Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines check-in counters in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport are found near the end of Row K, in the centre of the departure hall, with Door 5 being the closest door to it. Singapore Airlines has three queues for checking in, catering to Economy Class, Business Class, and KrisFlyer elite members. Of the seven counters, three serve Economy Class passengers, one is dedicated to KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Elite Silver members, while two are designated for Business Class passengers. The airlines also operate one additional service counter for passengers with flight-related issues. However, this counter also serves Business Class passengers when the other two counters are busy. The ground staff was friendly and worked with great efficiency, processing our check-in in under 5 minutes. Before sending us off to immigration, the ground staff provided us with information on our boarding gate and departure time. He also recommended that we use the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge as it is diagonally opposite our boarding gate. Business Class passengers, regardless of airlines, can use one of two Fast Track immigration lanes, located at either end of the terminal building. I appreciate this service at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, as it meant we didn’t have to queue and were through immigration almost immediately when we arrived at the counters.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge

As we used the Fast Track lane near the Thai Airways Business Class check-in counter in Row A, the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge in Concourse D is accessible via an escalator from the immigration counters. There are two lounges at the reception; we were directed to the refurbished lounge on the right of the reception. Passing through the entrance of the lounge, a bar counter welcomed passengers to the lounge. Behind the bar is the main lounge, where we saw several green walls installed in the seating area. The lounge still bears the signature colours of Thai Airways, decked in purple and yellow armchairs with dark brown. These green walls are a refreshing touch to the otherwise old, dark, and gloomy Thai Airways lounge that I used to visit. The main lounge is furnished with armchairs for passengers to relax and enjoy a quiet time.

A dining area, decked with round tables catering for two and a couple of bar tables, sits not far from the bar counter. This is where the buffet line is located, serving up signature Thai food. Despite not having a large variety, I find the food served at the lounge to be delicious and was constantly topped up. I like how the beverage fridges are being co-located in the same area as the buffet line, which makes it convenient for passengers to grab a drink. The shower facilities in the lounge are located in the centre of the lounge, in the same area as the toilet. Since there was no queue for shower rooms at the time of my visit, I decided to check it out. The shower room was quite sizeable, fitted with a toilet and a walk-in shower cubicle. The dark grey tiles in the shower room gave it a refreshed and elegant look. I like the open shelves in the shower room, where I find it practical to stow my carry-on backpack. As Thai Airways is celebrating 65 years of operation, there is a made-to-order counter serving up Japanese food near the other entrance to the lounge. Due to its design and layout, I find the Thai Airways Lounge to be peaceful and not crowded, as passengers are spread across the lounge area.

SilverKris Lounge

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport is one of the few airports where Singapore Airlines operates its outstation SilverKris Lounge. The lounge is located diagonally opposite Gate D7, which is a stone’s throw from our departure gate of D6, making coming here an ideal choice while waiting for our boarding. The SilverKris Lounge in Bangkok Airport has a rectangular layout. Right past the entrance to the lounge, we spotted a small lounging area, decked with limited armchairs. Most of the SilverKris Lounge is decked with dining-style seating, occupying the space after the bar counter in the middle of the lounge and by the walls. There are some seating areas by the frosted floor-to-ceiling window, perfect for solo travellers or passengers who want to get some work done. Food is served in a buffet style at the SilverKris Lounge, tucked at the end of the lounge. Other than the Singaporean desserts and small finger food, most of the food available in this lounge features Thai cuisine. Compared to the Thai Airways Lounge, I thought the menu here was smaller with similar taste. SilverKris Lounge does not come fitted with any shower facilities, and even the toilet is a tad small. Due to the size and the layout, plus the number of passengers waiting here for our flight, the SilverKris Lounge felt busy.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines mainly operates the A350-900 medium-haul variant and the B787-10 between Singapore and Bangkok. The aircraft assigned for this flight was the B787-10.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines’ B787-10 has one single Business Class cabin housing all 36 seats. This arrangement made the cabin look busy and cramped. However, the colour choice for the Business Class cabin onboard their B787-10 aircraft gave it a relaxing and elegant vibe. Using earthy tones in their seats and interior seat shell, and dark blue carpet, this colour theme resonates with the main colour theme of Singapore Airlines. The white walls and cream seat shell gave the cabin a clean look.

The only two Business Class lavatories are situated in front of the Business Class cabin. Unlike those in the A350-900 version, the Business Class lavatory looks nothing premium. Plastered in white and grey, these Business Class lavatories look exactly like those in the Economy Class. One would mistake this for Economy Class if not for the additional Payot hand cream, facial mist and eau de toilette sitting in the bracket on the sink. The lavatories felt a little on the small side, but the bright white lighting and the usage of mirrors gave the illusion of being bigger than they are. I applaud Singapore Airlines for being one of the few airlines in the world that provides amenities such as dental kits and shavers in their lavatory, even for this short 2-hour flight.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines mainly deploys its B787-10 aircraft for regional routes, featuring its regional Business Class seats. Singapore Airlines was one of the first few airlines to offer lie-flat seats for regional routes. The Business Class seats on Singapore Airlines B787-10 are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving passengers direct aisle access. The high shell-back design ensures a certain amount of privacy for its Business Class passengers, especially in flatbed mode. Each Singapore Airlines regional Business Class seat has a pitch of 60” and measures 28” wide, and is capable of reclining 180°, turning it into a true flatbed. These seats are very comfortable to sit on due to their thick cushion padding and soft leather. Singapore Airlines’ regional Business Class seat comes with three standard positions: upright for take-off and landings, flatbed for passengers to catch a snooze, and the in-between position (I called this the lounge mode), which is somewhere between the upright and flatbed mode that offers passengers an angled position for better comfort during cruising. These seat modes can be adjusted via the preset seat controls located under the side table. Out of the three seat modes, I find the lounge mode to be the most comfortable, as I was able to configure the recline angle according to my preference.

When it comes to storage, Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class seats offer passengers some compartments to store small items. The side cabinet fitted on top of the side table allows us to store smaller items like mobile phones, passports or even an 11” tablet. I like how the airlines designed this cabinet to be enclosed, meaning we can use this storage space even for take-offs and landings. Apart from this small cabinet, we could also use the seat pocket as a storage space for flat items such as books and magazines. However, I find the placement of this seat pocket a little inconvenient and difficult to reach from the seat with our seat belts on. The cubby hole under the footrest provided us with an alternate storage space for our carry-ons, other than the dedicated overhead bin. Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class seats have a fairly large seat table stored under the personal TV. The bi-fold table is sturdy and large enough for passengers to work on their 15” laptops. But due to the design, these tables do not come with a swivel function, which means they have to be put away for passengers to get in and out of their seats. Found inside the side cabinet is an international power outlet and two USB-A charging ports to keep our mobile devices juiced up before we land. On top of the overhead reading light, Singapore Airlines regional Business Class seats are installed with another set of reading lights at the top of the seat shell that caters to all three standard seat modes.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class seats are fitted with an 18.1″ touchscreen personal TV. The picture quality of the TV was sharp, and the colours were vibrant. A tilt-down feature has been incorporated into the screen’s design, allowing passengers to watch TV while in the flat bed mode of the seat without compromising picture quality. The IFE controller features a pseudo-smartphone design, where movie selections are made via the responsive touchscreen on the controller. Singapore Airlines provides its Business Class passengers with noise-cancelling headphones that are very effective in blocking out ambient noises. In fact, the noise-cancelling function was so effective that I had to remove my headphones when communicating with the cabin crew. KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines’ in-flight entertainment system, offers an extensive library of entertainment options, including movies, TV series, games, and destination guides. I had no issues finding something to keep me entertained from the huge menu of Hollywood and international movies for this short flight. I like how KrisWorld has this function that allows me to save the movies I’m watching to my KrisFlyer account, where I can log in and continue from where I left off. Singapore Airlines also provides complimentary in-flight wifi to all Business Class passengers. However, the speed only allows us to browse social media and does not support streaming videos from YouTube.

Meal

Singapore Airlines does not offer its “Book-the-Cook” service for flights out of Bangkok (possibly because it is a turnaround flight). To celebrate Singapore’s upcoming 60th birthday, the airlines offer a Singaporean dish as one of the three options on top of the Western and Thai options. Business Class passengers can pre-select the food option from the Singapore Airlines app and website. I pre-selected the Singapore Hokkien Mee after reading rave reviews of this dish. Due to the short flight time, meals were served in one tray instead of course-by-course as with their longer-haul Business Class products. While the salmon in the salad tasted fresh, I thought the noodles came across as a tad dry (those we had in Singapore came bathed in a small pool of broth), but the prawns were fresh, and the pork was very tasty. I like the sambal that came with the noodles, which is mildly spicy and sweet. I wished they were more generous with the sambal chilli sauce. The meal was finished off with a delicious Banana cake dessert, which was soft and fluffy with a harmonious taste of vanilla and banana.

Service

The service in Business Class on board the flight was good, but not memorable. We were warmly greeted at the door during boarding and directed to the correct aisle for our seat. At the aisle, another cabin crew member was on standby to help passengers locate their seats. The cabin crew sprang into action, serving the pre-departure drinks like clockwork as we settled into our seats. The crew who was working on my aisle came by to introduce themselves and confirm my pre-selected meal option. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew addressed us by our first name and patrolled the cabin frequently, ensuring we were comfortable. Meal service began shortly after the aircraft reached cruising altitude. I was surprised that despite my favourite mocktail, Midsummer Breeze, not being on the menu, the cabin crew was still happy to concoct the drink. Upon seeing that I was done with the meal, the eagle-eyed cabin crew quickly cleared my meal tray and returned with some packeted nuts to check if I wanted some to go with the movie I was watching and at the same time, checking if I wanted more drinks. Despite the short 2-hour flight, I could see that the cabin crew were standing on their feet the whole time, ensuring that we were well taken care of. Service was always done with a smile.

Afterthought

I had a great flight flying with Singapore Airlines in their regional Business Class. The seat was comfortable, and I appreciated the flatbed mode that came with it, allowing us to catch a power nap. The entertainment was abundant, making the 2-hour flight whiz past. The service was good on board, with the cabin crew being friendly and sincere.

Singapore Changi Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines operates out of Singapore Changi Airport’s Terminals 2 and 3, with regional flights departing from Terminal 2. As a home port, Singapore Airlines operates several rows of check-in counters in Rows 3, 5 and 6 in Terminal 2. Passengers flying in Business and Premium Economy Class, as well as Star Alliance Elite Gold members, check in at the counters in Row 3. Only one counter for Business Class was operational for this early morning flight, resulting in a short wait of about 10 minutes for our check-in to be processed, with three other groups of passengers ahead of us in the queue. The ground staff was warm and friendly. She was efficient in checking us in, and we were done in under 5 minutes. Before sending us to immigration, the ground staff provided us with directions to the SilverKris Lounge and also reminded us to allow extra time to reach our boarding gate, as it is located in Terminal 1.

