had landed in T3 I decided to drop by the KrisFlyer Gold lounge just to check it out before heading into town (plus I needed my caffeine fix). I had already seen the new C and F lounges but not this one.
As I reached the lounge entrance a guy in a suit produced his Y SQ boarding pass. The receptionist asked for his card. He said he didn't have it. She shook her head and said she needed to see his card. He then took it out of his wallet and literally threw it down on the counter, huffing and puffing and moaning about always being asked to show his card when he had his status printed on his boarding pass. "But sir, your status is not printed on your boarding card" said the receptionist. I stood next to this idiot and watched him make a right fool of himself. "That's your fault" he huffed. The receptionist remained cool and calm and told him about the rules but he just wouldn't listen, talking over her and moaning and being a right total PITA . I tried to intervene but Mr. DYKWIA No.2. told me to mind my own business before going through inside. Fair enough but he didn't have to be quite so rude to the receptionist.
I felt sorry for her - see what morons they have to put up with?! Anyway, I went in, less than two minutes and a quick coffee later I was out. I'd seen enough.
I was so pleased, especially since that was the seat I wanted to be in. Sweet! 
After a five minute wait my bag was amongst the first to appear and I was out of the airport by quarter past six. The flight crew were excellent throughout the whole flight. Once again Singapore Airlines has delivered the highest levels of onboard service that only other airlines can talk about. To lovely leading stewardess Anidah on my flight to BKK last week, I hope you enjoy reading my trip report. This was one of my best flights, better than my previous A380 experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. 
)
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