Thursday, November 29, 2012

New Zealand 2012 - Part 11: Sydney to Singapore

Part 1:  Asiana Airlines First Class – Los Angeles to Seoul
Part 2:  Asiana Airlines Business Class – Seoul to Sydney
Part 3:  Air New Zealand Economy Class – Sydney to Auckland to Christchurch
Part 4:  Winetasting in Waipara
Part 5:  Exploring Christchurch
Part 6:  Air New Zealand Economy Class – Christchurch to Queenstown
Part 7:  Winetasting in Otago
Part 8:  Exploring Queenstown
Part 9:  Hilton Queenstown
Part 10:  Overnight in Sydney
Part 11:  Singapore Airlines First Class – Sydney to Singapore
Part 12:  Singapore Airlines First Class – Singapore to San Francisco



The ride to Sydney Airport from my hotel was the most stressful part of the day.  The shuttle picked up a group of passengers from the Ibis and headed to the airport in terrible traffic.  I don’t know what was going on with everyone wanting to be on the roads around 7am but it was packed.  After a stop at the two domestic terminals, I eventually got off at the international departures hall.  The Singapore Airlines desk was at the far end of the ticketing counters so I headed all the way over there to check-in.  I arrived a little under two hours before departure and was the only person in the first class line and was immediately helped.  The process took a few minutes longer than usual to be sure they had all my passport information on the computers for my return to the US.  One I received my two boarding passes I was also given an “express” card for departures through customs and screening.  Again, this area was on the other side of the hall. 

 

The express line uses a different entrance than the regular passengers and I was in and out quickly with a stamp on my passport and then into security where I had to go through additional screening.  The Sydney airport has a maze of duty free shops on your way to the gates, and nothing was cheap.  With my first class tickets I had access to the Sydney Silver Kris Lounge, Singapore Air’s lounge, which is next door to the Air New Zealand lounge.  The greeter was very friendly and handed me my golden ticket invitation to the Private Room at Singapore Airport.   The lounge was on the small size and only 5 other people were inside by the time I left.  They had a few breakfast items as well as refrigerator with alcohol.  I just settled for a bit of toast before my multi-course breakfast on board. 

 

The boarding area for our gate was very narrow and cramped.  Families started boarding first then I was invited to head down the jet bridge.  I was the first premium passenger to board and when I showed my boarding pass at the plane door I was escorted to my seat by the flight attendant.  She was incredibly polite and even offered to take my picture when she realized I was taking pictures of the cabin.  There were only two other people in the cabin of eight. 

The first class seats are huge. While I find the latest Lufthansa seats to aesthetically look better, these seats are massive. The LED screen is 23” and the seat itself is advertised as the widest first class seat in the world. The width is in the neighborhood of 35” (normal domestic coach seats range between 17” and 18” wide). The plane was a 777-300 which was retrofitted with these newer first class seats. This plane included overhead bins but ample space for carry-ons was available below the footrest shelf. They actually provide a couple pillows on the seat to make it feel less wide. 



 

Even though it was before 9am I started off with a glass of Dom Perignon 2003 and when empty my glass was promptly filled without asking.  Menus were distributed and breakfast orders were taken before we took off along with receiving noise cancelling headphones, slippers, and socks. 

 

 








Take off was delayed as we waited on the tarmac for our departure position but once we were rolling down the runway we were quickly airborne.  The seatbelt sign turned off and the cabin crew started to prep the cabin and our meals.  The IFE system was good and easy to navigate with a healthy variety of movie and TV options to watch.  Unfortunately, like Asiana, they only have the IFE available above 10,000 feet so you cannot watch the airshow or any program on takeoff or landing. 

The flight attendant came by with fresh orange juice along with an amenity kit and XL pajamas.  I also had to order a mimosa which was promptly delivered. 


 
Breakfast started with a plate of fresh fruit.


 

Cornflakes and freshly warmed bread was up next. 

 

And the main course consisted of made to order scrambled eggs with bacon and a potato cake. 

 

After breakfast I asked for the seat to be turned into a bed.  These seats require the flight attendants to pull the back of the seat down as that turns into the flat surface.  A mattress pad is laid down plus quite a few pillows.  Singapore Air also carries to blanket types on board, one heavy and one light.  Since I always seem to overheat on a place it was nice to have a light blanket. 

 

I managed to sleep about four hours.  The bed was actually pretty hard.  The mattress bad felt more like a floor mat with not much support although the width of the seat made it very comfortable to lay down in.  About two hours before landing in Singapore, the lunch service started with hot towels and then a crab and mango salad.  I had a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with this course. 

 

The main course was a filet with chimichurri salsa and potatoes.  The meat was tender and tasty.  I was also preemptively asked if I wanted a glass of red wine with the course and I obliged. 

