At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Since travel picked up post-pandemic, Singapore Airlines has started to relocate all their regional flights from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 to Singapore Airport Terminal 2 since late 2023. Singapore Airlines occupies several rows in Terminal 2, all located in the centre of the terminal. While Row 3 mainly serves Business Class and Elite Gold members, check-in counters at Row 5 serve passengers flying in Economy Class. There are several self-check-in kiosks for passengers, and the ground staff will try to push as many passengers to use them as possible. We had an early flight departing Singapore to Penang, and while the queue was short (there were only 2 other groups ahead of us), we waited for around 10 minutes to be serviced. This could be due to the fewer counters opened for check-in as the airline is trying to encourage passengers to use the self-check-in kiosks. At check-in, the ground staff serviced us with a smile and processed our check-in efficiently. He briefed us on the boarding time and the location of the boarding gate.

Penang International Airport

Singapore Airlines operates six counters in Penang International Airport from counters 13 to 18, located to the right of the terminal. The nearest door to the counters is Door 4 of the terminal building. Of the six counters, one serves Business Class passengers, three counters dedicated to Economy Class passengers, and two counters are set up for passengers who require assistance. Despite checking in about 2 hours before the scheduled departure time, there was no queue at the Economy Class counters. The ground staff at the airport was very efficient and checked us in within 5 minutes of arriving at the counter. Despite being a small airport, there are shops on both the land and air sides of Penang International Airport for last-minute souvenir shopping. Singapore Airlines boarded passengers in an organised manner. Passengers occupying the rear of the plane were further split into three queues, with passengers sitting at the window side being boarded first, followed by those in the middle and the aisle side. The ground staff at the boarding gate religiously ensured that passengers in the correct group were queued in the line and by their designated queue.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines used the B737-800 NG inherited from its sister company, SilkAir, when the two airlines merged to ply between Singapore and Penang. These older-generation aircraft are slated to replace the newer B737-Max 8 from Sep 2024.

The Cabin

The Economy Class cabin on Singapore Airlines B737-800 NG looks bright and airy. The light colour of the seats brings some vibrancy to the cabin. Blue mood lighting during and throughout the flight complements the seat colour and lifts one’s mood while flying in the older aircraft.

Economy Class passengers use the two lavatories located at the back of the aircraft. The B737-800 NG lavatory is a tad small, but bright lighting and mirrors eliminate any feeling of claustrophobia. The hardworking cabin crew keeps the lavatories very clean throughout the flight. Singapore Airlines is perhaps one of the few airlines worldwide that provides amenities such as dental kits in its lavatories.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines B737-800 NG has 162 seats onboard, 12 in Business Class and 150 in Economy Class. Economy Class seats are arranged in a 3-3 configuration, each with a pitch of 30″ and 17″ wide. These seats can recline up to 3″ to provide comfort for passengers. I must say the legroom in the Economy Class is very good for a regional older product. The padding in the seats makes it very comfortable for the short hop between Singapore and Penang.

I find the tray table fitted in each Economy Class seat is on the smaller side; it got a little cramp when placing the food and drinks on the table. As with most Economy Class seats, the only storage space afforded to passengers onboard Singapore Airlines B737-800 NG is the seat pocket in front of us. The seat pocket on this aircraft is rather small, and it felt quite full after fitting my Nintendo Switch and a power bank. Other than the reading light, each Economy Class seat is also fitted with an individual air vent, which is rare on Singapore Airlines flights. Controls for the reading lights and call attendant buttons are located on the ceiling above each seat.

Inflight Entertainment

As this is an older aircraft, it does not come fitted with any inflight entertainment system. The aircraft is fitted with drop-down screens mounted onto the ceiling, predominantly used to show the aircraft’s safety videos. However, these screens malfunctioned for both legs, resulting in the cabin crew performing manual safety briefings. There is also an old-school radio channel on the armrest of the seat. As Singapore Airlines did not supply any headphones for this short flight, I did not test to see if these channels were still functioning. Due to its age, Singapore Airlines B737-800 NG aircraft are also not fitted with any Wifi onboard.

Refreshment Service

As this was a short 1 hr plus flight, I was quite surprised that Singapore Airlines served each Economy Class passenger a light snack. Refreshment service commenced about 20 minutes after taking off.

