- Introduction: A Spring Trip To Italy & France
- My Eurowings Discover Flight Was Canceled, And I Messed Up (Kind Of)
- Review: Eurowings Discover Business Class A330 (TPA-FRA)
- Review: Lufthansa Senator Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Lufthansa A321 Business Class (FRA-VCE)
- Review: St. Regis Venice, Italy
- Review: Gritti Palace Venice, Marriott Luxury Collection
- Impressions From Our Trip To Venice, Italy
- Review: Trenitalia Business Class (Venice To Milan)
- Review: Bulgari Hotel Milan, Italy
- Review: Trenitalia Executive Class (Milan To Chambery)
- Review: Les Airelles Hotel Courchevel, France (WOW!)
- My Experience Learning To Ski In Courchevel
- Review: SWISS Senator Lounge Geneva Airport (GVA)
- Review: SWISS A220 Business Class (GVA-FRA)
- Review: Marriott Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Luxx Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Singapore Airlines A380 Suites (FRA-JFK)
Usually it’s sad to be returning home after an amazing trip… well, except if your flight home is in the Singapore Airlines A380 Suites double bed!
I had flown Singapore Airlines “new” A380 Suites once before from Sydney to Singapore back in early 2018, shortly after it was introduced. However, I flew alone at the time, while on this flight I was flying with Ford, so we could give the double bed a try. I was also curious to see how the product was holding up over four years later.
Let me say upfront that this flight was simply amazing in just about every way. If you’re traveling with someone, I’d argue that this is probably the best first class product in the world. Singapore Airlines is such a detail-oriented airline, and that shows in just about every aspect of the experience.
In this post:
How I booked our Singapore Airlines A380 Suites tickets
Singapore Airlines operates a pretty cool fifth freedom flight between Frankfurt and New York. As of late March 2022, the airline upgraded this route from a Boeing 777 to an Airbus A380, making it the only Singapore Airlines route to the United States to be operated by the A380.
The catch is that Singapore Airlines A380s have just six seats in Suites, and award seats are typically nearly impossible to come by. Fortunately in late December 2021, Singapore Airlines essentially opened the floodgates to Suites award availability, and many flights had multiple award seats available on this route.
I managed to lock in the following flight in Suites for two people for 86,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles plus 117.45 Euro per person in taxes and fees:
04/07 SQ26 Frankfurt to New York departing 8:35AM arriving 11:10AM
What an incredible opportunity this was, and I’m just sad that I might never be able to replicate this, since the airline almost never releases two Suites seats (though who knows, maybe we’ll see a similar opportunity for a brief period again in the future).
Singapore KrisFlyer miles are easy to come by, as the program partners with all major transferable points currencies, including Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou.
Singapore Airlines Suites check-in, lounge, & boarding
The night before we were due to fly to the United States, we were notified that our flight from Frankfurt to New York would be delayed by 90 minutes, with the departure time being moved from 8:35AM to 10:05AM. This was due to the plane being late from Singapore.
As a result, we could get to the airport later than initially planned. We were staying at the Marriott Frankfurt Airport, which is connected to the terminal, so we headed over to the airport at around 8:30AM. The check-in process took just a couple of minutes, and both security and passport control were quick as well.
Just about the only disappointing thing about flying Singapore Airlines Suites from Frankfurt to New York is the lounge situation. Suites passengers are invited to use the Lufthansa Senator Lounge, which pales in comparison to the Lufthansa First Class Terminal that you’d be able to use if flying Lufthansa first class on the same route.
We headed straight to our departure gate, which was B46. It was so nice to see a Singapore Airlines A380 for the first time in over two years — what a beauty!
Boarding was scheduled for 9:35AM, 30 minutes before the modified departure time. Passengers traveling in Suites were invited to take a seat in a roped off area so that they could board first. Sure enough, boarding started exactly as scheduled.
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites cabin & seats
Even though I’ve flown the Airbus A380 dozens of times, I still get giddy every time I go up the jet the bridge and board directly to the second level. Singapore Airlines’ A380 Suites are located at the front of the upper deck. The footprint dedicated to this space is simply unbelievable.
Singapore Airlines has just six Suites on the A380, spread across three rows in a 1-1 configuration. This also means that there’s just a single aisle, which is mighty cool-looking.
Each Suite is roughly 50 square feet, which is unheard of for a first class seat. As a point of comparison, Emirates fits 14 first class seats in the same space. Singapore Airlines took an unconventional approach to its Suites product on the A380. Rather than having a seat that turns into a bed, each Suite instead has a seat and then a separate bed that folds out from the wall.
The seat itself is well padded and can swivel, so that you can face whichever direction you’d like. The seat also reclines a fair bit, though doesn’t go fully flat.
