Flying Suites Class on Singapore Airlines means we would get pampered from the ground experience to the flight. This post focuses on the ground experience, and Part 2 will focus on my inflight experience. The excellent experience started with our exclusive access to The Private Room, the lounge only open to passengers flying on Singapore Airlines First and Suites Class.

First Class Check-in Reception

All Singapore Airlines A380-800 aircraft depart from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3. Passengers flying in their Suites Class can check in at the First Class Check-in Reception Lounge, located right before Door 1 of the airport terminal. The First Class Check-in Reception Lounge makes passengers feel as though they are flying from a private airport. The lounge was elegantly designed and exuded a sense of luxury and exclusivity. The moment our ride pulled up at the door, staff welcomed us while the porter took care of unloading our luggage from the trunk of our ride. We were ushered into the check-in counter by the staff, who took our passports and handed them to another ground staff member at one of the eight check-in counters. The only flaw of these check-in counters is only one chair. The check-in process was efficient, and the friendly staff gave us directions to the dedicated immigration clearance channel and the lounge. The dedicated immigration channel is just behind the Singapore Airlines First Class Check-in Reception Lounge.

Singapore Airlines Exclusive The Private Room

The Private Room is Singapore Airlines’ coveted lounge, exclusive to passengers flying on Singapore Airlines First Class or Suites Class; passengers with status or flying First Class on partnering airlines are not admissible to The Private Room. Due to the exclusivity, the lounge feels quiet and very private. Passengers to The Private Room would pass through a tunnel adorned with bronze walls that opened up to a large earthy-toned main lounge area. A large chandelier made up of crystal flowers fills a circular patterned ceiling at the reception area of the lounge, illuminating a marble top table. The main area in The Private Room comprises the lounging and dining area. The lounging area occupies most of the real estate in The Private Room, decked out in sky blue carpet. The lounging area houses leather couches and armchairs, mainly in the centre and right side of the lounge, where larger parties sit. The left row of The Private Room caters to smaller groups or individuals with a view of the Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 airside. There are power sockets dotted around the lounging area of The Private Room.

The dining area in The Private Room is characterised by marble flooring and white and black chairs tucked into the back of the lounge. There are seatings catering for any group size. Sitting in the dining area feels like dining in an upscale restaurant. There are no buffet tables in The Private Room; we were presented with a menu, and a staff would take our orders. The breakfast options were a tad limited. However, there is a great selection of beverages, including freshly squeezed juices. We ordered the Lobster Laksa; while the flavour of the broth was tasty, I found the lobster tail to be a little tough.

The shower facilities and toilets are situated after the entrance of The Private Room. There are four shower suites in The Private Room, with suite #4 being the biggest amongst all. The luxurious decor and light grey marble tiles with white lighting make the shower suite feel like the bathroom of a 5-star hotel instead of an airport lounge shower stall. The walk-in shower has a handheld and a rain shower head. Singapore Airlines provided passengers using the shower suite in The Private Room with COMO Shambhala shower amenities that smelled great and kept my skin feeling soft. On top of the shower amenities, other bath amenities commonly provided in 5-star hotels are also available in the shower suite.

The Private Room has four private resting cabins for the passengers to nap while waiting for our flights. Each cabin is furnished with a bed, an armchair and a work desk. The brown and blue theme in the main lounge extends into these soundproof cabins, giving it a very cosy feel. We could control the amount of mood lighting that aids in relaxation while resting in these cabins. I like the Tempur bedding installed in the cabin, which is designed to reduce the fatigue passengers feel during our time in the air. There is a “zero gravity” mode in the bed that gently “vibrates” one to sleep. It is very comfortable and effective in reducing aches and pains. The sky-blue leather armchair is equally comfortable to sit on; with several reclining angles, one can also easily fall while sitting in the body-hugging chair. The marble-top desk tucked by the wall provided a space for passengers wanting to do some work. The only flaw I spotted in the sleeping cabins is the existence of a window panel, which does not seem to provide privacy for cabin users.

Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge

We took a quick tour of Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge, which is open to passengers travelling in First Class on Star Alliance carriers and status members. The Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge is located between The Private Room and the SilverKris Lounge, sharing the same entrance as The Private Room. Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge looks classy and sophisticated from its entrance, which is laid with light grey marble tiles that match the cream-coloured walls. The brown-coloured wooden walls in Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge gave it a cosy feel. At the end of this corridor, a round bar was spotted. This is where passengers can order spirits, wines and cocktails from the bartender. The bar is adorned with the same floral patterned lighting we saw in The Private Room.

The cosy and classy vibe flows into the main part of the lounge, decked in light grey marble tiles with light brown walls and topped with a dark brown ceiling. The first look of the First Class Lounge gives one a relaxing feel despite being rather full during my visit. About ⅔ of the lounge space is seating space for passengers to rest and relax while waiting for their flights. The main dining space, resembling a restaurant, occupies the centre of the lounge. Decked in light grey tiles, plenty of dining tables cater mainly to two passengers in this part of the lounge. The location of the dining area gave passengers the convenience of accessing food. The lounging area mainly occupies the forward part of the First Class Lounge, demarcated by dark brown carpeting and black armchairs. Despite the armchairs being very comfortable, the proximity between the chairs might make relaxing challenging. There seem to be limited armchairs to cater to the number of passengers using this part of the lounge. During our visit, the Singapore Airlines First Class lounge was packed. More lounging areas are flushed to the wall toward the lounge entrance, just before the bar. This area, while quieter, offers little privacy to its users.

Food is served in a semi-buffet style at the counters to the right of the First Class Lounge. Unlike The Private Room, there are no staff taking orders at the table. Passengers in the First Class Lounge are to grab their choice from the buffet table. There is a section of food on offer that is made to order. I like how the ingredients are displayed at the buffet table for passengers to view. A section of pre-prepared food, consisting mainly of dim sum and congee, is served in a buffet style. Further into the lounge, fruits and sandwiches are displayed in the chiller. There is also a table of bread where passengers can help themselves. The food offered is probably the same as that in The Private Room, except for table services. Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge is significantly more crowded, which can hamper relaxation. I also did not see any empty seats around, which is a far cry from The Private Room.

Service

The ground services are a mixed bag. On the one hand, we had excellent service at the check-in reception, where staff stood ready to help passengers. The check-in staff was very efficient in processing our check-in and was generous with information about the location of the gate vis-a-vis the lounge location. The Private Room service was good. The moment we arrived at the entrance, we were escorted into the lounge and handed over to the waiting staff in the dining area, who promptly presented us the menu and took our orders. Most of the staff at The Private Room know how to treat a guest. However, the service by the staff at the reception in The Private Room came across as subpar. Her attention was not on the passengers but rather on her computer. We had to wait for her to finish whatever she was doing on the computer before she would turn her attention to us. Her tone also came across as rude when enquiring about the cabins. The service in the First Class lounge was somehow lacking. There were no staff around to welcome or assist passengers with looking for a seat. If not for the “First Class” signage, I would have thought this was one of the paid lounges. One point to note: Singapore Airlines does not provide escort services from check-in to gate. This meant we had to stand in the long queue for security screening at the gate. There are no separate queues for premium passengers here.

Afterthought

The ground experience for Singapore Airlines was good. The first contact with the First Class Check-in Reception set the tone for the service we would enjoy in the skies. The dedicated check-in area was private, and the staff were warm and friendly. The Private Room was a great place to be before boarding. The quiet lounge was relaxing and comfortable. The amenities in The Private Room were top-notch. The service was lacking in the First Class Lounge, with no staff insight to assist passengers in the packed lounge. The second part of this review will focus on the inflight experience with Singapore Airlines A380 Suite.