Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 351 – Copenhagen to Singapore – Cozy & Enjoyable 12-Hour Window Seat Economy Class Flight Back to Asia

After 2.5 weeks of going solo around the Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark, it is time to fly home. I flew out of Denmark from Copenhagen Airport to Singapore’s Changi Airport onboard Singapore Airlines. Today’s feature will be about this enjoyable Singapore Airlines SQ 351 flight from Copenhagen to Singapore on its Airbus A350-900 new generation aircraft. Find out everything about the airline’s ground & in-flight service, the aircraft used & flight information on this newest flight report.

In case you missed it, I also flew with Singapore Airlines from the Philippines to Europe in October 2019. I flew with their new-generation Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner on my 3-hour flight from Manila to Singapore & took another 13-hour flight from Singapore to Amsterdam, Netherlands onboard their newest (that time) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Check out those 2 flight reports to know more about those excellent flights.

For sure by now you’re aware that I went solo around 4 countries in Europe late last year. I spent the first few days in the Netherlands, around Amsterdam, Utrecht & North Holland. I went down to Belgium & explored the cities of Brussels, Bruges & Ghent. A few days after, I flew to Czech Republic. I had the craziest nights around Prague & the quietest days around the beautiful towns of Kutná Hora & Český Krumlov. I finished my European journey in Denmark – around Copenhagen, living like a Dane & meeting up with a friend. This solo trip is my best yet & I cannot wait to go back there after all these world happenings. I posted a lot about this trip to Europe, check them out under the Going Solo in Europe category. Now, let’s go back to the flight report!

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. The airline is based in the world’s best airport, Changi Airport in Singapore. This multi-awarded 5-star airline flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. They are one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of their subsidiaries – Silk Air (which operates to some regional destinations) & Scoot (which operates on a low-cost business model). The airline flies both Airbus & Boeing jets & boasts a young fleet of new generation aircraft.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. They offer free 30-kilogram check-in baggage allowance, in-flight meals & have personal entertainment screens in all of their flights. Please note that their subsidiaries, Silk Air & Scoot, do not offer the same services as the mother airline. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance & has a loyalty program called Krisflyer.

Airfare & Inclusions

As mentioned in my first Singapore Airlines flight report, I got this return ticket to Europe from Singapore Airlines & Bank of the Philippine Islands credit card promotion. The return economy class ticket from Manila to Amsterdam (via Singapore) & from Copenhagen to Manila (via Singapore) cost me $719.23. My credit card charged me ₱37,669.40 including conversion charges.

The ticket includes 30-kilograms check-in baggage allowance in all sectors. It also provides access to complimentary in-flight meals & snacks (drinks & liquor included) & a personal entertainment screen in front of every seat. Add to that the airline’s excellent service & hospitality. Not bad for a 5-star carrier, right?

Flight & Aircraft Information

This flight from Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH) to Singapore (SIN) took 12 hours & 24 minutes. It flew 10,713 kilometres non-stop from Denmark to Singapore. We left Copenhagen on-time & arrived Singapore 24 minutes late. We had a delay because we had a last-minute route change causing extra flight time.

Singapore Airlines used a 3.5-year old Airbus A350-900 for this long-haul flight. The aircraft was delivered to the airline in late 2016. The plane has 253 seats across 3 classes – 42 business class lie-flat seats on 1-2-1 layout, 24 premium economy class seats on a 2-4-2 seat configuration & 187 economy class seats on a 3-3-3 layout. This flight used the same aircraft type (not exactly the same body) I flew with on my Singapore to Amsterdam SQ flight.

Airport & Ground Experience

Singapore Airlines flies out of Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. Their check-in desks are found on counters 88-94, near the escalator up to security check. The counters are sorted according to class – economy class, premium economy class & business class plus an additional lane for those who checked-in online.

This is Singapore Airlines’ check-in area in Copenhagen Airport Terminal 2. Not busy, no queues.

The airline offers online check-in 48 hours into the flight. Passengers who use this option can choose regular seats at no extra charge. I checked-in before the flight & chose window seat 53A. I normally prefer aisle seats for long-haul flights like this but there were no aisle seats during my check in. I didn’t want to end up in the middle seat so I opted for the window one. Check-in process didn’t take long. The guy on the counter was friendly & accommodating. I checked in for both Copenhagen-Singapore & Singapore-Manila flights. I left my heavy luggage in Copenhagen & picked it up in Manila Airport upon arrival.

Copenhagen Airport has a very efficient airport security screening process. I finished the whole security check in less than 5 minutes. There was also no queue in immigration. It didn’t take long for me to clear the border control. My flight’s assigned gate was gate C37 – one of the farthest gates of the airport. It took me around 10 minutes to reach the gate. I also saw an Emirates Airbus A380 arrive & park near our gate.

Singapore Airlines boards its passenger by class. Business class passengers & Krisflyer & Star Alliance status holders boarded first, followed by premium economy class passengers. Economy class passengers boarded the plane last – those seated at the rear part of the aircraft went in first, followed by us in the middle rear part of the aircraft. Forward economy class passengers boarded the plane last. The boarding process took less than 30 minutes.

In-Flight Product

Singapore Airlines is known for its quality in-flight product. Check out what this flight offered to its passengers.

Seat – Singapore Airlines’ economy class seat on the Airbus A350-900 has a pitch of 32 inches & width of 18 inches. Seat recline is generous enough. Each seat has an adjustable headrest & a foldable footrest. Leg room is adequate for an average person like me. All seats feature a touch-screen personal entertainment screens with remote. Seats also had USB & power outlets & many seat pockets in front of the passenger. Seats also have a foldable table with the signature mirror. It also features a coat hook & a separate cup holder. Seats are comfortable to sleep especially for this long-haul flight.

Meals – The airline gave 2 full meals for this flight with unlimited snack & drink options in between. The started the meal service with the menu & a hot towel for all economy class passengers. They gave out crackers & drink of choice while the main meal is being prepared. They gave out lunch about 1.5 hours into the flight. The crew offered snacks & drinks almost every hour. 2 hours before landing in Singapore, they served breakfast for everyone. The meal servings were just right but they tasted great.