Under the seat’s armrest are both the entertainment controller and seat controllers, allowing you to turn the seat and even swivel the TV.
To the side of the seat is a counter with a flower, which is also where the tray table extends from. This means that if you want to eat you’ll be facing toward the door.
Each Suite has a door that closes to give a good amount of privacy. There’s a pattern on the door with cutouts so that the crew can peek in, but for the most part you have privacy. There’s also a massive 32″ TV on the wall that swivels, allowing you to enjoy entertainment from the seat or bed.
To the side of the seat are several small storage compartments, plus a backlit mirror. These compartments could be used to store a phone, wallet, glasses, etc.
The privacy, window, and lighting controls are also located on a panel at the far end of the seat. Yep, in Singapore Suites the window blinds are automated, so you just push a button and they lower or raise.
There’s also a panel with a cover that has AC and USB power outlets, an HDMI plug, a contactless payment system, and headphone jacks.
By the way, there’s a second AC and USB outlet underneath the main table, so you have ample charging opportunities.
There’s also an exposed storage area at the very front corner of the seat. In reality this holds the bed when it folds out of the wall, but when the bed isn’t in use, this is a good spot to place things.
Right near the door is a fairly large closet with a mirror. This is large enough to store a carry-on bag, and you can also hang clothes or a garment bag here.
While the Suite is pretty snazzy, what’s even cooler is when you turn it into a double Suite. Seats 1A & 2A, as well as seats 1F & 2F, can turn into double Suites, assuming you’re traveling with someone else. The crew just has to lower a partition, and that’s it. You still can’t easily walk between the two Suites since the beds are in the middle and folded up. However, the forward seat can swivel 180 degrees, and then you’re facing one another. AWESOME.
Singapore Airlines’ A380 Suites cabin is ridiculously impressive. The amount of space dedicated to each passenger is unrivaled, as this product has the biggest footprint of any first class in the world.
This is no doubt an excellent product to begin with, but it’s even better when you’re traveling with someone and can turn the space into a larger combined area.
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites bathrooms
While Singapore Airlines’ A380s don’t have any shower suites (unlike Emirates), the airline does have very nice bathrooms for Suites passengers. At the front of the Suites cabin is the staircase leading to the main deck, and then there’s a bathroom on each side of that.
The larger bathroom is on the right (when facing the front of the plane), and it features a sink, vanity with a mirror, and a large toilet. With the exception of the Emirates A380 shower suite, this is no doubt the most luxurious commercial aircraft bathroom in the sky.
As is standard on Singapore Airlines, the bathroom is stocked with all kinds of amenities, ranging from shaving kits to dental kits.
The left side of the aircraft also has a spacious bathroom, though it’s not as big as the other one. This one has a toilet, a long bench, and a nice sink area.
Singapore Airlines Suites amenities
It’s kind of like Christmas when you board Singapore Suites, based on the amount of stuff you’re gifted. Within a minute of settling in we were offered pre-departure drinks of choice, and of course we requested some champagne. 2008 Dom Perignon was on offer. Yum.
Waiting at each seat upon boarding was a pair of noise canceling Bang & Olufsen headphones.
We were also offered Lalique amenity kits. Singapore Airlines takes an unconventional approach to providing amenities, since most of the basic things you might need are located in the lavatories. So these kits instead largely have things you might enjoy at home, like a scented candle, soap, body lotion, and lip balm. If nothing else, it makes a great gift for someone back home.
We were also given Lalique pajamas and slippers, which were high quality and comfortable.
Eyeshades and earplugs were distributed as well.
Lastly, there was a care kit with a mask, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes.
The back of this kit had the QR codes for the inflight menus and more. No menus were distributed on this flight, but rather the menus were exclusively through your personal device. I found that to be a bit strange and impractical, especially since it requires connecting to inflight Wi-Fi. On the plus side, you can easily look up the menu for any Singapore Airlines flight at this link by entering your flight number, class of service, and date of travel.
Lastly, separate from the bedding provided at turndown service, blankets were offered, so that we could get cozy while relaxing in our seats.
Singapore Airlines departure from Frankfurt
Boarding was efficient, and was completed by 9:55AM (20 minutes after it started). For what it’s worth, on the upper deck five of the six Suites were occupied, while business class was less than half full.
At 10AM the captain was on the PA to apologize for our delayed departure, but he explained that we should make up some time enroute, as the flight time was “only” 7hr40min. At 10:15AM we began our pushback, and at that time the safety video was screened as well. I quite like Singapore Airlines’ destination-themed safety video.
We taxied for around 10 minutes, and at that point the captain was back on the PA. He apologized profusely, and explained that there was a hydraulics issue with the number three engine, and that maintenance would have to look at it. However, we couldn’t return to our gate, so we’d have to taxi to a remote stand.
