[Airline Review] – Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max (SQ172)/(SQ173) – Economy Class, SIN – DAD (17 Jul 24)/ DAD -SIN (21 Jul 24)

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max Landing in Da Nang International Airport

At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Airlines operates from Terminals 2 and 3 at Changi Airport, with most regional flights operated by the airlines departing from Terminal 2. As our flight today is a regional flight, we departed from Changi Airport Terminal 2. Singapore Airlines operates several rows of check-in counters in the terminal, with Row 3 dedicated to Business Class, Premium Economy, PPS and Elite Gold passengers. Row 5 and 6 are dedicated to passengers flying Economy Class. Singapore Airlines recently upped the perks for Elite Silver members, where these members have dedicated check-in counters. The Elite Silver member check-in counter is in Row 6, at the end of the self-deposit counters. The ground agent at the Elite Silver came across as annoyed when she failed to convince us to use the self-check-in systems. She seemed unhappy about having to work to process our luggage. It took her a while to complete our check-in process. She did not even bother to brief us on the gate and the boarding time.

Da Nang International Airport

Da Nang International Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 mainly serves domestic flights, and Terminal 2 serves international flights. The check-in counters at Da Nang International Airport Terminal 2 are split into a left and right row, with immigration gates wedged in between. Singapore Airlines occupies check-in counters 22 – 25, next to the immigration gate in the centre of the terminal building. Two of the four counters are dedicated to Economy Class passengers, one for Business Class and one for KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Silver members. As we were one of the last passengers to check in, hardly anyone was queuing in all three lines. We were able to use the counter for Elite Gold/Silver members since my friend is an Elite Silver member. The ground staff was efficient in processing our check-in. It did not take her too long to hand us our boarding pass, and she reminded us of the boarding time and boarding gate.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines uses the B737-8 Max aircraft to service the two flights to Da Nang daily.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max Economy Class cabins have a vibrant colour tone, using mainly blue and light grey colours for the 144 Economy Class seats. The white interior of the cabin, combined with the white lighting, makes the Economy Class section of the aircraft look larger. The light blue mood lighting used during boarding and throughout the flight enhances the cheerful vibe in the cabin.

There are two lavatories, located in the aft of the aircraft, serving all 144 Economy Class passengers. The B737-8 Max, a smaller aircraft, has a smaller lavatory than the bigger twin-aisle aircraft the airline operates. The use of white colour and lighting in the interior of the lavatories not only provides consistency with the colour scheme in the Economy Class cabin but also makes the lavatory look larger. Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines that stocked its Economy Class lavatories with dental kits in addition to the usual hand soap.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max Economy Class seats are arranged in a 3-3 configuration, each with a pitch of 30″ and a width of 17″ and can recline up to 3″. Although the padding was not as thick as that found on Singapore Airlines’ wide-body aircraft, I felt the padding was sufficiently comfortable for this under 3-hour flight. The legroom was very generous in the exit row seats, which we managed to snug. I can stretch out my legs and even move in and out of my seat without my seat neighbour getting out of her seat. The downside of this exit row seat is the inability of our seats to be reclined and the distance between the seat and the tray table. Given this was a short 2hr 50 min, we were not too bothered by the lack of a recline function, but passengers occupying this row might find it uncomfortable for longer flight time. In addition to the overhead reading light fitted in each Economy Class seat, Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max also has individual air nozzles above the seats.

The tray table in the Economy Class seats onboard the B737-8 Max feels a little small but sturdy. There was little room left to place our drinks after the cabin crew placed the meal tray on our table. Due to the slightly larger space between my seat and the seat in front at the exit row, the distance to the tray table is also further. This meant that I had to move forward to consume my meal. Like most Economy Class seats, the only storage option in these seats was the seat pocket in front of us, which had limited storage capacity. With most of the space in the seat pocket filled with inflight literature, I could only fit small items such as my passport, the earplugs provided by the airline, and my charging cable.

I sat in the “normal” Economy Class seat for my return flight. Although the space between the seats was not as generous as in the exit row, I found the legroom was still as generous. Accompanying the closer space with the seats in front, the distance to the tray table was perfect for consuming meals in these “normal” seats. These “normal” Economy Class seats also come with a recline function, which vastly improves the comfort of these seats. I unknowingly dozed off in my seat.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines fitted its B737-8 Max Economy Class with a 10″ HD touchscreen personal TV to entertain passengers. With the PTV having a touchscreen function, Singapore Airlines eliminated the IFE controller in Economy Class onboard this aircraft. The touchscreen function on the PTVs is very responsive, and I did not experience any lag issues when using them. Singapore Airlines loaded its KrisWorld entertainment with a huge library of movies and TV shows in an easy-to-navigate menu. There is no lack of movie options on KrisWorld, from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to TV series, to keep me entertained throughout the flight. Complementary Wi-Fi was available to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer members, even in Economy Class, after the aircraft reached cruising altitude. The internet was sufficient for passengers to browse or post pictures on social media, but it was quite slow when streaming videos from YouTube.

