Changi Airport often boasts that itโs a destination in itself, and perhaps theyโre right because itโs the catalyst for my next trip report.
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In May 2023, Transport Minister he-who-must-not-be-named announced that Changi Terminal 2 would reopen in October, a few months ahead of the original 2024 target. The 3.5 year project saw the closure of an entire terminal for the first time in Changiโs history, adding 15,500 sqm of floor space, an expanded departure and immigration hall, a brand new check-in area for SIA First Class passengers, and loads of other good stuff.
Well, T2โs northern wing reopened in late September, and while thereโs still a couple of features and retail outlets getting their last looks before Novemberโs official ceremony, itโs pretty much all systems go.
At the same time, Iโve been meaning to cross something old off my bucket list: SIAโs Boeing 737-800NG Business Class. These SilkAir leftovers are, without a doubt, the worst Business Class seats in the fleet. And yet theyโre also the only SIA cabin product Iโve never reviewed before.
Throw in an expiring AMEX hotel voucher, some pending Kaligo referral miles, an assortment of lounges old and new, and the answer became clear: a whirlwind trip to Kuala Lumpur to check out something old, something new.
Flights
โ๏ธ Something Old, Something New: Flights |
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โ SIN-KUL | โ KUL-SIN |
![]() Depart: 1605 Arrive: 1710 Cabin: Business (B737-800NG) |
![]() Depart: 1440 Arrive: 1550 Cabin: Economy (A320) |
Cost: 14,700 miles + S$62 | Cost: S$25 |
First, the old.
I am quite possibly the first person to consciously redeem his hard-earned miles for Business Class on SIAโs Boeing 737-800NG.
Donโt let the NG (Next Generation) tag fool you; the seats on this aircraft are as ancient as they get. SIA inherited nine B737-800NG aircraft from its merger with SilkAir, seven of which are still operating today. These were delivered from 2014 onwards, and even though theyโre technically not the oldest Business Class seats in the fleet (SIAโs primary long-haul Business Class seat was delivered from 2013), they certainly look like it.
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Thereโs no seatback screens, no storage lockers, no full-flat beds, no reading lights, no handheld remotes. This is Business Class at its most basic, a throwback to the days of recliner seats with no frills beyond extra width and legroom.
The B737-800NGs are on operating leases which end between September 2024 and January 2026, so itโs that awkward period thatโs too short for a refit, too long to keep the status quo. In the end, SIA decided to give the interiors some new upholstery, and deploy these exclusively on short-haul or low-yield routes:
- Kuala Lumpur (45m)
- Kathmandu (4h 30m)
- Phuket (1h 30m)
I figured that a 45-minute hop to Kuala Lumpur would be all the time I needed to review this fossil.
โ๏ธ B737-800 vs B737-8 MAX |
Donโt confuse the B737-800 with the B737-8 MAX. Those trailing zeros canโt just be lopped off; weโre dealing with two completely different aircraft. I would fly the B737-8 MAX any day (yes, Iโm aware of its legacy); I would deliberately change my itinerary to avoid the B737-800NG. |
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B737-8 MAX | B737-800NG | |
Total Seats | 154 | 162 |
Business Class | 10x Flat Bed | 12x Recliner |
Economy Class | 144x Recliner | 150x Recliner |
Seatback IFE | Yes | No (IFE via streaming) |
Wi-Fi | Yes | No |
Itโs painful enough to redeem short-haul Business Class, much less to Kuala Lumpur, but at least I didnโt pay full price thanks to Spontaneous Escapes: 14,700 miles + S$62.
On the way back Iโll be flying Jetstar. While it was tempting to book SIA so I could use the First Class Lounge on arrival, Iโm not about to say no to a S$25 fare. I have no idea how they can price it so low; the airport taxes alone are already S$13!
Hotels
๐จ Something Old, Something New: Hotels |
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Night | Hotel | Per Night Cost (Nett) |
1 | Hotel Stripes, Autograph Collection | S$127 |
2 | Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur | AMEX voucher |
Even though itโs an โinvestment in contentโ, I still felt pretty bummed out about spending 14,700 miles on what will surely be the most underwhelming Business Class experience of my life (prove me wrong, SIA!).
Then I realised there was a small consolation. I could book my hotel through Kaligo and cover the miles through my referral bonus. Kaligoโs referral bonus system is a bit sneaky in the sense that it doesnโt let you cash out your referral miles until your next stay. For example, if you have 10 friends who signed up (5,000 miles total), you wonโt receive those referral miles until you book another stay with Kaligo.
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So I used Kaligo to book Hotel Stripes (part of Marriottโs Autograph Collection), which offered 300 miles on a post-tax rate of S$127. Together with my referral bonus, Iโd be earning about 13,300 miles in total, covering most of the flight cost.
โ Why not use the Citi PremierMiles Card? |
Why not use the Citi PremierMiles Card, since it offers 10 mpd on bookings? Because Kaligo has a rule that you canโt cash out referral bonuses on a booking where youโve chosen to earn bank credit card loyalty points instead of airline miles. |
For the second night, Iโll be using my complimentary AMEX Platinum Charge hotel voucher to stay at the Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur.
