A380 Experience

My Flight on the A380 Singapore-Sydney 14Nov07

Here's my experience on the 14th November 2007

Flight number SQ221
Aircraft Airbus 380/841

Class R - Suites - 2A

Registration 9V-SKA

Departure gate F31

Arrival gate 57

Routing Singapore-Denpasar-Port Hedland-Alice Springs-Cunnamulla-Sydney

Flight time 6hrs 50 mins

Distance 6449 (3050 Nautical Miles)

Flight level 39,000 feet

Speed Mach 0.85

Pax onboard 415 (6 Suites)

Take off speed 298kph

Landing speed 222kph

Actual times (Based on Sydney time zone)

Board 2305

Pushback 2331 ( 1 Minute late)

Take off 2350

Denpasar 0147

Port Hedland 0304

Alice Springs 0428 (655mph-1054kph) 150kph tail wind

Cunnamulla 0545

Touchdown 0640

Syd Terminal 0650 ( 10 Minutes early)

The Suites Experience

Boarded aircraft via dedicated Suites Aerobridge leading to the main deck of the aircraft. Three crew members waiting at door to greet and escort to Suite 2A. Coat taken and hang in own wardrobe located at the rear of the suite. Dom Perignon 1999 offered along with any other drink you so desire. Flight Manager introduced herself and her colleagues that will be serving me on the flight. (This was the Flight manager's first flight on the A380). Papers and magazines offered along with the mens toiletry pack, PJ's,Slippers, socks and eye mask.

A guided tour of my suite then took place, how the expandable table works, the cupboards where things can be placed, the office setup (UBS/Power ports) the operating lights and how to move your seat up/down/flat. Another great idea was a "do not disturb" light which shows outside the suite when all doors closed.

One thing quite noticeable is the windows are set quite some distance from the chair. Pushback occured at 2031 (Singapore time) with a very slow taxi speed to the runway. The take off roll commenced at 2050, very smooth and no sense of feeling of increased speed. Take roll was quite long and take off speed was set at 298kph.

After take off my personal flight attendant gave the dinner menu which was bound in a brown leather presentation folder. A welcome fruit fizz cocktail was then given with more champagne.

After my dinner requirements were taken, I then went to my wardrobe and got some hangers

and went to the bathroom to change into my Givenchi PJ's. The bathroom was quite big with hollywood style lights all around the mirror. On each side of the mirror many draws existed with combs, toothbrushes, shavers, moisterisers, after shave, flannels. The area did not feel cramped and was easy to change. The crew always either open the bathroom door on entry and always come to your assistance when you leave, here my personal flight attented took my clothes and hang then up in my wardrobe. It felt so comfortable just like home !! then dinner commenced.

My selections

Breads-Garlic/Olive and sun dried tomato rolls/facacia

Canapes- Selection of satays with onion, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce

Appetisers-Chilled Malossoi Caviar with melba toast and condiments

Soup-Cream of chicken

Salad-Caesar

Special-inbetween sorbet

Main-Wok fried beek in black pepper sauce with garlic, french bean with dried shrimp in XO sauce, fish noodle with bean sprout

Desert-Lemongrass jello with Lychee served in coconut shell

Cheeses-Brie-Mild cheddar, smokey pepper served with garnishes

Fruits

Coffee-Jamaican Blue Mountain-(Champagne of coffee)

Once finished my flight attendand asked if I want to sleep and they would prepare the bed.

The matress actually comes out of the wall behind the chair and the area by the window colapes down to the ground area to enable the full bed to be made. Doona and two pillows and roll pillow in the suite. Three bottle of Evian were also given for consumption through the night.

Was asked if I would like a hot chocolate before retiring and what I would like for breakfast.

Coffe,Freshly squeezed orange juice and pastries. Normally the crew would wake you up 90 minutes before arrival howver as the suite not busy a call will be made at 60 minutes.

My slide windows on the aisle where closed, however at the top and bottom they appeared to be a wire mesh and you could still see movement from outside the suite. The centre doors close make you stay very private. The bed was quite comfortanble. I continued to watch my 23 inch LCD TV with my Bose noise cancelling headphones for a short time. I had a few hours sleep which for me never happens on flight. The flight deck was just in the front of our cabin and 3 steps lead up into the cockpit

New Delivery

Musical Break

First Commercial arrival into Sydney A380

First Commercial departure from Singapore