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Singapore Changi’s amazing new terminal (photos)

November 7, 2017

T4’s Heritage Zone has traditional Singaporean storefronts. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

Singapore’s Changi Airport is consistently rated in passenger surveys as one of the world’s best – if not the best in the world. When an airport has a reputation like that to uphold, you expect a lot when it opens a brand new passenger terminal – and Changi does not disappoint.

The airport just opened its new Terminal 4, characterized by sweeping, open design; innovative passenger diversions; and a whole bunch of creative dining and retail options. Example: T4’s “Heritage Zone” is a string of retail and dining concessions that all have the facades of traditional Singapore shops; restaurants there serve up regional specialties like kaya toast, mee siam and kopi, and there’s a live chef’s station where Indian prata pancakes are prepared on the spot.

Overall, T4 has 81 concessions, including 62 stores and service establishments and 19 food and beverage options. That includes a big duty-free shopping zone.

The terminal also boasts the latest in passenger processing technology, including a vast self-bag-drop area, speedy security and customs processing, and so on. And what would a new terminal be without visual diversions like innovative art displays and huge LED walls.

Airlines operating out of T4 include Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Cebu Pacific, Spring Airlines, the four AirAsia Group carriers, and Vietnam Airlines.

Here’s a sampling of images from the new T4.

T4’s spacious check-in area has plenty of self-service bag drops and kiosks. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

The high-ceilinged arrivals hall at T4. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

T4 has plenty of huge windows with airfield views. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

Passengers can relax in glass-walled pods with views of the terminal below. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

T4 has a large duty-free shopping zone. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

A local band entertains travelers in T4. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

Self-service bag drops help speed up passenger processing. (Image: Changi Airport Group)

Have you ever flown through Singapore Changi? Do you think it’s the best airport in the world? Comments below, please!

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Gorgeous new United Club for Los Angeles LAX (slideshow)

November 28, 2016

United’s new club at LAX Terminal 7 has a glassed-in outdoor terrace. (Image: Matthew Klint)

As a part of its ongoing $573 million overhaul of passenger spaces at Los Angeles International’s Terminal 7, United Airlines on Monday cut the ribbon on a big new United Club at the airport. (Official opening date is Dec 6)

At 20,000 square feet, the club is one of the largest in United’s system — more than three times the size of its year-old San Francisco International club, for instance (See our review of SFO United Club here.)

From a perch atop Terminal 7, the lounge offers sweeping views of the airport, the Hollywood Hills and the city skyline. Plus the new United Club features an outdoor terrace along with a big enhancement of food and beverage options for members. Members can take their drinks or meals onto the terrace to enjoy an alfresco experience- and oh, so LA.

As I was preparing this post at my desk in San Francisco, fellow travel blogger Matthew Klint popped up on Twitter from LAX with photos of the ribbon cutting (with United CEO Oscar Munoz!) and this overview: “The lounge is quintessentially LA –50s style with a great mix of open space and comfort. The outdoor terrace provides great views and the lounge food will be locally sourced. Bathrooms are spacious (but no showers) and bar is well-stocked. Oscar says the Polaris Lounge in Chicago opening later this week will blow away even this spectacular lounge.”

The new LAX club is one of United’s largest- with spectacular views (Image: Matthew Klint)

The new club is just one part of a much larger rehabilitation of United’s Terminal 7/Concourse 8 at LAX, along with a new lobby and new baggage claim areas. The airline is also working with the Transportation Security Administration to install five new automated security screening lanes, like those United recently opened at Chicago O’Hare and Newark Liberty International.

Scroll down for our slideshow- all photos courtesy of Matthew Klint, editor of the LiveandLetsFly blog.

Check out that iconic LAX view!

All food to be locally sourced

Fantastic ramp and runway views all around

Real espresso

At 20,000 square feet, this lounge is larger than the new one at United’s SFO hub

No showers in the bathrooms, and United’s now standard airplane window mirrors

United CEO Oscar Munoz and blogger Matthew Klint

Many thanks to Matthew Klint for kindly acting as our correspondent and sending us photos from the ribbon cutting event in Los Angeles!

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Virgin Hotel Chicago grand opening [sexy slideshow]

April 23, 2015

Wondering how Virgin throws a grand opening party for its very first hotel? Here are some photos that illustrate the showy event in Chicago last week. (All photos courtesy of Virgin Hotels)

To read TravelSkills full report on the Virgin Chicago grand opening event, see this.

Sir Richard Branson with his retinue

@RichardBranson

Actor Matt McGorry (Orange is the New Black) added some star power to the event

@MattMcGorry

Model and social media star Charlotte McKinney attracted a few eyeballs

@Char_McK

Party scene on the roof of the brand new Virgin Hotel Chicago

To read TravelSkills full report on the Virgin Chicago grand opening event, see this.

A parade imitating Ferris Bueller’s Day off with Richard Branson in the starring role

DJ A-Trak cranked it at the after party

DJ Ryan Hemsworth, too.

View from Cerise, the bar at the top of the Virgin Hotel Chicago

To read TravelSkills full report on the Virgin Chicago grand opening event, see this.

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Love to fly in business class? Then see this…

August 15, 2013

Click on photo to launch slideshow of 15 business class seats!

Last week I attended the Global Business Travel Association convention in San Diego. The best part about this confab is the trade show floor, where most major global airlines show off their latest, greatest business class seats.

Want to see what I saw?

Click on the photo above or here to launch the Google+ slideshow where I present to you my photos of 15 of the cushiest seats in the sky!

Which one looks best? Which one(s) have you flown? Please leave your comments below.

—Chris McGinnis

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Inflight: ANA’s Boeing 787 from San Jose to Tokyo [PHOTOS]

January 14, 2013

[pb_slideshow group=”2″] SLIDESHOW TEMPORARILY DISABLED. SORRY!

