Hong Kong Chek Lap Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines check-in counters at Hong Kong Chek Lap Kok Airport are located in Row F of Terminal 1, in the central part of the terminal. However, as we were coming from Macau, the Macau-Hong Kong bus dropped us off at the Sky Pier instead of the main airport terminal. Singapore Airlines did not operate any dedicated check-in counters at the Sky Pier Terminal. After asking the staff at the Cathay Pacific counter, we were directed to the last three counters on the extreme right of the terminal. Singapore Airlines, like many other airlines, uses the three generic check-in counters to check in its passengers. All passengers checking in here, regardless of travel class or membership status, must use a single queue. Fortunately, the number of passengers from Macau was low, and there was no queue upon our arrival. The check-in process took a while because the counter staff had to confirm the bus’s arrival time before she could pull up our information from the airline list. The staff had to check our airlines and then our flight to pull out our information. However, once the information was obtained, our check-in was processed quickly. After checking our luggage, the staff gave us vital information like where to obtain the airport tax refund (apparently, as long as we did not enter Hong Kong, we were refunded HKD120 per adult), our boarding gate and timing, and the lounge location.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates several aircraft between Singapore and Hong Kong, from the superjumbo A380-800 (operational seasonally) to the B777-300ER, B787-10, and A350-900. We flew on their B787-10 on this trip.

The Cabin

The light blue and grey tones used in the seats on board Singapore Airlines made the Economy Class cabin look vibrant and relaxing at the same time. The colour tones used also conveyed a cheerful vibe, which was a great start for passengers embarking on their holidays with the airline. While the light tones on the seats give off a cheerful vibe, the charcoal colour used on the seat backs exudes a classy vibe. The dark and light colour schemes used in the Economy Class cabin complement each other very well. The 301 Economy Class seats on Singapore Airlines’ B787-10 are split into two sections: 150 in the forward cabin and 151 in the aft cabin. Despite the large number of seats in both cabins, the Singapore Airlines Economy Class cabin felt cosy and well-spaced.

There are a total of five lavatories for all 301 Economy Class passengers, two in the front of the Economy Class cabin, two at the back of the cabin and one between the two sections of Economy Class. The white lighting, used in conjunction with the large mirrors, made these lavatories feel larger than they actually are. I like the footpaddle design of the trash bin cover, which makes it easier to use and more hygienic. I reckon more airlines should adopt this design. A single small bottle of Singapore Airlines-branded hand lotion sits on the small rack at the sink with dental kits underneath, alongside the hand wash. Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines in the world to provide its Economy Class passengers with dental kits.

The Seat

Seats onboard Singapore Airlines’ B787-10 are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration with a 32″ seat pitch and a width of 17″. These Economy Class seats are capable of reclining up to 5″, giving us a way to feel relaxed on these seats. The Economy Class seats are pretty comfortable, well-padded, and offer good legroom. I had lots of space between my knees and the seat in front of me. Storage is always an issue in Economy Class seats. Due to the limited space allotted to each passenger, Economy Class passengers often have only the seat pocket in front of them for storage. Singapore Airlines increases storage space in its seat pockets through design. On top of the large compartment, Singapore Airlines also included two smaller pockets in front of the larger seat pocket, perfect for storing smaller items. There is also a somewhat useless pocket underneath the personal TV, which can only be used to stow very small items such as the provided earplugs, AirPods or charging wires.

When it comes to charging, passengers in Economy Class seats on Singapore Airlines B787-10 aircraft can charge their phones and lifestyle devices using the USB-A outlet under the personal TV. However, I find the charging speed a tad slow in these USB-A ports. There is also an international power outlet beneath every two seats for those who want faster charging. Singapore Airlines uses a bi-fold tray table in every Economy Class seat. These tray tables fold out to quite a size, sufficient for working on a laptop. Like all aircraft, Singapore Airlines only fitted an overhead reading light in every Economy Class seat.

