We reviewed the First Class Suite on Singapore Airlines on their A380 plane from London Heathrow to Singapore. This trip was flown in their brand new suite, and the flight was a brilliant experience in almost all aspects.
Before the flight, I was given access to the excellent Singapore Airlines SilverKris First Class Lounge, London Heathrow, which comes high up on our list of the best airport lounges at London Heathrow.
Singapore Airlines First Class Cabin
Singapore’s new First Class cabin in the A380 is located in the upper deck’s front cabin. The new First Class cabin features beautiful, warm, and stylish decor with light shades of grey and beige, creating a calming and neutral tone. The pictures don’t do the ambiance justice.
The First Class cabin consists of only six suites, with three suites on each side of the aisle. That’s a downscale compared to SQ’s A380s with the old layout, which features 12 First Class suites.
Beautifully crafted walls frame the aisle, only interrupted by the sliding doors, which give access to the individual suites. Two stylishly furnished lavatories further accentuate the exclusivity of the First Class cabin in the front, one of which features palatial dimensions, has a sit-down vanity counter, and is stocked with Lalique toiletries (e.g., unique citrus-scented facial mist, body lotion, and fragrance).
The design of the new First Class cabin was inspired by the Etihad Airways First Class Apartments, a concept that revolutionized premium air travel when it was launched in 2014.
Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines are the only airlines to operate single-aisle First Class cabins on the upper deck of their A380s. I think that Singapore Airlines beats its Middle East competitor because Singapore Airlines’s First Class cabin feels even more exclusive (6 larger suites on SQ compared to 9 smaller suites on Etihad), and all of SQ suites face forward, which is not the case with Etihad Airways (with five rear-facing seats on a total of 9).
What Is The First Class Suite Like?
I had pre-booked suite 3A for the 13-hour flight from London to Singapore. The suite was separated from the aisle by sliding doors and was surrounded by high walls to ensure privacy. All suites have identical decor, complete with lavish yet stylish furnishings, much like a mini-hotel room.
Each suite has a large leather seat and a separate folding bed, so you can lounge comfortably in the chair or rest in the bed without needing to convert the bed from a sitting position. All of the suite’s features (e.g., seat position, lighting, entertainment, etc.) are controlled by a handset on the armrest, an electronic control panel on the side, and a tablet by the windows.
The suite’s centerpiece is the 53 cm (21 inches) wide armchair. The super-comfy chair is fully adjustable, swiveled, and reclined up to 45 degrees. The seat itself was upholstered in fine leather from Poltrona Frau, which also produces Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati seats.
The suite’s folding dining table was located next to the seat. The small table was decorated with white flowers and featured a holder for the menu, which was beautifully lit by a reading light. A sizeable 32-inch touchscreen monitor in high-definition was attached to the suite’s aisle side. This TV could also be swiveled.
In front of the seat was the bed, folded up when you boarded the plane and made up when you requested turn-down service during the flight. The bed was 80.5 inches (205 cm) long and comfortable but not particularly large and relatively too firm, one of the few gripes during this excellent flight.
Once the bed is folded out, the suite feels smaller, so if you’re not sleeping, it’s better to stow the bed and enjoy the space.
There was plenty of storage space within the suite. A personal wardrobe was located in the seat’s aisle wall, with enough space for smaller bags, shoes, and a jacket, and with a mirror in the door. More oversized items could be stored under a fixed panel along the windows that supported the bed’s head when unfolded. Along the window, there were three storage compartments, one of them featuring a backlit vanity mirror.
For couples, the beds in each aisle’s first two suites could be converted to form a double bed by lowering the partition between these suites. The bed could be stowed completely when not used, creating even more personal space within each suite.
What are the best First Class suites on SQ’s Airbus A380?
If you are traveling as a couple, choose two adjoining suites in rows 1 and 2 that can become one space when lowering the divider between them.
What are the worst First Class suites on SQ’s Airbus A380?
There here are no bad suites on SQ’s A380s.
Amenity Kit
Male and female amenity kits are from the renowned French brand Lalique when traveling out of Singapore, and a male-female combined amenity kit on Singapore-bound flights. I received a black pouch containing a scented candle, lip balm, body lotion, and soap.
You also get a Lalique branded sleeper suit, a pair of Lalique branded slippers, and Bose noise-canceling headphones (which you can’t keep).
During the flight, I also received a present containing a special edition SQ A380 glass, but I am unsure whether this is standard.
It is worth noting that Singapore Airlines does not provide amenity kits to its Business Class passengers.
Food
The meals on Singapore Airlines were some of the best I have experienced in the skies. We have reviewed this First Class food separately so as not to inundate this review with photos.
Entertainment
The 32-inch, high-resolution TV screen in the suite was controlled by a tablet and displays KrisWorld, SQ’s inflight entertainment system. The latter features an impressive selection of 1,000 entertainment options, with many movies, television programs, music, games, and apps.
Contrary to most other airlines, and to my great disappointment, SQ hasn’t installed tail, nose, and belly cameras on its A380 aircraft.
Wi-Fi was available on SQ’s A380 and was of reasonable speed. To access the onboard internet, you need to enable Wi-Fi on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop and connect to the ‘KrisWorld’ or ‘OnAir network.
Female staff were dressed in their signature sarong kebaya, and both male and female crew were some of the best in the industry. They addressed every customer by name and did all they could to make your flight as enjoyable as possible.
Singapore Airlines does not feature a bar on its flagship plane, but you can order snacks from the menu anytime during the flight.
Review by our friends at Luxury Travel Expert
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