As a bit of a competition player I tend to drop lucky in our office when the Airline's are offering incentives to agents in order for us to sing their praises to customers, so when they launched the Boeing 777 from Manchester they were offering flights for just £77 return to Singapore a real bargain so I decided to pick up one of these flights.
My colleague who I was good friends with decided that she wanted to come as well so we both applied to take a friend with us and it was decided that we would go in September we received our fax back to say that we had been successful and decided to make plans for our stay.
This was at the time where SARS was just coming to an end and Tourism was pretty low in Singapore I was all for travelling over there but my friend started to have doubts when another case was confirmed, she backed out and my friend and I decided to brave it alone.
We
received E tickets from Singapore which for people who are not familiar with them, they are just like a standard print out confirming that this may need to be presented to immigration when requested, it shows your itinarary and your ticket cost. On the itinerary is a reference this is what is generated when your booking is made in a Computer Reservations System or Global Distribution System and is the 80's style system used to make the reservation. As soon as the reservation is completed a Personal reference is allocated to your particular booking, this is the reference you quote at check-in or if you wish to check-in online.
I arranged a hotel through a contact at work and we were ready go, except the night before, I had a little accident which caused me to end up in A&E luckily I was just bandaged up and given crutches and left to hobble away. I called Singapore Airlines to check there would be no problem with me flying and they said it was fine.
As we arrived at the Airport we joined the queue to check in we were asked for our passports and itinerary/e- ticket before we could formally join the queue. As we moved down the queue me hopping with suitcase in one hand and crutches in the other we finally got to the front where I was asked if I would like assistance looking at my friend she nodded her head thinking that it would be a good idea as we still had 2 and a half hours before boarding the plane. With that the Check-in staff member called to have assistance and within 5 minutes a lovely gentleman arrived to set me in a wheelchair and through security to our gate, asking if we wanted to stop in any shops on the way or if we would like to stop in a cafe etc, he was extremely helpful.
*~*Boarding the Aircraft*~*
As I was in the wheelchair I was one of the first to board the aircraft, I was allowed to keep the crutches on board and was supervised on the flight by one of the stewards to ensure that I was not having any difficulties on the flight. We had been located a few rows from the toilets which made it easy for me not to struggle too far and cause a major disturbance on the aircraft. I was taken down in the lift with the eldery and disabled passengers where we waited to board the aircraft, looking back I have no idea how I would've gotten down the stairs to board.
Singapore airlines have a seat pitch of 32" which on long haul aircrafts this is pretty much the norm now, I travelled on the newly aquired Boeing 777 on the non stop flight from Manchester as some of the flights do touchdown in Zurich for refuelling enroute. On board the aircraft is a purple and deep pink interior which is somewhat relaxing compared to the bright primary colours used on alternative airlines.
*~*On Board*~*
The seats were extremely comfortable with a winged headrest to suit your sleeping position and a generous recline, the configuration on this particular aircraft was a 3-3-3.
Once we had departed we were provided with a menu offering a choice of 2 meals and a vegetarian option and a choice of wine. An amenity kit is also provided with a pair of socks, eye shades, toothbrush and toothpaste which is handy if you dont want to pack this in your handluggage and would like to freshen up during the flight.
Each passenger had a seat back screen with complimentary head phones, Singapore has one of the most advanced systems that I have not yet experienced on board. A personal entertainment screen over 10 inches wide provides a wide selection of games and films along with music and tv programmes to keep you entertained throughout the flights allowing you to pause or rewind if you missed anything or if you need to go o the toilet so you need not miss a thing. Mid flight you are served with ice cream or chocolate the choice is yours!
I cannot fault the cleanliness of the aircraft and the standard of service received by the Air Stewards onboard the flight, Singapore are a fantastic Airline and I would travel with them in the near furture without a doubt.
Singapore Airlines are by far the best Airline that I have travelled with so far and with working in travel, I have had nothing but praise from passengers that have travelled with them, and having travelled with them myself now I know why.
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A good personal account of your experience with SIA.
They truly are the greatest airline in the world - you cannot fault them, after all they are the world's only official 5* Airline!!
Beat that BA / Cathay etc.
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Aug 8th, 2005
(Nov 8th, 2006)
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