Category: Singapore Airlines

Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong Airport

~ Alvin ~ Leave a comment

Introduction: 5 Stars ForEVA
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong Airport
EVA Air A330 Business Class Hong Kong to Taipei
EVA Air The Infinity Lounge Taipei Airport
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Taipei Airport
EVA Air 787 Business Class Taipei to Hong Kong

My flight was leaving Hong Kong Airport at 1:35 PM, so I initially figured I’d get to the airport at around 12 PM. However, in the morning I found myself unproductive and needing a change of atmosphere, and I figured the SilverKris lounge would be crowded by 12 PM in anticipation of the Singapore Airlines flight departing around that time. Wanting to check the lounge out (since I haven’t reviewed the SilverKris lounge since 2015), I made my way to the airport at 9:30 AM, where I made a beeline to the SilverKris lounge.

You have access to the SilverKris lounge if you’re a Star Alliance Gold member on a Star Alliance ticket, or if you’re a premium passenger on a Star Alliance airline. In this case I was travelling on EVA Air in business class, so my mobile boarding pass granted me lounge access without issue. The SilverKris lounge is located across gate 15, a short walk from immigration.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Hong Kong Entrance

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A Great Way To Spend Your KrisFlyer Miles

~ Alvin ~ 1 Comment

Last week I booked an itinerary for myself that gave me a direct turn to Taipei for 40,000 KrisFlyer miles. Now, I know that that’s not a good deal, but it seemed like a good chance to try the EVA 787. After reevaluating I decided I was an idiot, and I probably should’ve flown Singapore Airlines to Singapore as a direct turn, so I’d be getting more value for each mile I was spending. Turns out it gets worse. 😉

You can fly from Hong Kong to Perth for 65,000 miles, and on the way you’d get to try out Singapore Airlines’ 787 business class, new A380 business class, and old 777 business class with reasonable layovers each way.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Hong Kong Airport

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BOOKED: EVA Air 787 Business Class (I’m An Idiot)

~ Alvin ~ 1 Comment

I’m an idiot sometimes.

This December break I found my schedule freer than I was expecting, and I also saw that my social media following was going quite well, so I decided to do a review trip to show my thankfulness. Obviously I’m a high school student so I’m broke (to say the least), but from previous travels I managed to rack up quite a number of Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles. Since I can’t be away from home for too long, I decided to book myself into a same-day return Star Alliance shorthaul business class product, so started looking at options.

I came across a Singapore Airlines roundtrip ticket from Hong Kong to Singapore and back for a total of 55,000 miles. This would seat me in business class on their 777-200 and 777-300ER, and would get me home in time (as well as letting me spend some time in my favourite city in the world, even if I wasn’t actually leaving the airport). However, for some reason Singapore Airlines wouldn’t let me book a ticket on their website, so I started looking at other options, thinking that it was to do with my unaccompanied minor status (which, being 17, I’d have to fill out a waiver form for).

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 Business Class 

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5 Fifth-Freedom Flights From Hong Kong I’d Like To Try

~ Alvin ~ 1 Comment

Sometimes airlines find profit in flying a plane to a certain destination via another, so to fulfil two low-demand destinations. These flights were instrumental to the economic viability of longhaul flights prior to the 80s, since planes didn’t have the range to fly ultra-longhaul. Nowadays, with profitable aircraft such as the A350 or 787, there’s much less need for fifth-freedom flights – which makes them all the more fun when you actually get to fly them.

Fifth-freedom flights these days are normally run when there’s insufficient demand for a flight to be run to a single destination, so airlines “tag” the flight onwards to sell the fifth-freedom segment as well (for example, Egyptair can’t justify the demand to operate a direct flight between Cairo to Hong Kong, so they route their twice-weekly flight via Bangkok to generate revenue between Bangkok and Hong Kong as well). Other airlines operate “novelty” fifth-freedom flights, where they’ve sustained a fifth-freedom flight for years and are unwilling to give it up despite the fact that a direct flight may be more viable. Emirates is a good example of that (continue reading to find out more).

Thai Airways’ flight between Hong Kong and Seoul allows the airline to compete on the Hong Kong to Seoul segment (this isn’t one of the more interesting fifth freedom routes out of Hong Kong in my opinion – I’d much rather fly Korean Air or Asiana business class, which is usually reasonably priced)

Believe it or not, I haven’t actually had the chance to fly any fifth-freedom routes. The closest I’ve gone to flying one is Singapore Airlines’ flight between Singapore and San Francisco via Hong Kong – however, I flew the Singapore to Hong Kong segment, whereas the Hong Kong to San Francisco segment would’ve been the fifth-freedom flight. So I thought I’d list a few of the fifth-freedom flights I’d like to try in the coming years.

