- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Introduction
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Singapore Airlines First Class Houston to Moscow
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: International Business Lounge Moscow
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Singapore Airlines First Class Moscow to Singapore
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Singapore Airlines Business Class Singapore to Bali
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: InterContinental Bali
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Exploring Bali
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: W Retreat Bali Seminyak
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Singapore Airlines Business Class Bali to Singapore
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: The Singapore Airlines Private Room Singapore
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Singapore Airlines First Class Singapore to Frankfurt
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: InterContinental Berchtesgaden & Surrounding Areas
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Le Meridien Parkhotel Frankfurt
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Lufthansa First Class Terminal Frankfurt
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Lufthansa 747-8 First Class Frankfurt to Washington Dulles
- Bali and Berchtesgaden: Westin Washington Dulles Airport
We left the hotel at about 6:45AM for our 9:15AM departure, and made it to the airport in under 45 minutes, while rocking out to the greatest hits of 2006 courtesy of Bali’s top 40 radio station.
The Bali Airport exterior is pretty unique, and it’s about a five minute walk under the covered walkway from the drop off area to the terminal.
Walkway to terminal
Terminal
In Bali all bags are screened before even entering the terminal, and the queue took about 30 minutes to get through. At that point we were at the Singapore Airlines check-in desk, which is located at the far end of the terminal.
Terminal
Check-in was efficient and within a few minutes we cleared immigration and security. We headed straight for the Premier Lounge, which is the contract lounge used by most airlines in Bali. Unfortunately it’s located at the opposite end of the terminal as the Singapore gate, so it’s about a 10 minute walk between them.
Duty free shopping
The lounge is on the second floor and there’s no elevator, so the lounge has some “bag carriers” that help you carry your bag up and down the stairs.
Premier Lounge entrance
Premier Lounge entrance
Premier Lounge entrance
This is definitely one of the nicer contract lounges out there, with plenty of seating, and even a very nice balcony overlooking the runway.
Premier Lounge seating
Premier Lounge seating
Premier Lounge balcony
View from Premier Lounge
There’s also quite a nice buffet with fruit, yogurt, omelets, etc.
Premier Lounge food service area
At around 8:40AM we headed to the gate, where boarding was just being announced.
Departure gate
Departure gate
Our 777 bound for Singapore
Singapore Airlines 941
Bali (DPS) – Singapore (SIN)
Monday, July 30
Depart: 9:15AM
Arrive: 11:45AM
Duration: 2hr30min
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200
Seat: 15H (Business Class)
Once aboard we were welcomed by the friendly and polished crew, who directed us to our seats in row 15. The aircraft featured the standard regional business class seats, which are extremely comfortable for such a short flight.
Business class
My seat, 15H
View from my seat
Within moments of settling in I was offered a pre-departure beverage, newspapers, magazines, hot towel, etc.
Apple juice
Within 20 minutes boarding was complete, with business class about half full and coach nearly full. As departure time approached the captain came on the PA to advise us of our flight time of two hours, anticipating an on-time arrival in Singapore.
Traffic in Bali
Traffic in Bali
We quickly taxied to the runway, where we were immediately cleared for takeoff.
View from the end of the runway
View after takeoff
As we climbed out I played around with the entertainment system, though unfortunately they only had shows that were on a “loop,” as the on demand system was turned off.
Entertainment
About 10 minutes after takeoff the flight attendants jumped into action and began the meal service. The breakfast menu read as follows:
On intra-Asia flights service is done by cart, so they first rolled down the left aisle to serve everyone, and then our aisle. I selected the omelet for breakfast, though once I was served it decided to just eat the fruit and a chocolate croissant. There are some airline meals that make me go “uh oh, this one won’t end well,” and for whatever reason the omelet looked (and smelled) like one of those to me. I wanted to save my appetite for the Singapore to Frankfurt flight in first class anyway, given that Singapore’s catering out of their hub is phenomenal.
Omelet
Chocolate croissant
My friend selected the mango hotcakes, which he said were bland though edible.
Griddled mango hotcakes
After breakfast I reclined my seat and slept till we were about 15 minutes out of Singapore, at which point the flight attendants prepared the cabin for arrival.
View on approach
View on final
Unfortunately we landed at the far end of the airport, so had a ~15 minute taxi to our arrival gate, in terminal 2. On the plus side there was plenty of awesome plane spotting to do on the taxi in, and we still arrived on-time.
Singapore 777
Terminal 2
Upon arrival we took the tram to terminal 3, where we visited The Private Room for a couple of hours before our connection.
@ Lwkatya -- Just looked at my folio, and looks like we left the hotel shortly after 6AM and not 6:45AM. Sorry!
The blonde woman in the pic heading to the departure gate is too short to be Maria Sharapova.
Your plane 9V-SRH doesn't have AVOD, so it wasn't turned off.
Also you mentioned you left the hotel at 6.45, the ride to the airport took just under 45 minutes and then it took another 5 minutes to walk from the drop off area to the terminal, followed by another 30 minutes getting through the baggage screening. And yet the clock in the check-in hall read 7.20. ?????
@ stacey -- I was only in the area for just under two days. It's definitely more lively than other parts of Bali, though it's not especially interesting/cultural. Most of the interesting stuff in Bali is outside the major resort areas (either to the North, or there are some temples around Bali, though not in Seminyak).
Lucky did you spend time in Seminyak (the town) while staying at the W? How did you find it? Was there today walking around and wasn't impressed - kept wondering if I was 'missing something' - LOL!
Otherwise, did you find enough to do while staying at the W?
And you get a bigger pillow than the ones offered on Aer Lingus, apparently...
@ AdamH -- I actually found the seats to be reasonably wide for a regional configuration. Agree they look narrow, though!
Is the seat really narrow or am I just use to a much more skimpy pillow and blanket used on UA?
good catch Simon! and lucky, not only do people read your blog but they examine your pictures too. who knew?!?
I particularly enjoyed the photos from this trip! Thank you
@ Simon -- Wow, it actually is, isn't it?
@ Joediver -- I use a Canon S95/iPhone.
Ben, I've always meant to ask you what you use to take your pictures for the blog (especially takeoff and landing). I thought everything with an on and off switch was supposed to be powered off??
OMG! That's Andrew Luck & Maria Sharapova in the pic heading to the departure gate...
@ Antonio - I noticed that, too. I was hoping that Lucky had learned to enjoy Champagne with breakfast!
@ beachfan -- Surprisingly enough I never have (and haven't anywhere, with the exception of the most painful five hour car ride in India, where I literally wanted to die, but we'll save that for another time). I'm sure it's my turn to get it soon enough!
Hi Lucky;
I'm enjoying this trip report! I'm curious, do you ever get Bali Belly?
When I was in Bali, I didn't eat any raw fruits or vegetables that I didn't peel. Hard to do when the fruit looks so great, but it's worked for me through India, China, Egypt, etc.
@ Antonio -- So someone actually *does* read my blog... :p
Orange juice? You mean apple juice?