Singapore Airlines Flight Review: Manila to Yangon via Singapore (Round-Trip)
It was the day Typhoon
Mario decided to drown Metro Manila up to her neck when I flew out of the
city headed to the Golden Land of Myanmar on board Singapore Airlines (SIA).
Photo Copyright: Meldie Diente/PFN |
This was the scene outside my hotel window. I booked myself at a hotel near the airport as I did not want to commute in the wee
hours of the morning. Thank goodness for that decision! Otherwise, I might have
missed my flight with all the flooding.
But before I go on, please accept my apologies for not
having much pictures of my flight out of Manila as I was too bleary-eyed. My
flight was scheduled at 7:30 a.m. and I was awake as early as 1 a.m. as Typhoon Mario
tried to impress me with his howling winds and ultra-flashes of lightning which I could see even with my eyes closed. I didn’t think my flight would
push through but it did. We even boarded on time but flying out of Manila was
another matter.
Photo Copyright: Meldie Diente/PFN |
We were all “tucked in” comfortably with Singapore Airlines' wide seats
when the captain announced that we might have to wait a bit as we were number
19 on the departing queue due to a breakdown in Ninoy Aquino International
Airport’s (NAIA) radar.
In the meantime, we were offered hot towels, water, orange juice, reading
materials, and in-flight entertainment (IFE). I just dozed on and off, waking up
each time the captain would update us, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good
news and bad news. The good news is, we are now number 17 (13, 9, 5). The bad
news, it might take us another half an hour to depart.” (By the way, the above
photo was the actual plane I was on, taken by my friend from our hotel window.)
Two hours later, we were taxiing off with most passengers
asleep. In all this, I was anxious about what would happen to me as I had a
connecting flight from Singapore to Yangon via Silk Air, Singapore Airlines' sister carrier, two hours after we were supposed to land. If I missed my connecting flight, the next one was the
following day---if it was not already fully booked. That meant, I would have to stay
overnight in Singapore. If I booked myself at a Singapore hotel, it would be expensive as
it’s last-minute and during Formula One season. I wasn’t sure if Singapore Airlines would foot
the bill as the delay wasn’t their fault. It wasn’t mine either, but it was
not theirs. Anyway, I thought if worse comes to worst, I’ll just look up some old
acquaintances and appeal to their Filipino hospitality to let me stay with
them.
With that resolved in my mind, I just enjoyed the almost
endangered species that was the in-flight entertainment. The selection was varied but the channels
were up to 100 only. Most of the shows I wanted to watch were beyond 100 so I
just tried to catch some sleep in case I had to stay at the airport for a
morning flight.
Thirty minutes before landing, the captain’s voice filled
the air, “Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a long day…” While he went on, I
went up to the cabin crew and requested if I could be the first to leave the
plane so I can still try to make it to my connecting flight. The steward dashed
all my hopes by saying I really wouldn’t make it. Besides, there were no vacant
seats next to any exit door for me to transfer. Nevertheless, as soon as the
doors were opened, I dashed like a pirate DVD vendor caught in a raid and heard
words that were music to my ears, “Passengers to Yangon! Passengers to Yangon!”
A Singapore Airlines ground crew member was waiting for me and another passenger with an
electric airport cart! “Yangon, here I come!” (Press fast forward and play chase scene music)
When I got on board Silk Air, I even had time to go to the
toilet before take-off.
Now, I don’t know what happened as I booked myself a specific seat upon purchase but I was transferred to a front-row seat. I’m not
complaining here, as it was more leg room for me! However, we were not allowed to store
our stuff underneath our seats so I stored mine in the overhead cabin
compartment across my seat. And then I remembered my camera but I was too tired
to care to go and get it for the flight review. (Sorry, editor…)
After a smooth take-off, to my surprise, we were given
full meals. As this was my first time to fly Silk Air, I thought it was one of
those budget airlines that lets you starve to death. I took out its magazine and
realized it wasn’t a low-cost carrier at all but rather Singapore Airlines' regional carrier. The
plane though was very narrow and when I pleaded I had to go to the toilet
during food service, they were kind enough to push back the cart to give me
passage. However, I had to wait for them to serve everybody before I could go
back to my seat. That was okay as I had to stretch my legs anyway.
Our flight did not have traditional IFE but we could watch programming using our
personal tablets. I connected to the plane’s Wi-Fi service to view their web
site and browse my options, which were not interesting to me so I logged out. As
I write this, I realized I should have taken a screen shot to show you what it
looks like. I also realized I could have used my iPad to take pictures. (Again,
my apologies, dear reader.) This is what happens when I am sleep-deprived. I
forget I am writing for PFN. *Toink!*
To sum up my Singapore Airlines and Silk Air experience,
I give both a thumbs-up for great in-flight service. They may be more expensive than
our local airlines in the Philippines but you can see and feel the difference. Actually, it’s
making me rethink my loyalty to our airlines.
