jacob_m

Time for a flight I was very much looking forward to, and a flight I know some people here have been waiting for.
It's time to test Singapore Airlines in First class, 8 hours between Sydney and Singapore on a Boeing 747 equipped with the SkySuites.
I had very high expectations of the flight, but I can assure you already now I was not to be disappointed!

Off we go...

Check-in

There was a shuttle bus in operation between my airport hotel and the terminals, which was very convenient. As breakfast was not included in my rate I left the hotel quite early to have late breakfast in the lounge instead, I arrived at the international terminal just after 10 am with well over two and a half hours before departure.

There was no line for the two first class check-in desks, so they were checking in Raffles class passengers instead, but once the couple at the desk were checked in it was my turn.
There was a very pleasant young woman at the counter who confirmed my seat assignment and that my luggage would only be tagged to Singapore.
She also asked me the standard security questions, to which I just replied “Yes, No, No, Yes”, I had heard those so many times by now. After the last question she said “excellent, you passed the test!” with a large smile.
I was given a red boarding pass with First class printed to the left. Yay, my first Singapore Airlines First class experience was about to begin.

Just like last time I departed from Sydney there was no line at all at passport control, but after security I was randomly selected for an explosives test. They take samples from the hand luggage and from the clothes and put all of it into a machine to see if there are any traces of explosives.

Pics
The red carpet laid out for me, Singapore Airlines First class check-in in Sydney!
The First class check-in desk

Air New Zealand lounge, Sydney

I still had well over two hours before departure, so I decided to go to the Air NZ lounge first, the lounge I had visited a week before and very much enjoyed.
I presented my boarding pass and gold card at the reception (the BP would actually have been enough) and asked nicely if I could use the lounge for a while.
No problem at all, I was most welcome to spend some time in the lounge, the only thing was that they would close the lounge in just 45 minutes.
I actually thought the lounge was open the whole day, but 45 minutes was about the amount of time I had planned to spend there anyway, so that was perfect for me.

The lounge was just as nice as last time with plenty to eat and drink.
This morning they had a very extensive breakfast buffet with toast, muffins, quiches, scones, cold cuts, and god knows what else. That could easily have been the breakfast buffet in a hotel, I really had a proper breakfast in the lounge.
The lounge was very empty, not more than five people in the lounge, so plenty of space.
I also found the business centre (didn’t notice it on my last visit) and they had free internet as well, so I took the opportunity to check my e-mails and surf the internet for a while.

After around 40 minutes when I knew they would soon close the lounge I left. I had checked my e-mails and had a proper breakfast, so I was happy with my visit anyway.
I did some shopping in the tax-free before going to the Singapore Airlines lounge, I was running out of deodorant for example. Funnily in the tax-free shops in Sydney they always ask for your nationality when you pay, and out of curiosity I asked the girl at the cashier why they were so interested in knowing where I come from.
Apparently it had something to do with statistics, they want to see what people from different countries mostly buy. However the girl managed to type my country code wrong, and my receipt ended up saying Taiwan instead, so now I guess the statistics will tell Taiwanese people buy a lot of deodorant in Sydney.

Pics
Inside the Air NZ lounge in Sydney
The very nice and extensive breakfast buffet in the lounge
Plenty to drink as well

Singapore Airlines First class lounge, Sydney

I made my way to the Singapore Airlines lounge which is right next to the Air NZ lounge.
I was warmly welcomed at the reception and directed to the right, to the First class side.
The lounge was nice, but actually not that spectacular. As it was a First class lounge it was of course small and intimate with only a few people inside, but I actually enjoyed the Air NZ lounge more (a business class lounge) which had a lot more to offer in all aspects.
Still I’m naturally not complaining about being in a proper Singapore Airlines First class lounge.
They had a self-service buffet in the lounge with plenty of sandwiches, fresh fruit and lovely pastries.
Plenty of drinks as well, but I did not see any champagne (on the other hand I didn’t ask for it either). The china in the lounge was also the proper First class one, same as they use onboard.

The lounge never had more than 15 passengers inside, so it was far from crowded.
I had something to eat (but not a lot to save room for the food onboard), a glass of red wine and another cup of coffee, and then killed some time in front of one of the internet computers (they had two with free internet).