SIN – PEN

Due to the short flight time, there was only one option for this leg of the flight. We were served Four-Cheese pizza in a box during this leg. The thick-breaded pizza was served warm and tasted decent, sufficient to fill one’s stomach temporarily. Due to the short flight time, the pizza was distributed alongside the drink service.

PEN – SIN

Similar to our outbound flight, only one snack option is available for this leg. We were served Margherita pizza on this leg. This pizza tasted a little bland, but it was good enough to fill my stomach. Due to the melted cheese during reheating, I find it messy when eating out of the box. Again, drinks are served with the pizza due to the short flight time.

Service

Despite the short flight time, service onboard this one-hour-plus flight was amazing. The cabin crew smiled and greeted passengers as we boarded the aircraft. They were seen helping passengers locate their seats. The short flight time did little to affect the quality service we received onboard. Despite the short flight time and immense pressure to distribute the snacks and complete meal service, the cabin crew was still seen smiling. The refreshment service did not come across as being rushed. The short flight time also allowed me to observe a great deal of teamwork portrayed by the cabin crew. The cabin crew were observed working as a team to complement each other and ensure the snack was distributed to all passengers in good time.

Deborah, a particular cabin crew member, made a good impression on me. We met Deborah during the PEN—SIN leg, where she was seen helping passengers find an empty overhead bin and stow their carry-on luggage in it. Deborah was also seen patrolling the cabin during boarding and distributing children’s amenities to the kids flying onboard. She came across as cheerful and welcoming.

Afterthought

Despite being an older aircraft inherited from the former SilkAir, Singapore Airlines B737-800 NG was comfortable and afforded me great legroom. I was not too bothered by this short flight’s lack of entertainment options. Service was great onboard this short flight. Despite being under intense pressure to complete the service, the service rendered by the cabin crew did not come across as rushed. They still maintained their composure and serviced with a smile.

At the Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines departs from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from Terminal 1. All check-in counters in Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport are on level 3 of the terminal. Singapore Airlines check-in counters are located in Hall 1, with six counters serving the airlines. Two counters were assigned for bag drop, which I assume serves passengers who had checked in with the self-check-in kiosks in the terminal. One counter each serving passengers travelling in Economy and Premium Economy Class. I assume the Premium Economy counter would serve Economy Class passengers when no one is in the queue. The last two counters served Business Class passengers. The Parisian Airport guards the Business Class queue very tightly. We saw two airport staff standing at the beginning of the line, ensuring only Business Class passengers were allowed into the queue. The ground staff checking us in was very friendly and efficient. She processed welcomed us and processed our check-in efficiently. She also briefed us on the lounge we could go to and gave us directions on how to get there. She also reminded us that we should go to the gate near Hall 3 for fast-track immigration and security clearance at Access Lane No. 1.

Star Alliance Lounge

There are two Star Alliance Lounges at Paris Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1. The older lounge is assigned to those travelling within the Schengen zone, and a newer one was just opened in Oct 2023 for passengers travelling outside the Schengen zone. The new lounge is located after the security clearance on level 3 of the terminal building. The new Star Alliance Lounge feels airy and open, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling window that faces the tarmac. The wooden parque flooring matches the white marble entrance, giving it a posh look. The Star Alliance lounge has three distinct areas: the lounge area, the dining area, and the work area. The lounging area occupies a bulk of the floor space in the lounge, occupying the centre of the lounge. We were greeted by a bar counter from the main entrance serving cocktails and alcoholic drinks. This is the start of the lounging area, where we spotted some couches and armchairs dotted around this area, perfect for larger groups to sit together and chill. Behind the cocktail bar are lounging seats catering for solo travellers that face the tarmac.

To the left of the entrance to the lounge, a bright area houses the first dining area. Behind this dining area is the outdoor terrace. Opposite the dining area is quieter, catering to passengers who want to catch some rest between flights, where single-seat armchairs with ottomans are fitted facing the tarmac. The high-partitioned tables, high-back chairs here, and the two workspace cubicles provide passengers privacy to do their work or engage in video conferencing. Pass the work area in the Star Alliance Lounge, tucked in one corner is the toilet and four shower rooms. To use the shower facilities, we are required to surrender our boarding pass in exchange for a key at the reception. The black marble walls and the shower room’s light brown sink counter area gave it a clean and chic look. Despite being a semi-open shower stall, I did not find water splashing out of the wet area of the shower room.