By 10:35AM we arrived at a remote stand, parking near a Thai Airways 777.
I was extremely impressed by the entire team’s work keeping passengers updated. The captain provided several updates about the progress of the fix, and the tone in his announcement was just refreshing, as it was clear he took pride in the company and took responsibility for the situation and the impact it would have on passengers. The station manager even got on the plane to make a PA apologizing for the delay.
I’ve gotta be honest, I didn’t mind this delay one bit, since 7hr40min really isn’t enough time to enjoy this great product. 😉 Once it was clear we’d be on the ground for a while, the crew sprung into action and started inflight service. First we were brought a couple more glasses of Dom Perignon. A snack basket was also brought around, so I paired my Dom with some nacho cheese Doritos, natch — what a tasty combination!
The crew also served us some delicious chicken satay, which was supposed to be part of the lunch service. We were asked if we wanted seconds, and when we said that we didn’t, we were told we could enjoy more after takeoff if we wanted to.
At 11:45AM, about 70 minutes after we got to the remote stand, the captain said that the problem was fixed, and some paperwork just needed to be completed. Sure enough, 10 minutes later we began our pushback. The safety video was screened once again, and then we had a roughly 25 minute taxi to our departure runway. We were cleared for takeoff on runway 25R at 12:20PM, and rocketed off toward New York.
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites entertainment & Wi-Fi
After takeoff I browsed the entertainment selection and connected to the Wi-Fi. Singapore Airlines’ KrisWorld entertainment system is phenomenal — it has an endless selection of movies and TV shows, and the system is highly responsive and easy to use.
In particular, I love how KrisWorld has complete seasons of so many TV shows. It’s always a bit frustrating when you find a new show that you love on a flight, but then the entertainment system only has one or two episodes. And it’s not just that there are complete seasons, but they’re largely pretty new shows — for example, season 11 of Curb Your Enthusiasm was available.
When flying, my favorite entertainment is always the moving map, though, so that’s what I had on for most of the flight.
Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380s also have Wi-Fi.
Singapore Airlines’ Wi-Fi pricing on this flight was as follows:
- A chat pass was available for $3.99
- A 100MB pass was available for $9.99
- A 200MB pass was available for $15.99
- A three hour pass with no data caps (which could be paused) was available for $15.99
The good news is that premium passengers receive free Wi-Fi, just by entering their last name and seat number:
- Suites passengers get free Wi-Fi for the entire flight with no data caps
- Business class passengers and PPS Club members get 100MB of free Wi-Fi
Since we were in Suites, we got free Wi-Fi the entire flight with no data caps, which was awesome. The only downside was that we were on one of Singapore’s older A380s, which had the old OnAir Wi-Fi system. This meant speeds were quite slow.
Singapore’s new A380s have a faster Wi-Fi system, so it’s luck of the draw what you get.
Singapore Airlines Suites lunch service
Meal orders were taken on the ground, and I was amazed that I was served my first drink less than 15 minutes after takeoff. On this particular flight, lunch was served after takeoff, and a snack was served before landing.
You can find the lunch menu below.
Singapore Airlines is known for its great drink selection as well, and you can find the wine list below.
A couple of quick things to note:
- On this routes, Singapore Airlines used to serve breakfast after takeoff rather than lunch, so this is a massive improvement; now you get a proper meal on this flight with caviar, while back in the day the catering on this route was pretty anticlimactic
- Singapore Airlines has the “Book the Cook” program, whereby you can pre-order your main course from dozens of choices, giving passengers access to so many more options; we didn’t use this, but it is available
Ordinarily Singapore Airlines serves both Dom Perignon and Krug in Suites. On this particular flight Krug was substituted with 2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, which was equally lovely. So we switched to that after takeoff.
My table was set within 20 minutes of takeoff.
While we were offered more chicken satay, we decided to just start off with caviar, served with the traditional accompaniments.
The Oscietra caviar on this flight was from Gourmet House, and was imported from Italy.
With the main course I switched to a glass of red wine, even though I was having fish. Specifically, I ordered a glass of the 2014 Clos-De-Vougeot Grand Cru. Why? Okay, I’ll be honest. I looked up all the reds, and this was by far the most expensive. In the past I haven’t been into reds, but that has changed recently, and I’m starting to enjoy them more.
So while I’m sure wine enthusiasts will lambast me for ordering a red with my fish (and my logic in picking it based on the price), it allowed me to experience a great wine and I enjoyed it, and I think at the end of the day that’s what matters.
For the main course I ordered the roasted black cod fillet in New England chowder with potato leek and spinach, and the crew was able to plate it without bacon. The dish was excellent.
Ford had the stir-fried chicken with Chu Hou sauce, accompanied by vegetables and egg fried rice.