Around 12.10 (35 mins before departure) the first boarding announcement was made in the lounge.
We were told boarding had started at the gate, but passengers who wished to stay a little longer in the lounge could wait until the final boarding announcement was made.
We were also told there was a special line at the gate for first class, business class and Star Alliance gold passengers.
Since I didn’t really have anything more to do in the lounge and was quite eager to get onboard, I left the lounge. When passing the reception desk the nice lounge attendant thanked me for my visit and wished me a nice flight.

Pics
The entrance to the Singapore Airlines lounge in Sydney
Inside the First class lounge
Another photo of the First class lounge
The self-service buffet area

Sydney-Singapore, flight SQ 232 operated by Singapore Airlines
Departure: 12:45
Arrival: 17:45
Aircraft: Boeing 747
Class: First Class
Seat: 04F

The gate area was packed with people, I think they boarded passengers by row numbers or sections.
Just as we had been told in the lounge there was a dedicated priority line, very clearly marked with a young woman waiting to assist passengers, and there was not a person in line, so I could walk straight onboard.

Only one passenger bridge was in use for door 1L, right behind the first class cabin.
A male flight attendant was greeting all passengers at the door and checked their boarding passes, in most cases he just directed them to the appropriate aisle.
However when I arrived things immediately changed, he warmly welcomed me onboard and escorted me to my seat and also opened the overhead locker before he had to go back to the door to greet the other passengers.
Another flight attendant then came and welcomed me onboard and offered to take my jacket.
A minute later she was back, and from that point I was addressed by name (and pretty much throughout the entire flight). She asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and after saying “champagne would be nice” I got the question I had been waiting for, if I wanted Krug or Dom Perignon.
I finally decided to go for Dom , but after having had quite a few glasses of both now I think Krug is actually my favourite, although they are of course both very good.
Top-ups were also offered as well as newspapers and magazines.

While I was sipping Dom in my lovely first class suite people were still boarding, and I could see many passengers looking into the first class cabin with envy and looking at me sitting there with my glass of champagne in my huge seat (most passengers in F had still not boarded yet).
Well I would probably have done the same, but this time I didn’t have to be envious.
I have to agree the cabin gives a very good first impression when you board the aircraft and it’s really clean and completely empty. Even though I had seen so many photos of it and was well familiar with all the amenities, being there myself in one of those large leather seats was still something completely different.

Soon the remaining first class passengers came onboard, among those a whole family of four with two children, probably not more than 10 years old. Not too bad having tried SQ F already at that age, but they got the same great service as everybody else, although of course no six courses meal with alcohol.
I think 9 out of the 12 seats in First class were occupied during the flight.

We pushed back on time and as we were taking off to the south it was only a short taxi to get to the runway.
They showed the usual safety demonstration video on the monitors, which in first class meant on the personal TVs, but I have to say the video starts to feel a bit old and dated.
The weather in Sydney was nice this afternoon so nice views during the climb, but no city views like last time.
I agree with you all that the photo of Sydney is spectacular (from the CHC-SYD flight), I didn’t even realise how nice it was until I was back home, and it’s impossible to see it is taken through an airplane window (usually the windows are a bit dirty).

Anyway, after the seat belt sign was off the service in the cabin started (or continued perhaps).
More amenities were handed out like a Givenchy sleeper suit in a dark grey bag and also a Bvlgari amenity kit. The amenity kit had plenty of things inside like hand cream, lip balm and a shaving kit (in the male version). But the most remarkable thing was a bottle of Bvlgari eau de cologne, 25 ml! That’s expensive stuff! Although I haven’t really checked any prices I’m sure you have to pay 50 USD or so for that bottle in a regular shop.
Slippers were also handed out as well as blankets; there was already a pillow at the seat.
Just under the TV there was also a drawer with a writing kit and a first class pen for each passenger, the pen was in the same brown colour as the first class logo and had the first class F on it.

Pics
All passengers entered the aircraft just behind the First class cabin
A glass of Dom Perignon before departure
The First class cabin
Nice view just after take-off
Amenity kit
Contents of the amenity kit
Sleeper suit and slippers

The menu

After having received all the amenities more drinks were offered. I went for another glass of Dom and some cashew nuts. They actually had both peanuts and cashew nuts on offer, and you could choose which one you wanted or have a bit of both.

Next the menu and the drink list were handed out in a nice black leather binder.
All the food sounded delicious with as much as five main courses to choose between. The drink list was also most impressive, especially with all the cocktails they mix onboard.
But I have to say even though the menu was superb it still does not beat the menu offered onboard ANA which was really a class of its own.