The main dining area is located to the right of the entrance to the lounge. Before hitting the main dining area, I passed a wine room stocked with wines displayed on the glass window to the semi-open bar. Passengers are welcome to taste the wine inside this bar. There is restaurant-style table seating that seats two pax per table next to the buffet area in the main dining area. Those in a larger group can opt to use the long table in the centre of the buffet area. For a lounge, I’d say the food selection is quite substantial. We were treated to 11 choices in the warm food area, which were topped up regularly. There is a separate salad bar in the cold food area where we found yoghurt and desserts. The Star Alliance Lounge also has a bread counter with a drinks station stocked with limited bread choices.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines used to deploy their A380-800 to Paris. Since the pandemic, the airlines only deployed their Long Haul A350-900 to Paris.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 has 253 seats, 42 in Business Class, 24 Premium Economy seats and 187 Economy cabins. The 42 seats in Business Class are further split into 26 seats in the forward Business Class cabin and another 16 in the smaller aft Business Class cabin. The ambience in the Business Class cabin felt cosy and calming. Singapore Airlines employs earthy tones in their Business Class seat and carpeting. The use of lilac-coloured lighting combined with soft, warm yellow lighting enhances the feel of calmness in the cabin.

There are three lavatories in the Business Class cabin: one up front behind the cockpit and two between the two Business Class cabins. The lavatories were also decorated with an earthy tone of dark brown in the sink cabinets and sand colour in the walls. The Business Class lavatories onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 feel classy and spacious with the combination of the colour theme and the abundance of mirrors. The lavatories are very well stocked with amenities such as dental and shaving kits in the drawers and Penhaligon’s eau de toilette, facial mists and hand lotion. Other than paper towels and soft tissues, Singapore Airlines also stocked its Business Class lavatories with cloth handkerchiefs, which is uncommon on other airlines.

The Seat

The seats onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. These controversial seats have a pitch of 60″ and measure 28″ wide. The seat onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 is very comfortable, thanks to the generous width and the thick cushioning. They are one of the widest seats one can get in the sky. There are technically three modes the Singapore Airlines Business Class seats can be converted to, but the seat controls on the armrest are only programmed for the upright mode for take-off/landing and the lounge mode. The upright mode was supposed to be the most uncomfortable as it entails sitting up straight; however, the thick padding and the ultra-wide seats made up for the uncomfortable sitting position. The lounge mode is my favourite mode. In this mode, I was able to recline the seat to a position that allowed me to relax. Other than the preset position, the seat controls allowed me to adjust the angle of the recline and how much I wanted the calf rest to pop up. I find the lounge mode best when watching movies or dining. The third mode, the full flatbed mode, requires cabin crew to flip the seat. Passengers will sleep on the back of the seat while in this mode. The comfort level of sleep is very personal: while some had complained about how hard the back is, I find the firmness acceptable and comfortable (or maybe I was too tired). I was able to get a good 6 hours of sleep onboard. The other thing that passengers usually complain about is the Lazy-Z seat design. This requires passengers to sleep at a certain angle to fit their feet into the cubby hole. As a side sleeper, I was not too bothered by the sleeping angle. The big pillow placed on the seat waiting for passengers when we boarded the aircraft was comfortable to sleep in. In addition, when converted to bed mode, passengers are given a smaller firm pillow.

I like the generous storage space on the Singapore Airlines A350-900 long-haul Business Class seats. A small cabinet in front of the seat has a sliding door large enough for passengers to stow tablets. The sliding door prevents the items from falling off during take-off/landing and turbulence. There is another open shelf next to the seat for passengers to stow flat items for easy access. However, as this cubby was not fitted with a door, passengers are required to keep this cabinet empty during take-off/landing. On top of these, there is yet another cubby with a cover by the window that was fairly deep for passengers to stow small items. I use this cubby to stow my passport and phone when not charging. There is sufficient space under the footrest for passengers to place my carry-on.

