Review: Singapore Airlines Suites Class A380 Frankfurt To New York

wow... it doesn't take much for you to get an erection...

btw, no caviar???

Wife and I flew with Singapore last week for the first time (in the double Suites, no less) and I noticed the same thing: their accent is awesome. I was just mesmerized listening to the lead stewardess. She kinda reminded me of the way Holly talks in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and she was the same size (eg so thin you wonder if there's someone under that dress).

FWIW we decided to eat facing each other and that turned out to be a bad choice, it totally confused them and service was unequal between the two of us.

And we did do a tasting of Krug VS Dom... Dom wins by far, sorry 🙂

not in the least surprised by the kosher double check. for the price of the seats, you should be able to demand that. and yes it's pretty simple to just look at the try to know if the wrappers are right. sucks that someone has to be that meticulous but the number of times an airline has screwed up...

Lucky, I dare you to try the "Unique mix of red wine with a splash of coke".

@ BradR: how does a Kosher wrapper differ from a non-Kosher?

Ben - Did you "book the cook" for your second meal? I thought it was supposed to be a "light meal"

Also, whats the suites class etiquette on taking the Givenchy blanket? lol They're blankets, not comforters so should I ask? Have you ever taken one?

Lucky,

At this point do you take tours of the plane by yourself? Or do you have a stewardess escort you?

I've always wondered which was the better way to take a tour. (Both which you would prefer and which the crew would prefer)

Also J-D you're crazy. Krug beats Dom every time. And that's a scientific fact.

@ Ben H -- Yep, almost always do so by myself, unless the crew insists on giving a tour, in which case I still try to turn it down (though sometimes they're pushy). 😀

@ JC -- Haven't ever taken one and assume they're not meant to be taken, though I could be wrong. I didn't "Book The Cook" on this flight.

@ BradR -- To clarify, wouldn't the kosher meal be served fully wrapped anyway?

Their wine list is interesting, SQ serves quality champagne and extremely good reds, but their whites are very ordinary. Also, what's up with offering three Chardonnays? Very disappointing, although, I guess you could just stick to Krug if you wanted another white (mind you, majority of the champagne consists of, you guessed it, Chardonnay grapes).

It's 5 o'clock somewhere! Cheers!

@Lucky, as Lantean remarked, there seemed to be no caviar on this flight. Is there a way to know which flight serve caviar and which don't? What's the rule of thumb with SQ? Does the flight have t be over 8 hours of duration, or is caviar only served on afternoon and evening departures?

Lucky,

What's been your experience in being able to score a saver suites award SIN-FRA-JFK? I had to book standard business and Singapore was unwilling to waitlist me in suites since I have a confirmed booking in business.

I had four great A380 Suites sectors with SQ recently. Opted for 3A for all of them, mainly on your recommendation in previous reviews, Lucky! Loved it as a seat and twice they made up another seat for me to sleep in. Very helpful and attentive crew - as you pointed out they pronounce schedule correctly too 😛

Was fun on my SIN-AKL flight though. After boarding they came to tell me they had a VIP on board - me! It turned out I was the only pax in Suites for that flight so I was outnumbered by crew 3:1! They made up the double bed for me and insisted on repeatedly topping up my glass of Krug! Not sure I'll ever have that kind of service again but loved it!

Those that eat kosher rmeals often check the wrqpper to make surethe meal is really onboard. Airlines can get quite creative at improvising when meal are not loaded. While improvising is sometimes great it is not accepptable to those that eat kosher.
Kosher rmeals have a separate portion which is designed to go in the oven while salads and other parts do not get heated.
The SQ leg from FRA is a relatively early departure and I had the dubious honor of being adressed by name when I arrived at the gate. I aksed how they knew my name and they replied that I was the only male passenger not boarded yet.

I really don't appreciate the gratuitous commentary regarding the Hasidim.

@Steven - then please take this as a "learning opportunity". I don't think Lucky meant any disrespect or just to make a gratuitous comment. I may have said the same thing in the same situation without "knowing better" here in flyover country.