 

Dessert was a chocolate and caramel cake and mascarpone – very delicious.  And, again they offered me a glass of Sauternes before I could even ask. 

 

After the meal I enjoyed a glass of Moroccan mint tea watching episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” and looked out the window as we approached Singapore.  I was surprised at the number of container and tanker ships in the surrounding waters. 

 

Landing was smooth and we quickly pulled up to the gate.  We were able to disembark from the forward door and head into the airport without passing through any customs or transfer desk.  I had about three hours to before my next flight and I headed over to the Silver Kris Lounge and the Private Room.  I provided one of the staff my invitation card and was escorted back through the business lounge and through the first class lounge into the Private Room.  There were no other passengers in the lounge when I arrived and only a couple more by the time I left.  The facility was very quiet and relaxing and included soft leather seats, a couple of TV areas, and dining room.  Staff were attentive and were regularly refilling my water. 



 

New Zealand 2012 - Part 10: Overnight in Sydney

Part 1:  Asiana Airlines First Class – Los Angeles to Seoul
Part 2:  Asiana Airlines Business Class – Seoul to Sydney
Part 3:  Air New Zealand Economy Class – Sydney to Auckland to Christchurch
Part 4:  Winetasting in Waipara
Part 5:  Exploring Christchurch
Part 6:  Air New Zealand Economy Class – Christchurch to Queenstown
Part 7:  Winetasting in Otago
Part 8:  Exploring Queenstown
Part 9:  Hilton Queenstown
Part 10:  Overnight in Sydney
Part 11:  Singapore AirlinesFirst Class – Sydney to Singapore
Part 12:  Singapore Airlines First Class – Singapore to San Francisco

 

I was able to take the bus from the Hilton to the airport with a quick connection.  The Queenstown doesn’t have much space beyond security so I waited in the pre-security Koru Lounge which was on an upper level.  The lounge provided great views of the tarmac and runway for plane spotting.  There was also a small spread of drinks, soup, and cheeses available to munch on. 

 

Eventually the A320 which would take me to Sydney arrived and I headed down to the security checkpoint.  The same liquid restrictions we have in the US as the same for flights into Australia so I had to check my bag and will again for the remainder of my journey.

 

After security I went through the immigration checkpoint and then to the waiting area to board.  I really did enjoy walking out to the plane and boarding up the stairs as I could check out the other aircraft including a Jet Star A320 and Qantas 737. 

 

Boarding was quick and I was luck in that the two seats next to me were empty.  I liked the black seats on the plane which I believe match the new interiors on Air New Zealand’s 777-300ER.  Each seat had their own on-demand touchscreen.  The tray tables are up higher than on most seats and actually fold out in half to save space and knee room. 


 

I actually had to purchase this flight as no award space was available.  I used Expedia to book the flight rather than Air New Zealand’s website as it wouldn’t let me book the ticket.  Somehow through the fare class I purchased or because of my Star Gold status my ticket was classified as “the works” meaning I was able to watch any movies I wanted, get a meal, and drink for free.  The options included a baked chicken dish or a beef curry.  I opted for the chicken and it was very good.  The meat wasn’t try, veggies were decent, and the potatoes creamy.  I had a glass, or two, or pinot noir with lunch.  The roll was warm and soft and the triple chocolate ice cream was very good.  

 

Unfortunately the IFE went out in my section of the plane and I couldn’t watch anything, not even the airshow to track how far we’ve traveled.  While the IFE was working I was able to poke around and really liked the interface.  One of the best features is the ability to order food or drink right from your seat.  This IFE system is the same on their long haul product and I can imagine it being very useful 6 hours into a 13 hour flight across the Pacific.  The one downside with these touchscreens is that people tend to believe they are pressure sensitive when they are not.  I had to suffer with a guy behind me frustratingly poking at the screen for minutes while it wasn’t working.  All it requires is a slight touch from your finger to sense which button is to be pressed. 

Our approach into Sydney was over Botany Bay (always reminds me of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan).  We had to wait for a few planes to take off before pulling to our gate, but I did get a great shot of a Virgin Australia ATR-72 taking off with a Thai Airways 747-400 in the background. 

 

Immigration and customs was the quietest I had ever seen and I was able to walk directly to an agent and pass through to wait for my suitcase.  My bag was one of the first to arrive and I was shortly out the door heading to the hotel bus shuttle stop.  There was a huge crowd there waiting already and I soon learned that an Air Pacific flight to Tahiti and Los Angeles was cancelled and they were bussing everyone to hotels for their overnight stay.  I headed out to the taxi stand instead so I could get to my hotel. 