Inflight Entertainment

Each Economy Class seat onboard Singapore Airlines B787-10 is fitted with an 11.1″ touchscreen personal TV. The responsive touchscreen function on these TVs somewhat made the IFE controllers redundant, which is why I did not find any IFE controllers on this aircraft. Singapore Airlines provides take-home earbuds to all Economy Class passengers, available at the door or from cabin crew. I felt these earbuds were rather comfortable to use. Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld entertainment system is packed with tons of entertainment options —from the latest Hollywood Blockbusters to TV series and games. I like how Singapore Airlines has a separate menu for junior flyers, which contains mostly cartoons and games. KrisWorld is organised in a very easy-to-navigate menu, where entertainment is catalogued in an initiative menu. With a massive library of entertainment options, the four hours seem to zip past quickly. Singapore Airlines also offers unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi to its KrisFlyer members, even when flying in Economy Class. The onboard Wi-Fi connection is only good for social media browsing and messaging, but it took forever to stream or upload videos to our social media sites.

Meal

Meal service begins about 1 hour after takeoff. We were able to see the menu six weeks before our flight. As I was looking through the menu, the food on offer on this flight was not to my liking, hence I pre-booked the Hindu non-vegetarian meal from the special order menu. Before departure, the cabin crew came around to confirm our pre-booked meals. Since I pre-ordered the special meal, I was served about 30 minutes before the main service. For the Hindu non-vegetarian meal, I was served curry lamb as the main course, with a salad, potato mash, and a bun. The curry lamb was tasty and flavourful, without the lamb smell, and the rice served with it was fluffy. I was also given a Häagen-Dazs ice cream, along with the rest of the passengers, after the meal service. For an Economy Class meal, I found it tasty and filling.

Service

The service onboard this flight, despite being in Economy Class, was awesome. The initial experience of the service felt a little scripted with the mandatory greeting at the door and the crew directing us to the correct aisle for our seat. During the flight, I found the crew to be friendly and enthusiastic. Despite having flown a 4-hour flight from Singapore to Hong Kong earlier and the hectic meal service in full Economy Class, the cabin crew still wore smiles and ensured passengers were quickly served their meals. The cabin crew did not seem to rest as they were constantly seen patrolling the cabin. When one of the cabin crew was confirming my meal order, I was pleasantly surprised that she addressed me by my first name. She also got back to me relatively quickly when I checked with her about what was in the Western Child meal I pre-ordered for my nephew. We were pleasantly surprised when the cabin crew came by after dessert with a birthday cake for my sibling. Overall, I thought the service on board in Economy Class was great.

Afterthought

It was a pleasant flight in Economy Class from Hong Kong to Singapore. The legroom was good, and the seat pocket design increased storage capacity. The seat was comfortable thanks to its thick padding. The huge library curated in KrisWorld kept me entertained throughout the 4-hour flight. The food served was tasty and the service was great.

Singapore Changi Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines operates out of Changi Airport’s Terminals 2 and 3, with Terminal 2 primarily catering to regional flights. Although our flight is technically classified as a regional flight (under 6 hours), it departs from Terminal 3 today. Singapore Airlines occupies several rows of check-in counters in Terminal 3, each row serving a different travel class. Rows 3 and 4 serve Economy Class passengers, while Row 7 serves KrisFlyer Silver members, and Row 6 is dedicated to passengers flying in Business Class and Star Alliance Gold members flying on Singapore Airlines. We checked in at Row 6, located in the centre of the terminal building, with Door 5 as the nearest entrance. Despite it being Christmas and the school holiday season, there was no queue at the Business Class counters when we arrived, as all were open. We met with a friendly check-in staff who made our check-in experience positive. Despite the early morning, the energetic staff was welcoming and processed our check-in with much efficiency. She also gave us directions to the SilverKris Lounge and reminded us of the time we should be at our gate. The ground staff also told us that our gate was very close to the lounge and encouraged us to enjoy the lounge longer.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge @ Terminal 3

SilverKris Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 is Singapore Airlines’ flagship lounge and the largest of the airline’s lounges worldwide. SilverKris Lounge is located one floor above the transit area, with the escalator diagonally opposite Bacha being the closest one that brings directly to the main entrance. The first thing that caught my eye was the bar to the right of the entrance to SilverKris Lounge. Here we can order cocktails and mocktails from the bartender, who is happy to whip up the signature Singapore Sling. Further into the right side of the entrance, past the bar, we spotted a small buffet line mainly stocked with finger food. A large fridge stocked with drinks—beer, soda, and juice—provides hydration for passengers in this part of the lounge. The area after the buffet and beverage stations is mainly furnished with lounge seating, arranged in groups of four. This part of the lounge is the quietest, with most of the passengers just relaxing wiating for their flight. There are also tall tables in this part of the lounge, ideal for passengers who want to work.