Meal

SIN-DAD

Singapore Airlines has a rather weak breakfast offering in its Economy Class today for our flight to Da Nang. The two choices for breakfast in Economy Class today – Scrambled Eggs with Chicken sausage and Pork Congee, were not to my liking. I pre-ordered the highly appraised Hindu non-vegetarian meal online. True to the reviews, the Hindu non-vegetarian meal was delicious and flavourful. The spices used in the meal were not too overpowering, and the meat was tender. However, I find the portion a tad small. My friend opted for the Pork Congee and commented the congee was flavourful.

DAD-SIN

Singapore Airlines served Roasted Chicken or Singapore Laksa for dinner on this leg to Singapore. Unfortunately, we were only left with one of the two options as the airlines ran out of chicken by the time the meal cart came to us (we were seated at the back of the aircraft), as both meal carts started from the front of the aircraft. The Laksa that I had was flavourful, with a strong hint of coconut from the broth, and the chilli that was already in the Laksa enhanced the taste of the meal. I also liked the Banana Chocolate Chip Cake, which was served as a dessert with a strong banana taste.

Service

The service onboard both legs of our flight was great. The cabin crew welcomed us at the entrance and distributed the earplugs at the same time. Despite being a turnaround flight, the diligent cabin crew were seen constantly patrolling the cabin after meal service to help passengers clear the trash. We pranked our friend who flew on her birthday for our trip to Danang. We “conspired” with the cabin crew, who was sporting enough to help us with the prank. The inflight manager even brought my friend a glass of champagne to celebrate her birthday. Despite being tired from the long flight (a total of 7 hours or more considering both legs), the cabin crew showed no signs of weariness and still provided service with a smile. I witnessed a few occasions where passengers walked down the aisle for the lavatory during meal service, disrupting the cabin crew’s work. The cabin crew tirelessly halted meal service and pushed the cart to the galley several times to make way for these passengers.

Afterthought

I had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max to and from Da Nang. The seats were comfortable, and the vast library on KrisWorld kept me sufficiently entertained, which made the flight time feel short. The welcoming and cheerful cabin crew made the flight very pleasant. Despite being tired from the long working hours, they were still seen diligently patrolling the cabin and ensuring passengers were comfortable.

[Airline Review] – Singapore Airlines B737 – 800 NG (SQ108) – Business Class, SIN – KUL (26 May 24)

At the Airport

We had a connecting flight from Haneda to Singapore, so we were checked through for this flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. After disembarking from our previous flight, we headed to SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2.

SilverKris Lounge

SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 is situated on Level 3 of the terminal building, about a 2-minute walk to the left of immigration clearance at the Terminal. The earthy vibe in the SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2 can be immediately felt at the entrance to the Lounge. We spotted three staff standing by at the entrance, welcoming passengers into the lounge. From the entrance, the dining area is located to the left, while the lounging area is to the right. Most of the SilverKris Lounge is dedicated to lounging and is furnished with numerous armchairs for passengers to relax. The lounging area is further segregated into two sections by a false wall. The lighting in the larger section created a comfortable feel, partly contributed by the darker brown tone in this part of the lounge. I thought using a dimmer colour scheme and softer lighting made this space feel cosy despite being a larger area. The smaller section sits next to the larger lounging area. The use of a lighter brown tone, coupled with the brighter lighting, made this area feel larger than it is.

The white marble floors and tables contributed to the brighter look in the lounge’s dining area. Two counters serving hot food occupy the centre of the dining area. Singapore Airlines mainly offered local dishes served in a buffet style in the dining area. There is also a salad bar at the counter by the wall. The SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 dedicates a corner in the dining area to beverages, where spirits, soft drinks and coffee/tea are placed in this corner. The dining tables in this area sit on one side of the area, mainly consisting of longer tables that can sit up to eight pax, catering to larger groups.

SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 is also equipped with shower facilities and is located in the toilet. No booking is required for the use of these shower facilities; we just had to pop into unoccupied shower stalls. The shower stalls are equally luxurious, with sand-coloured marble on the walls and the flooring. The shower stalls felt a little tight in the space, and I found it challenging to find a place for my backpack. Each stall is fitted with a walk-in shower and a sink, and no toilets are fitted in any of the shower stalls.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates several aircraft on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route. We flew the B737-800NG aircraft, which the airline inherited from its sister company, Silkair, after the merger.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class cabin has 12 Business Class seats in the first three rows of the aircraft, arranged in a 2-2 configuration. The cabin felt large, contributed by the bright white lights used during boarding and the fewer seats. The choice of dark brown leather on these seats contrasted with the bright cabin, exuding a sense of calm and elegance.

There is only one lavatory located behind the cockpit that serves all 12 Business Class passengers. As the B737-800NG is a smaller single-aisled aircraft, the lavatory onboard is smaller than the larger twin-aisle aircraft that Singapore Airlines uses. There is limited space for passengers to move around in the lavatory, but the use of bright lighting in the lavatory made it somewhat feel bigger. Similar to the larger aircraft, Singapore Airlines stocked its B737-800NG Business Class lavatories with the luxurious British branded Penhaligon’s hand lotion, facial mist and eau de toilette, on top of other amenities such as more premium dental kits and shavers that are available in the drawer.

