SIA's New A350 XWB: SQ337 DUS-SIN in Economy

[yflyer]

Ahh...so this is the parade I was told about by colleagues from Lahore when I was in Karachi. Seems to be a tourist draw on the India side although it seems more accessible from Pk side judging from google map. Thanks for sharing yflyer. Indeed, it's not visible from outer space, but the visible lights from a plane will make you reckon few things about humanity especially if you know some friends on both side of that fence.

I hope that wasn't too off the topic.

Not off topic at all! Yes, I have friends and colleagues on both sides of the LOC too. All have their opinions. On a professional basis we all get on well.

Great trip report! Interestingly enough I had the exact same entree choices on SQ25 FRA-SIN two weeks ago (and FWIW these were also the same on SQ25 in November as well - was only on the JFK-FRA leg then but the menu shows both sectors, also SQ needs to rotate their menus more):

...snip...
Overall though SQ catering is one of the best there is in Y and I was not disappointed (and this wasn't even ex-SIN).

Thanks, truncated! Yes, agree SQ Y catering is very good overall!

Well, I suppose the caterer for all of the Germany airports for SQ are all the same, i.e. all by LSG Sky Chefs.

Which makes perfect sense...no reason to have different caterers for each station in Germany, is there...

[orionmiz]

Well, I suppose the caterer for all of the Germany airports for SQ are all the same, i.e. all by LSG Sky Chefs.

[truncated]

It was soon time for meal service. The new IFE allows the cabin crew to broadcast text messages to passengers on their IFE screens...

A choice of 3 main courses...



...and breakfast prior to our 6.15am scheduled arrival.

Breakfast was served 2+ hours prior to landing...



I chose the beef noodle selection, and was not disappointed.

This was a very tasty dish, with the noodles and beef slices still steaming hot, and none of the refrigerated/reheated taste that you sometimes get with airline food.

Great trip report! Interestingly enough I had the exact same entree choices on SQ25 FRA-SIN two weeks ago (and FWIW these were also the same on SQ25 in November as well - was only on the JFK-FRA leg then but the menu shows both sectors, also SQ needs to rotate their menus more):




Seems like all ex-Germany flights get the same food; however FRA-SIN gets ice cream but DUS-SIN doesn't

I had the fish and it was really good (also full-size trays on the A380, yay):

The portion was huge (the fish filled the entire tray, and there were a ton of vegetables as well) and the curry was actually pretty spicy for a change. Would definitely recommend.

I also got the noodles for breakfast:


Presentation looks better than the one you had ex-DUS, but my noodles were quite dry and the beef was tough/chewy in places (although I think my standards were too high, especially given the quality of lunch haha). Appreciated the vegetables and chilli though, and still one of the better airplane breakfasts I've had. Some pax around me had the egg roll and it looked quite dismal, so noodles are definitely the way to go.

Overall though SQ catering is one of the best there is in Y and I was not disappointed (and this wasn't even ex-SIN).

[Ph Man]

Ahh...so this is the parade I was told about by colleagues from Lahore when I was in Karachi. Seems to be a tourist draw on the India side although it seems more accessible from Pk side judging from google map. Thanks for sharing yflyer. Indeed, it's not visible from outer space, but the visible lights from a plane will make you reckon few things about humanity especially if you know some friends on both side of that fence.

I hope that wasn't too off the topic.

[Pinkfloyd]

Thumbs up that you actually noticed it, Pinkfloyd! Most folks don't even notice...

The other big thing along the Indo-Pak border is the daily border parade at Wagah, where the PK and IN border guards put on a real show when they open and close the border crossing each day. Not visible from outer space, though, you actually need to head to Wagah to watch this (And apparently many do...). Many videos of the parade on Youtube, including this one (The real fun starts at 3:31).

Seen the video some time back, thanks for that! They do get very... err... expressive?!?

[yflyer]

Then I stumbled upon this forum last week.

Welcome to the kampong!

Just a correction, I didn't mean I have flown all of SQ planes, like each one of them. I meant each type - 772, 773, 77W, 333, 380 but not the 350. We should ask to be invited for a future JFK inaugurals for an ultra long haul experience with her.

Of course...I did interpret it as types and not individual aircraft. Although there are probably a few folks here who track the rego's of each and every aircraft they fly...

Inaugurals are fun. I enjoy reading the TR's covering inaugurals that other SQTalkers have attended. I've only done one myself...a very low key inaugural, which I flew on without realizing it: QR's first A350-operated flight from DOH to DXB. Quite low profile...just a water cannon salute on arrival.

Learn something new everyday... Five years of flying between Singapore-Norway and seeing this all the time and never realised what it actually was!!

Thumbs up that you actually noticed it, Pinkfloyd! Most folks don't even notice...

The other big thing along the Indo-Pak border is the daily border parade at Wagah, where the PK and IN border guards put on a real show when they open and close the border crossing each day. Not visible from outer space, though, you actually need to head to Wagah to watch this (And apparently many do...). Many videos of the parade on Youtube, including this one (The real fun starts at 3:31).