The area to the left of the entrance mainly houses the dining area in SilverKris Lounge. Other than a small section of the lounging area at the front of the lounge and a separate room with more lounging armchairs, most of this area of the lounge is furnished with a dining table set up seating two or four passengers. The toilet and shower facilities are also found in this part of the lounge. To make it convenient for passengers, the main buffet line is also found in this area. Singapore Airlines is very generous with its food offerings. There is a relatively large selection of local and western options, and two stations at either end of the buffet line that offer cook-to-order noodles. The signature laksa, a Malay noodle dish, is a must-try for visitors to the SilverKris Lounge. In addition to the extensive food selection, the SilverKris lounge also has a section for fruits, salads, and desserts. Beverages are also found stocked on both sides of the main buffet line. There is a room at the end of the lounge, decked with 16 semi-open sleeping pods for passengers who want to catch a snooze.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates several aircraft types to Hong Kong, ranging from the superjumbo A380 to A350 and B777. Our flight today was operated by the A350-900 Medium Haul variant featuring the airline’s regional Business Class seats.

The Cabin

The Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Business Class cabin mainly employs an earthy tone, evident in the seat and carpet furnishings, which complement the cream-coloured seat shell. The cabinetry and side tables at each seat use a lighter shade of brown, creating a relaxed vibe. The combination of orange and white mood lighting used during boarding gave the cabin an elegant look. The Business Class cabin on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 Medium Haul variant is divided into a larger forward cabin with 28 seats and a more intimate aft cabin with 12 seats. We were seated in the smaller aft Business Class cabins with just three rows of seats.

Singapore Airlines has three lavatories serving all 40 Business Class passengers, one at the very front of the aircraft and the other two between the two Business Class cabins. The grey marble-plastered flooring, together with the dark brown used in the cabinet’s wooden panelling and the sand brown backsplash at the sink, gave it a premium look. The lavatories on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 Medium Haul variant are rather standard in size, but the use of mirrors on both sides of the wall and the bright lighting make it feel larger. Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines in the world that fully stocks its lavatories (in both Business and Economy Class) with amenities such as dental and shaving kits. In addition to these amenities, the Business Class lavatories are also stocked with the premium Payot-branded hand lotion, facial mist, and eau de toilet.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Business Class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving passengers a seat pitch of 60″ and a width of 28″. I find these regional Business Class seats comfortable even in the default takeoff/landing mode, thanks to the thick padding and soft leather. However, I thought the entrance to the seats was a little tight for my window seat, as the side table was placed next to the aisle. These regional Business Class seats can also be reclined 180° into a flatbed. In flatbed mode, I was able to get some comfortable snooze in the seat. The seat did not feel too hard, and the bedding enhanced sleep comfort. Despite not having a door, I find a good amount of privacy in the seat in bed mode, especially when sitting next to the window, thanks to the seat shell’s high back. In addition to flatbed mode, Singapore Airlines Regional Business Class seats can also be converted to a relaxing lounge mode, a mode between the takeoff/landing position and the flatbed, via the preset haptic seat controls. I find this lounge mode the most comfortable, as I can customise the recline angle and seat position to my preferences using the seat control buttons.

There are several storage options in the Regional Business Class seats onboard the A350-900 Medium Haul aircraft. The most obvious is the enclosed cabinet at the side table in the seat. This cabinet is large enough for me to place my 11 “iPad, mobile phone, a couple of charging cables and my passport in. The sliding door on this cabinet also allowed us to stow our stuff during takeoffs and landings. In addition to storage, the cabinet also features two USB-A charging ports and one international power outlet, keeping our lifestyle devices juiced up before we deplane. Other than the cabinet, we can technically use the seat pocket to stow flat items. However, its location near the floor at the seat entrance requires a shift to access the items inside, making it rather inconvenient to stow items. The space under the footwell is large enough to stow carry-ons for those who do not want to place their items in the overhead compartment.

