Singapore Airlines A380 review
Singapore Airlines Flight time 7hr 50 min to Singapore; 3hr 25min to Colombo. The flights are on time and, with a neat connection at Changi, the trip takes just under 13hr. Seat width and pitch On the A380, 55 inches (distance between seat rows) and 34 inches (between armrests); stand up to fold out the flat bed […]
Singapore Airlines
Flight time 7hr 50 min to Singapore; 3hr 25min to Colombo. The flights are on time and, with a neat connection at Changi, the trip takes just under 13hr.
Seat width and pitch On the A380, 55 inches (distance between seat rows) and 34 inches (between armrests); stand up to fold out the flat bed and sleep on feather pillows under a cotton duvet. There are 60 seats on the upper deck but the aircraft’s size and relatively shallow overhead bins give the cabin a sense of space. The 1-2-1 layout ensures all seats have unimpeded access to an aisle. On the smaller aircraft, seat width is 20 inches; seat pitch is 60 inches, reclining to a slightly angled flat bed.
Comfort The A380 leather sofa-style seats are seriously roomy and as comfortable for lounging as flat-out sleeping. The window seats have deep enclosed storage bins and the wide screen is flanked by well-designed compartments. The fitout in the smaller Airbus A330-300 is new and the livery identical to its big sister.
Luggage 30 kg of checked baggage (20 kg in economy), plus two pieces of cabin baggage up to 7 kg each.
Service In business and economy, Singapore staff are the benchmark by which I’ve come to judge cabin crews. The mainly female crew on both flights are uniformly warm, intuitive and efficient. The crew are particularly buoyant on the longer leg.
Food and beverages A drinks order is placed before takeoff (today’s champagne is Bollinger Special Cuvee) and service unfolds like clockwork. Lunch to Singapore comprises marinated salmon, a choice of four mains (Matt Moran’s roasted chicken breast with barley and leek ravioli and lemon thyme veloute for me), then iced desserts, cheese, fruit and excellent TWG teas. A “book the cook” service allows diners to order their main course before flying.
Amenities Terry-cloth booties and eyeshades are delivered; L’Occitane toiletries available in business-class toilets, a smart move that must minimise waste.
Flight frequency There are 49 flights a week from Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore; four daily from Sydney and three daily from Melbourne. A business-class return fare to Singapore costs from $4754, including tax. The airline has one daily flight between Singapore and Colombo; a business-class return fare from Sydney to Colombo costs from $7252, including tax.