[Ph Man]

Thanks, Ph Man! Glad you enjoyed reading it!

It is security lighting at the border.

Not only is it visible from aircraft, it is visible from space!

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=86725



Sounds like you travel a lot too! SQ are adding A350's to the fleet at a very rapid rate...it should get easier and easier to select routes where the A350 is flying.

I have very fond memories of SIN-EWR non-stop in exec economy on the A345. Also looking forward to SIN-JFK on the A350 ULR!

Thanks for this yflyer. Next time I travel to Europe, I will watch out for this. I wish I've known this before.

Just a correction, I didn't mean I have flown all of SQ planes, like each one of them. I meant each type - 772, 773, 77W, 333, 380 but not the 350. We should ask to be invited for a future JFK inaugurals for an ultra long haul experience with her.

[Ph Man]

^^Indeed. That's what we learn from being in a forum of informed people like you guys.

@yflyer, thanks for your responses. Appreciated. Perhaps SQ wants to maintain a no-cam-view trend in all its fleet. Even CX has tail cam in its new 350s. But SQs are less densely configured, so that probably explains why you felt that Y is not so cramped. I hope to find out myself soon.

I don't travel as frequent as you here seem to do. And when I travel for work, I don't always end up getting an SQ flight. We opt for the cheapest factoring everything not only the airfare. So you can guess, I fly with almost any airline that flies to where I get sent to. Flights with SQ, even if its always at Y are always my most memorable ones.

Then I stumbled upon this forum last week.

[Pinkfloyd]

I did watch the map view closely as we approached the Pakistan-India border though. Regulars on SQTalk will know that one thing I try to do on Europe-Singapore flights is to look out of the window to spot the so-called Indian Line of Control (LoC), which is a fence along the much of the India-Pakistan border.

Learn something new everyday... Five years of flying between Singapore-Norway and seeing this all the time and never realised what it actually was!!

[yflyer]

A very well done TR, thanks yflyer for the great lengths you've gone to share your experience to us in much details. With such a TR, I feel like I've flown the flight myself. And eaten the food too. LOL.

Thanks, Ph Man! Glad you enjoyed reading it!

1. SQ's 350s do not have tail cams? (Its 380s don't, so it will not be a surprise)

Nope, for some reason SQ has not put camera views available on any version of their Krisworld IFE, although many other airlines do. The Finnair and Qatar A350's both have excellent high-def tail cams and belly cams, and Emirates also has camera views on their IFE.

2. It's my first time to learn about the IN-PK border, being so visible at night. Where are the lights coming from? Cars? Or just spotlights? I did some googling but did not find any.

It is security lighting at the border.

Not only is it visible from aircraft, it is visible from space!

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=86725

I wish I can fly SQ's 350 soon. I've flown all of SQ's existing fleet but the 350. Imagine doing a SIN-JFK nonstop.

Sounds like you travel a lot too! SQ are adding A350's to the fleet at a very rapid rate...it should get easier and easier to select routes where the A350 is flying.

I have very fond memories of SIN-EWR non-stop in exec economy on the A345. Also looking forward to SIN-JFK on the A350 ULR!

[Ph Man]

Oh...I didn't know that. Thanks for the info loldude333.

[loldude333]

I have two questions please:

1. SQ's 350s do not have tail cams? (Its 380s don't, so it will not be a surprise.

If i'm not wrong, tailcams come installed on all Airbus aircraft as part of the pilot monitoring system; its whether the airline also allows passengers to take advantage of the views.

[Ph Man]

A very well done TR, thanks yflyer for the great lengths you've gone to share your experience to us in much details. With such a TR, I feel like I've flown the flight myself. And eaten the food too. LOL.

I have two questions please:

1. SQ's 350s do not have tail cams? (Its 380s don't, so it will not be a surprise)

2. It's my first time to learn about the IN-PK border, being so visible at night. Where are the lights coming from? Cars? Or just spotlights? I did some googling but did not find any.

By the way, I appreciate how you appreciate SQ's inflight offerings such as the food, among other things.

I wish I can fly SQ's 350 soon. I've flown all of SQ's existing fleet but the 350. Imagine doing a SIN-JFK nonstop.

[nykelaz]

I wonder if there is a difference between the dish served on SQ327 out of Munich, and SQ337 from Dusseldorf. I would assume that SQ has engaged the same catering company at both locations, or even throughout Germany.

I flew on Christmas Day. Except for the Chicken Breast (we had goose instead as a Xmas special), the menu for both Lunch and Breakfast was exactly the same.

[yflyer]

I had the exact same meal on SQ327 yesterday and it was delicious!

I wonder if there is a difference between the dish served on SQ327 out of Munich, and SQ337 from Dusseldorf. I would assume that SQ has engaged the same catering company at both locations, or even throughout Germany.

An excellent TR and very detailed, yflyer! I'm impressed by some of your camera angles. Many thanks!!

Thanks, CarbonMan! All pics in the TR taken with an iPhone 6 Plus!