I got the sweet & sour pork with rice & vegetables option for lunch. What a complete meal by SQ!
Had raspberry ice cream for dessert. It was really good. I’m happy to see SQ use metal cutlery! 🙂

In-Flight Entertainment – All seats in this Airbus A350-900 have decently sized personal entertainment screens. The system had a separate remote control but its touch-screen feature responded very well. Krisworld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offered over 100 recent movie choices & television series to watch on this 12.5-hour flight. It also had over 800 music albums to listen to. I didn’t get bored on this flight like I usually do on other ones.

Flight Amenities – Singapore Airlines offered a long list of amenities & features in this flight. All seats had earphones, newly cleaned pillows & warm blankets upon boarding. The crew gave out menu to all passengers & offered hot towel to all passengers. Passengers can personalize an amenity kit (from those available in the menu) & ask it from the crew. The lavatories had complete amenities – dental kit, moisturizer, mouthwash, hand soap & tissue. It was also spot clean throughout the flight.

Passengers can ask for amenities such as eye shades, earplugs, comb & a small kit from the crew.

This particular SQ flight from Copenhagen to Singapore offered a complimentary 30 MB internet chat access to all its premium economy & economy class passengers. The free data allocation was valid for 2 hours after log-in. This promotion / offer was only available for a limited period last November 2019.

All premium economy & economy class passengers on this flight got a free 30MB internet session.

Cabin Crew Service

Like my previous Singapore Airlines flights from Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam, cabin crew service on this 12.5-hour flight from Copenhagen to Singapore was outstanding. The crew welcomed all guests with their warmest greetings & smiles. They checked on everyone before take off & landing. The set of crews on this flight was friendly, nice & hospitable.

This is my favorite drink on every Singapore Airlines flight – their signature Singapore Sling! 🙂

The crew made sure passengers don’t get hungry & dehydrated throughout the flight. They served snacks & drinks between meals. They gave out chocolate biscuits midway through the flight. Water service runs almost every hour. They granted by request of crackers & Singapore sling about 7 hours into the flight. They even gave me a glass of water with it – even if I didn’t ask for it. Cabin crew service was top-notch!

Verdict

It was another enjoyable flight with Singapore Airlines. I never thought I’ll enjoy this 12.5-hour flight from an economy class window seat! Let’s start with my airport experience. Check-in process, security check & immigration queue didn’t take long. If I remember it correctly, I arrived in the airport 2 hours before the flight & made it to the gate (after long minutes of walking) after 45 minutes. Copenhagen Airport has a very efficient passenger flow system.

Seating at 53A gave me amazing views of the A350’s wing & winglet. The windows were huge; it gave me beautiful views of the clouds & sunset somewhere in the Middle East. I sat beside a friendly & nice Danish couple who were on a holiday. The seat was pitch was just right. It was also comfortable to seat in for a 12.5-hour flight. The footrest & adjustable headrests helped me have a good sleep during the flight. I particularly liked the separate cup holder & the small mirror found in the foldable tray table. It was a simple but nice touch from Singapore Airlines. The entertainment system was alright – not the best in the market but it had decent movie, series & music choices. The earphones were so-so.

Food portions & service were excellent. It started with a hot towel, crackers & drink of choice – I went for red wine. I chose the sweet & sour pork with rice & vegetables option for lunch. It came with salmon salad, bread roll with butter & cheese with crackers. It also came with a delicious raspberry ice cream & a drink of choice. I got full up to the point where I only had crackers, chocolate & Singapore sling for snack. For breakfast, I went for the stir-fried noodles with prawn, chicken & vegetables served with fruit bowl, bread roll with butter & fruit-flavored yogurt. It came with a glass of water & orange juice. Oh, we used metal cutlery & reusable food containers for both meals. Overall, these are pretty nice meals by Singapore Airlines.

Went for the stir-fried noodles with prawns option for breakfast. I really liked the yogurt here! 🙂

The lavatory was clean & well-maintained. It had enough amenities throughout the flight. The free 30MB internet allocation was a plus! Connection was fast even if we were above the clouds. I used it to connect with my family & friends back home & those I met in Europe. Two things I didn’t like about the flight were the following: Too much use of plastic & lack of individual air vents per seat. The flight used a lot of plastic throughout the flight, from blanket covers, to cutlery covers & plastic cups. I hope they reduce the use of plastic in the future. The seats didn’t have individual air vents. It’s always a struggle for people who easily sweat like me. Good thing I already removed my jacket before seating down & only wore a shirt throughout the flight.

The flight’s highlight was the cabin crew service. The crew on this flight were passenger-friendly, accommodating & outstanding. They truly cared for the passengers & I felt it. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for another amazing flight with you; thank you for making this 12.5-hour flight enjoyable. Will I fly Singapore Airlines again in the future? Definitely. I was supposed to fly with them to Melbourne & from Brisbane last April but I didn’t push through because of the risks of Covid-19. I still look forward to flying with them once the pandemic is over.

Here are some details of this flight I took with Singapore Airlines:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 9 November 2019
Flight Number: SQ 351
Route: Copenhagen (CPH) Denmark to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 12:24 hours
Seat Number: 53A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SMH
Aircraft Engine: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 3.5 years old
Year Delivered: 2016


It was another excellent flight with Singapore Airlines. I never thought I’ll enjoy that long-haul flight from a window seat. Have you flown with Singapore Airlines on their long-haul sector? How was your experience? Share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any questions about this flight or the airline in general? Feel free to shoot me an e-mail with those questions to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Stay up-to-date with all my recent posts & blogs by following my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. Don’t forget to check out my posts under the Going Solo in Europe category. Thanks again & please stay safe.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: CZECH AIRLINES OK 502 – Prague to Copenhagen – Czech Republic’s National Carrier & World’s Fifth Oldest Operating Airline

Hi & welcome to another trip report! Last time, I took you with me onboard Brussels Airlines flight SN 2811 from Brussels, Belgium to Prague in Czech Republic. I went around the country for 4 full days – walked around Prague & Prague Castle, saw the bone church in Kutná Hora & visited the quaint fairy tale town of Český Krumlov. I enjoyed my time around Czech Republic but I had to move to the next country – Denmark.