The Seat

The B737-800NG is an older aircraft and the only type of aircraft in Singapore Airlines fleet that features a recliner Business Class product. Each of the 12 Business Class seats has a pitch of 38″ and measures 20″ wide. As a recliner seat, these Business Class seats can recline up to 6″. The thick cushioning in the seats made it feel very comfortable to sit on, even for longer flight time. As I was sitting in the bulkhead, I found the legroom situation to be generous. Controls of the different parts of the seat are done via the manual levers on the seat armrest. There are four levers that control the recline, the amount of lumbar support, the deployment of the legrest and the extension of the footrest. I found these levers difficult to control, probably due to ageing. Not all functions on my seat worked. While I could recline and deploy the legrest, I found the lumbar support and the footrest extension levers to be defective. My friend’s seat beside mine had its legrest and footrest function defective. The only reading light on these Business Class seats onboard the B737-800NG are found on the ceiling above the seat.

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class seats are fitted with a large table, stowed in the armrest during landings and take-offs. The bi-fold tables are folded into halves when stowed in the armrest. In the folded mode, The table took up half the width of the seat, and the thoughtful inclusion of a cup-shaped cut-out meant passengers do not need to deploy the table fully when using it for drinks only. When fully deployed, the sturdy table covered the entire width of the seat. The spacious wooden table allowed passengers to work on their laptops during flight. A small cocktail table is fitted into each Business Class seat, which can be deployed using the lever inside the armrest.

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class seats suffer from the lack of storage in the seat. The seat pocket fitted on the bulkhead was the only storage in the seat. The dual pouch-designed seat pocket is already stuffed with inflight literature and headphones at the time of our boarding, sparing little space for us to stow anything else. The small table space between the seats has limited aid to the storage situation in these seats, as we could only place our stuff on it when the aircraft is in the air. Each Business Class seat has an international power outlet and a USB-A charging port below it for us to charge our mobile devices.

Inflight Entertainment

As this is an older aircraft, Singapore Airlines B737-800NG did not come fitted with any personal TV in either Business Class or Economy Class cabins, nor was there Wi-Fi onboard. There is a set of instructions on obtaining KrisWorld on this older aircraft, but I could not connect to the onboard network. I did, however, find a headset in the set pocket to be connected to some old-school radio channels found on the seat’s armrest. I was quite surprised that these radio channels worked.

Meal

We were served a welcome drink onboard after the doors were closed. The cabin crew had only a short time to complete this service, from closing doors to taxiing, as the only entrance to the aircraft was via the door in front. We were offered apple juice and plain water as welcome drinks. Despite a short flight of around 50 minutes, Singapore Airlines still serves a meal onboard. The cabin crew whizzed into action as soon as the seat belt sign was turned off. The two meal options offered during this flight were avocado toast, carrots, and walnut cake. I opted for the walnut cake, which was tasty.

Service

Service onboard was great for this short Singapore to Kuala Lumpur flight. The cabin crew welcomed all passengers with a warm smile and pointed out our seats at the door. We were served welcome drinks when all passengers boarded, while another crew came around for our food order. A crew came by and offered my nephew a children’s amenity kit when she spotted him settling into his seat. Despite the short service time, a full cabin and the immense time pressure the cabin faces, the cabin crew completed the service with a smile and grace. The service did not come across as rushed, signalling how well-trained the cabin crew was. I witnessed a tremendous amount of teamwork by the cabin crew with the objective of making sure every business class was served their meal in good time.

Afterthought

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class cabin felt bright and spacious. The seat is very comfortable for this short flight time. However, some of the seat functions are not operational, showing signs of ageing of the aircraft. The service is top-notch, with cabin crew ensuring passengers were served with their meals. Despite the short flight time, the service rendered by the cabin crew did not feel rushed. I had a pleasant 50-minute flight with Singapore Airlines.

[Airline Review] – Singapore Airlines A350-900 (Medium Haul Variant) (SQ635) – Business Class, HND -SIN (25 May 24)

At the Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines departs from Terminal 3 at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Singapore Airlines operates 10 check-in counters, four dedicated to Business Class passengers from Row A, tucked to the rightmost side of the terminal. There are three queues at the check-in counters, one for Business Class and Economy Class and another for passengers who had performed check-in using the self-check-in kiosks. As we were at the counter before they opened, a relatively long queue had already formed at our arrival. Due to the flight being full and everyone at the airport early, it took us about 25 mins to complete our check-in. Our check-in took a little longer than usual due to issues with our seat assignment, but the friendly ground staff managed to help us resolve these issues and processed our check-in within 10 minutes. The friendly ground staff gave us directions to the ANA lounge’s location and reminded us that we could use the Fast Track lane for immigration clearance.

Boarding at Haneda was well organised, with well-marked queues for Business and Economy Class passengers. Singapore Airlines boarded passengers with young children before opening boarding to Business Class and status passengers.

ANA Lounge

Singapore Airlines does not operate its lounge in Haneda Airport, passengers flying in Business Class out of Haneda Airport were entitled to use the ANA Lounge on Level 4 of the terminal. The entrance to the ANA Lounge at the airport terminal is opposite Gate 110, about a 2-minute walk from the immigration clearance. There are well-marked signs pointing us to the lounge. We were warmly greeted by the two ground staff at the entrance and welcomed to the lounge after they scanned our boarding passes. ANA Lounge at Haneda Airport is a huge lounge with distinct dining and lounging areas.

