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.
Continue reading: Singapore Airlines’ Regional A350 Business Class On A 184-Mile Flight
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
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/
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
What a boring comment. Tell us more about your preferences, we're dying to know. BK over MCD?
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)
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.
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.
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 …. 🙂
"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.
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.
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.
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.
@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.
I'll *bite* definitely Egg McMuffin over whatever filth they're serving at the other place.
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.
@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.
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!!
You could have just taken a train or bus. That’s a lot of CO2 emissions carbon footprint.
@Ben I enjoy your trip reviews but there are things that could make them easier to navigate.
First off, you used to have a list of links to other posts in that trip at the very top of the current post. That was very helpful in going back to a post that I may have missed.
Second, it would help if you had some tag or indication of what the post is, whether it is a review, insight, preview, etc. so that it's easy to see on the main page or in the links to other posts in that trip. Like for an insight before the full review, the title could be "INSIGHT: Singapore Airlines' A350"
I'm glad you're back to review trips as I've been missing those!
@Kilomiles that’s great news. I’m still planning my trip next year but going from KL to Singapore is an option and a fast train would sound so much better than the short flight.
The female flight attendant in the video is so robotic lol compared to the older safety video.
Ben have you flown MH? They definitely have the genuinely down to earth FAs while SQ can sometimes be very by the book. Both though are great
Just did the JFK-SIN-SYD MEL-SIN-EWR in March. If you search for them on YouTube under M Paul you will find then (wink). SIN-SYD in Business is yet to be posted
It’s not even 50 mins, more like 35-40 mins. Just shows how much premium US carriers charges to give worse, maybe that so where the Premium in DL’s Premium comes from. PREMIUM PRICING
I've flown Singapore on several routes in both economy and premium economy, and have loved it every time. I would hands down pick them, go out of my way to fly them, against any competition. Qatar would be the only competition really.
Adding: the new train stop will be in Johor Bahru (not just Johor which is a state) and therefore right across from Singapore.
That is a very interesting question Bob, perhaps the answer lies in the fact that I am English, yes?
If you are indeed English, your use of the word is even more surprising. “One” is an indefinite pronoun used to refer to “a person” in a general sense. It is not a first person pronoun like “I” and it is not used to refer to specific individuals. The word is similar to the French “on” in this respect. It does not make sense to say that “one” has no experience of ME carriers when you are really taking about yourself (not people generally).
…. 🙂 …. Thank you professor Bob, for what appears to be the Merriam Webster dictionary adulteration of ones examples of the written English language. The Merriam Webster dictionary “Americas most trusted dictionary” …. just like POTUS, the UK Labour Party and of course the BBC (Biased Broadcasting Corporation) they are always correct when it comes to all things English …. NOT!
Ok it takes some cunning to say that 6 human rights as announced in 1948 are wortless in just one short paragraph so chapeau
Afterthought …. It is my understanding that the ETS train will NOT crossover into Singapore. One will still need to take the JB-Singapore shuttle link. If I am mistaken please correct me.
I'm sure taking the flight was simply for review purposes.
Would you have enjoyed a bus review?
Thought not!