Flight: SilkAir MI 142
From: Singapore (SIN) To: Makassar (UPG)
[Edit: SilkAir has ceased operations and flights are now operated by its parent company Singapore Airlines or its low-cost affiliate Scoot.]
SilkAir is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, flying to short-haul destinations in Southeast Asia, India, China, and Australia. The airline operates mainly to regional destinations beyond the busy capital city routes covered by Singapore Airlines
I flew as a guest of the airline from Singapore to Makassar in Sulawesi, Indonesia. My original flight was with Singapore Airlines from London to Singapore, where I took a 3-day stopover before continuing on to Makassar. This review is for the Singapore to Makassar leg.
48 hours before the flight I received an email alerting me that online check-in was now open. I checked in to select a window seat. Once you are checked in it prompts you to print your boarding pass, but being a nomad I have no printer so I ignored that.
My flight was scheduled for 7.55am so I was glad to have got the check-in out the way. I arrived an hour before the flight and went to the Singapore Airlines/SilkAir online check-in kiosks. Here I printed out a boarding pass and a bag tag (yes I travel with two bags).
I usually like to get to the airport much earlier than I need to so I can clear immigration and chill out with a coffee before the flight. In this case I got the first available metro to the airport which didn’t leave me much time.
Fortunately Singapore Changi is one of the easiest big airports you’ll ever travel through. After dropping my bag off I went through passport control and then I was airside.
I forgot that at Changi the bag screening is done at each individual gate so you don’t have to join a massive queue at one screening area. The bag drop and passport control was so quick I still had time for a coffee.
SilkAir is a full-service airline so if you are connecting from a Singapore Airlines flight you can still expect the same level of service and amenities for a short-haul flight. It is an affiliate member of Star Alliance via Singapore Airlines.
Even though it is owned by SIA, SilkAir is its own brand, with it’s own inflight magazine.
As this was a morning flight breakfast was served. I selected the western breakfast which was an omelette, sausage, and hash brown.
As this is a full-service flight, inflight entertainment is offered. The flying time was 2 hours and 45 minutes, so enough time for a movie. Inflight entertain is offered via “SilkAir Studio”, which is an onboard wifi service that delivers a selection of movies and TV shows. Turn on your laptop or mobile device, find the SilkAir signal and follow the login instructions.
From there you can watch a selection of movies, TV’s, or destination information. There is no external wifi on this system.
If you don’t have your own device the entertainment is via the drop-down TV screens.
During the flight juice and mixed nuts are offered.
And coffee and tea is available upon request.
To see where else SilkAir fly visit the airline route map.
For more information on Makassar read the Makassar travel guide. For flight bookings refer to the airfares guide.
