Forget LCCs, go full service around SE Asia! (MI, CX, SQ)

[SilverChris]

At the Bangkok SKL now, will try to finish the report when I return to SIN

[Kyo]

The lady on the left is very frequently there

[SilverChris]

Just got back from the airport

Kyo, does she know your name yet? I've only been there twice in the past month, and she recognizes me! So surprised when she said: "Sawadeekap, good to see you again Mr Silverchris

[SilverChris]

Here's the next segment, the pics were terribly hard to upload!

Singapore >> Bangkok
Flight:CX712
Aircraft:B777-300 (swapped 772) 4 year old
Dep: 1355 Arr: 1535
Seat:42A

(more pics if photobucket won't stop telling it cant upload. Can anyone help?)

When the OLCI started for CX712, I quickly snagged 42ABC as I could not reserve my seats earlier on (no thanks to redemption tickets). The seatmap showed the B772 layout, so row 42 seemed pretty decent. I arrived at T1 pretty early, early enough for them not to confirm the gate. The smiling lady handed over our boarding passes, but as SQFG advised me, CX is notorious for aircraft swaps, so I reconfirmed the equip with the staff. Surprisingly, I was told it was a 773! I knew their 773s are better equipped than the 772s, so I was pleasantly surprised.

With so much time to spare, I took out my camera and went plane spotting!

Valuair A320. Always wondered what's the diff with Jetstar


Here's something you dont see everyday - Air Seychelles B762. Never even knew there was such an airline


My ride - B-HNQ, delivered only in 2006 accordingly.




I was told the flight was only half full, which was a joke, considering the huge number of people waiting at D46. Security was swift, but this security officer who didn't seem to enjoy her job, was yelling "Line up! One STRAIGHT line or we won't let you in!". The boarding calls were as per normal, going by rows, but at the first boarding call everyone was rushing to board, and they seemed to get away with it. They even ran faster than the J pax. So I joined in the stampede

As I made my way to row 42, I was shocked to find it near the lav. Too late for seat changes, and I don't think there are many empty seats onboard anyway. It's short flight too.



These seats didn't look like the new seats, but they were almost like it. The seat slides out when you recline, there's AVOD, a cup holder, coat hook etc.

[SilverChris]

Nice view of the engine


A Garuda B738 next to us




Here's a bird I wanna fly: A 737-900ER


Full thrust ahead! Somehow, the takeoff roll of the 773 isn't as "sporty" as the 772.


CX is asking for donations too. This SQTalker is fairly skeptical of where the money really ends up

[SilverChris]

Inflight


Lunch was fish and potatoes, plus fruits and a blueberry cheesecake (yuck)


Overall, it wasn't bad, except for the cake

I fell asleep and before I knew it, we landed in BKK. Had this view of these rare birds. Really wish I could be on the 747SP, but Tehran isn't quite a place I would wanna visit.




Welcome to Bangkok! As this flight continues to HKG, transit pax stay onboard, while pax leaving here need to present their BPs to the ground staff upon disembarketion.

First thing I heard at the airport was the annoying "End of the travellator! Ding! Ding!"



Immigration at BKK = long queues, but thankfully, today wasn't terribly crowded. At the baggage reclaim, this screen had crashed or something


End of this segment. Thanks for reading! Next up, BKK-SIN

[SQflyergirl]

So surprised when she said: "Sawadeekap, good to see you again Mr Silverchris

Ooh... that makes her a he You've been fooled

[SilverChris]

Ooh... that makes her a he You've been fooled

Frankly, I can tell the difference! It's still a warm thai welcome

[SQflyergirl]

Frankly, I can tell the difference!

That's a good skill to have in Bangkok

[SilverChris]

That's a good skill to have in Bangkok

Especially when bargaining!

[SQflyergirl]

Especially when bargaining!

I take it that's the voice of experience talking then

[SilverChris]

I take it that's the voice of experience talking then

Nah, i just know a few phrases. My BKK friend told me that, and she proved it!

[ycp81]

Lunch was fish and potatoes, plus fruits and a blueberry cheesecake (yuck)


Overall, it wasn't bad, except for the cake

Hmm, looks like CX has better catering than SQ too on SIN-BKK route!

[SilverChris]

Hmm, looks like CX has better catering than SQ too on SIN-BKK route!

No doubt, SQ's regional meals are nothing to shout about. I noticed was SQ's dessert was even worse, and CX"s main course tastes better.

[Kyo]

Hmm, looks like CX has better catering than SQ too on SIN-BKK route!

Actually I see very little difference between the both based on that one CX picture.

Neither are mindblowing - I'd say it's hard to justify SQ's standard Y catering any worse than TG or CX. One might pull ahead a little in some areas, but by and large, I don't think TG's Y offerings are anything to shout about either and both have had hits and misses.

I can't comment definitively on CX but for TG vs SQ, I think I can... (TG does have one extra starter, but that's also by no means mindblowing - although they did make the effort)