Review: SriLankan Business Class A330-300 Colombo To Male

And just so you know, this is the plane’s first commercial flight.”

New plane smell!

Snake gourd is also used in crafting the Australian musical instrument, the didgeridoo.

The business class cabin only had one person??? This makes me so angry. I was never able to find any availability between Singapore and Male (stopping in Colombo) in business, while economy had plenty of seats. I searched this route for a few months, and nothing ever opened up for the 3 days I was looking for. I'm not sure that Sri Lankan ever allows BA/AA mileage redemptions in business class. Anybody else have a different experience?

In the first coffee picture, does the milk/cream substance really say, "Tastes like fresh milk"?

I'm sure it tastes EXACTLY like fresh milk. Straight from the cow, I'll bet.

I can't wait to try Sri Lankan out. I'll definitely try to get on one of the new A330s. It's too bad you only had an hour to enjoy that flight.

Ben, living up to your nickname, as usual! I love how you hurl compliments so liberally when they are genuinely deserved. We know how much they mean, because you are equally brutally harsh when the service/product deserves it. Thanks for a great review of what sounded like a superb experience. You deserve it!

I need to get from MLE-SIn next spring. Wonder if i should book a Y flight on Sri Lankan and bid on upgrade. Thoughts? Not sure about success on the SIN leg

Lucky, I think they are also dedicating one to the CMB-LHR-CMB route.
I've just booked with them SIN-CMB-LHR in J for August and from what I can see most if not all of the CMB-LHR sectors are to be operated by A333.

Wow - much much higher quality, amenities and service levels than Air India's international flights to and from Male that are also 1.5 hours long. Buy Sri Lankan! =)

Super all around & What Fun!

A near perfect experience I see. Minus one mark for the sauce served in an aluminium foil container.

I would have thought you being a Floridian, snake gourd would have come across sometime while crossing a produce section.

It is revealing that a one hour flight had a more memorable service than some longer legs in your travel history. The comment from Renuka's team member explains a lot. Friends since school days. Go figure, nurturing long-term relationships produces warm and attentive personnel. No disposable people mentality there.

Looks exactly like Cathay BC?

Let's hope Janesis isn't reading this post. 😉

@ Rolex -- Yep, it's the same style of reverse herringbone seat.

@ Nathan -- That's awesome news, then!

@ Grandgourmand -- People seem to have very good success being able to bid for upgrades on SriLankan, so it might not be a bad option, depending on what the alternatives are.

@ Zow -- Thanks! 🙂

As an adult, I don't think I've ever had such a pleasant experience on a plane. I have had nice ones...even good ones. I've never had an excellent/outstanding experience though. I've also only flown a handful of carriers (over many trips), but one would think on all the AF/KL/DL flight's I've taken someone would have stood out. I'm trying to book a paid La Premiere flight towards the end of the year when they drop to around $5k from LAX, maybe that will be the chance. Delta is always good, but rarely great, and hasn't yet been amazing. KLM is...Dutch (lol). Air France is...French. I do like all 3, and none of them has really ever let me down in terms of service, but...yeah. I should broaden my horizons...I'm sure it will pay off.

just out of curiosity: what kind of camera(s) do you use for the photos in your reviews of flights and lounges?

@ Frank -- I use a Canon S95 (pretty outdated at this point):
https://onemileatatime.com/review-canon-powershot-s95/

"Of course I wasn’t going to get real use out of it on an hour flight, but I figured I should give it a try."

How was speed re wifi/Internet?

Hi Benjamin,
Greetings from Hong Kong. I am a long time fan of Srilankan airlines ever since my first flight with them back in 2013 (they still used the old biz class recliner seat then). This is one airlines I would give a lot of time and patronage for, because often they are the cheapest in biz class, and also the service and food easily put some giants like CX to shame. Now that they've joined one world, and flying this wonderful A330-300 to HK, and also to London (often at USD 2,500 J class all inclusive), I am going to stick with them for a long time.

I have met Renuka on one of my flights from Colombo to BKK. She's a legend amongst all the FAs, one of the most senior and experienced flight attendants they have. As a devoted Catholic herself, she was specially selected to serve that very special flight this year when Pope Francis visited Sri Lanka. It's not a surprise you got such a wonderful service from her. Flight attendant as good as her is rare, so glad you and I had both met her.

Btw, back in 2013 I had a flight with UL, BKK to HKG in Biz, I was also all alone, 3 attendants served me, it was a royal experience.

I'm flying BKK to London and I want business, should i book economy and bid for business or just book business, how can I know i'll get a flatbed in Business before booking? Will the whole journey, BKK --COL---LDN be business?
Thanks for any input.

Hi Richard. I am a platinum member of SriLankan airlines, I am sure you will be very impressed by their service and food in business class, especially for the price you pay. Normally lower than many other airlines, but the quality does not in any compromise.