The dining area in the ANA Lounge extends from the buffet area to the centre of the lounge, occupying most of the real estate in the centre. The dining area is fitted with bar-type seating, mainly facing the tarmac, and tables that seat two pax in each table that occupy the centre of the lounge. Despite the lounge being crowded during our visit, we had no issues looking for an empty table. ANA Lounge serves food buffet style, with the exception of made-to-order ramen. The buffet and beverage stations are located on the left of the lounge from its entrance. ANA Lounge mainly serves Japanese food, mainly different types of sushi, onigiri, and Japanese curry rice. I found the food in the ANA Lounge to be delicious, especially the curry rice. There is a good range of beverages in ANA Lounge, and I find the automatic beer dispensing machines interesting.

The lounging area in ANA Lounge is mainly arranged next to the floor-to-ceiling window facing the tarmac. The lounging areas are distinct from the dining area in terms of the type and colour of flooring used. While the dining area uses white tiles, the lounging area uses black carpet that exudes a sense of relaxation and elegance. Matched with black coloured leather seat armchairs, the seating in the lounging area by the window is arranged in rows of four facing each other. I spotted several open rooms dedicated to lounging, decked with leather armchairs and earthy wooden decor that aids in relaxing for the passengers. The area furthest from the entrance to the lounge and at the other end of the dining area is dedicated to passengers’ work. Unlike the lounging area, which predominately uses earthy tones and warm lighting, the work area is decked in white colour and uses white lighting to promote productivity.

ANA Lounge is equipped with showering facilities. We had to book using the kiosk next to the entrance, opposite the ANA Lounge reception, to use these facilities. Due to the lounge being crowded during our visit, the wait time for the showering facilities took more than 2 hours. We ended up not using the showering facilities as our boarding time was approaching.

There are shower facilities in the ANA Lounge, but we did not use them due to the long wait time.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates two types of aircraft from Haneda International Airport: the B777-300ER, configured with a long-haul Business Class product, and the A350-900, fitted with narrower medium-haul Business Class seats. For this flight, we flew on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 medium-haul product.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul variant adopts an earthy tone, apparent in the choice of colour in their seats and the carpet. These earthy tones, coupled with the lilac lighting used during boarding, aided the relaxation of passengers. The earthy tone in the Business Class seats predominantly uses different shades of brown in the leather, the padding on the seat, and the hard plastic part of the seat. Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul variant has 40 Business Class seats spread into two cabins. The large forward cabin houses 28 seats, while the smaller rear cabin has 12 seats. Seats in the Business Class cabins are arranged in a stagger 1-2-1 configuration.

Three lavatories serve all 40 passengers in Business Class: one up front just behind the cockpit, while the other two are sandwiched between the two Business Class cabins. The earthy tone in the Business Class cabins also flowed into the lavatories. The use of brown leathered backsplash in the sink area, coupled with the dark brown wooden panelling used on the cabinetry of the sink area, gave it a luxurious vibe. Singapore Airlines Business Class lavatories onboard the A350-900 Medium Haul aircraft are very well stocked with amenities. Besides the luxurious British-branded Penhaligon’s amenities, such as facial mist and hand lotion, the lavatories are also packed with premium dental kits (different from those found in Economy Class lavatories), shavers and handkerchiefs.

The Seat

Compared to its Long Haul variant cousin, I found the Business Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul a little narrow. Each of the 40 Business Class seats has a seat pitch of 60″ and measures 20″ wide (compared to the long haul variant’s 28″ width). However, the width of these seats can be expanded to 26″ when the armrests are lowered. These Business Class seats came in three modes: upright, lounge, and bed modes, which are controllable via the touchscreen seat control panel located inside the armrest on the aisle (or window) side. Besides controlling the seat modes, the seat control panel also allowed passengers to control the lighting and call for flight attendants. The upright mode is the standard mode, and the first mode that greets passengers during boarding is used during take-offs and landings. While the seat is comfortable due to its thick padding, I found the upright mode to be the most uncomfortable seating mode, mainly due to the positioning of the seat. I thought the lounge mode was the most comfortable of the three modes. Reclined at an angle, the lounge mode allowed me to relax in various sitting postures. The ability to adjust the angle of the recline and how close I wanted the seat to be from the leg rest in the seat enhances the comfort of this seating mode. The bed mode reclines the Singapore Airlines Business Class seat to 180°, converting to a truly flatbed with the touch of a button, great for passengers who want to catch our 40 winks in the sky. However, I find reclining the seat to its 180° flatbed a tad uncomfortable as my head is a little too low (it did not help to elevate even with the pillow that Singapore Airlines provided). I found that adjusting the angle of the headrest slightly upwards improves comfort in bed mode.

Singapore Airlines fitted its A350-900 Medium Haul variant with a large, sturdy table stowed under the personal TV screen in the seat. The table can be deployed effortlessly with a lift of a lever under the table. The table was folded in half when fished from its stowage position, which was great for passengers who only wanted a small area to place their snacks or drinks. When fully deployed, the table covers the entire seat width, perfect for passengers to work on their laptops. The only flaw in these tables is the lack of swivel function. Coupled with the narrow entrance to the seat (for those sitting by the window), the table would have to be kept in its stowage position for passengers to move in and out of their seats. Singapore Airlines designed a small tabletop with a console above the seat’s armrest. This small table functions as a cocktail table, where the cabin crew would place our drinks and serve as an alternate space for temporary storage. I found this side table very convenient and useful for me to leave my stuff on during cruising.

