This is my first Yelp review written in Malaysia! I've just flown home to visit my parents.
I've always stated that Singapore Airlines is my favourite airline but I've not actually flown with them for 3 years. So, it was nice to come back to an old favourite to find that it still lives up to all my rose-tinted memories.
I travelled on their new double-decker A380. Instead of stuffing the aircraft full of the theoretical maximum 800 seats, Singapore Airlines have configured the plane to hold 471 passengers in 4 classes - Suites, First Class, Business Class and economy. Now, not being a fat cat like Tony Blair, I flew economy but was pleased to find that the rear cabin of the upper deck is economy class - I managed to snag a seat in the upper deck cabin.
Booking my flight online through www.singaporeair.com was simple and I was able to reserve my seat online. By the way, a useful website to look up if you're flying is www.seatguru.com which tells you which the good seats are on an aicraft - the site is divided by airline and then the airline's aircraft.
I was excited to board the upper deck and we had to walk through the Business Class cabin to get there - well, if those were business class seats, First Class and Suites must be palatial. The business class seats were bigger than the First Class I've seen on other carriers.
The economy cabin seemed more spacious than on 747s - the seat width is wider though the seat pitch (distance to the seat in front of you) is a staandard 32 inches. The upper deck is configured in a 2-4-2 seat formation, which also makes it seem less crowded but the main deck economy cabin is in a more familiar 3-4-3 seat configuration. The window seats also have a shelf to rest things on.
The entertaiment is state of the art and easily the best on any aircraft I've been on - huge 10.6 inch diagonal TV screen with high def picture. You also have ports to allow you to connect a USB stick or media player to play your own movies or photos onto the screen. There's a huge selection of movies (including flims still on in the cinema), TV shows, music and games to keep you entertained as well as more cerebral pastimes such as language programs to help you learn new languages. In fact, I wanted the flight to last longer so that I could make more use of the entertainment system.
The seat was comfortable and I slept easily. There are little touches like small reading lights - the ceiling reading lights sometimes throw shadows.
However, the main attraction of Singapore Airlines is the service. There is a natural and genuine warmth to the welcome that you receive and they look after you well. On the A380, I was able to hang out and chat to the cabin staff in the rear galley about the plane and their favorite cities in the world etc. By the way, there's a also a staircase at the rear of the cabin that you can go between the upper and main decks.
In an era of financial cutbacks in the aviation industry, it's nice to see that Singapore airlines have still retained the little extras which show class - proper hot towels at the start of the flight, Givenchy bags containing complimentary toiletries and menus offering genuine choice and food which doesn't taste like airline food.
Singapore Changi Airport is another huge plus for Singapore Airlines. After the cramped horror Heathrow where they seem to want to bleed you dry, it's so nice to arrive at Changi with free internet, free movie theatre, free city tour if your transit is longer than 5 hours, free nature trails, butterfly farm and orchid exhibits, free gaming area, free foot massages and a swimming pool. The retail and restaurant area puts to shame many malls in the UK.
Singapore Airlines, I salute you. Your position as my favourite airline is well earned!! read more