Singapore Airlines Business Class seat onboard their A350-900 Medium Haul variant is fitted with a large seat table, stowed under the personal TV. When fished out of its storage, the table is presented in a half-fold mode, but can be unfolded to reveal a sizeable, sturdy table that is great for dining or work. In addition to the overhead reading light, Singapore Airlines also installed a row of three reading lights inside the seat shell. I like how these reading lights correspond to the different seat modes, ensuring illumination regardless of seating configuration.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines fitted a large 18.1″ personal TV in every Business Class seat. The picture quality of these TVs is sharp, making movie-watching enjoyable. The small touches, like the ability to tilt the TV downwards, ensure the picture quality does not deteriorate when receiving entertainment in bed mode. Entertainment options can be selected via the TV’s responsive touchscreen or the IFE controller. The IFE controller resembles a smartphone and is very intuitive to use, with entertainment selection via touchscreen menus. Singapore Airlines provides every Business Class passenger with noise-cancellation headphones that are very effective at blocking out noise. When it comes to entertainment variety, KrisWorld offers hundreds of movies, TV shows, and music to keep you entertained. These options are curated in very easy-to-navigate menus, where I had no trouble finding the latest Hollywood blockbuster or movies from a certain region to make the 4-hour flight time zoom past. There is even a small menu of games in KrisWorld to keep the young and the young at heart entertained. Singapore Airlines provides unlimited free wifi for its Business Class passengers. However, the internet connection was too slow for streaming videos, so only messaging and scrolling through social media were possible.

Meal

Singapore Airlines also offers a “Book the Cook” service to its Business Class passengers on flights departing Singapore, expanding the food selection beyond the three options from its in-flight menu. For the regular Business Class meals, we were given the options of Omelette, Singapore Bah Kut Teh or Dim Sum. Instead of ordering from this menu, I ordered Char Siew Wanton Dry Noodles from the “Book the Cook” menu. The meal service started with a fruit platter, followed by another cabin crew member going around the cabin with a bread basket. As it was an early morning flight, Singapore Airlines did not serve its signature garlic bread. The fruits tasted fresh and sweet, but the croissant was a tad cold for my liking. My main course, Char Siew Noodles, was delicious, and the noodles were not clumpy. The wantons were perfectly cooked, and the char siew was very well seasoned. Perhaps the thing that is missing is the spiciness. The Bah Kut Teh from the in-flight menu was well-seasoned and featured the peppery flavour of Singapore Bah Kut Teh. Overall, I thought the meal was excellent on this flight.

Service

The service we received on board this flight was nothing short of impeccable. We were warmly greeted by the in-flight manager at the door during boarding. Aside from the jovial greeting, she also guided us to the aisle to reach our seats. The cabin crew provided excellent service, smiling throughout the flight. The cabin crew working on my aisle came by and introduced herself, while addressing me by my first name, and confirmed my meal booking at the same time. As I was one of the last ones to board, I was not served a welcome drink. I witnessed the same cabin crew displaying care for her passengers. She constantly checked on my young nephew to ensure he was comfortable in his seat and even offered to help him buckle his seat belt before takeoff. We ordered Nais Lemak for my nephew from the “Book the Cook” menu, but he did not seem to like it (more of his preference). Upon spotting my nephew not touching his food, I overheard the same cabin crew asking if there was something on the in-flight menu that he wanted to eat. My nephew rejected the food, but the relentless cabin crew came back with a couple of biscuits for him in case he was hungry. I noticed the cabin crew constantly checked on my nephew to see how he was and if he needed anything to eat. The diligent cabin crew was also seen constantly patrolling the cabin to ensure all passengers under her charge were well cared for. My sibling celebrated his birthday on board, and the cabin crew surprised him with the cake that I pre-ordered before our flight. As this was a short flight, Singapore Airlines did not load its signature SQ bears. Instead, the Leading Stewardess serving my sibling’s aisle gave my sibling a small bear (out of her own pocket) as a replacement. What a thoughtful touch! As we were full and did not have space for the cake, the cabin crew packed the cake for us to take away.