While the long-haul variant has ample storage space, the storage in the medium-haul Business Class version of Singapore Airlines A350-900 aircraft is a little lacking. Singapore Airlines fitted a small cabinet above the side table with a sliding door, which allowed passengers to stow items such as tables and passports even during take-offs and landings. The in-seat power outlet and USB-A charging port are also found in this cabinet, but only accessible when the cabinet door is opened (this design makes sense since we cannot charge our mobile devices during take-offs and landings). Besides the cabinet, I found the space under the footwell a great storage space for our carry-ons, although most people would place their shoes inside after changing into the provided slippers. The seat pocket can be used as an alternate space for storage. However, due to the position of the seat pocket, which is close to the floor and next to the aisle (at least for my seat), I find placing things here a little inconvenient to reach.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines did not disappoint when it came to Inflight Entertainment. Each Business seat onboard their A350-900 Medium Haul variant is fitted with a large 18″ touchscreen HD TV. The picture quality was excellent, and the TV’s ability to tilt ensures that the picture quality stays sharp when passengers watch movies in any seat mode. The IFE can be controlled via the IFE controller or directly using the touchscreen function on the TV. The IFE controller is very intuitive to use, resembling a mobile phone. There aren’t any physical buttons on the IFE controller, controlling the TV functions is done via the touchscreen panel on the controller. Both the touchscreen functions on the TV and the IFE controller are very responsive. Singapore Airlines provides its Business Class passengers with good quality noise cancelling headphones, which are comfortable to wear for long periods. Passengers flying with Singapore Airlines are treated to a huge selection of entertainment from the KrisWorld. KrisWorld has a huge library of shows, from the latest blockbusters to classic movies on the movie selection page to TV episodes. There is even a game section stored in KrisWorld’s archives. Entertainment options are well catalogued in the various menus for easy access.

Meal

Singapore Airlines used to serve two meals pre-pandemic for its Sleeper Service flights, but things seem to have changed recently. I recall that I was served supper and breakfast on my 6-hour Sleeper Service flight from Singapore to Seoul. However, from my experience on the outbound and this flight, we were only served one meal to be taken either after take-off or before landing. I cannot confirm if we will be served another meal if requested from the cabin crew. Like the flights out of Singapore, Singapore Airlines also offers the “Book-the-Cook” service for all Business Class passengers flying out of Haneda Airport. As Haneda is not Singapore Airlines’ home port, the choices for “Book-the-Cook” for flights departing Haneda are smaller compared to flights departing from Singapore. I did not use this service for this flight and opted for the Japanese Option—Hanakoireki by Mr Yoshihiro Murata. I had heard that the airline served great Japanese meals for flights out of Japan. The meal was served in a typical Japanese bento box with all the options in front of the passengers. The soy-glazed chicken was tasty and not too dry, but the rest tasted mediocre. I also found the meal portion to be a little on the small side. My sister opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen from the “Book-the-Cook” menu for my nephew. She commented the broth tasted salty.

Service

The service on this flight was great, and the cabin crew portrayed Singapore Airlines’ hospitality and efficiency. The cabin crew warmly welcomed us during boarding, and we were promptly shown to our seats by another cabin crew at boarding. As there were some seat swaps for my sister and her family, the cabin crew serving our aisle patiently went through the seat arrangements with me to ensure the meals were served to the correct person. As soon as we were seated, another cabin crew offered us welcome drinks. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew were seen patrolling the cabin and offering drinks and snacks to any waking passenger, despite being on a red-eye flight. During meal service, the cabin crew would gently wake passengers who opted for our meals to be served before landing and promptly set up the table and served the meals.

Afterthought

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Business Class is narrower compared to its long haul variant. Nonetheless, the seat was still comfortable, and I was able to get a few hours of sleep on this red-eye flight. The service onboard was great, and the crew was observant and diligent in patrolling the cabin in the middle of the night. KrisWorld has a huge library of entertainment options, well laid in an initiative menu, which made the flight time seem short. I had a great time on this flight with Singapore Airlines.

[Accommodation Review] – Pullman Tokyo Tamachi (Superior Suite), Tokyo, Japan (19 – 25 May 24)

Pullman Tokyo Tamachi facade at night

Location

Pullman Tokyo Tamachi is located next to Tamachi JR Station and Mita Subway Station, which is superb for exploring Tokyo with Tamachi JR station between Tokyo/Roppongi and Shibuya/Shinjuku. The Mita Subway Station is about a 3-minute walk from the hotel, making it very convenient to explore Tokyo. There are tons of restaurants right at the doorstep of the hotel, with some even opening for 24 hrs. I like the convenience of having two 24-hour convenience shops and a supermarket that opens till midnight below the hotel.

The Suite

One of the reasons we opted for Pullman Tokyo Tamachi is its spacious rooms and suites. While most Japanese hotel rooms are tiny, with some as small as 17m², the rooms in Pullman Tokyo Tamachi are larger in comparison, with the smallest room being 29m². We stayed in the spacious Superior Suite, with a floor area of 52m². This suite is essentially a Junior Suite, having a lounging area, a sleeping area, and a spacious bathroom.