While we were stuffed at this point, I still figured we had to take one for the team. So Ford ordered the cheese plate, while I had the chocolate and coffee tart with mango sauce.
What a fantastic meal, in terms of the quality of food, service, and personalization. As mentioned above, you can always order a different main course in advance, as there are so many things to choose from, including Singapore Airlines’ famous lobster thermidor.
I’m thrilled that the Frankfurt to New York flight now offers lunch rather than breakfast, despite the early departure, as this is so much better of a dining experience.
One other thing I wanted to point out. Due to the position of the table, you have to face the aisle while dining. When I flew Singapore Suites a few years ago I found this to be kind of awkward, as you were essentially facing the person in the seat across from you.
It seems Singapore Airlines has updated service protocols to address that, and now the crew closed the door with each interaction while serving the meal, so you don’t have to look at a stranger.
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites double bed
After lunch it was time to have our double bed made. This involved both of the beds being folded down from the center section, and the entire turndown service took only about five minutes. How awesome of a setup is this?!? Seeing this suite with the full double bed mode was definitely one of those moments where I wondered if life is even real.
Below are some pictures of the Singapore Airlines A380 Suites double bed from just about all angles.
Let me start by saying that there’s not a single better first class product in the world if you’re traveling with someone, in my opinion. A few thoughts beyond that:
- The Singapore A380 Suites bed is on the hard side, so this isn’t the most plush bed in the sky
- The sheer amount of space you have here is unbelievable; the bed as such isn’t that huge, but the fact that you have so much open space around you makes a huge difference in the overall feel of the cabin
- Note that this isn’t a “true” double bed, in the sense that there is a small, hard barrier between the two beds; I suppose you could spoon if you wanted to, but you’re either going to be very cozy in one seat, or one person is going to be on the fairly hard center barrier
- If you “only” have one Suite, you’re sleeping right next to a wall, and that’s not great for airflow; by comparison, the double bed really helped make the cabin feel less warm
- For those wondering, Singapore Suites has doors, and I’d say you have a good amount of privacy; crews aren’t generally looking over the doors, as they’re quite high, but rather they might look through some of the cutouts in the wall, which are there for this purpose
- This bed really made me wish we had flown all the way from Singapore, as this flight wasn’t nearly long enough to enjoy this product; I ended up napping for around 30 minutes, while Ford ended up napping for closer to two hours
Singapore Airlines Suites pre-arrival snack
A few hours before landing I decided to order a Singapore Sling, because why not? It was tasty, but as expected, quite sweet.
I also eventually ordered a cappuccino, and then later ordered a cup of tea.
Around 90 minutes before landing, the pre-arrival snack was served. You can find the menu below.
Even though it wasn’t on the menu, I was offered a mushroom soup to start, which I accepted.
There were two main course choices, and one had pork, so I ordered the other one. That was a tortilla wrap with minced beef and vegetables with a chutney. It was tasty, and just the right snack after having so much food earlier in the flight.
Singapore Airlines Suites service
I don’t think there’s an airline in the world that offers more consistently good service than Singapore Airlines (though I’d say both All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines also consistently have great service), and this flight was no exception. The two flight attendants working Suites were textbook perfect. They took such pride in their jobs, they were poised, professional, and proactive, all without being overbearing.
Service on Singapore Airlines isn’t just amazing compared to US carriers (which isn’t saying a whole lot), but even compared to other leading carriers in the world. Singapore Airlines crews almost go about their jobs as if they’re performing, because it’s just that perfect every time.
Let me just say, it sure is hard to land in the United States off a Singapore Airlines flight and then have to connect to a domestic airline.
Singapore Airlines arrival in New York
At 1:20PM New York time, the captain was back on the PA to inform us that we were 200 miles northeast of New York, and would be landing around 2PM. About five minutes later we began our descent, and then 10 minutes after that the seatbelt sign was turned on and cabin was prepared for landing.
It wasn’t a very nice day in New York, as there was a low cloud ceiling and the winds were gusty. We ended up touching down at JFK (rather roughly) a couple of minutes after 2PM.
We then had to wait several minutes to cross a runway (hi, ITA Airways A330, you’re kind of pretty, surprisingly!).
We arrived at our gate at JFK Terminal 4 at 2:14PM, just over three hours after our scheduled arrival. It then took nearly 10 more minutes for the door to open. We bid farewell to the crew, and then ran to catch our connecting flight back to Florida.
Bottom line
What a treat it was to fly Singapore A380 Suites in the double bed. There’s so much I enjoyed about this flight. For one, I haven’t been to Southeast Asia since before the pandemic, so it was nice to get a little flavor of that when crossing the Atlantic.
But beyond that, Singapore Airlines just knocks it out of the park with its A380 Suites, especially on this route. The service was perfect, the food and drink selection was excellent, the entertainment was unbeatable, the amenities were great, and the double bed is so unbelievably nice.