On top of the overhead reading light fitted on the ceiling of the aircraft, there is one on the right of the seat, next to the window. This reading light is perfect when the seat is in upright or lounge mode. Another set of reading lights is fitted on the aisle side of the seat. This reading light provides illumination when the seat is in bed mode. Singapore Airlines fitted one power outlet and a USB-A charging port in the cubby hole next to the seat, allowing passengers to charge their lifestyle devices. The seat table, stored in the inner armrest when unused, was sizeable and sturdy. The table can be swivelled to allow access to the seat even when deployed. I like how Singapore Airlines fitted a smaller cocktail table under the cabinet in front of the seat. This ledge allowed passengers to place their drinks without needing to deploy the large seat table. The seat pocket is found in the inside armrest, containing the menu, in-flight magazines and safety card.

Inflight Entertainment

Each Business Class seat onboard the A350-900 long haul variant of the aircraft is fitted with a generous 18″ personal TV. The large TV screen makes watching movies very comfortable and gives me a mini theatre feel, especially when the cabin lights are dimmed. The TV screen does not have touchscreen functions, so accessing inflight entertainment solely relies on the IFE controller, which resembles a handheld gaming console. We could use the touchscreen function on the controller or the analogue buttons to access entertainment onboard. Singapore Airlines provides noise-cancelling headphones to its Business Class passengers. The headphones were so efficient in blocking out sound that I had to remove them when speaking to the cabin crew. There are two headphone jacks on each Business Class seat, one next to the seat in the cubby to be used when the seat is in the lounge or upright mode, and another next to the seat controls by the armrest for passengers to use when in bed mode. Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system – KrisWorld, is loaded with many entertainment options, from the latest Hollywood blockbuster to TV shows to games that make the 14-hour flight time feel short. KrisWorld’s menu was well-designed, and the entertainment options were well-categorised and easy to navigate. Singapore Airlines offers free unlimited Wi-Fi onboard for its business class passengers and KrisFlyer members travelling in economy class. The Wi-Fi onboard was stable but capable of scrolling and posting on social media. Passengers wanting to stream videos from YouTube will find the speed of streaming challenging.

Meal Service

For this red-eye flight, Singapore Airlines served dinner and breakfast. Singapore Airlines has a book-the-cook service for flights departing Paris, but the choices were not as extensive as those with Singapore departures. The meal service started about 30 mins into the flight, and the cabin crew laid the table for passengers in Business Class. The cabin crew pushed a trolley down the aisle serving Singapore Airlines’s signature Chicken Satay. The chicken satay was tender and flavourful. I could taste the smokiness of the BBQ flavour on the satays. The accompanying peanut sauce was a tad too dry and not spicy. I guess Singapore Airlines modified the sauce to suit international travellers who do not take spicy food. The appetiser round followed after the satay service, where Parma Ham and Duck Foie Gras were served. The Foie Gras was tasty and complemented well with the saltiness of the Parma Ham. However, the meal went downhill after the appetiser round. For the main course, we were given the choice of beef fillet, chicken noodles soup, roasted lamb Shoulder, or Thai-style fried rice with seafood. I opted for the Beef Fillet as it had an “exclusively created” logo on the menu. The beef was a disappointment; it was chewy and severely undercooked. I had a hard time cutting through and biting the beef. The only thing that was tasty in the main course was the Ratte potatoes. I gave up after having two bites. For the dessert, I opted for Souffle Grand Marnier. My impression of souffle was soft and fluffy. However, the souffle was hard as a rock. I also gave up eating after having two bites.

Breakfast service begins about 2 hours before landing. The breakfast service began with a fruit platter of grapes, tangerines, strawberries and honeydew. I only ate the honeydew, which was sweet and juicy. A cabin crew came by and offered a choice from the bread basket. I went for the croissant and au pain chocolate. The breads were tasty and fluffy. I used the book-the-cook service for the main course and opted for Nasi Uduk, a coconut-flavoured rice served with spicy sambal prawns, fried chicken and spring onion omelette. The Nasi Uduk was another disappointment; I could hardly taste any coconut flavour in the rice, which was soggy. The fried chicken was not crispy and tasted like it had been left in the fridge for days. The only saving grace was the prawns, but despite indicating as spicy, I did not taste any spiciness in the prawns.