Afterthought

We had a great flight with Singapore Airlines. The seats were comfortable even in upright mode, thanks to their thick cushioning. The seat’s comfort level has gone up a notch in lounge mode. I even managed to doze off for 30 minutes in flatbed mode. The Char Siew Noodle I ordered from the “Book the Cook” menu was delicious and flavourful. What made this flight enjoyable was the personable and caring cabin crew. They were friendly and took really good care of us, especially the cabin crew who constantly checked on my nephew to ensure he had an enjoyable flight.

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.

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.

At The Airport

Check-in

There is only one single row of check-in counters at Male International Airport. Singapore Airlines check-in counters occupy four leftmost counters in the terminal building, with two counters dedicated to Business Class and the other two for Economy Class passengers. Lines are clearly marked for Business and Economy Class passengers with Singapore Girl standees and overhead monitors. There wasn’t any queue at any counters by the time we arrived at the airport. The check-in was pretty swift, and the friendly ground staff presented us with our boarding passes and separate lounge invitation passes and gave us directions to the immigration and the lounge. Male International Airport has dedicated fast-track queues for Business Class passengers at the immigration counters. We did not have to wait long before clearing immigration, which was also done efficiently.

Lounge

Male International Airport is a very small airport. There is only one lounge serving all passengers flying Business Class on all the airlines departing the airport, including Singapore Airlines. Leeli Lounge is located right after the duty-free area in the airport and has a seating capacity of 150 pax. As the airport was not busy during our visit, we had no problems finding a spot in the lounge. Leeli Lounge exudes a comfortable and relaxing vibe thanks to the soft colours of the chairs matching the earthy tone around the lounge. It is a great place to chill with a cold drink while waiting for our flight. The lounge seating comprises armchairs and small side tables, which can be a hassle for eating. Catering was lacking at Leeli Lounge despite the menu stating quite a substantial offering. Choices for food are somewhat limited. As Maldives is a Muslim country, there are no alcoholic drinks served at the lounge.

The Aircraft

As of this writing, Singapore Airlines uses its B737-8 Max for day flights and A350-900 for evening flights from MLE to SIN. We took the Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max for this flight back to Singapore.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max has a small Business Class cabin with only 10 seats. I thought the Business Class cabin felt refreshing. The use of white on the walls and black seats with a slight touch of orange and ash grey made the small Business Class cabin look airy, spacious and classy. The pilots used different mood lighting during the various phases of the flight. I like the nozzle installed on each seat’s ceiling, allowing passengers to regulate their preferred temperature. The small Business Class cabin feels like a private jet when the curtains are drawn.

There is only one lavatory behind the cockpit in the Business Class section of the aircraft, which suffice to serve the 10 passengers in Business Class (there were only six of us in the cabin on this flight). The lavatory is on the small side but functions as it was meant to do. The cabin crew diligently kept the lavatory clean and tidy throughout the flight, and all the amenities were neatly placed. Singapore Airlines provided additional Penhaligon amenities such as hand lotion, face mist and eau de toilette on top of the fabric handkerchiefs in their Business Class lavatories. What I liked about Singapore Airlines is that they are probably the few airlines in the world that fully stocked their lavatories with amenities such as dental kits and shavers, even in their Economy Class lavatories.

The Seat

The 10 Business Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max are arranged in a 2-2 configuration with a 1-1 seat in the centre (which I called the throne seats). Each seat has a pitch of 44″ and measures 21″ wide. All Business Class seats can recline 180°, allowing passengers to turn it into a flatbed. For this trip, I was able to snag one of the two middle-row throne seats. The Business Class seats are very comfortable with their thick paddings, providing excellent cushioning for the 5-hour flight. The Business Class seat is so spacious that I had three window panels to view out from the seat. The seats can also be configured into a lounge mode, which makes dining and watching movies very comfortable. When converted to bed mode, I find the head position to be a tad too low. Perhaps I had not been able to figure out the optimal recline to get comfortable with one pillow. When lying down, I had to get another pillow for the right height for my head. But once the pillow situation had been resolved, the thick paddings in the seat made lying down so comfortable that I could get a 2-hour wink. The seats offer great privacy due to their fold-in wing design, especially when the seat is fully reclined into bed mode. The seat control buttons are located on the inside of the armrest next to the aisle, easily accessible in any seat mode. Unlike the widebody aircraft, the seat controls onboard the narrow-body B737-8 Max are a little different. The seat controls feel scaled-down compared to those in their widebody aircraft, with pseudo-touchscreen buttons dedicated to the footrest, upright mode (for take-offs and landings), forward seat movement, and lighting. It took me a while to get used to operating the seat control buttons.