A short taxi ride later and I arrived at the Ibis Sydney Airport hotel.  The lobby was crowded with people from the cancelled flight but I was able to check in quickly and head up to me room.  Let’s just say that the hotel easily fits the stereotype of an airport hotel.  The hallways are dingy and old, the rooms are small with odd furniture, and everything just feels sticky.  The bathroom almost felt like it belonged on a cruise ship rather than a hotel room. 

 

The one upside to the location is plane spotting.  The takeoff path for one of the cross runways goes right over the hotel and I was able to watch Jet Star, Qantas, and Virgin Australia planes take off from my window.  The larger heavies (747s and A380s) used a different runway which I could also see, just not up close. 

I ate dinner at the hotel, spinach ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce along with a glass of sauvignon blanc and Semillon blend. 

 

I relaxed in the hotel room watching Goldeneye and the Bourne Identity before hitting the sack to get some sleep prior to the 6:35am airport shuttle. 

Monday, November 26, 2012

New Zealand 2012 - Part 9: Hilton Queenstown

Part 1:  Asiana Airlines First Class – Los Angeles to Seoul
Part 2:  Asiana Airlines Business Class – Seoul to Sydney
Part 3:  Air New Zealand Economy Class – Sydney to Auckland to Christchurch
Part 4:  Winetasting in Waipara
Part 5:  Exploring Christchurch
Part 6:  Air New Zealand EconomyClass – Christchurch to Queenstown
Part 7:  Winetasting in Otago
Part 8:  Exploring Queenstown
Part 9:  Hilton Queenstown
Part 10:  Overnight in Sydney
Part 11:  Singapore AirlinesFirst Class – Sydney to Singapore
Part 12:  Singapore Airlines First Class – Singapore to San Francisco



Hilton operates two properties in Queenstown:  the Hilton and the Kawaru Hotel.  I booked in a room in the Hilton proper and was not disappointed.  This property was probably the best Hilton brand location I have been too. 



Check-in at the hotel was quick with the eager staff recognizing my diamond status and informing me that I was upgraded from a standard king lake view room to a suite.  In the past, all my upgrades occurred on work trips where I was only in a hotel for 8 hours or less.  Thankfully I had several days to enjoy this upgrade.  I also would be receiving free breakfast and internet during my stay, another perk of having status. 

One of the staff walked me to my room and explained the various features and restaurants in the hotel.  Thankfully she did escort me as the layout of the hotel is confusing.  The hotel is over two buildings with the upper building holding most of the rooms and the entrance which is on level 4. We went down to level 1 and then into the next connected building which houses many of the suites right on the lake and went back up to level 4.  And, that’s not all folks – this second building is comprised of three vertical towers with their own elevators as each upper floor only has three rooms per elevator landing. 

The room is well appointed with deep brown walls and white accents.  The living room contained a work area, couple couches, flat screen TV, fireplace, and balcony.  The bedroom had a king size bed, large wardrobe, and flat screen TV.  The bathroom included both a bathtub and glass walled shower with a rain showerhead.  The best part of the bathroom was the radiant floor heating – the tile floor was never cold.  Each room had a window facing the lake and limited ability for neighboring rooms to look in.  The couches and bed were all very comfortable and I got great sleep at night.  All you could hear at night were the sounds of the lake lapping against the shore.  Each night I relaxed next to the fire place drinking a complimentary bottle of Pinot Noir. 





 
 

The property has three restaurants:  the Wakatipu Grill, Stacks Pub, and an Asian Grill.  Breakfast is served every morning at the Wakatipu Grill and it has a great spread.  Traditional English breakfast items like scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, roasted tomatoes, and baked beans plus a whole butcher block table filled with local baked breads and muffins.  Additionally there was a cold case with muesli, fruit, and yoghurt.  I had breakfast outside on my last day there. 


 

Dinner at the Wakatipu Grill is by reservation only (even though it was fairly empty) and wasn’t worth the price.  I had Maltose spice roasted quack-a-duck, caramelized fennel, mandarin paste, and cinnamon gravy along with some potato Parmesan fritters.  The duck was relatively dry and the skin was soggy with the fat not rendered out at all.  The fritters were ok but very salty.  I had a glass of sauvignon blanc with the meal but in the end it was complimentary because the apple fritter dessert I ordered was incinerated by the oven.  I would avoid this restaurant for dinner. 


 

I went to Stacks Pub for dinner the second night and had an excellent steak with fries.  Beer was the beverage of choice that night starting off with a Speight’s and then a Black Mac.  Perfect to watch the Detroit-Houston game that was on live at the time. 

 

I didn’t get the chance to go to Cru which was their wine bar overlooking the lake.  There also was a grocery store with essentials and a small grocery selection. 

Throughout the stay I found the staff very eager, friendly, and always willing to make sure I was happy.  The check-out process was quick and efficient.  I had a great stay here and would easily return and recommend this hotel.