How about you saying what specifically was at issue, and perhaps lend some context/understanding. THAT would be helpful.

We're all so knee-jerk PC these days that we miss a lot of opportunities to bridge differences.

I see the catering department is able to save money on caviar on this segment.

It is standard for the FA to present the wrapped Kosher meals to the guest to prove it is sealed and has a rabbinic seal. Even on United it is automatic so I'm surprise they had to ask in First class on SIN, that's a pretty big oversight on their part if that is really what happened.

OK so maybe it's just me, but I would have gone all Korean Air VP on your flight: They garnished your dessert with Parsley? REALLY? Not only is it wrong, it's stupid and who ever thought it was a good idea probably was someone working with their Russian catering company. Don't they have to be taught this stuff? Didn't someone with food knowledge actually teach them how to garnish and what is an appropriate garnish....mmm how about a slice of strawberry for the strawberry crumble? Radical idea? Or was this some rouge FA's attempt at being creative? Fail! Excuse me Pilot STOP THE PLANE we are immediately firing this FA. Really, Truly, Bad. Not to mention unacceptable on a flight you can spend $9,500 on . This makes nuts in a bag not a bowl in First Class look like a parking ticket compared to the felony of parsley with crumble.

@Lucky
You seem to have an issue with the presence of the Hasidic Jews travelling on your flight. I don't have issues with anybody but I wonder how PC your post would be considered if your comments related to any other recognizable racial or religious group.
Any group of six passengers will involve more commotion or activity that a single or couple of passengers.
If you had the knowledge you would know that the preheating check might even have been SQ protocol so the pax can see the meal was genuine and sealed. My concern is not SQ protocol it is your misinterpretation thereof.
It is considered prudent to move around during a flight, especially flights over 6 hours and during a series of multiple flights. These passengers were probably following medically established rules to prevent DVT. Sadly, their decision of where to walk did not coincide with your concept of where you expect them to walk. I am sure you knew this but still seem to have an issue with these passengers. Thank goodness they were a group that is easier to kind of point out while still remaining PC.
SQ probably is happy to welcome them aboard because other than some low cost kosher meals they probably consumed very little, I really doubt SQ boards Kosher Champagne.

@Colleen, I also took note of what seemed like too much gratuitous comment or talk about New York Hasidic jews. It is there and it just doesn't pass the smell test.

@Lantean I agree seems unusual for Ben to get an erection from the sound of the captains voice - regular readers of the blog know it usually requires the stewards serving him a few glasses of Krug and a couple of handfuls of warm nuts to get him really aroused.

@meegabroad heavens Singapore are mixing calimocha!!!! Although for it to be proper calimocha it has to be made with a 5l jug of red wine cheap enough that pouring out enough to fit the coke in is preferable to drinking the red wine alone.

I now have a delicious image of an impeccably turned out Singapore girl mixing calimocha on the floor of the galley.

"His announcement was so refined, precise, and professional that it was borderline erection-inducing."

You have the most...interesting fetishes.

"so maybe it’s just me"

It's definitely just you.

I don't see what was so OTT about his comments regarding the Jewish passengers...

Lucky, is there a big difference between their food in first and business? The quality and plate size seems to be very similar.

Seems like people around here don't know what gratuitous means. Every part of the trip report that makes it a story rather than a list of facts is "gratuitous". What you mean to say is you're offended by something you imagine Lucky meant, which is gratuitous idiocy on your part.

As Asian American who has a high degree of curiosity, I found myself ordering a Kosher meal on a CX flight from HKG to SIN. Since i was the only one who reserved the Kosher meal, the lead stewardess presented me a fully wrapped (tin foil) meal tray, which I had to inspect AND sign off a waiver to confirm that I was fully satisfied with the meal received.

The Kosher meal was certainly "Interesting" and a new discovery for me. That day, I learned something new by venturing out to try something different.