I definitely had a more favorable impression of Singapore’s A380 Suites compared to my last flight. Of course it was great then, but it was exceptional now. I think this is without a doubt the world’s best first class product if you’re traveling with someone, since you can’t beat the privacy and space of the combined Suites seats.
What do you make of Singapore Airlines’ A380 Suites?
Do any Airline for Singapore offer their local restaurant menus? Like if i want to add aapon restaurant menu can they arrange for me?
Several winemakers and sommeliers advise mixing Doritos and Champagne; this is not a joke. Of course, you could use different chips or popcorn to achieve a similar flavour combination. sgpmenu
Seems like flying with a loved one completely elevated the experience you had when you flew solo. :-)
I was actually in a similar solo flight SQ222 flying from SYD to SIN just last week (and also in 2A). This was my first time on SQ's new suites and I was glad they sorted out the kinks like awkwardly facing a stranger during meals (reported by a few reviewers like yourself) by simply almost closing...
Seems like flying with a loved one completely elevated the experience you had when you flew solo. :-)
I was actually in a similar solo flight SQ222 flying from SYD to SIN just last week (and also in 2A). This was my first time on SQ's new suites and I was glad they sorted out the kinks like awkwardly facing a stranger during meals (reported by a few reviewers like yourself) by simply almost closing the door.
I think the only part about the old suites that was better was the ability to dine opposite a travel companion in the same suite. Otherwise, everything else was superior, especially the generous amount of personal space available and the wireless entertainment controls.
I am typing this comment from the suites cabin of FRA-JFK SQ A380. Me and my wife finally made it on this bucket list award flight. We booked this flight last year and Singapore airlines kept calling me several times over the last few weeks to downgrade my suites booking to business class by saying that they switched the aircraft and they have less space. I kept on insisting that I want to stay in...
I am typing this comment from the suites cabin of FRA-JFK SQ A380. Me and my wife finally made it on this bucket list award flight. We booked this flight last year and Singapore airlines kept calling me several times over the last few weeks to downgrade my suites booking to business class by saying that they switched the aircraft and they have less space. I kept on insisting that I want to stay in suites cabin and finally blocked their number. We got the double bed suites and the experience is amazing and better than Emirates suites.
Simply put, Singapore Airlines is like the Tom Brady, the Peyton Manning, the Michael Phelps, or maybe even the Porsche 911 of commercial aviation. The #1. Then and now. The one that everyone else strives to be like. You can almost always count on them to deliver because they’re just that good at it. Yet even that is an understatement. Of course, no airline is really perfect, and I’m pretty sure they also have had...
Simply put, Singapore Airlines is like the Tom Brady, the Peyton Manning, the Michael Phelps, or maybe even the Porsche 911 of commercial aviation. The #1. Then and now. The one that everyone else strives to be like. You can almost always count on them to deliver because they’re just that good at it. Yet even that is an understatement. Of course, no airline is really perfect, and I’m pretty sure they also have had their fair share of bad apples and not so great experiences for some passengers. But Singapore Airlines is just perfect as far as I am concerned. Every single step of the way. From their onboard product in all cabins, to their food, to their entertainment, to their crew, to their service, to their onboard music, to their safety video, to their hub at Changi airport, to their interior design, to their iconic and timeless yet pretty simple livery and branding, to their iconic and timeless FA uniforms, to their route network, to their highly organized and consistent fleet strategy, to how they are run as a company, even to how they run their LCC Scoot. Look at how well they have done their 737 fleet too. And when you think beyond aviation, Singapore, their home, is a wonderful, world-renown destination in and of itself, both for business and for tourism. A beautiful city-state where various Southeast Asian cultures, East Asian cultures, South Asian cultures, and Western ideals all converge and mingle. It feels a lot like the ultimate Asian city. (All that is really missing is the deep history that of course only places like Beijing, Rome, and Athens can really offer.) It’s true that Emirates and Qatar score just as high or higher on airline ranking systems and are arguably just as iconic around the world, but to me, not even they manage to do the whole package of factors I mentioned above so well. (Compare the economy cabins on SQ’s 777s with EK’s and QR’s, for example. And how many people go to Doha for business or vacation?) Other airlines people mentioned that could compare like JAL, ANA, EVA Air, and Cathay Pacific are great in and of themselves, but I do notice flaws in each of them that I just don’t notice on SQ. And one thing that makes me respect SQ more is how in spite of all this, they’re relatively humble, unlike say Qatar, Emirates, Etihad, or even Turkish Airlines. They don’t stick their names on football jerseys, stadiums, and billboards or overly advertise and brag to the public about how great they are. Their slogan, “A great way to fly”, may sound lame to some, but when you think about it, it’s straightforward, and represents exactly who they are and what they strive to be. Their greatness isn’t just limited to today. You go back to when people raved about their Megatop 747s and the Super Nintendo games on their old seat-back entertainment systems, a first at the time. When you or anyone else reviews or discusses any airline, I notice that besides maybe Emirates (mainly due to their A380s), SQ is the benchmark that they use. That says something. Then and now, they are the gold standard of commercial aviation and arguably travel in general.
