Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, Half Moon Bay and the Original Hooters (SQ/VS/B6/DL/UA)

[yflyer]

A very personalised check-in experience.



Some hotels offer you a refreshment upon check in. The Ritz Carlton went a step further, and offered you a wine tasting as you checked in...

On the day I checked in, I sampled a white wine, Skyline, from the Thomas Fogarty Winery, made from a variety of grapes from the California Central Coast. This wine won a gold medal at the 2015 San Francisco Chronical Wine Competition.



Some of the beautifully furnished public areas in the hotel...

[yflyer]

I was escorted to my room, which overlooked the golf course and the Pacific Ocean.



This was an absolutely gorgeous room, one of the nicest I have stayed in.





The attention to detail in the room decor and styling was quite remarkable.



"You're lucky...this is one of the rooms with a fireplace...not all rooms have them", my host said, as she flicked the switch to turn on the gas flames.

[yflyer]

The view out of my room window was one that I wouldl remember for a long time.





In-room Nespresso machine...

[yflyer]

A very large bathroom...

[yflyer]

The outdoor areas had great coastal views. A great place to relax when the weather was right, and this being California, it usually was...







In the evening, there were fires lit in charcoal pits to keep you warm...



I went for several runs along the coastline, including one memorable short run in the dark, just after sunset...



There was more to see on my runs during daylight hours...







The trail also leads down to the beach...

[yflyer]

I could not resist sampling the room service menu...

On one evening, I ordered steak...



Beautifully done...



On another occasion, I ordered a creamy soup and pasta...



...accompanied by a glass of Santa Barbara Chardonnay...



Very satisfying...

[yflyer]

There is also an in-house spa with a range of spa treatments and massages.





The view at sunrise...



I could get used to waking up to a view like this!

[yflyer]

There is also a well equipped gym...



...and if you REALLY wanted to do any work, a small business center with a couple of workstations...



The only drawback to this place?

It was not easy to get an Uber car...



Some Uber cars occasionally became available but to be sure you had transportation for any given time, it would be advisable to book a taxi.

All that said, if you came to a place like this, you would likely be spending most of your time chilling, or playing golf, at the resort.

[yflyer]

Overall impressions? The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay bowled me over. I have very seldom stayed at a resort hotel as impressive as this place.

With scenery as gorgeous as this, I would have enjoyed myself if I had to sleep in a tent along the coastline, but the Ritz Carlton has superb staff that really pamper their guests, as well as spectacular, and supremely comfortable, guest rooms which I was quite reluctant to leave when it was time to check-out.

A big thumbs up!

[yflyer]

After my stay at the Ritz Carlton, I headed to San Diego for a day before flying home on SQ1. While in San Diego, I managed to check an item off my to-do list which I did not do the last time I was there: visit the CV-41 USS Midway aircraft carrier museum, which I will cover off as an appendix to my previous TR on San Diego (Update: Pics of the USS Midway Museum now posted here).

Let us continue in SFO, after boarding SQ1 bound for Singapore via Hong Kong...

Today's flight was operated by 9V-SWZ, a Boeing 777-300ER just over one and a half years old. This was a 3-class aircraft, with 2013 F, J and Y cabins. No PEY on this aircraft. The Y seats started at row 31.

I was flying in the Y cabin today. After a series of flights in narrow-bodied 737's, A320's and 757's earlier on this trip, it was great to be on a wide body again.

The 77WN's cabin was roomy and spacious.



SQ operates with a 9-abreast 3-3-3 configuration on the 77W, making it what I believe is one of the most comfortable long haul Y cabins in the air today.



Average seat pitch. The seats have paddle-shaped footrests. No under seat obstructions.



Superb widescreen high def IFE screen.



There is a detachable touchscreen controller with a very sharp display as well.

Note the 12 hour 45 minute flight time to Hong Kong -- relatively quick for this sector.

There are two versions of this handheld IFE controller on the latest 77WNs. This aircraft had the latest version, with sharper screen and additional buttons for volume and other functions.



Earbud headphones are provided. These don't sound good at all. I would strongly recommend bring your own headphones, plus an airline headphone adapter.



In-seat A/C power.



The armrest on this aircraft design looks different from some of the other 77WN's, and is similar to the armrest on the A350.



The armrests go all the way up.



Seat recline is very good...



...with the whole seat pivoting forward slightly when you recline...



Amenity kits were handed out in Y (But not J :-)

[yflyer]

Today's menu...





Three dinner selections: International, oriental...



...and Indian...



Today I opted for the Indian vegetarian. This was very good...



You had real curd, as well as pickles and sauces...



A satisfying main course...I would have liked a little more variety in texture in the different preparations in my casserole, but flavours were very good.



Ice cream for dessert...





Mid-flight snacks...





There was time-based internet on this flight, but as I spent most of it asleep (Yes, asleep in Y!) , I did not sign-up.

[yflyer]

2+ hours before arrival, the cabin lights were switched on and hot towels were distributed prior to breakfast service.



Wonderful Y cabin ambience on this aircraft...





The breakfast menu...



I chose the noodle selection...



This was great...



A very early arrival into Hong Kong, where we deplaned next to this CX A350...what a beautiful aircraft...



There are two entrances to the security check points to get back into the airside departure area in HKIA. Most pax off the flight will use the nearest one.



If the queue is long, there is another queue on the other side of the terminal area, which might be shorter. I took a gamble and walked across the arrival area to the other security checkpoint entrance. That day, my gamble paid off: the queue was shorter that day, and I was through to the airside area in no time.

[yflyer]

As SQ1's SFO-HKG sector landed very early, around 5.45am, I had a lot of time in transit before the 8am departure for the continuation flight HKG-SIN.

As a KF Gold member, Star Alliance privileges meant that I was eligible to enter the TG Lounge at HKIA. Rather than head to the SQ Silver Kris Lounge, I decided that there was enough time to check out the TG Lounge at the other end of the main concourse.

I took the automated peoplemover train to the other end of the concourse, near gate 34, and headed up the escalator to the TG lounge.



This is a very airy lounge, with good tarmac views.







Massage Chairs...



Workstations...



F&B area...



The beverage selection...





Sandwiches and salads...



Fruit and cereal...

[yflyer]

Dim sum and a few hot selections...





Ice cream...



There are restrooms within the lounge, as well as a single shower room.



There is also a separate section of the lounge cordoned off for first class passengers.

Overall, I thought the lounge facilities were ok, although not as comprehensive as SQ's offering. In particular, the F&B selection in the Silver Kris Lounge was far larger. That said, the one advantage this lounge has is the excellent location in an open atrium.

If only we had a Star Alliance lounge that combined SQ's facilities and superb F&B with TG's lounge location, airside views and airy ambience...

[yflyer]

Would I make the trek across the terminal again to use the TG Lounge the next time I flew this route?

Probably not...there is a train that takes you close to the TG Lounge, but the train only goes one way. You have to walk through the spine of the terminal (Probably about 700-800m) back, using travellators part of the way, to the SQ gates, and that will take some time.



Given the short transit time, it is probably better to stay close to the SQ gates.

Rather than eat in the lounge (TG or otherwise), I headed to my favourite won tun and congee restaurant in the airside food court for breakfast...



There is usually a long queue, but it moves very fast...



I couldn't decide whether I wanted congee or a bowl of won tun soup, so I ordered both...



Very satisfying!