SilverKris Lounge @ Terminal 2

Singapore Airlines has two SilverKris Lounges in Changi Airport, the new and larger lounge in Terminal 3 and the older one in Terminal 2. We used the lounge in Terminal 2 as our flight departed from the terminal. SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 features an earthy theme, with the entire lounge decked in earthy brown colours, exuding a relaxing vibe. The low noise level in the lounge also contributes to the relaxing atmosphere. The lounge is mainly furnished with single-seat armchairs. Apart from a small number of seats at the entrance, most of the seats are housed in the area to the right of the lounge. There were plenty of seats to go around, and the lounge wasn’t too crowded at the time of our visit; we had no issues finding a seat. There are charging outlets in each seat, allowing passengers to keep their lifestyle devices fully juiced up before our flights. Food is served in a buffet line found on the left side of the lounge, featuring primarily local dishes with a small selection of Western options. There is a food cart at the end of the food area, serving made-to-order noodles, where the famous Singapore Airlines Laksa is also available. There are several dining tables available in the buffet area, primarily catering to larger groups. As there are limited tables available, we were unable to find any empty tables here. The shower facilities in SilverKris Lounge, located in Terminal 2, are situated inside the toilets. There are no counters to register for the use of these shower suites; passengers can just walk into any empty room to use the shower. All the shower rooms in the male toilet are available at the time of my visit.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates B787-10 and A350-900 between Singapore and Bangkok. The airline has three different configurations for its A350-900, and typically operates its A350-900 medium-haul variant on regional routes, such as the one between Singapore and Bangkok.

The Cabin

The Singapore Airlines A350-900 medium-haul variant’s Business Class cabin features an earthy tone, predominantly used in shades of brown in its seats and seat shells, which exudes a relaxing vibe. The dark brown carpet and the orange lighting used during boarding made the Business Class cabin look elegant. The Singapore Airlines A350-900 medium-haul variant’s Business Class cabin is divided into two sections: a larger section with 28 seats and a smaller rear cabin accommodating 12 seats. Such a layout made the cabin look intimate and cosy, which complemented the earthy vibe very well.

There are four lavatories, two in front of the Business Class cabin and another two between the two Business Class sections, serving all 40 Business Class passengers. The earthy tone seen in the cabin also extends to the lavatory, as evident in the brown backsplash at the sink and the dark brown sink cabinets. The use of plaster marble flooring further enhances the premium feel in the lavatory. Aside from the necessities in the lavatory, Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines in the world that fully stocks its lavatories with amenities such as dental kits and shavers for a 2-hour short hop between Singapore and Bangkok. In addition to these amenities, the airline also stocked its lavatories with hand cream, facial mist, and eau de toilette. I noticed there is a brand change from Penhaligon’s to Payot in these additional amenities.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines A350-900 medium-haul Business Class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration. Each of the 40 seats has a pitch of 60″ and measures 28″ wide, capable of reclining 180° into a flat bed. I find these seats very comfortable, thanks to the luxurious leather used and the thick cushion padding designed into the seats. However, I thought the design of the seats makes moving in and out a little challenging due to the narrow access to the seats. Each of these seats comes in three modes: the upright mode for take-off and landings, the flat bed mode for sleeping and the in-between lounge mode for relaxing. The three preset seat modes can be activated with the touch of the haptic seat control buttons located on the inside of the seat armrest. In the bed mode, despite not being fitted with a door, privacy is ensured by the high seat shell design. However, I find the angle a tad too low when the seat is fully reclined, and it doesn’t help when the pillows provided by the airlines are too soft for my liking. I liked the lounge mode the best when I am not resting in the bed mode. The lounge mode allows me to relax and watch movies from the IFE. I like how the seat angle can be further customised according to my preference in lounge mode.

When it comes to storage, I appreciate the small cabinet installed at the side table by Singapore Airlines in its regional Business Class seats, allowing passengers to stow small items and the tablets they bring along with them. In addition to the side cabinet, the space beneath the footwell can also be used to store carry-on luggage, which is generous enough for me to place my backpack. The seat pocket in Singapore Airlines’ regional Business Class seats, though technically can be used to store items, is positioned in a way that makes accessing it challenging, which discouraged me from placing anything inside.

The Business Class seat table onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 medium-haul variant is stored under the personal TV and can be released with a push of a lever. The bi-fold design of the seat table meant I did not have to fully deploy the table when I just wanted to use it to place small items. When fully deployed, the seat table is sizeable for one to work on their laptop. In addition to this seat table, the airline also designed a side table by the cabinet, which provided me with additional space to place my belongings. Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 medium-haul Business Class seats are equipped with one power outlet and two USB-A outlets inside the side cabinet for passengers to charge their electronic devices. In addition to the overhead reading lights, the seats are equipped with side lights located inside the seat shell, catering to all three modes of the seat setting.

Inflight Entertainment

Each Business Class seat is installed with an 18.1″ personal TV with touchscreen function. The picture quality on the IFE screen is crisp and sharp, and I appreciate that the screen can be tilted down, ensuring picture quality is not compromised even when passengers are watching movies in bed mode. The IFE controller resembles a smartphone, where operations are performed on the touchscreen panel on the controller. I find the IFE controller very intuitive to use, thanks to its clear and straightforward design layout. Singapore Airlines provides its Business Class passengers with noise-cancelling headphones, which are very effective in blocking ambient cabin noises. These headphones are so effective in blocking out sounds that I have to remove them when conversing with the cabin crew. Singapore Airlines’ In-flight Entertainment, KrisWorld, is stocked with a vast library of entertainment options, ranging from Hollywood Blockbusters to classic movies of yesteryear and even short TV sitcoms. There is even a section of games to keep the young and the young at heart entertained. Singapore Airlines offers complimentary wifi to its Business Class passengers, and we can connect up to three devices at one time (Singapore Airlines also offers complimentary wifi to KrisFlyer members flying in Economy Class, but they can only connect one device at a time). As with most airlines, the internet connection was only suitable for web browsing and social media browsing, but not for streaming videos.

Meal

Singapore Airlines offers a “Book-the-Cook” service for its Business Class passengers on flights operating out of Singapore and selected airports, allowing passengers to select meal choices that are not part of the regular menu served onboard. However, the “Book-the-Cook” menu offered to us appears to be a watered-down version, with only six choices, perhaps due to the time of the flight and the flight time. I opted for the Singapore Nasi Lemak from the “Book-the-Cook” menu. The cabin crew confirmed our food choice before departure, and we were promptly served once the seatbelt sign was turned off. The coconut-flavoured rice was fragrant, and the sambal chilli was flavourful. However, I find the fried chicken a little on the dry side. As part of celebrating Singapore’s 60th Birthday, Singapore Airlines included one Singaporean dish in its regular menu. In addition to the Scrambled Eggs and Indonesian Beef Fried Noodles, we also found Singapore Fried Carrot Cake on the regular menu.

Service

The service on this flight between Singapore and Bangkok was top-notch. It was a great departure from my last experience with Singapore Airlines in March. The cabin crew came across as friendly and welcoming, despite being on an early morning flight. Other than the mandatory greeting at the door during boarding, we were escorted to our seats by another cabin crew upon entering the cabin. Not long after settling into my seat, the cabin crew member working at my aisle, Poppy, came over to introduce herself to me, while confirming my pre-ordered meal. Poppy was constantly seen patrolling the cabin, despite working on the turnaround flight, and was very cheerful. Farid was the other leading steward working in my aisle with Poppy. When my meal was served, Farid noticed that I hadn’t had any drinks and quickly checked with me to see if I needed any. He was very prompt in serving my drink after taking my request. When I was heading to the bathroom, Farid hurried in to ensure it was clean for me to use. Farid was always seen with a smile. The other cabin crew, Cassi, was working on the aisle where my friend was seated. When we pointed out my friend’s seat issue (there were some mechanical issues that required an engineer to fix) while on the ground, Cassi was constantly updating us on the engineer’s whereabouts while we waited for him to board. She was also seen constantly checking in on my friend to ensure he is comfortable during the flight.

Afterthought

We had a great flight with Singapore Airlines for this short 2-hour flight from Singapore to Bangkok. Despite being a short flight, the Business Class seat was able to turn into a flat bed for passengers who prefer to catch some snooze during the flight. The seat was comfortable, thanks to its luxurious leather and thick padding. The cabin crew were cheerful and friendly, despite being on an early morning flight and working a turnaround flight (I can imagine how early each of them had to wake up and how tiring it must be for them, as they would be returning to Singapore on the same flight). These friendly crew seem to take pride in their work, and their cheerfulness exudes a happy vibe that makes the flight enjoyable.

At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Check-in

Our Singapore Airlines flight to Seoul departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2. However, despite its refurbishment in 2022, this SilverKris Lounge still feels outdated. We checked in at Terminal 3, where Singapore Airlines also operates several rows of counters, since we prefer to use the flagship SilverKris Lounge in that terminal. Singapore Airlines dedicated the whole of Row 6, in the centre of the terminal, to its premium passengers to check in. Seven of the nine counters serve Business Class passengers, and one serves First and Suites Class passengers. Our check-in experience left much to be desired, where the ground staff at the counter took her time to check us in. We were made to wait for 10 minutes while she took her time casually punching our details into her computer without any explanation of what took her so long. She ignored our questions when asked what the issue was, and this time she hastened our check-in. The whole check-in process took us 20 minutes. After check-in, the ground staff only told us that our flight departed from Terminal 2 and did not provide information on the lounge or the boarding time.

SilverKris Lounge (Terminal 3)

The escalator to the SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3 is about a 2-minute walk from the immigration checkpoints. One floor above the immigration, SilverKris Lounge, Singapore Airlines’ flagship lounge, is at the end of the corridor. Another escalator opposite Bacha brought us directly to the lounge’s entrance. The SilverKris Lounge exudes a relaxing vibe with its use of earthy themes, while the use of marble throughout the lounge gives it a luxurious vibe. The expansive four sections of the lounge ensured passengers would find a spot to relax while waiting for their flight. The section immediately to the right of the entrance mainly consists of lounging furniture and some bar tables. A bar counter is next to the entrance, where passengers can grab drinks. There is a buffet table after the bar where the limited choices of food and a fridge of beverages provide convenience for passengers utilising this part of the lounge.

The main and larger part of the lounge sits to the left of the entrance. The main dining area is dominated by a large number of dining chairs and tables stretching to the window with a view of the apron. A few lounging chairs before the main dining area provide limited seating for passengers who prefer to lounge near the food area. This area is also where the toilets and shower facilities are located. Food in the SilverKris lounge is mainly served in a buffet line that includes Chinese, Malay, and Indian cuisines. A small section at both ends of the buffet line serves made-to-order food. I like the Laksa served in the made-to-order section, and always order this dish whenever I visit the SilverKris Lounge.

There is another section opposite the main buffet line, furnished with a mix of high-back lounge chairs and single-seater sofas for passengers to relax. This area was previously temporarily used as the First Class Lounge when it was closed for renovations. The high-back lounge chairs provide passengers with some privacy, which is great for those who want to do some work. There are 14 semi-enclosed sleeping pods in the SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 3, housed in a room at the back of the dining area. These pods are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These pods are furnished with rather comfortable leather lounge chairs (which the angles cannot be adjusted) and a small table for passengers to rest while waiting for their flight. Blankets and pillows can be obtained from the cabinet by the entrance of the sleeping room.

