Tag Archives: menu

Singapore Airlines First Class: The Private Room

Fiji Trip Report Index
Introduction: Belgium to Fiji in 13 flights (26561 miles, 42746km)
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Grand Suite at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur
Singapore Airlines First Class: The Private Room @ Changi Airport
Singapore Airlines First Class: SQ211 Singapore to Sydney B777-300A
Opera King room at Park Hyatt Sydney
Beachfront View room at InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa
Singapore Airlines Business Class: SQ232 Sydney to Singapore
Thai Airways First Class: Royal Orchid Spa, TG920 Bangkok to Frankfurt A380

Pic: Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge at Changi Airport (Jan 2013)
When flying Singapore Airlines First Class from Changi Airport, you’re in for an extraordinary lounge treatment: The Private Room.  No guests, no Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Elite Members flying business or coach, no Star Alliance First Class passengers.  This lounge is reserved exclusively for passengers holding Singapore Airlines First Class boarding passes.  In exchange you get personalized and highly attentive service away from the crowds.

Pic: Invitation ‘The Private Room’ by Singapore Airlines First Class (Jan 2013)
My flight SQ211 from Singapore to Sydney was leaving at 9:40am, so I had to wake-up early to experience the Private Room.  Fortunately, I was staying at the Crowne Plaza Changi Aiport which is connected to Terminal 3 and walking distance from the Singapore Airlines First Class Check-in Reception.  The First Class Reception has a separate driveway for limos to pull-up.  As I wanted the full experience, I exited Terminal 3 and walked up the First Class Check-in ReceptionA porter took care of my luggage and a polite ”Passenger Relations Officer” escorted me to a marble desk where I was seated while my check-in formalities were taking care of.  Next was a dedicated immigration line where I was the only passenger present.  After immigration, a Singapore Airlines lounge agent escorted me to The Private Room which is connected to the SQ T3 First Class lounge.
Pic: Seating Area at The Private Room, Changi Airport Singapore (Jan 2013)
The Private Room has its own restaurant where you can order “A la Carte” or serve yourself at a buffet.  Here’s a picture of the Breakfast Menu.  I went for Egg Benedict and a fresh orange juice, tasty!
Pic: Bart Lapers at The Private Room Singapore Airlines First Class (Jan 2013)
 
Pic: Dining Area at The Private Room, T3 Changi Airport Singapore (Jan 2013)
After breakfast, I relaxed a bit in one of the comfortable leather sofa’s before heading to the gate for my first Singapore Airlines First Class flight.

Pic: Leather Seats The Private Room, Singapore Airlines First Class (Jan 2013)

Etihad Business Class BKK-AUH B777-300ER


Pic: Etihad Airways Business Class Check-in (May 2012)
Early May, Etihad Airways was running a 96h World Sale which included some great fares.  Some of those fares became even better if you booked them as open-jaw tickets.  And that’s exactly what I did for my recent Thailand trip: Geneva – Abu Dhabi – Bangkok – Abu Dhabi – London Heathrow for 358 Swiss Franc or €307!  Of course I still had to get from Brussels to Geneva and from London to Brussels.  Flew Easyjet from BRU to GVA for €62 (incl. luggage fee) and took the Eurostar from London to Brussels for free using a compensation ticket€362 for a return trip Brussels – Bangkok is a great deal, right?  Yes, it was, but keep in mind the additional expenses and time lost making ‘detours’.  Even though my outbound GVA-AUH flight was only on Wednesday night, I had booked the Easyjet morning flight from Brussels to Geneva.  I wanted to avoid missing the Etihad flight, which meant I had a 9h layover at GVA airport.  No problem I thought, I will store my luggage at the airport and visit Geneva or work on my laptop during the day.  This turned out to be an expensive scenario, as the weather wasn’t too good in Geneva, I decided to stay at the airport.  I spent almost €80 on food, drinks and wifi during that layover.  Geneva is awfully expensive (fifth most expensive city in the World): 24h wifi €21, Pizza with one beer €22, Starbucks Frappuccino €8.  Getting comfortably from LHR airport to St Pancras International station wasn’t cheap either: Heathrow Express train €24, London Underground ticket €5,50.  All this additional info to remind you to think twice and to make your calculations before booking open-jaw tickets.  Still, I felt I got excellent value out of this trip, primarily because I managed to upgrade on leg of the trip to the fantastic Etihad Pearl Business Class.
Continue reading

Brussels Airlines new Business Class JFK-BRU


Pic: Brussels Airlines entrance at New York JFK Terminal 1 (Jun 2012)

Pic: Lufthansa Senator Lounge at New York JFK Airport (Jun 2012)
On Friday June 1, I joined inaugural flight SN501 from Brussels to New York JFK.  I flew economy class and was seated on the first row (14D) in Y.  As frequent Brussels Airlines flyer (almost weekly now thanks to their Flyday promo) and Miles and More Senator, I was upgraded* to business class on the return flight from JFK to BRU.  Both the hard and soft product were outstanding.  I think my pictures speak for themselves regarding the quality of the hard product.  The only two negative experiences I had during the BRU-JFK-BRU journey were out of Brussels Airlines control:  A queue of almost three hours (!) at JFK Terminal 1 Immigration to enter the USA and a 1,5 hour queue on the JFK runway before take-off back to BRU.  Not sure what’s wrong with JFK airport, but I hope they fix these issues soon!

Pic: Brussels Airlines A330-300ER OO-SFM at JFK Airport (Jun 3, 2012)

Pic: My Brussels Airlines Business Class seat 4K on flight SN502 JFK – BRU

Pic: Brussels Airlines new business class – Seat controls (Jun 2012)

Pic: Brussels Airlines new business class seat in lounge mode (Jun 2012)
Continue reading