The throne seats onboard Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max Business Class in the centre row of the cabin have more storage space than the couple seats. The storage on the 2-2 seats is limited to the seat pocket under the personal TV and the small side pocket in the centre console between the two seats. The pocket under the TV has a retractable feature, which can stow smaller items such as passports or mobile phones. The side pocket where the additional reading light, a hook for headphones and a USB charging outlet can be found offer limited storage space. In addition to these storage spaces, the throne seats are fitted with an enclosed small cabinet on the aisle side of the console for passengers to store larger items. Apart from the cabinet, an open shelving found at knee level in the window side of the seat offers passengers more storage space. Due to the slanted design of the foot well, the cabin crew advised not to stow our carry-ons in the foot well during take-offs and landings.

There are more charging outlets in the throne seat compared to the couple seat. Besides the USB charging outlet under the headphone hook, the throne seats are also fitted with a universal power outlet and an additional USB charging point on the window side of the seat. There are two side tables on either side of the throne seat. The side table on the aisle side is designed with a depression for passengers to place their glasses on. I find the side table on the window side perfect for placing items like laptops (when not during take-off and landings), pillows and blankets. I would be cautious not to place smaller items here. The tray table is found on the console on the aisle side. With a push of a button, the tray table pops out vertically, which can double as a privacy divider. I thought the bifold tray table was quite large for a narrow-body aircraft, allowing passengers to work on their laptops while not dining.

Inflight Entertainment

Each Business Class seat has a 16″ LED Personal TV for passengers to obtain entertainment from Singapore Airlines’s KrisWorld. I like the menu design of KrisWorld, which makes scrolling and searching movies or TV shows very easy to navigate. KrisWorld offers a huge selection of entertainment, from the latest Hollywood Blockbusters to TV shows, keeping passengers entertained. When the seat is in upright or lounge mode, watching on the eye-level TV feels comfortable. However, I found the TV position in bed mode to be a tad too high, as the TV was not designed with a tilt function. Despite that, I was still able to watch movies while lying down.

Selection of entertainment from KrisWorld can be made via the touchscreen on the TV or the touchscreen IFE controller stowed under the aisle side armrest. I like the mobile phone-like design of the IFE controller, which makes it very intuitive to use. Other than displaying the progress of the movie I was watching, the IFE controller can also be used to display the flight progress while a movie is being played on the TV. The attendant call button and a light switch for the reading light on the side of the seat can be controlled by the IFE controller, while the overhead reading light is activated via the button on the ceiling above the seat. Singapore Airlines provided Business Class passengers with noise-cancelling headphones, which are very comfortable and effectively blocking ambient noise. I find myself having to remove the headphones whenever the cabin crew comes around and speak to me.

The Food

I like how Singapore Airlines maintained a physical menu booklet for its Business Class passengers. Shortly after take-off, the cabin crew sprung into action to serve passengers warm nuts and beverages. Another half an hour later, the meal service began. We were served Prawns with Lemon Scented Oil for appetiser. The salad was refreshing, with the Lemon oil not overpowering, and the prawn tasted fresh. While digging into the appetiser, another cabin crew offered us the bread options. I always find the garlic bread served onboard Singapore Airlines very tasty. Shortly after we finished the appetiser, the cabin crew came around, serving us the main course. For this flight, we had four options for the main course. I opted for the Lamb Korma, which is cooked to perfection. The Lamb Korma matches the puffy Tomato Rice very well. It is not too spicy, and the taste is not too overpowering. Initially, I thought we had to choose from the three dessert selections on the menu. I was quite surprised that Singapore Airlines served all three dessert options to its passengers. I like the Ile Flottante, which is light and complements the vanilla sauce very well. The almonds that came with this dessert gave the extra crunch. The fruits served were sweet and refreshing. As I am not a cheese person, I skipped the cheese platter (partly due to being full at this point). Overall, I thought Singapore Airlines had strong catering out of Male International Airport for this flight.