@Lucky, barring any dietary restrictions/allergies you may have, you should go out on a limb occasionally and order something you would not normally try on a regular basis - say, a Kosher meal, or gluten free meal, or vegan meal. Not only would it make it an interesting meal experience but it would certainly be helpful to some of your readers in the miles and points community.

Cheers!

@ KG -- Generally longhaul flights with lunch or dinner service have caviar. In this case the flight had brunch and a light meal, which is why it didn't have it.

@ Mark -- I've sometimes seen them open two seats 11 months out, but it can require a lot of flexibility. If it opens, it's typically far in advance and not close to departure.

@ Alan -- So happy to hear. Can't beat that!

@ Mark -- Hah, didn't notice the parsley until now. That is odd.

@ cb -- I'm sorry if that's how you interpret it, but it wasn't the intent and it's not the way I read it, going back. I like to describe situations/cabins so that people feel like they're there with me as much as possible, and that's all I was doing. I pointed out they were from New York much in the way I pointed out the couple behind them was Singaporean and the guy on the other side was German. That's all.

@ wwk5d -- On this sector there isn't a huge difference, since it's not a lunch or dinner flight (so neither cabin gets caviar). I'd say in first class the plating is a bit better and the dessert is a bit more artistic, but aside from that there isn't a huge difference.

OK, Hasidic Jew here. Nothing offensive here, it is funny to point it out as you wouldn't expect to read a TR that there were 6 Mexicans or 6 Asians, but hey, hasidic jews do tend to stick out.

Not sure what was with the pacing, was he praying from a book? I'd rather not be that conspicuous, but I can see that happening.

Most times in F they will bring the KSML to you prior to takeoff so that you can check the kosher label and so that you can provide instruction as to how you would like it served and warmed.

Min, that was brave of you to try a KSML 😉

I actually also told Lucky when we met this past June that he ought to try a KSML, would make for a different kind of TR. Don't worry Ben, I won't hold it against you for washing down the KSML with some Krug. Whiskies are generally kosher, so nothing that some single malt can't help with either.

I've read one SQ R TR where the flyer was able to request kosher champagne in advance, though when I flew SQ they were only able to provide kosher wine.

Best KSMLs would be on BA, CX, LH, LY, or SQ, as long as they don't depart from the US.
KSMLs from the US are usually bad news. Hence the need for BYOK... http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=46852

Wait, no pics of the kosher meal for a comparison? 😉

I reckon you should order a KSML one day, just for kicks. Though as Dan said, really depends on the airline and departure point as to whether it's decent or absolute crap.

@Dan, while the meals ex-USA aren't amazing, they're certainly edible. Try a long life meal from Stogel in Antwerp packed in little foil containers where you can't recognise what the hell you're eating and you'll be begging for one of those ex-USA meals.

I still have nightmares of the Stogel long-life meals.

I had them in US J from CDG-PHL and LH served them to me in the MUC F lounge.

I would be embarrassed serving that stuff to a dog:

Hence the need for "BYOK" to be warmed on the plane.

But there are very good KSMLs out there. CX from HKG and SQ from MLE were 2 of my favorites. LH from FRA was pretty good and you can even order a KSML in the LH FCT there.

There's even a thread on which lounges will supply KSMLs: http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=47400.0

Lucky when you're ready to take the plunge shoot me an email and I'll give you some more tips 😉

Hi Lucky. Thanks for your reply regarding QR's A350 seating.

I am booking myself a seat on SQ26 SIN - JFK on KF online booking. Can't seem to find a single seat for Suite Saver. Do you think they have a change in policy or do you know of any date which they have Suite Saver available? My travel date is flexible. Thanks a lot.

@ SA -- Singapore goes back and forth on releasing Suites Class award space, so I'd keep checking as there's a good chance space will open up.

I was wondering; does Singapore Airlines upgrade people from business class to suites on the NRT-LAX sector on a revenue ticket without top tier status.

@ Zach -- Only if you redeem miles for the upgrade, or if business class is oversold, in which case they'd operationally upgrade based on status.

It seems we all get what we want - Lucky is now a Kosher breakfast fan.
Also sensitive people should get over themselves.