Entryway

Entering the Superior Suite in Pullman Tokyo Tamachi, we can immediately feel the cosiness the earthy theme brings. The Suite is decked out in an earthy brown colour with subtle Japanese elements dotted throughout the entire suite. The entryway to the Superior Suite at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi does not have anything furnishing and acts merely as a corridor to the main part of the suite. The hotel fitted a sizeable walk-in wardrobe next to the main entrance to the suite, the only wardrobe space in the suite. The generous space inside this wardrobe provided us with ample space to hang our one week’s worth of clothing and had more than enough space to place our luggage after unpacking. The wardrobe also comes fitted with two three-tiered chest sets, providing additional storage space for smaller clothing items. The iron set is stored inside this walk-in wardrobe.

Lounge Area

The main part of the suite sits at the end of the entryway. As the Superior Suite has a Junior Suite layout, the main part of the suite comprises the lounge area and the sleeping area. The lounge area occupies about â…” of the main suite area. The main part of the Superior Suite is decked in dark brown wooden elements, from the headboard of the bed to the furniture to the shelving for displaying some art items. The art pieces in the suite not only serve as an ornament in the suite but also add a sense of elegance. The work desk sits in a corner of the suite’s lounge area, facing its main entrance. The light brown wooden work desk has a good amount of space, making it conducive to work on. I like how the hotel frees up space on this desk by tucking the Illy coffee machine in one corner of the desk and using the additional cabinetry space by the wall to install the in-house phone. There are a couple of Japanese power outlets fitted onto the wall, but I find the placement of these outlets inconvenient. We found a cabinet between the work desk and the entryway, slightly off-centre from the TV in the lounge area. Other than the top part of the cabinet being usable, there doesn’t seem much use for this cabinet for storage. The purpose of this cabinet is to store the minibar items. Pullman Tokyo Tamachi houses glass and tea cups in the three drawers, while mugs and an electric kettle are stored in the left cabinet space. A well-stocked mini fridge is hidden in the right cabinet. Perhaps the only use we found for this cabinet to stow our stuff is the space on top of the cabinet. I like how some power outlets are fitted on the cabinet space flushed to the wall, where I used the space on top of the cabinet to charge my lifestyle devices and power banks.

The three-seater couch in the lounge area of the Superior Suite at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi demarcates the lounge and sleeping areas. The couch, together with the single seater armchair, provides seating for up to four pax comfortably. The abundance of seat pillows on the couch gave the touch of homeliness. I like the consistency in the choice of colour for the frame of the seatings in the Superior Suite, which matches the overall colour tone and vibe the hotel presented to its guests. A bright red coffee table sits in the centre of the couch and armchair. Red is a common colour used in places of worship in Japan, and the use of the red tone for the coffee table adds a Japanese element to the design of the suite. There are a couple of drawers fitted onto the coffee table that I found handy for me to store smaller items. The couches face the 55″ LCD TV mounted on the wall beside the work desk. There is a good selection of channels on the TV, but most of these channels are in Japanese. A button on the remote allows us to change the audio of a limited number of channels to English.

Sleeping Area

The sleeping area occupies the space behind the three-seater couch. Compared to the functional design of the suite’s lounge area, the sleeping area adopts a more minimalistic design. Besides the ornamental shelf flushed on the wall, the sleeping area is only furnished with a king bed and two bedside tables. I find the sleep quality on the king bed to be excellent, and I was able to wake up feeling refreshed every day. The headboard of the king bed carried the same earthy design language that was apparent throughout the Superior Suite. The bedside tables are fairly small but sufficient for me to place my phone on overnight charging using the power outlets fitted onto the wall. Pullman Tokyo Tamachi thoughtfully placed an air purifier by the king bed to ensure the air stays clean in the Superior Suite.

Bathroom

The entrance to the bathroom in the Superior Suite lies between the lounge and sleeping area. The dual sink is immediately in sight at the entrance to the bathroom. The generous sink area, occupying the length of this part of the bathroom, gave us a lot of space to place our toiletries. There are two separate rooms inside the bathroom on either side of the sink. The toilet is situated on the right side of the sink. The toilet cubicle is sparsely furnished with a toilet bowl with a Japanese-style bidet.

The shower room sits to the left of the sink area. This bigger room houses the walk-in shower and a sizeable standalone bathtub. The shower area is fitted with a rain shower and a regular shower head. The water pressure and the water temperature from these shower heads were superb. Installing a small shelf next to the shower head greatly enhanced the bathroom’s functionality, allowing us to place our facial washes and dental kits. I like the shower cubicle’s design, where guests could transition from the bathtub to the shower without wetting the bathroom.

Service

Service was top-notch at the hotel. The staff at the reception were always smiling when spotting us walking past the reception and were always ready to provide assistance and recommendations. We were warmly received by Somrit, who gave us early check-in and ensured our stay was comfortable. Somrit gave us very good recommendations on the restaurants around the hotel. When the hotel could not accommodate our late check-out, Somrit came out with an alternate arrangement for our luggage and ensured his colleagues knew the arrangements for our luggage situation. The staff at the lounge came across as warm and hospitable. We were always greeted with a warm smile whenever we were at the lounge. Staff at Kasa Restaurant, where we had our breakfast, were welcoming. We were always greeted with a smile. These restaurant staff were always alert and attentive, ensuring empty plates were cleared promptly. I thought the staff at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi did a great job in ensuring we were comfortable.

