A dream I’ve had for years: flying on a Singapore Airlines A380 in business class. Award winning, endlessly touted for its excellence, and striving to always improve, Singapore Airlines has quite the reputation. So when I booked a full-fare business class ticket from Mumbai (BOM) to Singapore and on to Hong Kong (HKG), you better believe the expectations were high.
I was particularly interested in seeing how this would fare compared to flying business on an Emirates A380 on a similar route.
But expectations don’t always meet reality, and the experience I had in business class with Singapore Airlines was a perfect representation of that. Here’s a detailed account of my experience and how it didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Booking the Flights: An Unbelievable Singapore Airlines Business Class Deal
I was thrilled to book two business class flights on Singapore Airlines for less than $1,000. The ‘Business Lite (D)’ fare cost INR117,118 for two people, which translates to about USD $780 per person. I feel that alone is worth the infamous Lobster Thermidor (which can read about here).
This was amongst the cheapest business class fares from India to Hong Kong.
The Singapore Airlines App: A Seamless Experience
The Singapore Airlines app proved to be one of the best airline apps I’ve ever used. It allowed me to select seats, pick meals, and subsequently check in as early as 48 hours before departure.
The notification for online check-in via email was a nice touch.
Seat selection on Singapore Airlines (and the importance of choosing early, checking often, and being proactive)
Not all seats are made equal. Some have additional, wide footwell room, and can be converted into a large bed.
The extra legroom, legendary seats Singapore Airlines A380 seats you should try and book are:
- 11D, 11F
- 91D, 91F
- 96D, 96F (downside: closer to the galley)
Normally these are reserved for special KrisFlyer PPS members, but you can call Singapore Airlines 72 hours ahead of departure as a normal customer and inquire about their availability.
These special seats were always blocked off in the Singapore Airlines app, and when I did call right at 72 hours prior to departure, only one was available.
The In-flight Dining Experience: A Culinary Delight (Singapore ‘Supper’ Service)
I was flabbergasted and jubilant when the Singapore Airlines app revealed the most extensive meal pre-order menu I’ve ever seen (shown above). I never imagined what I could eat at 35,000 feet in the air.
From local specialties like Mee Siam to world famous Chicken Satay, and Indian-curated curries and masala, there’s something for any palette.
Naturally, I went for the Lobster Thermidor. Because I have NEVER had lobster in the sky before. (I don’t normally find them roaming there).
It’s a Singapore Airlines classic – and alone sets Singapore Airlines above the rest.
The Check-in, Lounge, and Preflight Experience in Mumbai (BOM)
Checking in at the counter (required in India)
India seems to require checking in at the counter for all international flights. Not sure why, it’s definitely a hassle. Luckily Singapore Airlines has a standalone business class checkin at Mumbai Airport, and there’s rarely any line ever.
Thankfully, checking in at Mumbai Airport was a breeze thanks to the separate zone for business and first-class passengers.
The benefit of checking in at the counter is pretty great too – it’s where you’re handed an access pass/voucher to the spectacular Adani lounge.
Though the check-in counters for Singapore Airlines are at A, business and first class security in Mumbai are all the way to the opposite site – near the M check in area. It’s worth the walk past normal security lines, as you get a truly standalone line for both security and immigration control. It’s the same line as the crew line.
Singapore Airlines Lounge in Mumbai
At the Adani lounge, we found a diverse array of western and Indian food, a minimal selection of beverages, wonderful shower rooms, and a quite expensive but delightful spa. Both of us went for massages – she went for the 6000 INR 60 minute massage, and I chose the complimentary 15 minute foot massage. Neither of us complained.
The only issue was enjoying the massages too much and losing track of time. We ended up leaving the lounge 25 minutes before departure. Oops.
Luckily, boarding at Mumbai airport is surprisingly efficient, and even more so flying on Singapore Airlines. There’s not only a separate line for business class fliers – there’s a separate jetway. I love this.
Boarding Business Class Upper Deck: a VIP experience
We walked right onto the behemoth of an A380 in what seems like the quickest settling in of our lives.
There was a separate boarding line and subsequently a separate jet bridge to the upper deck, which truly feels special.
