SilkAir BKI to SIN in J Sep 2013

[Carfield]

Silk Air – Regional Arm of Singapore Airlines


Here is another series of trip report on a regional airline that is not commonly discussed here, especially its business class product! I have always been curious on how an airline called itself the regional subsidiary of Singapore Airlines operates, and given I had just flown into Kota Kinabalu on DragonAir, Skytrax’s Best regional airline in 2013, which was beyond bad in terms of seats and catering on the tired-looking A320s, it gave me a convenient comparison point. I admit that I give Silk Air a bit more credits in attempting to update its cabin on its A320s, a nicer leather seat, and a more filling hot meal on a shorter flight than my HKG to BKI the day before.

MI 391 BKI-SIN Lv1210 Arr1410 Airbus A320-200 9V-SLH

Check-in:
Kota Kinabalu has two terminals and Silk Air, of course, uses Terminal One, which caters to all major airlines serving the city. It is a very modern terminal and the design is similar to Kuching, but of course Kota Kinabalu Airport is a bit larger in size with more amenities and shops.

Exterior of the airport – almost same as Kuching


According to the FDIS, Silk Air uses Aisle B, but in reality it uses Aisle A. All check in bags have to go through a X-Ray check, similar to those used in major Japanese airports. The check-in area is fairly busy as Dragon Air has mid morning departure this morning as well.

Silk Air Check in area – pretty full in economy today




Business Class check-in





The agent was friendly and I was checked through to my final destination. All my boarding passes were printed out but for some strange reasons, they decided that it was okay to stick the baggage tag to my passport. All my bags were tagged with a priority check-in tag and transfer to T3 tag. I was also given the invitation to the Plaza Premium Lounge used by most of the non-MH airlines serving BKI.

Giant Malaysia Airlines advertisement in front of the entrance to the secured area


As most Malaysian airports go, there were two security checkpoints – one before immigration and a more through one at each individual gate. Despite the multiple flights, it was not very crowded and I guess it is the sign that summer peak travel season is over.

Inside the international secure area


Flight Display Information System

[Carfield]

Plaza Premium Lounge
The lounge looks very new and features two separate sitting areas. The area in the front was closed and I presume it would only open if the lounge was crowded. The lighting was quite dark so the pictures did not come out well. It features a buffet and a noodle station featuring fish ball noodle soup, as well as the typical salad bar, sandwiches, fruits, and some hot dishes. Free wifi was provided too. There was also a few computer stations.













Fish Ball Noodle Soup

[Carfield]

Gate Area – B4 today for Silk Air flight to Singapore





The inbound flight from Singapore arrived on time and 9V-SLH was flying this roundtrip this morning



Boarding
Boarding did not begin till 11:50am, and business class passengers were first to board, after the special assistance passengers were boarded. We had a few number of wheelchair passengers in Y today. There were three flight attendants in business class welcoming passengers and I had a feeling that a trainer was on board today, as she was sitting in 3F during last half of the flight doing reports. Like a typical Singapore Airlines, a chilled glass of juice was immediately offered, followed by a selection of newspapers and magazines. Hot towels were passed out after door was closed. Everything was done in the same manner as Singapore Airlines.


Cabin
9V-SLH features the refreshed cabin and Silk Air has reduced its business class cabin from sixteen to twelve seats, but updated with these brown leather seats with legrest. The cabin was well maintained and cleaned very well. Each seat has a pillow and a blanket wrapped in plastic. Compared to the sad looking eight seats DragonAir A320 the day before, Silk Air really impresses me with a modern cabin.

[Carfield]

Reading Materials – Silk Air Magazine, Duty free catalog, vomit bag, and safety card


Pillow and blanket


Flight information:
Despite a full flight in economy, boarding was completed in fifteen minutes and door was closed at 12:05pm. We pushed back two minutes later, and here were a few pictures of the MAS Wing hangar area, as we taxied towards R/W02.