Last November 2019, I flew from Prague to Copenhagen in Denmark onboard Czech Airlines flight OK 502. This short flight on one of the world’s oldest airlines will be the subject of today’s flight report. Join me as I share bits about Czech Airlines & its in-flight product, the ground experience in Václav Havel Airport Prague & the flight in general.

Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines, České Aerolinie in local language, is Czech Republic’s flag carrier based in Václav Havel Airport in Prague. The airline started operations in 1923; it is (at time of writing) the world’s 5th oldest airline after KLM, Avianca, Qantas & Aeroflot. The Czech government used to own the airline but was passed on to different private owners including Korean Air. As of today, Smartwings, Czech Republic’s biggest (low-cost) airline, owns majority of Czech Airlines. The airline flies to more than 30 European & Middle Eastern countries on both regular schedules & seasonal charters.

Czech Airlines is a proud member of the SkyTeam Alliance & has partnerships with Air France, KLM, Aeroflot, China Airlines, Delta, Korean Air, Garuda Indonesia & a lot more. The airline’s frequent flier program is called OK Plus. The program gives passengers OK Plus Miles on flights with Czech Airlines.

Airfare & Inclusions

I booked my Czech Airlines ticket directly with the airline 5 months before the flight. I paid 1,588 Kč (₱3,658.88 in local currency, credit card charges included) for this one-way ticket that includes 8-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance, 23-kilogram check in baggage allowance & free standard seat selection.

This was my ticket. Our flight’s number changed from OK 508 to OK 502 weeks before the schedule.

Czech Airlines, like most European carriers, offer their tickets according to fare bundles. The airline offers an economy lite fare which only includes carry-on baggage allowance & a guaranteed seat on the flight. All other services, such as check in baggage & seat selection, come with extra fees. I availed of the economy plus fare which, as mentioned above, includes carry on-baggage allowance, check in baggage allowance & free standard seat. They also offer an economy flex bundle which includes a light snack, priority check in & boarding on top of all the perks of economy plus passengers. Earning miles, rebooking & refund conditions differ from one bundle to the other. The airline also sells business class tickets on bundles. Inter-Europe business class products are not impressive so let’s not talk about it.

Remember my previous flight report on Brussels Airlines on my flight from Brussels to Prague? I availed of their Light & Relax fare bundle with has the same inclusions as Czech Airlines’ Economy Plus fare bundle. These fare bundles remind me of low-cost carriers here in the Philippines – the likes of Cebu Pacific Air & Air Asia.

Flight & Aircraft Information

Czech Airlines used a 19-year old Smartwings Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This aircraft, with registration OK-TSV, has been in use since December 2000. The plane has 189 seats on a 3-3 configuration. Business class passengers are seated in front of the cabin & have the middle seats vacant.

This flight I took is actually a Prague to Reykjavik flight which has a technical stop in Copenhagen. The flight left Prague with passengers both bound for Denmark & Iceland. We, the passengers bound for Copenhagen, disembarked in Copenhagen Airport. The plane took in new bound for Reykjavik, Iceland from Copenhagen. This flight from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark took 1 hour & 5 minutes from one airport gate to the other. We were airborne for only 59 minutes.

Airport & Ground Experience

I arrived Prague Airport 2 hours before my flight. Czech Airline’s check in counters were empty, not even a single person checking in during my time. Check in process took less than 5 minutes. The guy at the check in counter wasn’t friendly at all.

After check in, I went through security check. Business class & priority passengers & status holders have a special line. Economy class passengers go through the general line. The line moved fast because the airport’s security system is very organized & efficient. There was no need to clear immigration since I was travelling within the Schengen zone.

Prague Airport has spacious pre-departure areas. There were very few people during my time, leaving many seats empty. Some seats have power outlets & charging ports. The ground staff commenced boarding on time. Business class & priority passengers boarded first, followed by those seated at the back of the plane. I was one of the few passengers who boarded last. Boarding process was peaceful & organized. It took 25 minutes to board all passengers.

In-flight Product

Czech Airlines’ in-flight product is very basic. The seats were fitted with dirty & old leather covering. Each seat has 2 small pockets in front. The 1st pocket found within the eye level has all the in-flight literature – in-flight magazine, food menu & safety card. The smaller pocket found somewhere by the knees are for the passenger’s things – boarding pass & passport, phone, etc. The leg room was standard – not very limited but not too spacious. Seats didn’t have power outlets or charging ports. My seat 7A’s recline function was broken; I sat & slept upright throughout the flight.

Czech Airlines provide onboard snacks / meals to business class & economy flex passengers & to those who pre-ordered snacks at the time of booking or at least 24 hours into the flight. The airline has a buy-on-board scheme where economy passengers can buy snacks & drinks during the flight. The food & drinks menu is found in the seat pocket in front of each passenger.

The airline doesn’t offer personal entertainment screens for their inter-Europe flights. The only form of entertainment is the in-flight magazine found in the seat pockets.

Cabin Crew Service

Believe it or not – I had limited contact with the cabin crew. They greeted me when I boarded the flight & said thanks when I left the aircraft after the flight. That’s it! There was nothing special with the service provided on this flight. They did their job, assisted the passengers put bags in the overhead cabins, did the security checks & offered snacks & drinks midway through the flight.

Verdict

Believe it or not, I believe this flight with Czech Airlines went well. After flying with Brussels Airlines to Prague a few days before, I didn’t put in high expectations for this flight. The flight was alright – not exceptional & not bad. Mad respect to the airline’s long & eventful history but I think they need to step-up their service in everything.

