A380 battle: SQ J vs EK F (+ shower video)

[j.lin]

SQ is getting boring

[SQflyergirl]

Shower Spa!

We take off pretty much on time, and I've asked to have a shower. Wasn't particularly needing one, but it'd been a long day and I'd been up since 3.45am to catch the Air Asia 605am flight to Singapore before getting on SQ856 and spending the whole day in HKG. Oh why not - the crew slot me in first!

Apparently they have a shower specialist on board too!

Absolutely massive toilet






Including a TV screen in case you want to watch the flightshow stark naked (if that's your thing )


Hairdryer's in there somewhere


Shower's behind this door


Spa kits

[SQflyergirl]

Some more seat pics (got a chance to lie down for a bit)

Naturally it goes flat, and isn't particularly lumpy. The crew asked if I wanted the duvet - but i thought it was too much trouble.

[SQflyergirl]

Original SQFG Foot shot. Lots of space for bags and stuff.


I'm handed a menu, and really, am too full to consider eating anything.


except maybe this

[SQflyergirl]

I'm also handed an instruction manual for the seat. I think you need a license to operate it!






Electrically controlled blinds


Which you can press to put up or down as you please. Okay, I'm a country bumpkin who doesn't get out much, so this thing actually provided amusement for quite a while. The blinds are also controllable by the two buttons at the botton of the window pane.




The famous seat controller. My goodness- Electrically controlled doors. It's electric everything. Soon we'll have electrically operated Pyjamas and amenity kits. This suite may be smaller than SQ's but I'll bet it's heavier with all the damned motors!

[SQflyergirl]

Some seat features: Rather large TV Screen


One of those screens where you can see some more pertinent info on the flight (including registration, which is nice)


Also included: external cameras. This is the tail one, operating in full screen mode


Nice basket of snacks (which are removed for takeoff, and returned after the seatbelt lights go off)


DND and other indicator lights on the suite

[SQflyergirl]

Front of the F class area + entrances to the Spa Shower




Waterfall feature. Not sure if this adds value, but it is nice-ish to look at

[SQflyergirl]

We're called for boarding and use the right hand lane at the gate. EK's premium classes are boarded through the upper deck door. I'm greeted by a really cheery crew as they ask me to turn left to 1K. They're led by pursers Iliana and Eric - very very polished if you ask me.

Some cabin shots:










The gimmicky minibar

[SQflyergirl]

At 615pm the counters open and I'm given my bp


Straight through immigration and security and off to the lounge near gate 60


Lounge is quite open air, didn't get any pics cause it was crowded. We have a completely full flight tonight!

At 830 I head to the gate - A6-EDI is our ride for tonight

[SQflyergirl]

EK A380

So having made a quick run down to 9-Dragons, I'm back at the airport nice and early, (a wee bit TOO early actually) to catch my onward flight to Bangkok.

Counters haven't opened yet. - I'd imagine the number of places you can check in would be confusing to a first time traveller.




This is where we are

[HUGE AL]

The familiar "new J" seat that's been "new" for 4 years and 13 days since first launched on the 77W to CDG.

The Trent twins on this side humming along nicely. No holes in leading edge? Check. No pipes severed? Check. No bombing of Indonesian soil with metal parts? Check. All is well then!

It's not like they were serviced by QF!

[SQflyergirl]

Next up: SQFG samples Emirates Again and REALLY likes what she sees!

[SQflyergirl]

Fall asleep for a bit - wake up in time for descent

The Trent twins on this side humming along nicely. No holes in leading edge? Check. No pipes severed? Check. No bombing of Indonesian soil with metal parts? Check. All is well then!


R and some J pax have arrived in HKG. Most Y pax still abeam of Manila.


We're wheels on ground at 1:45pm - so 20 minutes behind the clock! Now, to sprint and try to get through Immigration as quick as possible!

[SQflyergirl]

Whale goes up the river to spawn! Initial routing goes over Johor before turning east later


Anyway - the crew come round with drinks - and it's been a long time since I had one!

It's also Brunch on the menu, so I have the omelette




And finish off with some dark chocolate icecream. (this was very good)

[SQflyergirl]

Turns out that it's a rather busy morning, and 02C/20C is closed. Oh well. STD is 09:40 and I've been onboard since 09:20

We push back at around 10:00 so I'm hopeful it won't be too long before we get airborne (have a lunch appointment in HKG!)

We pass younger sister (and equally large) Kilo Kilo on the way to 02L. Does my bum look big in this?


Also on her way to 02L is Papa Papa operating Singapore 12. Lots of fond fond memories on this bird. Easily one of the most famous 744's SQ's have had alongside Mike Uniform.


Also in the queue, QANTAS's Quebec Delta "Fergus McMaster" - glad to see their fleet up and about too.


So Lots of heavies the queue for take off.

We pull up to one of the taxiways..... and sit and wait for a long time. SPP has seen better days, as she waits in the other taxiway to our port side.


Being in 14A I can see out, and the captain comes on and announces that we're to hold here for a few arriving planes. Looking out left, i can see very small dots, and they look like they're on very long finals. I'm sure we could have gone, but departing A380 wake turbulence is not to be scoffed at.

Turns out there were three birds in line...

This


This


and this....


Go Malaysia! Can understand why we had to hold so long now. 2 departing A380's and a 744 would have made a really rough ride in for the tiny ATR.

Finally at 10:26 we turn onto the active and go for it