Service

The service onboard was outstanding! We were warmly welcomed by the Leading Stewardess – Alicia, and Flight Stewardess – Sin Li, serving Business Class passengers. Despite working on a turnaround flight, both Alicia and Sin Li were ready to make us feel comfortable. All Business Class passengers were very well taken care of by Alicia and Sin Li for the duration of the flight. Both cabin crews were seen patrolling the cabin often and checking in with passengers if we required more drinks. Soon after we were settled in, Sin Li sprung into action, serving pre-departure drinks while Alicia went around the cabin, confirming or taking orders for the main course. Alicia also took note of my food allergens when she came around to confirm my choice of main course. Serving drinks in glasses and warm nuts were nicely presented in a small porcelain bowl, making the experience feel premium.

Alicia and Sin Li were seen introducing each course of the meal to every passenger during meal service. Alicia even went the extra mile to caution me that my choice of main course might contain my food allergen, as she couldn’t make out the texture when she pre-tasted the option. Alicia even went the extra mile by serving me a salmon steak, considering I might not have eaten much. As my friend is also allergic to prawns, Alicia took the initiative to serve him smoked salmon instead of prawns for the appetiser. I like how Sin Li recommended the food she deemed tasty to passengers, which came across as sincere and human. When deciding what to drink (other than coke), Sin Li recommended me to try out one of their Mocktail – Midsummer Breeze, which I liked very much as it was refreshing. When spotted my glass empty, Sin Li immediately replaced it with another glass of Midsummer Breeze. Overall, Alicia and Sin Li took care of us well despite having worked 5-hours for the flight from Singapore to Male.

Overall

I immensely enjoyed this flight from MEL to SIN. The Business Class seats on Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max were very comfortable, thanks to the thick cushioning used for the seats. The seats were so comfortable that I managed to doze off for 2 hours during the flight. I recommend choosing the middle-row throne seats when flying on Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max, as it provides more privacy and storage space. The impeccable service rendered by Alicia and Sin Li made the flight enjoyable. Their thoughtfulness and attention to detail are what made this flight memorable. I hope to see them again on my upcoming flights with Singapore Airlines.

At the Airport

Singapore Airlines flight to Male flies out of Singapore Changi from Terminal 3 building. There are several check-in rows dedicated to Singapore Airlines. Row 6 in the middle of the departure hall is dedicated to all Singapore Airlines Business Class passengers. Row 7, located right behind Row 6, is dedicated to passengers flying on Premium Economy Class and KrisFlyer Elite Gold members. Row 3 is designated for all Singapore Airlines passengers flying in Economy Class, with self-service and over-the-counter check-ins. We attempted to queue for the over-the-counter check-in. However, the queue did not seem to be moving after waiting 5 mins in the queue. Too few counters were opened to service the number of passengers checking in. The self-service check-in was fast and easy. However, there were insufficient ground staff to help passengers when we faced issues.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines deploys the B737-Max 8 and A350-900 aircraft between Singapore and Male. The airline used to have three daily flights serving Singapore and Male. However, this has been reduced to two flights recently.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max has 144 seats onboard in two cabin classes, with only 10 seats in Business Class and 134 in Economy Class. This Singapore Airlines single-aisle Economy Class cabin looked refreshing and spacious with the blue and white mood lighting during boarding and disembarking, matching the grey and turquoise colour fabrics for the seating. I like how the pilots use mood lighting to calm passengers. Halfway through meal service, we met into turbulence. The pilots immediately switched on the blue lighting to complement the white lighting to calm passengers.

There are only three lavatories on board serving all 144 passengers. The two lavatories in Economy Class are located at the back of the aircraft. The lavatory onboard felt cramped, and the mirrors did not seem to help in making the space feel any bigger. Despite the small size, unlike other airlines, Singapore Airlines provided toothbrushes in their lavatory on top of the usual hand soap. The cleanliness of the lavatory was questionable, and it seems that the cabin crews on board this Singapore Airlines flight did not bother to keep it clean for this 5-hour flight. Moreover, the trash bin latch in the lavatory came apart, and the cabin crew was not even proactive in finding a sticky tape solution to fix the situation.

