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Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 246 – Brisbane to Singapore – Underwhelming Catering but Sensational Cabin Crew Service on an Overnight Flight to the Lion City [September 2023]

After spending over a week in Australia, it was time to go home. I, together with my parents, flew with Singapore Airlines from Brisbane to Manila, with a 3.5-hour stop in Singapore. Allow me to share with you in today’s flight report how the sensational cabin crew service saved the disappointing and underwhelming catering onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ 246 from Brisbane to Singapore.

In case you missed it, I wrote about our flights to Australia with Singapore Airlines. I hope you can check both SQ 921 from Manila to Singapore and SQ 231 from Singapore to Sydney. I also shared with you how our domestic Virgin Australia flight VA 943 from Sydney to Brisbane went.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is Singapore’s national carrier. This award-winning world-class airline is based at one of the world’s best airports, Singapore Changi Airport. The airline started as Malayan Airways in 1947; it then rebranded, and commenced operations as Singapore Airlines in 1972. The airline has been a top contributor in terms of the world’s revenue passenger kilometers and the number of international passengers carried worldwide.

The airline currently flies to over 70 destinations in more than 30 countries across five continents. Singapore Airlines is one of the leading carriers in the Southeast Asian Region with the help of its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot. The airline’s previous regional subsidiary, Silk Air, has been incorporated into SQ’s operations as of March 2021.

Singapore Airline flies a modern aircraft fleet consisting of the Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max, and Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator, with 63 currently in service and two more on order. 7 of the 65 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business and premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used on North American routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities and services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals, and in-flight entertainment. The airline has a frequent flyer program called KrisFlyer & PPS Club. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, one of the world’s biggest airline alliance networks.

Singapore Airlines is not a new airline on this website. In fact, it is the second-most-reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

In case you missed it, I post reviews & features of my flights since June 2019. I’ve covered airlines such as EVA Air, Indonesia Air Asia, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines, and Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category.

Airfare

Last year, I got lucky to score affordable tickets to Australia with one of the world’s best airlines, Singapore Airlines. Believe it or not, this return ticket from Manila to Sydney via Singapore and Brisbane to Manila via Singapore only cost me $497 (US dollars). I got charged by my bank ₱27,845.92, including the foreign transaction service fee.

This affordable SQ ticket includes 25 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, 7 kilograms of carry-on baggage allowance, inflight meals and snacks, personal entertainment screens on all flights, and a 5-star flight experience with a well-trained cabin crew. Considering the ticket was booked only 5 months before the intended flight date, this was a bang for the buck. It was definitely a steal.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service and a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Philippine passport holders are only required to present their valid passports and the E-Travel QR code upon entering the country’s borders. Non-Philippine passport holders may be required to present other requirements, such as a valid visa or onward departure ticket. These requirements vary from one nationality to the other. It is always best to check with the relevant authorities regarding the updated entry requirements.

Before The Flight

Unlike previous Singapore Airlines flights, I did not receive any business class upgrade offers for this SQ 246 flight. I only got a flight check-in reminder on the airline’s mobile application 48 hours before this flight.

Upon getting the said check-in notification, I immediately chose our seats for both Brisbane to Singapore and Singapore to Manila flights and checked-in for both flights. Singapore Airlines allows its passengers to choose their seats for free during mobile or web check-in.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Brisbane-Singapore SQ 246 flight was operated by a 3-year-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This plane, delivered in October 2020, features the airline’s regional configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 economy class seats.

Flight SQ 245 took off from Brisbane International Airport at 12:04 a.m. and landed at Singapore Changi Airport 22 minutes ahead of schedule at 5:22 a.m. local time. The flight took 7 hours and 18 minutes, a few minutes shorter than its declared flight time.

Ground & Airport Experience

Singapore Airlines departs from Brisbane International Airport Terminal 1 (International Terminal).

CHECK-IN

Check-in opened 3 hours and 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. All passengers are asked to check in and print boarding passes and luggage tags via the self-check-in kiosks. After this, passengers need to drop their luggage at the bag drop counters.

I printed our boarding passes and luggage tags on the self-check-in kiosks. Then, together with my parents, I walked to the self-bag drop counters to leave our bags. An airline ground staff member approached us during bag drop and offered her assistance.

The check-in and bag drop process only took us 10 minutes. Fast and efficient!

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in, I went through security and immigration and spent the rest of the night in the pre-departure area. There is not much to do inside Brisbane Airport’s international terminal apart from enjoying the tropical vibe of the pre-departure area.

BOARDING

The ground staff announced boarding commencement at 11:08 p.m. They first called passengers traveling with infants and those needing special assistance. The ground staff then announced boarding for first class passengers, then for business class passengers and PPS Club members. They called in Star Alliance Gold and Krisflyer Elite members, followed by premium economy class passengers.

The staff called the economy class passengers last. They asked these passengers to board according to their assigned groups. The whole boarding process took 30 minutes.

The airline crew closed the aircraft doors at exactly 11:38 p.m. The aircraft pushed back two minutes later, at 11:40 p.m. and taxied to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Singapore-Brisbane flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats and 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch and a 28-inch seat width. The seats have a 1-2-1 configuration, with each seat having direct aisle access. All business class seats are equipped with a large personal entertainment screen paired with noise-canceling headphones. Each seat also includes a pillow, a blanket, several storage spaces, and a large tray table.

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches and a seat width of 18 inches, slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5-inch seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest, and a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a foldable tray table, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a USB charging outlet, a comfortable pillow, and a universal power outlet in between seats. Blankets, face masks, and disinfectant surface wipes are available upon request.

I got aisle rear economy bulkhead seat 55D in the middle section on this 7-hour overnight flight to Singapore. I had more than usual leg room and did not worry about reclining seats throughout the flight. The only downside to having this seat is the frequent disturbance I get from people using the lavatory in front of me.

INFLIGHT MEALS

Singapore Airlines served supper and early morning refreshments on this Brisbane-Singapore flight. The dinner, snack, and drink options can be found in the airline’s inflight portal, Krisworld. The airline got rid of physical menus during the pandemic.

A little over an hour after take-off, the cabin crew served dinner. They offered two types of mains: wok-fried beef in oyster sauce with egg noodles and chicken and mushroom ragout. They served the mains with farro, corn and red bean salad, cheese and crackers, a bread roll and butter, a bottle of water, and a drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, soft drinks, water, or juice. The crew went around for the second time to serve iced cream for dessert and coffee, tea, or water to those who wanted.

2.5 hours before landing, the cabin crew commenced the refreshments service. They offered chicken pies and cheese and vegetable relish on ciabatta for snacks. They distributed these with coffee, tea, water, and/or fruit juice.

I went for the noodle option for dinner and got the chicken pies for refreshments. I was disappointed because both options tasted bland and lacked flavor. My parents had the same comments about the chicken and mushroom ragout dinner option. The only thing I enjoyed in the dinner service was the salted caramel ice cream.

An hour after dinner, I asked the crew if they had snacks, chips, or nuts. I told the crew I did not like the meal. Cabin crew Celine immediately said sorry and advised me she would find something for me. She came back after a few minutes and gave me two packs of biscuits, another serving of salted caramel ice cream, and a cup of water.

The catering on this flight was disappointing and underwhelming. A massive thank you to the salted caramel ice cream and to cabin crew Celine for saving the inflight meal experience.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, Krisworld, offers thousands of options for passengers to choose from. It has hundreds of movies, television series, and music albums from different parts of the world. It also has games and local Singaporean media for passengers to enjoy. It also features an inflight map, which shows the plane’s current position, its flight path, and other flight-related details. All these entertainment options can be accessed via the touch-screen personal monitors found in front of every seat.

The personal entertainment screen of rear economy bulkhead seat 55D is mounted on the wall. It still has the touch-screen feature but is mostly controlled using the remote due to its far and high position. It can still personalize the entertainment experience by logging in using your Krisflyer membership number. It has the same moving inflight map feature. The only thing it lacks is the presence of cameras, which passengers can view during the flight.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

In July 2023, Singapore Airlines started offering complimentary, unlimited onboard Wi-Fi access on all its flights, except for flights operated by Boeing 737-800s. Passengers are required to log in using their Krisflyer accounts to use the onboard Wi-Fi service. Those not registered with Krisflyer can register during the flight to access the said service.

The Wi-Fi connection onboard this flight worked well. It allowed me to post an Instagram story while cruising 30,000 feet above sea level. Props to Singapore Airlines for giving free access to its Krisflyer members.

LAVATORY

The middle economy class lavatories on this Airbus A350 aircraft were kept fragrant and clean throughout the flight. The cabin crew checked and cleaned these lavatories frequently. These also had amenities (dental kits and hand moisturizer) that passengers might need during the flight.

CABIN CREW SERVICE

The cabin crew service on this flight was sensational. In fact, the excellent service, paired with the salted caramel ice cream service, saved the flight experience against the disappointing inflight catering. The cabin crew assigned to our area, Celine, started the dinner service by asking how I was, what I wanted for dinner, and even offering her specialty drink (which was super good) as the drink option.

Celine also apologized when she found out that I was not happy with the dinner food. She gave me lemon crackers and another serving of salted caramel ice cream to make up for it. She made sure that my parents and I had an enjoyable flight to Singapore. A big shoutout to Celine, a wonderful SQ cabin crew member, for making our flying experience a memorable one.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Upon arrival at Singapore Changi Airport, the aircraft taxied to Terminal 3 Gate B9 for proper disembarkation. For some strange reasons, the inflight screens did not flash the onward assigned gates for passengers with connecting flights. The cabin crew announced which luggage belt number the checked bags would have available for claim. The luggage claim information was also flashed in the Singapore Airlines mobile application.

Disembarkation went by quickly. My parents and I found ourselves inside Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 in no time. We went to the nearby food court to get some breakfast because we were too hungry. We spent the rest of our layover in the food court and outside the assigned gate for our connecting flight to Manila.

Flight Experience

This pretty much sums up my Brisbane-Singapore SQ 246 flight with Singapore Airlines onboard their modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The flight may not be as ideal as my previous Singapore Airlines flights, but it still went smoothly. Allow me to share both the good and the bad about this flight.

First, the 4-sector ticket only cost me $497 (US dollars) or around ₱27,845.92 in local currency. The ticket itself was already a big win because it included 25 kilograms of checked baggage allowance, 7 kilograms of carry-on allowance, inflight meals, and personal entertainment screens on all four flights. It was definitely a steal.

Second, Singapore Airlines’ check-in system at Brisbane Airport was modern, quick, and efficient. The airline used automated check-in machines and bag drop counters for all passengers. Several ground staff were also present in case a passenger needed help or assistance during the process. Third, I got assigned to a bulkhead economy class seat for this overnight flight to Singapore. Thanks to this seat, I enjoyed extra leg room for the whole 7-hour flight.

Fourth, the aircraft’s Wi-Fi connection worked well during the flight. I managed to post a real-time Instagram story during the flight. Fifth, the salted caramel ice cream and the impressive cabin crew service saved this flight from the disappointing dinner and refreshment mains. The cabin crew assigned to my area, cabin crew Celine, gave sensational service throughout the flight. She embodied and showed me and my parents how SQ hospitality should be, despite the odds.

This flight was not all good; it also had its misses. First, both dinner mains and snack offerings were disappointing and underwhelming. The meals tasted bland and lacked flavor. Good thing the dinner service came with a tasty salted caramel ice cream for dessert.

Second, I noticed that the bulkhead economy personal entertainment screens were placed higher than the usual screens. I also saw that the screens were somewhat visible to the people behind me. Third, I might have missed it, but I believe the economy bulkhead seats do not have a cup holder or mirror in the seat features.

Lastly, I did not see the connections list on the personal entertainment screens when we were about to land at Singapore Changi Airport. I know the airline normally flashes the connecting flight information a few minutes before landing, but I did not see that usual feature on the screens before landing.

Nevertheless, I am glad that I chose to fly with Singapore Airlines for this Australian trip with my parents. I cannot wait to fly with them again in the future.

Here is a summary of the geeky details of this flight:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 3 September 2023
Flight Number: SQ 246
Route: Brisbane, Australia (BNE) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 7 hours and 18 minutes
Seat Number: 55D
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHR
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 3-years-old
Delivered: October 2020

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope I gave you a comprehensive review of how it is flying with Singapore Airlines on this intercontinental Brisbane to Singapore route.

Have you flown with Singapore Airlines in the past? How was your flight experience? Are you looking to book a ticket with the airline soon? If yes, let me know if you have questions so I can respond to them. post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines and other airlines like Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you in the next flight report!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: VIRGIN AUSTRALIA VA 943 – Sydney to Brisbane – Quick Interstate Hop to Australia’s River City [August 2023]

In August 2023, I flew to Australia with my parents for a week-long vacation and family visit. I toured them around Sydney for the first three days, and I brought them to my aunt (my dad’s sister) in Brisbane for the remainder of the trip.

I have been to both Sydney and Brisbane in 2018, so I will no longer write about our itineraries. I hope you can check out my posts about these previous trips here: Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 1 – Heritage Sites Within The City, Exploring SYDNEY By Foot Part 2 – City Icons, Alleys & Harbours, BONDI BEACH & COOGEE BEACH – A Short Trip To Two of Sydney’s Suburban Beaches, and BRISBANE Weekend.

I flew to Sydney from Manila with Singapore Airlines on board flight SQ 921 from Manila to Singapore and flight SQ 231 from Singapore to Sydney. I wrote about these two flights in my previous flight reports. I hope you can also check them out. After three days in Sydney, I, together with my parents, flew with Virgin Australia on their domestic service from Sydney to Brisbane on flight VA 943. I will share with you details about this quick interstate hop on this newest flight report feature.

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia is an Australian-based airline founded by British businessman Richard Branson (founder of Virgin Group) and Australian businessman Brett Godfrey. Previously known as Virgin Blue, the airline commenced operations the following year as a low-cost carrier. The airline started growing its route network and market share after the collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001. It eventually became the country’s second-largest airline after the national carrier, Qantas. The airline went through a massive transformation in 2011, offered business class products, and changed its name to Virgin Australia.

In April 2020, Virgin Australia went into voluntary administration due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A few months later, American private investment company Bain Capital agreed to take over the airline management and bring the airline back to the skies.

As of writing, Virgin Australia flies to over 30 domestic and international destinations using over 80 Boeing-only aircraft. It operates its Boeing 737 aircraft from its main hubs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and its secondary hubs in Adelaide and Perth. The airline is not part of an airline alliance, but it has codeshare and interline agreements with many of the world’s carriers. It also has its own frequent flyer program called Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Virgin Australia is a semi-full-service carrier, like Air France. The airline provides inflight refreshments on their short domestic routes. It also offers a complimentary check-in baggage allowance, but it will depend on the purchased fare bundle: Lite, Choice, Flex, and Business. It also offers basic (lite) fares, which only include a 7-kilogram carry-on baggage allowance. Any additional services outside the fare bundles are available for purchase during initial booking or up to hours before the scheduled flight. The airline offers inflight entertainment via the passengers’ personal devices.

Airfare

I booked this ticket a little over 3 months before the intended flight date and paid 109 AUD per person ~ roughly ₱4,000 including foreign conversion service fees. I got the Choice fare option, which includes 7 kilograms of carry-on baggage, 23 kilograms of checked luggage, a complimentary standard seat, and the usual domestic onboard service.

Domestic airfares in Australia are, by nature, expensive. These fares only get cheap when flying basic (no add-ons), booked way in advance, or when offered during seasonal promotions. I flew with Virgin Australia on the same route back in 2019 and paid a higher fare for a basic fare bundle for a Saturday morning flight. I guess that is how domestic fares are in Australia.

Do you want to know the difference between a full-service and a low-cost airline? Check out my previous post detailing the differences of these 2 types of airlines.

Travel Requirements

Flying domestically in Australia only requires the usual identification document. As a tourist, I presented my passport and printed boarding pass at the bag-drop counter.

In case you missed it, I wrote about the steps on how to get an Australian tourist visa. I hope you can check out this quick guide.

Before The Flight

Virgin Australia sent five emails before this flight happened. 7 days before the flight, I got an email offering me to bid for a business class seat. Two days later, I got another email offering to upgrade my standard seat to an EconomyX seat for more legroom and priority boarding. I also got a reminder to purchase additional baggage allowances in case I need to.

3 days before the flight, I got the same upgrade bid offer email I got a week before the flight. 2 days before the flight, I got 2 emails from the airline: the first email reminding me about my flight, the ticket inclusions, airport procedures, and flight check-in reminder, and the second email solely explaining the online check-in to airport procedures. The contents of these two emails are pretty much the same, only with different email layouts and sending schedules.

Kudos to Virgin Australia for offering these add-ons and for keeping their upcoming passengers aware of everything about the upcoming flight.

Aircraft & Flight Information

This Sydney-Brisbane Virgin Australia flight utilized a 5.8-year-old (at the time of the flight) Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. The next generation aircraft, delivered to the airline in November 2017, has 8 business class seats in a 2-2 configuration and 168 economy class seats in the standard 3-3 layout.

The flight took off from Runway 34R/T6 of Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 1:14 p.m., headed north, and landed at Brisbane Airport 5 minutes ahead of schedule at 2:25 p.m. This domestic flight only took 1 hour and 11 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

Virgin Australia’s domestic flights depart from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport Terminal 2.

CHECK-IN

Upon arrival at Sydney Airport Terminal 3, I went to the Virgin Australia check-in counters on the left side of the terminal building. I checked in for the flight using the self-service check-in kiosks and printed my boarding pass and luggage tag. After this, I went to the bag-drop counter and surrendered my check-in luggage.

This efficient check-in process only took me 10 minutes to finish. The ground staff at the bag drop counter was nice and friendly.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After check-in and bag drop, I went through a security check and went to our assigned gate, Gate 38. I left my dad in the pre-departure area and went to the food court with my mom to get food for lunch. I, together with my mom, walked back to Gate 38, had our lunch there, and waited for boarding to start.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced at 12:33 p.m. The ground staff asked business class and priority passengers to board the aircraft first. Then, they asked the economy class passengers to board next. The crew asked passengers assigned to rows 1 to 14 to board using the jet bridge. They advised passengers with seat numbers 15 to 30 to board using the stairs at the back of the aircraft.

The boarding process only took 15 minutes. The airline crew closed the aircraft doors at 12:48 p.m. The aircraft was pushed back 11 minutes later, at 12:59 p.m. and taxied to the runway for take-off.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Sydney-Brisbane flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800 next-generation aircraft. This aircraft featured 8 recliner business class seats on a 2-2 layout and 168 regular economy class seats on a 3-3 configuration.

According to our friends at SeatGuru, each business class recliner seat has a seat pitch of 37 inches and a seat width of 19.5 inches. These seats have thicker and softer padding and adjustable head rests. They also feature portable entertainment systems, individual reading lights, overhead air vents, and power sockets.

On the other hand, each economy class seat has a seat pitch of 30 inches and a seat width of 17 inches. The seat also features leather seatback padding with adjustable headrests, a normal tray table, a seat pocket with a safety card and inflight connectivity card, an individual air vent, and a personal reading light. The economy class seat does not feature a personal entertainment screen.

I got window seat 17F for this short hop to Brisbane. I found the seat to be nice and comfortable for this 1.5-hour flight.

INFLIGHT SNACK SERVICE

Virgin Australia offered complimentary drink service on this flight to Brisbane. The cabin crew offered water, coffee, and tea to all passengers. They advised that snacks and other drink options are available for purchase and directed all passengers to check the inflight menu for these options.

Back in 2018, I remember Virgin Australia offering a complimentary granola snack and a drink of choice (coffee, tea, water, juice, or soda) on the same Sydney to Brisbane route. It was sad to see that they no longer offered the free snack on this short domestic flight.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

The airline offered inflight entertainment options to all passengers via the passengers’ personal screens. They made ‘Virgin Australia Entertainment’ available for free via the passengers’ personal devices. The entertainment options include movies, series, and a moving inflight map. All the passengers need to do to access this system is connect to the onboard Wi-Fi connection.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Virgin Australia offered a paid Wi-Fi service on this flight to Brisbane. They have two available flight Wi-Fi passes: a 30-minute pass for 9.75 AUD and a flight pass (for the entire flight duration) for 14.95 AUD.

I did not connect to the paid Wi-Fi service since it was only a short domestic flight. Also, I believe the rates seem to be on the high-end price tier compared to internet passes offered by other carriers.

LAVATORY

I did not visit the plane’s lavatory on this 1.5-hour flight from Sydney to Brisbane. I did not want to disturb my parents, who slept throughout the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was just alright. The crew did their job, assisted the passengers, and served snacks and drinks. Nothing more, nothing less.

Disembarkation & Luggage Claim

Disembarkation was quick, orderly, and efficient. The plane reached the assigned gate 10 minutes after landing. Business class passengers got off the plane first. Economy passengers deplaned row by row.

Luggage claim was also quick. We got our checked bags within 10 minutes from the time we got off the plane. Brisbane Airport’s domestic arrivals area is small and easy to navigate around.

Flight Experience

It was a usual flight with Virgin Australia. It was my second time flying the airline, but it was my first after it survived going under during the pandemic. I have noticed some changes in the service, but I think they are understandable given what happened a few years ago.

Some parts of the flying experience stood out to me. First, the airline’s check-in and bag drop processes were quick and efficient. It even included fast-track security. Second, Virgin Australia’s boarding process is fast and unique, given that the airline uses jet bridges. They board passengers from both the jet bridge and the rear door through the stairs.

Third, the airline notifies their passengers through the mobile application once their check-in luggage is loaded onto the aircraft. Fourth, the inflight entertainment option on personal devices is always a bonus in the age of low-cost flying. Lastly, the airline still provides complimentary on-board drinks (coffee, tea, or water) on short domestic flights like this to Brisbane.

This flight was not all good; it also had its misses. First, I noticed the reduction on inflight snack service. The airline removed the complimentary snack (granola bar) and other drink options such as soda and fruit juices which they served back in 2018.

Second, the inflight Wi-fi prices are expensive. Other airlines, like Emirates, offer Wi-Fi access at cheaper prices, while Singapore Airlines offers it for free to all Krisflyer members. Lastly, the airline sent a lot of pre-flight reminders and offers. I received five promotional emails within 7 days. I believe that is too much. These promotional offers and emails are fine if they are not sent this often.

Nevertheless, I still had a nice flight with Virgin Australia. I will still consider them for my future flights within Australia, especially when their competitor offers more expensive flights.

Here are some details of this flight:

Airline: Virgin Australia
Flight Date: 30 August 2023
Flight Number: VA 943
Route: Sydney, Australia (SYD) to Brisbane, Australia (SYD)
Duration: 1 hour & 11 minutes
Seat Number: 17F
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 Next Generation
Aircraft Registration: VH-YWD
Engines: 2 x CFM International Engines
Age: 5.8-years-old
Delivered: November 2017

Have you flown Virgin Australia recently? How was your experience? Will you fly them again soon or by any chance have questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to share your ground and flight experiences or post your questions in the comments section below. You may also send them via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report. I hope you can check out my previous flight reports with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, EVA Air, Air France, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines. I hope you also look forward to more flight reports in the future.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

2023 Roundup: Revenge Travel At Its Peak

And just like that, another year is about to end. Looking back at this year, I can confidently say it has been a year of peak revenge travel. I started the year without any plans, but I was able to take on more than the usual number of trips I take in a year.

Join me in today’s roundup as I look back on how this year went for this website and my travels, as usual.

Blog Roundup

I am ending 2023 with 36,000+ page visits by over 29,000 unique visitors from all over the world, a big jump from last year’s 16,500+ page visits by almost 13,000 unique people.

Content-wise, I managed to post 38 blogs (including this) that mainly talked about our 2022 trip to France, Italy, and Spain. I also continued sharing my flight experiences with Emirates, Vietnam Airlines, Vueling, Scoot, Air France, and many more. I kept featuring hostels from Europe and Southeast Asia; I also shared itineraries, day trips, and travel tips about the places I visited in the past.

I had a busy but fruitful year maintaining this passion project. I am a little bit behind, but I am keen on finishing a lot of content for you in the next few weeks and months. I want to thank you for sticking by and showing some love to all the posts on this site.

A Dream Come True Part 2: 24 DAYS Around FRANCE, ITALY & SPAIN For Less Than ₱170,000 ALL IN – Airfare, Accommodation, Food, Museum Tickets & Transportation Included

Trips Roundup

VIETNAM

I spent a week in Vietnam before their Tết Holiday last January. I flew into Hanoi, met new friends, and explored the city. I also spent a day in Hạ Long Bay. After Hanoi, I flew down to Ho Chi Minh City on business class with Vietnam Airlines for the first time. I spent a few days around the city and met with old (and new) friends after not seeing them for more than 5 years.

HANOI Weekend Photoblog: 3 Fun-Filled & Spontaneous Days around the Vietnamese Capital City
Flight Report: VIETNAM AIRLINES VN 219 – Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City – Wide-Body Business Class Product in One of the World’s Busiest Domestic Routes [January 2023]
Hostel of the Day: LONG HOSTEL SAIGON – Family-Managed Homey & Value Hostel Found in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City District 1

SINGAPORE

In March, I flew to Singapore with Scoot with my relatives to celebrate my cousins’ birthdays. We went around Marina Bay, Bugis, Kampong Glam, and Orchard. We also spent a day at Universal Studios Singapore and became kids again with the kids.

I also took this time to reconnect with friends from college dormitory days and my previous 2019 Boracay trip.

Flight Report: SCOOT TR 397 – Manila to Singapore – Reasonably-Priced Early Morning Flight to the Lion City [March 2023]
Hostel of the Day: CUBE BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL @ KAMPONG GLAM – Budget-Friendly Property in the Heart of Singapore’s Muslim Quarter
Hostel of the Day: THE POD BOUTIQUE CAPSULE HOTEL – Dark-Themed, Futuristic & High-Priced Property Along Singapore’s Beach Road
Flight Report: SCOOT TR 390 – Singapore to Manila – Affordable Low-Cost Afternoon Flight Back to Manila [March 2023]

JAPAN – FUKUOKA & KANSAI REGION

For the first time since the pandemic, I flew to Japan for a week. I started my journey in Fukuoka, stayed only around the city, and hopped on a Peach Aviation flight to Osaka. I spent the rest of the week just walking around Dōtonbori, Shinsekai, and Shinsaibashi. I also took trips out of Osaka and went to Kyoto, to Uji for green tea, and Nara for Sakura.

Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight [April 2023]
Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog [April 2023]
Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

HOSTED FRIENDS IN BICOL

For the second year in a row, I hosted Manila friends again in Bicol for the Labor Day weekend. Just like last year, we spent two full days on a private coastal beach and spent the rest of our time around Legazpi and nearby towns.

CEBU

Last August, I took a quick hop from Legazpi to Cebu to spend a random food trip weekend with my N9 constants. We went around the city, ate a lot of food, and enjoyed each other’s company for 48 hours. Like my 2022 Cebu trip with high school friends, we also went out of the city to visit the Sirao Garden and Temple of Leah.

AUSTRALIA

Two weeks after Cebu, I flew to Australia with my parents. I took them around Sydney for the first four days. We walked around the city and went to the Sydney Opera House, near the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, and within the central business district. We also took an afternoon out to the famous Bondi Beach.

We spent the remaining 5 days in Brisbane with our relatives, my father’s sister, and her family. We went around the city, drove up to the Australia Zoo, and drove down south to Gold Coast. I will post flight reports about our Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia flights taken during this trip, so I hope you can look forward to those.

JAPAN – TOKYO

In October, I flew to Tokyo for a few days with my high school friends. We have been to Tokyo in 2015, but we have not been to many places. We went around the usual places like Shibuya, Ueno, Roppongi, Tsukiji Outer Market, and Tokyo Disneyland. We also went to Shinjuku, Odaiba, Ginza, and the new Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter in Nerima City.

We also took a do-it-yourself day tour to Fujikawaguchiko and saw Mount Fuji in its glory. We were three days early before its first snowcap, but we just found another reason to go back in the future.

I have so much to write about our Tokyo trip. I hope you can look forward to these contents in the future.

DAVAO

Last month (November), my travel and buffet buddy got married in Davao. My friends and I flew to Davao to witness this very important occasion. We went only for the wedding and nothing else. We also took this chance to spend time with friends whom we had not seen in a long time.

HONG KONG

Early this year, my friends and I joined Hong Kong Airport’s World of Winners campaign and luckily won Cathay Pacific tickets to Hong Kong. We used the free tickets early this month and flew to Hong Kong for 4 full days. We went to the usual places like Avenue of the Stars, Mongkok, Ngong Ping Village, City Gate Outlets, and The Peak.

We also spent one whole day in Hong Kong Disneyland, from park opening to closing. We availed of Klook’s early entry tickets and immediately rode the two new rides in the newly-opened Arendelle: World of Frozen. Please look forward to my Hong Kong blog next year.

Bonus – US Tourist Visa

Another achievement I got this year was getting my B1/B2 United States Visa, which is valid for 10 years until December 2023. A day after arriving back from Hong Kong, I showed up at the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila for my visa interview. I got approved eventually and got my visa after four days.

I will write about the do-it-yourself process of getting this visa soon and post it, hopefully next month.

What’s In Store for 2024

You might wonder what plans I have for next year. At this stage, I am unable to disclose until everything is final or the trip has happened. I do not have a lot booked, but I am looking forward to whatever flight deals come my way this coming 2024.

Of course, I will not stop posting details of my previous trips, flights, and hostels. I have a lot of content planned for 2024. I am looking forward to sharing all of them with you.

2023 has been a great travel year for me. Thank you to friends and families who joined me on all these trips. Also, thank you for sticking with me throughout the year. I look forward to taking you with me on my future adventures! Here’s to more in 2024 and beyond.

I wish you, your families, and your friends a fun-filled and prosperous 2024! Happy new year!

Cheers,
Paolo ✈️

Kansai 2023: UJI – Do-It-Yourself Half-Day Tour Around Kyoto’s Green Tea Heaven + Kyoto Side Trip [April 2023]

Early this year, I flew to Japan for a week for the first time since the pandemic and since I flew to Fukuoka in 2019. I did not make any concrete plans on where to go or what to do. I went there to enjoy being in the country again after not visiting it for over 3 years.

In case you missed it, I already shared a few details about this trip. I talked about my domestic flight experience with Peach Aviation here: Flight Report: PEACH AVIATION MM 158 – Fukuoka to Osaka Kansai – Future-Proof & Efficient Japanese Domestic Low-Cost Flight. I also shared some photos of Osaka and Nara here: Kansai 2023: OSAKA & NARA Photoblog.

One of the new places I explored during this trip is Kyoto’s green tea heaven, Uji. Allow me to share with you what I did and where I went on this half-day trip to Uji. I will also share photos and details of my side trip to Kyoto on the same day.

I have been to Kyoto a few times in the past. I went there last October 2015 during my first trip to Japan. I re-visited the city again in 2016 during my 13-day expedition around Nagoya, Kansai and Hiroshima. In 2019, I spent a day in Kyoto from Osaka with my sisters and explored the city highlights.

Uji

Uji is a small city nestled between Kyoto and Nara. The city became a beneficiary of developments during the Heian Period when Byōdō-in Temple and Ujigami Shrine were constructed.

Today, the city is famous for its quality green tea products. It is one of Japan’s most important green tea production and distribution areas; it is also the place-to-be for green tea and matcha lovers.

Transportation & Access

Going around Uji is easy and tourist-friendly. The best way to get around the important sights is by foot. The city center is so small to the point where you can walk around the center in one morning or one afternoon. The city’s tourist information center suggests a typical walking route to see and explore the city’s attractions in one loop.

The city is connected to the rest of Japan through two stations: JR Uji Station in the Nara Line (south of the Uji River) and Keihan Uji Station in the Keihan Uji Line (north of the Uji River). JR Pass holders are advised to get off at the JR Uji Station, while IC card holders can take the Uji local train line. Both stations are connected to other major train lines in Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka.

Places Visited in Uji

I took the local trains from Osaka and got off at Keihan Uji Station. I dropped by the tourist information center and asked for the recommended walking loop, and I was given a map with the best possible route. I went to the following places:

UJIGAMI SHRINE

Ujigami Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the north side of the Uji River. It is believed to be one of Japan’s longest-standing shrines and is linked to the Byōdō-in Temple. The shrine was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994.

UJI SHRINE

Uji Shrine is another Shinto shrine found lower than the Ujigami Shrine, also on the north side of the Uji River.

UJI RIVER

The Uji River is a beautiful river that flows through the city. River cruises and traditional fishing activities happen on this river during peak seasons.

ASAGIRIBASHI BRIDGE

Asagiribashi Bridge is a walking bridge that connects the northern part of the city to Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park.

KYOTO PREFECTURAL UJI PARK

Kyoto Prefectural Uji Park is an island park with scenic views of the city and a 13^th-century stone pagoda. The park is on two islands – Tachibana Island and Tō-no-shima Island.

UJI CITY MUNICIPAL TEA HOUSE TAIHOAN

After crossing the river and walking around the park, I walked to the municipal tea ceremony house (taihoan) to witness a traditional tea ceremony. I had a wonderful experience watching the tea ceremony. The ceremony has a ¥1,000 fee, and it includes mochi and a high-quality Uji green tea. Photos and videos were not allowed during the ceremony.

BYŌDŌ-IN TEMPLE

Byōdō-in Temple is a Buddhist temple built during the Heian Period. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is also the temple found at the back of the 10-yen coin. Entry to the temple grounds costs ¥600 per person.

AGATA SHRINE

Around 100 meters from Byōdō-in’s exit is Agata Shrine. It is a Shinto guardian shrine of Byōdō-in.

MATSUSAKAYA KAHACHI

I randomly came across this local tea shop named Matsusakaya Kahachi. I was invited by the two old gentlemen to go inside their shop and was taught how to make a hot sencha green tea drink from dried tea leaves.

They offered me three small cups of sencha tea. They do not speak English but tried their best to converse with me using their hands and gestures.

I liked their sencha tea product and bought both sencha tea leaves and matcha green tea powder from this shop. I had a beautiful and heartwarming experience with these two old gentlemen. I want to visit them again in the future and buy lots of green tea leaves and matcha powder from their shop.

PS. I asked for their permission to post their photo on my website.

UJI BYODOIN OMOTESANDO

Uji Byodoin Omotesando is the city’s green tea and matcha heaven. This 300-meter street is full of wooden houses and merchant shops selling green tea leaves, matcha powder, and everything green tea or matcha.

I came across this unique restaurant that serves ramen with matcha noodles. I tried it for lunch and paired it with their signature Uji matcha gyoza. It was weird at first, but okay for the experience.

TSUEN TEA HOUSE MAIN BRANCH

On the way back to Keihan Uji Station, I dropped by Tsuen Tea House’s main branch and tried their sakura matcha soft serve ice cream. I had one of the best and most flavorful soft-serve ice creams in this store!

The soft-serve iced cream costs ¥380. Customers can choose between matcha only, sakura only, or sakura matcha (mixed) flavors.

SURUGAYA KEIHAN UJI STATION

I also dropped by a local confectionary shop named Surugaya and tried their ¥100 green tea mochi sticks.

Kyoto Side Trip

After spending 4-5 hours around Uji, I took the local from Keihan Uji Station to Gion-Shijō Station in Kyoto. I spent the remaining 3 hours walking around Gion, and I visited Nishiki Market, Ponto-chō, Ninenzaka, and the Instagram-famous Hōkan-ji Temple. Here are some photos of these famous Kyoto spots.

NISHIKI MARKET

PONTO-CHŌ

NINENZAKA

HŌKAN-JI TEMPLE

After my quick trip to Kyoto, I took the train back to Osaka, dropped by the supermarket to get some food, walked back to my hostel, had dinner, and called it a day.

This sums up my long but fun day around Uji and Kyoto. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s blog. I hope you stay tuned for more Japan-related content in the future. I hope you can also visit and follow my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram! Thanks again and see you in the next one.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Hostel of the Day: LONG HOSTEL SAIGON – Family-Managed Homey & Value Hostel Found in the Heart of Ho Chi Minh City District 1

After spending 3 days around the beautiful city of Hanoi, I took a domestic flight with Vietnam Airlines on business class down to Ho Chi Minh City and spent a few days in Vietnam’s most populous city. I also took this time to meet with friends whom I had not seen in a very long time.

During this brief visit to Ho Chi Minh City, I stayed at a small yet homey family-managed hostel named Long Hostel. I am featuring this property in today’s Hostel of the Day feature to tell the world how wonderful and budget-friendly this is.

Long Hostel

Long Hostel is a small family-owned and run hostel in Phạm Ngũ Lão, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Located in a multistory building, the hostel hosts all types of travelers in its private and dormitory rooms.

In case you do not know, I try to stay and review hostels anonymously during my trips. I have been to a lot of hostels around Asia, Australia and Europe. I hope you can check all of these hostel features under the Hostel of the Day category.

Location & Access

Long Hostel is located at 373 / 10 Đ. Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam. It is in an alley within the busy and central District 1 and a few minutes away from Bùi Viện Walking Street.

The hostel is in a busy commercial neighborhood. It is near restaurants, cafes, hostels, hotels, travel and tour agencies, supermarkets, and banks. It is also near a local public market. It is 5 minutes away by foot (350 meters) to Bùi Viện Walking Street, 20 minutes away by foot (1.6 kilometers) to the Independent Palace, and 20 minutes away by foot (1.9 kilometers) to Bến Thành Market.

Ho Chi Minh City’s busiest airport, Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, is 20-30 minutes away by Grab or taxi without traffic. Fares vary depending on the time of the day. It is also 30 minutes to an hour away by local bus 109. The local bus fare costs ₫15,000.