I was not impressed with the guy at the check in counter. I was impressed by how things happened so quick – check in, security check & walk to the boarding gate all done in less than 30 minutes. Prague Airport’s facilities & organized passenger flow system were excellent. The waiting areas were clean, spacious & quiet.

View from my seat 7A – look at the Smartwings winglet on this 20-year old Boing 737-800 plane.

The aircraft used for the flight is 20 years old. The seats & interiors badly need a refit. On-board service & in-flight soft product was alright – nothing spectacular. Having almost the same experience with Brussels Airlines made me think that in-flight experience with relatively small European carriers are pretty much the same with some Asian low-cost carriers; but these Asian LCCs have relatively newer planes, more hospitable cabin crew & even cheaper fares.

Will I fly Czech Airlines again? Yes, no or maybe. Just like Brussels Airlines, it’ll all depend on the ticket price. If the fares are cheaper than other flag carriers or low-cost airlines, then I’ll go with Czech Airlines. If the fares have small differences, then I might opt for the other airline. The experience was not bad but it was also not exceptional. It was just alright & I couldn’t be happier that they flew me to Copenhagen safe & on time.

Avgeeks, check out the details of this short flight from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark:

Airline: Czech Airlines
Flight Date: 5 November 2019
Flight Number: OK 502 (changed from OK 508)
Route: Prague (PRG) to Copenhagen (CPH)
Duration: 1:05 hours
Seat Number: 7A
Aircraft: Boeing 739-809
Aircraft Registration: OK-TSV
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 20 years old
Year Delivered: 2000


Have you ever tried Czech Airlines in the past? What do you think of the airline? Do you have any questions about the airline & its flight policies or perhaps anything about Prague or Czech Republic? Post them in the comments section below. I will try to answer them as soon as possible. You may also send your questions via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! I hope you can support & follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Watch out for more flight reports & Going Solo in Europe content in the coming weeks! Ciao.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: CEBU PACIFIC AIR 5J 922 – Manila to Fukuoka – ‘Almost-Missed’ Surprise & Free Base Fare International Flight

Hey ho & welcome to another flight report! Let’s take a break from all the Going Solo in Europe content & go back to something related to my 2nd favorite country after the Philippines – Japan. A few months ago, my friend & I flew to Fukuoka, Japan for 48 hours to surprise our close friend in her 1st international trip. Believe it or not, my friend & I spent less than ₱12,500 each for that whole trip – flights & hostel included. We flew with Cebu Pacific Air in a super affordable fare & stayed with Nekokura Hostel to save same some cash.

Today’s flight report will talk about that ‘almost-missed’ Manila to Fukuoka Cebu Pacific Air flight we took for that 48-hour Fukuoka trip. I will share with you how we booked the cheap ticket 3 weeks before the trip, how was our ground experience at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 & what can you expect in Cebu Pacific Air’s international in-flight product & cabin crew service.

I’ve covered a few Cebu Pacific Air & Cebgo flights in my previous flight reports – ₱600 Legazpi to Manila flight on 5J 328, $24 Manila to Jakarta flight on 5J 759, short & empty Boracay flight on 5J 905 & the Cebgo Turboprop flight from Boracay to Manila on DG 6244. Let’s add this ‘almost-missed’ & free base fare flight to Fukuoka on 5J 922.

Cebu Pacific Air

Cebu Pacific Air is not a new airline in this website. As mentioned in my previous flight reports, Cebu Pacific Air is the Philippines largest low-cost carrier. It flies to more than 60 domestic & international destinations across the country, Asia-Pacific & the Middle East. It is wholly owned by JG Summit Holdings, led by the Gokongweis. Including its subsidiary Cebgo, the airline operates a fleet of 70+ Airbus & ATR commercial & cargo aircraft with a number of new generation aircraft orders in place.

The airline has opened the opportunity for every Filipino to fly domestic & international at extremely low prices compared to its industry rivals. It is known for its ₱1-base fare promotions offered a few times a year. It has its own loyalty program called GetGo & is a founding member of Value Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of low-cost carriers.

Airfare & Inclusions

My friend & I got our return Manila to Fukuoka ticket for only ₱2,873.74. At the time of booking, Cebu Pacific Air’s loyalty program GetGo offered their Fukuoka route for 2,400 points per way plus taxes. At the same time, they had a ‘5,000 points off’ promotional code for selected East Asia routes including Fukuoka. The return ticket to Fukuoka costs 4,800 points plus taxes. Upon check out & using the promotional code, we ended up having our base fare free & paying only the airfare taxes. Note that we booked our tickets 3 weeks before the flight. Flights to Fukuoka take more than 3 hours per way. Having this affordable return ticket was definitely a good deal!

Cebu Pacific Air is a no-frills airline – meaning fares only include 7-kilogram carry on allowance & a guaranteed seat in the flight. Baggage allowance, food, reserved seats & insurance are all available at an extra cost. Fees & charges differ for each flight. You can click this link to more about the add-ons cost for each Cebu Pacific Air route. This trip only last for 48 hours & it wasn’t even cold yet in Japan so I only brought a small backpack me – no add-ons needed.

Want to know how I get these cheap tickets? I revealed my secrets in these blog posts – How to be a champ in booking low fare tickets part 1 & part 2.

Flight & Aircraft Information

This Manila to Fukuoka Flight on Cebu Pacific Air left Manila station a few minutes late because of us (you’ll know why) but arrived Fukuoka International Airport 11 minutes early. We left Manila at 3:27 pm PHT & arrived Japan at 7:49 pm JST. The total flight time was 3 hours & 22 minutes. The flight used a 7-year old (that time) Airbus A320-214 aircraft in an all-economy class configuration. The plane has a total of 180 seats on a 3-3 layout.

Airport Experience

My friend & I arrived at the airport 3 hours before the flight. We had quick lunch & went straight to the travel tax counter. After paying the required travel tax, we went to Cebu Pacific Air’s check in counters. There were 3 lines for check in – one for regular check in, one for mobile & internet check in & the last one for group bookings & senior citizens. My friend & I already checked in online so we headed to the mobile & internet check in line. All 3 check in lines were long, slow & chaotic.

