Review: Singapore Airlines First Class Singapore to Seoul Incheon

The LAN machine might be SAS future A340. SAS uses regularly SIN as a maintenance / retrofitting base. I insist on the MIGHT be.

The 318 is a Saudi Red Crescent Authority jet. Set up as an advanced air ambulance.

http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/saudi-red-crescent-authority-takes-delivery-of-its-airbus-a318/

and

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(Saudi-Red/Airbus-A318-112-CJ/1878319/M/

Singapore Air standards sure dropped alot.

There is a typo before 'Krug' at the beginning of your report 😉

@ R B -- Fixed, thanks!

Wow, I think you mixed up German with English when you described having rucola, didn't you?
It indeed looks like rucola, but I think you people 😉 always call it arugula.
Anyway, a nice report as usual, and almost unbelievable how the crew was working this flight.

@ Ralfinho -- LOL, I was copying directly off the menu! 😀

Hope some personnel from SQ will read this and make some changes to their "well-known" high class service.

Just wondering, if you will jump to ICN-SFO review, which I think the most high anticipated reading by your readers... or post it at the same time.

Thanks for your review

You People always mistake China Southern A330's for China Eastern A330's too.

Why not fly UA? The F seats are far more comfortable for a daytime flight and FA's in F are usually stellar. Do you value the Krug and lobster that much? Personally I agree with Gary - it's all about the seat.

It's SHOCKING they'd ask you if you want your bed turned down after you asked for pajamas.

@ Brian - Oops! Fixed, thanks!

For Boraxo: People still fly UA? The Easyjet of Legacy carriers? I was hoping the CO crew would improve it but from the last dozen flights I've flown on them I'd have to say I think UA seems un-fixable.

More info on the LAN A343:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5824746/

Wow, are you sure that wasn't a UA flight you were on? That has to be the worst SQ crew ever...did you get their names and complain about the service?

Interesting that on your Thai flight on the A380, which is a similar flight time/length wise, they served a pre-arrival snack (ok, granted, it was still ice cream, but still). No pre-arrival snack flight here?

That first map has Nanjing off by about 1000 km - it's where Chongqing is! SQ should know where Nanjing is, since they flew SIN-NKG not too long ago.

@ wwk5d -- Agree it's surprising/disappointing. On many flights Singapore's catering is just SO weak. For example, on a Singapore to Tokyo redeye they only serve breakfast, while on a Bangkok to Tokyo redeye (which is shorter) they serve a midnight snack and breakfast.

Looks like a China Eastern A330, not China Southern.

I wish you did more First Class flight reviews!!...... said no one ever.

You are addicted and I'm starting to feel bad for you. You know, you could give up renting a place and use that for flights.. maybe you could be the first person to live on an airplane!

Thanks for your unbiased report. I truly appreciate these reports ( like the LH business, EVA business etc) that inform me of choices available for future travels.

Sometimes I feel that you are treated "differently" by the airlines, once they spot your name on the passenger list, since you are a well-known blogger. But I see that is not true.

I am not a seasoned traveler, as you are, and am shocked to hear this crew's behavior. Were they Singapore nationals?

Anyway, can't wait to read the ICN-SFO sector report. I guess Janesis must be a heck of a flight attendant, that can make any flight a dream come true !

Definitely doesn't sound like a first class experience on this one. Re the offer to make your bed, surely that was because you'd just asked for pyjamas, implying you were wanting to get some sleep??

It seems like with SQ and TG (and maybe others) that intra-Asian flights don't have stellar service as much as longer haul flights. It seems, as I recall, that your flight from SIN to DPS wasn't too great either, non?

@ Aeroman380 -- Except this was a longhaul crew. They would be working ICN-SFO the following day.

Lucky... i think your being a little bit too sensitive. I don't think she was trying to knock you out... i think she was thinking that you may be tired and wanna go to sleep early.

However, " you people always seem to stay there" is a nonono for singapore airlines.

The asking if you want your bed made up is a great example of how first impressions make such a big difference in a service industry.

If the crew had been on point up until then, you probably would've thought she was sorry she didn't have PJs and was trying to anticipate your needs, but because they stunk/were indifferent, you assumed the worst. Customer service 101, SQ!!

It does sound like this crew was quite sub-par, but as for the not coming around the cabin, there is a chance there could be some design to that. I have read that Singapore trains its crews to respond to different cultures, and Americans are particularly averse to pushing the FA call button (probably because we know we would get barked at by FAs if we did it on a domestic flight at home) so they are especially proactive on flights to the US, whereas they are more discreet on flights to Asian destinations where wandering around the cabin constantly would be considered more of an intrusion.

Though, if this was the flight specifically intended as part of the SIN-ICN-SFO service, you would think they would be in the American service mode anyway.

"You people"??? That's rather tact-less (let alone, not politically correct). Imagine what would happen if a FA on a US airline used that comment.

Sometimes these things happen due to language differences but if the crew was going to work a flight to the US, you'd think their English would be good.

@Lucky said, "The extent of our conversation was him asking 'did you stay at the casino hotel in Singapore? You people always seem to stay there.'" I don’t think I have to say anything else about the crew…"

So, you're complaining that a Singapore flight attendant who generalized about Europeans who visit Singapore? Serious? ROFLMAO. But that's what you do?! I've noticed countless travel reports where YOU have done the same exact thing - make sweeping generalizations about other cultures (especially those of East and Southeast Asia). When someone else does it, it's not okay? But when you do it, it's fine? That's a very typical white American response - we can do it but not you.

As for complaining about the FAs not coming around to refill your water, it's by design. The call button is there for a reason. Know the culture first before complaining about it like a typical naive foreigner.

@ What a Turd - You live by your username. The problem with the generalised statement is that that the SQ flight attendant is generalising that all Americans/Europeans go to the casino. And you'd better give me a link of where Lucky does that.

Hi,

i have a question not related to redemption, but for earning miles. I am going to take SQ first class suite on revenue ticket (fare code R), which mean i will be eligible to earn 300% of the distance flown and as a krisflyer PPS member, i would get addition 25% of the overall miles earned. This is for Sydney-Singapore (3912 base mile), Singapore- JFK (via frankfurt, 9533 base mile). So that's a whooping 50,418 miles earned if i credit it into my krisflyer PPS account.

However, i live in US and i been united 1K member for the last 3years, so i am not too sure too if i should clock this to my united account instead. If i clocked them into united, it will be 20,167 miles earned (150% of base mile flown) and 13,445 PQM.

As of today, i have 56,043 PQM in my united mileage plus. Really uncertain about my travels for the rest of the year...

any advise?

@ carol -- That's a toughie. If you're concerned about requalifying for status with United and value it highly I would probably credit there. Otherwise I would definitely credit to Singapore KrisFlyer.

Thanks.. Well the trip is happening in May...and my company just switched our corporate preferred airline from united to delta as delta giving us deep discount.. Totally messed up my plan! Lol. I will give this a deep thought! Thank you!