As for Singapore Airlines, I had expected the flight to
be extremely turbulent but it wasn’t at all even though the captain warned us
of some slight turbulence ahead. I’ve had more rough experiences on a sunny
day. I remember my friend feeling assured for my safety upon learning I
was flying Singapore Airlines.
In truth, I was completely impressed by Singapore Airlines' customer service.
Before boarding Silk Air en route to Myanmar, I was advised to go see its office at Yangon International Airport to report my luggage that will be left behind in
Singapore because time did not allow its transfer to my connecting flight. I followed
their instructions and my reporting was faster than the other passengers as I
only had to show a picture of my luggage on my smart phone. (I practice what I
preach. See my travel tips.)
And then they handed me US$100 to buy whatever it was I needed until my
luggage was delivered to my hotel! All of a sudden, I felt like Samson regaining
back his God-given strength and I headed straight to the mall!
See ya, Yangon!
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
But now it was time to return to Manila via Singapore.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Maybe because I didn’t know much about Myanmar (formerly
Burma), I expected an old airport. But Yangon
International Airport (YGNIA) was as modern as it can get.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
It was better than our NAIA 4, I can tell you that. And
if NAIA 2 does not get its act together, YGNIA will surpass it soon even though
it was just built less than ten years ago.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Check-in was a breeze as I was already web-checked-in so
the line was shorter. In fact, I was the only one in line as I arrived half an
hour before the counters opened.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
At immigration, the lady officer smiled at me and tried
to speak in Filipino with me. She even asked me how to say, “Please look at the
camera.” After helping her out, I thought she was really asking me to look at
the camera. She waved her hand to say no and laughed.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
This is the only café at the departure lounge.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
For duty-free fanatics, the smallness of the duty-free
shop here might make you cry but there are a lot of shops lined up to satisfy
the shopaholic in you.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Although most of them are souvenir shops.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
I noticed that some shops were left unmanned. Notice the
smartphone also left alone. If it were some place else like you-know-where, it
would already have been stolen, together with some items.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Some services offered to while the time away.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
The Internet service made me feel at home. Just like
NAIA’s, it wasn’t working.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
I prefer a water dispenser over a drinking fountain as it
is more hygienic. I’ve seen people almost French-kissing some fountains….
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Boarding commenced on time.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
The flight from Yangon to Singapore wasn’t full so some
passengers had the entire row to themselves to lie down. I, too, didn’t have
any seatmate. Notice that we had embedded IFE and this time, it had the channels that I
was interested in so the three-hour flight felt short.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
The food was better than I expected. The roll was so
fresh and soft that I just had to thank the flight attendant who gave me
another roll. The fish was also fresh and flavorful. I was disappointed with
the dessert which was a bit sour. I didn’t bother with the salad at all.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
The rest of the flight was exactly how I want
it---uneventful, with a smooth touchdown in Singapore where I had four hours to
kill.
Unlike before where I zoomed my way out, I now had more time
to enjoy Changi Airport, one of the
world’s best airports.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
I was given a SGP$20 gift voucher to spend at Changi as
part of SIA’s promo so I bought myself a wireless Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
You can just hold your boarding pass for scanning and the
machine will tell you where your gate is and how to get there. Their signs also
indicate how many minutes it will take you to get to your gate.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
There were a lot of things to see at Changi that before I
knew it, it was time to look for my gate. Changi, you’ve got my vote!
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
While waiting, an airport official approached me asking
if I would participate in their traffic survey which I did and got a souvenir
key ring in return.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Boarding commenced on time.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
We had embedded IFE again and it had the shows that I wanted to
watch!
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
Like my earlier flight, the roll and fish were a delight
while the dessert tasted like two different things fighting for your taste
buds. Once again, the salad was left to itself. Nothing personal, I’m just not
a fan of veggies.
Photo copyright: The Paranoid Traveler/PFN |
It’s only been a few months since Singapore Airlines moved to NAIA 3 and
it was my first to try it at its new home in Manila so I wondered how my baggage experience
would be. I had not fully descended the stairs when I saw priority baggage being
lifted out of the carousel to reunite with its happy owners. My economy baggage
appeared some fifteen minutes later which isn’t bad compared to PAL or CEB
which always takes longer. Before, I used to think it’s just the system at NAIA
that makes baggage retrieval such a dreadful part of traveling. But if Singapore Airlines could do it fast and easy, I think I just have to point the finger at our local
airlines as well. This is what happens when there’s competition---you realize
the truth. And to this, I say, bring more world-class airlines to NAIA
3!
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