Pamela, one of Cebu Pacific Air’s supervisors, heard & approached me. She apologized for the chaotic check in process & said that particular afternoon was busier than expected. She escorted us to the next available counter for check in. The woman in the check in desk was nice & accommodating. She granted our request of having emergency exit seats for no additional cost. The whole check in process took us about 1 hour & 15 minutes; it used to be less than 10-15 minutes.

After check in, my friend & I went to clear immigration. All immigration counters also had long & slow-moving lines. We asked favors from people in front of us if we can go first since our flight leaves in 35 minutes; thankfully, they agreed. It still took us 25 minutes to clear immigration. We went straight to final security check & cleared the process in less than 5 minutes. While falling in line, I already saw the Cebu Pacific Air ground staff calling Fukuoka-bound passengers. They are about to close the aircraft doors in 5 minutes. After clearing final security, my friend & I literally ran to the boarding gate & went straight to the plane. The cabin crew closed the plane doors after we boarded. Thank God we made it!

In-Flight Product

As a low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air doesn’t offer on-board entertainment screens & complimentary food. All seats have a decently sized tray table & a small pocket with in-flight magazines & safety card. It has 28 inches of seat pitch & a generous recline. My friends & I were seated in the emergency exit seats so we had bigger leg room than the usual but no seat recline. The seats on this airplane were already old & needs a refit.

In-flight meals & snacks are available for purchase from the time of booking the ticket up to 24 hours before the flight. Guests who failed to pre-book snacks or meals can still buy from the items being offered on-board by the cabin crew. Items for sale are found in the Fun Café menu in the seat pockets of every passenger. I purchased a bottle of Gatorade for ₱80 & a bottle of water for ₱40 during this flight.

One unique feature of Cebu Pacific Air flights is the in-flight fun games. Cabin crew members ask 3 questions under a specified category. The first passenger to get the correct answer receives a complimentary airline merchandise. My friends & I joined the game on this flight & we won a Cebu Pacific Air pouch.

I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory on this 3.5-hour flight. From past experiences, there’s nothing spectacular about Cebu Pacific Air lavatories – they’re clean, plain & basic like a usual low-cost carrier lavatory.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew on this Cebu Pacific Air flight to Fukuoka was nice & friendly. They greeted the passenger with their best smiles & served the food right after take-off. The crew assigned to our area even asked me questions how I was before she served my drinks. She even offered a glass of ice which they don’t usually do. I have nothing against the crew on this flight. I was a happy & satisfied customer.

Verdict

Overall, it was another pleasant flight with Cebu Pacific Air. We even got more than what we paid for. Imagine paying only ₱2,873.74 for a return ticket to Fukuoka, Japan & booking it 3 weeks before the flight? You rarely get that kind of airfare deal. It was definitely a steal!

The airport & ground experience was the worst part of this flight. Long & slow check in & immigration queues & last-minute boarding process didn’t make the experience enjoyable. My friend & I were thankful for Pamela, the woman at the check in counter & the people who allowed us to cut the immigration line. We won’t make it to our flight if not for them. All parties (including us) are at fault on what happened. We didn’t imagine that those airport scenes we see in movies would also happen to us. It was our first time running from security check to the boarding gate; it was also our first time being called for boarding. Don’t worry, we already learned our lesson.

The in-flight experience made up for all the mishaps that happened in the ground. The cabin crew assigned to our flight were friendly. The emergency exit seats were relatively comfortable to seat in on this 3.5-hour flight. My friends & I won in the in-flight game. More importantly, we arrived Fukuoka ahead of schedule despite leaving Manila a few minutes late. Sure, the airplane seats, tray tables & pockets needs a refit but these didn’t affect our fun flight to Fukuoka.

I will definitely fly again with Cebu Pacific Air in the future. They are always the best option for flying cheap to destinations here in the Philippines, in Asia Pacific & in the Middle East. I’m gutted my flights with them to Shanghai, China & Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. I am still looking forward to booking future trips with them! I also want to try (again) & this time cover their long-haul economy routes to Dubai, Sydney & Melbourne. For those who want to know the specifics of this flight & the airplane used, check out the details below:

Airline: Cebu Pacific Air
Flight Date: 18 October 2019
Flight Number: 5J 922
Route: Manila (MNL) Philippines to Fukuoka (FUK) Japan
Duration: 3:22 hours
Seat Number: 12A
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Aircraft Registration: RP-C3237
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 8 years old
Year Delivered: 2012


That’s it for today. Have you ever missed (or almost-missed) a flight because of a mishap in check in, immigration & final security check? What happened & what did you do when that happened? You may share your experiences in the comments section below. Do you have any question about the things mentioned above or about Cebu Pacific Air in general? You may also send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll get to them soon.

Thanks for joining me in today’s flight report! My next flight report will be about Czech Airlines on my flight from Prague, Czech Republic to Copenhagen, Denmark. Watch out for that! In the meantime, you may follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: BRUSSELS AIRLINES SN 2811 – Brussels to Prague – Belgium’s Flag Carrier & My First Ever European Airline Experience

Hello & welcome to a new flight report. In the last flight reports, I shared with you how my Manila to Singapore & Singapore to Amsterdam flights with Singapore Airlines went. I flew with this Skytrax 5-star rated airline & I definitely had a great time. My journey to Singapore was fast & on time & my 13-hour flight to Amsterdam didn’t feel that long.

Today, I will share with you details about my first ever flight with a European airline. After spending 5 days around The Netherlands & 4 full days around Belgium, I hopped on a 65-minute flight from Brussels Airport (of course in Brussels) to Václav Havel Airport in Prague, Czech Republic. I flew with Belgium’s flag carrier, Brussels Airlines. I will give you details about the airlines & how this 65-minute international flight went.

Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines is Belgium’s national airline & the country’s largest airline. It is part of the Lufthansa Group, which also owns airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines, Eurowings & Austrian Airlines. The airline flies to over 100 destinations across Europe, North America, Africa & Middle East. Its (all) Airbus fleet consists of 10 Airbus A330s, 17 Airbus A320s & 22 Airbus A319s.

Brussels Airlines’ base airport is Brussels Airport, about 20 minutes from the Brussels city center. The airline adopts Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program – Miles & More & is also a member of Star Alliance group.

Airfare

Brussels Airlines offers their inter-Europe fares in 4 classes. Its European flights follow the low-cost carrier model where the cheapest fare only includes the a randomly assigned seat in the flight & a carry-on baggage. All other add-ons come with a free. Fares go higher as soon as you avail more services. Check out the image below for Brussels Airlines’ fare types. Please take note that their medium & long-haul flights use the Economy (with 3 variants) & Business class format.

Took this screenshot from Brussels Airline’s website – here are the 4 fare types for European flights

I availed the Light&Relax fare option & paid €67,40 for this one-way flight. The non-refundable fare includes a regular seat, 23 kilograms check in baggage allowance & 12 kilograms carry-on allowance. It also includes a free change to an earlier flight as long as it’s on the same fare class. Food & drinks are for sale during the flight. I booked my tickets 4 months before the flight & I think it’s still cheap in European aviation standards.

Flight & Aircraft Information

Brussels Airlines operated this flight from Brussels (BRU) to Prague (PRG) with an 18-year old Airbus A320-214 aircraft. This aircraft, with registration OO-SNB, has been with the airline since May 2011. The plane is named Rackham & sports such black livery – patterned after the shark submarine from the famous Belgian comic series, The Adventures of Tintin. The plane has 180 seats in on a 3-3 configuration over 30 rows. Bizz&Class passengers occupy the front row seats.

The flight to Prague took 1 hour & 16 minutes with the first few & the last minutes used for taxiing. The flight itself (from take-off to touch down) took only 1 hour & 5 minutes (65 minutes). We left the gate in Brussels on time & arrived Prague a few minutes early. The flight went smooth – no turbulence happened given the rainy weather in both cities.

Check In, Baggage & Boarding

Check in process for this Brussels Airlines flight was fast & efficient. I scanned my passport & got my boarding pass from the self-check in kiosk. I went to the automatic bag drop counters to check in my luggage. I placed my bag in the counter, scanned my passport, got my bag tag & placed it around my luggage handle. The machine got my luggage & I got it back when I arrived in Prague. This process took me less than 5 minutes; that includes the short queue in the bag-drop counters. Security check also didn’t take long – it was quick & easy.

Baggage allowance for Brussels Airlines’s European flights based on the fare types. The Light&Relax fare I bought included a 23-kilogram check in baggage allowance for this flight. This is on top of the 12-kilogram carry-on baggage allocated for every passenger. The airline’s carry-on baggage allowance is very generous compared to the 7-kilogram allowance I’m used to here in the Philippines.

The airline boards the passengers based on fare types. The Bizz&Class & Flex&Fast passengers boarded the plane first & the Light&Relax & Check&Go passengers followed. The boarding process didn’t take long; it only took us 20 minutes to board the plane. One thing I noted in this flight (probably an airport thing) was that the boarding gate was announced an hour before the flight. It was the first time I had that case but not really an issue.

Seat, In-flight Meals & Entertainment

There isn’t much to talk about in terms of seats, in-flight meals & entertainment. The aircraft has standard leather seats. The leg room was okay (for me) but can be too tight for taller people. Each seat has a small storage space by the knees. In-flight magazines & safety cards were placed in a small pocket in front of the passenger. The seats had no USB ports & power outlets. Its layout is almost similar to the seats of Asian low-cost carriers.

The crew offered in-flight snacks & beverages for a fee. Passengers can buy snacks after the pilot switches off the seat belt sign. The in-flight menu is available in the seat pocket in front of the passenger. Brussels Airlines do not offer in-flight entertainment for its inter-Europe flights – no person entertainment screens or mobile entertainment options. It has pretty basic flight features.

Lavatory

I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory on this 18-year old aircraft. I got a window seat (seat 9F) & I didn’t feel the need to visit the lavatory on this short flight. I reckon its features are basic; I just hope they maintained it well over the years.

Cabin Crew Service

The Brussels Airlines cabin crew service were alright. They helped the passengers that need help in putting bags in the overhead cabin. They entertained questions from the passengers. They were in all smiles selling food & drinks to the passengers. They also took care of the minor who flew by himself to Prague – the crew assisted the kid from check in, to boarding up until inside the plane. They even gave him a snack & assisted him in Prague until he got reunited with his parents. Cabin crew service was not outstanding but not bad either. They deserve more praise for the way they took care of the minor passenger.

Verdict

Overall, this Brussels Airlines flight from Brussels, Belgium to Prague, Czech Republic was alright. It was my first European airline & it didn’t disappoint. I did some research & watch trip reports on Brussels Airlines & European airlines prior to the flight so I know what to expect in the flight. I cannot compare this flag carrier with the likes of Singapore Airlines or Philippine Airlines. Brussels Airlines’ European flights are somewhat the same with low-cost airline flights here in Asia.

This flight was cheap considering its cost & the European living standards. Every add-on has a price tag & of course, you get what you pay for. The Light&Relax fare’s 23 kilograms baggage allowance is already a win for me. I’d like to highlight the generous 12-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance. Thank you, Brussels Airlines!

My ground experience in Brussels Airport was excellent. All processes were fast & efficient. I finished check in & security check in minutes. The hard product was alright – seats were okay & the leg room was standard. The aircraft was 18-years old & somewhat didn’t smell well during boarding. The bad smell eventually disappeared when the pilot turned the engines on. The soft product was standard & simple – on time boarding & flight departure, earlier flight arrival, normal cabin crew service & services for additional fees. Flight announcements were made in English, French & Flemish languages.

