REVIEW: Singapore Airlines – Business Class – London to Singapore (B77WN)

Singapore Airlines (SQ)

  • Flight: SQ319
  • Class: Business
  • From: London (LHR)
  • To: Singapore (SIN)
  • Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
  • Seat: 11A
  • Booking type: 25k Avianca Lifemiles + $333.82 in tax
  • Flight date: April 2015


I booked this flight using Avianca Lifemiles, miles which I purchased directly from the airline. Even though Singapore supposedly restricts partner airlines for redeeming on prime long haul routes, Avianca often has access. The reason for this is that being a Colombian airmiles program, it has exactly the kinds of checks, balances and IT infrastructure that you’d expect a Colombian airmiles program to have.

Not only did I have access to Singapore award flights using Colombian airmiles, I was able to get this flight for 22.5k Avianca miles + $333.82 in taxes due to some very interesting quirks in the online booking system. When people say that airmiles are worthless I shake my head and think of flights like this…


The gate areas at LHR T2 are highly organised, with different turnstiles for different classes of service and status

 

There was a slight 20 minute delay to our flight (as usual Google updated me about this long before the gate agents had a clue) but soon enough, the efficient boarding process had us all onboard.

I was lucky enough to secure seat 11A which is in the front row of business class, in a 2 row mini cabin of 8 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, exactly like F.

Pre-suites SQ had trouble in differentiating its premium cabins, with the latest product on the 77WN the “problem” returns. Which is why you can understand their drive to eliminate F entirely on the A350.

On first inspection the seat looked better than any other J product I’d ever seen

The indentation behind my bag shows where the foot cubby is on the regular, non-bulkhead, seats. The extra leg-space in this row is remarkable.

A decent sized cubby hole which can easily fit a macbook or small bag. Also a reading light, power, HDMI, S-video and USB ports.

None of the problems I had with CX, my Mac charger fit perfectly!

Plenty of space for the Mac itself too.

I like having these simple and easy to use seat controls, without having to use the IFE or some extraneous remote

3 extra lights mounted on the right of the seat

The main storage cubby, located under the IFE control

Acres of space to stretch out, or use your laptop whilst in bed

I love the convenience of being able to access my carry-on without getting up from my seat

My first impression of the cabin?
I was utterly blown away.

The space is much more private and welcoming than BA F on the 744 a few days earlier. The layout was actually more similar to JL F and in some ways, such as the location of power sockets and storage, I prefer SQ J. The sleekness of the design definitely trumps JL’s spartan and utilitarian F offering.

I was immediately offered food and drink menus and asked for my choice of PDB, as well as having my jacket taken. This is a far cry from a number of other airlines I’ve flown in J where you get either water or juice, picked from a large tray as your PDB.

 

The Drinks List

 

 

SQ’s J drinks menu is absolutely out of control. Talisker 10? The Isle of Skye’s nectar is a finer drop than most carriers load in F. Also quite an extensive cocktail list given that BA’s crew have been known to struggle when asked for the one single cocktail they offer in J.

I opted for a glass of the Taittinger Prelude, I was hoping this flight would have some Bolly loaded but you can’t have it all I guess! The champagne was brought to me individually and poured at my seat.

I really like this stemless glassware. Larger volume and more stable than a regular flute, what’s not to love?

There’s nothing like the feeling of taking your first sip of a PDB just before a longhaul flight

One way in which SQ does differentiate J from F is that they don’t hand out pyjamas or amenity kits for J passengers. I was still given a few bits and pieces though.

A sleeping mask and some wonderfully bizarre slipper socks

The meal service began promptly after we levelled off. I was offered a top up of my Taittinger and offered another entirely different “Prelude”:  the signature Singapore satay service.

The chicken satay was unbelievably good. The chargrilled flavour really shone through with thin strands of aromatic lemongrass visibly ingrained onto the surface of the meat.

 

Dinner Menu

Waiting for the table to be set for the meal. The table’s height can be adjusted to allow eating in a variety of lounging/ bed positions. It is also very easy to swing the table to one side during the meal service, should you need to use the restroom. This shot also gives you an idea of just how private this 2 row mini-cabin is.

The mushroom salad was delicious, with a very generous amount of protein. Leagues ahead of F salads on BA and AA

A playful piece of design for the nesting S&P

Having heard how good some of the options can be and more importantly not wanting anything too heavy after a week of non-stop eating (and more sure to come in the days ahead) I pre ordered Lobster Thermidor from SQ’s Book the Cook program.

Whilst she was setting my table the FA asked if I’d ordered Lobster ex-LHR before. I told her that I hadn’t and that this was in fact my first ever flight on SQ.

She was very excited to hear that this was my first SQ flight and made conversation about other airlines, asking me how I thought SQ compared. I told her that I was loving it so far and this really seemed to make her day.

