"Hot towels...I wish they were handing out hot towels..."
I thought this to myself as the cabin lights slowly came on, two and a half hours before arrival to Singapore on my flight back home from Barcelona, where I had spent the previous week. I could almost smell and feel the warm, moist towel in my hands, but this was all in my imagination, as since the start of the COVID19 pandemic, SQ had abandoned the ritual of their cabin crew going down the aisles with trays of steaming hot towels.
So much has been lost over the past two years, and the global pandemic is far from over. But in recent months, with the relaxation of COVID19 measures in many countries, and the roll out of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) to and from Singapore, travel has resumed for an increasing number of people, both for business and leisure.
Before this trip, the last time I was on a plane was in January 2020, more than 2 years ago. I had two trips planned in February and March 2020, both to Barcelona, but as COVID19 spread, both were cancelled, and my typical travel schedule of between 20-30 trips a year dropped to zero.
Strangely, I did not miss travel at all. I spent the last 2 years working largely from home in Singapore. I think Mrs yflyer did miss going on vacations, and we did have several memorable staycations, not to mention many great meals in Singapore. I kept up my running routine -- there are so many excellent running routes and parks / park connectors in Singapore, not to mention the new Round Island Route.
But since VTL lanes started up, many friends, including several SQTalkers, have resumed holiday and/or business travel. Indeed a few never ever even stopped travelling, putting up with ever-changing rules on vaccinations, testing and quarantines.
Finally, in mid February 2022, I made a decision to make a work trip to Barcelona. I flew out last week, on Saturday 26 February, and returned yesterday morning, Saturday, 5 March. I was there to attend Mobile World Congress 2022 (MWC22), a large trade show that takes place annually in Barcelona at the end of February. I've done TR's on Barcelona before, however I had made these trips on Emirates and other airlines. This time I would be flying SQ. Unlike other years, where tickets on the SQ's Barcelona flights would be booked solid months in advance, there were still seats available when I made my booking in mid February.
I flew there and back on SQ378/377 in Economy, with a brief transit stop in Milan in both directions, SIN-MXP-BCN-MXP-SIN. This was operated by Airbus A350-900 XWB's, which seem to be the workhorse of the SQ fleet these days, judging by the aircraft I see coming in to land at Changi when I am out on my runs along East Coast Park.
Airline miles, hotel points? All these things ceased to matter for 2 years, and perhaps still don't matter. The pursuit of Gold, Platinum status in hotel or airline programmes? It all seemed pointless (pun intended...) in the greater scheme of things. None of this mattered any more. I felt detoxed, in a sense, after going cold turkey for 2 years. I don't think I will ever again devote time to this pursuit of miles, points and status. That said, I sure appreciated that SQ and other airlines renewed my status, and did not let my points expire during this period. I was glad that I was still Krisflyer Elite Gold (The equivalent of Star Alliance Gold) when I made this trip. Gold status did help in several ways, some expected, and some unexpected.
As for Barcelona, although this was a city I had visited many times before, I don't think I will ever get bored here. What did come as a pleasant surprise was how normal things were now. Along La Rambla, most people enjoyed the beautiful weather outdoors without masks, as restrictions had recently been lifted.
I revisited many old favourite places, including La Boqueria Market...
...and Boadas cocktail bar...
There were new discoveries too, including many wonderful new places to eat...
The air travel experience is not what it used to be. There are so many new requirements around vaccinations and pre-travel PCR and/or ART tests. These change regularly, so it is vitally important to check and recheck both airline and government websites on testing requirements and declaration forms prior to travel.
In my case, there was a pre-travel PCR test before my SQ flight to BCN, as well as a PCR (or ART) in Barcelona, prior to return to Singapore. The added complication of a transit stop in Milan also meant I had to check Italian govt rules as well.
Thankfully, the rules had been progressingly relaxed over the past few weeks, and I expect that travel will get smoother and smoother as time goes on. As for myself, I was fully vaccinated and boostered, and all my pre-and post travel testing went fine, and I found the overall travel experience very smooth.
So this TR will cover the travel experience on SQ on the ground and in the air for SIN-MXP-BCN-MXP-SIN, and a few highlights from Barcelona as well.
I really enjoyed my trip, but I think I will enjoy writing up this TR just as much. It's been a while since I've done this, and the TR count has been at 116 for some time. I'm so glad to be starting on Trip Report number 117...fasten your seatbelts, and thank you for joining me on this TR!
TR Index
1. Introduction
2. Changi Airport T3
3. SilverKris Lounge
4. SQ378 SIN-MXP-BCN
5. Barcelona & Citadines La Rambla Hotel
6. Run - La Rambla to Barceloneta and Port Olimpic
7. Arenas de Barcelona, Los Caracoles
8. Mobile World Congress
9. Boadas Cocktails
10. 2254 Restaurant
11. La Boqueria Market
12. Barcelona El Prat Airport T1
13. Miro Lounge
14. SQ377 BCN-MXP-SIN
15. Changi Airport T3 Arrival
16. Final Thoughts
I thought this to myself as the cabin lights slowly came on, two and a half hours before arrival to Singapore on my flight back home from Barcelona, where I had spent the previous week. I could almost smell and feel the warm, moist towel in my hands, but this was all in my imagination, as since the start of the COVID19 pandemic, SQ had abandoned the ritual of their cabin crew going down the aisles with trays of steaming hot towels.