Will I fly Brussels Airline again? Maybe yes, maybe no depending on the fare. If I get the same low fare value for an hour flight, then yes. If there’s another airline who flies the same route & offers better hard & soft product for a few extra euros, I might opt for that airline. Will I recommend Brussels Airlines to you guys? Of course, especially when its cheaper & more valuable than European low-cost carriers. Trust me, I had a good flight in an old aircraft – very basic on-board service but excellent ground experience. I’d also like to try their medium & long-haul flights in the future.

In case you want to know the specific details of this flight, check out the list below:

Airline: Brussels Airlines
Flight Date: 1 November 2019
Flight Number: SN 2811
Route: Brussesls (BRU) to Prague (PRG)
Duration: 1:16 hours
Seat Number: 9F
Aircraft: Airbus A320-214
Aircraft Registration: OO-SNB
Aircraft Engine: 2 x CFM International Jet Engines
Age: 18 years old
Year Delivered: 2001 (Delivered to Brussels Airlines 2011)


Have you ever flown Brussels Airlines in the past? How was your in-flight experience with them? Will you fly them again? What’s your favorite European airline & why? Share your thoughts & experiences in the comments below. Do you have any questions about this flight? Feel free to send those questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. By the way, please help me promote my social media platforms – Facebook & Instagram.

Thanks for joining me today’s flight report! Watch out for my posts about Prague & Czech Republic in my Going Solo in Europe series.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 324 – Singapore to Amsterdam – My First Ever 13-Hour Flight That Didn't Feel Like One

Hello & happy new year! Let’s open the year with a new flight report. I mentioned in my 2019 review post that I flew to Europe with Singapore Airlines. My previous flight report covered the Manila to Singapore leg on the new generation Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Today I will cover my onward flight to Amsterdam. Allow me to share with you details of my first ever 13-hour flight which didn’t feel like one.

singapore airlines

As mentioned in my earlier SQ flight report, Singapore Airlines is the national carrier of Singapore. This 5-star airline flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 continents. They are one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of their subsidiaries – Silk Air (which operates to some regional destinations) & Scoot (which operates on a low-cost business model). The airline flies both Airbus & Boeing jets & boasts a young fleet of new generation aircraft.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier which offers complimentary baggage allowance, in-flight meal & entertainment in all of its flights. It has a loyalty program called KrisFlyer & is a member of the Star Alliance.

fare

I mentioned in my SQ 915 flight report that I booked this multi-city ticket from Manila to Europe for $719.23 or ₱37,669.40 as charged by my credit card. This economy ticket includes flights from Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Amsterdam, Copenhagen to Singapore & back to Manila from Singapore. All legs include 30 kilograms check in baggage, in-flight meals & entertainment. I know you can get ticket for as low as $500 return or even cheaper in a low-cost airline but I can say that the ‘upgrade’ to Singapore Airlines was worth it.

flight & aircraft information

Singapore Airlines used an Airbus A350-900 for this 13-hour flight from Singapore to Amsterdam. This new generation aircraft has 253 seats in 3 classes – 42 in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy & 187 in Economy. Business class seats are in 1-2-1 configuration. All passengers have lie-flat beds & direct access to the aisle. The premium economy class is at 2-4-2 configuration with wider seats & leg-room & a generous recline. Economy class is configured into 3-3-3 seating arrangement with generous seat pitch & a decent recline.

This flight to Amsterdam was operated by a 4-month-old A350 with aircraft registration 9V-SMV. The flight took 12 hours & 54 minutes & traveled 10,939 kilometers. We left Singapore a few minutes after the scheduled departure time & arrived in Amsterdam around 7:40 in the morning. The flight was full (with only 2 economy seats vacant in the cabin) but it was great. I didn’t experience any turbulence or any trouble.

Check In, Baggage & Boarding

Beautiful & classy Changi Airport Terminal 3!! This area is found after Singapore immigration.

Singapore Airlines’ flights to Europe (as far as I know) all depart from Changi Airport Terminal 3. The airline divided the Terminal 3 check-in counters according to classes & groups. They have designated check in counters / areas for first class & business class passengers. Premium economy passengers & KrisFlyer status holders also have designated check in counters. Economy passengers & those who checked in online also have a separate queue. The check in counters in Terminal 3 have no lines & are generally quiet. I already got my Singapore to Amsterdam boarding pass when I checked in at Manila station so there was no need to go through check in process again.

All Singapore Airlines economy passengers are given 30 kilograms of check in baggage allowance. This is already included in the paid fare. I was on a connecting flight so I already dropped by baggage in Manila. There was no need to check in my luggage on this flight to Amsterdam. I left my luggage in Manila & collected it in Amsterdam upon arrival.

This Airbus A350-900 flight to Amsterdam had about 200+ passengers. In order to maintain order in boarding, the staff boarded the passengers by group. Business class passengers, Star Alliance & KrisFlyer status holders boarded the aircraft first. Premium economy passengers came next. Economy class passengers also boarded by groups. Passengers seated at the rear part boarded first & those in the forward economy seats boarded last. I was assigned in the forward economy section so I was one of the those who boarded the aircraft last. Boarding process didn’t take long; the next thing I knew cabin doors were already closed.

Seat Amenities, In-flight Meals & Entertainment

Economy class seats on Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 have a seat pitch of 32 inches & seat width of around 18 inches. Each seat is already provided a plush pillow & a nice brown blanket. It also comes with an adjustable headrest which makes sleeping more convenient than ever. The leg room is not as generous as those in premium economy but it was great for a 13-hour flight. The seats also come with new-generation personal entertainment screen, a foldable tray table with mirror, a seat pocket (with in-flight literature), a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a foldable cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet. The aircraft is Wi-Fi enabled but I didn’t bother checking the rates.