I expected nothing less when I saw the title of this review. Singapore Airlines not only delivered, but today they reminded me about exactly who they are. I can’t wait to fly them, visit Changi, and visit Singapore for the first time sometime in the future.
Just did the supper service Suites SIN to SYD. Agree cabin is lovely but at 4/6 passengers shocked at how inept crew are with unbelievable noise from galley, stomping back and forth around cabin all night, service incorrectly explained or not explained at all, wrong items brought, unable to deliver breakfast properly, cabin way too hot and bed too hard. Really hard to believe this was Singapore service and not sure I can pass most...
Just did the supper service Suites SIN to SYD. Agree cabin is lovely but at 4/6 passengers shocked at how inept crew are with unbelievable noise from galley, stomping back and forth around cabin all night, service incorrectly explained or not explained at all, wrong items brought, unable to deliver breakfast properly, cabin way too hot and bed too hard. Really hard to believe this was Singapore service and not sure I can pass most off as COVID effects. Will not revisit!
@Ben Fwiw, just did this flight (Suites FRA to JFK) and they directed me to the Air Canada Mapleleaf lounge. It was even printed on my boarding pass. The check in person said I could go to the Lufthansa one but mentioned Mapleleaf first.
It was perfectly acceptable and I got to see my plane taxi by while waiting.
Its a ridiculously large space, and not as private as most pics would suggest. The seats angle towards the door for meals because the tray comes out from the adjacent side table, and because the crew are coming & going with dishes etc, the suites doors stay open and you look almost directly at your neighbour across the aisle.
Of course Etihad did this separate seat/bed thing a few years ago with their Apartment,...
Its a ridiculously large space, and not as private as most pics would suggest. The seats angle towards the door for meals because the tray comes out from the adjacent side table, and because the crew are coming & going with dishes etc, the suites doors stay open and you look almost directly at your neighbour across the aisle.
Of course Etihad did this separate seat/bed thing a few years ago with their Apartment, but almost any SQ crew in my experience will do a better job than EY at its best.
A problem for all airlines with F is that demand for seats is likely to be fierce in the near future and SQ have gone from a very comfy downstairs 12-seat F cabin to this fantastic but somewhat un-ergonomic 6 pack upstairs. So less revenue..
About to try the Emirates A380 F product Oz to LHR - 14 of us in the apparently same space as SQ have 6.
Some question about whether the EK onboard showers are open..
Thanks. I flew these suites SYD - SIN IN 2019 RTW2.0. Very nice. For RTW2022 3.0 I fly these suites SYD - SIN - FRA - JFK FOR ABOUT 290,000 Krisflyer miles. I get to SYD via Qantas A380 First from LAX
Passengers traveling in Suites were invited to take a seat in a roped off area so that they could board first. Sure enough, boarding started exactly as scheduled.
The roped area on the left on the counter is for passengers needing special services ( wheel chairs etc ) there is NO area for Suite passengers at all . Suite boarding is on the right totally the opposite site and the boarding process looks like more...
Passengers traveling in Suites were invited to take a seat in a roped off area so that they could board first. Sure enough, boarding started exactly as scheduled.
The roped area on the left on the counter is for passengers needing special services ( wheel chairs etc ) there is NO area for Suite passengers at all . Suite boarding is on the right totally the opposite site and the boarding process looks like more like a start of a marathon all mixed Suite Business PPS , star alliance gold if you re not fast enough to get there first you ll have to wait in line
Thanks for the thoughtful review. My partner and I were fortunate enough to snag two suite award seats in the opposite direction (JFK-FRA) on April 7th as the beginning of our first Europe trip since the pandemic. Our first time with Singapore and our first time on an A380. Every part of the experience was special and the staff made us feel so welcome. Looking at possibly booking this again between FRA-SIN next year as...
Thanks for the thoughtful review. My partner and I were fortunate enough to snag two suite award seats in the opposite direction (JFK-FRA) on April 7th as the beginning of our first Europe trip since the pandemic. Our first time with Singapore and our first time on an A380. Every part of the experience was special and the staff made us feel so welcome. Looking at possibly booking this again between FRA-SIN next year as part of an Asia trip we’ve been trying to do since before the pandemic. Hopeful it will work out this time!