In any case she told me that I had chosen very well. In fact all the FAs had gathered in the galley to admire my lobster before serving it, due to its high degree of magnificence.

I was fairly sure that there was a degree of hyperbole at play but smiled and went along with it, rubbing my hands in excitement.

Then she placed this armoured behemoth of the seas in front of me…

Thankfully SQ didn’t cut corners on the engineering of their tray tables. This thing could have tipped over Fred Flintstone’s car with ease.

The flavour was sweet and rich and the meat was enormously plentiful, the claw meat had clearly been added back into the chopped tail to add to the indulgence.

The vegetables were also perfectly cooked and still slightly crunchy. The entire dish was leagues ahead of the rubbery lobster and frozen peas and tomato that you’re served when you pre-order the lobster thermidor on TG F.

Once I’d finished, the FA came over to ask if the lobster was as good as it looked.

“Better,” I said.
“I’m so glad to hear it. I hope you left some room for dessert.”
“Oh I’m not sure I’m really full.”
“Why don’t I just bring one over and you can try it, I promise you don’t have to finish it!”
“OK you’ve convinced me” (yeah I know, I’m weak)

Hazelnut semifreddo with a rich chocolate center, covered in hazelnut praline and crushed meringue… it turns out I did finish it. I finished the hell out of it.

I was hoping to get some sleep so opted for some TWG chamomile at the end of the meal

I love the small detail of the dish to put the teabag in. You also won’t hear me object to being given Charbonnel et Walker truffles

The meal service as a whole was truly spectacular. It was not quite the calibre of ANA First Class but short of that, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had in the air.

The service was a perfect mix of professional and friendly.
Every dish was spectacular in its execution.
The table and glassware was of a high quality.
Refills were proactively and frequently offered.

Would I have preferred Krug to Taittinger? Yes. Is Krug a fundamental prerequisite to a decent meal? No.

After the meal I spent some time watching a movie whilst in bed mode.

Noise cancelling headphones

Rocking the slipper booties with my TG PJs

Settling down for the night

Night time mini-cabin shot

During the night time portion of the flight I got a couple of refills on my tea. It seems that on SQ it is vey easy to get trapped in a vicious cycle. Each time I went to the bathroom, as I walked back to my seat, Fiona the delightful second shift FA would ask if there was anything she could get me.

Much like the dessert conversation I’d had with her colleague during the meal. It was very hard to resist. She would always make it seem like a fantastic idea to drink more tea, maybe have a biscuit, or some chocolate, perhaps some whisky to help me sleep etc.

So that is my one complaint about SQ. The FAs are so unbelievably nice and eager to ensure you have a good time, that you end up eating and drinking more than you intended to ?

Resistance is futile.

Nonetheless I was able to get a good 6 hours of sleep and woke up at that special moment when most other people are still sleeping.

I really enjoy being up before everyone else on a longhaul flight. The atmosphere is very tranquil, you can hear some light clinking of trays as breakfast preparations are made but FAs have generally not had anyone new to speak to for a while and will happily make you a coffee and chat for a while. If you’re really lucky you’ll get a chance to experience an airborne sunrise, although on this flight I’d missed the opportunity by a good few hours. North/ South flights are the best for that.

Not wanting to bother the FAs with endless coffee requests during the breakfast service, I had a couple of fantastic double espressos in advance of the morning meal.

Next time I have a lunch flight on SQ I’m ordering a Cafe Royale! (or carajillo as we call it in Spain)

Waking up to views like this never gets old.

The IFE on the 77WN is ultra slick and responsive. A particularly cool feature is the moving map on the remote.

Seeing as there were a few options available I also opted to BTC for the main course of the breakfast. The other options looked decent though.

The breakfast service began with a wonderful mango smoothie

A proper table setting for breakfast. I love the individual pots of marmalade. The filter coffee was actually pretty good and the fruit was very fresh and firm

Fancy yogurt

My main course of Pad Thai was excellent. A very generous portion size with separate trays of chilli and chopped peanuts as well as the separate wedge of lime

Breakfast was great. Far too often it is treated as an afterthought by other carriers, not only in J but even in F. SQ has gone for premium ingredients, espresso based coffees and multiple courses, with the option to pre-order numerous mains too. The only carrier that comes close in EVA Air.

All too soon the familiar sight of hundreds of shipping tankers came into focus; we were approaching Singapore.

This was something of a bittersweet moment. I genuinely did not want the flight to end. The service was just so unbelievably next level, I could have stayed in that cabin for a week without losing interest.

On the other hand, I couldn’t help thinking, “If J is this good, how unbelievably ridiculous will F be?”

SPOILER ALERT: HIGHLY RIDICULOUS.


2 Comments

  1. Mello says:

    Hello Jarvis:
    While waiting for FA to set up your table, I ve noticed you were wearing a nice fittied plain white t shirt. ( not box cut )
    Would you be able to advice on the brand name and which stores carry this white T.
    thank you

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.