If you have the pleasure of following me on Instagram you will know that in 2018 and 2019 Singapore Airlines flew me to Japan, Sri Lanka, and Singapore (2018), and Busan, India and Singapore (2019) as part of #squadSQ. I had a chance to check out most of the cabin classes of Singapore Airlines so I wanted to take you on a brief tour of each of them.
Singapore Airlines Economy Class
Airbus A380-800
Look, no one especially looks forward to economy class. Being that close to your neighbours in an upright seat is no one’s idea of a good time. But, Singapore Airlines do all they can to make it an enjoyable experience and a lot of little things add up to make any Singapore Air flight in economy a positive experience. Things like:
- The stewards hand out refreshing hot towels upon arrival, mid flight and approaching destination.
- The drinks menu has some serious depth. I enjoyed having a craft beer with my meal but I also could have ordered one of many in a long list cocktails; and
- Being handed a menu, as opposed to digging for it between the safety card and the ratty in-flight magazine;
The great thing about economy class is that even though the screen in front of you is smaller than other classes, you are much closer to it so it seems bigger. (That’s a joke).
Special mention must go to the food. It’s a common thread in this article, but it pops up for good reason. We are all familiar with airline food. It’s been the butt of many a comedians’ jokes since Jerry Seinfeld told us for the last time. But Singapore Airlines obviously understands that flying economy is no reason is put minimal effort into a good meal.
My only gripe is I could do without the ads before I start a new show. I mean, I know the ads are subsidising my ticket, but it’s very annoying.
And seriously, how great are the uniforms!
Singapore Airlines Premium Economy
Airbus A380-800
I’ve written about Singapore Airlines’ Premium Economy at length previously, but here’s a bit of a summary.
First of all, it’s more than a few extra inches. It is that but more. The chairs recline further, which adds substantially to your comfort level.
The world-class entertainment system is enhanced with a larger screen and noise-cancelling headphones.
Seriously, you do not understand how good noise-cancelling are on a plane until you’ve used them.
This is available in every cabin, but I should also note that the movie list on SIA flights is second to none. I was watching movies that had been in cinemas just 3 or 4 months before.
You can also choose your meal in advance through SIA’s Book the Cook program. This chef-created meals designed for flight. It doesn’t look like much, but gee it tasted it good, which to me is the main thing. When I flew I could choose from meals such as Beef Carbonade, Lime sauce pan-fried fish pasta, lamb shank korma, and seafood Thermidor.
Singapore Airlines Business Class
Airbus A380-800
In Singapore Airlines Business Class, the nuts come preopened.
I’ve never flown business class except with Singapore Airlines, so in one sense I have nothing to compare it to; I guess I’m comparing it to my expectations. In that regard, it was sensational and here’s why.
What’s the biggest problem with long haul flying between time zones? Sleep. Or lack thereof, usually. On Singapore Air’s A380-800 they do their best to help you snooze and feel refreshed upon arrival. We enjoyed the lay flat beds, though as someone roughly 6 foot 3, I must admit I did touch at both ends. And if you’re travelling with a partner, you can bring down the privacy partition between the two middle seats and it’s like sleeping next to each other.
I expected the food in business class to be pretty good. But I was not prepared for the expertly crafted meals in their Book the Cook program.
Leading up to your flight you can log on to your KrisFlyer account and select what meal you’d like from an overwhelming menu. Of course, the a la carte menu is excellent too but the variety and quality in Book the Cook was astounding.
A quick note on the service. SIA are renowned for their service as it is, but in Business Class it is a step above.
“Mr Durbin are you doing okay?” was my welcome once I was settled. I even got a personal update on the delay we were experiencing because we were waiting for a few passengers to join us.
I was handed a drink and a hot towel as soon as I was settled and my drink order taken for when the seat belt sign was switched off: a Singapore Sling, of course!
There is storage everywhere surrounding the Business Class seat, which is so handy for me because I’m the person that keeps a stack of activities and snacks in my bag and is constantly opening the overhead locker. I even got a tour of my seat because I hadn’t flown in this cabin before. That was pretty special.
Silk Air Business Class
Boeing 737-800
Our flight between Singapore and Busan was in Silk Air Business Class and I was pleasantly surprised. The first thing to know is that Silk Air, for now, is a low cost, regional carrier which comes with all sorts of varying preconceptions. So understand that (at August 2019) this was not a full service Business Class with flat lay beds etc.
With that caveat out of the way, Silk Air Business Class is great! The seats are wide and they have a good recline (though not all the way). Secondly, the food service was at the same level of Singapore Airlines. I believe it all comes from the same kitchen.
Thirdly, while the seats do not have built in screens like most long haul economy classes do, they did provide us with complementary iPads loaded with movies and TV shows to watch. Probably not the same diversity as the KrisFlyer entertainment system but for an 8 hour flight I’m confident you’ll fill your time.
I am not sure where the carrier is up to, but since SIA’s acquisition of Silk Air in 2018, they have announced they plan to spend $100m upgrading the Silk Air fleet to include seatback entertainment systems and lie-flat business class seats.
Singapore Airlines First Class and Suites
Coming soon to a blogger near you…I hope!
Singapore Airlines Lounges
So I’ve had the good fortune of visiting a few Singapore Airlines lounges now. Changi Airport has two, one each in Terminals 2 and 3; I’ve visited the one at Sydney Airport twice now, and I’ve also visited the lounge in New Delhi.
Officially named the SilverKris lounge, I’m always warmly welcomed as I approach the desk. I find a comfortable looking couch, relax for about 30 seconds before setting off for the bar and buffet. The food at the buffet is always rotating but you can be sure that there will always be a fantastic selection of authentic local, Singaporean, and international dishes available as well as a lengthy sweets bar.
The bar is the most fun, though, because it’s help yourself. Feel a cognac? Go for it. Feel like a Tiger? Grab a glass and have fun pouring it from the tap. Or maybe you’re a bit of a wino, then please enjoy the expertly selected wines on offer. Just take it easy. Just because it’s free (included?) and you can help yourself doesn’t mean you won’t feel like garbage the next day if you overindulge.
What I also loved is the selection of reading material from all over the world. There is a long row of newspapers and magazines of all persuasions (but with a noticeable slant towards business, naturally) which I enjoyed helping myself too. The Economist, Time, and Bloomberg were my usual picks, but you’ll probably have your own preferences.
Lastly, one of the best features of the lounges is the shower facilities. There’s nothing worse than having a long day exploring (especially in humidity) rushing to the airport only to feel gross before getting on a long haul flight. Before flying back from Singapore to Sydney I jumped in a shower during my wait to wash off the day. Then I had a shave, brushed my teeth and hair and I felt like a new person.
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