Really? Dozens of Book the Cook options? Maybe for some routes but according to SQ's website, there are 6-7 options, whether you are flying out of JFK or FRA (and TBH maybe only one of them sound appealing to me). Heck, their website lists the exact same choices for BTC if you were flying either J or F out of JFK or FRA.
I've got a flight on them later this year (same route in...
Really? Dozens of Book the Cook options? Maybe for some routes but according to SQ's website, there are 6-7 options, whether you are flying out of JFK or FRA (and TBH maybe only one of them sound appealing to me). Heck, their website lists the exact same choices for BTC if you were flying either J or F out of JFK or FRA.
I've got a flight on them later this year (same route in F) and if they only have these options I'll probably skip BTC. There were even more options when I flew SQ out of IAH 4 years ago in J... COVID cutbacks or just a yet-to-be-updated website?
My husband and I don’t drink, and usually that’s not a problem on Qatar as there are very nice alcohol free drinks - would you know what’s available on SIA?
Agree with most of the sentiments and thank you for the report.
A few comments:
1. No airline will ever offer everything an av geek seeks (and radical acceptance of this will require long term, expensive therapy, which probably won't work anyway!!) because perfect will never exist on any airline and we are all obsessives who place a huge emphasis on control and perfectionism
2. The SQ food product is unlikely to...
Agree with most of the sentiments and thank you for the report.
A few comments:
1. No airline will ever offer everything an av geek seeks (and radical acceptance of this will require long term, expensive therapy, which probably won't work anyway!!) because perfect will never exist on any airline and we are all obsessives who place a huge emphasis on control and perfectionism
2. The SQ food product is unlikely to rival F on long haul JAL (and possibly ANA), including the inclusion of Salon and Cristal on many flights and they do use instant noodles in F as part of their snacks menu.
Despite my reservations regarding the harsh kitsch faux wood/gold styling on Emirates (compare this to the minimalist new A380 F on ANA) their wine list is unrivalled in terms of ageing, on-board nose/palate and decanted carafe style service
3. The SQ "Private Room" was deeply flawed in design with 2 rooms with harsh overhead lighting promoted as relaxing rooms (interesting to see whether the new lounge probably opening in June, is any better)
4. The discrepancy between the woeful 777-300ER product and the A380 new suites (often with the same price!) raises ethical and fairness issues, which I accept are not relevant or important to everyone
5. Having said all this I flew in 1A and 2A with my teenage son from Syd-Lhr a few years ago and although I had to breathe deeply as he expressed his views (I blame iPhones!!) about this, the photos of the father son trip and the genuine warmth the crew demonstrated, will stay with me forever.
Ben, superb review. I hardly wait to try double bed option with in November, when we are flying to New York from Germany.
But I have on remark. It is regarding the wine. It does not bother me that ordered red with the fish. Selected wine is definitely a good choice. To choose wine according to price? Come on Ben, you do not order wine by price. I usually order wine that I like not by price tag. A bit shallow way of choosing wine.
@ MyWay -- Thanks for the kind words! I hear you re: the feedback about not ordering based on what's most expensive. However, I wasn't specifically familiar with any of the red wines, and my logic was that if I want to try new wines, I might as well try the ones that I'd be least likely to purchase otherwise.
In other words, if I could sample a $200 wine or a $20 wine,...
@ MyWay -- Thanks for the kind words! I hear you re: the feedback about not ordering based on what's most expensive. However, I wasn't specifically familiar with any of the red wines, and my logic was that if I want to try new wines, I might as well try the ones that I'd be least likely to purchase otherwise.
In other words, if I could sample a $200 wine or a $20 wine, I should try the former, since I'd be less likely to buy that in the future at a restaurant or supermarket.
I by no means think that expensive equals good, but rather just that trying something you'd be less likely to otherwise pay for makes the most sense.
I think that's a very sensible approach and FTR, that was a rather hearty fish dish; I see no issue with the pairing!
SIA's whole approach to their passengers' experience raises the bar for just about every other carrier. As I progressed through your review I could hear the echoes of 'First class on this B ritish A irline=world's best business class', esp. having experienced it.
The A380's engines are unbelievably quiet on the takeoff roll. A friend who flew AF CDG - JFK sat in the back on the upper deck and told me there's no sensation of movement during takeoff and rotation.
Ben: is there a good way to hold award space on Singapore airlines while you wait for miles to transfer? I recently booked business class CPT—>LAX on SIN and was nervous as heck as I waited for miles to transfer over. I tried calling Singapore airlines but gave up after 8:30 hours (no joke) on hold…
@ Cy -- The only way to hold is to call, and indeed Singapore Airlines' hold times are outrageously long at the moment, for whatever reason.
Hi. Curious here. So, since Ben ordered the most expensive red on offer, does that mean that airlines list in order the most expensive to least expensive wine/champagne?