Service

Service onboard was impeccable, as always. We were warmly welcomed by the cabin crew and were escorted to our seats during boarding. We were addressed by our last name, which made the service personal. I was well taken care of by Gwen throughout the flight, who went around the aisle welcoming and introducing every passenger in her area of responsibility during boarding. Gwen was very diligent in carrying out her duties, constantly patrolling the cabin to check if any passengers required anything. She also volunteered to convert my seat into bed mode and even made up the bed so I could get some sleep after dinner. She would always check if I needed any drinks. I raised the issue of the beef with Gwen; she immediately checked to see if I wanted anything else from the menu. Gwen came across as being very personable and caring. The other cabin crew I had the opportunity to interact with was the Inflight Manager, Shee Lee. She was standing by the door welcoming every Business Class passenger during boarding. Shee Lee was very knowledgeable and displayed great leadership in leading her crew. She was also seen leaning in to help her crew when they were overwhelmed so that passengers did not have to wait longer than they should. Shee Lee was brilliant in conversations. She gave me a good insight into the life of a cabin crew. She even gave me recommendations and tips on travelling in Paris for me to consider the next time I return to Paris.

Afterthought

The Business Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 long haul variant are controversial products. Some passengers complained about the comfort when sleeping in bed mode, and others complained about the troublesome process of converting from sitting to sleeping mode. I find the seat to be comfortable both in seat and bed mode. I like the wide seating design, which contributed to my being able to grab rest for 6 hours in flight. The service was impeccable onboard, from boarding to deplaneing. The cabin crew came across as personable and was always ready to ensure passengers had a good time flying with the airline. The food served onboard was terrible. The beef was undercooked, and the dessert was too hard to eat. Even the book-the-cook meal was a disappointment.

This review focuses on my inflight experience in the Singapore Airlines Suites Class. Singapore Airlines Suites Class is only found on their A380 aircraft, with each passenger given a cabin instead of a standard seat. Singapore Airlines flies from Singapore to London four times a day. Two of these four daily flights were serviced by the super jumbo A380-800, featuring the renowned Singapore Airlines Suites Class. The other two flights were serviced by the B777-300ER, which was installed with spacious seats.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines Suites Class cabin occupies the forward upper deck of the super jumbo A380-800 aircraft. There are six suites arranged in a 1-1 configuration. The Suites Class cabin feels very cosy and intimate, decked with earthy tones matched with silver doors and beige walls. Singapore Airlines Suites Class cabin is laid with sand colour carpet that is consistent with the colour scheme of the entire cabin. The flower motifs on the ceiling and the doors of each suite were consistent with the theme we spotted in The Private Room (click here to read about my review of The Private Room). The Suites Class cabin resembles the private cabins onboard sleeper trains, which gives Suites Class passengers some form of privacy. The cut holes on the cabin doors, in the shape of a flower design, somewhat reduce the privacy we got in the Suites Class cabins.

There are two lavatories at the front of the aircraft catering to the six Suites Class passengers. Despite not being fitted with showering facilities found in the A380s of Emirates or Etihad, the lavatories onboard Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class are equally luxurious. The lavatory on the right is the bigger of the two. With the dark brown wooden furnishing and the beige walls alongside the grey flooring and a marble sink countertop, the lavatory exudes a sense of luxury. The sink in the lavatory rivals that in the bathroom of a 5-star hotel. The right lavatory is large enough for Singapore Airlines to install a vanity table between the toilet and the sink, which comes with a posh leather stool. On top of a regular mirror, there is even a magnifying mirror for passengers to glam up before disembarking. Decked with a leather cover doubling as a seat, even the toilet feels luxurious. There is plenty of space in this lavatory for passengers to change into the Lalique pyjamas provided to Suites Class passengers. Singapore Airlines did not skim on the amenities in the Suites Class lavatories. The lavatories are filled with amenities such as dental kits (different from those offered in Business Class lavatories), sanitary napkins, razors and foam, and a hairbrush. Singapore Airlines also stocked their Suites Class lavatories with Lalique amenities like eau de toilette, facial mist and body lotion.

The lavatory on the left was smaller but no less luxurious. It carries the same luxurious design of dark wooden cabinet panels, beige walls, and grey flooring as the larger lavatory. Similarly, the toilet is covered with leather, which can double as a stool. Passengers using this lavatory can still find it spacious to change in and out of their pyjamas. This lavatory still provides the same amenities as the larger lavatory. The only difference is that the left lavatory has no vanity table, and the toilet can be immediately seen when one enters the lavatory. This lavatory has sufficient mirrors for passengers to put on their make-up.

