Singapore Airlines (SQ)
- Flight: SQ26
- Class: Business
- From: Singapore (SIN)
- To: Frankfurt (FRA)
- Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
- Seat: 96A
- Booking type: 22.5k Avianca lifemiles + $117
- Date: April 2015
Jump straight to the Conclusion
In the last two weeks I had flown
BA First on a 744
AA First on an A321T
JL First on a 777 (twice)
SQ Business on a 77WN in a mini-cabin of 8 seats
SQ Suites on an A380
SQ F on a 777
I’m not gonna lie, FlyerTalk has spoiled me. I can’t remember the last time I sat in a row greater than 20. Seeing row after row of (admittedly very large and spacious) Business Class seats, I felt like I was looking at the tanks of people in The Matrix. I suddenly had to come to terms with not being a unique and special snowflake.
Compare this to VS Upper Class with the tiny drinks table that has a stiff lamp intruding on the space where a drink should go:
I pre-ordered via Book the Cook but the regular menu choices looked pretty good too.
Given that this is a night flight, the crew kicked into action very shortly after take off. There’s nothing worse than being on a redeye desperate for sleep, whilst the crew slowly plods along.
SQ still manages to lay a tablecloth, provide a side plate and butter dish and serve dishes directly rather than relying on trays and trolleys. These sorts of details do not go unnoticed.
This lobster was notably smaller, tougher, suffering from worse presentation and included an undercooked tomato and overcooked asparagus.
Oh well… at least there is one small area in which SQ can improve. You were probably starting to get annoyed by their overachieving at this stage right?
Conclusion
Singapore Business on the A380 is one of the very best products in the sky. The whalejet has huge side bins, wide aisles, less engine noise and notably better air quality than the 77W.
If you aren’t in the mini-cabin on the 77W I’m sure you can make an argument for this being the better product.
However, there is no mistaking the fact that you are a cog in a machine here. The A380 upper deck is filled with row upon row of other passengers. The 77WN seat that I got ex-LHR (which will be rolled out on the A350s too) feels a lot more cosy and comfortable than the seat on the A380. There is less storage space but the design, the colours and the level of finishes in general, blows the A380 J out of the water.
Most importantly, the level of personalised service and the feeling of being in a cabin of only 8 people was never going to be possible to replicate here.
Given the chance to repeat either of these experiences in the future, I’d still opt to try a new product rather than go back to A380 J.
On the other hand the 77WN mini-cabin rates as one of my favourite products in the sky. I would make a significant detour and/or pay extra to fly it again.
- Part 1:
- Plaza Premium Lounge – London Heathrow Airport
- Part 2:
- Singapore Airlines: Business Class – London to Singapore
- Part 3:
- Fairmont Singapore : Suite and Executive Lounge
- Part 4:
- Singapore Airlines : The Private Room – Singapore Changi Airport (Breakfast Service)
- Part 5:
- Singapore Airlines : First Class Suites – Singapore to Shanghai
- Part 6:
- Air China First Class Lounge – Shanghai Pudong Airport
- Part 7:
- Singapore Airlines: First Class – Shanghai to Singapore
- Part 8:
- Singapore Airlines : The Private Room – Singapore Changi Airport (Dinner Service)
- Part 9:
- Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge – Singapore Changi Airport
- Part 10:
- Singapore Airlines : Business Class – Singapore to Frankfurt
- Part 11:
- Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge : Frankfurt Airport
- Part 12:
- Plaza Premium Arrivals Lounge : London Heathrow
- Part 13:
- Conclusion