(Tokyo, Japan) Wow. I’ve just flown across the Pacific on the world’s most advanced commercial jet– the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It is the only 787 currently flying out of the Bay Area (United’s 787 to Houston was only temporary), and the only transoceanic flight out of San Jose International Airport. And despite the recent concerns about the 787, I felt completely safe on this plane, as did all other passengers I spoke with.

Now I’m sitting in a Tokyo hotel loading up some great slideshow photos of the trip and recounting the flight. Some thoughts:

>I live in San Francisco, so I imagined that the 45-60 minute drive (depending on traffic) down to San Jose would be a pain– however, the quick and easy check-in, security and boarding process at SJC made up for time I felt I’d lost on the trip down.

>The windows on the 787 really are bigger (by 20%)– it’s the first thing you notice when stepping on the plane. Instead pulling shades up and down, window seaters can adjust the tint electronically– sort of like Transitions Lenses.

>Lower pressure and higher humidity in the 787 cabin are detectable– for one thing, your eyes and lips don’t dry out as fast. I’m not sure how to describe the feeling other than to say that cabin air just felt softer. And I felt better when I got off the plane.

>I felt slightly more vibration from the engines on this flight, likely due to the plane’s composite structure. Also, seat cushions seemed harder than average.

>The plane exudes spaciousness with higher ceilings and a wider fuselage– there just feels like there is more space, even in economy class. The extra-large business class section (46 seats) seems to take up half the plane.

>Seatback inflight entertainment screens are big– 17 inches in business, 11 inches in economy. Both classes have 160 channels to choose from.

>In business class, the BEST seats are odd numbered window seats, and even numbered center seats– check out the slideshow and you will see how a center seat on this plane is like sitting at the helm of Starship Enterprise. If you can put up with the commotion around the galleys and lavatories, bulkhead seats are the best of the best seats on the plane in terms of personal space.

>Inflight dining in business class blew me away– the food and drink menu is 24 pages long (!), well suited to both western and Japanese palates. (I went native and ordered off the Japanese menu…See the slideshow above to learn which was my favorite dish. Oishii!)

>The Dreamliner is relatively small plane: Only 158 passengers (46 business, 112 economy), which makes it the right size for smaller markets like San Jose. Compare that to a Boeing 747 which holds 350-400 passengers. End result? Boarding is fast and easy– it feels like a less crowded domestic flight.

>ANA’s roundtrip coach fares between SJC and NRT are about $1,500… Business class fares are in the $4,000 range, pretty much the same as Tokyo fares out of SFO. ANA is a Star Alliance partner, which means opportunities for earning and burning Mileage Plus miles on these flights.

>Finally, there’s a window in the lavatory– and the Toto toilet has a heated seat with sprayer– you’ve got to flip through the slideshow above to see it!

So whaddya think? Would you be willing to drive down to San Jose to give ANA’s 787 a try? If you live in the South Bay, will you be able to break out of your habit of driving to SFO to fly to Asia? Would you consider flying ANA to points beyond Tokyo? Please leave your comments below!

Disclosure: ANA covered the cost of my trip to Tokyo.

New business class lounge at San Jose Airport [PHOTOS]

January 10, 2013

[pb_slideshow group=”1″]

To coincide with the launch of ANA’s new nonstops to Tokyo, San Jose International Airport opened a big, bright, world-class, $1.6 million business class lounge this week. And TravelSkills was there with a camera! (so please click through the slideshow above!)

A big, bright room for socializing

“The Club at SJC” is located across and upstairs from gate 15 (Terminal A) and is only accessible to those inside airport security. While ANA business class passengers can use the lounge for free, anyone can enter by paying the $35 fee for day use. Priority Pass cardholders (both regular and select) have access, too.

The lounge will be busiest during the hour or two prior to ANA’s departure at 11:45 am, but the club is open daily from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Once inside, everyone gets:

Snacks and beverages, including beer, wine and well-brand booze. You pay a premium for call brands like Patron or Grey Goose.
Free Wi-fi access
Access to a single shower room (towels, shampoo and soap provided)
Business center with access to two PCs and a printer
One private conference room

The 7,400 square foot club consists of two large rooms separated by the bar/buffet area. The eastern side is for socializing, with a bar, a large communal table and plenty of comfortable seating arranged in conversation nooks. It’s also the bright side,with views east over parking lots toward downtown San Jose.

ANA crews are ready to welcome business travelers to the new Club at San Jose

ANA crews are ready to welcome business travelers to the new Club at SJC

The western side is the business side—where you’ll find handsome stained wood work carrels with electrical outlets, and seats for those who need to sit and relax or get some work done. Windows look out at the airport concourse below, and beyond to runways. (See slideshow above)

In between the two rooms is the buffet, which will offer mostly cold snacks such as sandwiches, cheeses, vegetable crudités and chips. However, the lounge will offer hot breakfast items from 9:30 to 11:30 each morning prior to ANA’s 11:45 a.m. departure.

The lounge has a maximum capacity of 128. There are enough electrical outlets (US-style only) throughout the club for an army of business travelers. The interior design is modern and comfortable, with mostly neutral tones, but occasional pops of color, such as lime green. (See slideshow above.)

The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art has partnered with the lounge, and is exhibiting eye-catching and unusual travel-related works from local artists that are also available for sale. (See slideshow above for a look at the art.)

San Jose’s lounge is the fifth “common use” business class airport lounge opened by The Club Airport Lounges. It has recent opened two lounges at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, one in Dallas Ft Worth, and another at the new terminal at Raleigh-Durham.

Do you like what you see? Is an airport lounge enough to get you to give SJC a try? Why or why not? Please take a look at the slideshow above, and leave your comments below.

–Chris McGinnis