The Suite

Regarding the Singapore Airlines Suites Class, it isn’t very meaningful to talk about seat pitch as the Suites Class passengers occupy a cabin onboard. Despite being in the same class, not all suites have the same size. The biggest are the foremost Suites (1A and 1F), about 5m²; the smallest (3A and 3F) are the aftmost Suites measuring 3.3m². I occupy the middle Suite (2A) with 4m² of real estate. Suites 1A and 2A (and similarly (1F and 2F)) can be combined to form a double bed. Each Suite is fitted with both a chair and a bed. The interior of the Suite gave me a soft and cosy feel, with the use of light shades of brown and beige colour schemes on the walls and the carpet. Using leather to furnish parts of the walls enhances the luxe vibe in the Suite. The walls of the Suite were printed with floral designs that enhanced the luxurious vibe and did not come across as being too loud or over the top, consistent with the design language of the cabin.

A side table, furnished tastefully with a vase of orchid, sits by the entrance of the Suite. The flight attendants use This side table to place our drinks or snacks without needing to deploy the table. Other than being the side table for the convenience of passengers, the side table is where the large table in the Suite is stowed during take-off and landings. The table is solid and huge, providing tons of space for Suites Class passengers to work on their laptops and for the cabin crew to serve the multi-course meals during the flight. The table can be swivelled for passengers to get in and out of the seat without stowing it away. The lighting further enhances the sense of comfort and cosiness of the Suite. There are two reading lights, one above the chair in the corner of the Suite and another above the bed, that provide soft, warm lighting for passengers to read on the chair or the bed. Another reading light is strategically placed above the side table to illuminate the entrance and side table. Each Suites Class passenger is treated to two window panels to look out into the sky from their bed. These window panels come with two-layered electronic control shades for passengers to control the amount of natural light they want to let into the cabin.

The Seat

The seat was the first thing that caught my eye when I entered my Suite. Decked in soft brown leather with thickly padded cushioning, the seat is very comfortable. An oversized pillow is placed onto the seat to provide passengers with greater comfort, especially in reclined mode. The seat measures 35″ wide and can recline up to 45°. During boarding, the seat is adjusted to face the front of the aircraft. The seat in the Suites Class onboard Singapore Airlines A380 can be swivelled to face the window or the TV. We are required to swivel the seat to face the front for take-offs and landings. The calf rest of the seat can only be deployed when the seat is swivelled to face the TV or the front of the aircraft (the green light on the control panel would light up to indicate calf rests can be deployed). Swivelling of the seat is controlled electronically via the control panel built into the left side of its armrest or the tablet provided in the Suite. I find the soft leather of the seat very comfortable, and I could sit on it for prolonged periods (just not at 45° recline) when I am not in bed. There are two power sockets that came fitted with USB-A charging outlets in the Suite, one at the side of the side table at the entrance of the Suite and another on the storage cubby by the window.

The Bed

Singapore Airlines Suites Class features a bed in the Suite on top of the comfortable seat. The bed was folded into the wall when we boarded the aircraft. The cabin crew would deploy and make up the bed for us after the breakfast service. Each bed in the Suite measures 27″ wide and 76″ in length. Singapore Airlines uses Lalique bedding for the bed. I found the bed was very sturdy, lacking in terms of comfort. The mattress padding was a tad thin and lacked cushioning. The two pillows that came with the bed were too soft for my liking. I like to sleep with my head raised, but sleeping on the pillows feels like my head is sinking into the pillows. I napped on and off for the 14½-hour flight from Singapore to London. I thought the duvet provided was comfortable, but it does a very good job of keeping us warm.

Storage Spaces

There is no lack of storage space in the Suites Class onboard Singapore Airlines. Besides the pockets and shelving on the bulkheads and the seat, there is a small wardrobe by the door. Due to the slim design of the wardrobe, a limited amount of things can be stowed here. There is space in the wardrobe for passengers to hang their jackets. Singapore Airlines places three hangers in the wardrobe, which is slightly excessive. When hanging my jacket, I noticed it had already taken up ¾ length of the wardrobe. The bottom part of the wardrobe allowed me to stow away my backpack. On top of the hanging rod is another shelf perfect for stowing smaller items for easy access. To enhance the wardrobe’s storage capacity, Singapore Airlines fitted a small pocket on the wardrobe door, where the cabin crew placed the Lalique slippers and socks.