Seoul Incheon Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines flies out of Seoul Incheon Airport Terminal 1. The airline operates check-in counters D27-D34 at the end of Row D, located on the left of the terminal. The nearest door to these counters is Door 4. Singapore Airlines dedicated two counters to Business Class passengers, one to Krisflyer Elite Gold and Elite Silver status passengers, and four to Economy Class passengers. The check-in experience at Incheon Airport was very pleasant, a huge difference from our experience at Singapore Changi Airport. The ground staff welcomed us with a warm smile and efficiently processed our check-in. She also provided detailed directions to the SilverKris Lounge and where to go for our tax refund. She even gave us an estimation of the time it would take us to walk from the SilverKris Lounge to our boarding gate.

Asiana Lounge West

Seoul Incheon Airport is one of the handful of overseas airports where Singapore Airlines operates its SilverKris Lounge. Since we had previously been to the SilverKris Lounge at Incheon Airport and thought the lounge would be crowded, we opted to use the Asiana Lounge. Asiana operates several lounges in Seoul Incheon Airport, and the West Lounge, opposite Gate 29, was the nearest to our boarding gate. We thought the Asiana Lounge might be less crowded, and the queue for showers might be shorter. However, we spent about 1½ hours waiting for the shower room here. Asiana Lounge West adopted an earthy theme with the large use of dark brown wood on the flooring and the walls in the lounge. Right after the lounge entrance, opposite the toilet and shower rooms, are some bar tables with charging outlets, which seem to be designed as a work station for passengers.

Asiana Lounge West is segregated into the forward lounging section and the back dining area. The first thing that greeted us was a bar right after the entryway into the lounge, where passengers can help themselves to alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The lounging area was furnished with armchairs that were oddly arranged to face the bar and entrance, providing little privacy. However, a limited number of cubicle pods are lined up at the side of the lounge. The last two of these pods are fitted with massage chairs. Due to their limited numbers and passengers tend to hog these pods, we could not find any available during our 2-hour stay at the lounge. The area at the back of the lounging area is furnished with armchairs and coffee tables, which cater to passengers who want a drink with a few friends.

A feature wall separates the lounging and dining area in the lounge. Seats in the dining area are arranged in a 2 chairs to 1 table format, placed next to the buffet table. These seats are packed very close to each other, making assessing them a tad difficult. The food offering at Asiana Lounge West is rather disappointing. Being in their home port, I thought the lounge would be stocked with many food options. However, to my disappointment, we only found one meat, two vegetables and a pasta served in the hot food section. Perhaps the most Korean cuisine in the lounge was the cup noodles found at the beverage station. The salad section occupies the other end of the buffet table, and a selection of bread is in the centre. I thought the food offering at Asiana Lounge West was underwhelming for an airline in its home port.

The Aircraft

We flew on the Singapore A350-900, fitted with a medium-haul Business Class product for both legs of the flight.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 has a total of 303 seats, with 40 seats in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class. The Business Class cabin comprises two sections, the larger forward cabin housing 28 seats and a smaller aft cabin with 12 seats. Singapore Airlines Regional Business Class A350-900 is decked in cream and brown colour, together with the lilac lighting used during boarding, exudes a relaxing vibe. The dark brown colour is apparent from the Business Class seats from the shell’s interior to the cabin’s carpet. The design of the cabin’s overhead compartment provides a small footprint that makes the cabin look airy and spacious.

Three lavatories serve the 40 passengers in Business Class, one in the front of the aircraft and two more between the two Business Class cabins. The lavatories felt small, and the use of white lights and mirrors did not make them feel any larger. The dark brown backsplash and grey marble patterned plaster flooring gave it a luxurious feel. Other than the dental kits and shavers which can be found in the drawers, Singapore Airlines also stocked its Business Class lavatories with Penhaligon’s eau de toilette, facial mist and hand lotion, which seem to be out of league with their newly launched Le Labo amenities kit.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines introduced its Regional Business Class seats in 2018. These Business Class seats are arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring all passengers get direct aisle access. These seats next to the window provide more privacy compared to the aisle side seats, but the high-back shell design in the seats enhances privacy for passengers in the aisle side seats. Singapore Airlines’s Regional Business Class seats have a pitch of 60″ and measure 28″ wide. These seats have armrests that can be lowered when the seat is in bed mode to increase the seat width slightly. Like all Business Class lie-flat seats, Singapore Airlines Regional Business Class seats come with three standard modes: Upright, Lounging, and Flatbed modes, that can be adjusted using the touchscreen seat control buttons at the side table. The padding on these leather seats is sufficiently thick to provide comfort for passengers even in the Upright mode. The seat can also recline 180° with a touch of a button, turning the seat into a true flat bed. However, I find the headrest a little too low for my preference in flatbed mode, requiring me to use two pillows or tilt slightly upwards. I had a great 4 hours of sleep on both legs of the flight in flatbed mode. My favourite of all three modes is the Lounging mode, somewhere between the most upright and fully flat mode, where the seat is adjusted to an angle where I was able to dine and watch movies. I like how the seat angle can be further adjusted using the additional control buttons for passengers to customise to an angle of their preference.

Each Singapore Airlines Regional Business Class seat is fitted with a cabinet with a sliding door by the side, above the side table. This cabinet was already full with headphones, a bottle of water, and the in-flight menu during boarding. Although the storage capacity of the cabinet was small, I welcomed this cabinet as it provided me with easy access to my 11″ iPad and power cables that I would use in-flight. The side table, mainly used as a cocktail table, can also be used to stow some items during cruising. The seat pocket is found near the floor at the exit of the seat. Apart from the storage cabinet, the space under the footrest can also be used to store carry-ons.

The Regional Business Class seat table is stowed under the IFE screen and can be deployed with the pull of a lever. It expands to a rather sizeable and sturdy table when fully deployed. However, due to its design, the seat table must be stowed away when getting in and out of the seat. Singapore Airlines Regional Business Class seats are equipped with one international power outlet and two USB-A charging outlets inside the side storage cabinet. Due to the requirement to keep the cabinet door open when charging, the airlines purposefully placed the charging outlets so that the cabinet door cannot be closed when charging from the power outlet or the USB-A outlets. On top of the overhead lighting, Singapore Airlines Business Class seats are fitted with three additional reading lights on the headboard of the seat to provide illumination in all three seat positions.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines fitted a large 18″ touchscreen TV in every one of their Regional Business Class seats. The picture quality of these screens was great without much reflection. The TV can be tilted downwards to allow passengers to watch movies from the KrisWorld while lying down. The IFE controller comes in the form of a phone-like device with a large, easy-to-use touchscreen. It also has this air mouse mode, which I never got used to using. Fortunately, the distance from the IFE screen still allowed me to use the responsive touchscreen function to select the movies I wanted to watch. Singapore Airlines supplies noise-cancelling headphones to all its Business Class passengers, which are very effective in blocking out the ambient noise. KrisWorld is Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system with a huge library of movies organised into an easy-to-navigate menu. The KrisWorld is loaded with numerous entertainment options, from the latest Hollywood movies to yesteryear movies to TV serials. There is even a games section in KrisWorld to keep young passengers and the young-at-heart entertained. Singapore Airlines also provides free in-flight Wi-Fi to its Business Class passengers and KrisFlyer members travelling in Economy Class. While the Wi-Fi speed does not allow streaming, it is good enough for communicating via chats and posting on social media.

Meal

Back in 2019, when we flew on Singapore Airlines between Singapore and Seoul, we were served two meals for redeye flights. For this trip, we were only served one meal, which we had to choose to be served after take-off or before landing.

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We opted to have our meals before landing to maximise snoozing time on this redeye flight. The cabin crew woke us up about 2 hours before landing to serve us our meals. Due to the short meal service time, we were only served mains and fruits as desserts in one setting. Flying out of Singapore, the airline has an extensive Book-the-Cook menu, giving us many more meal options. I heard good reviews on the Singapore Chicken Rice and pre-ordered this dish from the Book-the-Cook menu. The chicken rice portion was big and was as good as the reviews I read online. The rice was fragrant, and the chicken remained tender and moist. It went very well with the provided condiments, like the chicken rice, chilli sauce, and minced garlic. However, I was disappointed that Singapore Airlines did not serve its famous garlic bread during this redeye flight.

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Singapore Airlines also provided a limited choice of the Book-the-Cook menu for flights out of Seoul. I chose the Stir-Fried Pork Belly from the Book-the-Cook menu and opted for the meal to be served before landing to maximise my sleeping time on this redeye flight. Unlike our outbound leg, where the cabin crew would wake us up for meals 2 hours before landing, the cabin crew did not wake us up. It was about 1½ hours before landing when I woke up and had to request my meal. The meal service started with the main course, which I found the pork to be flavourful but a little tough. Fruits were presented as dessert after the cabin crew cleared my main. Like my outbound flight, garlic bread was unavailable during this redeye flight.

Service

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For this leg, we were warmly welcomed by the cabin crew at the door and pointed to the aisle where we would find our seats. The cabin crew came across as professional and welcoming throughout the flight, and requests were promptly acted upon. Like clockwork, a cabin crew came by shortly after we were settled into our seats to confirm our meals and check our preference for meal timing, while another crew came by with welcome drinks. Cabin crew were seen patrolling the cabin and serving drinks for those of us who were still awake. I like how the cabin crew gently wake us up about 2 hours before landing, giving us sufficient time to enjoy our meal and wash up. The lavatories were kept clean, and amenity kits were topped up. In terms of amenities, only slippers were found on our seats. Amenity kits were not present at the seat during boarding, we had to request the recently updated Le Labo amenity kits from the cabin crew. These amenity kits are only available for flights longer than 6 hours.

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Similar to my outbound flight, we were warmly welcomed by the cabin crew and directed to the aisle where my seat is located. During boarding, one of the cabin crew was so engrossed with confirming meals with another passenger that she was unaware that passengers were waiting for her to complete her task to access their seats. However, this cabin crew was observed to be friendly and diligent. Another male cabin crew member, Eric, was attentive and responsive. When Eric saw me still waking after take off, he took the initiative to ask if I wanted any drinks or any snacks and promptly brought my requests. Eric also took note of my preference for the mocktail and asked if I wanted another after spotting my empty glass. I couldn’t say the same level of service provided by another male flight attendant (a Leading Steward), who came across as rather rude. He was serving bread during our meal time, and instead of asking for our preference for bread, he just shoved the bread basket in front of our faces without uttering a word. This behaviour was observed to be constant when he served me or other passengers. Cabin crew did not seem to bother to top up the additional amenities such as dental kits and shavers in the lavatories.

Afterthought

Singapore Airlines’ Regional Business Class was a good product. The seats were comfortable, and the varied seating positions allowed all passengers to find an angle they deemed comfortable. In flatbed mode, the seat was so comfortable that I was able to get a few hours of sleep. The food was tasty and flavourful. The cabin crew (except for one of them) were generally welcoming and warm. However, there was some inconsistency on both legs when waking up for meals and the amenities at the seat.