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My Experience Contacting Three Airlines: What’s The Best Way?

~ Ethan Yang | Aviation and Travel ~ Leave a comment

Before a flight, there are many issues that may arise which require you to contact the airline – those being special meals, seat selection, special requests or accommodations, or just the simplest of things you have to know, such as whether baggage can be checked to your final destination. Since each airline can be contacted in a multitude of ways, knowing the best method can save you tons of time and energy. For example, you can avoid wasting hours on the phone waiting for an agent that won’t help you at the end of the day.

It’s worth noting that I wrote this post based on my extensive experience contacting various agents of the respective airlines on a variety of occasions over the course of many months. You may have a different experience contacting these airlines.

What is the best way to contact the airline for information and/or help on Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines?

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3 Reasons Why Singapore Airlines’ New A350 Newark Route Is Exciting

~ Alvin ~ 1 Comment

Many years ago Singapore Airlines used to fly an all-business class A340 service between Singapore and Newark. This was a rather prestigious route for the 100 passengers that got to fly on the route daily. However, as you’d expect for a quad-engine, 100-seat aircraft flying on a 19-hour route, the route wasn’t the most profitable ever.

A couple of days ago Singapore Airlines announced that they’d finally be resuming the Singapore-Newark routes (as promised when they initially canceled it in 2013), with their new A350-900ULR, which is the ultra-long-range version of the Airbus A350. I’ve flown the A350 on a couple of occasions before and love the plane, so I’m excited about the route.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 Hong Kong Airport

There are a couple more reasons why I’m excited for the new Singapore to Newark route, which excites me in ways normal new route launches don’t. I thought I’d write a post to outline them below.

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My Thoughts On Singapore Airlines’ Leaked A380 Suites Class

~ Alvin ~ Leave a comment

In commercial aviation today, the most anticipated product unveilings are Singapore Airlines’ new A380 products, and Emirates’ new A380 products. Singapore Airlines plans to unveil their new A380 products tomorrow, and Emirates will do so for their products at the Dubai Air Show next Sunday, November 12th.

Singapore Airlines currently has a product on the A380 that is incredible, though not perfect. They set the industry standard when introducing their Suites in 2006, but the novelty of the product has faded as more airlines introduced their first class products on the A380 in the meantime.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Suites Class

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Review: Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Bangkok

~ Alvin ~ 1 Comment

Introduction: To Bangkok For The Weekend
Thai Airways Royal Orchid Business Class Lounge Hong Kong
Thai Airways A330 Business Class Hong Kong to Bangkok
Park Hyatt Bangkok
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok BKK Concourse D
Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge Bangkok
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok BKK Concourse E
EVA Air Lounge Bangkok
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok BKK Concourse C East
Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge Bangkok BKK Concourse C West
Thai Airways 747 Business Class Bangkok to Hong Kong

One of my destinations at Bangkok Airport was checking out the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge, as I knew that it had been recently renovated. This was a short walk through the terminal, where I eventually found signage towards the Singapore Airlines SilverKris lounge.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Terminal

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge is located near gate D7, in Concourse D of the airport. The exterior of the lounge is in line with most of Singapore Airlines’ renovated lounges, including the one at Hong Kong Airport.

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My Insane Bangkok Star Alliance Lounge Hopping Spree

~ Alvin ~ Leave a comment

As I was holding a Star Alliance ticket in Bangkok yesterday, I had access to an extraordinary amount of lounges. Thai Airways operates a staggering five lounges open to business class passengers, and EVA Air and Singapore Airlines each operate lounges in Bangkok as well.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

We got to the airport at 1:30 PM, and were unexpectedly directed to a fast track lane, where were through immigration by 1:45 PM. This left me with more than an hour to tour all of Bangkok Airport’s Star Alliance lounges before boarding time, as well as leaving my parents a ton of time to shop.

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Singapore Airlines 777 vs. A380 Premium Economy – Which One Is Better?

~ Alvin ~ Leave a comment

While Singapore is gradually introducing their A350 into the fleet, the backbone of their longhaul fleet currently consists of the A380 and the 777-300ER. I had the chance to fly both planes in premium economy recently, and most of Singapore’s “premium” routes allow a choice between these two planes (e.g. London, where some flights are operated by the A380 and others are operated by the 777-300ER). I’d say if you were flying in first, business or economy class, the choice is pretty clear cut.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Hong Kong Airport

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