More storage is fitted into the bulkhead of the Suite. The three leathered cubby holes fitted on top of a cabinet-like structure by the bulkhead next to the seat, on which the Singapore Airlines crew placed the amenity kit and the headphones, provided some space for storage. However, due to the shallow design of these cubbies, I thought they could only be used to store smaller items such as mobile phones, passports and perhaps make-up pouches. There is another mirror fitted onto the lid of the middle cubby hole, which I guess these cubby holes are designed to store make-up pouches. Singapore Airlines designed an open shelving space with a single leather strap beneath the cubby holes. I am unsure what can be stored here, as I did not find any of my carry-ons fitted into this space. A fourth cubby hole is fitted on the bulkhead where the bed is placed. I knew it was there but only discovered how to open the cubby lid when we were about to reach London.

The literature pocket is fitted onto the bulkhead behind the seat (when facing forward), which affords limited space for storage. Due to the slim design and the placement of the seat pocket, making it somewhat difficult to access, I found little use of the literature pocket for storage.

The Amenities

Sitting in the in-suite vanity area is a Lalique amenities kit. This kit that we received in the Suites was for male passengers. The amenities kit, presented in a leather Lalique pouch, was well stocked with lip balm, hand lotion and facial mist. It even comes with a bottle of eau de toilette. There is a separate amenities for female passengers by Lalique as well. Suites Class passengers were also offered Lalique pyjamas, which were very soft and comfortable, and Lalique branded slippers.

Inflight Entertainment

In terms of hardware, Singapore Airlines fitted a 32″ HD touchscreen TV in the Suite. The TV can be swivelled with a touch of a button either on the seat or from the tablet to face the passengers when sitting on the seat. The picture quality was excellent on the HD TV, which produced sharp images and was very pleasing to obtain entertainment from. Another small TV in the forward Suites (1A and 1F) allows passengers to watch TV during landings and take-offs. Due to the placement of the seat and the requirement to face forward, passengers will not be able to use the 32″ TV during these periods of the flight. There are two IFE controllers in the Suite; a smaller one is stowed in the seat’s armrest, which I found very intuitive to use. The other IFE controller is via tablet in the Suite.

As part of the entertainment offerings, Singapore Airlines supplies its Suites Class guests with Bang & Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones, which I find very comfortable to use due to the thick padding. The two headphone jacks in the Suite, one next to the bed and another on the side of the seat, allowed passengers to use the supplied headphones without the wire daggling all over the place. Singapore Airlines loads the KrisWorld, their inflight entertainment system, with many options to keep guests entertained. There is something for everyone, from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to cinematic classics to TV shows and even games. The menu of KrisWorld is very easy to navigate, creating a positive user experience. Singapore Airlines also has complementary wifi onboard for its Suites passengers. However, the network was a bit slow, and for most of our flight, we could not connect to wifi to surf the internet.

The Food

I was very well fed by the cabin crew in Suites Class. The catering tasted delicious and hardly tasted like airline food. A cabin crew came over to my suite to take order of my welcome drink the moment I settled into the Suite. I asked for Krug, which the cabin crew returned with a bottle and poured into the champagne flute before me.

Breakfast

Breakfast was served shortly after we reached cruising altitude. The meal started with the cabin crew taking orders for drinks. I opted for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, which was aromatic and flavourful. After the table was set up, fresh fruits were served as an appetiser. The fruits tasted fresh and juicy, especially the watermelon and honeydew. I pre-ordered the Nasi Lemak from Singapore Airlines’ Book-the-cook service. The rice was fragrant, and I could taste the coconut flavour in the rice. Though well seasoned, the fried chicken wasn’t as crispy as I would like. The sambal chilli that came with the rice was divine; it is mildly spicy and adds a punch to the coconut-flavoured rice. There is a menu of light bites between meals in the Suites Class. I wanted to try the carrot cake but was too full from the breakfast and the laksa I had earlier at The Private Room that I had to skip the light bites—in between, I asked for warm nuts to munch on while watching a movie.

Dinner

Dinner service began about 9 hours into the flight. The meals were beautifully presented and tasted great. I could see the ingredients used were of high quality. Dinner service begins with Singapore Airlines’ satay service. I am a huge fan of their satay and requested a double portion from the cabin crew. The chicken on the satay was tender and succulent, but the satay sauce was a tad too thick. At the same time, I requested my favourite mocktail – Midsummer Breeze, introduced to me by the Leading Stewardess from my Male to Singapore flight. The mocktail is thirst-quenching and refreshing.