Hotel Facilities

Breakfast@Kasa

Breakfast was served at Kasa Restaurant on the 2nd floor next to the reception in Pullman Tokyo Tamachi. Kasa serves up decent breakfast daily, with minor menu changes. There are both Western and Japanese breakfast options, served buffet-style in Kasa. Kasa also offered a fixed a small made-to-order menu for breakfast. The range of Western options was limited, but the restaurants served a larger selection of Japanese cuisine during breakfast. There is also a small selection of bread at Kasa during breakfast. I find it weird that maple syrup was unavailable despite pancakes and waffles on their menu. Despite being standard in the food offerings, breakfast at Kasa ensured we were well-fed daily for our exploration of Tokyo.

Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge is located on the 9th floor of the hotel and is accessible using our keycard. The Executive Lounge is relatively small but has three distinct areas to spread out the guests. The area immediately after the reception is furnished with two sets of couches and several two-seater dining tables, giving it a cosy living vibe. These seating arrangements cater to various group sizes to enjoy the lounge. The lounge serves a light breakfast and a small choice of finger food during cocktail times. In addition to bottled drinks, draft beer is available in the lounge. Due to the low human traffic during our visit, the lounge felt like a great place to relax. A bar area is further into the lounge, past the first area. This lounge area has high tables and chairs set up with a bar counter, making it perfect for guests to mingle while enjoying a cocktail. The Executive Lounge also has an outdoor area after the bar. The outdoor area is furnished with couches and a dining table setup, which allows guests to enjoy the views from Tamachi JR station while lounging. Overall, I thought the lounge was a great place to hang out due to its cosiness and the variety of seating options.

Gym

Pullman Tokyo Tamachi has a small gym on the hotel’s top floor. The 24-hour-operated gym has a small set-up with limited machines for guests to work out. The gym only has four cardio machines: two treadmills, one elliptical machine and a stationary bike. In terms of strength training, the gym has a large machine that works out the major muscle groups and some free weights. Despite the small set-up and the limited equipment, guests could still do light exercises at this gym.

Overall

We had a great stay at Pullman Tokyo Tamachi. The Superior Suite is spacious and affords us space to move around and pack. The earthy tone with Japanese elements made the suite feel comfortable. The sleep quality on the king bed in the Superior Suite is excellent. The hotel is in a great location, with many dining options and right smack between the popular areas in Tokyo. With a JR station and subway station within mere minutes of walking from the hotel, Pullman Tokyo Tamachi offered us the convenience of exploring Tokyo. The staff in Pullman Tokyo Tamachi were warm and welcoming. I would return to Pullman Tokyo Tamachi the next time I travel to Tokyo.

Tokyo Day 7 (25 May 24): Asakusa – The Oldest Temple in Tokyo; and Ginza – Home of Upscale Shopping

As our flight leaves at 10 pm tonight, we have the whole day to cover the sights we have yet to see in Tokyo. I planned to visit the iconic Sensoji Temple in the morning and Ginza in the afternoon, leaving us some time to get back to our hotel before making our way to the airport.

Koami Shrine – Washing Our Money for Luck

Before our trip to Japan, I saw a clip on social media about this unassuming temple in Tokyo that was believed to bring luck and ward off evil. Koami Shrine is located in the Ningyocho district, near the Asakusa area. We took the Tokyo Subway from Mita Station and alighted at Ningyocho Station. The shrine is a 3-minute walk from Ningyocho Station Exit A6. Koami Shrine is a small shrine tucked in a residential neighbourhood, sandwiched between two buildings. The wooden structured shrine follows a typical Japanese shrine architecture, coated mainly in the natural colour of the wood used to construct the shrine. We spotted some gold platings on the under roof of the shrine; despite the small number of golden platings, the plainness of the shrine made the golden parts stand out. There are very few carvings on the shrine structure, with only a phoenix at the topmost beam and some dragons. The main deity enshrined in Koami Shrine is the god of wealth and asset protection. Hence, the locals flocked to this shrine for good luck. One of the interesting rituals here is the washing of money, which is believed to bring wealth and fortune. After offering our prayers, we participated in the money-washing ritual in the well beside the shrine. It was an interesting experience, and hopefully, it would bring us luck.

Asakusa – The Iconic Temple in Tokyo

Our next destination is the iconic Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo. To get there, we took the Asakusa Line to Asakusa Station. Well-marked signs guide us to Exit A4, the nearest exit to Sensoji Temple.

Kaminarimon Gate – The Iconic Red Gate

The metro exit to Sensoji Temple is situated across the road. After a short walk from the exit of the metro station, we spotted the iconic red Kaminarimon Gate to Sensoji Temple. The predominantly red wooden building against the white walls is the entrance to Sensoji Temple. Statues of Thunder and Wind Gods stand were seen guarding both sides of the gate. Hanging in the centre is the iconic huge lantern, believed to weigh about 700kg, with the words “Thunder Gate” on the side facing the main road, while “Wind and Thunder Gods Gate” was inscribed at its back. Underneath the lantern, we could spot a dragon engraved into a circular wooden panel.

