Hi guys.
I just came back from a recent trip with my parents to Penang like six days ago so hopefully I'll be able to remember the details of my flights. This is my first trip report and I hope you guys enjoy reading it. I'll post the return flight later as it's really time consuming and I can't be bothered to do both now. :P

SIN-PEN
Malaysia Airlines
MH652
Terminal 2
Gate: E1
Gate open: 1005
Scheduled departure: 1105
Actual departure: Approx 1315
Aircraft: Boeing 737-4H6
Registration: 9M-MME
Line number: 2362
Manufactured/First flight: 04/09/1992
Delivery: 22/09/1992
Configuration: F16/Y128(144)

Singapore Airlines
SQ196
Terminal 2
Gate: E3
Gate open: 1440
Secheduled boarding: 1440
Actual boarding: Approx 1510
Scheduled departure: 1540
Takeoff: Approx 1615

Is the published scheduled departure time the time the plane leaves the gate?

Aircraft: Boeing 777-212ER
Registration: 9V-SRO
Line number: 447
Manufactured/First flight: 04/07/2003
Delivery: 28/07/2003
Configuration: J30/Y293(323)
Load factor: Approx 85% in Y


We left the house at around 0715 and arrived early at 0740 at Terminal 2. The taxi driver dropped us off at the entrance near the SIN-KUL shuttle flights check-in rows which was just perfect.

My picture certainly does not do justice to the newly renovated interior of Terminal 2..


As we approached the shuttle check-in area, we realised that the plasma screens were all showing MH604 which is a SIN-KUL flight. My father was anxious that we might miss the flight and so he asked me to walk around to see if other desks were doing check-in for our flight to Penang. We seldom fly and the last time (also my first) I flew was at least 5 years ago.



After walking around and finding that other desks were mostly empty or used for other flights, I came back to the shuttle check-in area. On the way, I took some pics of the new SATS self check-in kiosks. (Why did Changi take so long to get them? Are the SATS ones the first ones at Changi anyway?)


As I remember from the MAS website that they did early check-ins, I decided to enquire at the desks to check if it was available for our flight. The lady at the desk told me promptly that we could do so. And so after taking some pics for my parents around the terminal we decided to check-in at around 0830 and got our boarding passes. Our flight was assigned to gate E1 (which isn't a far way off from the shoppping area) though the lady at the check-in desk told us that our gate might change as Malaysia flights usually use F gates.

We decided to go in and soon we were headed to the departure area where we had our passport checked. My first impression when I entered the departure/transit shopping area was wow, it's huge. There are like 50 shops in the Terminal 2 departure area itself which is pretty cool though my excitment was dampened as one of the complains of the shops is the high prices, which is why I didn't bother checking out the shops. There was also only one shop (Kaboom, is at both terminals; Nikko Toy had closed their outlets at T1, at least I couldn't find it on the mall brochure) selling airplane models which is the only thing that I had thought of getting. I saw a 1:500 scale SIA Concorde selling for $20 (i think) and I was quite tempted to buy it. There were not many 1:400 scale models to choose from and so I decided to check out the different places around the airport where I could see the action on the tarmac.

My first stop were the smoking rooms which provided good views of the nearby gates though as usual the glass wasn't the cleanest and had reflections in some areas, and obviously the air inside isn't the freshest. How I wish Changi had those open air observation decks that so many major airports used to have in the past - it would be a true spotters heaven.







I then went to the famous sunflower garden at the third level. I wasn't expecting much (in terms of being spotter friendly) so I wasn't very disappointed either. It provided good views of gates F50 onwards but the glass was reflective and in my excitement, I didn't realise that.

Some views from and of the Sunflower Garden.







Is that a UK government 737BBJ?


After that I decided to hop over to T1 to check out the aircraft there. It was a long way there as I decided to use the travelators instead of taking the skytrain. The only planes that I managed to photograph was a CX A333 with someother CX plane beside it and a MU A306 at gate C16 which is the other side of T1.

An A380 equipped gate


B-HLA


B-2318


It was exactly 10 and my gate was opening soon (gates at changi open 1 hour before departure, 1005 in our case) and so I made my way back, reaching after they had just opened it. We entered the gate and passed through a final round of security screening before settling down at the waiting area.



The plane arrived at 1016 and pulled into the gate really quickly. Its suprising how nimble the 737 was. The plane was 9H-MME and I did a quick search on the web with my mobile phone to get more info.



As it turns out, our plane for today's flight is 14 years old. It's my first time flying on Malaysia Airlines and also on the 737-400 so I couldn't wait to board it.



After a short while, at around they announced that there was a minor technical fault and that the departure time would be pushed to 1130. I thought, no big deal, hopefully we'll not be delayed further. However, to my disappointment, they came over the PA system close to 1130 and told us that they had found a crack in a window and offered us lunch, a seat on a later SQ flight and were apologetic about the inconvenience caused. I had mixed feeling as the later flight, SQ196, would be leaving at 1540 which would mean that we'll arrive half a day late in Penang but on the other hand I have never tried SQ and was eager to see first-hand if it was that great an airline that other people have been saying. My mum was rather pleased though since she wanted to fly SQ in the first place but couldn't because of the high prices.

Transfer E


My ticket!