At the Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines operates eight check-in counters in Row L at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, located on the right side of the airport terminal. Three counters are set aside for Business Class passengers, while four are dedicated to Economy Class passengers. Singapore Airlines dedicated one separate queue for KrisFlyer Elite Gold or Star Alliance Gold members. The check-in was smooth, and the friendly ground staff warmly welcomed us. Our check-in was processed efficiently, and the ground staff invited us to the lounge while waiting for our flight. The ground staff recommended the lounge closest to our boarding gate, but since we had time and based on our previous experience in the Plaza Premium First Lounge, we told the staff we wanted to use the Plaza Premium Lounge. The ground staff thoughtfully provided the estimated time from the main terminal to our departure gate at the satellite terminal.

Plaza Premium Lounge

Singapore Airlines used to operate the SilverKris Lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, but the lounge closed down during COVID and never reopened. Singapore Airlines uses the contracted lounge – Plaza Premium Lounge- as a replacement. Located on Level 2 near Gate G of the main building of KLIA, the Plaza Premium Lounge serves several airlines and is also open to holders of Priority Pass, a paid lounge access membership programme. Plaza Premium Lounge uses a natural wood furnishing interior and wooden partitions to create small sections of the seating area. The use of yellow and ample lighting gave the lounge a spacious and contemporary look. The lounge mainly has dining tables and chairs, simultaneously catering to passengers’ dining and working needs. Plaza Premium Lounge cordoned off a small section near its entrance for airlines’ premium passengers, and a lounge staff guards this section diligently to prevent non-airline guests from using it. There are more seating options in this reserved section of the lounge. Other than the dining tables, in the centre of this section, we also spotted armchairs furnished by the walls for relaxation. A fairly huge selection of food is served in the lounge: buffet and à la minute food. The buffet food is mainly located opposite the bar counter and at the à la minute counter. There is also a chiller with fruits and vegetables for passengers. The food served in the lounge is delicious, mostly Malaysian Cuisine. In the reserved section, there is a small buffet table consisting of pastries for the convenience of premium passengers.

Plaza Premium Lounge in Kuala Lumpur International Airport has two shower rooms in the far corner of the lounge. Despite the crowd in the lounge, we were in the front of the queue for the shower room. Shower room booking must be done via a QR code displayed in the shower facilities area. The shower rooms are rather small but serve the purpose of providing lounge guests with a good shower. There were no ledges in the shower room to place my carry-on, and I had to leave my backpack on the floor. The sink countertop space is also rather tight. Plaza Premium Lounge provides guests with good-quality shower amenities, including a dental kit and shaver. The shower rooms are fitted with a toilet and a walk-in shower. Despite only having a regular shower head, the water pressure is very good.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines flies several different aircraft on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route. For this trip, we took the A350-900 Medium Haul Variant.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class cabin is segregated into two sections, with 126 seats in the forward section and 137 in the rear. The cabin looks cheerful, with light blue and grey seats. The navy blue carpeting is a great choice as it makes the cabin look clean and reinforces Singapore Airlines’ branding, as this blue is also painted on their aircraft livery. The choice of lilac mood lighting used during boarding exudes a calming effect, while the white lighting used during the cruising made the sardine class feel more spacious. Due to the short flight and the passenger sleeping beside me, I did not have the opportunity to visit the lavatory.

The Seat

The Economy Class seats in Singapore Airlines A350-900 on both long haul and medium haul variants did not differ. Each of the 263 Economy Class seats has a seat pitch of 32″ and is 18″ wide, capable of a maximum recline of 6″ via the seat recline button on the armrest. The seats are very comfortable despite their thin-looking padding, which is also suitable for long-distance flying. The legroom is also very generous, with a wide berth from my knee to the seat in front, and I could even stretch out my legs. The airline is very thoughtful in fitting not one but two power charging options in these Economy Class seats. The more convenient power outlet comes in the form of a USB-A power outlet under the TV screen, while the other is an international power outlet installed in front of the seats nearer to the floor. However, I find the charging speed on these USB-A charging ports a tad slow.

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class has a bi-fold tray table that comes with a small vanity mirror, which is especially useful for passengers flying for longer flights. The bi-fold table unfolds into a relatively large tray table, sufficient for passengers to place their laptops on. I like the compartmentalised design of the seat pocket, which increases the storage capacity tremendously. On top of the main seat pocket, there are two additional smaller pockets designed in front of the main pocket, which is great for storing smaller items like passports and power cables. The large main seat pocket also allowed me to stow some items despite being filled with inflight literature. Unlike other airlines where the overhead reading light and attendant call buttons are activated from the IFE controller, the overhead lighting on Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class is activated from the touchscreen personal TV as the airline had eliminated the IFE controller.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Variant is fitted with an 11.1″ personal TV in every Economy Class seat. I was glad that the KrisWorld was operational despite the short flight time. However, earplugs were not being distributed due to the short flight time. Armed with the reusable earplugs I had gotten from my previous flights with Singapore Airlines, I was able to enjoy KrisWorld’s in-flight entertainment system. Singapore Airlines had eliminated the IFE controller, which I thought was a good move as everything else was accessible via the responsive touchscreen function on the IFE screen. Singapore Airlines KrisWorld has a myriad of entertainment, from up-to-date movies, TV shows, and games, which are well organised in an intuitive menu layout that will keep passengers for hours. Singapore Airlines A350-900 is equipped with Wi-Fi facilities, which are free for passengers travelling in Business Class and KrisFlyer members flying in Economy Class. However, the Wi-Fi was not turned on during this short flight.

Refreshment

Due to the short flight time, no meals were being distributed to passengers in Economy Class. Flight attendants quickly sprung into action, distributing a small cup of apple juice to all Economy Class passengers as soon as the seat belt sign was turned off.

Service

Despite the short flight time and the very limited time for the cabin crew to distribute the drinks, the professional flight attendants still served with a smile. We also saw cabin crews helping passengers look for empty overhead bins to stow their carry-ons.

Afterthought

The Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class seats were very comfortable for this short flight, and there was a good amount of legroom. The inflight entertainment was stocked with movies and TV shows to entertain passengers who brought along their own audio devices. Despite having a full flight of passengers to serve in a short time, the cabin crew still does their job with a smile.

At the Airport

Check-in

Our Singapore Airlines flight operated out of Changi Airport Terminal 2, where the airline has check-in counters from Rows 3 to 6, catering to different groups of passengers. The airport encourages Economy Class passengers to use the self-check-in kiosks and baggage drop-off in Row 5. There are a few manned counters in Row 4 serving Economy Class passengers. As a KrisFlyer Elite Gold member, I was able to use Row 3, which primarily serves Business Class passengers and Star Alliance Gold members. Ms Lynn Teo assisted our check-in and was very cheerful despite the early hours of the day. She even volunteered to help us check through our luggage to Vienna when learning that our final destination was Vienna (we will be taking EVA Air, another Star Alliance member airline). The extra work Lynn volunteered to help us meant we did not have to clear customs in Kuala Lumpur and saved us a lot of time during our transit. Before sending us off with our boarding pass, Lynn even reminded us of our boarding gate and the time it would take us to walk from the Lounge to the gate.

KrisFlyer Gold Lounge

Being a KrisFlyer Gold member, I was able to use the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, a lounge dedicated to Gold members. This lounge is not to be confused with the SilverKris Lounge next door, which serves passengers flying in Business Class on Singapore Airlines or Star Alliance Airlines. The KrisFlyer Gold Lounge has an earthy tone, which feels classy and relaxing. The bulk of the lounge real estate is furnished with rows and rows of armchairs with a small side table, catering for passengers who want to relax. The presence of table lamps with warm lighting enhances the relaxing vibe in the lounge. However, I find consuming food from the buffet on these seats a tad uncomfortable. I did not see any dining tables in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. There is a small business centre (if one can call that), comprising a work desk with two seats at the far end of the lounge, that caters to passengers who want to get some work done. The buffet section serves up a small selection of local food. Unlike the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Terminal 3, which comes with toilet and shower facilities, there are no toilet facilities or showers in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Terminal 2. Passengers using the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Terminal 2 would have to exit the lounge and use the public toilet outside the lounge. Comparing to the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Terminal 3, the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in Terminal 2 feels like a scaled-down version.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates a myriad of aircraft, ranging from the wide-body A350-900 to the narrow-body B737-Max 8, between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. We flew in the older and soon-to-be-phased-out B737-800NG, a hand-me-down from its sister airline, SilkAir, when the two airlines merged.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Economy Class cabin looked bright and airy, owing to the white coloured bulkhead, bright lights, and large windows in the cabin. The pilots switched on blue mood lighting in the middle of the flight, which gave the cabin an updated look and concealed the aircraft’s age very well. The choice of alternating bright blue and light grey for its seats also contributed to the refreshing look of the aircraft.

There are three lavatories onboard Singapore Airlines B737-800NG aircraft. One serves the 12 Business Class passengers at the front of the aircraft, while the other two serve all 150 Economy Class passengers at the back of the aircraft. The space in the lavatories felt a little tight despite the airline’s attempt to use mirrors to give the illusion of a larger space. The Economy Class lavatories looked a little dated, with the greyish/cream colour used in the sink.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG has 150 Economy Class seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration. Each seat has a seat pitch of 30″ and is 17″ wide with a small recline of 3″ via the seat recline button on the armrest. I find the seats comfortable for an old aircraft for this short flight. The padding used for the cushioning and the thick adjustable headrest contributed to the comfort on the seat. The legroom for this flight is decent, but it can feel a little tight for passengers with longer legs. Besides the seat recline button, the reading light switch and flight attendant call buttons are on the ceiling above each seat, alongside individual air nozzles.

Being an Economy Class seat, the storage is limited to the seat pocket in front of the seat. Singapore Airlines B737-800NG has a single large seat pocket (unlike their wide-body aircraft, which have compartmentalised seat pocket design), which means the storage capacity in these seats is somewhat limited. There is another seat pocket on top of the seat in front of us, but the hard moulded plastic made it difficult to access the contents. Storing anything does not seem possible with the holes at the bottom of the pocket. For Economy Class seats, I thought the tray table was rather sizeable. Besides using it to place whatever was served during this short flight, the tray table is large enough for passengers to place their laptops and iPads.

Inflight Entertainment

As this is an older aircraft, the B737-800NG was not fitted with a personal TV in the seats. The only form of entertainment is the in-flight magazines in the seat pocket. Given that this is such a short flight, I am not bothered by the lack of entertainment onboard. I found an old-school audio control on the armrest of the seat. I could not test whether these channels worked because there were no earphones for this short flight.

Refreshment

Due to the short flight time of around 45 minutes, Singapore Airlines did not serve meals onboard. Instead, each passenger was given a choice of apple juice, water, or coffee/tea.