We took off from R/W2 at 12:18pm and our flying time was two hours and one minute this afternoon. The routing took us along the coast of Eastern Malaysia and then we headed straight across South China Sea and then heading straight to Singapore after passing Batam. We cruised at 38,000feet, and the view was very nice this afternoon, as it was sunny until we crossed the sea. Here were a few pictures!





Service:
Seat belt sign was turned off four minutes after takeoff, and the F/As immediately sprang to action getting ready for the lunch service in both cabins. The leading purser was taking meal order by passing out a piece of paper and that is one aspect, but sadly the only aspect though that Dragon Air wins – printed menu but given how expensive Silk Air business class is, I think a proper menu should be passed out.

Fresh linen was first placed on each table, followed by the starter tray with appetizer, bread plate and dessert

[Carfield]

I decide to move the appetizer plate to resemble the logo of Silk Air.


Today’s starter features a Mesclun salad with smoked salmon – nice and fresh


Unique salt and pepper shaker



Bread – selection of rolls and garlic bread


There are two choices of entrees – Steamed Fish with pasta or Balinese Grilled Chicken with Fried Rice
My choice is the chicken dish, which has couple strips of grilled chicken thigh with curry sauce, rice and vegetables




Coke Zero with lemon – I don’t think many airlines will go out of their ways to slice the lemon segment as a ring


Dessert
Chenol Pudding with Coconut Custard and Red Bean


This meal is pretty nice given that this is a two hours flight, and the meal served on my Dragon Air flight the day before was smaller, despite a longer flight time. Beverages are offered a few times during the meals, but only mini bottles of wines are served.

In terms of entertainment, there are drop down video screens throughout the cabin, but audio can only be played through the PA system, so they can only play videos that do not need an audio track. Like most intra-European flights, World’s Funniest Video and Total Wipeout were shown throughout the flight. A Silk Air promotional video was shown after descent began. Duty free was available after lunch at 1:19pm.

Flight attendants are pretty friendly but of course they are not as polished as Singapore Airlines. They serve the meals efficiently but do not patrol the cabin after the duty free service. Singapore Airlines F/As are pretty obsessive when it comes to patrolling the cabin between meals. Two F/As are in charge of business class like most Asian airlines.

Seat
I chose seat 1A as usual, and the legroom was very generous. 1C is always blocked and if the flight is not full, this will be the last seat to be assigned. So I am hoping for a free seat next to me. In the end this strategy works, as business class is half full this afternoon.

[Carfield]

Beverage console with additional beverage tray


Recline buttons – recline/lumbar support/legrest


Tray table


Here is the seat in full recline position:




Leg rest close up


Descent soon began at 1:45pm but there was a slight ATC delay, which was increasingly common in all these major hubs, likes Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. The increased amount of LCCs only makes the ATC delays increasingly problematic. Asian airlines need to step up the effort in padding the schedule.

Batam Hang Nadim Airport


Fox candies were passed out at 2:02pm and at 2:16pm, gears were lowered, and we landed on R/W20R at 2:19pm, and we parked at gate F33 at Terminal Two at 2:26pm. 9V-SLH would head to Hanoi an hour later.

[Carfield]

A few shots of the airport tarmac after landing





Silk Air A319 9V-SBD at F30




In conclusion, Silk Air is certainly an impressive regional airline and you can really see the influence of Singapore Airlines. However it is also clear that it is a very cost conscious airline, and I feel that a proper printed menu, power outlets and a more updated entertainment system should be offered, especially Malaysia Airlines has equipped its newest Boeing 737-800s with personal entertainment at each seat in both J and Y. But compared to Dragon Air, Silk Air definitely is pretty impressive. I am glad that I finally get to try the younger sibling of Singapore Airlines, and in 2014, I need to fly its cheap sibling, Scoot.

I hope you will enjoy this report and the next report will be coming soon!

Carfield

PS A hint on what the next trip report will be about