SIN/CMB/SIN in New Regional J... and how to make space for your feet

[Datex Ohmeda]

This is my first trip report on SQTalk! I did a turnaround mileage run to Colombo last week. Being my first time on SQ’s A330-300, I had the opportunity to familiarize myself with the relatively new regional business class.

Flight: SQ468
Sector: SIN/CMB
Date: 30 Nov 2010 Wed
Time: 2250/0005+1
Duration: 3hrs 45min
Aircraft: A330-300 (9V-STK)
Seat: 16K

I didn't quite like the lingering cigarette smell at SKL T2, so I decided to use SKL at T3. Despite being peak hour with many Europe-bound travelers, there was still abundant seating. I settled near the tea/coffee section. Unlike the rest of the dimly-lit lounge, the bright halogen lighting was conducive for reading.

Nice to have a cuppa TWG before take off.

CMBTR 439 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

Taking a leisurely hot shower before boarding also made my day, and sets the mood for slumber during a night flight. When picking your shower stall, you might like to ensure that the silicone strip lining the edge of the door (see arrow) is not missing, or else a ~1cm gap at the door may get in the way of your privacy.


CMBTR 438 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

Boarding was at gate F42. I decided to walk - always conjures up nostalgia walking through T1, as well as burn some calories.

Once aboard, champagne was offered (Heidsieck, for those keen to know). Load was light in J, about 40%.


CMBTR 416 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

Push back was 10mins after scheduled departure, due to air traffic congestion. Runway nomenclature confuses me, I can never remember which is 20/02/L/R/C, but take off was from the T2 side at the budget terminal end pointing towards Changi Village. So that would make it runway____? Engine note was noticeably softer than usual, like a NEA mosquito fumigator going off outside, nowhere as loud and powerful like the GE90s on a 77W, yet nowhere as quiet as the A380.

Meal service was started shortly after take-off.

Here's my starter. I must commend SQ for consistently coming up with good salad starters and superb dressings.


CMBTR 423 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

For the mains I opted for wanton mee soup.


CMBTR 424 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

I was slightly disappointed that the noodles and vegetables were overdone, the charsiew though tender lacked that char-grilled aroma. But somehow, the ingredients, combined with the soup, dumplings and green chilli, brought more satisfaction and comfort than any lobster thermidor could. I'm such a sucker for local food 30000ft up in the air!

Dessert was mango sago pomelo.


CMBTR 425 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

I decided to skip tea/coffee since I had TWG plenty before boarding.

To be continued: Up next - the seat, and how to make space for your feet!

[Datex Ohmeda]

ABOUT THE SEAT


CMBTR 431 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

I like the colour of the upholstery. I like that the new seats are leather-clad. I find them ‘cleaner’ and less likely to trap dirt and mites, which is good for allergy sufferers.

Also, the storage boxes with the latches are useful. This allowed me to stuff a pouch in the box and keep the door from falling open by latching it closed.
Tip: the lower compartment is slightly deeper

I usually like to bring my own headphones to maximise the duration which I can use the IFE. However, for this flight I didn’t have to touch my own headphones at all. SQ's very good noise-cancelling headsets were already placed in the seat pockets before boarding and only collected after disembarkation. Very thoughtful. And undisruptive

IFE remote control and interface is identical to the new long-haul business seat. I felt that response time was slightly faster. Can anyone verify that? With the new December range of movies loaded up, I stayed up for most of this red-eye flight watching movies.

There's a slot at the side of your seat for slotting a notebook. It felt more like a gap rather than a pocket.


CMBTR 420 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

Conveniently located nearby to power, USB and other 'techie' ameneties, you can keep your notebook charged at all times. Beware though, things like pens, wallets and money could slip out of your pocket into the notebook abyss and go unnoticed! It is fairly deep, so probably iPads and 11” MacBookAir fit better in the seatback pocket together with inflight magazine.

Located with the headphone jack is your personal reading light.


CMBTR 428 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

There's no switch for this. Just push in the 'semicircle' half and it comes on.


CMBTR 429 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

And it can be rotated to face any direction you like. Very ingenious design And the light gently fades on and off. Very nice and classy effect. It is easy to reach for and operate when you're falling in and out of sleep.

But is it good for reading? Hmmm... don't think so. IMHO, the light is too stark white and not bright enough, so better to switch on the overhead light as well.

Next: Seat adjustments, and making space for your feet.

[Datex Ohmeda]

Making Seat Adjustments and Making Space for Your Feet

I find the one-touch buttons very useful for getting into upright, lounging and sleeping positions with minimal fuss. I only used the specific buttons for fine adjustment.


CMBTR 440 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

In the picture above, I pointed out with an arrow the button for sliding the seat forward and backwards. This is useful for retrieving objects deep down in the notebook pocket. As the seat slides forwards, you'll notice that the height of the seat lowers - this will help you retrieve any coins or little objects which have fallen into the notebook pocket.

Now, here's my unglamorous SQFG leg shot with my 'ka kui kui'.