Service

For a short flight, I thought the service rendered by the cabin crew was fantastic. We were warmly welcomed by the Leading Stewardess at the door, who gave us a very warm smile despite an early flight. The cabin crew taking care of us at the back of the aircraft were equally friendly and warm. However, given the short flight time and the numerous passengers who made their way to the lavatory in the middle of a very short service time, we were almost not served with refreshments. This was certainly not the fault of the cabin crew, who were seen trying to ensure every Economy Class passenger was served with a refreshment. The cabin crew were cheerful and made the short flight very pleasant. Despite not being part of their job, the cabin crew helped us stow our carry-on in the overhead bin.

Afterthought

We had a pleasant flight despite the ageing aircraft, the short flight time, and the absence of in-flight entertainment. The seats felt comfortable, and there was a good amount of recline for the short 45-minute flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. The crew were very friendly and did their best to ensure all Economy Class passengers were served a refreshment drink. I had a pleasant short flight with Singapore Airlines.

At the Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines check-in counters are located in Row K in the centre of Suvarnabhumi Airport Terminal, with the nearest entrance being Door 5. Singapore Airlines operates 10 check-in counters, from K11 to K21, near the immigration gates. Of the 10 counters, only seven are manned. Singapore Airlines dedicated three counters to Economy Class passengers, one to KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Silver members, and another three to Business Class passengers. The check-in experience was very pleasant at this offshore check-in counter. We were welcomed by the ground staff, who gave us the warmest smile one can ask for. She was polite, professional, and patient with our requests, efficiently processing our check-in. She invited us to the SilverKris Lounge and gave us instructions on the gate, boarding time, the location of the lounge and directions to the fast check-in counters. One of the perks of flying out of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Business Class was the access to Fast Track immigration lines, where we could clear immigration in less than 3 minutes as there were no queues at the immigration counters. There are two Fast Track immigration counters located at both extreme ends of the terminal. We used the Fast Track Immigration counter at Row A, next to the Thai Airways check-in counters.

Lounges

We did a little lounge hopping during our short stay at the Suvarnabhumi Airport. As Singapore Airlines belongs to the Star Alliance network, there are eight lounges that we can use. Five are Thai Airways Lounges, while the rest belong to Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, and Turkish Airlines. Due to the limited time, we only used the Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge in Concourse D and the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge in Concourse D.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge is the most conveniently located of all the Thai Airways Lounge. The lounge is just one escalator down from the Fast Track immigration counters. The lounge staff warmly welcomed us at the time of our arrival. As there are two parts of the lounge from the entrance by the escalator, the lounge staff recommended we use the lounge on the right of the counter, stating that this lounge is the newer of the two lounges. The first thing that greeted us in this newer Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge was a cocktail bar, which we returned later for a drink. The lounge felt spacious as it was not filled with furniture cluttering it. Thai Airways freed up a lot of space for walking by placing the armchairs near the green walls and pillars. Speaking of armchairs, there are quite a number of them decked in purple and light brown, the choice of seat colours on Thai Airways aircraft, and they are well placed throughout the lounge. The planted green walls in the lounge not only act to decorate the lounge but also exude a relaxing vibe. A dining area is carved out in the lounge next to the buffet area, filled with four-seater tables and chairs and long black tables to cater for larger groups. Shower facilities are co-located with the toilets further into the Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge.

The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge serves food buffet style. I find the food selection in the lounge a little small but sufficient for us to fill our stomachs until our flight. Besides the warm food, the lounge also served up a variety of pastries that seemed so inviting. Cold food is in a corner of the lounge, where ice cream is also on the menu. The Thai Airways Royal Orchid Lounge is very well stocked with a variety of beverages that ensure passengers don’t go thirsty. We tried out the cocktail from the bar. The only two mocktails on the menu are Pina Colada and Mojito. I tried the Pina Colada and found it to be very refreshing. My friends tried their signature Rak Khun Tao Fah, mixed with their butterfly pea drink onboard and found it delicious.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge

The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge is on the same concourse (D) as the Thai Airways Royal Silk Lounge we visited earlier, between Gatres D7 and D8. The Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge feels much brighter owing to the brighter lighting and the choice of white marble tiles on the flooring. The lounge has distinct lounging and dining areas, cleverly demarcated by the use of carpet for the former and marble tiles for the latter. The lounging area, mainly furnished with armchairs, is found right by the entrance to the lounge. Individual booths also serve as an area for passengers to do some work placed by the walls in the lounge area. A huge Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge area is marked out to the dining area. There are proper dining tables and chairs, mainly for parties of two, in the dining area.

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge also has a cocktail bar, with seats at the cocktail table in the middle of the lounge, serving alcoholic drinks (I am sure they also serve Singapore Sling here). Food is served in a buffet style at the Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge. The food counters are found at the end of the lounge, next to the dining area. There is a good spread of Thai, Singaporean and Western cuisine at the kitchen table in the buffet area. There is even a snack and dessert corner serving up Singaporean food. I find it refreshing for the lounge to offer young coconut drinks in the fridge on top of the usual soft drinks.

The Aircraft

We flew on Singapore Airlines B787-10 for this leg of the flight, which is configured for medium-haul routes.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B787-10 has a single Business Class cabin housing all 36 passengers. The cabin feels luxurious, with earthy tones in the seat and cream-coloured seat shell. The choice of brown carpeting was coherent with the cabin’s colour scheme and exuded a sense of calmness and sophistication. The use of orange mood lighting during meal service enhances the luxurious vibe seen in the cabin.

The two lavatories serving all 36 Business Class passengers are found in the front of the aircraft. The white interior lavatory offers passengers a good amount of space. However, unlike the A350-900 lavatories, the plasticky lavatory does not emit any luxurious vibe. I wouldn’t be able to differentiate the Business Class and Economy Class lavatories if not for the added Penhaligon’s amenities and cloth handkerchiefs. I also find the sink a tad small in the B787-10 lavatories, which can result in water splashes while washing one’s hands. On top of the luxurious Penhaligon’s amenities, Singapore Airlines also stocks its lavatories with amenities such as dental kits and shavers.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class is fitted with regional seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, with a pitch of 60″ and measures 20″ wide. Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class seats are wrapped in dark light brown leather, which is comfortable to sit on. The leather feels soft, and the thick padding on the seat and the headrest provide passengers with great comfort. These seats are configured with three modes, adjustable with the touch of the preset seat control buttons found on the inside of the aisle-side armrest. The Upright mode for take-off, landings, and dining saw the seat being adjusted to the most upright and stiffest position. Fortunately, the soft leather made sitting in this mode comfortable. These seats can also recline to a flatbed, allowing passengers to catch a nap in flight. The high shell design in the seat provides passengers with much privacy in the flatbed mode. Despite the thick pillow provided to its Business Class passengers, I thought reclining 180° was a tad uncomfortable as I felt my head was too low. I usually tilt the upper part of the seat up a little for a better rest. In between the Upright and the Flatbed mode is what I called the “Lounge mode”. I find this mode perfect for lazing on the seat while watching movies on the entertainment system. The Lounge mode allows the seat to be adjusted to an angle that provides better comfort while supporting our lumbar. The ability to allow passengers to configure the seat to the angle according to their preference further enhances comfort while sitting in this mode.

Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class seats are fitted with a small cabinet at the side console for passengers to stow items, where the airline placed a bottle of water and noise-cancelling headphones welcoming passengers upon boarding. The cabinet, which comes with a small sliding door, is only large enough to fit a tablet, a book and some smaller items. Inside the cabinet are the power outlets, such as two USB-A ports and an international power outlet. One point to note is that the cabinet door has to be kept open when plugging in for charging, which I thought made sense since we are not allowed to charge anything during take-off and landing. Besides the cabinet, passengers in Business Class can use the cubby hole under the footrest to put away their carry-on, although this space was designed for passengers to place their shoes in. The seat pocket, while able to function as an alternate storage space, was a little too out of place for storage. The slim-designed seat pocket, located near the floor and at the entrance of the seat, is only accessible when passengers move off their seats.

Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class is fitted with a large, sturdy table, stowed under the personal TV when not used. The bi-fold solid wooden table can be folded in halves when passengers do not require the entire surface. The table is large enough for passengers to work on their laptops while not using it for dining. However, due to the design of the narrow entrance to the seat, there is no space catered for a swivel function to be added to this table. This means passengers must put away the table when getting in and out of their seats. Other than the dining table, Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class seats also come with a side table next to the cabinet that passengers can use to stow small items when the aircraft is at cruising altitude. This side table also functions as a cocktail table where the cabin crew would place the drinks passengers requested. Other than the overhead reading lights, a panel of three reading lights are fitted inside the seat shell, each catering to the three seat modes.

Inflight Entertainment

All Business Class seats are fitted with an 18″ HD touchscreen personal TV, offering its passengers sharp and excellent quality pictures. The screen can be tilted downwards for optimal viewing when the seat is adjusted to different modes. The entertainment options can be selected via the TV’s responsive touchscreen function or through the IFE controller, which resembles a mobile phone. It is this resemblance that was made using the IFE initiative. Business Class passengers are provided with noise-cancelling headphones that effectively remove ambient noises. In fact, the noise-cancelling function was so good that I had to remove my headphones when speaking to the cabin crew. KrisWorld is Singapore Airlines’ entertainment system, loaded with thousands of movies, TV shows and games. The KrisWorld menu was very well-designed and easy to use. The entertainment options were well catalogued, which made navigating through them very easy.

Meal

As this is a short 2-hour flight between Bangkok and Singapore, meals are served in one setting. Singapore Airlines does not offer the “Book-the-cook” service for flights out of Bangkok. Nonetheless, all three choices for dinner tonight, namely Seared Chilean Seabass, Braised Pork in Sour Plum Sauce, and Gaeng Garee Gai, tasted great. I opted for the Braised Pork, which was well presented on the porcelain plate and tasted tender and flavourful. My friend opted for the Seabass, which tasted fresh. My other friend opted for the Gaeng Garee Gai (yellow curry Thai chicken) and commented that the dish tasted flavourful and that the spice was not overpowering. The prawns in the prawn ceasar salad tasted fresh, and the vegetables were crunchy. However, I am not a fan of the Raspberry Bavarois dessert, which I thought tasted a little too sour for my liking. For drinks, Business Class passengers are given the option of cocktails and mocktails on top of the usual soft drinks and beer. I am a fan of the mocktail – Midsummer Breeze, introduced to me on my flight from Maldives last year, which was refreshing.

Service

The service I experienced on this flight was heaven and earth compared to my experience on the same airline three months ago. We received impeccable service in Business Class on this flight. Despite working a shift from Singapore to Bangkok leg and the one-hour-plus delay at the gate due to heavy rain, the cabin crew were still energetic and warm. Our great service experience started with the cabin crew welcoming all passengers onboard at the door. The airline only uses the front door for embarkation, so inflight service begins when all passengers are boarded. This was when the cabin crew came around to serve all Business Class passengers welcome drinks.

Jasmine came around to introduce herself and confirm my order for dinner. Jasmine came across as warm, sincere and attentive. We briefly spoke about my favourite mocktail, Midsummer Breeze, during meal confirmation. Jasmine took note of my preference and would always come by with the drink. During meal service, I was pleasantly surprised that she already had the drink prepared in her cart (this drink requires time to prepare) and popped it out like magic without having me ask for it. She would always come over to my seat with a glass of Midsummer Breeze whenever she noticed my glass was empty. When I mentioned to her that I needed to visit the lavatory to apply hand lotion (due to my dry skin), Jasmine later popped by and gave me a bottle of hand lotion to save me the effort of walking to the lavatory. Jasmine was observant, personable and cheerful. I was lucky to have her working on the aisle where I sat.

