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The trip was to see Hokkaido in summer and to watch the SM Town Tokyo 2012 concert.
I am a SIA fanboy. I don’t mind paying the extra flying SIA. But not this time round. I wanted to switch my FFP to Aegean Airlines’ Miles and Bonus. After searching a bit, I decided on UA as it allowed me to accumulate 100% points on Miles and Bonus. ANA would allow me to accumulate 100% on Miles and Bonus but ANA only gives 70% mileage. After looking at my travel plans, I felt that UA would help me hit the 20,000 points earlier, so it is with this little apprehension that I booked with UA.
UA 0882
SIN-NRT
0710/1510
Seat: 43G
3 August 2012
Arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Security was present at the check-in area. Check-in was pretty fast and without much hassle.
United Airlines boards its passengers through groups. I was in Group Six. Boarding was organised.
The aircraft was a reconfigured Boeing 777 (over 10 years old) with the new J class. You can check what aircraft registration you are flying via the UA Flight Status option and where the aircraft had come from.
The Economy seats were pretty alright. The seat pitch is 31 inches. Not the most roomy, but it was still alright for me. There were no footrests getting in the way, so I could extend the legs out. Bearable for a 7-hour long flight.
Seat width was ample. Maybe a little less than SQ economy, but not being someone of immense girth, I could tuck the pillow at one side and still had enough room for myself. The seatback was alright too, quite similar to SQ. At least it was padded, and wasn’t too thin like ANA or on CX economy. So it was not a back-breaking experience.
The headphones were placed in the seat pocket, so you can use them before take off. You can use the IFE after the safety video. The reconfigured Boeing 777s feature personal IFE with AVOD in every seat. The screen was smaller than SQ but it was fine. Resolution was fine a clear. It used a touchscreen interface which I felt wasn’t that responsive. The entertainment options were ample with more than enough films and programming to keep one entertained on the 7-hour flight.
I really enjoyed Channel Nine. You could listen to the conversation between the flightdeck and air traffic control which I tuned into from taxiing on the ground in Singapore all the way till take off. It is certainly a dream experience for any aviation enthusiast.
Breakfast was served after take off by the mostly Japanese/Asian crew members. What UA does is that they have one flight attendant man the drink cart while another serves the breakfast. This ensures that passengers get their food quickly. Service starts from the Economy plus cabin.
Breakfast consisted of two options: Singapore style carrot cake, or rather radish cake or eggs with sausages and potatoes. I went for the carrot cake option since I’ve eaten eggs and sausages for breakfast many a time on board my flights, so going for something local would seem nice. Well, actually carrot cake does consists of eggs.
I didn’t see the radish bits. Maybe I was a bit blind or so. Anyway it tasted quite nice, like what you would get at the hawker centre/coffee shops in Singapore. It had a few tiny pieces of shrimp. Meanwhile, I sneaked a peek at the other option, seems much more filling.
The breakfast also came with a fruit cup and sweet pastry. And that’s all. Of course the usual drinks were offered.
Breakfast wasn’t the most satisfying.
The flight attendants did come round the cabin with drink runs every now and then, but otherwise they were most in the galley. Basically, my impression of the flight crew is that they were fine and polite. They performed their service like what they were expected to do. They weren't grumpy or cold.
About one and a half hours before landing, the crew came round for a snack service. Drinks and sandwiches. Basically just two pieces of white bread cut into two halves with a slice of cheese, some lettuce leaves and a piece of chicken. Fortunately, they had extra sandwiches and came round the cabin for a second serving. Feeling hungry, I took another sandwich.
The flight landed on time and I was satisfied with my first international flight experience with UA.
I am a SIA fanboy. I don’t mind paying the extra flying SIA. But not this time round. I wanted to switch my FFP to Aegean Airlines’ Miles and Bonus. After searching a bit, I decided on UA as it allowed me to accumulate 100% points on Miles and Bonus. ANA would allow me to accumulate 100% on Miles and Bonus but ANA only gives 70% mileage. After looking at my travel plans, I felt that UA would help me hit the 20,000 points earlier, so it is with this little apprehension that I booked with UA.
UA 0882
SIN-NRT
0710/1510
Seat: 43G
3 August 2012
Arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3. Security was present at the check-in area. Check-in was pretty fast and without much hassle.
United Airlines boards its passengers through groups. I was in Group Six. Boarding was organised.
The aircraft was a reconfigured Boeing 777 (over 10 years old) with the new J class. You can check what aircraft registration you are flying via the UA Flight Status option and where the aircraft had come from.
The Economy seats were pretty alright. The seat pitch is 31 inches. Not the most roomy, but it was still alright for me. There were no footrests getting in the way, so I could extend the legs out. Bearable for a 7-hour long flight.
Seat width was ample. Maybe a little less than SQ economy, but not being someone of immense girth, I could tuck the pillow at one side and still had enough room for myself. The seatback was alright too, quite similar to SQ. At least it was padded, and wasn’t too thin like ANA or on CX economy. So it was not a back-breaking experience.
The headphones were placed in the seat pocket, so you can use them before take off. You can use the IFE after the safety video. The reconfigured Boeing 777s feature personal IFE with AVOD in every seat. The screen was smaller than SQ but it was fine. Resolution was fine a clear. It used a touchscreen interface which I felt wasn’t that responsive. The entertainment options were ample with more than enough films and programming to keep one entertained on the 7-hour flight.
I really enjoyed Channel Nine. You could listen to the conversation between the flightdeck and air traffic control which I tuned into from taxiing on the ground in Singapore all the way till take off. It is certainly a dream experience for any aviation enthusiast.
Breakfast was served after take off by the mostly Japanese/Asian crew members. What UA does is that they have one flight attendant man the drink cart while another serves the breakfast. This ensures that passengers get their food quickly. Service starts from the Economy plus cabin.
Breakfast consisted of two options: Singapore style carrot cake, or rather radish cake or eggs with sausages and potatoes. I went for the carrot cake option since I’ve eaten eggs and sausages for breakfast many a time on board my flights, so going for something local would seem nice. Well, actually carrot cake does consists of eggs.
I didn’t see the radish bits. Maybe I was a bit blind or so. Anyway it tasted quite nice, like what you would get at the hawker centre/coffee shops in Singapore. It had a few tiny pieces of shrimp. Meanwhile, I sneaked a peek at the other option, seems much more filling.
The breakfast also came with a fruit cup and sweet pastry. And that’s all. Of course the usual drinks were offered.
Breakfast wasn’t the most satisfying.
The flight attendants did come round the cabin with drink runs every now and then, but otherwise they were most in the galley. Basically, my impression of the flight crew is that they were fine and polite. They performed their service like what they were expected to do. They weren't grumpy or cold.
About one and a half hours before landing, the crew came round for a snack service. Drinks and sandwiches. Basically just two pieces of white bread cut into two halves with a slice of cheese, some lettuce leaves and a piece of chicken. Fortunately, they had extra sandwiches and came round the cabin for a second serving. Feeling hungry, I took another sandwich.
The flight landed on time and I was satisfied with my first international flight experience with UA.
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