We were very excited to be trying out Singapore Airlines’ Business class product on our flight to Singapore and then on to New York.  It would be my first time flying internationally direct out of Canberra before.  Singapore Airlines don’t have a lounge at the Canberra Airport but upstairs you can use the Virgin lounge.  It’s fairly simple with a modest selection of hot and cold food but given it was very late at night and we were getting a meal on board anyway, there was plenty to keep us happy.  I settled with a bowl of tasty creamy tomato and basil soup.

Airline and Flight #

Singapore Airlines SQ0288

Aircraft

Boeing 777-300ER Jet

Airport and Terminal

Departure: Canberra Airport, ACT Australia | International Terminal

Arrival: Changi Airport, Singapore |Terminal 3

Departure Date and Time

Scheduled: Saturday 5th October 2019| 23:15 (11:15pm)

Actual – Saturday 5th October 2019| 23:15 (11:15pm)

Arrival Date and Time

Scheduled: Sunday 6th October 2019| 05:15am

Actual: Sunday 6th October 2019|04:52am

Scheduled Flying Time

8 hours

Luggage Allowance

Carry-on: Passengers are allowed free of charge two pieces of carry on luggage up to 7 kilograms each in addition to one personal item such as a laptop, camera, overcoat, handbag etc. The sum of each piece of luggage (Length + Width +Height) should not exceed 115 centimetres (45 inches). Personal items should not exceed 40x30x10 centimetres (16x12x4 inches). Passengers must be able to stow their luggage securely in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front.

Checked baggage: Luggage allowances for checked bags are more generous if like us, you are travelling on to the US from Singapore.  Allowances when flying to the US are:

• Two pieces  up to 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds) each with no single piece exceeding 158 centimetres (62 inches).
• Infants can have one piece up to 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds) plus a fully collapsible stroller or pram and carry-cot or car seat.
• If the first carrier on the ticket is not Singapore Airlines, then that airline’s luggage policy will apply to the itinerary unless that airline chooses to go with Singapore Airlines’ itinerary.
• More generous allowances are made for PPS club members and KrisFlyer Gold or Star Alliance Gold members.

Fun Facts

• Singapore Airlines is part of the Star Alliance with its main hub in Singapore
• Registered 9V-SWY, this aircraft was delivered on 25th November 2014 making it almost five years old.
• The airline is currently running the longest flight in the world – Newark to Singapore taking 18 hours and 45 minutes.
• The Singapore Airlines logo is a bird, inspired by a silver kris which comes from the Keris, a dagger from SE Asia featured in the region’s myth and folklore.
• Singapore Airlines was the first to use the A380 being the world’s largest passenger aircraft as well as the Dreamliner B787-10 and A350-900ULR.
• In 2019 the airline won the Skytrax award for World’s best airline cabin crew and came second and fourth respectively for best airline and cleanest airline.

Website

The Singapore Airlines website can be found here.  Prices on Skyscanner were cheaper than the website so we booked through a travel agent who was happy to price match Skyscanner.  I did have trouble getting into Manage Booking with the page unable to load and then not being able to select seats until closer to our departure date.  Maybe if you booked directly through the airline, this wouldn’t happen.  Through Manage Booking you can also choose your meals in advance from the inflight menu or Book the Cook if you are flying First class, Business class or Premium Economy.  Book the Cook has an extensive selection of amazing western and Asian dishes.

Check-in 

Check-in for Singapore Airlines flights opens 48 to one and a half hours prior to your scheduled departure. You can check-in via one of the following ways:

1. Mobile check-in – by downloading the SingaporeAir app. You will be required to enter your booking reference number or your E-ticket number as well as your last name. It then asks you for your passport number and expiry date as well as the reason for the ESTA Visa if travelling to the US. You’re also required to put down an address where you will be staying in the US. You can then print or download your boarding pass. The app also allows you to select or change your seat as well as your meal and number of bags you are checking.
2. Desktop check-in – by logging on to the Singapore Airlines website and clicking on Check-in. You must enter either your booking reference number or E-ticket number plus your last name as well as answer the same questions as per the mobile check-in. You can print your boarding pass or download it to your mobile.
3. At the airport – via the self-service kiosks or at the counter.

Singapore Airlines recommends being at the airport for international flights two and a half hours prior to departure if you have checked baggage and one and a half hours prior to departure if you don’t have checked baggage.

Note: Mobile and self printed boarding passes are not currently available for passengers who require Visa verification or are travelling between Sydney and Canberra.  As our flight left from Canberra but originated in Sydney, we were required to collect our boarding passes at the counter inside the airport.