The service provided by Coral, who was working on the other aisle where my friend was sitting, was also remarkable. I witnessed her acknowledging my friend’s status with the airline and welcoming my friend back to flying with the airline. She also took note of my friend’s allergy and volunteered to remove the prawns from the appetiser. This attention to detail is what Singapore Airlines’ World Class stands for. Carol was also observed working hard during the flight, busy serving meals and ensuring passengers under her charge were well cared for. The cabin crew onboard this flight were observed to patrol the cabin very often, ensuring passengers were comfortable.

Afterthought

We had a great time onboard this flight with Singapore Airlines. The seat was comfortable and well-maintained. The entertainment option on KrisWorld made the flight (and waiting time at the gate) whizz past without us noticing. Despite the good hardware, what I liked the most was the warm and personal service offered by the cabin crew, especially Jasmine and Carol. The cabin crew remained energetic and warm despite working an earlier shift and overtime due to the delay.

At the Airport

Check-in

Our flight from Singapore to Bangkok departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2. Singapore Airlines operates Rows 3 through 6 for check-in at the terminal. Row 5 is dedicated to Economy Class passengers, comprising a few counters for passengers who want an in-person check-in experience and several counters for automated baggage drop-offs. As a member of KrisFlyer Elite Gold, we used the check-in counters at Row 3, dedicated to Business Class and status members of the airline’s KrisFlyer membership programme. There was a short queue at the check-in counter, and we did not have to wait too long for our turn to be checked in. The ground staff at the check-in counter was very friendly, greeting us with a warm smile and making us feel welcome. She efficiently processed our check-in, and we were at the immigration gates within 5 minutes. The ground staff gave us information on the boarding gate and our boarding time. She even reminded us of our eligible access to KrisFlyer Gold Lounge and told us it would take about 15 minutes to get from the lounge to our boarding gate. The friendly ground staff set our great experience with Singapore Airlines.

KrisFlyer Gold Lounge

As Elite Gold members, we were entitled to access the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Gold Lounge, located one level above the departure hall in Terminal 2. The KrisFlyer Gold Lounge was recently reopened in 2022 after refurbishment. My first impression of the lounge was classy and relaxing, using dark brown wood on the ceiling coupled with the soft, warm lighting. The lounge has only two areas: the buffet and lounging area. Most of the real estate in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge is dedicated to the lounging area, furnished with single-seater armchairs in rows. The leather armchairs exude a sense of luxury and are very comfortable to sit on, but I find them are not ideal for consuming food. We had to bend over sideways to use the small side table or lift the plates to consume the food from the buffet area. Sitting at the furthest corner of the lounge from its entrance, hiding behind a false wall, is a small row of work desks catering to passengers who want a quiet area to do some work. I did not find any toilets or showers in KrisFlyer Gold Lounge. Passengers who needed to use the toilet would have to find the public toilet outside the lounge.

The buffet area in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge offers a good selection of local food for breakfast, representative of the three races in Singapore. The Laksa in the lounge was flavourful and delicious, with a strong coconut taste, while the Indian food was mildly spiced to suit even non-spicy eaters. There is a small salad bar section along the wall where the buffet is placed and a section for dim sum. The variety of food available in the KrisFlyer Gold Lounge was sufficient to fill one’s stomach.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates several types of aircraft between Singapore and Bangkok. The aircraft that flew us to Bangkok is the A350-900 Medium-Haul variant.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class has 263 seats spread into two cabins: 126 in the forward cabin and 137 in the aft cabin. The cabin is decked in bright white and supplemented with bright white lights, while the lilac mood lighting used during boarding gives it a sense of calmness. The use of blue and light grey seats gives the cabin a sense of cheerfulness, while the navy blue carpeting gives it a classy vibe.

There are five lavatories in Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class serving all 263 passengers. Three are in the section between the two Economy Class cabins, while two lavatories are at the rear of the aircraft. The bright light and the use of white on the walls in these lavatories made it feel larger, while the wooden panelling on the sink cabinets gave the lavatories a sense of luxury. Singapore Airlines is rather generous when it comes to lavatory amenities. While most airlines only provide hand soap, Singapore Airlines also stocked their Economy Class lavatories with hand lotion, dental kits and sanitary pads. I like the touchless functions on the tap and the rubbish bin.

The Seat

Economy Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 are arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration (except a few rows in the rear cabin, which are arranged in 2-3-2 and 2-3-3). Each seat has a pitch of 32″ and is 18″ wide, capable of reclining up to 6″. I found the legroom was quite generous in these Economy Class seats, and I had plenty of knee space from the seat in front of me. The Economy Class seats are also very comfortable for this 2-hour flight, with great lumbar support and padding in these seats. When it comes to powering up our lifestyle devices, Singapore Airlines fitted each Economy Class seat on their A350-900 with a USB-A power outlet under the TV screen and universal power outlets to be shared amongst the three passengers in the row for charging.

Singapore Airlines uses the bi-fold design in the Economy Class tray table. When fully deployed, these tray tables gave passengers plenty of space to dine or work on their laptops. There is a cutout for drinks in both folded and full deployment mode for passengers to put their cups on. I also like the inclusion of a cup holder under the TV screen that gave passengers additional space to hold their cups without deploying the tray table. In terms of storage, I find the space afforded by the seat pocket sufficient to place a tablet and my smaller items. I like how Singapore Airlines compartmentalised their seat pockets to increase the storage capacity. On top of the main seat pocket, Singapore Airlines also fitted two smaller pockets in front, increasing the storage capacity and allowing me to be more organised when storing my items. Other than the seat pockets, there is a small pocket under the TV screen for passengers to store small items such as USB charging cables.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Economy Class seats come with an 11.1″ personal touchscreen TV. The picture quality on the TV screen was very sharp, but it could only tilt upwards. The tilting function catered more to accessing the small storage compartment and the charging outlets beneath the TV. There are no IFE controllers for the TV. Instead, passengers would have to rely on the touchscreen functions on the TV to select their entertainment. Fortunately, the touchscreen functions are very responsive. Singapore Airlines also designed the controls for the seat features, such as the overhead reading lights and call attendant buttons on the TV screen. There is an extensive entertainment library in the KrisWorld entertainment system, ranging from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to Asian movies to TV series and games. The KrisWorld is intuitive to use, and the entertainment options are very well organised. Singapore Airlines offered its frequent flyer members unlimited Wifi onboard. However, the connection speed only allows me to browse my social media, chat with friends, and post some pictures. The connection speed does not allow one to stream YouTube videos.

Meal

I was not impressed with the meal options for this morning’s flight. Economy Class passengers are given a choice of scrambled eggs with chicken sausage or congee with pork, but neither option appeals to me. I also find the meal portion to be on the small side, which is only sufficient to fill one’s stomach temporarily. As the options were not to my liking, my friend and I pre-ordered meals from the Special menu. I pre-ordered the Muslim Meal, while my friend pre-ordered a Seafood meal. I got Dried Mee Siam for my Muslim meal, which I find quite tasty and generous with the amount of prawns. My friend commended his seafood meal as mediocre. All meals also come with a side of a bun and yoghurt.

Service

The service in Economy Class was excellent. We were warmly welcomed by the friendly cabin crew at the door, who would direct us to the correct aisle. The cabin crew serving my aisle were friendly and warm. Despite not being part of their jobscope, they would help passengers stow their carry-ons on the overhead bin when instructed by other passengers (these passengers are quite rude when asking the cabin crew to put their bags). The cabin crew were responsive and efficient in fulfilling requests for blankets and drinks. I saw the industrious cabin crew constantly patrolling the cabin to either check for safety or to clear trash, apart from the meal service. When confirming my order, the cabin crew recommended I order food from the Singapore menu when I told him my past few experiences with the “Book-the-Cook” were disappointing when I flew in Business Class.

Afterthought

I had a great short 2-hour flight onboard Singapore Airlines in their Economy Class. The seats offered excellent legroom and were sufficiently padded to provide comfort to passengers. KrisWorld kept us entertained throughout the 2-hour flight time and made time pass by quickly. The catering onboard could have been better with the options and the portion size. Fortunately, the Muslim meal that I pre-ordered was tasty. The service we received onboard was great.

At the Airport

Singapore Changi Airport

Singapore Airlines operates from Terminals 2 and 3 at Changi Airport, with most regional flights operated by the airlines departing from Terminal 2. As our flight today is a regional flight, we departed from Changi Airport Terminal 2. Singapore Airlines operates several rows of check-in counters in the terminal, with Row 3 dedicated to Business Class, Premium Economy, PPS and Elite Gold passengers. Row 5 and 6 are dedicated to passengers flying Economy Class. Singapore Airlines recently upped the perks for Elite Silver members, where these members have dedicated check-in counters. The Elite Silver member check-in counter is in Row 6, at the end of the self-deposit counters. The ground agent at the Elite Silver came across as annoyed when she failed to convince us to use the self-check-in systems. She seemed unhappy about having to work to process our luggage. It took her a while to complete our check-in process. She did not even bother to brief us on the gate and the boarding time.

Da Nang International Airport

Da Nang International Airport has two terminals: Terminal 1 mainly serves domestic flights, and Terminal 2 serves international flights. The check-in counters at Da Nang International Airport Terminal 2 are split into a left and right row, with immigration gates wedged in between. Singapore Airlines occupies check-in counters 22 – 25, next to the immigration gate in the centre of the terminal building. Two of the four counters are dedicated to Economy Class passengers, one for Business Class and one for KrisFlyer Elite Gold and Silver members. As we were one of the last passengers to check in, hardly anyone was queuing in all three lines. We were able to use the counter for Elite Gold/Silver members since my friend is an Elite Silver member. The ground staff was efficient in processing our check-in. It did not take her too long to hand us our boarding pass, and she reminded us of the boarding time and boarding gate.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines uses the B737-8 Max aircraft to service the two flights to Da Nang daily.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max Economy Class cabins have a vibrant colour tone, using mainly blue and light grey colours for the 144 Economy Class seats. The white interior of the cabin, combined with the white lighting, makes the Economy Class section of the aircraft look larger. The light blue mood lighting used during boarding and throughout the flight enhances the cheerful vibe in the cabin.

There are two lavatories, located in the aft of the aircraft, serving all 144 Economy Class passengers. The B737-8 Max, a smaller aircraft, has a smaller lavatory than the bigger twin-aisle aircraft the airline operates. The use of white colour and lighting in the interior of the lavatories not only provides consistency with the colour scheme in the Economy Class cabin but also makes the lavatory look larger. Singapore Airlines is one of the few airlines that stocked its Economy Class lavatories with dental kits in addition to the usual hand soap.

The Seat

Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max Economy Class seats are arranged in a 3-3 configuration, each with a pitch of 30″ and a width of 17″ and can recline up to 3″. Although the padding was not as thick as that found on Singapore Airlines’ wide-body aircraft, I felt the padding was sufficiently comfortable for this under 3-hour flight. The legroom was very generous in the exit row seats, which we managed to snug. I can stretch out my legs and even move in and out of my seat without my seat neighbour getting out of her seat. The downside of this exit row seat is the inability of our seats to be reclined and the distance between the seat and the tray table. Given this was a short 2hr 50 min, we were not too bothered by the lack of a recline function, but passengers occupying this row might find it uncomfortable for longer flight time. In addition to the overhead reading light fitted in each Economy Class seat, Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max also has individual air nozzles above the seats.

The tray table in the Economy Class seats onboard the B737-8 Max feels a little small but sturdy. There was little room left to place our drinks after the cabin crew placed the meal tray on our table. Due to the slightly larger space between my seat and the seat in front at the exit row, the distance to the tray table is also further. This meant that I had to move forward to consume my meal. Like most Economy Class seats, the only storage option in these seats was the seat pocket in front of us, which had limited storage capacity. With most of the space in the seat pocket filled with inflight literature, I could only fit small items such as my passport, the earplugs provided by the airline, and my charging cable.

I sat in the “normal” Economy Class seat for my return flight. Although the space between the seats was not as generous as in the exit row, I found the legroom was still as generous. Accompanying the closer space with the seats in front, the distance to the tray table was perfect for consuming meals in these “normal” seats. These “normal” Economy Class seats also come with a recline function, which vastly improves the comfort of these seats. I unknowingly dozed off in my seat.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines fitted its B737-8 Max Economy Class with a 10″ HD touchscreen personal TV to entertain passengers. With the PTV having a touchscreen function, Singapore Airlines eliminated the IFE controller in Economy Class onboard this aircraft. The touchscreen function on the PTVs is very responsive, and I did not experience any lag issues when using them. Singapore Airlines loaded its KrisWorld entertainment with a huge library of movies and TV shows in an easy-to-navigate menu. There is no lack of movie options on KrisWorld, from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to TV series, to keep me entertained throughout the flight. Complementary Wi-Fi was available to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer members, even in Economy Class, after the aircraft reached cruising altitude. The internet was sufficient for passengers to browse or post pictures on social media, but it was quite slow when streaming videos from YouTube.

Meal

SIN-DAD

Singapore Airlines has a rather weak breakfast offering in its Economy Class today for our flight to Da Nang. The two choices for breakfast in Economy Class today – Scrambled Eggs with Chicken sausage and Pork Congee, were not to my liking. I pre-ordered the highly appraised Hindu non-vegetarian meal online. True to the reviews, the Hindu non-vegetarian meal was delicious and flavourful. The spices used in the meal were not too overpowering, and the meat was tender. However, I find the portion a tad small. My friend opted for the Pork Congee and commented the congee was flavourful.

DAD-SIN

Singapore Airlines served Roasted Chicken or Singapore Laksa for dinner on this leg to Singapore. Unfortunately, we were only left with one of the two options as the airlines ran out of chicken by the time the meal cart came to us (we were seated at the back of the aircraft), as both meal carts started from the front of the aircraft. The Laksa that I had was flavourful, with a strong hint of coconut from the broth, and the chilli that was already in the Laksa enhanced the taste of the meal. I also liked the Banana Chocolate Chip Cake, which was served as a dessert with a strong banana taste.

Service

The service onboard both legs of our flight was great. The cabin crew welcomed us at the entrance and distributed the earplugs at the same time. Despite being a turnaround flight, the diligent cabin crew were seen constantly patrolling the cabin after meal service to help passengers clear the trash. We pranked our friend who flew on her birthday for our trip to Danang. We “conspired” with the cabin crew, who was sporting enough to help us with the prank. The inflight manager even brought my friend a glass of champagne to celebrate her birthday. Despite being tired from the long flight (a total of 7 hours or more considering both legs), the cabin crew showed no signs of weariness and still provided service with a smile. I witnessed a few occasions where passengers walked down the aisle for the lavatory during meal service, disrupting the cabin crew’s work. The cabin crew tirelessly halted meal service and pushed the cart to the galley several times to make way for these passengers.

Afterthought

I had an enjoyable flight onboard Singapore Airlines B737-8 Max to and from Da Nang. The seats were comfortable, and the vast library on KrisWorld kept me sufficiently entertained, which made the flight time feel short. The welcoming and cheerful cabin crew made the flight very pleasant. Despite being tired from the long working hours, they were still seen diligently patrolling the cabin and ensuring passengers were comfortable.

At the Airport

We had a connecting flight from Haneda to Singapore, so we were checked through for this flight from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. After disembarking from our previous flight, we headed to SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2.

SilverKris Lounge

SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 is situated on Level 3 of the terminal building, about a 2-minute walk to the left of immigration clearance at the Terminal. The earthy vibe in the SilverKris Lounge at Terminal 2 can be immediately felt at the entrance to the Lounge. We spotted three staff standing by at the entrance, welcoming passengers into the lounge. From the entrance, the dining area is located to the left, while the lounging area is to the right. Most of the SilverKris Lounge is dedicated to lounging and is furnished with numerous armchairs for passengers to relax. The lounging area is further segregated into two sections by a false wall. The lighting in the larger section created a comfortable feel, partly contributed by the darker brown tone in this part of the lounge. I thought using a dimmer colour scheme and softer lighting made this space feel cosy despite being a larger area. The smaller section sits next to the larger lounging area. The use of a lighter brown tone, coupled with the brighter lighting, made this area feel larger than it is.

The white marble floors and tables contributed to the brighter look in the lounge’s dining area. Two counters serving hot food occupy the centre of the dining area. Singapore Airlines mainly offered local dishes served in a buffet style in the dining area. There is also a salad bar at the counter by the wall. The SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 dedicates a corner in the dining area to beverages, where spirits, soft drinks and coffee/tea are placed in this corner. The dining tables in this area sit on one side of the area, mainly consisting of longer tables that can sit up to eight pax, catering to larger groups.

SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 2 is also equipped with shower facilities and is located in the toilet. No booking is required for the use of these shower facilities; we just had to pop into unoccupied shower stalls. The shower stalls are equally luxurious, with sand-coloured marble on the walls and the flooring. The shower stalls felt a little tight in the space, and I found it challenging to find a place for my backpack. Each stall is fitted with a walk-in shower and a sink, and no toilets are fitted in any of the shower stalls.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates several aircraft on the Singapore-Kuala Lumpur route. We flew the B737-800NG aircraft, which the airline inherited from its sister company, Silkair, after the merger.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class cabin has 12 Business Class seats in the first three rows of the aircraft, arranged in a 2-2 configuration. The cabin felt large, contributed by the bright white lights used during boarding and the fewer seats. The choice of dark brown leather on these seats contrasted with the bright cabin, exuding a sense of calm and elegance.

There is only one lavatory located behind the cockpit that serves all 12 Business Class passengers. As the B737-800NG is a smaller single-aisled aircraft, the lavatory onboard is smaller than the larger twin-aisle aircraft that Singapore Airlines uses. There is limited space for passengers to move around in the lavatory, but the use of bright lighting in the lavatory made it somewhat feel bigger. Similar to the larger aircraft, Singapore Airlines stocked its B737-800NG Business Class lavatories with the luxurious British branded Penhaligon’s hand lotion, facial mist and eau de toilette, on top of other amenities such as more premium dental kits and shavers that are available in the drawer.

The Seat

The B737-800NG is an older aircraft and the only type of aircraft in Singapore Airlines fleet that features a recliner Business Class product. Each of the 12 Business Class seats has a pitch of 38″ and measures 20″ wide. As a recliner seat, these Business Class seats can recline up to 6″. The thick cushioning in the seats made it feel very comfortable to sit on, even for longer flight time. As I was sitting in the bulkhead, I found the legroom situation to be generous. Controls of the different parts of the seat are done via the manual levers on the seat armrest. There are four levers that control the recline, the amount of lumbar support, the deployment of the legrest and the extension of the footrest. I found these levers difficult to control, probably due to ageing. Not all functions on my seat worked. While I could recline and deploy the legrest, I found the lumbar support and the footrest extension levers to be defective. My friend’s seat beside mine had its legrest and footrest function defective. The only reading light on these Business Class seats onboard the B737-800NG are found on the ceiling above the seat.

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class seats are fitted with a large table, stowed in the armrest during landings and take-offs. The bi-fold tables are folded into halves when stowed in the armrest. In the folded mode, The table took up half the width of the seat, and the thoughtful inclusion of a cup-shaped cut-out meant passengers do not need to deploy the table fully when using it for drinks only. When fully deployed, the sturdy table covered the entire width of the seat. The spacious wooden table allowed passengers to work on their laptops during flight. A small cocktail table is fitted into each Business Class seat, which can be deployed using the lever inside the armrest.

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class seats suffer from the lack of storage in the seat. The seat pocket fitted on the bulkhead was the only storage in the seat. The dual pouch-designed seat pocket is already stuffed with inflight literature and headphones at the time of our boarding, sparing little space for us to stow anything else. The small table space between the seats has limited aid to the storage situation in these seats, as we could only place our stuff on it when the aircraft is in the air. Each Business Class seat has an international power outlet and a USB-A charging port below it for us to charge our mobile devices.

Inflight Entertainment

As this is an older aircraft, Singapore Airlines B737-800NG did not come fitted with any personal TV in either Business Class or Economy Class cabins, nor was there Wi-Fi onboard. There is a set of instructions on obtaining KrisWorld on this older aircraft, but I could not connect to the onboard network. I did, however, find a headset in the set pocket to be connected to some old-school radio channels found on the seat’s armrest. I was quite surprised that these radio channels worked.

Meal

We were served a welcome drink onboard after the doors were closed. The cabin crew had only a short time to complete this service, from closing doors to taxiing, as the only entrance to the aircraft was via the door in front. We were offered apple juice and plain water as welcome drinks. Despite a short flight of around 50 minutes, Singapore Airlines still serves a meal onboard. The cabin crew whizzed into action as soon as the seat belt sign was turned off. The two meal options offered during this flight were avocado toast, carrots, and walnut cake. I opted for the walnut cake, which was tasty.

Service

Service onboard was great for this short Singapore to Kuala Lumpur flight. The cabin crew welcomed all passengers with a warm smile and pointed out our seats at the door. We were served welcome drinks when all passengers boarded, while another crew came around for our food order. A crew came by and offered my nephew a children’s amenity kit when she spotted him settling into his seat. Despite the short service time, a full cabin and the immense time pressure the cabin faces, the cabin crew completed the service with a smile and grace. The service did not come across as rushed, signalling how well-trained the cabin crew was. I witnessed a tremendous amount of teamwork by the cabin crew with the objective of making sure every business class was served their meal in good time.

Afterthought

Singapore Airlines B737-800NG Business Class cabin felt bright and spacious. The seat is very comfortable for this short flight time. However, some of the seat functions are not operational, showing signs of ageing of the aircraft. The service is top-notch, with cabin crew ensuring passengers were served with their meals. Despite the short flight time, the service rendered by the cabin crew did not feel rushed. I had a pleasant 50-minute flight with Singapore Airlines.

