At The Pointy End Of Things: 744 First Class SIN-NRT-LAX-NRT-SIN

[9V-SIA]

Introduction

LA and NYC are somewhat special to me because they can be reached non-stop from SIN by A345.

They are also served by 744 ( via NRT & FRA respectively )

... at least they were when I took the flight over Chinese New Year

The A380 was scheduled to take over SQ11 / 12 in March, but this has been delayed by events at Fukushima



People have often asked: Which is better? F in a 744 or J on the A345.

For me, it is no contest. The A345. Everytime... non-stop trumps all other considerations

• Saves time,
• Sleep when I want to
• Avoid the dreaded airport security checks during transit

So it may surprise you to find me flying F in a 744.

For one thing, saver F redemption on a 744 is very good value if you can get it. I did.

And another thing, my wife has never flown the 744 in F and I wanted her to try it before they disappear

( judging from the number of "Farewell to 744" TRs around, SQ should keep using them..

just don't tell anyone they'll be around for a long time more )



This is my 3rd "Farewell to 744" trip

Our ride today... 9V-SPE

[9V-SIA]

Pre Departure Rituals

The Famous Control Tower



We used to joke that my Dad hit his golf ball to the top of it! He played at Tanah Merah Country Club

Check In



Fast Track Immigration



Breakfast in the Lounge: The Menu



Eggs Benedict



Boarding Gate A15



The only thing that did not go well in the entire pre-boarding ritual was at the security check.



There was a long, single line to the security check.

I assumed we could walk through to the priority lane. Wrong.

That single line split at the last moment into 2 lines. No priority boarding line.

Last week on my way to BCN, priority line was not even working

[9V-SIA]

Boarding, Taxi & Take Off

Boarding

Of course I love the personal attention, the seat & the food in first class

But the biggest buzz I get flying first class is probably having your own aerobridge to board and that left turn at door 1L ( on a 744, right turn on 77W & A380 )

The First Class Cabin

We have the United States Air Force to thank for these views.





When they needed a large transport plane ( with a front opening door ) in the 1960s, the 747 was Boeing's entry.

However, Lockheed's C5 Galaxy was the winner of that competition.

Boeing took their losing entry and converted it into a civilian airliner.

The rest, as they say, is history



Push back was 10 mins early



Taxi

40% of SQ's A345 fleet in this pic



Our early start was wasted as we queued to take off behind a long line of planes

Finally, the last two before us to takeoff:

QF A380





SQ 772



Take Off

Changi Village Hawker Centre.

Anyone tried Charlie's there? I used to spend my weekends there in my youth

Largest selection of beer in SIN. But I went for the chilli dogs. Closed Sat & Sun to go fishing!!!



Pulau Ubin. Note how dirty the window is. Or are the windows are old?

[9V-SIA]

SIN-NRT: The Seat

Good crew. Had a lovely yarn with them on the way to NRT.

The CS has worked at SQ since the 70s so I got a lot of stories from him.

For example, 742 was the only model with a spiral staircase.

742 upper deck started off as lounge for F PAXs, then 8 beds that needed to be pre-booked before settling down as J class seats.

743 had F in upper deck for a while ( yucks! )

At one time, J cabin used to stretch from door 2 to the nose ( presumably when F was upstairs )

Funny the crew remember the 747 differently from us travellers.

We know the aircraft as 747-200B SuperB, 747-300 Big Top and 747-400 Megatop.

They remember aircraft by the position of the galleys! And SUD or non-SUD ( stretch upper deck )


Time to record the seat's features for posterity..

When they saw me snapping pictures of the cabin, they offered to take one of my wife and myself on 4CD.

Then I move to my seat 4A..



The seat numbering is on the table leg and not the overhead baggage compartment



The IFE control is inside the armrest like on SpaceBed..



.. but the armrest also has a drawer for your glasses



The seat controls on the other armrest



Powerpoints & Side Pockets

My vote goes to these side pockets as the best in the SQ fleet.

You can really put stuff in them as they are deep and wide



The Lights





I tried putting my roller bag in front of me like on 77W F but it gets in the way when the bed is in sleep mode.

This emphasizes the essential difference in the bed mechanism.

The 77W is a "flipper bed" whereas on the 744, the "slider bed" needs to slip into the space under the table



I completely missed this stationary drawer my first time flying in F!

What a lovely detail from a bygone era



Your Writing Desk!



And finally, there is no gap between seat and cabin wall. It's covered in leather.

Next time you fly on 77W & A345 look at the space between seat & cabin wall




To the designer of the SkySuite, if you're reading this, I salute you

[9V-SIA]

SIN-NRT: Lunch

I had an orange juice with my satay. My second glass, having enjoyed one pre-flight



Lunch FROM SINGAPORE TO TOKYO

CANAPES

Satay
With onion, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce



A short while later, the table was laid and lunch service commenced

I have never used the salt & pepper shaker!