LOOK! Generous leg room in this Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-900 aircraft to Amsterdam. 🙂

Economy class passengers can also ask for a simple amenity kit from the crew. The kit includes a toothbrush & toothpaste, a pair of socks, eye shades, ear plugs & a comb. Passengers can ask for these amenities piece by piece. Seat comfort was great; seat recline was generous. I normally don’t sleep on flights but I had a nice long sleep in this flight. It didn’t feel like I was seating that long!

This 13-hour flight had 2 main meals & unlimited rounds of snacks in between. The crew distributed in-flight menu to all passengers after boarding. The menu includes the 2-3 food options for each main serving, the list of drinks & snacks available. It came in English & Dutch languages. The crew distributed hot towels to all passengers before they rolled out the food.

SQ 324’s first meal service – oriental chicken rice with tuna macaroni salad, bread roll & drinks. 🙂
One of my favorite parts of this flight – SATS double chocolate ice cream. Perfect post-meal treat!

I chose the chicken rice for supper & vermicelli noodles for breakfast. All meals came with side fruits / vegetables, bread roll with butter & drinks of choice (either coffee, tea, fruit juice, beer, white or red wine). The supper came with ice cream for dessert while the breakfast had a large cup of yogurt. The meals were tasty; the servings were just right to make me full & fall asleep for a few hours. What I really liked is the use of metal cutlery in all meals. However, they also use plastic cups for all drinks & a lot of plastic in the meal service.

Breakfast served to us before landing in Amsterdam Schipol International Airport. YUM SO GOOD!

The crew rolled out snacks about 5-6 hours into the flight. Passengers can request snacks at any time of the flight. The rear galley was also stuffed with food by the crew. Passengers can go there & get any snack they want.

KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, offered hundreds of local & international movies & television series to watch on-board. It also comes with podcast choices & hundreds of songs & albums to choose from. Each seat comes with a touch screen portal & a pair of not-so-great quality earphones. The entertainment system was alright – probably not the best in the market – but it has enough content to make you busy in a 13-hour flight.

lavatory

I only used the lavatory at the back of the forward economy section & I can say the crew did a fantastic job in maintaining the cleanliness & orderliness of this lavatory. It was also nice to see dental sets, mouthwash & a moisturizer available for the passengers. Tissue supply was not an issue in this flight. Kudos to the crew who maintained the lavatories on this flight.

crew service

Apart from the impressive & new-generation economy class product, Singapore Airlines is also known for their warm Singaporean hospitality. The crew on this flight is not an exception; they provided the passengers of this flight an excellent service. The head of the economy cabin welcomed us to the aircraft with his best smile, he helped out the passengers in putting the luggage & bags in the overhead cabin & he even checked on us before the settled for take-off.

The rest of the crew was pleasant to deal with. I requested for their signature Singapore sling drink & minutes after, I was given the drink plus chips & nuts as snack. The crew also did several rounds offering fruits, sandwiches, chocolates & chips to passengers who are awake. They also made sure that everyone’s hydrated by serving water almost every hour. Service was lovely. I sensed that the crew on this flight really wanted to give the passengers the best in-flight experience. Happy to say they did. It was a lovely 13-hour flight!

verdict

What can I say – it was an exceptional flight with Singapore Airlines! Considering this was my first ever extra long haul flight & it was with SQ, I boarded the aircraft with reasonably high expectations. Believe it or not, I was happy & satisfied passenger! It was a 13-hour flight but to be honest, it didn’t feel that long.

Massive pre-departure area in Changi Airport Terminal 3 – with charging stations & comfy seats.

The flight departed from the gorgeous Changi Airport Terminal 3. The waiting areas were massive; there were several charging stations. Immigration & security check didn’t last long considering I was in the terminal during peak hours. Boarding process was fast & efficient.

Now into the flight. Seat comfort was amazing. The amenities provided complimented each other – pillow was soft, blankets were thin but warm & headrest was a comfortable to sleep in. The amenity kit was a bonus – not all airlines provide an option for an amenity kit in economy class. Personal entertainment system was modern but the content was just alright. I watched about 2 movies before I fell asleep. The earphones were a bit of a letdown – they were not that comfortable to wear. The lavatories were well-maintained throughout the flight.

Here is SQ’s signature Singapore Sling with chips & crackers. Lovely snack in between flight meals!

The in-flight meals were tasty; its serving sizes were just right. I enjoyed every part of the meal plus the ice cream after supper. The Singapore sling was worth the try again & again. It was nice to see the galley full of snacks. I was asleep during the first snack service – I asked for snacks as soon as I woke up. I only asked for a drink & I was given chips & crackers too.

Look at the amount of food available in the galley! Passengers can get anything they want here.

The highlight of the flight was the cabin crew service. I felt the genuine & warm Singaporean hospitality during the flight. The crew was magnificent, all smiles & always ready to help. They made sure all passengers are stuffed with food & drinks & had a pleasant flight with Singapore Airlines. Service was exceptional!

Is Singapore Airlines something I will recommend to everyone? Definitely. Was it worth the ‘upgrade’ from cheaper flights? Of course. To be honest, I think I actually got more than what I paid for. I suggest that you try flying with Singapore Airlines; you’ll know the reason why.

As expected, Singapore Airlines again delivered another excellent flight from Singapore to Amsterdam. Thank you for the wonderful flight experience in this 13-hour journey.

Attention avgeeks! If in any case you want to know the specifics of this flight & the aircraft used, check out the details below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 23 October 2019
Flight Number: SQ 324
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Amsterdam (AMS)
Duration: 12:54 hours
Seat Number: 42C
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SMV
Aircraft Engine: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 0.5 years old
Year Delivered: 2019

Have you tried flying with Singapore Airlines in their long haul routes? How was your experience? Did you like the in-flight meals & cabin crew service? What was the highlight of your flight? Share your comments & experiences below. I’d love to hear from all of you. Do you have any comment or suggestion on how I can improve the posts & content in this blog / website? Feel free to send them in via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. Don’t forget to turn your notifications on for my social media channels – FacebookInstagram or Twitter

Thank you for joining me in this flight report. I hope to see you again in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.