Hello from Singapore, as I just flew Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 business class on the 50-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Singapore (SIN), as part of my review trip. At just 184 miles, this is Singapore Airlines’ shortest flight, and it was also my first time flying the carrier’s regional A350 variant.
While I’ll of course have a full trip report upon returning home, in this post I’d like to share some initial impressions.
In this post:
Singapore Airlines’ regional A350 business class seats are great
Singapore Airlines has two types of business class seats in its A350 fleet, and that includes a variant with the carrier’s standard long haul product, and a variant with the carrier’s standard short haul product. On this flight, I flew on one of the regional A350s (for what it’s worth, you’ll often find long haul A350s on short haul flights as well).
What’s hilarious is that even though this is a regional configuration, all seats are fully flat and feature direct aisle access, so this is easily a competitive long haul product. I’ve already reviewed Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 787-10 business class, which is also the regional product, and is identical (it’s the Stelia Aerospace Symphony seat).
This is a fantastic product, and what’s not to like? Of course you also get a huge entertainment library, free Wi-Fi, and even bedding, but it’s hard to take full advantage of that on a flight of this length. 😉
Singapore Airlines’ meal service is a bit quirky
It’s always funny to consider how service expectations differ around the world. This flight is shorter than my typical American flight from Miami (MIA) to Tampa (TPA), which covers 204 miles. If you’re in a premium cabin there, you get one drink (if you’re lucky), and nothing else.
On this flight, there were (non-alcoholic) pre-departure drinks, plus warm towels.
Then after takeoff, there was a cold refreshment, with two options.
I ordered the gado gado, a cold salad of boiled egg, potato, cabbage, green beans, and fried tempeh fermented soya bean cake, served with peanut sauce. The meal was nicely presented and fresh, and was served with water, coffee, and/or juice. With 40 business class seats, the crew stays very busy on this flight.
Obviously this is mighty impressive, though I do have to say, it’s not quite to the level of what you’ll get on Qatar Airways on the very short routes within the Middle East, in terms of drinks of choice, and even refills.
That’s for a very simple reason. Singapore Airlines is a very consistent carrier with very strict rules, and flight attendants have to prepare the cabin for landing well before arrival, with the pilot telling them to prepare 30 minutes out. That’s simply because Singapore Airlines takes the same approach to cabin preparations whether you’re flying from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore or from Los Angeles to Singapore.
Meanwhile on Qatar Airways, they’ll still be preparing a cappuccino for you while the gear is down, heh. So it just comes down to the crew having a very short window to provide service. Talk about a first world problem!
Singapore Airlines’ service is in a league of its own
Singapore Airlines is such a world class airline, and that really primarily comes down to the people. There’s not a single time that I fly with the airline where I don’t think “damn, they really nailed the service.” Of course they’re always friendly, professional, and attentive.
But what most impresses me about Singapore Airlines is the genuine warmth of crews, combined with how gentle, graceful, and calm they are in their service approach. Sure, they may be rushed as could be to provide the service on this flight, but they’ll never make you feel that way. They take their time with each passenger, greet them with a smile, and address them by name.
There’s not an airline in the world that offers the level of service consistency that Singapore Airlines does. And as much as I always assume an airline can’t possibly pull that off (given that we’re all individuals), the airline nails it every single time.
What I also love about Singapore Airlines is that virtually all of the carrier’s marketing seeks to convey that same service approach. The airline never has “laugh out loud” or edgy ads, but instead, the airline is always just focused on class and elegance. Even just watch the safety video, and you’ll see that same tone.
Bottom line
Singapore Airlines is a pleasure to fly with, whether you’re taking the world’s longest flight, or the carrier’s shortest flight. Ultimately it’s hard to get too excited about a 50-minute flight, but you certainly can’t beat getting a flat bed, endless entertainment, free Wi-Fi, and a tasty snack on a flight like this.
What do you make of Singapore Airlines’ regional A350 business class?
Flew business class on SIA from Singapore to Sydney .
Excellent service excellent seating
And excellent food..
For me and my wife SIA was more than enough .
Not interested to compare every little thing when the service was as good as that !
Landing safely was the icing on the cake of course!!
@Ben
First time I agree with everything you have written about an airline. I have flown SQ a few times in business over the years. Its onboard services has been of a consistently high quality every single time I have flown them.
For a 50 mins flight, SQ can serve something to eat. On a 2 hour flight from Miami to Belize, AA cannot and does not serve you anything but snack basket crap.
Similar experience with Turkish. They are flying wide bodies (Airbus 330, Airbus 350, and Boeing 787) on short international flights. And in those 50 minutes of flying they manage to serve you an excellent meal if you’re in business.
"Gado Gado = boiled egg, potato, cabbage, green beans, and fried tempeh fermented soya bean cake, served with peanut sauce."
There is a reason they serve this on a very short flight.
I wonder if SQ is thinking "boy, I really wish we had some old, fat, American queens sitting around hating customers for 96 dollars an hour".
All US flight attendants should be fired, and the unions broken up by force. Then make everyone auction for it.
I bet we could get eager FAs for 10 dollars an hour. Who'd be much slimmer and better than the FAs today. They really don't deserve any of what they get.
As always, please do Keep Yourself Safe.
At the risk of repeating myself - personally I much prefer the old style “cradle seats” to the flat beds on short flights. They were significantly more comfortable and made it much easier to find a comfortable position. I can see why airlines switched away, but if I’m not going to lie down, I really don’t need a bed
What a boring comment. Tell us more about your preferences, we're dying to know. BK over MCD?