We went to transfer E to exchange our tickets for SQ196. It was a long queue by Changi standards (no doubt partially due to our delay) and got out tickets without problems so off we went for lunch at the food gallery. We went back to the gate ask where it was because we couldn't find it on the map and was told it was on the third level.

After lunch, I brought my parents to the relaxation area (called chair spa by the airport).


There were quite a number of foot massager machines there. Who needs lounges when the airport provides almost everything a traveller could ask for? (free internet access, cable tv, cinema, relaxation areas and massage machines!)

A MH734 9H-MMC at gate F30 right beside the chair spa area.


Interior of the skytrain


My next stop was the Bamboo Garden. It's located roughly between T1 and T2 and as the gate for the delayed flight, E1 was on the way there, I realised that MH653 had yet to take off. I guess choosing to fly on SQ196 wasn't such a bad decision afterall as if I do not remember wrongly, MH653 left at 1315, a whole 2 hours after the scheduled departure time. After reaching the bamboo garden, I was kinda disappointed that it's just a cordorned off area filled with bamboo plants and not a proper open air garden like the sunflower one where we spotters could catch some action, albeit through the glass.

Just then I caught a Royal Brunei 744 taxiing for takeoff and this was the best picture I could get of it with my camera's 3x optical zoom.


Other planes that I could see from there was a Valuair A320, Vietnam A321 and a Cathay 773 that taxied by for takeoff.







The last stop for me was the cactus garden at the other side of the T1 shopping area on the third level so that meant more walking. I was really disappointed that the plants all covered the sides facing the runways. Obviously it wasn't designed for the spotter in mind. We need to have an aviation enthusiast on Changi's planning committee!

The cactus garden.


I didn't have time to check out the Heliconia Garden. How does it compare to the cactus and sunflower ones?

It was slightly after 2 when i decided to head back to T2 as the gate for our flight had opened.

On the way, I saw SQ's A345 9V-SGC.


Our aircraft for SQ196, 9V-SRO arrived at 1443 which was slightly after boarding time. As usual, I browsed the web on my phone for more info on the plane.


At gate E3, 9V-SRO


I was pretty excited as it was my first time on an SQ flight and I was eager to see for myself if "the service that even other airlines talk about" is what it's all cracked up to be.

Boarding commenced after 3, with Krisflyer PPS, Business and families with children boarding first. Economy was followed soon after with boarding done by rows starting from the back. Yay! (Really a phew =P) I boarded at 1520 and as usual there was a warm welcome party the senior crew at door. The were really friendly and it was all smiles. As we trudged through the cabin, most crew members inside were smilling, though I don't remember them helping passengers stow their luggage. They only came around to help after everyone had boarded.



I don't like the boarding gates used by Changi as there're totally windowless and I am claustrophobic.






Hot towels were given out shortly after we passengers were settled down and the Captain came over the PA system and informed us that we would cruise at FL360. The crew came around to collect the hot towels soon after giving them out and we pushed back after that.



We took off slightly after 4. The 777 feels quite powerful on takeoff, especially on this short flight!






We climbed into the cloudy/hazy but relatively turbulence free sky. Sometimes it felt like we were sinking. It's interesting how the human body percieves the motion of the plane on takeoff.



After levelling off at around 1627, the crew came from the rear galley with hot snacks and drinks. I was slightly disappointed as I expected a proper meal but then again it wasn't lunch time. Here's the meal. It's some pizza stick that was tasty and the orange juice that I chose to go with it.





Quite soon after giving out the food, the crew came around to collect the trays. They were really polite and almost every sentence included a "please", "sir" or "thank you". It was time to try out the Krisworld system. 9V-SRO happened to be a Wisemen equipped system which basically means it has AVOD functions. As this flight, the crew did not have time to distribute headphones which was a pity nice I thought I might catch a short 30 minute documentary on krisworld.

My first impression is that interface is slightly confusing as it probably was a upgrade from a standard multichannel PTV system and there is no manual to guide you. The system also took some time to respond to my control inputs probably because SQ stretched it to its limits. Here are some pictures of the flight info interface. The flight map was shown in both english and mandarin.









Descending close to Penang


Video of the landng (6:27)


Penang was coming up fast and soon we were on final approach to the airport. We landed at around 1710. The landing was pretty smooth and the taxi to the gate after we exited the runway was short. This is the good thing about smaller airports I guess.







We parked beside quite a few gates from a Malaysian 734. There was an Asiana 744 on there other side with some other aircraft that I can't recall at the moment. Being seated at the far back, there was the usual jam in economy that took some time to clear and then we were able to deplane at 1720. As usual the crew were at the door to say their goodbyes and like when we boarded it was all smiles. The walk to the immigration desks was a short one. There was quite a long line at the desks which took some time to clear. We cleared security at around 1740 and was out of the airport soon after to take our transport to the hotel.

Some pictures of penang airport. The immigration area.


Outside the terminal. Sorry for the quality. (or rather, the lack of!)


Conclusion
Other than the lack of a proper meal, it was a good flight. I enjoyed it, though there is nothing much that I can say about SQ's apparent excellent service on such a short flight. Maybe it's because they just didn't go all the way out to impress us.

Service: 8/10
Food: 7/10
Aircraft: 9/10
Overall: 8/10

[Edited 2006-09-28 18:17:18]