CMBTR 421 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

It's actually how I recommend you should place your shoes. Put your shoes in this sideway orientation – or else your precious Ferragamos will get crushed by the seat. Why? The foot rest telescopes outwards when moving into sleeping position. The motors moving the seat are pretty powerful and will not yield to your precious Ferragamos in the way.

Now, it is a common complaint from many SQtalkers that there isn't enough space for the feet in the footwell when the seat is moved into sleeping position. That is true. Your feet will hit the roof of the footwell when you move into sleeping position, like this:


CMBTR 418 by Datex Ohmeda, on

There's a way to overcome this. Please refer to my sketch below:


2010_12_05_00_07_46 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

(A) The seat lengthens considerably because the footrest telescopes outwards.
(B) Just slide your body downwards, and your feet will find the roomy part of the footwell! Good for people with big feet.

Once I slid down, I was comfortable and snoozed while watching a movie.

[Datex Ohmeda]

Doing the Turnaround

Coastal approach to CMB. [This is Lumix LX5 at ISO1600. Very noisy!]


CMBTR 426 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr

I don't have any pictures of CMB other than the one above. Once the plane landed, all the windows just pretty much fogged up. It must have been pretty humid outside. We were provided with aerobridge to doors 1L and 2L at Gate 12. It was only a short distance to the Araliya Lounge, located somewhere around Gate 10. It was peak hour at CMB and I was lucky to find a place to sit in the lounge. Quite drab. Imagine SKL at MNL with half the floor area and 10 years more in wear and tear and you'll get what I mean.

It didn't bother me much though. It was time to board again soon after. Doing the turnaround was a breeze because I had my return boarding pass issued in Singapore beforehand, and had no check-in bags.

[j.lin]

Thanks for the post. Are they taken by Lumix LX5? Don't quite like the colour...
________
Chrysler drifter specifications

[Datex Ohmeda]

Thanks for the post. Are they taken by Lumix LX5? Don't quite like the colour...

Yes that's a Lumix LX5. You're right, the colours are quite drab!!

Some possibilities:
1. I put the camera on default 'Standard' rather than 'Dynamic/Vibrant', thus colours less saturated.
2. This second reason is more likely: only white fluoresent and LED lighting in the J cabin of the A330! No mood lighting / halogen or warm lighting. So everything looked very pale and clinical like a govt polyclinic. Didn't help that this was a redeye flight so no natural lighting.
3. I didn't do any post-processing - I wanted to present the pictures 'as they are' and 'straight out of the box' for the LX5.

[SQTalked]

I'm definitely no expert but I thought the pictures looked reasonable. The pics I'm about to post for my SIN-HND-SIN (once I get my head round TR) are much worst on my Cannon 980 w/o flash. Don't hold your breath.

[jjpb3]

Nice TR so far, Datex Ohmeda. Thanks for sharing!

And perhaps I'm not as discerning, but I quite like the pics as well.

SQTalked, looking forward to your TR.

[Dent@SUB]

Nice TR....
And I also like the soft tone of your pictures... Very nice pictures...

[Kyo]

I like the sketch, very creative

Thanks for the TR

[9V-SIA]

But is it good for reading? Hmmm... don't think so.

The same can be said for A345/77W/A380 reading lights.

I usually like to bring my own headphones to maximise the duration which I can use the IFE.

+1. But I wish they would keep it on gate-to-gate. Is there a regulation on not allowing this?

Engine note was noticeably softer than usual, like a NEA mosquito fumigator going off outside, nowhere as loud and powerful like the GE90s on a 77W, yet nowhere as quiet as the A380.

The 77W takes the cake. It's noisy even up front in F!!!

I was slightly disappointed that the noodles and vegetables were overdone, the charsiew though tender lacked that char-grilled aroma. But somehow, the ingredients, combined with the soup, dumplings and green chilli, brought more satisfaction and comfort than any lobster thermidor could. I'm such a sucker for local food 30000ft up in the air!

Lobster thermidor is overrated. I find soupy things, while a "cheap dish" tastiest in the bone dry cabin.

Thanks for TR. My first flight on A333 is 10 days away

[SQflyergirl]

Nice TR Love the sketch!

[Datex Ohmeda]

Thanks, SQ Talked, jjpb3, Dent@SUB, 9V-SIA, Kyo, SQFG!

[Datex Ohmeda]

Lobster thermidor is overrated. I find soupy things, while a "cheap dish" tastiest in the bone dry cabin.

Thanks for TR. My first flight on A333 is 10 days away

Hi 9V-SIA,

Were you referring to this?

SIN LAX 2010 452 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr
This was served on my trip to LAX on SQ38 earlier this year. Very cleverly plated to disguise the petite portions! Once I removed the tomato, and dissected away the mushrooms, there was hardly any lobster...
It was filling though - because of the cream sauce and heavily buttered rice

This picture is for you:

LHR SIN 2009 451 by Datex Ohmeda, on Flickr
This is the best meal I've ever had on SQ... and it was only an item on the snack menu! Loved the bouncy fishballs. I could have sworn there was a hawker hiding in the galley preparing this.

Enjoy your upcoming trip!

[Nick C]

Great TR Datex Ohmeda! Nice diagram too . Will try it the next time I'm on a 77R or 333... though I prefer my zen stance on the 388 J