@ Stanley C -- I think that might have been a coincidence, as I don't think that's the system by which airlines typically organize their menus.
Would have been shocked if you did not go for the 2014 grand cru Burgundy.
Doritos and Champagne - many Somms and winemakers recommend this as a pairing - no joke no bs. You can of course substitute other chips or popcorn to get similar taste combo.
I drink red wine with fish - but typically cedar plank salmon. Nothing wrong with experimenting with different food + wine pairings.
I love a high end chard (Aubert) with Mexican fajitas. Say what you want… I’ve had some of best vino in the world. Just drink what you like - life is short
I was able to book all 6 seats on miles for our trip this september. They initially had the 14 seater first class and then switched to the 6 and then confirmed all 6 seats. There are 14 of us flying so some of the kids will be on business, but I am sure since we have the whole cabin to ourselves, they wont mind if people from J will visit us in F. I'm...
I was able to book all 6 seats on miles for our trip this september. They initially had the 14 seater first class and then switched to the 6 and then confirmed all 6 seats. There are 14 of us flying so some of the kids will be on business, but I am sure since we have the whole cabin to ourselves, they wont mind if people from J will visit us in F. I'm sure we wont be sleeping due to the excitement, so we also decided to splurge and fly from Frankfurt to Paris with Vista on their Challenger 850.
@ Wayne -- WOW! Enjoy, that sounds like quite the experience!
Do they offer face-to-face dining? I recall some (marketing?) pictures of them bringing a huge stool into your Suite.
@ Rachel -- I don't believe there's any opportunity to dine face-to-face.
Nothing wrong with having a Grand Cru red Burgundy with fish. Pinot Noir is versatile and goes certainly well with fish - especially when paired with sauces. You might have got lucky with the pairing choice, but that’s a wine worth drinking even with dessert. Good for you for venturing away from Champagne.
The “no red wine with fish” rule is passé.
Everyone knows you should always order whatever wine is most expensive.
Curious to know what the process is for passengers flying the entire length from JFK-SIN. Once you disembark in FRA, do you have to re-clear security either way or you're automatically directed to departures and you're free to roam around as you wish?
I am not sure now but I did this the other direction to SIN a year or two before Covid. We all disembarked and premium passengers could go to the lounge. It was a nice break and allowed for some actual walking around. I imagine it's the same now but not sure.
@ Mike O. -- As Stuart explained, you can roam around the terminal. I don't believe you have to go through security, though (since flights from certain regions don't require clearing security if connecting).
Thanks for the replies. Years ago with CX doing the HKG-YVR-JFK route, they would make you wait in a holding pen. It was eventually relaxed I think in 2018-19 until they eventually dropped the YVR-JFK leg. I thought a similar setup would be in place. And glad to hear you're doing well Ben, I've been trying to email you for years!
Cod and beef cheeks are low grade 'cost cut' proteins - wonder if better are avail via book the cook out of FRA or JFK
Not sure about the red, but they will definitively excommunicate you for having Dom with Dorritos.
Good wine goes great with any food. White only with fish is a myth and is wrong. So is red only with meat. I routinely host wine diners and happy hours and i will put out doritos/potato chips in a nice bowl next to the cheeses, meats and usual charcuterie board offerings and without fail people always gravitate toward the doritos and chips they go well with anything with alcohol.
Take note that Book the Cook has been significantly scaled back during COVID, and while there is still a lot of options available out of Singapore, you can't order lobster thermidor out of most other cities any more, and for that matter the options available out of FRA and JFK are pretty underwhelming-sounding.
New school of wine - drink what makes you happy not what you're "supposed to have" Glad you liked it!
Great review, thanks! Also managed to score the same deal (2 Suite award seats on that same route), but in October, so I'm pumped :) .
The double bed setup is interesting. I do wonder if they have the possibility to make it a "true" double bed by adding something in the middle, because if you go look at the marketing pictures online, that's how it looks like with a single comforter across the...
Great review, thanks! Also managed to score the same deal (2 Suite award seats on that same route), but in October, so I'm pumped :) .
The double bed setup is interesting. I do wonder if they have the possibility to make it a "true" double bed by adding something in the middle, because if you go look at the marketing pictures online, that's how it looks like with a single comforter across the bed. Curious if you asked about it? I wonder if being a same sex pair of travelers could have otherwise been a factor and they may have not want to assume you were a couple.
@ Clem -- Going into the flight I was curious if we'd get any different treatment than an opposite sex couple regarding the double bed, but I don't think we did. Indeed the marketing pictures did show a single huge blanket that made it look like a single bed, but I don't think that actually exists? Sure would be nice. Then again, this is already the world's best first class for couples, so...
Did the amenity kit also include the little glass art piece?
@ Guy -- I remember that last time, but it wasn't in the kit this time, best I could tell.