SIN-PEK in J on SQ's 777-300 Refitted (73A) Regional Business Class

[yflyer]

This was the International Culinary Panel selection for the day, a Sam Leong creation: Roasted Pork Rib in Oriental Barbeque Sauce with Chinese Vegetables and Fried Rice

[yflyer]

I had earlier pre-ordered the BTC (Book the Cook) veal fillet by Culinary Panel Chef Carlo Cracco, listed on the BTC web page as:

Seared Nut-Crusted Veal Fillet

Veal fillet seared with a crust of crumbled hazelnuts and served with veal jus, crushed potato, confit tomato and green asparagus spears (contains pork).



The veal tasted tender and nutty...not the most intensely flavoured meat dish I have had, but a nice change from beef or lamb.





The asparagus spears were crunchy, and the crushed potatos made for a delicious accompaniment.

[yflyer]

Dessert was either panna cotta with berries compote...



Or chocolate chip ice cream...



I decided on the panna cotta, which was delicious.

Cheese was served next, which I had with a glass of port.





Pralines were offered...



I ended the meal with a small cup of decaf, from the stupendous coffee (and tea) selection available...

[yflyer]

It was time to settle in to rest/sleep for the night....

This is the seat in angled position...



...and this is the seat in the "lie flat" position...



This is a sloping flat bed, not 180 degres fully flat, however I found it fairly comfortable to sleep on.

Cabin ambience during the night...

[yflyer]

As flight time was about 5 1/2 hours, we landed in Beijing a few minutes ahead of schedule, at 10.35pm...





This was one of the rare occasions where I have landed in Beijing, and arrived at an empty arrival immigration area, with no queues whatsoever.

After quick immigration formalities and a ride on the people-mover to the arrival area, I was out of the airport in a flash, on the way into Beijing.

Overall, a wonderful flight...a great experience from check-in right to arrival. While not the newest aircraft, the regional J hard product on the refitted 777-300 is a very good one, and catering was fine as well. Cabin crew were, as you would expect, top notch: warm, friendly and engaging.

What more could you ask for when flying from Singapore to Beijing? Not a whole lot, I think.

Perhaps the morning SQ flight on the A380 would be even better, on account of the state-of-the-art hardware and longhaul J seats, but if an afternoon flight is what you need, then the 4.50pm departure on SQ checks all the right boxes.

Thanks for reading!

[259850]

This was one of the rare occasions where I have landed in Beijing, and arrived at an empty arrival immigration area, with no queues whatsoever.

I used to take this flight quite often. The immigration area is almost always empty then. The trouble is taxi lines are often ridiculously long, and you lose whatever time you gained in clearing immigration formalities. The morning flight is better (and the trains are running then, if you want to avoid traffic), but you end up losing almost the entire day travelling.

What more could you ask for when flying from Singapore to Beijing?

An option leaving around 2pm in Singapore, leaving me time to meet friends/colleagues for a drink after I arrive in PEK.

Actually I agree with you....compared to other options SQ is just fine, though I really wish they had the type frequencies they have to PVG. PEK ATC seems to give priority to flights from SIN over domestic flights when it comes to landing. So we're not subjected to the ridiculous delays often seen at this airport in the evenings. HKG is treated as a domestic destination, so several times, I've had a shorter travel time to PEK compared to my colleagues in HKG.

[yflyer]

Thanks for your comments, 259850!

I used to take this flight quite often. The immigration area is almost always empty then. The trouble is taxi lines are often ridiculously long, and you lose whatever time you gained in clearing immigration formalities.

These days, after a few painful experiences waiting for taxis at Beijing and Shanghai airports , I try to avoid the airport taxi queues when arriving late at night, and arrange an airport transfer with the hotel. A lot more expensive that a taxi, but very convenient. On this most recent trip, I stayed at the JW Marriott, which has an airport transfer service which starts at the aerobridge itself, where a staff member waits at the aerobridge with a placard with your name, escorts you right through the airport, and brings you to the CIP arrival area where the hotel car is ready to drive you to the hotel.