Nakamisedori Street – The Shopping Street in Front of the Temple

Our nightmare began after we walked past Kaminarimon Gate. We were greeted by a large horde of tourists visiting this iconic temple. To get to Sensoji Temple, we had to walk through Nakamisedori Street, the main shopping street in front of the temple. On both sides of Nakamisedori Street, we spotted numerous shops selling souvenirs, charms, clothing and some stores selling food and snacks. However, at the time of our visit, Nakamisedori Street was packed with travellers and was too crowded for us to do any meaningful shopping. Half the time, we were tussling with fellow visitors for a spot to advance closer to Sensoji Temple. The warm weather added to the discomfort we felt while walking through this gauntlet filled with stores on either side. We were not looking forward to bashing through this crowd again on our way out later in the day.

Sensoji Temple – The Oldest Temple in Tokyo

It took us 10 minutes to navigate through the sea of visitors on the 250m Nakamisedori Street. Once past the crowded street, we arrived at an open area which marks the grounds of Sensoji Temple. We could see the five-storey pagoda sitting at the left of the temple. In front of us was the inner gate to Sensoji Temple. The Hozomon Gate has a similar structure and colouring palette to that of the outer gate of Kaminarimon. Unlike the Kaminarimon Gate, the Hozomon Gate is wider and features three lanterns. The red lantern in the centre, weighing about 400kg, displays the name of the town Kobunacho. Two smaller copper lanterns, each weighing about 1,000kg, hang on either side of the centre red lantern.

A short walk from Hozomon Gate, we arrived at the main hall of Sensoji Temple. The main hall has an unusually high roof and uses the same architectural style as most Japanese temples. The main hall is decked mainly in white with red-coloured pillars. Despite being packed with visitors, the large outer sanctum of the main hall in Sensoji Temple did not feel crowded. We were able to peek into the temple’s inner sanctum from the large mash in front of the inner sanctum. A large golden altar dominated the views of visitors. As the Bodhisattva is a national treasure, it is housed deep within the inner sanctum, away from the view of visitors. All I could only see was a large painting of a peacock from the outer sanctum. I found the outer sanctum a great spot for photos with the temple grounds and the five-storey pagoda. There are several stations placed around the outer sanctum for visitors to draw paper fortune (simply drop Â¥100 into the box in each station). We spent time drawing fortune and buying charms at the outer sanctum before meeting with my sister and her family. As we were leaving the temple, I did not want to go through the sea of crowds in the gauntlet of Nakamisedori Street. Looking around, I noticed a road that seemed to lead to the adjacent main road. This way into the temple is less crowded, though one would miss out on walking under the Kaminarimon and Hozomon Gates.

Ginza – Home to Upscale Shopping

Our next destination was the Ginza area, home to luxury boutiques and upscale shopping. To get to Ginza from Sensoji Temple (or Asakusa area), we took the metro from Asakusa Station to Ginza Station. The main street in Ginza was closed to traffic on Saturdays to provide more space for shoppers to roam around. There are random chairs and tables on the main road for visitors to rest, although we saw more people using them for photos. All the luxury brands seem to find a spot in the Ginza area, and numerous shopping malls are on either side of the street. Ginza is also home to the flagship store of the Japanese brand Uniqlo, occupying a 12-storey building by itself. Perhaps we were not in the mood to shop in malls or had already bought the stuff we had set out to buy, we found Ginza a little boring. We did not spend too much time here. We returned to the hotel around 5 pm to repack our stuff and prepare to leave for the airport for our 10 pm flight tonight. We spent some time at the hotel lounge for evening cocktails and relaxation before heading for the airport.

Bye Bye Tokyo

We were in good time to check in for our flight home and had some time to spare in the airport lounge before our flight. After spending 7 days in Tokyo, I thought a few things could be better.

Not Spending More Time in Kawaguchiko and Nikko

While both Kawaguchiko and Nikko can be done as a day trip from Tokyo, I thought we were a little too rushed during our time in these outskirt towns. The journey already takes 2 to 3 hours, leaving us little time to explore the places we want. We also did not expect attractions and shops to close at around 5 pm, which further limited our time to enjoy these cities. To cover more attractions and at a more leisurely pace, I thought spending a night in each of these cities would be ideal. For Nikko, we only have time to explore part of the attractions in the western part of the town (and even that we did not have sufficient time to cover these attractions fully), there is the northeastern part of Nikko that we did not manage to cover. Hence, spending a night at Nikko would allow us to cover more of the city.

Shopping Timings are Limited

Shopping malls in Tokyo open from 10 am – 10.30 am and close at around 7.30 pm – 8 pm, which means we do not have time to enjoy shopping in the malls and department stores. We did not see any night markets (like those in Taiwan or Bangkok) that open till late for us to shop, other than the medical shops and Don Quijote, which are open 24 hours. We also realised that only restaurants are open till late, while the shops close early. Perhaps the next time we return to Tokyo, we might leave shopping at Don Quijote late at night while exploring the shopping malls in the day.

Not Spending More Time in Tokyo City

As we were trying to maximise our JR Tokyo Wide Pass and catering a day for Tokyo DisneySea, we were only 2½ days in Tokyo. This meant we were limited in the areas in Tokyo we could visit. We only managed to visit part of Asakusa and Shinjuku while missing out on places like Shibuya and some attractions such as Tokyo Tower, Tokyo Skytree and Team Labs. Perhaps the next time we visit, we will have more time to explore Tokyo City leisurely.