Most of these new seats have a lounging position pre-set too. Also, while I'd be okay with angled flat seats on journey under three hours or some, keep in mind that these regional planes also fly to East Asia or Australia which can be up to six or seven hours long where I and probably others would definitely want to avoid said seats.
But @EuropeanTraveler, I'm not sure what country are you from, but...
Most of these new seats have a lounging position pre-set too. Also, while I'd be okay with angled flat seats on journey under three hours or some, keep in mind that these regional planes also fly to East Asia or Australia which can be up to six or seven hours long where I and probably others would definitely want to avoid said seats.
But @EuropeanTraveler, I'm not sure what country are you from, but in Asia or at least my part, Burger King is actually perceived more premium than McDonald's.
I'll *bite* definitely Egg McMuffin over whatever filth they're serving at the other place.
One has always enjoyed the dozens of SQ regional flights in J, almost as much as our LHR-SIN, A350 Suites flights. Obviously, they are better than European regional carriers, only TQ, comes close. However, when compared with U.S. regional carriers, SQ cannot be faulted. As one has no experience of ME regional carriers, I will leave it to others to comment.
They could've done a better job with the plastic. Plastic containers just look like an afterthought and cheap to me especially for an airline like SQ similar to sauces in tinfoil containers.
Have you flown with SQ Mike?
Yes.
Really? …. :-)
@Mike O.- I assume the plastic container is how it is catered, and it is likely served like that in order to save time. Otherwise, plating the food (even the sauce) would take up valuable time on this short flight, giving passengers even less time to eat. It's a tradeoff SQ management likely accepted given the flight time.
This flight is a reason why SQ is a much larger, global carrier than MH.
Simply out, despite massive population differences, SQ siphons tons of passengers from KUL by flying massive widebodies on many frequencies, which then feed into SQ's network.
You would find Singaporeans much less willing to do the reverse with MH's inferior product and narrowbody flights on the SIN-KUL route.
Worth noting this is one of the highest volume international routes in the world too.
I was about to call you crazy for suggesting this is one of the world’s busiest routes. I’m glad I didn’t because you were right. It’s the fourth busiest. Wow.
I never would have guessed. Given that a fast train could have done this in (I’m guessing) under two hours, I wonder if anyone considered this (I know there are bus services, but they really aren’t all that great)
Mike, thank you for making me chuckle upon reading your comment. For your information there is a ‘fast train’ [ :-)] connection to KL. It takes about ten hours from JB to KL …. a bit like some of the Amtrak routes, fabulous scenery passes by at a leisurely pace. We often fly from SIN-KUL, then take the train from KL to Butterworth, followed by the ferry to Penang. After over six decades of ‘taking...
Mike, thank you for making me chuckle upon reading your comment. For your information there is a ‘fast train’ [ :-)] connection to KL. It takes about ten hours from JB to KL …. a bit like some of the Amtrak routes, fabulous scenery passes by at a leisurely pace. We often fly from SIN-KUL, then take the train from KL to Butterworth, followed by the ferry to Penang. After over six decades of ‘taking the train’, I can honestly say that by comparison, today, it is a fast train …. :-)
It's getting even faster now. Come December the new ETS train is going to enter service between Johor and KL, giving a direct train under 3-1/2 hours at Acela speeds. For the first time train travel will be competitive to taking the plane.
It’s funny how much is similar between this post of yours today and a similar one 7 years ago — down to your comparison with QR’s unparallelled J product on flights below an hour. It must be said that QR is absolutely in a league of its own in terms of how much it pampers you on short hops to DXB, RUH, BAH, etc., which simply cannot be said for SQ — perhaps the only...
It’s funny how much is similar between this post of yours today and a similar one 7 years ago — down to your comparison with QR’s unparallelled J product on flights below an hour. It must be said that QR is absolutely in a league of its own in terms of how much it pampers you on short hops to DXB, RUH, BAH, etc., which simply cannot be said for SQ — perhaps the only thing where SQ loses out in terms of service!
https://onemileatatime.com/singapore-airlines-short-haul-business-class/
No one beats us. Apparently Emirates and Qatar is ... WOAH, terrible
EK perhaps, but Ben has said time and again that QR is miles ahead of every other airline in the world, SQ included, when it comes to the food and service on short-haul routes. There’s simply no comparison between the full-blown catering on a one-hour QR flight and the rather limited service on SQ — which is still a million times better than anything in North America or Europe!
EK perhaps, but Ben has said time and again that QR is miles ahead of every other airline in the world, SQ included, when it comes to the food and service on short-haul routes. There’s simply no comparison between the full-blown catering on a one-hour QR flight and the rather limited service on SQ — which is still a million times better than anything in North America or Europe!
Not wishing to sound as if I am trying to contradict or disagree with you in any way Proxi, however, on short flights like SIN-KUL, one is less inclined to eat, etc, if it is between meals. I much prefer to eat a meal when grounded, don’t you?
Not forgetting folks, regional flights cater for the regional population, their likes, dislikes and dietary needs.
The counter being the incredible lack of consistency when it comes to the hard product offered by QR.
For flights of an hour (maybe 2), especially when flying with a partner, QR is the winner as the presence of a 2-2(-2 on the 330) layout isn't an issue. On flights of 3-4 hours, especially if flown alone, the superior hard product in SQ (or even EK) would really start to shine.