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I'm just back from a round-trip SIN-BKK-LAX on TG. Due to the last minute nature of the trip, confirmed seats on SQ were not available, with only TG available on all segments... 
I consoled myself of this calamity by signing up for BD Diamond Club, as with 200% earning on TG business class, I will have close to 40,000 miles, very useful for a F redemption on SQ...
So onto the trip. SIN-BKK was on the total embarrassment that is the A300-600. Nothing positive to say, other than the flight was mercifully short.
The long trudge from the arrival gate and up the escalator to the departure level put me close to the Royal Orchid Spa. The 20min back massage weak and nothing near the quality one can find in town, but still put me in a decent frame of mind for the 15 hour flight.
So then another long trudge to the departure gate, and the absurd, assinine BKK security -- every piece of hand luggage (and I carry 2 full pieces) was fully handsearched for the new holy grail of airport security - LIQUIDS. These high-risk items must apparently now be X-rayed separately in their plastic bags. Hotel soaps are apparently, too, such high-risk liquids....
Anyway, here are my summarised thoughts on the long-haul business class experience:
1. Compared to the Spacebed, the TG 'inclined' flat seat is superior:
* easier to adjust.
* the seat bottom can be extended.
* the seatback in front does not move at all.
* significantly more foot space (width and height) when fully reclined.
* very stable tray table.
* only gripe is that the fixed centre armrest is too high and also at a different height from the opposite armrest.
2. Based on four different crews, TG's service is just of an entirely inferior standard compared to SQ.
* FA's are, for the most part, going thru the motions.
* never once addressed by name.
3. Other stuff:
* I like the in-flight interactive map (when working), which can zoom in and out.
* was not impressed by the IFE movie selection, but perhaps it was just a bad month...
* food quality was below SQ standards.
* I don't know how the toilet-to-pax ratio compares, but it seemed that there was always a wait for the toilet. For that reason, I wouldn't pick the 1st row 11, even though it's a lot more spacious.
* Premium Economy seats looked pretty decent, quite like SQ regional J. Legroom in Y also looked not bad.
All-in-all a decent experience, good value at 40% less than SQ - so long as it's the new seats.
Still SQ J, particularly on the 77W, is and will always be in a different league altogether...
I consoled myself of this calamity by signing up for BD Diamond Club, as with 200% earning on TG business class, I will have close to 40,000 miles, very useful for a F redemption on SQ...
So onto the trip. SIN-BKK was on the total embarrassment that is the A300-600. Nothing positive to say, other than the flight was mercifully short.
The long trudge from the arrival gate and up the escalator to the departure level put me close to the Royal Orchid Spa. The 20min back massage weak and nothing near the quality one can find in town, but still put me in a decent frame of mind for the 15 hour flight.
So then another long trudge to the departure gate, and the absurd, assinine BKK security -- every piece of hand luggage (and I carry 2 full pieces) was fully handsearched for the new holy grail of airport security - LIQUIDS. These high-risk items must apparently now be X-rayed separately in their plastic bags. Hotel soaps are apparently, too, such high-risk liquids....
Anyway, here are my summarised thoughts on the long-haul business class experience:
1. Compared to the Spacebed, the TG 'inclined' flat seat is superior:
* easier to adjust.
* the seat bottom can be extended.
* the seatback in front does not move at all.
* significantly more foot space (width and height) when fully reclined.
* very stable tray table.
* only gripe is that the fixed centre armrest is too high and also at a different height from the opposite armrest.
2. Based on four different crews, TG's service is just of an entirely inferior standard compared to SQ.
* FA's are, for the most part, going thru the motions.
* never once addressed by name.
3. Other stuff:
* I like the in-flight interactive map (when working), which can zoom in and out.
* was not impressed by the IFE movie selection, but perhaps it was just a bad month...
* food quality was below SQ standards.
* I don't know how the toilet-to-pax ratio compares, but it seemed that there was always a wait for the toilet. For that reason, I wouldn't pick the 1st row 11, even though it's a lot more spacious.
* Premium Economy seats looked pretty decent, quite like SQ regional J. Legroom in Y also looked not bad.
All-in-all a decent experience, good value at 40% less than SQ - so long as it's the new seats.
Still SQ J, particularly on the 77W, is and will always be in a different league altogether...
Have always heard about such things on TG but never been the victim of one of those swaps till then.
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