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Singapore Airlines “Capital Express” Inaugural SIN-CBR-WLG-CBR
Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines, which treat inaugural flights as special occasions. Who can forget about Singapore Airlines’ first A380 commercial flight, as well as multiple A380 firsts towards multiple destinations, as well as the “747 Farewell” flights? I still recalled my Singapore Airlines’ first A380 flight to Tokyo Narita, which was diverted to Nagoya, and the wonderful mandarin duck gift bag in business class. When Singapore Airlines announced this interesting “Capital Express” flight linking Singapore with the two capitals in Australia and New Zealand, I was interested in giving it a try. I had debated multiple times, as the fares are quite high, and of course, the late departure time will guarantee the dreaded “sleeper service” flight, which is truly as bad as it sounds, and I almost feel the embarrassment of the F/A asking if business class passengers want supper OR breakfast. I got more food on the three hours Trans-Tasman segments than the seven hours segments. Most importantly, Singapore Airlines not only employ the regional business class seats, which is okay with me, but those slightly older Boeing 777-200ERs with the old entertainment system. I also feel that this will be a perfect A350 flight, but not sure if the short runway at Wellington dictates some of these decisions. In the end, I decided to fly one way from SIN to WLG via CBR and coming back to CBR from WLG, so I will get three inaugural flights. Doing all four segments seem a bit much, even in business class. I actually felt that Wellington threw the best party out of all three segments that I took, but Canberra shared the most excitement, as this Singapore Airlines’ new service will be the only airline using these nice international facilities. I am still a bit surprised that there is no nonstop service between Canberra and Auckland, and the economics of A320 should work. Anyway, here is the full report.
Photo link to the full album for those who don’t want to read: Please be warned about this huge photo album!
http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...pressInaugural
September 20, 2016
SQ 291 Singapore Changi to Canberra International Lv2300 Arr0835+1 Boeing 777-200ER 9V-SRP
I arrived from Bangkok around 7pm and I stopped by gate B8 first.
9V-SRL to Singapore – this travel day begins and ends with Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-200ER
The staffs were already setting up the gate, and I have already spotted 9V-SRP being parked at gate, after arriving from Tokyo Haneda around 5pm.
Then I proceeded to the Silver Kris lounge, which was fairly busy as it was during the first wave of flights heading “Down Under” and the last wave to other Asian destinations. I am not going to write too much about it, but Singapore Airlines really needs to play catch-up games in terms of lounges, especially in the Asian-Pacific regions. Cathay Pacific can’t even compared to SQ these days, but in terms of lounges, CX is league ahead especially in the home base.
I noted some Capital Express designed dishes and actually loved the carrot based seafood soup.
I went back to gate B8 around 8:50pm, and have already noted a loud Mainland tourist group, who was getting anxious about getting inside the gate, as they had already spotted the buffet. Many of them regretted eating earlier (as I presume out of their own pockets), and at Canberra, I found out that there was a group of 80 Mainland Chinese tourists visiting Canberra. The gate was finally opened around 9pm, and it was a struggle to get into the lounge. Two Singapore Airlines girls were greeting passengers after they went through security, and two other Singapore Airlines girls were stationed in two different booths, which were basically the ambassadors today and taking pictures with passengers. Two SQ staffs were snapping Polaroid for passengers.
Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines, which treat inaugural flights as special occasions. Who can forget about Singapore Airlines’ first A380 commercial flight, as well as multiple A380 firsts towards multiple destinations, as well as the “747 Farewell” flights? I still recalled my Singapore Airlines’ first A380 flight to Tokyo Narita, which was diverted to Nagoya, and the wonderful mandarin duck gift bag in business class. When Singapore Airlines announced this interesting “Capital Express” flight linking Singapore with the two capitals in Australia and New Zealand, I was interested in giving it a try. I had debated multiple times, as the fares are quite high, and of course, the late departure time will guarantee the dreaded “sleeper service” flight, which is truly as bad as it sounds, and I almost feel the embarrassment of the F/A asking if business class passengers want supper OR breakfast. I got more food on the three hours Trans-Tasman segments than the seven hours segments. Most importantly, Singapore Airlines not only employ the regional business class seats, which is okay with me, but those slightly older Boeing 777-200ERs with the old entertainment system. I also feel that this will be a perfect A350 flight, but not sure if the short runway at Wellington dictates some of these decisions. In the end, I decided to fly one way from SIN to WLG via CBR and coming back to CBR from WLG, so I will get three inaugural flights. Doing all four segments seem a bit much, even in business class. I actually felt that Wellington threw the best party out of all three segments that I took, but Canberra shared the most excitement, as this Singapore Airlines’ new service will be the only airline using these nice international facilities. I am still a bit surprised that there is no nonstop service between Canberra and Auckland, and the economics of A320 should work. Anyway, here is the full report.
Photo link to the full album for those who don’t want to read: Please be warned about this huge photo album!
http://s1213.photobucket.com/user/Ca...pressInaugural
September 20, 2016
SQ 291 Singapore Changi to Canberra International Lv2300 Arr0835+1 Boeing 777-200ER 9V-SRP
I arrived from Bangkok around 7pm and I stopped by gate B8 first.
9V-SRL to Singapore – this travel day begins and ends with Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-200ER
The staffs were already setting up the gate, and I have already spotted 9V-SRP being parked at gate, after arriving from Tokyo Haneda around 5pm.
Then I proceeded to the Silver Kris lounge, which was fairly busy as it was during the first wave of flights heading “Down Under” and the last wave to other Asian destinations. I am not going to write too much about it, but Singapore Airlines really needs to play catch-up games in terms of lounges, especially in the Asian-Pacific regions. Cathay Pacific can’t even compared to SQ these days, but in terms of lounges, CX is league ahead especially in the home base.
I noted some Capital Express designed dishes and actually loved the carrot based seafood soup.
I went back to gate B8 around 8:50pm, and have already noted a loud Mainland tourist group, who was getting anxious about getting inside the gate, as they had already spotted the buffet. Many of them regretted eating earlier (as I presume out of their own pockets), and at Canberra, I found out that there was a group of 80 Mainland Chinese tourists visiting Canberra. The gate was finally opened around 9pm, and it was a struggle to get into the lounge. Two Singapore Airlines girls were greeting passengers after they went through security, and two other Singapore Airlines girls were stationed in two different booths, which were basically the ambassadors today and taking pictures with passengers. Two SQ staffs were snapping Polaroid for passengers.
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