Long Hostel’s location is easily a 10 out of 10. It is in a quiet alley within a bustling commercial area; it is practically near everything.

Room Options

Long Hostel only offers 2 room types: a private double room and a mixed dormitory room.

The hostel’s double rooms feature a large double bed, a working table and seat, a private toilet and shower (including towels), a stand fan, an air conditioning system, a cable television, a balcony (for selected rooms), a small refrigerator, a safety deposit box, and a closet.

The mixed dormitory rooms feature 2 bunk beds, an in-room shower and toilet (with towels), individual reading lights, and lockers. These dormitory rooms are also air-conditioned.

I booked 3 nights in a double room and paid ₫1,170,000 upon check-in; I paid ₫390,000 (around ₱900) per night. I booked through Booking.com and got an upper-floor double room with a strong and fast wi-fi connection.

Guest Facilities & Amenities

Long Hostel has a long list of facilities and amenities that guests can enjoy during their stay.

Free, Fast, and Reliable Wi-Fi Connection – The hostel’s wi-fi connection is free, fast, and reliable. It is perfect for remote work, including video calls and meetings.

Complimentary Hearty Breakfast – Long Hostel provides complimentary daily breakfast between 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. They have 5 food and 5 drink options to choose from.

Communal Lounge & Business Centre – Hostel guests have access to a communal lounge and business center at any time during their stay.

In-Room Shower & Toilet – Each room is equipped with a toilet and shower. Double rooms have their own private shower and toilet, while dormitory rooms have them shared inside each room.

Bath Towels – The hostel provides bath towels to all guests, regardless of room type.

Air Conditioning in Rooms – All rooms are equipped with air conditioning systems to cope with the Saigon heat.

Free Drinking Water Refills – The hostel provides free drinking water refills to guests.

Boardgames and Piano – Long Hostel has boardgames that guests can borrow and play during their stay. Those who know how to play a piano can try playing the hostel’s piano.

Luggage Storage – The hostel provides complimentary luggage storage to all incoming and outgoing guests during check-in and check-out days.

Tour Desk – The hostel has its own tour desk. They can help guests book their day tours or transportation tickets to other parts of the country.

Coin Bank – The hostel has a coin bank where guests can leave coins they no longer need and take coins of countries they are traveling to.

Laundry Services – Long Hostel offers laundry services at an additional charge. Do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Cam if you want to have your clothes washed.

Long Reception Hours – The hostel has long reception hours. Ms. Cam and the rest of the team may not be in the reception area all the time, but they can be contacted via WhatsApp at any time of the day.

Friendly and Amazing Host Family – Ms. Cam and her family are great hosts. They make sure guests have a great time, from check-in to check-out. They also provide their WhatsApp number for questions or emergencies.

Secured Hostel Premises – The property is equipped with security cameras to ensure everyone’s safety.

Flexible Booking Terms – The hostel has a very flexible cancellation policy. Guests can cancel up to 1 day before the intended check-in date at no cost. They also honor the pay upon check-in mode of payment.

Hostel Experience

I had a homey stay at Long Hostel Saigon. I have been to many hostels around the world, and I found this hostel to be one of the very few that felt like home.

Allow me to elaborate on what I liked about this property. First, Long Hostel Saigon’s rates are one of the best and most affordable for private rooms in the area. Second, the hostel is in the center of Saigon’s backpacker district. It is near everything a tourist needs during his or her visit.

Third, Long Hostel offers a hearty and filling complimentary breakfast. I was surprised when Ms. Cam told me of this perk during check-in because I knew this was not included or indicated in my booking confirmation. I highly recommend their banana pancakes, fresh passion fruit juice (as shown below) and iced coffee.

Fourth, Long Hostel has a fast and reliable wi-fi connection. The hostel’s connection is perfect for those working remotely. Fifth, Ms. Cam and her family consider their guests as members of the family. They are very warm, friendly, and hospitable. Ms. Cam even gave me her WhatsApp number and advised that I could message her if something wrong happened at any time of the day.

Lastly, Ms. Cam and her family offer exemplary service to their guests. Ms. Cam made sure she was present in the hostel to welcome me during check-in and to send me off after check-out. She also did everything to have the broken air conditioning system in my room fixed within 2 hours after I notified her via WhatsApp.

I did not expect this property to have the usual hostel activities because it is run by a small host family. I read from past reviews that they also offer free beers during the night, but I was not able to experience it since I was out during those times. The only minor inconvenience I found during the stay was the lack of lifts on the property. It would be difficult for those with big luggage and heavy bags to go up the higher floors. It is not a big issue, but I believe it is a factor for some guests, so I had to take note of it.

Other than that, I had a lovely stay at Long Hostel Saigon. Ms. Cam was an amazing host. I recommend this property to all of you. I hope you can consider staying with them on your next trip to Saigon.

Interested in booking a stay with them? Feel free to reach out to Ms. Cam and the property on these platforms:

Long Hostel Saigon
Address: 373 / 10 Đ. Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam
Phone Number: +84 90 894 71 78
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/longhostelsg

This sums up my stay at Long Hostel Saigon. I hope you can consider staying in this amazing family-owned property in Ho Chi Minh City. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thanks for joining me in today’s Hostel of the Day feature. Please also take time to check out my previous HOTD features by clicking this. You will find my other hostel reviews about Le Village Montmartre in Paris, The Bed KLCC in Kuala Lumpur, The RomeHello in Rome & Z Hostel here in the Philippines. Before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.