Hello,

Flight: SQ863 / SQ452
Sector: HKG - SIN / SIN - MLE
Equip: Boeing 777-300 / Boeing 777-200
Class: Economy
Seat: I don't remember, but aisle seats.
Dep / Arr: 13:30 - 17:10
Dep / Arr: 20:35 - 22:00

I had been dying to go to the Maldives for years. So, as part of my summer of 2009 holiday, I went. Getting from Nanjing to Male was way too difficult, so I booked SQ from HKG via SIN. All the flights were on time and very nice, and very full. Both legs of the HKG - MLE sector were 100% in Y.

I had arrived from Nanjing the night before and spent the night in HK. I took the train to HKIA and checked my bag at the IFC Train Station. Checking bags in town and taking the train is so civilized and easy. I was helped, checked in, and on the way to the train within five minutes.

The SQ sign at the in-town check in counter.


On the train to HKIA.



Once I got to HKIA, I breezed through security and immigration. I spent the next couple of hours camped out at gate 26 watching the arrivals. I managed to capture a few planes. the red and white plane I had never seen before. I went down the concourse to get a better look.



This is a Philippines 747. I am not sure of their code. PR????


I'm from Houston and simply not completely happy unless I see a CO jet at each airport I visit that they serve. I have never taken CO's HKG - EWR flight, only PEK - EWR several times. I did, however, take CS's HKG - GUM in February 07 when it was still operating.


This is the SQ plane that took me to SIN that afternoon.


Legroom is much greater than my Dragonair flight from Nanjing the day before.


Almost in SIN.


A view of some of the upcoming departures from SIN that evening, with my flight to Male' listed.


The flight to SIN was uneventful. I loved the AVOD. I don't have a lot of time to watch movies or TV when I'm working; so, I really appreciate the time to catch up when I fly. I'm too embarrassed to tell you what I watched - and even more embarrassed to admit I liked it. I didn't eat the food. Unless I'm on a long-haul flight and am truly hungry, I generally forgo airline food. The flight to MLE was also very nice and AVOD equipped. I watched an old movie called Paper Moon with Ryan O'Neal. It was good. This flight was quite turbulent. Several times, the FAs were asked to be seated.

I had to spend the night in Male' because the air taxis to the resorts only operate in daylight. I decided to spend the entire next day in Male' exploring. There really wasn't much to explore, but I'm glad I spent the day there. It's a unique place.


This is the ferry that takes you to and from the airport, which is located on a separate island. It costs $1 USD.


On the way to MLE, I caught this EK777 having just touched down. MLE doesn't have taxiways along its runway. Therefore, you have to get on the runway, taxi to the far end, turn around, and then line up for take off. When you arrive, you do the same thing: ride to the very end of the runway, turn around, then taxi to the terminal on the runway.


Sri Lankan A330 taxiiing to take off.


To get to my resort, I had to take an air taxi. My resort used Maldvian Air Taxi. The procedure was easy. You check your bags at their desk and then you get on a bus. This bus drives around the airport to the other side of the runway and deposits you at the air taxi waiting area.


This is a view of the runway while en route to the air taxi station.


These pictures are of the air taxi waiting area and a few air taxis waiting their next flights.




Here are a couple views of the main terminal taken from across the runway at the air taxi terminal. You'll notice the EK that arrived while I was on the ferry and an Air Berlin that arrived while I was at the air taxi terminal.



The air taxi was fun! The pilots wore no shoes. The ride from MLE' to my resort lasted about 40 minutes. In fact, we made a stop at a nearby resort to drop of some passengers; so, I was treated to two take offs and landings that day for the price of one!




A couple of pics from the resort and my furry bat friend that I saw from time to time.





A week later, the flights back were uneventful. MLE - SIN was overnight. I was too tired to take pics. The plane was about 30%, so I could stretch out. SIN - HKG was 100%, but again, I didn't really sleep much on the flight from MLE, so I just sat there dozing off while watching Grease on my AVOD.

I hope you enjoyed my report. The Maldives were fantastic.
Thanks for reading,
Scott