So much has been lost over the past two years, and the global pandemic is far from over. But in recent months, with the relaxation of COVID19 measures in many countries, and the roll out of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) to and from Singapore, travel has resumed for an increasing number of people, both for business and leisure.
Before this trip, the last time I was on a plane was in January 2020, more than 2 years ago. I had two trips planned in February and March 2020, both to Barcelona, but as COVID19 spread, both were cancelled, and my typical travel schedule of between 20-30 trips a year dropped to zero.
Strangely, I did not miss travel at all. I spent the last 2 years working largely from home in Singapore. I think Mrs yflyer did miss going on vacations, and we did have several memorable staycations, not to mention many great meals in Singapore. I kept up my running routine -- there are so many excellent running routes and parks / park connectors in Singapore, not to mention the new Round Island Route.
But since VTL lanes started up, many friends, including several SQTalkers, have resumed holiday and/or business travel. Indeed a few never ever even stopped travelling, putting up with ever-changing rules on vaccinations, testing and quarantines.
Finally, in mid February 2022, I made a decision to make a work trip to Barcelona. I flew out last week, on Saturday 26 February, and returned yesterday morning, Saturday, 5 March. I was there to attend Mobile World Congress 2022 (MWC22), a large trade show that takes place annually in Barcelona at the end of February. I've done TR's on Barcelona before, however I had made these trips on Emirates and other airlines. This time I would be flying SQ. Unlike other years, where tickets on the SQ's Barcelona flights would be booked solid months in advance, there were still seats available when I made my booking in mid February.
I flew there and back on SQ378/377 in Economy, with a brief transit stop in Milan in both directions, SIN-MXP-BCN-MXP-SIN. This was operated by Airbus A350-900 XWB's, which seem to be the workhorse of the SQ fleet these days, judging by the aircraft I see coming in to land at Changi when I am out on my runs along East Coast Park.
Airline miles, hotel points? All these things ceased to matter for 2 years, and perhaps still don't matter. The pursuit of Gold, Platinum status in hotel or airline programmes? It all seemed pointless (pun intended...) in the greater scheme of things. None of this mattered any more. I felt detoxed, in a sense, after going cold turkey for 2 years. I don't think I will ever again devote time to this pursuit of miles, points and status. That said, I sure appreciated that SQ and other airlines renewed my status, and did not let my points expire during this period. I was glad that I was still Krisflyer Elite Gold (The equivalent of Star Alliance Gold) when I made this trip. Gold status did help in several ways, some expected, and some unexpected.
As for Barcelona, although this was a city I had visited many times before, I don't think I will ever get bored here. What did come as a pleasant surprise was how normal things were now. Along La Rambla, most people enjoyed the beautiful weather outdoors without masks, as restrictions had recently been lifted.
I revisited many old favourite places, including La Boqueria Market...
...and Boadas cocktail bar...
There were new discoveries too, including many wonderful new places to eat...
The air travel experience is not what it used to be. There are so many new requirements around vaccinations and pre-travel PCR and/or ART tests. These change regularly, so it is vitally important to check and recheck both airline and government websites on testing requirements and declaration forms prior to travel.
In my case, there was a pre-travel PCR test before my SQ flight to BCN, as well as a PCR (or ART) in Barcelona, prior to return to Singapore. The added complication of a transit stop in Milan also meant I had to check Italian govt rules as well.
Thankfully, the rules had been progressingly relaxed over the past few weeks, and I expect that travel will get smoother and smoother as time goes on. As for myself, I was fully vaccinated and boostered, and all my pre-and post travel testing went fine, and I found the overall travel experience very smooth.
So this TR will cover the travel experience on SQ on the ground and in the air for SIN-MXP-BCN-MXP-SIN, and a few highlights from Barcelona as well.
I really enjoyed my trip, but I think I will enjoy writing up this TR just as much. It's been a while since I've done this, and the TR count has been at 116 for some time. I'm so glad to be starting on Trip Report number 117...fasten your seatbelts, and thank you for joining me on this TR!
TR Index
1. Introduction
2. Changi Airport T3
3. SilverKris Lounge
4. SQ378 SIN-MXP-BCN
5. Barcelona & Citadines La Rambla Hotel
6. Run - La Rambla to Barceloneta and Port Olimpic
7. Arenas de Barcelona, Los Caracoles
8. Mobile World Congress
9. Boadas Cocktails
10. 2254 Restaurant
11. La Boqueria Market
12. Barcelona El Prat Airport T1
13. Miro Lounge
14. SQ377 BCN-MXP-SIN
15. Changi Airport T3 Arrival
16. Final Thoughts
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