I have a two trips to cities in Southern China this week, something I have to do often for work. Fortunately, my company policy allows J class for the international leg.
Trip 1: SIN - SZX // HKG - SIN Daytrip
22 April 2013
SIN - SZX
MI 962 on A320
0700-1050
I love the MI connections to 2nd tier cities in China. I've done WUH and XMN quite often, this is the first time to SZX, as I usually fly to HKG and take the boat/train across the border.
Check in was in T2. They couldn't issue the return boarding pass from HKG on SQ due to "security reasons". Found it strange.
After a quick stop in SKL, headed out to F37. I always get to the gate 10 minutes before departure, so pretty much everyone had boarded when I arrived. I was seated on 1A:
The seats are old-style recliners. Can't really complain about comfort for a <5 hr flight other than the lack of in-seat-power and IFE. They do have the small overhead screens but no earphone jacks....so just have to watch without sound. Programme was a selection of "non-audio-critical" shows like Wipeout, Just for Laughs, etc. My IFE on MI flights tends to be books.
Pushback was on time and we took off around 0715. J class was 10/12 full. Breakfast was a choice of Hokkien Noodles or Omelette. No individual menus on MI. I chose the former. Served directly from galley....no trolleys. Not too bad tasting:
I'm fine with MI service generally. No bad experiences to date.
Landing was delayed a little due to ATC at SZX with us landing at 1110. Even so, we had to wait a little while longer as, according to ground staff, "immigration was not ready". SZX is a pretty small airport for a city of its size, but it is sandwiched between HKG (spoint for choice for int'l flights) and CAN (for domestic). I don't think it gets many international flights (HKG airport is just a 30 min ferry ride away from Shekou, a pier east of the city). International terminal (Terminal D) is a small shack with no aerobridges. After about 10 minutes' waiting, we got off and got on buses to the terminal. J-class passengers had the special privilege of riding on a Mercedes Benz van with nicer upholstered seats.
With only 10 of us in the line and 5 counters operating, clearance was quick. I didn't have any check-in luggage, and was out in <3 minutes. I had to wait for a colleague coming in from PEK from CA, so walked over to Terminal B. From Terminal D, I walked on a sidewalk to Terminal A, which is then connected via a covered overhead bridge to Terminal B (there is no Terminal C). Her flight from PEK was delayed of course (PEK is one of the worst airports for ATC delays in Asia) so I had a cup of hot chocolate at a Starbucks in Terminal B arrivals.
Finally, at around 1200, my colleague got out, and we caught a cab downtown. Taxi line was long but fast-moving, and there were attendants handing out maps of the city.
I generally find Chinese airports in 2nd tier cities quite efficient, and SZX is no different. The new fancy terminal across the runway looks almost ready, wonder when it will open.
Cab ride downtown (Mix City mall) took about 30 minutes, and like in many Chinese highways, required a complete suspension of fear, as the driver swerved across lanes at 120km/h.
Lunch was followed by a meeting ending at 5pm. It was too late to catch the 1730 ferry from Shekou to HKIA. So the client offered land transfer to HKIA via a private van. Border crossing was a little slow, but I got to HKIA at 1800, just missing the cut-off to try to board SQ865 departing at 1830. So I just spent the evening in HKIA SKL to wait for SQ871, departing 1955. That flight, serviced on a 72A, was uneventful and right on time. I slept most of the way back, so didn't note much.
Next: CZ to CAN and different type of 380
Trip 1: SIN - SZX // HKG - SIN Daytrip
22 April 2013
SIN - SZX
MI 962 on A320
0700-1050
I love the MI connections to 2nd tier cities in China. I've done WUH and XMN quite often, this is the first time to SZX, as I usually fly to HKG and take the boat/train across the border.
Check in was in T2. They couldn't issue the return boarding pass from HKG on SQ due to "security reasons". Found it strange.
After a quick stop in SKL, headed out to F37. I always get to the gate 10 minutes before departure, so pretty much everyone had boarded when I arrived. I was seated on 1A:
The seats are old-style recliners. Can't really complain about comfort for a <5 hr flight other than the lack of in-seat-power and IFE. They do have the small overhead screens but no earphone jacks....so just have to watch without sound. Programme was a selection of "non-audio-critical" shows like Wipeout, Just for Laughs, etc. My IFE on MI flights tends to be books.
Pushback was on time and we took off around 0715. J class was 10/12 full. Breakfast was a choice of Hokkien Noodles or Omelette. No individual menus on MI. I chose the former. Served directly from galley....no trolleys. Not too bad tasting:
I'm fine with MI service generally. No bad experiences to date.
Landing was delayed a little due to ATC at SZX with us landing at 1110. Even so, we had to wait a little while longer as, according to ground staff, "immigration was not ready". SZX is a pretty small airport for a city of its size, but it is sandwiched between HKG (spoint for choice for int'l flights) and CAN (for domestic). I don't think it gets many international flights (HKG airport is just a 30 min ferry ride away from Shekou, a pier east of the city). International terminal (Terminal D) is a small shack with no aerobridges. After about 10 minutes' waiting, we got off and got on buses to the terminal. J-class passengers had the special privilege of riding on a Mercedes Benz van with nicer upholstered seats.
With only 10 of us in the line and 5 counters operating, clearance was quick. I didn't have any check-in luggage, and was out in <3 minutes. I had to wait for a colleague coming in from PEK from CA, so walked over to Terminal B. From Terminal D, I walked on a sidewalk to Terminal A, which is then connected via a covered overhead bridge to Terminal B (there is no Terminal C). Her flight from PEK was delayed of course (PEK is one of the worst airports for ATC delays in Asia) so I had a cup of hot chocolate at a Starbucks in Terminal B arrivals.
Finally, at around 1200, my colleague got out, and we caught a cab downtown. Taxi line was long but fast-moving, and there were attendants handing out maps of the city.
I generally find Chinese airports in 2nd tier cities quite efficient, and SZX is no different. The new fancy terminal across the runway looks almost ready, wonder when it will open.
Cab ride downtown (Mix City mall) took about 30 minutes, and like in many Chinese highways, required a complete suspension of fear, as the driver swerved across lanes at 120km/h.
Lunch was followed by a meeting ending at 5pm. It was too late to catch the 1730 ferry from Shekou to HKIA. So the client offered land transfer to HKIA via a private van. Border crossing was a little slow, but I got to HKIA at 1800, just missing the cut-off to try to board SQ865 departing at 1830. So I just spent the evening in HKIA SKL to wait for SQ871, departing 1955. That flight, serviced on a 72A, was uneventful and right on time. I slept most of the way back, so didn't note much.
Next: CZ to CAN and different type of 380
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