Welcome aboard for a series of flight reports around the Asia Pacific.This series will contain reports on 6 segments and cover 3 airlines. So, to borrow a phrase from many pilots, sit black, relax and enjoy the reports.
The routing and procurement method were as follows:
American Airlines LAX-ORD A321 First (Cash - No Report)
American Airlines ORD-DTW CR7 First (Cash - No Report)
Delta Air Lines DTW-NRT 747-400 Business (NRSA - Here)
Delta Air Lines NRT-PVG 767-300ER Business (NRSA - Here)
Singapore Airlines PVG-SIN 777-300ER First (Krisflyer - Here) ***Bonus Singapore food section at the end***
Singapore Airlines SIN-HKG 777-300ER First (Krisflyer - Here)
Asiana Airlines HKG-ICN 777-200ER Business (Cash - This Report)
Singapore Airlines ICN-LAX 777-300ER First (Krisflyer - Coming Soon)
Welcome back readers. I will be brief on this segment as I was sleeping (or trying to) most of the time on this brutal short red eye flight to ICN.
We arrived more or less on time but transit security was lengthy. Finally an airport official came and indicated the line was shorter at another checkpoint which caused a race to the alternate location. Finally through I located and airport directory to find the Krisflyer lounge. I'm afraid I didn't take too many pictures. What I have is the First Class section. The lounge is mostly business class with First Class separated by an automatic sliding door. There is a desk by the door that would be staffed, I assume, to validate who has access. It was not staffed so i helped myself to a seat inside. I was not even remotely interested in food so I just poured some sparkling water and minded my own business. Finally I was approached by a lounge staff and asked is I was on SQ2 to SFO. I said no, I was on OZ to ICN but had arrived on SQ2 in F. She was not happy that I was in her special lounge. She didn't technically ask me to leave but she was not even approaching the level of professionalism i expect form SQ. She was quite rude. I thought it was reasonable to allow access based on the longer segment in F so I stayed. It was a moot point as after the continuation of SQ2 the First Class section was closing. I stayed until the vacuum cleaner was turned on. Overall it's a nice space. Small, as you would expect, but well appointed. It is like a more modern version of the T2 F lounge in SIN as far as amenities however it is all self serve where T2 at Changi has a tended bar.
There are some private "cubicle" style seats. you can observe the buffet in the back cornet of the space.
A more open seating area with newspapers, magazines, and a TV.
A closer look at the "cubicles".
At this point I didn't have time to stay in the J section. It was very crowded so quality pictures were not going to be very workable. I wandered down to my gate.
The 777 is waiting patiently.
Boarding was called for J and I was aboard quickly. It was a light load in J with maybe 50% of seats filled. The ancient J cabin on the OZ 777 (regional) and the A330 is rather unpleasant. The angled seats are hard and you can feel the metal bars of the frame. The IFE is comical with 1970s resolution and very few choices of programming. I'm not even sure if it's AVOD. Thankfully the seat next to me became available when the young woman relocated to have her own row.
Menus were presented and there was a snack service right after takeoff. A sandwich or congee were offered. I can't remember if the congee was duck or chicken. All I know is at that moment in time it was very tasty and satisfying. I wasn't particularly hungry but the savory porridge just made me feel good. I asked the flight attendant for some gochujang and she has happy to track some down. It's probably not a traditional condiment for this dish, I don't know, but some heat made for a nice additional layer of flavor.
It was a one tray snack.
There was some banchan on the tray of course.
Some fruit and tea were offered after the congee. Why not, I'm not going to sleep well in these seats.
The service was wonderful of course. The Asiana flight attendants are so graceful and lovely. Smiles were readily available and kindness exuded. It's a more formal relationship than what you have on SQ, in my experience, but that doesn't hide the fact that they are willing an able to go out of their way to take care of the customers. I'm critical of the hard product but the service is impeccable.
These map views are my last pictures so i must have achieved some sleep.
Landing at ICN was under the cover of darkness and uneventful. Transit security was quick and I was allowed through by showing my confirmation on my cell phone.
Wait, so you basically use the SQ lounge first class section although you board business class? Do you have certain KrisFLyer status? Or you just enter because this is automatic door, nobody cares?
How long do you have to walk from SQ lounge to Gate?
Hello FLIGHTEXAMINOR and thanks for the note.
"Wait, so you basically use the SQ lounge first class section although you board business class?"
-Inbound F paseenger connecting to J is offered F lounge in many instances/alliances. Inboud Suites to SIN you get TPR acces even if your flight to KIL is in J, for example.
"How long do you have to walk from SQ lounge to Gate?"
-I'm sorry, I do not remember.
Thanks again and happy flying.
Hi SoCalNow, Too bad you had to take SQ only to HKG and not the direct flight to ICN. Or maybe you just didn't want the overnight in first and wanted to indulge in the HKG dinner service. In any case just a note that I confirmed with Krisflyer. The new SQ award for first class from Singapore to the West Coast is 118,000 points. However the Star Alliance chart is 112,500 points. So you could do something like SQ first SIN-ICN and OZ first ICN-LAX. Or SQ/ANA in First from SIN-NRT and SQ/ANA from NRT to LAX and save a couple points!
Hello Rewardflying and thanks for the note. That is a fantastic piece of information, thank you for sharing. I never look at the SQ Star Alliance chart as SQ is always the airline I intend to fly when using Krisflyer miles. Depending on schedules that might be a nice way to have a longer layover in ICN/TYO too. Really cool of you to mention this. Happy flying.
I wonder if they would allow something like LH ORD-FRA and SQ/LH FRA-SIN for 112,500 seeing that they allow Atlantic routing to Singapore. Just thinking out loud Of course you'd have the LH surcharges but....
Very interesting combination. I wonder if that proposed routing would get one access to FCT/FCL?
The LH rules are this:
Must fly outbound on LH to use the FCT. So SQ/LH in and LH out gets you in the FCT.
Same day departure or arrival on LH gets you into the FCL. So LH in and SQ out would do it. Since you can access the lounges in FRA without having to pass security you don't need an additional departure boarding pass. See you at the lounge!
Poor OZ, when will they upgrade their J class.
I flew this old J seat on night flight from ICN to SYD and I promise myself, never to fly OZ again.
Greetings Airtraveladdict and thanks for stopping by. I agree, OZ is overdue to update these seats. Between the hard, uneven and angled sleeping surface and middle seats this is not a competitive product. Especially on a long night flight like ICN-SYD.
Take care and happy flying.
ICN-LAX still does not show up!!!
My apologies STAR-ALLIANCE-FLYER, you will receive a full refund. Happy flying.