Friendly and lovely flight attendants welcomed us onboard and helped us to our seats with a professional charm and charisma that alleviated all our worries and stress. We felt at ease and delighted to be onboard.
The strangest business class seats I’ve ever seen: Singapore Airlines new A380 product
However, I was a little surprised when I got to my seats, and honestly, a bit dismayed.
I found the seat quite unique – in a bad way. This A380 featured Singapore’s newest business class product, but I was not terribly pleased nor impressed by its new design.
First off, the seat is in a round shell. This in itself isn’t an issue, but the window views are severely restricted, which is a huge bummer for anyone who likes looking outside.
The second issue, which I frankly find bizarre, is that Singapore Airlines did not opt for alternating or offset or herringbone seat positions. Instead, the footwells are offset on every seat, for everyone (except for a lucky few). I felt like I’d have to reshape my body into a zigzag form to properly fit into the seat. Truly bizarre – and far more severe than the offset footwell I experienced on Qantas’s 787-9.
Under-seat storage at the expense of comfort
The main benefit to the new design is an incredible amount of storage. This design is meant to allow you to store your carryon luggage below to seat in front. I’ve never seen anything like it.
The new configuration has also deleted overheads from the middle section, which makes the cabin feel spacious and airy. It seems that Singapore Airlines replaced this lost storage with room below the seats.
However, this idea failed spectacularly in practice. When we boarded, these reduced side-only overhead bins were already full. We were told by the crew to put our suitcases below the seats. Much to our surprise – and consternation – neither of us could fit our carry-ons (a 22” Briggs & Riley and Rimowa standard carry-on) below the seats!
A pretty bad way to start out what should be an epic experience if you ask me.
Still, I’d give up all that storage space, any day of the week, to have a properly aligned footwell.
Singapore’s new A380 business class shell seat comfort (or lack thereof)
For our first flight from Mumbai to Singapore, were seated in 20D and E, the two middle aisle seats. Perfect for a couple.
The center divider between the middle seats can be placed in 3 different positions, so the level of privacy can be tailored to what you need. These are not suites, so there’s no door on the aisle side, though I certainly feel like there could be. I’ll just have to opt for the First Class Suites next time!
The middle aisle seats feature an extendable legrest which does help with the offset footwell a smidge. But I still found myself having to sleep on my side most of the flight.
An Excellent & Comprehensive Entertainment Experience (WiFi, IFE, and accessories)
IFEs are ultra sharp and amongst the largest I have ever seen. There are hundreds of movies and TV shows, so you’ll never run out of content. However, the WiFi was extremely slow the entire flight.
Provided headphones have noise cancellation and are comfortable to wear.
Pros & Cons of the new design business class seats on the Singapore Airlines A380
Overall, the new business class seats on the Singapore Airlines A380 are a mixed bag. Pros and cons include:
Pros:
- Innovative under-seat storage
- Spacious, airy cabin feel due to removed overhead bins
Cons:
- Round shell design restricts window views
- Offset footwells are awkward and uncomfortable
- Under-seat storage is not large enough for standard carry-ons
Despite these drawbacks, the in-flight entertainment is top-notch, with ultra-sharp IFEs and a wide range of content.
Singapore Airlines service: more than just meeting expectations
The flight attendants epitomized Singapore Airlines’ reputation for outstanding service. They were attentive and professional, making the flight experience more enjoyable despite the seat design issues. Key service highlights included:
- Quick meal service after takeoff
- Attentive and professional flight attendants
Fast, but not furious
Flight attendants came through the aisles during boarding to offer Apple or orange juice, though no champagne. Even though I hardly like to drink on flights, I find the champagne is a quintessential part of the business class experience, so I was sort disappointed about this aspect. Hot towels provided during pre-departure preparations did help alleviate some of my pain.
I was definitely worried about getting enough sleep on this midnight ‘supper service’ flight from Mumbai to Singapore, so when beverage service started only minutes after takeoff, I felt a huge sense of relief. Though scheduled at 5 hours and 25 minutes, BOM-SIN ended up only taking 4 and half hours. Barely enough time to blink.
