Flights of Fancy (Singapore Airlines)

Member Name: harmonyk

Product:	Singapore Airlines
Date:	04/08/01 (736 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Reckoned to be the number one airline., Attractive, helpful attendents, Interesting food

Disadvantages: Uncomfortable for long flights, Not able to open windows during 'sleeptime'

I'm not what you would call a seasoned traveller. I did fly to Jersey a couple of times. Then a biggish one on Virgin Atlantic to Florida 4 years ago. That was my experience of flying until recently.

At Easter I was invited to visit a distant relative in Adelaide, South Australia. I decided to check out the Ops here on Dooyoo to find out which airlines were recommended. The one that seemed to stand out was Singapore Airlines.

I went to my travel agent and asked her if there was any chance of getting flights with Singapore. After 2 hours of checking - she found me the flights I wanted - on the dates I wanted - and for the price (well nearly) I wanted.

On 21st June I donned my passion killer surgical stockings, tooks an asprin and arrived at Heathrow early in the evening to checked in my luggage - it was over the permitted 20kg weight but nothing was said. The economy check-in was a bit like a cattle-market but eventually I was boarding the 747 and guided to my window seat. I had an elderly Australian couple beside me so I soon realised I should have requested an aisle seat. I felt awful having to ask them to move every time I needed to stretch my legs - something that was advised - what with the deep vein thrombosis scares - I didn't want to take any chances.

As soon as we were settled we were given a (very) hot flannel to wash down with - once the scorched skin on my hands cooled I relaxed and settled to try and enjoy the flight. An hour or so into the flight we were served supper - the latest supper I ever had - it was about 1am. The meal was pretty good - chicken and noodles - and a cheesecake type dessert. The attendants were very thin and beautiful - just like the adverts (even the men). The meal over, everyone seemed to be intent on sleeping - we were instructed to put the window covers down and the lights were extinguished.

Unfortunately I could not sleep. I knew that we had actually flown awa
y from the dark of night and it was light outside - I peeked through the window - I'd raised the cover slightly - I could see desert - it looked fascinating. Then a stewardess hurried along and asked me not to raise the covers! Oh hell! I felt like a naughty schoolgirl caught nicking sweets. What on earth was I supposed to do for the next 8 hours?

The journey continued - passengers woke - milled around - like zombies - not knowing where they were - what the time was or even the day! The attendants went about their work - 'fruit juice' 'snack box' 'scorching flannel'?

I tried to watch a film - impossible to concentrate - over 11 hours of this in total - HELP! I spent hours looking at the little map telling me we were still thousands of miles from Singapore and if there was a crack in the plane we would all be frozen stiff as the temperature was minus 45degrees outside! I lost the will to live.

Then suddenly the lights were raised and breakfast was being served. I had no idea of the 'real' time but at least it was something to do - I had a very peculiar omelette with some cereals,fruit and an object that had once been a bread roll but now seemed to be disguised as a beige cannonball.

Once breakfast had been cleared away we all felt a little better and I chatted to the Oz couple - they seemed very friendly - I hoped they would all be like that.

The captain's voice piped up to tell us that we would be descending into Singapore soon. How did he manage to sound so fresh - had he been able to sleep? (!)

We had a textbook smooth landing and headed for the terminal - only 4 hours wait and then I could get on another plane for 6 and a half hours of inflight fun to Adelaide.

Singapore Airlines - I think that no airline can be comfortable for 11 hours - unless you can afford to go business or 1st class - if Singapore Airlines are the best then heaven help those poor s
ouls who travel on the worst! In fairness - it was clean - the staff were efficient - and we had no turbulance.

If I go again I think I'll have at least 2 stopovers - that 11 hour flight is just too much.

Summary: