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Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 916 – Singapore to Manila – Excellent but Turbulent Flight Back to Manila [July 2022]

After deplaning from my Singapore Airlines Flight SQ 107 from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, I immediately walked to the assigned gate for my onward flight to Manila. This Singapore to Manila SQ 916 flight on Singapore Airlines will be the subject of today’s flight report. Join me as I share with you details about this excellent but turbulent flight back home.

Singapore Airlines

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

The airline currently flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries across 5 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 Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Boeing 737 Max & Boeing 737-800 NG. The airline is the world’s largest Airbus A350-900 operator with 60 currently in service & 5 more on order. 7 of the 60 Airbus A350’s in service have the ultra-long range (ULR) premium (only business & premium economy class) configuration. These ULRs are mostly used in the North America routes.

Singapore Airlines is a full-service carrier. It means that every flight includes all the necessary in-flight amenities & services you can think of. All SQ tickets include free check-in baggage, meals & 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 2^nd 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, Singapore Airlines , Philippine Airlines & Cebu Pacific Air. All posts about these flights are found under the Flight Reports category..

Airfare

This SQ 916 flight from Singapore to Manila was part of a 4-sector ticket from Manila to Kuala Lumpur & back on Singapore Airlines. The return ticket cost me US$147.69 + 7,665 KrisFlyer miles I earned during my Singapore Airlines flights to Europe in 2019.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. This return ticket includes 25 kilograms check-in baggage allowance, 7 kilograms carry-on allowance, inflight meals & snacks, personal entertainment screens on 3 of 4 flights & a 5-star flight experience with well-trained & passionate cabin crew on all 4 sectors or flights.

This return ticket was a great deal considering it was booked a month prior to the scheduled flights. It also gave me all the benefits of a full-service airline. Believe it or not, return tickets on Philippines-based low-cost carriers were more expensive than this SQ ticket!

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

Travel Requirements

A few months ago, the Philippine government relaxed entry requirements for those who want to travel to or go home to the country. The requirements differ based on the individual’s vaccination status.

Fully-vaccinated passengers who have received a booster dose are exempted from providing a negative antigen or RT-PCR test result. They only need to provide their vaccination certificate issued by the respective health authorities. Fully-vaccinated passengers who have not received a booster dose need to present a negative antigen test result taken 24 hours before departure.

Unvaccinated or partially-vaccinated individuals need to present a negative RT-PCR result taken 48 hours before the departure or a negative antigen test result taken 24 hours before the flight. They also need to undergo facility-based quarantine, take a test on the 5^th day & if negative, continue quarantine at home until 14^th day from arrival.

On top of these vaccination or test requirements, all incoming passengers, regardless of nationality, need to register on the One Health Pass website 72 hours before the flight. He/she must also save a printed or digital copy of the QR code at the end of the form.

Please take note that some nationalities still require additional requirements such as a visa (if needed) or proof of onward ticket when entering the Philippines. These requirements can be changed anytime. It’s always best to check the Covid-19 Travel Information page of the airline you’ll be flying with to the Philippines.

Before The Flight

A few days after booking the flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminder to check the updated travel requirements of the chosen destination. The e-mail included helpful links where I need to check the updated protocols for both transit area & destination.

Fast forward to a few days before the flight, the airline sent an e-mail about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program for economy class passengers who want to pay for a business class seat on that specific flight. I didn’t bother to check the minimum upgrade price because I don’t have the funds for it.

48 hours before my Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight, the Singapore Airlines mobile application notified me that check-in is now available for both flights. I immediately checked-in & chose my seats for both Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & this Singapore to Manila flights. Singapore Airlines allows their passengers to choose their preferred seats for free during the online check-in process.

Flight Information

This Singapore to Manila flight was operated by a 6.5-month-old (at the time of the flight) Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The aircraft, which was delivered to Singapore Airlines in January 2022, has the two-class regional configuration consisting of 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy class seats.

SQ 916 took off from Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN) at exactly 1:48pm & landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) at 5:13pm. The flight had a smooth & quiet take-off & landing but also had a very turbulent journey up in the air. It experienced several turbulences throughout the 3.5-hour flight. The whole journey from Singapore to Manila took 3 hours & 25 minutes.

Ground & Airport Experience

This Singapore to Manila flight on SQ 916 is a continuation of my Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight. I did not clear immigration in Singapore & only stayed airside at Singapore Changi Airport.

CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Transit at Singapore Changi Airport is back to pre-pandemic times. The airport does not require a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination during transit. The only requirement they have for transit passengers is to have both flights (to Singapore & out of Singapore) under the same ticket or itinerary & have the passenger’s baggage tagged from the airport of origin to the final country or airport of destination.

My flight back to Manila was booked under the same itinerary. I checked in for both Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila flights in Kuala Lumpur. I also had my check-in luggage tagged from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to my final destination, Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines.

SQ 107 from Kuala Lumpur arrived a few minutes behind schedule. After disembarking from the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, I immediately headed to Terminal 3 Gate B9 to board this flight to Manila. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go around Terminal 3 on this short connection. This transit experience was seamless & hassle-free.

PRE-DEPARTURE

I submitted myself & my carry-on bag for a final security check at the doors of Gate B9 & went to the staff counter to request a seat change. I mentioned in my SQ 107 flight report that I tried to request a seat change during check-in at KLIA. I was advised by the check-in agent that the system doesn’t allow her to do it & mentioned that I can request this in Singapore before I board the flight to Manila. I went to the flight staff & was immediately granted a new seat at the 2^nd to the last row – 69B.

I went to the pre-departure area, took a seat & enjoyed the view of the beautiful Airbus A350-900 aircraft that will fly us to Manila. Ah, such a beautiful plane!

BOARDING

At exactly 12:58pm, the ground staff called all business class passengers & status holders to board the aircraft to Manila. 2 minutes later, they called all economy class passengers seated at the rear part of the cabin (that’s us) to board the plane. Shortly after our batch, those seated in the forward economy cabin boarded the plane last. Boarding was done by group & took 28 minutes to finish. The cabin crew closed the aircraft doors at 12:28pm.

Inflight Hard & Soft Product

SEAT FEATURES

This Singapore to Manila flight was operated by one of Singapore Airlines’ newest Airbus A350-900 aircraft. The plane sports the regional seat configuration with 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch & 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 & a large tray table.

Economy class seats have a seat pitch of 28 inches & seat width of 18 inches – slightly bigger than the Boeing 787-10’s 17.5 inches seat width. Each seat comes with a spacious leg room, an adjustable headrest & a personal entertainment screen. Seats also feature a seat pocket with inflight safety cards, a fold-able tray table with mirror, a coat hook, small storage space below the screen, a fold-able cup holder, a USB charging outlet & a universal power outlet in between seats. Pillows, blankets, face masks & disinfectant surface wipes are now available by request.

The seats on this Airbus A350 aircraft are complete & comfortable enough for a short-haul international flight. It has more than what a normal economy class passenger needs for a 3-hour flight.

INFLIGHT MEAL

Singapore Airlines served complimentary hot meals on this 3-hour flight to Manila. The airline has removed the physical menu cards & integrated the whole food & drink information in the flight’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had the option to choose between Herb Crusted Fish Fillet & Roasted Chicken Rice. The main dish came with a bread roll & butter, ice cream & a drink of choice – coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice. The crew went around again to offer a second round of drinks & offered water, coffee & tea to those who want. Check out the full menu below.

I admire the airline for using metal cutlery & recyclable food containers during the meal service. It helps a lot in eliminating solid waste; it is environment-friendly. I hope they can find a sustainable alternative to plastic cups.

I chose the roasted chicken rice meal with a glass of red wine & enjoyed it. The rice, chicken & vegetable portions were just right. For dessert, we had Udders Dark Chocolate ice cream. The ice cream was thick & tasty; it was probably the star of the lunch service.

Immediately after the meal service, I asked for roasted nuts to help me finish my small glass of red wine. After this, I asked for the airline’s signature cocktail, Singapore Sling. I think I had 2 more glasses of this drink paired with their roasted cashew & almonds. Don’t worry, I didn’t feel tipsy or what.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

Krisworld, Singapore Airline’s entertainment system, offers thousands of options to choose from. They have hundreds of movies & TV shows to watch, thousands of songs to listen to, games to play & a few local media content to check out. All these options can be accessed via the touch screen personal entertainment screens found in front of every seat. The touch screen screens were responsive & easy to navigate. It also showed the flight path & even details of onward connecting flights. The provided earphones were alright. They aren’t noise canceling but they did its job.

Krisworld also gives frequent flyers the option to personalize their experience. The system asks for the passengers KrisFlyer membership number & then shows the passenger’s favorites or the last song, movie to television show he/she watched / left unfinished. I hope Singapore Airlines install cameras in their A350’s which passengers can access / view during flights.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines offered Wi-Fi service on this flight. PPS Club members & business class passengers are given 100MB of data to use up during the flight. The airline also gives complimentary 2 hours of messaging service to KrisFlyer members in economy class. Non-members can opt to either register to KrisFlyer to avail of the data plans on board.

Sad to say this, but the Wi-Fi on this flight was close to not working. I had to try a lot of times before having access to the inflight food & drinks menu. I didn’t get to use the free 2-hour messaging service because I always got the ‘network error’ or ‘service unavailable’ notification.

LAVATORY

The rear lavatory on this Airbus A350 was spotless & well-maintained. It was clean; it had the amenities needed for a 3-hour flight. The sink had cold & warm water & had hand soap & tissue beside it. The lavatory console had a moisturizing hand lotion & the drawer had more amenities.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew service on this flight was excellent. The cabin crew welcomed all passengers with their best smiles & wished us a pleasant & enjoyable flight. Upon arriving at my seat, I saw that the tray table had leftover crumbs. I notified one of the cabin attendants in the back. The cabin attendant apologized & immediately got back to me with disinfectant wipes & tissue.

The crew had to pause meal service a few times due to turbulence. They kept apologizing to the passengers every time the meal service was halted. They continued with the meal service after the turbulences. The guy who served my meal was polite & attentive. He asked what meal & drink options I preferred & gladly served it.

After the meal service, I asked for a glass of Singapore Sling. The cabin attendant misunderstood it, & thought I asked for a Bloody Mary. She came back & apologized that they don’t have Bloody Mary onboard; she also immediately offered to mix a special drink for me. I told her that I actually requested for Singapore Sling. She again apologized & came back with my requested drink with 2 packs of roasted nuts. Lovely!

Several members of the flight crew went around the cabin throughout the flight & attended to every passenger’s requests. They even went around & offered glasses of water to those who want.

The assigned crew on this flight showed true Singaporean hospitality. They served the passengers with their best smiles & catered to every request throughout the flight. They made sure that passengers had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines. Their top-notch service made the flying experience a lot better. Cheers to the crew on this flight!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. The ground staff checked every passenger’s One Health Pass QR code & instructed where to fall in line for verification / scanning. Immigration didn’t take long & check-in bags were available as soon as we arrived at the baggage claim hall. Believe it or not, I finished the whole arrival process (from stepping out of the plane to the arrivals area) in less than 10 minutes.

Final Thoughts

It was another excellent flight with Singapore Airlines. Both the hard & soft products stood out on this 3.5-hour flight from Singapore to Manila onboard their new Airbus 350-900 aircraft. I’d like to point out a few things that actually made this experience a great one.

First, the transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport was seamless. No requirements, no whatsoever. I just went from one airport gate to the other. Second, both the ground staff & cabin crew provided excellent service. The ground attendants in Kuala Lumpur & Singapore were polite & accommodating. Those in Singapore station even allowed me to change seats last minute. The cabin crew teams onboard the flight were hospitable & service-oriented.

Third, Singapore Airlines’ hard product on the Airbus A350-900 is modern & solid. The seats are comfortable; they have good leg space. The personal entertainment screens area big; it has thousands of entertainment options to choose from. The cabin also feels very spacious.

The airline’s soft product on this flight was as awesome as the hard product. Cabin crew service, as mentioned above, was top-notch. The inflight meal portions were just right. They also offered a long list of drinks for economy class passengers. I particularly liked the dark chocolate ice cream offered as dessert. Lastly, I also noticed the airline’s sustainable efforts by using recyclable food containers, providing metal cutlery & getting rid of physical menus.

This flight was not perfect. It also had some drawbacks which I hope the airline can improve on. First, the onboard Wi-Fi was close to not working. It only worked when I tried to access the inflight menu. Second, the airline still uses plastic cups for the drink service – particularly for water, wine & other alcoholic beverages in economy class. I hope they can find an environment-friendly alternative for it.

Third, I somehow felt a downsize in economy class service compared to how it was before the pandemic. Pillows & blankets are no longer provided to every seat & the towel service in economy class has stopped. I hope they can find a way to re-introduce them in the future. Lastly, not entirely the airline’s fault, but this flight was very turbulent. The meal service had to stop several times due to turbulence. I think the seatbelt sign was turned on for more than an hour in total. The frequent turbulence somehow affected the overall experience on this flight to Manila.

Putting these aside, I still enjoyed this flight with Singapore Airlines. I wish the flight time from Singapore to Manila was longer than 3.5 hours. Will I fly them again in the future? Definitely! In fact, I am already considering taking them again for another set of flights for next year.

Here are some geeky details about this excellent 3.5-hour hop from Singapore to Manila:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 7 July 2022
Flight Number: SQ 916
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Manila, Philippines (MNL)
Duration: 3 hours & 25 minutes
Seat Number: 69B
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHW
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 6.5-month-old
Delivered: January 2022

This sums up & ends by journey with Singapore Airlines on the trip to Kuala Lumpur last July 2022. Don’t forget to check out my other flights with them: Manila to Singapore on SQ 915, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on SQ 114 & Kuala Lumpur to Singapore on SQ 107. Feel free to also check out my post about this quick international trip to Kuala Lumpur by clicking this link.

Have you flown with Singapore Airlines recently? How was your flight? Please share details about your experience in the comments section below. Do you have questions about this flight or anything related to the airline? You may post them below or send them to me via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com if you are shy to comment.

Thank you for joining me in today’s trip report. If you’re interested in my previous flight reports, feel free to check them out under the flight report category. I hope you’ll look forward to the next one. Also, before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 114 – Singapore to Kuala Lumpur – Delayed Short Hop on One of the World’s Busiest International Routes [June 2022]

In 2019, OAG, the world’s leading provider of digital flight information, hailed the Singapore to Kuala Lumpur route as one of the busiest international routes in the airline industry. According to a report made by Simple Flying, in 2019 alone, this route catered to almost 30,000 flights & offered 5.5 million seats on 9 different airlines. The numbers have gone down since the start of the pandemic but according the OAG’s report for the busiest routes for July 2022, this route is the third busiest for the month with 307,848 offered seats. It is also the busiest in Asia, overtaking the previous busiest Hong Kong-Taipei route.

Last 29 June 2022, I had the chance to fly this busy route from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ 114. How did this connecting flight go? Check out the newest flight report below.

In case you missed it, I also flew with Singapore Airlines on the SQ 915 flight from Manila to Singapore before actually taking this flight. Check out the SQ 915 flight report here.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines is not a new airline on this website. In fact, it is the 2^nd most reviewed airline after Cebu Pacific Air.

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

Airfare

As mentioned in my previous SQ 915 Manila to Singapore flight report, I only paid US$146.69 for the return ticket from Manila to Kuala Lumpur via Singapore. The ticket initially cost US$199.70. I redeemed 7,665 KrisFlyer miles (which I earned back in 2019 from my trip to Europe) & got the ticket for the lower price mentioned above.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. As mentioned in my previous post, I think it was really a great deal from Singapore Airlines. The ticket already included 25 kilograms baggage allowance on all 4 flights, inflight meals, inflight entertainment & 5-star cabin crew service from one of the world’s best airlines. Believe it or not, this SQ ticket was cheaper than the tickets sold by the country’s low-cost airlines at the time of booking. The tickets from these LCCs cost around ₱10,000 without any add-on.

This Singapore Airlines ticket was definitely a steal! Glad I thought of using my KrisFlyer miles before they even expire.

Travel Requirements

Malaysia is now open to tourists. However, it’s not like before that you can enter with only your passports. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has imposed some entry requirements for all arriving passengers. Entry protocols depend on the person’s vaccination status.

As of 1 May 2022, fully-vaccinated passengers are exempted from providing a negative RT-PCR test result. They also don’t need to undergo quarantine upon arrival & to present proof of travel insurance. Fully-vaccinated passengers only need to register to the MySejahtera mobile application. They also need to verify their vaccination status in the application & fill-out the traveler section at least 3 days before the trip. Each fully-vaccinated passenger will be issued a Digital Travelers Card (Blue Traveler Card) which will be checked during check-in.

Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers are required to provide a negative RT-PCR test pre-departure; take a supervised antigen test within 24 hours of arrival & undergo 5 days of quarantine upon arrival. They also need to download & register to the MySejahtera mobile application. Partially-vaccinated or unvaccinated passengers will be issued a Digital Home Surveillance Order (Red Traveler Card) which will be checked during check-in.

Please take note that Malaysia has a different definition of vaccination status depending on the type of vaccine you received. For more details about this & for the country’s updated entry requirements, you may head to the government’s MySafeTravel website. You may also check Singapore Airline’s Covid-19 Information page for additional information.

Before The Flight

Like my Manila to Singapore flight on SQ 915, I also received an email reminding me to check the entry requirements of my destination country. The e-mail arrived days after booking this flight & contained helpful links where I can find the said entry requirements.

I did not receive an upgrade offer for this flight (the business class cabin was full) but I got a check-in reminder from the Singapore Airlines mobile application 48 hours before this flight. I checked in for this flight together with the Manila to Singapore leg & had the chance to choose my seat free of charge.

Flight Information

This Singapore to Kuala Lumpur SQ flight was operated by a 7-year-old Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. This 737 NG aircraft was originally delivered to then SQ subsidiary, Silk Air, in August 2015 & was converted to a Singapore Airlines aircraft in April 2021. The plane has 12 business class seats & 150 economy class seats.

The plane took off from Singapore Changi Airport an hour behind schedule at 1:49pm & landed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at exactly 2:32pm. This short international flight only took 43 minutes & covered a distance of 297 kilometers or 185 miles.

Ground & Airport Experience

This Singapore to Kuala Lumpur flight is a continuation of my first flight from Manila to Singapore. I only stayed on the airside of Singapore Changi Airport.

CHANGI AIRPORT TRANSIT EXPERIENCE

Transit process during this flight was back to pre-pandemic times – no negative Covid-19 test result of proof of vaccination required. Passengers must have both flights under 1 booking or itinerary & have their checked-in luggage tagged from their airport of origin to their final destination to enjoy a seamless transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport.

My flights to Kuala Lumpur were booked under one itinerary (shown above) & my bags were already tagged up to Kuala Lumpur when I checked in for the flight in Manila Airport. I had a very quick but fun transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport before this flight to Kuala Lumpur. I walked around Terminal 3 for a few minutes & checked out the shops & restaurants in the terminal. The airport facilities are still one of the best in the world – very modern & efficient. Too bad Jewel Changi Airport was not accessible (even via inter-terminal trains like before) to transit passengers.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After walking around Changi Airport Terminal 3, I went straight to our assigned gate. Our boarding gate opened an hour before the flight. I went through final security, then waited for boarding. Gate A16 shares a spacious waiting area with other gates. These gates were mostly used for smaller regional flights departing Singapore. At 12:33pm (18 minutes after the scheduled boarding time), the ground staff announced that boarding will be further delayed by 15 minutes due to the late aircraft turnaround.

BOARDING

Boarding started late at 12:55pm. Business class passengers, KrisFlyer, PPS & Star Alliance status holders boarded the aircraft first. Economy class passengers seated in the rear cabin came next. Forward economy class passengers, including myself, boarded the plane last. The boarding process lasted for 30 minutes. Cabin doors were closed at exactly 1:25pm.

Inflight Product & Experience

SEAT FEATURES

This Singapore to Kuala Lumpur flight was operated by a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. The plane has 12 business class recliner seats on a 2×2 configuration & 150 regular economy class seats on a 3×3 configuration. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a seat pitch of 38 inches & a seat width of 22 inches. On the other hand, economy class seats have a pitch of 30 inches & seat width of 17 inches.

All seats have adjustable headrests, individual reading lights & air vents. Seats also feature a tray table, seat pocket with aircraft safety card & universal power outlets under the seat. Pillows, blankets & earphones were not provided on this short flight.

INFLIGHT DRINK SERVICE

Singapore Airlines stated in the ticket that this flight won’t have a meal service due to its short duration. Instead of meals, the cabin crew gave out drinks after the seatbelt sign was turned off. Choices included apple juice, coffee, tea & water. Passengers also had the option to request for special drinks like soft drinks or beer. Crackers were also available by request.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

The Boeing 737-800 NG used for this flight doesn’t have personal entertainment screens. Passengers can enjoy KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, on their own personal devices. They only need to connect to KrisWorld after take-off. Passenger safety video was shown on the foldable screens found under the overhead cabins.

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft are not equipped with Wi-Fi. This includes the aircraft used for this flight.

LAVATORY

This short hop to Kuala Lumpur only lasted for 43 minutes. I didn’t have the chance to visit the lavatory because I was seated in a window seat.

Cabin Crew Service

The cabin crew assigned on this aircraft were lovely, polite & service-oriented. The greeted all passengers upon boarding & during disembarkation with their best smiles. They catered to all the needs & special requests of passengers during the drink service.

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

All passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Those seated in the forward economy cabin disembarked first. All passengers had to take the airport train to the main terminal building to clear immigration. After immigration, all bags were already ready for pick-up in the assigned baggage belt.

Final Thoughts

It was a so-so flight with Singapore Airlines. The flight remains outstanding in terms of the hard product & services offered onboard, but its lacking in some aspects.

I enjoyed the following because of the following. First, the transit experience at Singapore Changi Airport was smooth & efficient. No additional documents & tests are required. Second, the lack of personal entertainment screens didn’t hinder the airline from providing onboard entertainment options. KrisWorld was still accessible on passengers’ personal devices. Third, they provided onboard refreshments / drinks for this short 43-minute hop to Kuala Lumpur. They had a great selection of drinks to choose from & even had some available by request. Fourth, the cabin hard product remains competitive in this 7-year-old aircraft. The seats remain comfortable & the headrests are useful. Lastly, the cabin crew hospitality on this flight was topnotch.

This flight also had areas in which they could further improve. First, the ground staff didn’t provide updates about the flight status. We were scheduled to board the aircraft around 12:15pm but we were only told about the delayed boarding schedule at 12:33pm. The delay would have been bearable if ground staff had kept the passengers informed of the flight’s status. Second, the boarding process was chaotic. Only the business class passengers & status holders boarded the plane in an orderly manner. Some economy class passengers didn’t follow instructions & boarded at their own convenience. This resulted to longer waiting times on the jet bridge. The whole boarding process took 30 minutes, slower than my Manila to Singapore flight that only took 26 minutes with almost double the number of passengers. Lastly, I hope the airline can improve their snack service on board this short flight. I’ve flown other airlines which offered nuts (Malaysia Airlines) or cookies (Philippine Airlines) plus drinks for flights less than an hour.

Nevertheless, it was an okay flight with Singapore Airlines. I don’t mind flying with them again in the future. In fact, if there’s an affordable ticket to anywhere with the airline, I will still grab it.

For those who want to know more details of this flight, check out the items below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 29 June 2022
Flight Number: SQ 114
Route: Singapore (SIN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
Duration: 43 minutes
Seat Number: 51K
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 Next Generation
Aircraft Registration: 9V-MGL
Engines: 2 x CFM International CFM56-7B27E
Age: 7 years old
Delivered: August 2015

Have you recently flown Singapore Airlines on their Singapore to Kuala Lumpur route? What do you think of the airlines offerings on the said route? Feel free to share your comments & recent experiences in the comments section below. Do you have a question about the airline or this flight? You may post them in the comments below. If you are shy to post below, you may send your questions, experiences & thoughts via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s flight report! Watch out for my onward flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur also on Singapore Airlines. In the meantime, you may check out my previous flight reports here. Before you go, can you visit my social media channels –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Flight Report: SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ 915 – Manila to Singapore – First International Flight After 31 Months [June 2022]

You read the title right! After 31 months of being in the Philippines, I finally flew out of the country again. The last time I went out of the Philippines was when I flew to Europe in 2019 via Singapore. Believe it or not, my last flight out of the country was also on Singapore Airlines SQ 915 back in October 2019. How does this recent SQ 915 flight compare to the pre-pandemic Singapore Airlines flight experience? We’ll find out in this flight report!

Singapore Airlines

Airfare

Late May 2022, I randomly saw an affordable ticket to Kuala Lumpur on Singapore Airlines for travel within 30 days. With borders now opening & Malaysia dropping the test entry requirements, I decided to immediately book this ticket to Kuala Lumpur.

The return ticket initially cost US$199.70. I used up my KrisFlyer miles (earned when I flew with Singapore Airlines to Europe in 2019) before they expire in the next 12 months. The ticket price went down to just US$146.69 including 7,665 redeemed KrisFlyer miles.

The ticket included 4 flights in economy class – Manila to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur to Singapore & Singapore to Manila – with 1.5-hour layovers at Singapore Changi Airport both ways. The ticket also includes 25-kilogram baggage allowance on all sectors, inflight meals & snacks & even inflight entertainment on board.

My bank charged me ₱7,926.12 including foreign currency conversion charges. It was a really good deal from Singapore Airlines considering the current world market situation & inflated fuel prices. For context, other airlines’ ticket prices were around ₱10,000 to ₱15,000 return at the time of booking this SQ ticket. Some of these airlines don’t even include baggage & meals in the ticket prices.

Travel Requirements

I am only transiting at Singapore Changi Airport & I’m flying to Kuala Lumpur afterwards. On the day of the flight, Singapore does not have any requirements for transiting passengers as long as the passenger has an onward connecting flight under the same booking reference number. Those with split bookings will be required to fulfill the entry requirements of Singapore. Check out the requirements for my flight to Kuala Lumpur & transit in Singapore as per the airline’s website a day before this flight.

Singapore Airlines regularly updates their travel requirements page. You can find the latest destination & transit requirements on this page.

Before The Flight

Days after I booked my flight, Singapore Airlines sent an e-mail reminding me to check the entry & transit requirements for my trip. The e-mail had links where I could check the entry protocols for each flight.

3 days before my flight, the airline sent an e-mail informing me about mySQupgrade. It is their instant upgrade program from economy to business class for a hefty price. The instant upgrade offer cost around ₱30,000 – almost 4 times the price of my return ticket. I did not avail of this upgrade offer.

2 days before this flight, the Singapore Air mobile application notified me that my flight is already open for online check-in. I immediately checked-in for my flight to Singapore & onward flight to Kuala Lumpur & chose forward section seats for both flights. The airline allows passengers to choose their seats for free during online check-in.

Flight Information

This Manila to Singapore Singapore Airlines flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft delivered in February 2021. This A350 has the airline’s 2-class regional configuration with 40 seats in business class & 263 seats in economy class.

The flight departed Manila at exactly 8:00am from Runway 06/24 & landed Singapore Changi Airport at 10:58am. It only took 2 hours & 58 minutes to reach Singapore. The flight was generally quiet & stable; not much turbulence happened.

Airport & Ground Experience

AIRPORT CHECK-IN

Singapore Airlines segregated check-in counters per cabin class & frequent flyer status. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers have dedicated check-in counters. Economy class passengers have their own queues as well. Economy class passengers who checked in online have a separate & a faster queue.

I already checked in 2 days before so I lined up at the internet check-in queue. The lady at the counter checked my vaccination certificate & travel requirements for Malaysia & then issued my boarding passes to Singapore & Kuala Lumpur. She also weighed my carry-on bag & advised that passengers are only allowed up to 2 carry-on bags each. The whole check-in process took about 25 minutes; it was not as fast as my previous SQ 915 flight in 2019.

PRE-DEPARTURE

After immigration & security check, I walked to Gate 110 where we’ll board our flight to Singapore. The airline divided the pre-departure area into groups according to their assigned seats on the plane. KrisFlyer & Star Alliance status holders & business class passengers were assigned at Groups 1 to 3. Economy class passengers seated at the rear of the aircraft were placed in Group 4. Those in the middle were assigned to Group 5. I, together with the other passengers assigned in the forward economy cabin, were placed under Group 6.

BOARDING

Boarding commenced 30 minutes before the flight at 7:10am. Business class passengers & status holders under Groups 1 to 3 were asked to board the aircraft first. Passengers who require assistance & those traveling with kids & infants boarded next. Economy class groups 4 & 5 followed. Our group, group 6, boarded the plane last.

Economy class passengers were offered earphones at the jet bridge, just a few steps before the aircraft door. The friendly Singapore Airlines cabin crew welcomed every guest & directed them to the aisle where they will walk to their seats. The whole boarding process only took 26 minutes. Aircraft doors were closed at 7:36am.

Inflight Product & Experience

Singapore Airlines is a full-service airline. This means that the airline features personal entertainment screens, has a more comfortable seat & provides inflight meals & drinks. Check out what Singapore Airlines offers on this flight from Manila to Singapore.

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

SEAT FEATURES

This Manila to Singapore flight was operated by an Airbus A350-900 with 40 lie-flat business class seats & 263 standard economy seats. According to SeatGuru, each business class seat has a 60-inch seat pitch & 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 & a large tray table.

Check out the screenshot below for the amenities available on this flight:

Singapore Airlines’ economy class seats provide more than what you actually need for a 3-hour flight. The seats & adjustable head rests were comfortable.

INFLIGHT MEAL

The airline offered a complimentary hot meal on this flight to Singapore. Physical menus have been phased out & meal menus can be accessed through the airline’s onboard connectivity service. Passengers had 2 options – Chicken Adobo & Egg Tortilla. I chose the Chicken Adobo meal & was surprised that it still came with a yogurt, a bread roll with butter & drink of choice (coffee, tea, wine, beer, water or juice). I know Singapore Airlines announced in 2020 an enhanced economy class dining experience for short haul flights under 3.5 hours. I expected meals to come in food boxes with sustainable tableware, but I guess the Manila-Singapore-Manila routes were not included in the said changes. I’ve added screenshots below of the menu for this flight.

The chicken adobo tasted great; the meat was full of flavor. The food portions were just right for a 3-hour flight. The crew went around after the meal service to offer a 2^nd round of drinks to passengers. An hour after the meal service, I asked for their signature Singapore Sling drink – still their best drink onboard.

I love how the airline continues to use metal cutlery on this route instead of disposable plastic tableware. I hope they can find an alternative for the plastic cups. Oh, one thing! I noticed that they had already removed the towel service before the meal service.

INFLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

INFLIGHT CONNECTIVITY

LAVATORY

I didn’t get the chance to visit the lavatory on this short hop to Singapore. I got a window seat; my neighbor by the aisle was asleep most of the flight.

Cabin Crew Service

Cabin crew service is one area where Singapore Airlines excels the most. The crew on this flight to Singapore were super friendly & accommodating. They welcomed all passengers with their best smiles, served the meals with the happiest faces & catered to the passenger’s needs with utmost attention. They made sure all passengers had an enjoyable onboard experience. The cabin crew service made this flight even more memorable. Thank you, SQ!

Disembarkation & Baggage Claim

Passengers disembarked in an orderly manner. Business class passengers headed out first, followed by economy passengers in the forward cabin. The rest of the passengers came next. I didn’t go straight to baggage claim since I was in Singapore only for transit.

Final Thoughts

It was another memorable flight with Singapore Airlines. Aside from it being my first international flight out of the Philippines since the pandemic, it turned out as how excellent flights should be – with or without the current crisis. The pandemic may have changed some onboard amenities, but it didn’t stop Singapore Airlines from offering a world-class flight experience on this flight to Singapore.

I enjoyed this flight because of the following. First, the ticket price was cheaper than the Philippines-based low-cost carriers. It even provided more value than those from LCCs. Second, the cabin is clean & very modern. Third, the cabin crew service was topnotch. Fourth, the pandemic may have happened, but the airline has not downsized meal service on their Manila to Singapore flights. It had the same portions, 2 options & sides & even retained the metal cutlery with it.

Fifth, they offered a 2-hour complimentary messaging service to KrisFlyer members. The Wi-Fi service was good. They had connectivity issues but overall worked fine. Sixth, the entertainment system remained updated & competitive. They have the latest movies & TV series seasons. They even had the list of connecting flights & respective boarding gates for those with connecting flights. Lastly, the pandemic has forced the airline to digitalize some onboard amenities. Inflight menus & magazines are now digital.

I noticed some services have been downsized compared to how they were pre-pandemic. First, the towel service prior to the meal service has been omitted. Second, pillows are no longer provided in every seat. They are now available by request. These are only minor & have not affected the overall flight experience.

So happy I was able to try their signature Singapore Sling drink onboard. Can’t wait for the next!

At this stage, I will choose to fly with Singapore Airlines over any Asian airline. I’ve had high expectations from the airline & I can confidently say that they delivered. I cannot wait for my next flight with them. Thank you, Singapore Airlines for this enjoyable flight to your home country, Singapore!

Allow me to share with you the technical details of the flight & the aircraft used. Please see below:

Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight Date: 29 June 2022
Flight Number: SQ 915
Route: Manila (MNL) to Singapore (SIN)
Duration: 2 hours & 58 minutes
Seat Number: 44A
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Aircraft Registration: 9V-SHU
Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
Age: 1.4 years old
Delivered: February 2021

Have you recently flown with Singapore Airlines? What do you think of their service after the dark ages of the pandemic? Feel free to share your recent experiences in the comments section below. Do you have a question about the airline or this flight? You may post them in the comments below. If you are shy to post below, you may send your questions, experiences & thoughts via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

PS. Photos were taken using my OnePlus 9 Pro.

Tuesday Tips: 10 Things To Know Before Traveling To Europe

Flying to Europe has long been a dream for me. After 7 years, this dream came true. Last October to November 2019 when I flew to & went around Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark for 19 days spending less than ₱120,000 all in. Not bad, right?

People close to me know that I enjoy staying longer in places but at the same time, I don’t plan my itineraries. I do very little research about the places I visit & I always go for spontaneous plans. I enjoy how each destination surprise me with their good & bad sides. The 2019 solo trip to Europe I mentioned above was not an exception. I flew to Europe alone with no plans at all; I only had hostel & flight bookings. I didn’t even know how to go to Amsterdam Centraal from Schipol Airport or how to go to my hostel from the airport. I had the same level of spontaneity throughout the trip & I’m glad I survived!

In case you missed it, I shared 11 Europe thrift hacks that worked for me during the trip. Check out the list & know ways on how to save some cash & unexpected expenses during the trip.

Having close to no research about travelling around Europe, some things surprised me when I was there. I want to share these 10 things you should know so you’ll be ready for your own Euro trip.

Sparking Water is a thing!

Yes, it’s not just water in Europe. It’s either sparkling water or still water & they love the first one more. I am not a fan of sparkling water but guess what? I kept getting it. I went to an Albert Heijn supermarket in Amsterdam on my first day & accidentally brought 2 big bottles of sparkling water. It took me days to finish these 2 bottles. I can’t just throw the water away because it was damn expensive. It took me 9 days to finally check every single bottled water I buy – to make sure it’s still water.

Beer is cheaper than water in Czech Republic!

Yes, you read that right! Beer in Czech Republic is cheaper than still or sparkling water in terms of cost per liter. It’s not a secret that Czechs love beer. In fact, they consume more beers per capita than any other country in the world! They’ve been record holders in this category for years! All the 0.5L of beers I bought in Czech Republic range from 28 Kč to 37 Kč while a 0.3L bottle of water costs 30 Kč to 35 Kč. Well, I always went for the beer when I was there. 😂

Bring Small Euro Bills

Many shops & establishments in the Netherlands & Belgium don’t accept Euro bills higher than €50; some even accept only up to €20. First, it’s hard to give change for high-value notes like €100 & €200. Second, these high-value Euro notes were associated to crimes in the past. Third, it’s also risky to bring these big notes while walking around on a daily basis. I had trouble using my €100 notes in supermarkets & restaurants in Amsterdam & Brussels. They won’t accept it. To be sure, just bring Euro notes up to €20 when flying to Euro-accepting countries.

Money Changers Charge High Convenience Fees

Money changers in Europe, particularly Euro-accepting countries, charge high convenience fees. I tried to change my €100 note in Amsterdam & only got about €94 back. I read somewhere that they charge around 5.5% for every transaction. It’s a complete opposite here in the Philippines where money changes don’t charge any other transaction fees. Don’t worry, most money changers in Czech Republic don’t charge these fees. It pays to always ask the money changer for their fee before transacting with them. It’s also best to research online for the money changer that gives the best exchange rate in the city where you are visiting.

Bring Credit & Debit Cards

Don’t forget to bring a credit card & a debit card when going for a Euro trip. While most places still accept cash, there are some that prefer card payments. Most establishments in Copenhagen, including hotdog stands & street food carts, prefer payments using credit & debit cards. Copenhagen metro stations don’t have ticket booths; they have ticket vending machines that only accept cards for payment. The ticket vending machine in Brussel-Central doesn’t accept cash & credit cards, only debit cards. Most restaurants, supermarkets & convenience stores all accept credit cards as payment.

Alternatively, you can pre-book your train tickets online directly through the train company’s website or through Trainline, Europe’s biggest train and coach travel company.

Avoid EuroNet ATMs

EuroNet ATMs are found everywhere in Europe & in the world. Please avoid using these ‘worldwide ATMs’ no matter how conveniently located they are. This ATM charges high usage fees & conversion rates. It’s always best to go for the local banks when getting cash. Don’t forget to call your bank to inform them of your trip, also to avoid denied transactions abroad.

It’s always useful to have at least one credit card & one debit card when going around Europe – just don’t use these cards on unnecessary purchases.

Always Pay in Local Currency

You always get the best value of your purchase or meal if you pay using the local currency. Shops, banks & establishments usually have a higher on-the-spot exchange rate if you’re paying on your own currency. Always opt for the local currency when the staff asks you which to charge to your card.

Toilet Use Comes With A Fee

Say goodbye to free use of toilets when you’re in Europe. Restaurants, cafes & even fast food outlets like McDonalds charge people for using their toilets. Toilet use costs 50-cents – around ₱30 in Philippine peso equivalent to a sundae from McDonalds Philippines. Expensive, right? Some cafes & restaurants have their toilet door codes in the bottom parts of the receipt. People have no choice but to buy something from the establishment. You want to get rid of these toilet fees? Join SANDEMANs New Europe walking tours. Each walking tour has a 15 to 20 minutes break in a cafe or restaurant. The use of toilets during these breaks are free-of-charge.

Cross Borders Like Domestic Destinations

Crossing borders from one Schengen state to the other is like going / flying to a domestic destination. Inter-Schengen flights only ask for your identification cards or passports during check-in. Bus drivers only ask for your bus tickets & not your passports. People don’t need to clear immigration when going from one Schengen state to the other. I only went through immigration upon arrival in Amsterdam Schipol Airport in Netherlands & before flying to Singapore from Copenhagen Airport. There are literally no border controls within the Schengen zone.

Plan But Don’t Aim To See Everything

Europe is a big continent – it has many countries with big cities & small towns. It is impossible to go & see everything a city or country has to offer in a 4-day visit. I already spent 4-5 days each in Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark & mind you, I haven’t seen everything. Yes, I took day trips outside the main cities but I heard there are a more beautiful unknown places that can be visited.

My tip for you is to plan out the places you want to see in every city you’re planning to visit but don’t aim to see everything. It’s also better to stay longer in a country or city than staying just for a day or two (like how travel agencies plan out itineraries) not to rush things but to enjoy & see more of every place.

Every city or country is different & it’s cool. As tourists / travelers, it’s always good to know something about the places / countries you’re visiting. It helps in conditioning your mind & wallet on what to expect. To be honest, I was shocked by the money changer convenience fees & pay-per-use scheme of toilets but at the same time I was happy with the cheap Czech beer.