Seating

Layout – The Singapore Airlines aircraft is a wide bodied jet with 264 seats.  These are made up of 4 Open First class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, 48 Business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration with 12 in the first cabin before door 2 and the remaining 36 in the second cabin, 28 Premium Economy class seats in a 2-4-2 configuration and 184 Economy class seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.  The 1-2-1 configuration in Business class means direct aisle access for all passengers with the two seats in the middle better suited for couples.  However even strangers can feel at ease in these middle seats as the seats are well spaced and the pull down privacy screen provides a good amount of privacy. We were seated in row 20 for this flight.

Seats – Developed together with James Park Associates (designers of the Eastern & Orient Express opulent interiors), the Business class seats are nearly 50 percent wider than most products in this class.  Handcrafted from Scottish leather and diamond stitched, colours alternate between grey and purple in each aisle.  Seat width is 30 inches and seat pitch 51 inches.  There are two upright positions, the Lazy Z where your weight is centred and balanced and Sundeck which is a lounging position that extends the base and foot of your seat.  On each seat was a large soft cushion, a bottle of water, a set of active noise cancelling headphones,  pillows, linen and a padded Givenchy blanket for sleeping. The seats recline to 132 degrees and can be folded into a 198 centimetre (78 inch) length bed.  Whilst in the upright position, the seats were very comfortable I found when fully reclined, the cushioned headboard was quite hard and you could not stretch your legs out straight in front of you as the foot of the bed curves around forcing you to sleep in more of a fetal position.

Tray tables – The main tray table is huge and sturdy.  It’s tucked in beside you and you simply push down to release it.  The tray moves back and forwards and side to side so is very adjustable. There is another small cocktail tray in front suitable for when drinks are served.

Storage – There is a tonne of storage in Business class on Singapore Airline’s 777-300 ER.  In addition to a couple of deep storage bins, there is a side console, designed to sit above the armrest allowing you to store and conveniently reach your laptop etc whilst the seat is in seat or bed mode.  The ottoman in front and compartments next to the screen provide additional storage options.

Amenity Kit – Singapore Airlines does not offer amenity kits as such on board its airline. You are however issued with a pair of slippers, a pair of socks and an eye mask with further amenities  available in the restroom such as facial mist, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouth wash, perfume and hand cream. Whether this is to save money or help reduce waste, I think a better option would be to ask passengers if they would like one or provide them with a bag so they can select their own. Singapore Airlines unfortunately do not offer pyjamas in their business class.

Cabin comfort

• The extra large and beautiful seats made the flight very comfortable
• The huge amount of storage meant you never felt cramped as there were many compartments to put things.
• With no overhead bins, the cabin feels very spacious
• Plenty of lighting options create the perfect mood
• A Do Not Disturb button next to your seat along with a pull up screen divider between the two seats made for optimum privacy.
• In front of your seat is a mirror with a light when you lift the cover up
•  I felt the seat was too hard when in the lie flat position and I wasn’t able to stretch my legs out straight in front of me.  As a result, I didn’t sleep as well as I might have.  My husband however did not find the sleeping arrangement to be a problem so it might just depend on how you’re used to sleeping.

In-flight Entertainment

Electronic devices

• Electronic devices can be used whilst boarding using the aerobridge but not if you’re using the tarmac to board.
• Once doors on the plane have closed you need to then switch your device to flight mode.  Devices cannot be charged upon taxiing, takeoff or landing.

Communication

• A personal in-seat telephone lets you make calls via a global satellite network.  Calls are US$.0.59 per six second block with a minimum charge of $5.90 for the first minute. Seat to seat calls are available for free.
• To use inflight texting or data roaming, your mobile service provider must have a roaming agreement with Singapore Airlines’ connectivity provider OnAir or AeroMobile.  Roaming charges are determined by your mobile server provider and will appear in your phone bill.  Turn off auto roaming so extra charges aren’t incurred.

Power

• On the 777-300 ER, Business class passengers have their own power ports concealed within their seat under the light and beside the little storage nook.  There is a 110 universal AC power outlet with a HDMI port and USB port for charging devices.

In the Seat Pocket

• There is side compartment holding the following Singapore Airlines material:

1. KrisShop magazine for duty free shopping
2. SilverKris KrisWorld magazine
3. Card on inflight Wi-Fi
4. Aircraft safety card

In addition to this, cabin crew offer up a range of other reading material including magazines and newspapers.

WiFi

• Singapore Airlines offers its Business class passengers 100 MB of complimentary WiFi on this flight, up from just 30 MB previously.  For more than this, charges apply with the amount varying depending on if you are with Panasonic or T-Mobile or OnAir.

