Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok

We checked out at the Intercontinental Grand Stanford around 16:00 and were able to board the waiting shuttle to the Kowloon Airport Express Station right after we had checked out with no waiting time. The ride to the airport, passing the Shangri-La Hotel took approximately 15 minutes. We could use the check in desks of United Airlines at the station and learned that our flight was delayed 45 minutes. We also were told, we got an exit row and that we must be able to help in an case of emergency and female passengers must not be pregnant.

Our boarding passes were printed and we headed for the airport express station to board the train to the airport. The train was quite empty. Arriving at the airport, we decided to refill our octopus cards for the ride into Hong Kong on Monday after we had returned from Singapore to safe some tip. I also refunded the octopus card I had from a previous trip to Hong Kong back in 2006.

After we have cleared immigration and security, we made a quick first stroll through the duty free shops and than headed for the SQ Lounge, where we settled down and head a glass of champagne and some dim sum. I put a bit of work into my trip report and checked my e-mails using the free wifi in the lounge, while my colleague read in a book. The lounge was quite busy, but the most people left as one of the flights bound for Singapore had left and I was able to take a few pictures without disturbing to many passengers in the lounge. The lounge had been renovated and remodeled after my last visit there back in 2006 with flyertalker cathaana. But at this time, there was a separate first class section and showers were also available. After the renovation, the separate first class was intergrated in the lounge. Now the first class area is a “First Class” room only without and there are no showers anymore. The press information of SQ stated, that there was no demand of shower facilities, so SQ had decided to use this space for seats. The other down is, that the lounge has no restrooms.

The food offerings are now available in a separate room and from my impression, they have been improved. There were different options like dim-sum, fried rice, spring rolls, little hamburgers and chicken wings. After some more champagne I asked my colleague if she mind to check out our other lounge options closer to the gate. She agreed and so we headed for the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge.
This lounge was frequented by more passengers, but we had no difficulties to secure a seat. There is still the separate seating area for First Class Passengers of Thai Airways. The food offerings had not changed since my visits back in 2006, they are still quite good; I know, that this is seen different by others. However this time, I just drank some juice.

After an quarter of an hour in this lounge we moved to the Red Carpet Club which was the lounge closest to our gate. The RCC was busy, but not overcrowded. To my surprise, my colleague rates the food offerings in the RCC as the best of all lounges we had visited, especially if it comes to salad and vegetables (or the more healthier options). I do not fully agree, but have to admit, that it is still one of the best RCC in the network (not sure how the one in Narita is, since my last visit there dates back to 2004). The beverages in terms of wine and champagnes are still lacking a bit, but for sure are better than in any other RCC. We had a cup of coffee and some fruits and waited for boarding time. As boarding time had come, we took the escalator down and headed for our gate.

13. November 2009
HKG – SIN
[Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok – Singapore Changi]
UA 895 (United Airlines); Boeing 747-400 (N181UA)
Gate 63
20:00 – 23:45 [effective 20:52 – 00:24.]
Economy Class
Seat 33 J

Boarding had started with First Class and Global Service Members followed by Business and 1Ks and soon later by Premier Exectuive and Star Golds. There was an additional check of hand luggage in the jetbridge, which I was not aware off or did not remember. Soon later, we were allowed to board the plane and went straight to our seats in the exit row of this 747.

We stored our belongings in the overhead compartment and waited for fellow passengers to board the plane.

A crew member approached us and told us we should say “Yes” if we would like to assist in an case of emergency and continue to sit in the exit row.

It took a while until all passengers were on board and the safety video was started on the screens and the doors were armed. We pushed back still late at 20:52. Newspapers were distributed on the ground. Our female first officer told us to hope to save some time on our flight to SIN. We taxied to runway and took off in direction of Hong Kong.

The crew began to prepare the meal service after the seat belt signs were switched off and also the immigration forms for Singapore were distributed. The snack boxes were distributed twenty minutes after take off soon followed by a beverage service. I skipped the snack boxes, which consisted of a sandwich, but had a tonic water. As usual with a lot of ice and the whole can. The crew were not the most friendliest. Not much smiling and as usual they do not look after you while serving you. Trays were cleared after 30 minutes.

Two duty free rounds were made.

The crew was not seen for the rest of the flight until before landing. Should I ad, as expected?

The flight itself was uneventful, I listened to music and read a bit in one of my magazines and just relaxed. Channel 9 was turned off.

The first office gave us a weather update before we began our final approach in Singapore's Changi Airport. To my surprise, the crew was still on board, and so they began to prepare the cabin for the descend into SIN and the arrival.

We touched down 40 minutes late and had to taxi quite a while for our gate B 05 at terminal 3, where we arrived at 00:24. We could disembark through the Business and First Class Section and use the front door.

The escalator down to immigration was right next to our gate B 5 and there were not many people queuing at the counters. There were two counters used for participants of the APEC meeting in Singapore which took place while we were also in Singapore. Unfortunately immigration needed some more time than I am used to in Singapore, as one of the passengers in front of use seems not to have filled out everything needed on the immigration declaration form. But not really a problem, since we had checked luggage, and therefore needed a few more minutes and could not head straight to the taxis.

As we reached the belt, it had just started to run and the first suitcases were arriving. The priority stickers seems to work, as most, but not all of the luggage on the belt were marked with priority stickers. And luckily our luggage came out quite fast.

We headed for the taxi stand and were soon on the way to our hotel in Singapore.

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