From BKK to LHR via CMB. Depends on which flight u book to fly into BKK. The 9am one is always a small A321 plane with 2 x 2 configuration and recliner seat. But...it's spacious and surprisingly comfortable. You have about an hour or two in CMB before connecting to their 1pm daily flight to LHR, which is almost always their new A330-300, 1 x 2 x 1 flat bed. Worse comes the worse, it will be the A330-200, which is
2 x 2 x 2 but also a 180 degree flat bed. So, the key to getting flatbed is this:
A321 = NO flat bed; A332 or A333 = Flat bed. It will indicate before you confirm your purchase, so you are safe.

It is a personal matter about bidding for biz class with economy booking. It is worth a try but not always guaranteed successful. I find their biz class price is really quite reasonable, especially if they do promotion every now and then (e. g. Feb 14th Valentines 14% off discount, yearly). If the price is within your reach, might as well book biz class and have the peace of mind knowing that you are getting what you want. Have a nice flight with them, you will not regret your choice.

Hi there thank you for the reply, not so concerned about the BKK- COL flight for a flat bed, COL - LDN i need an FB, I will ask at their off office to confirm before hand. I will definitely book Business now as I don't like to bid and fail. Thanks for your advice.

Hi there thank you for the reply, not so concerned about the BKK- COL flight for a flat bed, COL - LDN i need an FB, I will ask at their off office to confirm before hand. I will definitely book Business now as I don't like to bid and fail. Thanks for your advice. R

You're welcome. Just in case you booked the evening flight out of Bangkok to Colombo. You'll have to stay overnight to catch the London flight next day. Don't fret, get over to the transfer counter a nice hotel with private car transfer will be arranged free for you. Even economy class passengers will be looked after as well. Transit free visa will also be provided too. That's how good they really are. I went to London twice with them ex Hong Kong. The biz fare is like full fare economy on some major airlines.

Hello there, I am planning a trip in April with my wife. It will be my first time to visit Sri Lanka and my first time on the Sri Lankan Airways. I read somewhere that paying for a business class ticket does not guarantee your seat, as you could easily be bumped down to economy and your seat be given to some Sri Lankan official. I'm interested in hearing your opinion on this.

Hi there,

I'm sure and i hope you'll enjoy the flight experience. I've been flying them many times in business class, never had i encountered being bumped down economy for some Sri Lankan officials. Maybe i was lucky, but for more than16 times?! Have no worries, you have a paid ticket and should be entitled your seat and service.

Thanks a lot Francis..I put so much time and money planning this trip..I hope we are as lucky as you have been 🙂

Good luck to you both, may I ask where will you be flying from? I am surprised to hear about your story of passengers got bumped off business class with a paid ticket! It's a scandal for any airlines to do that, and so much troubles with compensations and all that, it's just not worth it, all for just pleasing some certain higher up officials. Have no fear, I am sure it won't happen to you. If unfortunately it does, stand your ground, demand explanations. Compensations such as accommodations, next trips in biz class, plus good will mileage, at least 10,000 or more etc. Tell them you will write to Skytrax and Business traveller magazines about this scandal. Remind them you are one of those customers that keep them still in business, and demand to be treated with respect. Do let me know how your flight went? I am sure it's going to be wonderful.

Hi All ,
Lucky thank you for that update on the A330 Biz class. I now have the information to offer my clients and shall tell them to look out for "Renuka". That definitely is a major plus. Happy blogging.

I'll be trying out this product in a few days. For those looking to use Avios, taxes are substantially less MLE-CMB ($30 vs. $114) and vise versa. Economy is $171 and biz is selling for $440. Seems like a no brainer to burn 9,000 Avios and $30.

Just Flew Srilankan from Riyadh to Colombo onto Kuala Lumpur. Worst business class I have ever traveled on. Not sure why all the positive comments. Flew on the A330. Configuration is as described but the service and entertainment system ( Malfunctioned all 5 hours of flight ) were horrible. The food is equal to economy class on Qatar or Emirates. Ground services is truly horrible in Colombo. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS AIRLINE.

Since 2013, I have been their loyal customer. But unfortunately, they have really gone down hill. They stopped flying to Milan, Paris and Frankfurt and only keep London, for me is a very heavy blow, as I cannot use them to fly to these places. Their subsidiary budget version Mihin Lanka closed down and they absorbed their routes, really didn't help much. I noticed some cost cutting in terms of business class meal portion and presentation. From serving in separate courses to all on me plate. However, ticket price has gone up a lot. The only reason I am still flying is that the service is still good. Claiming miles for tickets is next to impossible, so I used the points to exchange for duty free items as a kind of compensation. In order to keep my status I need to fly at least a certain portion of the flights with them is just too restricting, especially there is not much destination choice. I heard rumour they will cut the Hong Kong to Bangkok route and change to flying direct to Colombo, a bad move if you asked me. That means to say my chance of flying with them will be even less. I was once their platinum flyer, now I favour Emirates instead.

Renuka should be your girlfriend ha ha ha

Dear OMAT team
I just spent 2 hours in BKK airport and as you know the lounges are woeful and overcrowded . As I platinum One Worlder I did a lounge crawl as the Cathay lounge was typically overcrowded.
I discovered at D section a brand new Qatar lounge with 2 dining rooms great food brilliant service and great showers and all facilities you would find in their Doha Lounges.
Don’t miss it as it beats Cathay JAL Emirates