APPETISERS

Balik style salmon fillet with baby lettuces, lemon cheek, onion ring and capers

Chilled lobster with fine mixed salad and mango chilli salsa






SOUPS

Chinese style seafood soup

Consomme of oxtail with barley, vegetable confetti and dry sherry



SALAD

Rocket leaves with cherry tomato and parmesan cheese
Umeshiso dressing
Creamy French dressing



MAIN COURSES

Herb crusted Atlantic cod fillet served with tomato coulis, corn and potato risotto

Roasted duckling with cherry sauce, braised red cabbage, glazed carrots and potatoes

Eggplant and mozzarella lasagne with basil oil and rucola

Pan seared rolled wagyu beef with enoki mushroom, fine beans in xo sauce. mushroom rice



DESSERTS

Mango, soursop and raspberry sorbet with fresh raspberry and sesame tuile



CHEESES I passed

Selection of camembert, sundried tomato cream cheese, smoked scamorza and emmenthal cheeses served with garnishes

FRUITS I passed

Fresh fruits in season

FINALE Only the pralines. Caffeine keeps me awake for the 2nd leg NRT-LAX

A selection of gourmet coffees & fine teas served with pralines.

Hexagonal one has nutty, creamy centre & my favourite

[9V-SIA]

Narita

We took a detour to avoid bad weather and arrived late



Do you think you can see Mt Fuji from here?



Yes you can!



You'd be forgiven for thinking this is America with all those DL tails



But this TG 772 reassures me that we're still in Asia



Some views of the NH F Lounge.

Nicer than the bunker that is the NH J Lounge in satellite 4





We have a vantage point to see our aircraft being refuelled

[9V-SIA]

Dinner NRT-LAX

Transit time is about one hour and it was soon time to re-board our flight

I was the first on board so that I could take this shot from 1B

LSS saw me snapping and offered to take a picture of my wife and me

So I also have a picture of my wife and me standing by 4D with the cabin as backdrop!



Whenever I sit on the left hand side of the plane, I see these bright lights on take off

Does anyone know what shopping mall this is?



The final leg of our journey has begun

Noteworthy was how smooth the flight had been till this point helped

no doubt by our detour to avoid the bad weather on approach to NRT



I've never said no to satay, but if I'd know how much food I was going to get, maybe I should have



I found it interesting to compare my Kyo Kaiseki with Carfield's ex LAX

Kyo Kaiseki ex LAX

ICHINO-ZEN
Sakizuke

Baby squid with vinagared yolk



Scallop and mibuna leaves with grated radish



Steamed sea urchin with dashi-an, nabana leaves and beancurd skin



Mikouzuke
Boiled flounder, roasted salmon with creamy yuzu wasabi dressing



OSHINOGI
Cold udon noodles



Cod roe, lily bulb and carrot terrine
Conger eel sushi, saikyo miso preserved herring roe
Daikon radish

[9V-SIA]

Dinner continued..

FUTAMONO
Koshu style Wagyu beef with red wine, radish, nabana leaves, carrot flower and mixed leeks



NINO-ZEN
Yakimono
Grilled chicken and leak crust, yuzu



Grilled pomfret saikyo style



Gohan
Steamed rice with salmon



Assorted pickles



Tome W a n
Clear soup with seabream



MIZUGASHI
Yam mousse and azuki beans and seasonal fresh fruit



Different selection of pralines from the first leg



The international menu





After dinner I went to bed. I needed the rest seeing I had a 3 hour drive to Santa Barbara on arrival.

One reason SQ12 is better than SQ38, the A345 flight, is that it arrives late morning instead of

late afternoon so I can start my drive north before the rush hour traffic starts

[9V-SIA]

I wake up 2 hours before arrival for breakfast



The menu





Ice Milo



I was still full from dinner and just had the noodles



I wish we could parachute into Santa Barbara! Like Harrison Ford's Air Force One



I don't know where this is & appreciate the need for a GPS-equipped camera now. California is so arid...



I get my bearings when I spot Getty Centre overlooking LA



Westfield Century City Shopping Mall



Downtown LA with Walt Disney Concert Hall



Finally LAX comes into view



Welcome to LAX



Many complaints about LAX but my wife thinks it's the best airport in the world..

.. because she was asked whether we're on honeymoon at immigration

The trip was actually to celebrate our wedding anniversary!!!

How many years we've been married will be revealed later in the TR...

[9V-SPL]

Hi 9V-SIA! Wonderful trip report! Loved the pictures and details!

I hope the SIA 747 sticks around at least till September on SQ25/26.

[ginkoka]

Many complaints about LAX but my wife thinks it's the best airport in the world..

.. because she was asked whether we're on honeymoon at immigration

[SliverKris]

Happy anniversary 9V-SIA! Looking forward for the rest of the journey.



Gosh, it looks so vivid I am so wanna bite those heart shaped pralines!

[sumitsan]

Thanks again for another SQ 747-400 TR, since time in the SkySuites. Don't think I'll get a chance to fly this cabin again before their withdrawal.

Also Happy Anniversary!!

[KC*]

742 upper deck started off as lounge for F PAXs, then 8 beds that needed to be pre-booked before settling down as J class seats.

First of all, nice pics and report, 9V-SIA. I really enjoyed them.

I was a young boy when the 747 was first introduced and my dad frequently flew F (no such thing as J, then).

The upper deck was initially just a lounge - called the Silver Kris Lounge. It did not have a stretched upper deck - just 3 windows, I think. Later on, with the slightly stretched upper deck, they introduced the beds. From one of his photos, it had curtains for privacy.

((I hope my memory of the above are accurate - please correct me if I am wrong))

I was trying to google for some pics of these but not so successful. Would be nice for posterity. I would post my dad's pics but they were all lost years ago.

Thanks again for a really nice TR.

[SilverChris]

Nice report! The person who designed the skysuites is a genius!