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I personally havenโt been blown away by the rustic stylings at the Banyan Tree Samui and Banyan Tree Lang Co, but this would be a good opportunity to see the chain in an urban setting, and the publicity photos look more in line with the contemporary style I prefer.
Lounges
๐ธ Something Old, Something New: Lounges |
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Airport | Lounge |
SIN |
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KUL |
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While SIA flights to Kuala Lumpur depart from Changi T2, thereโs nothing stopping you from hopping on the Skytrain and heading to the T3 lounge instead.
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Thatโs exactly what I intend to do, because I need to update my SilverKris Business Class Lounge review. I visited on opening day on November 2021, when social distancing was still a thing, no self-serve buffets were allowed, and the First Class section was nestled inside the Business Class lounge.
Itโs a very different lounge now, so an updated take is much-needed.
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After that, Iโll hop over to T2 to check out the Connect at Changi Lounge, a unique coworking space cum cafรฉ that was recently added to Priority Pass. Members can get a 3-hour visit and a S$20 credit to spend; could this be an even better place to get work done than a lounge?
Jetstar operates out of KLIA T2, along with all the other budget carriers. This means I wonโt be able to check out the renovated Plaza Premium Lounge that Singapore Airlines uses (which is in T1), but I can visit the Sky Suite Lounge instead.
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My main gripe is its landside location, which means youโll need to budget enough time to clear security and immigration. That said, I do notice that Priority Pass has a partnership that grants fast-track access to cardholders, so Iโll be sure to check that out too.
Changi Airport Terminal 2
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Following a multi-million dollar renovation, the new-and-improved Terminal 2 is now the largest in all of Changi Airport, with handling capacity for 28 million passengers a year.
Departing passengers can take advantage of a central common-use Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) zone, with more automated check-in kiosks and bag drop machines. Similarly, immigration halls have been expanded to support additional automated immigration lanes. Travellers using wheelchairs and family groups of up to four persons will be able to enjoy fully automated Special Assistance Lanes at both arrival and departure immigration- a first for the airport.
The famous clacking Solari boards are now gone, but their memory lives on in the form of Flap Pix, an interactive art display made from the board that used to hang between rows 3 and 4 in the departure hall.
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Passengers are invited to choose from one of several preset designs, or snap a photo and project it on screen.
What Iโm mainly interested in, however, is the new premium check-in area for Singapore Airlines First Class and Solitaire PPS Club passengers. This will hopefully provide a hint as to what SIAโs plans are, when they finally renovate the corresponding facility in Terminal 3.
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Conclusion
My next trip report will feature an updated take on the flagship SilverKris Business Class Lounge at Terminal 3, an intriguing new coworking space at Terminal 2, Singapore Airlinesโ old-school Business Class seat, two good-looking hotels in Kuala Lumpur and more.
Something old, something new, coming up soon!
I remember the excitement when SilkAir replaced their A320 with the โnewโ B737-800. That was ages ago!
Hi Aaron, a bit unrelated but something that I have not tried before. Would you know if Marriott Bonvoy would still recognize the booking for points and elite nights when booked through Kaligo? I know that hotels typically frown on using third parties but the 10mpd is a bit enticing. Thanks!
Nope. No points for 3rd party bookings, period
FYI, the โConnect at Changiโ lounge has recently been renamed to โConnect (Coffee Workspace)โ
iโm confused about the official name.
https://www.thegaragesociety.com/singapore/connect-changi-airport
https://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/connect-at-changi.html
If you havenโt done the trip yet (feel like you have given the previous KLIA fast track post, which now makes sense why you posted an entire article on it), probably handy to do the Malaysian egate registration and your experience of it. My take on it is that itโs a needlessly bureaucratic process, impeded by poor understanding by immigration officials (my first go I was told I was registered when I wasnโt; my 2nd go the guy was confused and referred me to another counter for registration) and a relatively pointless process (not clear on the purpose of fingerprintโฆ Read more ยป
the easiest way for me to remember the aircraft to avoid..NG = No Good.
SIN-KTM is blocked at 5h30. Some of the 737-800NG flights back to SG are even overnight flights. Not ideal with recliner seats.
Interesting they didnโt upgrade KTM to a 737-8 MAX.
I guess KTM isnโt particularly high yielding? No premium demand there?
Nearby destinations like SAI or KNO likely also have low yields and limited competition, but these still got the 737-8MAX.
Maybe the 737NG having 8 more seats overall played in their KTM decision.
Not very โworld classโ though to let a few unlucky business class travelers end up in a recliner overnight.
Lack of Wi-Fi and IFE screens is also more substantial on a 5h flight than on a 1-2h flight.
Canโt wait to read your review on Hotel stripes. Still deciding between this one and Ritz for my next trip.
working on it! though i donโt think ritz is a fair comparison- the two hotels are at completely diff price points