Skysuites and more SIN-LAX SQ12

[SQJunkie]

With a few great TRs in recent days on the (not so) new F experience, I thought I’d get my A into G and do my first TR (ever) on the soon to be superceded Skysuites.

I wasn’t planning to do a TR, so some pix aren’t great and there are gaps, but overall, hopefully it’ll be acceptable. I’ll try to make up for the pictorial shortcomings with some vaguely amusing narrative and observations.

The trip was just last month so the memories are reasonably fresh, despite the Krug euphoria.
The reason for the trip was mostly leisure, and I thought it would be nice to take the Old Man in F.
After many months of to-ing and fro-ing with the KF Call Centre over my date changes due to several unforeseen circumstances, the Saver Redemptions were finally secured, literally 3 days before departure.

[SQJunkie]

Changi

SQ12 departs at 9.40am so it was an early trip to Changi T3.
Dedicated F check-in was efficient if detached.
The greeter and porters were the warmest of the staff that morning, as usual.
We got our BPs and TPR invitations, thank you very much and see you later.

Visually, T3 F check-in is great.
However, it is somewhat let down by check in staff: casually talking to each other from one desk to another and…
there is one particular very senior (in rank) looking lady, totally unsmiling, who always sits at the desk nearest to the entry.
Today was no different. Consistency, I guess.

Anyway, straight to the SKL and TPR.
No time to waste.



A la SQFG, can anyone guess where I took this shot of the invitation?

[SQJunkie]

The Private Room

We went straight to TPR, where we were very warmly welcomed.
A complete contrast to check-in!

We were asked if we would like to have breakfast, and were led to a table in the Dining area.
We were also asked if we would like a newspaper, so I asked for an Australian one
and the lovely lounge dragon who was anything but,
gave me that day’s Australian to keep.
I was most impressed with being able to read that day's Australian newspaper in Singapore at 8am.

It was pretty quiet, as others have pointed out.
There were perhaps 4 others besides us, which probably constitutes busy for TPR.
Unfortunately, what was not so quiet was the solo gentleman at the next table to us,
who was continually clearing his throat and nasal passages very loudly.
For the whole time we were there. We were mortified.

Our breakfast order was taken, and delivered after a long-ish wait.
TOM opted for the English Breakfast, whilst I went for the Prawn Noodles. Both were good.
However I wanted more, so I ordered the Belgian Waffles too.
Not exotic, but nice nevertheless.

I had also ordered a Cappucino without any froth.
But I was surprised by the taste of long-life (rather than fresh) milk.
That was disappointing.

So after about an hour and a bit, we made our way to the gates.

[SQJunkie]

The Cabin

It’s always a great feeling to enter the F cabin on SQ,
I wanted to be early to board to max the whole F experience.

Happily, we were amongst the first to get on.

“Good morning Mr SQJ, welcome aboard."

"Mr SQJ, can I get you something to drink?”

“I’ll have some Krug please”.

Euphoria begins……


Sorry no SQFG shot.


TOM having a kip.

I let TOM have 4F and I was in 4D,
so I could keep an eye on him.
He tends to get frisky with the FAs.

IFS Supervisor Cynthia was lovely and chatty,
had a good old chin wag with TOM.

F load was 5 +1 Captain, J and Y practically 100%, which surprised me.
On the next leg, F was 10.

[SQJunkie]

The Food

SIN-NRT


Lobster Appetiser with Caviar


Breads with truffle oil (I like that truffle infused olive oil)


Chicken sonsomme with quail eggs


Salad


BTC Lobster


Beef noodles


Cheeses

I commented that the BTC lobsters are getting smaller and smaller, which the LSS agreed with.
I asked nicely if I could have another main, and of course it was no problem.
Gotta love SQ.

Stuck with Krug the whole journey, with Evian as a chaser.
Same info was kindly relayed to the next set of crew.
They never let my champagne flute go below half.
Gotta love SQ.