PEK ATC seems to give priority to flights from SIN over domestic flights when it comes to landing. So we're not subjected to the ridiculous delays often seen at this airport in the evenings. HKG is treated as a domestic destination, so several times, I've had a shorter travel time to PEK compared to my colleagues in HKG.

Yes, I've heard some horror stories of long delays for domestic travel with planes stuck on the tarmac for hours at a time!

[259850]

My employer will not reimburse hotel car transfers (although we can use a private car company in PEK but I hate their cars).

In PVG, you should really consider taking the maglev to Longyang Rd, and a taxi from there to your hotel. Depending on where your hotel is, you might even consider transferring to the Metro Line 2 in Longyang Rd (all very clearly marked in English). I usually make it to Lujiazui in Pudong in 30-40 minutes (variance determined by the wait time for the maglev). So much faster and convenient compared to car transfers.

Don't get me started on delays on domestic flights. Just last month, I spent 2 hours on the tarmac in PEK on a MU flight to SHA. They say only 20% of Chinese airspace is allocated to commercial air traffic, so anytime the air force chief beats the civil aviation chief in a poker game, we sit on the tarmac for hours......

[yflyer]

In PVG, you should really consider taking the maglev to Longyang Rd, and a taxi from there to your hotel. Depending on where your hotel is, you might even consider transferring to the Metro Line 2 in Longyang Rd (all very clearly marked in English). I usually make it to Lujiazui in Pudong in 30-40 minutes (variance determined by the wait time for the maglev). So much faster and convenient compared to car transfers.

Yes, agree that for PVG the Maglev is a good idea. I love riding on the Maglev (The novelty of the magnetic levitation technology still hasn't worn off...). If the Maglev is open, I will usually take it.

The last time I was in Shanghai, I arrived at the Maglev station very late in the evening, and it was closed (I only found out after walking all the way to the Maglev station).

When I made my way back to the terminal area, here was a horrendous queue at the taxi stand, so I ended up going to one of the hotel/taxi counters to book a car to the hotel. Thankfully a car was available, and I got to my hotel without too much delay.

[SQueeze]

Imagine if you travel often (which is the type of regular J class passenger that SQ targets), your cupboard would soon be overflowing with partly used amenity kits...

Thanks for the very detailed TR as usual, yflyer.
I enjoyed every bit of it - almost feel like I were there.

as for overflowing amenity kits at home, i think if one travels very regularly in SQ J, doubt that they bring these things back home anymore. can just leave it onboard on disembarkation.

[yflyer]

Thanks for the very detailed TR as usual, yflyer.
I enjoyed every bit of it - almost feel like I were there.

Thanks, SQueeze!

as for overflowing amenity kits at home, i think if one travels very regularly in SQ J, doubt that they bring these things back home anymore. can just leave it onboard on disembarkation.

I wonder what percentage of half-used amenity kits are left onboard. That would be quite a bit of material to recycle. Not to mention a waste of some very nice pouches!

Hopefully totally unused/unopened amenity kits are collected back and issued again to new pax on the next flight...

The hoarder in me would never leave an amenity kit behind (Which explains the cupboard full of brown coloured zipper bags that SQ hands out in Y).

[viraj735]

Wonderful set of photos there, yflyer. Those meals look great. Glad to hear the asparagus was crunchy. Not a fan of the mushy asparagus they sometimes serve.

Love the ambience in the photo with the dinner and sunset outside! Those photos have made me hungry for dinner tonight.

[yflyer]

Wonderful set of photos there, yflyer. Those meals look great. Glad to hear the asparagus was crunchy. Not a fan of the mushy asparagus they sometimes serve.

Love the ambience in the photo with the dinner and sunset outside! Those photos have made me hungry for dinner tonight.

Thanks, viraj735! I like the fact that the J meals are individually plated, unlike BA for example, where everything on your main dish ends up in a casserole, a little soggy and at a uniform temperature.

Yes, the sunset view at dinner was great!