I hope the list above helps you in your planned trip to Europe in the future. Do you have any questions or clarifications on anything mentioned above? Please don’t hesitate to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions via e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I’ll get to them as soon as I can.

Thanks for joining me in today’s set of Tuesday tips! Don’t forget to check out the individual posts about Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic & Denmark under the Going Solo in Europe category. This post officially marks the end of the 2019 Europe trip content in this website. I had fun sharing them to all of you; I hope the posts help you in one way or another. Until the next Tuesday Tips post!

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

N9 In Straya Series: Walking Around MELBOURNE Part 2 – Hipster Laneways, Communal Spaces & Modern Areas

Last month, I revived the N9 In Straya Series & started talking about our 8 days & 7 nights adventure in Melbourne last April. First, I shared with you the list of parks, gardens & heritage places we visited during the trip. I also gave you some details about Flinders Backpackers, our cheap but super cool hostel in downtown Melbourne. I still have a lot about Melbourne to share & allow me to share some with you today. Let me talk about the laneways, communal spaces & modern areas we visited during the trip.

Note: As mentioned in the previous blog, tram rides within Melbourne CBD are free of charge. Also, the city is very accessible by foot.

Melbourne is known for its hipster laneways, coffee shops & everything artsy. I may not be a coffee-drinker but this city is full of small artsy shops offering special coffee, avocado toasts & pastries. My friends didn’t go to many coffee shops (we went to milk tea shops instead lol) but surely went to some of these laneways & alleys. Let me share with you some of these places below.

DEGREAVES STREET

Degreaves Street is a short pedestrian street that connects Flinders St & Flinders Lane. It is a famous place to eat a hearty brunch, get your morning coffee, avail your afternoon snack or buy your evening dessert. This vibrant street has become a famous go-to places for both locals & tourists. You’ll often see shops / stalls having random queues for something cheap, hippie or artsy.

HOSIER LANE

Hosier Lane is Melbourne’s famous graffiti street. This short lane is full of random & sophisticated street arts. International & local artists put on graffiti in the walls about anything & everything about the world. There are some iconic arts, some controversial while most of them are just random ones. These street arts or murals are not as organized as that of Penang‘s but they give a different experience whilst walking along the paved way.

FEDERATION SQUARE

Federation Square is a one-of-a-kind cultural precinct located opposite Flinders Station. This communal space is a venue for cultural events, arts & world-class activities. It also has bars & restaurants, making it a perfect place to just hang out & chill.

CHINATOWN

Just like any other city around the world, Melbourne has its own local Chinatown. It is in this place where you will have your rice fix (I know – very Asian). It’s also the place to have cheap food & souvenirs. We had our 1st lunch in the famous Shanghai Street Chinese Restaurant – cheap & good Chinese food.

COLLINS PLACE

Melbourne has a lot of modern & intricately-designed retail & commercial buildings. One of these buildings is Collins Place. This commercial complex was designed & built way back in the 1970’s & up to now, still embodies the true Melbourne character. The structures are unique & are well-maintained. It’s also a good place to meet with friends for random eats & drinks.

MELBOURNE CENTRAL

Melbourne Central is a massive commercial, retail & transport hub in the city. It has hundreds of specialty stores, bars & restaurants which makes it the best place to go out with friends. You can find both local & international clothing, footwear & accessories brands here. It’s also the best place to shop in Melbourne. This complex is located in the heart of the city in the corner of La Trobe & Swanston Streets.

YARRA RIVER

Yarra River is a body of water that originates from the Yarra Ranges & runs through the Melbourne Business District. This river played a very important role in the daily lives of the early city inhabitants. It made the lives of those living in the upper areas easier to transport everything to & from the city. Now, the city-part of the river serves a tourist destination, giving the visitors a perfect view of the Melbourne skyline. A walk by the banks of the Yarra River is a perfect way to start or end your day in the city.

SOUTHBANK

Southbank is a booming urban neighborhood located in the south of the Yarra River. It now an area of tall commercial & residential buildings. Southbank currently has Melbourne’s tallest observation deck in Eureka Tower. A 100-storey building in Southbank is currently under construction & will be Australia’s tallest building by roof height in a few years. The area of Southbank by the Yarra River is also a great place to have a morning or night stroll. It’s also the perfect place to have a pint of beer with friends overlooking the city skyline.

VICTORIA HARBOUR

Victoria Harbour is the Docklands precinct where Collins & Bourke Streets meet. This picturesque harbour has a stunning & relaxing view of Docklands, Marvel Stadium, Newquay & some parts of West Melbourne. Please do not compare this with Sydney Harbour because this place is way behind the famous New South Wales harbour.

SOUTHERN CROSS RAILWAY STATION

Southern Cross Railway Station in Docklands is Victoria’s major transport hub that links Melbourne to regional Victorian cities & even other Australian states like New South Wales & South Australia. This station is the main hub of Skybus – the only bus transport service that operates between the city & Melbourne Tullamarine & Avalon Airports. The station also serves as the departure & arrival points of interstate buses. The station is also connected to the city loop making it easier to transfer to Melbourne’s other railway hub – Flinders Street Railway Station.

This pretty much sums up all the interesting places we’ve been to within the City of Melbourne. However, the adventure didn’t stop there. My friends & I booked 3 well-recommended day trips to the countryside which you will know more about in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

View from the 66th Floor of Light House Melbourne – a beautiful skyscaper in Melbourne CBD

Have you walked around the Melbourne central business district in the past? How was your experience? What was your favorite spot in the city? Share some details in the comments section below. If you have anything to ask or share to me, feel free to send an e-mail to contact@thewkndtravel.com & I’ll respond as soon as I can. Don’t forget to follow me & please please please also help me in promoting my social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Thanks for your time & see you in the next Melbourne post. ✌️

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.