The next course, the appetiser, served is the Osetra Caviar. This was my first time having caviar, and the first taste I got from the first bite of the fish roe was saltiness. But after some time, the taste of ocean freshness dominated my palette. The caviar was served with an assortment of garnishes and some mini pancakes. When paired with these garnishes and the pancake, the caviar tasted delicious. After the caviar, the cabin crew brought the second appetiser, which I opted for, the tomato soup. The soup was flavourful, and I could taste the tomato flavour bursting in my mouth. The soup was topped with cheese toasted, which complemented the soup perfectly. As my soup was being served, another cabin crew brought the bread basket for me to choose from. I wouldn’t say no to the garlic bread, which Singapore Airlines serves as one of the tastiest garlic breads in the sky.

Seeing my empty glass, the cabin crew offered another Midsummer Breeze, and I requested Coke instead. Next up was the course – Hokkaido Scallop and Atlantic Salmon- beautifully presented in exquisite china. The main course comes with two pieces of grilled salmon and two pieces of grilled scallops sitting on a bed of couscous and some greens at the side. The salmon was perfectly done, and the seasoning was spot on. The scallop was also done perfectly, tender and not chewy. The proteins were well complemented by the couscous. The cabin crew cleared my plate and asked my choice of desserts. I asked if ice cream was served in the other cabin classes (ice cream was not on the menu for the Suites Class). After checking, ice cream was not served, but the cabin crew recommended the Chocolate and Earl Grey Cream. I went with her recommendation, which turned out to be very tasty. The Chocolate and Earl Grey Cream has the texture of a mouse but the shape of a cake. I could taste the Earl Grey used for the dessert, and the taste was not too overpowering. The dessert also did not taste overpowering sweet. At this point, I felt full and had to reject the fruit platter the cabin crew offered.

Service

The service on Singapore Airlines Suites Class was nothing but excellent. The cabin crew was warm and friendly and, most importantly, came across as sincere and genuine. We were taken care of by the Inflight Manager Lee Chuen Thim, Chief Steward Kueh Joo Tong, Leading Steward Rahaizad and Leading Stewardess Sharifah. The cabin crew warmly greeted us, and Sharifah ushered us to our Suite. She gave us a brief on the facilities in our Suite and recommended using the larger lavatory on the right. As we were settling into our Suite, Sharifah returned and presented us with our Lalique pyjamas, while Rahaizad came by with our order of Krug champagne. As we sipped our champagne, the inflight manager welcomed each passenger flying in Suites Class today.

Throughout the flight, I interacted with Sharifah the most. She was very caring and went all the way out to ensure we were comfortable and well taken care of. I saw her patrolling the cabin consistently to check if we needed anything (I could see her looking into the Suite), and she was always ready to assist us. No request is too troublesome for Sharifah, who was observed to strive to fulfil the requests. Sharifah would always volunteer extra drinks and anything we wanted to eat without us having to ask for it. She even offered to make up our bed after the breakfast run so that we could rest. When I asked if I could walk around both decks of the aircraft, Sharifah volunteered to show me around. She was very knowledgeable about the configurations in the A380 aircraft and even pointed to the best seats in each cabin class as we walked through. Sharifah was very sociable and very pleasant to talk to.

Comparatively, my interactions with Rahaizad were limited (perhaps due to their shift cycle). Despite the limited interaction opportunities, Rahaizad was sincere and constantly looked out for us. We were equally well taken care of by Rahaizad when Sharifah was on her rest cycle.

Afterthought

Singapore Airlines Suites Class was comfortable to fly in. The hardware of the product was great, giving us a lot of space to stretch and rest during the long 14½-hour flight from Singapore to London. The seats in the Suite were very comfortable to lounge in, work or watch movies on the 32″ HD TV. Though I find a tad uncomfortable, the bed still afforded us some good rest. Besides having solid hardware, the service rendered by the cabin crew was exceptional. Sharifah took care of me well during the flight and went all out to fulfil my requests. She constantly looked out for us and ensured we had a great flight. The hardware and the service make flying Singapore Airlines Suites Class so memorable.