Review of Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to Auckland in Economy

INTRODUCTION

After arriving in Singapore on SQ921 from Manila and spending the night at Changi Airport, it was time to continue my journey onboard another Singapore Airlines flight to Auckland.
My Flight Report username may be called CanadianWings, but I am actually from New Zealand. I have lived there almost my entire life until I moved to Canada in January 2015. 

Anyways, enough about my life and let's get back to the flight report!

SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT

At the time, Singapore Airlines had two flights to Auckland. I originally wanted to go on the evening SQ285 flight operated by a B777-300ER, but that flight was full and the only option of getting to AKL as early as possible was to take the last SQ flight out of Manila, overnight in Singapore and take the morning SQ281 flight. However, unlike the evening flight, SQ281 is operated by the B777-200ER with older cabin products. 

The flight's departure time was delayed to almost an hour.

On the way to the gate, I stopped by to do a bit of plane spotting.

An SQ A330 pushing back

Here is the Boeing 777-200ER being used for the flight to Auckland. Registration# 9V-SVH. This aircraft is no longer operating for SQ and has flown to the aircraft graveyard in Victorville on May 23rd 2016.

ONBOARD SQ281

Seated in 33K, which has a great view of the engine.

This aircraft features an older Economy Class product with a smaller LCD screen and different colours as opposed to the new seats. However, this seat was more comfortable than the newer Y class ones as it also offers not just an adjustable recline, but an adjustable lumbar support as well.

TAKEOFF AND INFLIGHT

The KrisWorld entertainment system was already activated during boarding, but there was no sound coming out of the headsets. At first I thought my headset was broken, until I saw other passengers around me wondering the same thing. The crew shut off the IFE during taxi to the runway, which took over 30 minutes due to congestion at Changi Airport. They reactivated it again when the seatbelt sign was turned off and it worked this time. 

The crew passed out peanuts again before the main meals were served. Choices were Rice Vermicelli or an Egg Omelette.  I went for the latter option. To wake myself up, I got a coffee and orange juice for the drink. 

It was a decent meal overall, albeit a little light. It's also nice to have airlines have metal cutlery in Economy Class, while other carriers are cost-cutting and replacing them with plastic ones instead. 

SETTLING IN

After meal service, the lights were dimmed and the crew requested the shades to be lowered for passengers to rest. In the meantime, I explored the IFE to pass the time. The selection wasn't extensive as the newer Economy Class seats offer, but there was still a lot of content to choose from. 

I dozed off for several hours before going up to use the lavatory. There was also a mini bar set up in the galley for passengers who want to grab something to snack on. 

Cabin view with the older Economy Class seats.

It was a great day for flying.

SECOND MEAL SERVICE

The flight was now more than 3/4 of the way finished. It started to get dark outside and the crew turned the lights back on to start the second meal service. 

Cabin crew doing the meal service. Faces blurred for privacy reasons. 

The crew were efficient during the meal service, with one asking what option they would like and the other handing out the meal trays and drinks. 

The choices were Fish with lemon sauce or Fried Pork with rice. Being a seafood person, I went for the fish option. However, I wanted to try the pork as well so I asked the crew member if there were any leftovers. She went back to check and came back with a pork dish for me as well. For the drink, I opted for 7UP.

After the meal service, the crew came around the cabin handing out ice cream to the passengers. 

Overall, it was a nice meal. 

DESCENT AND ARRIVAL

For the rest of the flight, I kept on exploring the IFE before descending into Auckland. 

It was already evening once we crossed over the Tasman Sea on the way to New Zealand. 

The cabin lights were turned off and the seatbelt sign was illuminated for landing. 

It was already past midnight of the next day once the aircraft went into final approach. 

Landed in AKL at 12:20 in the morning. 

Taxi to the terminal didn't take long, and we pulled up at the gate at 12:35AM. 

The crew wished the passengers a wonderful day and it was off to immigration. As I exited the aircraft, I saw the crew of the return SQ282 flight at the gate waiting to board the aircraft for its return journey back to Singapore. 

SQ 747 Cargo and Air NZ B767 at the apron in AKL the next day.