Singapore Changi

I left the Silver Kris Lounge a few minutes before scheduled boarding time and walked to gate E 04 for our flight to Frankfurt. In Singapore security is done at the gate and therefore one should calculate a few minutes for security. Usually the information board are showing “Gate Closing” quite early and from my experience the most passengers walk to the gate when the “Gate Open” sings in showing. Being an more or less experienced traveler with quite a few flights out of Singapore I usually walk to the gate 10 to 15 minutes prior to boarding time and usually the most people are already in the gate area, though this is not always the case. But since I usually can used the First / Business Class line the waiting time is not that long.

As expected, there was a separate line for Business and First Class Passengers as well as Star Gold Passengers, which had only a few passengers queuing while the regular line was still quite long.

Waiting time for me was not long and as usual it was laptop out of the carry on and on the belt. Boarding time had not yet started as I entered the gate area. But it was only a few minutes before the boarding announcement was made, first for passengers traveling in First Class as well as HONs and family with small children and those, who need some additional minutes for boarding. Soon later it was Business Class, Star Gold and that was the moment I headed to the jetbridge. From my impression, boarding was enforced, as a few passengers were turned away as they tried to access the jetbridge and re-enter the old bird for my onward journey to Frankfurt.

Onboard the plane, I was greeted and shown directions to my seat.

05 May 2011
SIN – FRA
[Singapore Changi – Frankfurt Rhein.Main]
LH 779 (Lufthansa); Boeing 747-400 (D-ABVB / 'Bonn')
Gate D 05
23:05 – 05:35 [effective 23:04 – 05:31]
Business Class
Seat 1 K

My seat neighbor was again already there, I had seen her earlier accessing the gate, as she was standing closer to it.

My jacket was taken and stored in the closet in the nose of our 747, after I requested it to be hung in the closet. Pre departure drinks were offered; again it was champagne, orange juice, water and Singapore Sling cocktail, which was again offered as Mai Tai and after I asked if it should not be Singapore Sling, it was later confirmed as the famous Singaporean cocktail. A small detail, but it showed that the flight attendants did not really care for the detail. And there is a difference between a Singapore Sling and a Mai Tai.

Blankets, pillows and amenity kits were already placed in the seat.

The cabin filled with passengers and this time I think the plane was full with nearly every seat taken. While we were still at the gate the captain welcomed us on board and announced the expected flight time with 12:20 and informed us about the weather to expect in Frankfurt on arrival. Later, the purser also welcomed us and announced the safety video.

We pushed back at 23:04 and taxied for the runway and without any long wait we were airborne at 23:20.

We climbed into the sky and after what seems a long time – it was close to 25 minutes or so – the seat belt signs were turned off and the crew began to prepare the service. First, the menus were handed out and soon later a first beverage round was done. I opted for a Gin Tonic. The first impression of the crew was not the best.

Time to read the menu (click on the menu / opens new window)

Aperitif

First Course
Mixed Field Greens with Rocket Salad
(including cheese for dessert)

Second Course
Teriyaki Salmon with Steamed Rice

They were not attentive and also did not smile, in fact, two looked really angry while serving passengers. Somehow the crew was missing some sort of enthusiasm. After approximately one hour flight time, the crews laid the table with linen. A few minutes later the carts arrived and the first row was asked what they wanted as a starter course. I decided to have a glass of the Chardonnay with the mixed salad, which I choose as starter.

According the LH standard, the first course were served on the tray together with cutlery, napkin and salt and pepper. Bread and rolls was offered but they were in the first time a bit stingy and only allowing one item. … However they did a second round and then one could take more than one item out of the bread basket.

The first course was okay …

The trays were collected after 20 minutes or so and we had to wait some time before the cart with the second course arrived. It was this time the Salmon for me.

Plates were cleared after half an hour, in the meantime the crew did several round offerings refill of wine and water. But they did not really care and so my sparkling water was topped with still water like on my flight with Thai between Hong Kong and Bangkok. Not an issue, but asking would never hurt. No passenger was addressed by name as far as I noticed and also no guest was personally greeted by the purser or his colleague.

I skipped dessert and instead decided to make a visit to the lavatory before all other passengers had the same idea. After I returned to my seat, I lowered it and converted it into a flat bed, put my eye shade on, ear plugs in and closed my eyes. The previous nights had not been that long and I was now really tired and felt asleep quite fast.

With a few interruption I slept for the remaining flight time and also did not get up for breakfast, I already had decided to have breakfast in the welcome lounge instead. The day would be long with an arrival at 5:35 in the morning and a flight leaving at 21:40 in the evening and the need to drive from Frankfurt to Munich. Therefore I thought, sleeping as much as possible could not hurt.

Roughly 60 minutes prior to landing I woke up. The breakfast trays were not cleared at this time and the crew noticed that I wake up, but they never asked, if I wanted to have something to eat, not even a coffee was offered. Okay, they cleared the trays ten minutes later and it might have been a bit too short to offer a warm meal, but at least, they could have offered the cold breakfast or a coffee. My request for a coffee was declined by the crew member clearing the tray of my neighbor as it was only 50 minutes, which was too short for a coffee. Oh well, “Alles für diesen Moment” service as its best …

The crew began to prepare the cabin for the arrival and the seat belt signs were turned on quite early in my impression. The captain came over the intercom and announced the remaining flight time with 40 minutes and gave us an update of the weather in Frankfurt. Soon later the crew asked the passengers to not visit the lavatories anymore.

I am not sure, but I think the crew was already on their seat 25 to 20 minutes prior to landing, from my impression this is quite early compared to other flights on LH as well as those on other airlines.

Might it as it be, we touched down at 05:25 and taxied to our gate, where we arrived at 05:31. We had a gate at the B concourse. I was among the first passengers off the plane and headed to immigration. The lines were quite long and so I decided to use Iris Scan, who let me in, but was unable to identify me. At least I could cut the line, much to the annoyance of the person standing in front of the line, who muttered some bad comment. Sorry, but it is not my fault, if the system has a malfunction.

Soon later I was on my way to the baggage claim, where I had to wait 12 minutes before my bag appeared. Priority tagging seems to work in Frankfurt and there I was on the way to a refreshing shower in the Welcome Lounge and a breakfast before I picked up my rental car at the new Sixt Diamond Lounge in Frankfurt.

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