My Farewell to SQ 747-400 - HKG-SIN-HKG in J

[sutrakhk]

Dear all,

Here is my recent trip traveling SQ's 747-400 between HKG-SIN-HKG in Business Class, hope you will enjoy!

Reason for the trip: Need a trip during Chinese New Year holiday, was planned to go BKK because TG fly their A340-600 to HKG, however, just before booking, I discovered that SQ would send the 747-400 to HKG instead of 772 during the CNY period, so it is the best opportunity to travel on it before they retire in March 2012.

On the day, I took the Airport Express to HKIA, and found the QF advertisment for their new A380 service to Sydney


CNY decoration in HKIA


SQ check-in counters are in aisle F


No queue for Business check-in


After the immigration, I looked out the windows and found the 747 was still parking outside, it stayed overnight in HKIA


It would be nice to visit the lounge for breakfast


The lounge was so quiet with only few people


Food and Drinks counter



My choices, the food quality was good and the choices was more than enough!


After the breakfast, I headed to the Gate 23

26 Janruary 2012

Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN)
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight: SQ 859
Aircraft: 747-400
Registration: 9V-SPJ
Seat: 20K (Business)
Gate: 23
Arriving Gate: B3

Gate 23


My boarding pass

[sutrakhk]

9V-SPJ


Boarding was about to start, the queue for Economy Class was so long, that's the reason SQ use the 747-400 rather than 777-200 during the period


Door 1L


Dedicated Bag for 9V-SPJ


First Class cabin, not open for this flight


View from my seat 20K, the last row of upper deck


Overhead bin


Welcome drink, I chose water


Legroom


Safety Information Card



Side bin

[sutrakhk]

Another angle


Engines


Pushed back was on time, during taxiing, saw the all white OX 747-400 heading to BKK


And the one I wanted to see for long, the Hong Kong Trader 747-8F


Takeoff was fast and we used only half the runway

The IFE was turned on afterwards



Post-takeoff drink and nuts


The seat was comfortable and wide enough, but it was not easy to control
The seat control


IFE handset



Noise Cancelling headphones


Meal started very soon after takeoff, here is the menu, nicely design for Chinese New Year!

[sutrakhk]

Starter
Smoked duck breast with dried apricot compote with Mustard vinaigrette


Main
Book the Cook - Stir-fried prawns and scallops with braised beans in leek and red wine vinaigrette with vegetables


Dessert
Peach crumble flan with vanilla sauce


Skipped the cheese, just some fruit


After the meal, visit the washroom





The load was very light in Business class today, only 5 upper deck, a very peaceful cabin
Cabin view



The famous Row 17 with many legroom


The near flat seat

[sutrakhk]

Stair to main deck


After 3 hours of flying, we were going to descend to Singapore, at this moment, some passengers moved to upper deck with their bags, I was wondering were they going to visit the flight deck after landing, but the answer was due to the flooding in Economy Cabin, the passengers have to move to somewhere else, ooops!


Anyway, landing was smooth and thank you 9V-SPJ!


Passed the immigration in no time, took the MRT to Novena to the rather new hotel called Oasia Hotel Singapore
Club room in 25/F, it was nice but a bit too small








View from my room


The service was very good and the Club floor was very nice, the only cons were the size of the room and the not so centered location

After 2 nights, I was in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 again

FID

[sutrakhk]

Business Class check-in at Aisle 6


So quiet at that time


For Chinese New Year?


There was quite alot of people at immigration today, so it took about 10 minutes to clear


Head to the Silverkris Lounge


Entrance


Food area


Many choices, but not in my taste


It's time to proceed to the gate, and I found that I will be on 9V-SPQ


28 Janruary 2012

Singapore (SIN) – Hong Kong (HKG)
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight: SQ 870
Aircraft: 747-400
Registration: 9V-SPQ
Seat: 24K (Business)
Gate: B2
Arriving Gate: 43

Gates B1,2,3,4


Last Call already


Boarding Pass

[sutrakhk]

Gate B2


9V-SPQ


Seat 24K at main deck


Last row


View from my seat


Seating pitch


Engines and Wing


Our neightbour have to change her flat tire


Pushed back was on time, the Business and Economy class cabins were fully packes, but the First Class left empty

Meal service commenced after takeoff
Starter
Fa Cai Yu Sheng (Singapore CNY dish) - Prosperity New Year Salad with Salmon to usher in the "Year of the Dragon"


Main
Book the Cook - Duck with Yam Rice


Dessert
Chocolate and Cherry cake with raspberry sauce


Cheese and fresh fruit

[sutrakhk]

I was so full after the meal......and this is the toilet time!



Descend started afterwards, the three hours journey finished in no time.
The landing was a bit hard, and it took ages to taxi to the Gate 43. It should be the last SQ's passengers 747 landing in HKG

When everyone rushing to leave, I took the opportunity to take some more photos of the First Class cabin



The famous seat 1B


Thank you very much 9V-SPQ!



It is a bit sad the Queen will leave SQ this year, but they are really tired especially the problems about water, wet floor and flooding on 9V-SPJ, water dripping on 9V-SPQ.
Hope they will find a new home in the future! For those who would like to farewell the SQ's 747-400, you can still find them in SIN-MEL-SIN until late March

Thanks for reading! ^^

[SilverChris]

Wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

[9V-SIA]

Nice one. Thinking whether to post my last 744 flight in December.

But then, I may still get to fly one if SQ has more A380 related "inspections" to carry out.

Lucky Y PAXs getting upgrade to J due to flooding. You sure it wasn't "ponding"?

[Pure Shores]

Great report - thanks

[nickbot]

Very many thanks sutrakhk - I flew SPQ the last time I was on SQ F (in 2009 eek!)

[HUGE AL]

Glad you got that POS out of your system.

[sutrakhk]

Lucky Y PAXs getting upgrade to J due to flooding. You sure it wasn't "ponding"?

I just use the term from the FA

Glad you got that POS out of your system.

Sorry......What is POS? Point of Sales?

[VC10 Boy]

Lovely TR. Although I'm reminded how old it looks. Perhaps I'm not so keen to climb aboard again.