At the Airport

Check-in

Singapore Airlines departs from Terminal 3 at Tokyo Haneda Airport. Singapore Airlines operates 10 check-in counters, four dedicated to Business Class passengers from Row A, tucked to the rightmost side of the terminal. There are three queues at the check-in counters, one for Business Class and Economy Class and another for passengers who had performed check-in using the self-check-in kiosks. As we were at the counter before they opened, a relatively long queue had already formed at our arrival. Due to the flight being full and everyone at the airport early, it took us about 25 mins to complete our check-in. Our check-in took a little longer than usual due to issues with our seat assignment, but the friendly ground staff managed to help us resolve these issues and processed our check-in within 10 minutes. The friendly ground staff gave us directions to the ANA lounge’s location and reminded us that we could use the Fast Track lane for immigration clearance.

Boarding at Haneda was well organised, with well-marked queues for Business and Economy Class passengers. Singapore Airlines boarded passengers with young children before opening boarding to Business Class and status passengers.

ANA Lounge

Singapore Airlines does not operate its lounge in Haneda Airport, passengers flying in Business Class out of Haneda Airport were entitled to use the ANA Lounge on Level 4 of the terminal. The entrance to the ANA Lounge at the airport terminal is opposite Gate 110, about a 2-minute walk from the immigration clearance. There are well-marked signs pointing us to the lounge. We were warmly greeted by the two ground staff at the entrance and welcomed to the lounge after they scanned our boarding passes. ANA Lounge at Haneda Airport is a huge lounge with distinct dining and lounging areas.

The dining area in the ANA Lounge extends from the buffet area to the centre of the lounge, occupying most of the real estate in the centre. The dining area is fitted with bar-type seating, mainly facing the tarmac, and tables that seat two pax in each table that occupy the centre of the lounge. Despite the lounge being crowded during our visit, we had no issues looking for an empty table. ANA Lounge serves food buffet style, with the exception of made-to-order ramen. The buffet and beverage stations are located on the left of the lounge from its entrance. ANA Lounge mainly serves Japanese food, mainly different types of sushi, onigiri, and Japanese curry rice. I found the food in the ANA Lounge to be delicious, especially the curry rice. There is a good range of beverages in ANA Lounge, and I find the automatic beer dispensing machines interesting.

The lounging area in ANA Lounge is mainly arranged next to the floor-to-ceiling window facing the tarmac. The lounging areas are distinct from the dining area in terms of the type and colour of flooring used. While the dining area uses white tiles, the lounging area uses black carpet that exudes a sense of relaxation and elegance. Matched with black coloured leather seat armchairs, the seating in the lounging area by the window is arranged in rows of four facing each other. I spotted several open rooms dedicated to lounging, decked with leather armchairs and earthy wooden decor that aids in relaxing for the passengers. The area furthest from the entrance to the lounge and at the other end of the dining area is dedicated to passengers’ work. Unlike the lounging area, which predominately uses earthy tones and warm lighting, the work area is decked in white colour and uses white lighting to promote productivity.

ANA Lounge is equipped with showering facilities. We had to book using the kiosk next to the entrance, opposite the ANA Lounge reception, to use these facilities. Due to the lounge being crowded during our visit, the wait time for the showering facilities took more than 2 hours. We ended up not using the showering facilities as our boarding time was approaching.

The Aircraft

Singapore Airlines operates two types of aircraft from Haneda International Airport: the B777-300ER, configured with a long-haul Business Class product, and the A350-900, fitted with narrower medium-haul Business Class seats. For this flight, we flew on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 medium-haul product.

The Cabin

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul variant adopts an earthy tone, apparent in the choice of colour in their seats and the carpet. These earthy tones, coupled with the lilac lighting used during boarding, aided the relaxation of passengers. The earthy tone in the Business Class seats predominantly uses different shades of brown in the leather, the padding on the seat, and the hard plastic part of the seat. Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul variant has 40 Business Class seats spread into two cabins. The large forward cabin houses 28 seats, while the smaller rear cabin has 12 seats. Seats in the Business Class cabins are arranged in a stagger 1-2-1 configuration.

Three lavatories serve all 40 passengers in Business Class: one up front just behind the cockpit, while the other two are sandwiched between the two Business Class cabins. The earthy tone in the Business Class cabins also flowed into the lavatories. The use of brown leathered backsplash in the sink area, coupled with the dark brown wooden panelling used on the cabinetry of the sink area, gave it a luxurious vibe. Singapore Airlines Business Class lavatories onboard the A350-900 Medium Haul aircraft are very well stocked with amenities. Besides the luxurious British-branded Penhaligon’s amenities, such as facial mist and hand lotion, the lavatories are also packed with premium dental kits (different from those found in Economy Class lavatories), shavers and handkerchiefs.

The Seat

Compared to its Long Haul variant cousin, I found the Business Class seats onboard Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul a little narrow. Each of the 40 Business Class seats has a seat pitch of 60″ and measures 20″ wide (compared to the long haul variant’s 28″ width). However, the width of these seats can be expanded to 26″ when the armrests are lowered. These Business Class seats came in three modes: upright, lounge, and bed modes, which are controllable via the touchscreen seat control panel located inside the armrest on the aisle (or window) side. Besides controlling the seat modes, the seat control panel also allowed passengers to control the lighting and call for flight attendants. The upright mode is the standard mode, and the first mode that greets passengers during boarding is used during take-offs and landings. While the seat is comfortable due to its thick padding, I found the upright mode to be the most uncomfortable seating mode, mainly due to the positioning of the seat. I thought the lounge mode was the most comfortable of the three modes. Reclined at an angle, the lounge mode allowed me to relax in various sitting postures. The ability to adjust the angle of the recline and how close I wanted the seat to be from the leg rest in the seat enhances the comfort of this seating mode. The bed mode reclines the Singapore Airlines Business Class seat to 180°, converting to a truly flatbed with the touch of a button, great for passengers who want to catch our 40 winks in the sky. However, I find reclining the seat to its 180° flatbed a tad uncomfortable as my head is a little too low (it did not help to elevate even with the pillow that Singapore Airlines provided). I found that adjusting the angle of the headrest slightly upwards improves comfort in bed mode.

Singapore Airlines fitted its A350-900 Medium Haul variant with a large, sturdy table stowed under the personal TV screen in the seat. The table can be deployed effortlessly with a lift of a lever under the table. The table was folded in half when fished from its stowage position, which was great for passengers who only wanted a small area to place their snacks or drinks. When fully deployed, the table covers the entire seat width, perfect for passengers to work on their laptops. The only flaw in these tables is the lack of swivel function. Coupled with the narrow entrance to the seat (for those sitting by the window), the table would have to be kept in its stowage position for passengers to move in and out of their seats. Singapore Airlines designed a small tabletop with a console above the seat’s armrest. This small table functions as a cocktail table, where the cabin crew would place our drinks and serve as an alternate space for temporary storage. I found this side table very convenient and useful for me to leave my stuff on during cruising.

While the long-haul variant has ample storage space, the storage in the medium-haul Business Class version of Singapore Airlines A350-900 aircraft is a little lacking. Singapore Airlines fitted a small cabinet above the side table with a sliding door, which allowed passengers to stow items such as tables and passports even during take-offs and landings. The in-seat power outlet and USB-A charging port are also found in this cabinet, but only accessible when the cabinet door is opened (this design makes sense since we cannot charge our mobile devices during take-offs and landings). Besides the cabinet, I found the space under the footwell a great storage space for our carry-ons, although most people would place their shoes inside after changing into the provided slippers. The seat pocket can be used as an alternate space for storage. However, due to the position of the seat pocket, which is close to the floor and next to the aisle (at least for my seat), I find placing things here a little inconvenient to reach.

Inflight Entertainment

Singapore Airlines did not disappoint when it came to Inflight Entertainment. Each Business seat onboard their A350-900 Medium Haul variant is fitted with a large 18″ touchscreen HD TV. The picture quality was excellent, and the TV’s ability to tilt ensures that the picture quality stays sharp when passengers watch movies in any seat mode. The IFE can be controlled via the IFE controller or directly using the touchscreen function on the TV. The IFE controller is very intuitive to use, resembling a mobile phone. There aren’t any physical buttons on the IFE controller, controlling the TV functions is done via the touchscreen panel on the controller. Both the touchscreen functions on the TV and the IFE controller are very responsive. Singapore Airlines provides its Business Class passengers with good quality noise cancelling headphones, which are comfortable to wear for long periods. Passengers flying with Singapore Airlines are treated to a huge selection of entertainment from the KrisWorld. KrisWorld has a huge library of shows, from the latest blockbusters to classic movies on the movie selection page to TV episodes. There is even a game section stored in KrisWorld’s archives. Entertainment options are well catalogued in the various menus for easy access.

Meal

Singapore Airlines used to serve two meals pre-pandemic for its Sleeper Service flights, but things seem to have changed recently. I recall that I was served supper and breakfast on my 6-hour Sleeper Service flight from Singapore to Seoul. However, from my experience on the outbound and this flight, we were only served one meal to be taken either after take-off or before landing. I cannot confirm if we will be served another meal if requested from the cabin crew. Like the flights out of Singapore, Singapore Airlines also offers the “Book-the-Cook” service for all Business Class passengers flying out of Haneda Airport. As Haneda is not Singapore Airlines’ home port, the choices for “Book-the-Cook” for flights departing Haneda are smaller compared to flights departing from Singapore. I did not use this service for this flight and opted for the Japanese Option—Hanakoireki by Mr Yoshihiro Murata. I had heard that the airline served great Japanese meals for flights out of Japan. The meal was served in a typical Japanese bento box with all the options in front of the passengers. The soy-glazed chicken was tasty and not too dry, but the rest tasted mediocre. I also found the meal portion to be a little on the small side. My sister opted for the Tonkotsu Ramen from the “Book-the-Cook” menu for my nephew. She commented the broth tasted salty.

Service

The service on this flight was great, and the cabin crew portrayed Singapore Airlines’ hospitality and efficiency. The cabin crew warmly welcomed us during boarding, and we were promptly shown to our seats by another cabin crew at boarding. As there were some seat swaps for my sister and her family, the cabin crew serving our aisle patiently went through the seat arrangements with me to ensure the meals were served to the correct person. As soon as we were seated, another cabin crew offered us welcome drinks. Throughout the flight, the cabin crew were seen patrolling the cabin and offering drinks and snacks to any waking passenger, despite being on a red-eye flight. During meal service, the cabin crew would gently wake passengers who opted for our meals to be served before landing and promptly set up the table and served the meals.

Afterthought

Singapore Airlines A350-900 Medium Haul Business Class is narrower compared to its long haul variant. Nonetheless, the seat was still comfortable, and I was able to get a few hours of sleep on this red-eye flight. The service onboard was great, and the crew was observant and diligent in patrolling the cabin in the middle of the night. KrisWorld has a huge library of entertainment options, well laid in an initiative menu, which made the flight time seem short. I had a great time on this flight with Singapore Airlines.