In this trip report, I review Business Class on a new Singapore Airlines (SQ) Airbus A350-900 from Düsseldorf Airport (DUS) in Germany to Changi International Airport (SIN) in April 2017. This was followed by a flight on Singapore Airlines A330 in Business Class from Singapore Changi Airport to Ho Chi Minh City.
Singapore Airlines has a prestigious reputation, offering great service, delicious food, excellent in-flight entertainment, and the always smiling Singapore air hostess. The SQ A350 experience lived up to expectations. The only thing lacking was an amenity kit, possibly a tail camera, and I could have done with a slightly more comfortable flatbed.
Singapore Airlines features in our top 10 list of the best airlines for long haul Business Class.
We’ve also reviewed the Lufthansa Business Lounge At Düsseldorf Airport separately, which is frankly a disappointing experience.
Singapore Airlines currently has 13 A350-900 aircraft in its fleet, with another 56 on order, including 7 ultra-long-haul A350-900ULR variants. The latter will be used on the Singapore Airlines routes from Singapore to Los Angeles and New York, which – when launched in 2018 – will be the longest flights in the world.
Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Cabin Review
The Singapore Airlines A350 aircraft features 3 classes: Business Class (42 flatbed seats), Premium Economy Class (with 24 recliner seats), and Economy Class (187 standard seats).
Singapore Airlines does not offer First Class on its A350 fleet. It is worth noting that Singapore Airlines’ Business Class is better than First Class on most airlines. The 42 Business Class seats are spread over 2 cabins: a larger cabin in the front of the plane holds most of the seats (26 in total), while the remaining 16 seats are located in a much smaller and more intimate cabin over the wings in front of the Premium Economy seats.
All seats face forward, offer direct aisle access, and are arranged in 1-2-1. The two seats in the center have a partition screen that can be raised for added privacy. There are no overhead bins above the middle seats, which creates a feeling of space in the cabins.
The look of the cabin (by James Parker Associated, the company that also created the opulent interiors of the Orient Express) is a mix of bronzy gold, beige, purple, and chocolate-brown colors with plush checked throw pillows that contrast with the dark leather seats. See the seat map for the cabin layout.
Business Class Seat Review & Which Is Best
I had selected a window seat for the 11h30min flight to Singapore. The seat on Singapore Airlines (SQ) Airbus A350-900 is one of the widest in the industry, albeit slightly more narrow than the seats on Singapore Airlines’ A380 and B777 aircraft. The seat features a pitch of 1,53 cm (60 inch) and a width of 71 cm (20 inch). The suite’s walls are quite high, which gives you a decent level of privacy.
One side of the seats featured a reading light on eye level and a control panel – to adjust the seat position – in the aisle-side armrest. A decently sized tray table was stored away in the other armrest, with remote control for the in-flight entertainment system above it. In front of the seat was a large 18 inch (45 cm) TV screen. There are many storage compartments in the suite, including one with a useful mirror in it.
In the seated position, it’s hard to imagine a Business Class seat done better. However, when it comes to sleep, starting with the complicated way to turn it into a sleeper bed which involved putting the seat into its upright position, standing up yourself, and then manually fold the seatback forward. The cabin crew is there to help and will make up the bed for you (thankfully!).
Once flat, you need to lay diagonally on the bed and force your feet in a narrow cubby to stretch straight. This means the bed is not comfortable for travelers who prefer to sleep on their side. The only exception is the bulkhead seats on row 11 and 19, which feature a full-width ottoman (center seats) or larger footrest combined with an ottoman (window seats) instead of a narrow footrest. Thus, they are the best seats on the plane (and far superior to all other Business Class seats).
Another problem with this Business Class setup is that once you are committed to the bed, there’s no way back. If you wake up and want to revert to a regular seat, your bed is gone.
What are the best Business Class seats on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900?
Window seats are the best option for solo travelers since they provide a little more privacy, while travel companions should go for the center seats.
Bulkhead seats on rows 11 and 19 are far superior to all other seats since they feature a full-width ottoman instead of a narrow footrest, allowing a much more comfortable sleeping position.
The seats from rows 19 to 22 are located in their own little private cabin and are therefore highly recommended.
I suggest avoiding the window seats in row 17 and center seats in row 18 due to their proximity to the galley and lavatories. Row 22 because it is also located in front of the Premium Economy bassinet seats (so you may end up being close to young children).
Amenity Kit On Singapore Airlines
Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines doesn’t offer amenity kits in Business Class on any flights. Passengers in the premium cabin only receive slippers, socks, and eyeshades. Bathroom amenities – such as shaving kits, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand lotion, and perfume – are made available in the toilets.
Noise-canceling headphones are provided, although you can not take them home with you.
Food On Singapore Airlines in Business Class
Singapore Airlines enjoys an excellent culinary reputation and collaborates with world-acclaimed chefs who own Michelin-starred restaurants. The airline is famous for its ‘Book the Cook’ service, where you can select your gourmet main course from a premium selection of dishes at least 24 hours before departure.
Unfortunately, the ‘Book the Cook’ service was unavailable on this Düsseldorf to Singapore route, and while the food was excellent, I was not blown away by the meals.
Shortly after takeoff, lunch was served:
- Singapore Chicken and lamb satay, with onion, cucumber, and spicy peanut sauce
- Salmon Riletto, with potato allumette, picked apple, red onion, and fine salad leaves
- Pan-seared lamb loin, with roasted vegetables, leek-potato gratin, and thyme sauce
- Black forest gateaux, with blueberry compote and vanilla sauce
After dinner, the crew passed by with a fruit bowl and a chocolate box, from which you could choose a selection.
The Singapore Airlines A350 does not feature a walk-up bar, but you can order snacks from the menu anytime during the flight. Mid-flight, I ordered Oriental noodles with chicken and black mushrooms – which tasted good.
Ninety minutes prior to landing, breakfast was served:
- Selection of sliced fresh fruits
- Cornflakes with skim milk
- Fruit yoghurt
- Bircher muesli with fruit
- Poached eggs with Hollandaise sauce, with pan-fried bacon, sautéed mushrooms, creamed spinach, and roasted potatoes
In-Flight Entertainment
The 18 inch (45 cm) LCD screen in front of each Business Class has no touchscreen function, and you need to use a video touchscreen handset located above the armrest to work Krisworld, SQ’s inflight entertainment system. The latter features an impressive selection of 1,000 entertainment options, with loads of movies, TV programs, music, games, and apps.
Wifi is available on Singapore Airlines’s A350 and at reasonable speed. Wi-Fi was not complimentary and charged at $11.95 USD for one hour, $16.95 USD for 3 hours, and $21.95 USD for the entire flight.
Singapore Airlines cabin crew – both male and female address every customer by name and are consistently excellent.
For a comparison, you can read our other Singapore Airlines Business Class flight reviews.
This review was written by our friends at TheLuxuryTravelExpert.
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