The Seat

The Economy Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max are arranged in a 3-3 configuration, each having a seat pitch of 30″, 17″ wide and capable of reclining 3″. The seats are uncomfortable for this 5-hour flight from Singapore to Male. The cushioning was terrible, and I could feel the metallic structure of the seat about halfway through the flight. Singapore Airlines did not provide any pillows on the seat, making being stuck on the seat for prolonged hours torturous. To make matters worse, the air conditioning onboard was very weak despite having individual air nozzles.

Aside from the comfort of the seat, I like the clean design, which only has one reclining button at the side of the armrest. All other functions, such as the attendant call button and the reading light, were fitted on the bulkhead above the seats. Each Economy Class has a sizable tray table, sufficient for passengers for our meals and drinks. I like the inclusion of a depression on the tray table, where we can place our drinks without having them move around during the flight. The seat pocket was relatively standard, and unlike its twin-aisle aircraft, the seat pockets onboard Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max only had one huge compartment, which means passengers would have to dig deep into the seat pocket for smaller items (such as the provided earbuds) placed inside the seat pocket.

Inflight Entertainment

Each Economy Class seat onboard Singapore Airline B737-8 Max is fitted with a 10″ touchscreen personal TV that provides entertainment through KrisWorld to passengers during the flight. The touchscreen on the personal TV was very responsive, which made the IFE controller redundant, so Singapore Airlines did not fit IFE controllers in their Economy Class seats. Economy Class passengers were given earbuds (which we can take home after the flight) to use with the IFE. The earbuds were pretty good and comfortable to wear for the 5-hour flight. I thought Singapore Airlines did a great job organising the entertainment options on KrisWorld in an intuitive and easy-to-use format. The numerous entertainment options, ranging from the latest Holywood blockbusters to timeless classics, were arranged in categories, making searching for the movies or TV shows we wanted to watch very easy. Headphone jacks and USB charging outlets were found underneath the personal TV.

The Food

The catering provided for this flight was a hit and a miss. I like how Singapore Airlines eliminated the awful and difficult-to-eat takeaway boxes and provided more meal items in its Economy Class. Each Economy Class passenger was given an appetiser, a main meal, a dessert and a bread bun. Two choices of proteins were made available to Economy Class passengers on this flight – Chicken with noodles and Fish with potatoes. I opted for the chicken with noodles, and the chicken was flavourful and tender, but the noodles were dried up. My friend opted for the fish and commented the fish tasted awful and was very flaky.

Service

The service on board this flight fell short of the high standard that Singapore Airlines came to know about. Cabin crew were seen blocking the aisle during boarding, creating an unnecessary jam during the flight’s busiest time. The only time we were given smiles was during boarding when the pursuer greeted each passenger and handed out earbuds. Otherwise, smiles from this set of cabin crew were a rare commodity; most of the time, they did not even bother to smile or maintain eye contact with passengers, especially the female pursuers taking care of the section where I was seated. This set of cabin crew did not even bother to check in with our allergens, unlike those on my previous experience with Singapore Airlines. Meal service, however, was done in an efficient and well-oiled manner. The cabin crew sprung into action, distributing snacks and water about 45 minutes into the flight. The main meal was served about 1 hour after snack service. Despite being a 5-hour flight, the cabin crew did not bother coming around the cabin to serve more drinks. Drinks seemed to be provided on a request basis. The cabin crew were also not seen patrolling the cabin often to clear trash or to check if passengers were comfortable. They were only seen walking around during meals and the mandatory take-off and landing checks. Service onboard seemed rushed, as though the cabin crew wanted more time to rest in the galley.

Overall

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max was a disappointing experience. The seat was poorly cushioned and was not comfortable for this 5-hour flight. To make things worse, the cabin was warm, as though the pilots skimmed on the air conditioning to save fuel. Service by the cabin crew felt rushed, with most of them wearing poker faces throughout the flight. The presence of the cabin was kept to a minimum, as though they wanted more time to rest.