Food was served before leveling off. That’s about the fastest I’ve ever seen.
A meal service I’ll never forget (especially the Lobster Thermidore)
White wine offerings included a NZ Sauvignon blanc or an Australian Chardonnay, both which apparently have “won awards”. I’m not a sommelier or a wine aficionado, but I would not agree.
Next came cashews and almonds. Thank goodness for an airline that does not douse these in salt. I can’t believe how frequently I experience a sodium overload on US-based airlines.
The appetizer was a phenomenal Foie Gras. I don’t eat Foie Gras. But it was so good, I couldn’t stop. Truly exceptional.
The Lobster Thermidore certainly lived to the hype, and it was a great selection. I read the Mumbai has good catering for fresh seafood, and I was not lead astray. I’d definitely order it again.
For deserts on the Mumbai-Singapore route, Singapore Airlines offers an Indian cheesecake and a raspberry coulis cake. The raspberry coulis cake was average, but I’d definitely recommend the cheesecake if you have the chance.
The Singapore Business Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport: mostly excellent
As we stumbled off the beautiful A380 into the even more beautiful Singapore Changi airport, we had only one mission after the short redeye flight: sleep.
The in-terminal Ambassador hotel was unfortunately fully booked, so we decided to head to the Singapore Airlines lounge to try our luck finding somewhere to sleep.
We made our way to the sleep room in the back of the Singapore lounge, almost hidden like a speakeasy. Unfortunately, however, being hidden does not come with the benefit of a dark or silent room. There were kids running around and a permanently on light.
The lounge chairs are more like premium economy seats than business class in that they don’t recline enough for great sleep. I managed to use some pillows and a sweater to reduce the discomfort so I could find a decent position to catch an hour or two of sleep here.
On the way out, I found a delightful selection of breakfast foods, from western breakfast options to Chinese dumplings to local, delicious Singaporean, Malay, and Indonesian options. A full spectrum.
Everything I ate was restaurant-quality (good restaurant at that), and there was plenty of coffee and tea and fruit juices to join in on the cacophony of pleasant tastes.
Highlights:
- Fantastic breakfast options
- Wide variety of local and international dishes
Drawbacks:
- Noisy and poorly lit sleep room
- Lounge chairs not comfortable for sleep
Flight 2: Singapore to Hong Kong
For the second flight from Singapore to Hong Kong, I had pre-selected window seat 17K to enjoy daytime views into the beautiful Hong Kong harbour.
However, I was in for yet another hard product disappointment. The new seat shell-design effectively blocks out every window except for a sliver of one. Seriously, who approved this design?
To top it off, window seats on the A380 lack the extra extendable legrest you get in the middle seats, so there’s less area to sprawl out on. This might be the only airline wherein middle seats are actually superior.
Breakfast service: another meal to remember
We ordered the buckwheat and pumpkin pancakes, apparently designed by chef Como Shambhala, and found them delightful and not too sweet.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Singapore Airlines serves real – not instant – decaf coffee. And the accompanying orange juice tastes fresh, not from concentrate.
Arrival into HKG
After a tailwind-induced plop into the runway kind of landing, we taxied into terminal 1 of Hong Kong. It was quite a walk to immigrations and customs, and there is no special line for business or first class customers here. Bummer.
Still, it was quick and efficient. I love Hong Kong.
Conclusion
I would definitely be lying if I said my experience with Singapore Airlines was the best business class experience I’ve had. This may sound shocking – but I enjoyed flying on a Delta A359 with flagship suites and on an Emirates A380 much better than I did these Singapore Airlines A380s. In fact, I’d even choose China Southern for similar service and much more comfortable seats on Asia flights.
The Singapore Airlines business class product, though incredible, is simply not a home run. It seems that some or many of the reviews of Singapore Airlines you find online are sponsored; they purposely withhold necessary and obvious critiques, such as blocked/hidden windows, the strange hard product, and the overall lack of privacy on the A380.
The Singaporean service, however, is clearly unmatched. But does that make up for the bizarre new hard product?
That is entirely up to you. For the prices you have to pay to fly with Singapore Airlines, I think my wallet is likely to defer to other airlines for future business class flying.
