1) I’m looking too happy to be leaving beautiful Siem Reap, Cambodia
As mentioned in the previous post G and I racked up some 35,000 kilometers of flying each. Blissfully, we were blessed to take all the long haul flights in business class. We flew economy on the short-haul flights and were – frankly – impressed with the level of service provided.
Kudos to Malaysian Airlines and Silk Air (a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) for their outstanding economy flights from Singapore-Langkawi and Singapore-Siem Reap. These flights were fully booked and the crew still served a free hot meal and beverage service to everyone in economy class. Bravo! It is a shame the carriers in North America – Porter Air aside here in Toronto – cannot do the same.
We remain humbled by the level of service on Singapore Airlines. Personal introductions from the crew and use of our names throughout; champagne from arrival in the SilverKris Lounges to close of service on board; food that tasted – well – like real food. It is no wonder this airline consistently remains one of the best in the world.
We flew:
- Toronto-Hong Kong – Air Canada, executive first service in those lovely lie-flat pods
- Hong Kong-Singapore, return – Singapore Airlines, business class
- Singapore-Langkawi (via Penang) – Malaysian Airlines, economy class
- Langkawi-Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian Airlines, economy class
- Kuala Lumpur-Singapore – Air Asia, economy class and a fun adventure
- Singapore-Siem Reap, return – Silk Air, economy class
- Hong Kong-Tokyo – ANA, business class
- Tokyo-Toronto – Air Canada, executive first service
In Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, we coordinated limo service for airport pick-up and return. While pricey, yes, it is worth the cost imho. Typically arriving in this fashion also gets you immediate in-room check-in at your destination hotel which is also pretty darn fine. The hotel has key staff lined up and awaiting you at the entrance as the car arrives. There are introductions, welcomes and handshakes and then you are discreetly escorted to your room for a personalized check-in. Your luggage arrives shortly afterward.
The service in Singapore – where the St Regis Singapore works with JetQuay – provides a VIP treatment service that is simply awesome, and second to none.
We were met at the aero-bridge upon arrival on both trips into Singapore by a JetQuay guest relations agent who promptly whisked us away in an electric buggy to the elite, dedicated Commercially Important People (CIP) Terminal. Once there a discrete black door slides open and before you sits a dedicated Immigration and Customs counter and Customs Officer just for you. We were dutifully issued our visas and relaxed in the lounge while the JetQuay team retrieved our luggage and brought it to the Bentley the St Regis arranged for our transport to the hotel.
2) being met by the JetQuay folks; 3) the CIP Terminal Lounge
4 & 5) the CIP Terminal Lounge
6) our Bentley arrives
The whole thing is, like, to-die-for-over-the-top-pampering but hell, we’re worth it!
Toronto-Hong Kong Flight
9) our Boeing 777 arrives
10) me in my executive first pod; 11) the amenity kit
12) Champagne and nuts to get us started; 13) a toilet with a view way up in the sky
14) G in his pod watching one of many movies
15) the appetizer is served
16 & 17) the SilverKris Lounge at HKG
18) SilverKris Lounge; 19) me ready to go … the mistletoe was a nice touch I thought
20) appetizer; 21) G’s main
22) my main; 23) dessert
24) cheese selection
25) our Malaysian Airlines Boeing 737 arrives; 26) okay, we know we’re not in business class anymore!
27 & 28) still, a full hot meal is served to everyone
29) our Air Asia plane is brought to the gate; 30) our Silk Air 737 readies for Siem Reap
31) me heading for champagne at the SilverKris Lounge, Changi
32) food anyone?
33) found the champagne; 34) looking out onto the terminal
35) our plane is readied; 36) onboard I found more champagne!
37) good to have room for my lanky legs again!; 38) we ordered Singapore Slings on board, of course
40) the main course – a turkey Xmas dinner with the trimmings – we took this flight on the day before Christmas
41) the cheese course
42) our ANA plane awaits; 43) ANA uses the United Lounge at Hong Kong which was just okay (crummy food)
44) goodbye Hong Kong; 45) the business class cabin
46) the runway cam aboard ANA
47) totally decadent – individual bottles of Champagne … little did ANA know what Champagne whores G and I are!
48) yummy Japanese crackers
49 & 50) our main course arrives
51) good preparation for us for Tokyo
52 & 53) more main course
54) high above Taiwan
55) want to go someplace?
56) changed to beer in the terrific ANA Lounge at NRT, which Air Canada utilizes; 57) complete with its own noodle bar
58) noodle bar soup; 59) the ANA Lounge also has a sake bar
60) yes, we sat and tried some sake; 61) the ANA Lounge
62) G’s Japanese appetizer was impressive but was disappointing in taste
63) my appetizer was excellent; 64) the standard Air Canada executive first salad
65) my main course rocked – the chicken was great and that buttery sauce delicious
66) G’s main was a teriyaki something-or-other … I think I won in the food category; 67) out comes the cheese before a good 6-hour lie-flat sleep
68) finally a video of G relishing his champagne and space on our flight Singapore-Hong Kong
Breathtaking. Truly amazing. Great photos!
I can’t seem to get the videos to play – I’m not sure why. You folks sure know how to travel in fine style.
Wow, you are so “spoiled” with the luxury of flying and having limo pickup. I used to fly business class when I was working for corporation,. Now being a consultant on my own, I need to watch my budget and stuck in economy class. Envy, envy!
What a way to travel!! The SilverKris Lounge in Changhi is quite spectacular indeed!