Entertainment System

• In Business class Singapore Airlines offers Panasonic personal inflight entertainment systems on a high definition 18 inch screen.  The KrisFlyer system offers 1800 entertainment options.  The screens aren’t touch screens and I found the remote a little cumbersome to use at times with it failing altogether at one stage.  Options are:

1. Movies
2. TV
3. Music (over 800 albums)
4. Games & Apps (flight path, connecting gate etc)
5. Inflight connectivity
6. MyKrisWorld (if you sign in as a KrisFlyer member, you’ll be able to save settings and preferences)
7. SilkAir Studio (provides access to additional content)
8. Silkwinds (monthly inflight magazine)

Safety Demonstration

Updated in 2019, Singapore Airlines’ safety video goes for nearly six minutes.  The video is typically Singaporian in that it is no nonsense, proper and aesthetically pleasing.  The video demonstrates the safety aspects not from inside the plane but in some of Singapore’s own indoor and outdoor attractions.  I thought it was quite good and never tire of seeing those beautiful Singapore women in their attractive costumes, matching shoes and perfect hair do’s.

Catering

Menus

• Singapore Airlines has collaborated with COMO Shambhala to create specially curated wellness cuisine.  The carefully selected dishes are designed to aid digestion, improve blood sugar control and prolong fullness and satisfaction between meals.  In addition to the inflight menu is the Book the Cook option prior to flying which has an even more extensive range of meals.  The inflight menu consists of:

Page 1 – Information on the COMO Shambhala cuisine

Page 2 – Photographs of the international culinary panel who created the menu

Page 3-5 – Lunch and refreshment menu from Singapore to Sydney

Page 6  – Refreshment menu from Sydney to Canberra

Page 7 – Sleeper service from Canberra to Singapore

Page 8 – Singapore Airlines’ wine connoisseurs

Page 9-11 – Champagnes and wines

Page 12 – Cocktails and aperitifs

Page 13 – Spirits and beers

Page 14-15 – Non-alcoholic beverages

Page 16-17 – Coffee selection

Page 18-19 – Tea selection

Food/Drinks

As this was a sleeper service, courses were kept to a minimum so cabin crew could quickly clean up and the lights could be turned out so passengers could sleep.  You had the option of a late dinner or an early breakfast so we chose the late dinner. Singapore Airlines has chosen not to serve its food on trays in Business class.  Instead they lay the plates, cutlery, crockery and glasses onto the pristine white tablecloth covering your tray table just as if you were dining at a fancy restaurant.  Having everything more spread out makes the dining experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

• 11pm – Once flight attendants assisted with stowing luggage in the overhead bins, trays of champagne, water and juice were handed out.  I had the tasty Midsummer breeze which was a mix of apple, orange and pineapple juices, topped with 7-up.  Unfortunately, due to some turbulence, crew had to take their seats and I missed out on the nuts.
• 11:47pm – Singapore Sling

• 12:15 – I had the Seafood Thermidor from the Book the Cook menu whilst hubby had the Chargrilled beef fillet in green peppercorn sauce with seasoned vegetables and gratin potatoes.  Mine was ok whilst hubby’s looked and smelled delicious.  He said it tasted very good too.  We didn’t need anywhere near that much cutlery!

• 12:28 – Fruit platters were served

Restroom

There are four Business class restrooms located between the two Business class cabins with one of them being suitable for disabled passengers.  Each are attractively decorated with a fresh orchid inside.  The well-stocked restrooms contain amenities by Penhaligon’s including eau de toilette, hand lotion and facial mist.  A bottle of mouth wash is also available whilst inside the drawer you will find extra items including toothbrushes and toothpaste and hairbrush and comb sets.  There are face washers to dry your hands and the metal bin beside the sink opens to dispose of them by pushing the pedal on the ground with your foot.  Sensor taps add to the  more hygienic experience.

Service

The service on this flight was exceptional.  Staff were efficient, friendly and nothing felt like it was too much trouble.  Meals were served and cleared away quickly and plenty of drinks were offered prior to the cabin lights being turned out.  The service definitely sets them apart from many other carriers.  Cabin crew also did a great job with keeping the restrooms clean throughout the flight which is not always an easy task.

Pros

• Beautiful seats that are extremely spacious with lots of storage
• Extensive selection of food from Book the Cook and the inflight menu
• Exceptional service from friendly cabin crew
• Restrooms were kept very clean throughout the flight

Cons

• I found the bed to be a bit hard and there isn’t enough room to stretch your legs out in front of you.
• No amenity kits or pyjamas although some supplies are available from the drawer in the restroom.
• No touch screen with the remote being a little cumbersome to use at times

Conclusion

I would definitely recommend flying Business class with Singapore Airlines, especially in one of their new or retrofitted aircraft.  When you never want the flight to end, you know you’re on a winner.  The service, food, seats and cleanliness of the aircraft all stood out for me.  I just wish they would issue pyjamas in Business class.  I look forward to flying with SA again.