[SQJunkie]

The Food II

NRT-LAX

I missed out on taking pix of both meals on this leg, my apologies.
Also, I was usually too full to have any desserts, hence the absence of any dessert pics.


Half-Eaten Malossol Caviar (for that authentic look)


BTC Beef Sukiyaki

I have to say the Beef Sukiyaki is excellent.
Great flavour, and the right amount for an elegant sufficiency.




BTC Beef Sukiyaki sides

[Kyo]

Beef noodles

Holy moly, I see the beef, but where's the noodles!

[SQJunkie]

The Return Journey

I'm afraid I was totally slack for the return trip and took minimal pix.

Here are a few that made the grade.


LAX *A F Lounge Spread, one of 2 food sections


LAX *A F Lounge. A little sad for an F lounge.


Hello QF A380 at LAX


The bird at TBIT


More Malossol


Tuna salad, tuna was dry as.


The bird seen from NRT NH F lounge



Fauchon choc ice-cream, a little underwhelming. I still prefer Haagen Daaz's Belgian choc.

[SQJunkie]

Holy moly, I see the beef, but where's the noodles!

Hiding under the beans.

[SQJunkie]

Comments & Observations

I experienced 4 sets of crew on this return trip,
and there were differences in the levels of service.
Overall great, as you would want and expect from SQ.

In LAX just before door close, a (I think) senior (Singaporean)
SQ ground staff member thanked me for flying SQ.

One of the my BTC meals was the crab meat E-fu noodle soup,
and I only realised (would you believe) after I got off
that there was no soup.
I did comment at the time to the LSS that the dish was a little flat,
but neither of us twigged that the reason was the missing soup!

On the NRT-SIN return sector, the LSS was particularly business-like,
and not warm. LAX-NRT I had requested a ladies amenity kit,
and because one of the pax had declined hers, it was offered to me
just before landing in NRT. The LSS offered to keep it for me, and to notify
the next set of crew it was for me.
Well, the business-like LSS said she did not know anything about this,
and that the exact number of ladies kits is always loaded yada yada yada.
I gave up, and asked for more Krug.

Co-incidentally one Leading Steward was rostered on twice in my trip,
and each time the noise level from the galley /prep area was very high.

Another coincidence, on the LAX-NRT sector, one LSS had been on 2 of my previous F trips,
in the last 3 months. What a surprise !
It was nice to see her again, and chat like kinda old friends.

I think that was probably my last time in the Skysuites.
Besides the PTV, they are still looking ok, a bit dated but not shabby in the least.

Thanks for reading, I promise next time I'll present a better effort,
though probably not to the standards of stargold, SQFG , kyo+1 (amongst other worthy notables !)

[SQflyergirl]

A la SQFG, can anyone guess where I took this shot of the invitation?

SKL T3 Service counters?

Great report, keep it coming!

[SQ All The Way]

.......she did not know anything about this,
and that the exact number of ladies kits is always loaded yada yada yada.
I gave up, and asked for more Krug.

lol

[allmotor_2000]

Changi

SQ12 departs at 9.40am so it was an early trip to Changi T3.
Dedicated F check-in was efficient if detached.
The greeter and porters were the warmest of the staff that morning, as usual.
We got our BPs and TPR invitations, thank you very much and see you later.

Visually, T3 F check-in is great.
However, it is somewhat let down by check in staff: casually talking to each other from one desk to another and…
there is one particular very senior (in rank) looking lady, totally unsmiling, who always sits at the desk nearest to the entry.
Today was no different. Consistency, I guess.

Anyway, straight to the SKL and TPR.
No time to waste.



A la SQFG, can anyone guess where I took this shot of the invitation?

Entrance to SKL T3 lounge area... just up the escalator where the two ladies stand??

[SQ_SIA]

nice tr

[HUGE AL]

Half-Eaten Malossol Caviar (for that authentic look)

All mixed up with a metal spoon?!