[ad_1]
When procurement specialist Halim Rahman learned that Singapore Airlines was hosting a lunch aboard the Airbus A-380 plane, he thought it was the perfect way to celebrate his 37th birthday.
He waited until midnight for the online registration to open, eventually managing to reserve a business class seat for himself and his best friend, 38-year-old senior product executive Fairus Ahmad.
“It’s definitely about the experience,” Halim said.
“I know the price is high for a dining experience … but since we are not going anywhere, this will be something memorable.”
They were among the roughly 400 people who were the first to experience the Restaurant @ A380 experience aboard two of the gigantic jets on Saturday (October 24) afternoon.
Some 900 initial seats were available for lunch on October 24 and October 25, and they were sold out within 30 minutes of opening reservations. Then, SIA announced that it would also have lunch sessions on October 31 and November 1, as well as dinners all four days.
Three-hour lunches and dinners are $ 50 per person in economy cabin, $ 90 for those who want to be in premium economy class, $ 300 for business class and $ 600 for suites.
Nearly 200 SIA staff members, including cabin crew, volunteered to help out at the event, in which some rumors returned to a section of the transit area at Terminal 3 for the first time in months since it occurred. the Covid-19 pandemic.
Those attending the lunch had to hand over their passports for safekeeping and also to have their bags checked just like when boarding a plane. For example, some of those who had bottled water in their bags were asked to see it to get through security.
Three-hour lunches and dinners are $ 50 per person in economy cabin, $ 90 for those who want to be in premium economy class, $ 300 for business class and $ 600 for suites. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
SIA announced that it would also have lunch sessions on October 31 and November 1, and dinners all four days. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Some cabin crew modeled the SIA uniforms of the past while passengers waited to board. When those on the aircraft duty list arrived, they were applauded by the people waiting in the transit area.
Many of those traveling on the A-380 aircraft were also taken on a tour of the aircraft, which included an in-cabin session and the opportunity to see the seats in different cabins.
There were also staff members who enforced safe distancing.
Mr. Lee Lik Hsin, SIA Executive Vice President (Business), speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, said: “We are very, very grateful for the support that the people of Singapore have given us.
“This weekend is sold out, but there are still some spaces available for next weekend … if demand continues to be strong, certainly (opening more dinners) will be something we will think about.”
Lee said there has also been a lot of interest in SIA’s other new non-flight initiative, home delivery of its premium meals, with more than 500 packages sold so far.
In response to how these initiatives have helped SIA financially, he said: “All of this generates revenue, but we are an airline and we have to fly again. So we hope we can do it as soon as possible.”
But for now, the opportunity to dine aboard a plane is excellent for most, as international air travel is still hampered by border restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many of those traveling on the A-380 plane were also taken on a tour of the plane. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
The opportunity to dine aboard a plane is excellent for most, as international air travel is still hampered by border restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Retired civil servant Emily Loo, 68, who was economy class with her husband at Restaurant @ A380, said: “We got to see the suites section today, which was very impressive, and we also got to see the cabin and take a photo. with the pilots.
“We wanted to travel to Taiwan and Hong Kong, but this experience helps make up for not being able to.”
Menu in Restaurant @ A380
ECONOMY
– Roast chicken with pumpkin salad
– Chicken tempra and aubergine sambal
–Miso kakuni
– Fried salmon with creamy dill sauce
– Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream
The main dish is miso kakuni and the roast chicken with potato and pumpkin salad as an appetizer from the budget menu. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
PREMIUM ECONOMY
– Prawns on mung beans
– Itek siow and chap chai
–Miso kakuni
– Fried salmon with creamy dill sauce
– Mango ice cream with almond tuile
DEAL
Option 1:
– SIA signs satay
– Chicken, prawn and jellyfish salad with cabbage dressing
– Nasi lemak from Nonya’s grandmother
– Nostalgic local ice cream sandwiches
– Cheese and fruit board
Bread basket for business class and suite menus. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
Option 2:
– SIA signs satay
– Smoked salmon flakes
– Reserve The Cook’s Favorite Grilled Beef Steak with Black Pepper Sauce / Grilled Shrimp with Scallops over Saffron Broth / Suzuki Saikyo Yaki
– Baked cheesecake with sable crust
– Cheese and fruit board
Smoked salmon flake appetizer on the business class menu. ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
SUITES
Option 1:
– Satay from SIA and cold oscietra caviar
– Roast duck salad in sweet plum sauce
– Bakwan Crab Soup
– Nasi Lemak from Mrs. Grandma
– Trio of nostalgic local ice cream sandwiches
– Cheese and fruit board
Option 2:
– SIA signature satay and cold oscietra caviar
– Anti insurance and / or bring crab soup
– Reserve The Cook’s Favorite Lobster Thermidor / Grilled Grass-Fed Beef Tenderloin with Morel Mushroom Sauce / Suzuki Saikyo Yaki
– Hot fondant chocolate cake
– Cheese and fruit board
This article was first published in The times of the strait.