Pics
The First class menu and drink list presented in a nice leather binder

Here is the First class menu for the flight between Sydney and Singapore:

Meal service

After some more drinks the flight attendant was back to take meal orders.
I thought about skipping either the salad or the soup as I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to finish the entire meal (after all there were six courses!), but the flight attendant managed to convince me to have all of it anyway and said I should just eat slowly.

Next the table was prepared for the meal, the table is actually hidden under the TV-screen.
White tablecloths were laid on the tables followed by the usual cutlery, but only plastic knives on the flight and there was even a small note apologising for it and explaining that it was beyond their control.
The table setting looked very nice, they really do an excellent job in this area, and it's intersting how they carefully place all the plates and glasses so the F points at you (you can see it yourself on the photos).

After all the champagne I switched to wine for the meal and I was happy to learn that the crew had some knowledge in that area, they knew a bit about what they were serving.
The meal service then started with appetizer (I had parma ham and duckliver terrine), soup (asparagus for me), salad, main course (I had the veal which was superb) and then dessert.
The summer pudding served as dessert was wonderful and looked absolutely fantastic, they really do an excellent job on SQ to make the food look nice.
I really could not manage cheese on top of all that so I just asked for a cup of coffee, and just like on ANA you could choose coffee bean for the coffee.
They had four different coffee beans on offer, which were all very well explained in the drink list with ratings about the aroma, body and acidity.
I tried three out of the four coffee beans during the flight and the Jamaican Blue Mountain was probably my favourite, quite strong and tasty.

I actually managed to finish the whole meal with both soup and salad, and I didn’t leave much on the plates either, so the flight attendant was right when she thought I would manage. But that’s not to say I was still hungry when the meal was over, I was so full I could hardly move!
The key to first class meals is to eat slowly and also drink plenty of water, which was certainly possible on SQ.
The meal service is 100% individual, so you can choose to have the entire meal or just parts of it and all dishes are served individually based on what you have ordered and how fast you eat.
They really do a good job in coordinating the meal service and keeping track of orders and what people are eating and drinking at the moment and when they are likely to finish what they are eating and when their glasses will be empty, and so on… Very impressive!! ^
So while I had my dessert a woman got her main course and at the same time another man had already finished his meal, and we were all happy!
With a maximum of 12 passengers in F that does require a bit of work, and amazingly even later during the flight they still remembered (or at least had notes of) what wine and coffee I had been drinking.
When I asked for another cup of coffee a few hours later I was asked if I wanted the Jamaican coffee this time as well, and when I said I wanted a glass of the other French wine (they had two French reds onboard) she instantly knew which wine to serve me before I had looked up the name in the drink list. Well done!

Pics
More Dom Perignon and cashew nuts after take-off
The table setting
Appetizer
Soup
Salad
Main course
Dessert (looks very nice!)
Coffee and chocolate pralines
One of the nice flight attendants passing during the meal service

The inflight entertainment system - Krisworld

The Krisworld inflight entertainment system is really superb, there is enough there to keep you entertained for a few days, if not weeks.
I think they had around 100 movies on offer including some new ones, foreign/non-English ones, old classics (Gone with the wind for example), and movies for children.
There was just so much to choose between!
On top of that they offer many documentaries (including nice travel ones), dramas, TV-series, music (with over 100 full CDs to listen to) and then games (Nintendo and interactive games to play with other passengers onboard).
We’re talking about an impressive amount of entertainment here!

The SkySuite in F also has a full 15” TV in front of the seat which makes the experience even better. You also get noise-cancelling headphones in F.
When you recline the seat a bit to a comfortable position and then lower the window shades it almost feels like sitting at home a late evening watching TV in a nice armchair (if not better).
You certainly don’t think much about how you are actually on an airplane at 33,000 feet.
If you add (on top of all that) nice Singapore Airlines girls who are happy to serve you free drinks and cocktails during the flight, I guess it’s obvious you don’t really suffer in first class.

Pics
The Krisworld inflight entertainment system
On-demand movies
Watching Friends – The one with Chandler in a box
The video console

The seat – SkySuite

The seat is very comfortable and has plenty plenty of space and storage.
There are two “seat pockets” where you can put newspapers and reading material, and then by the window there is also plenty of space for magazines, drinks etc.
The seat can be reclined to a fully flat bed, and the crew are happy to prepare the bed with a mattress, pillow and duvet if you want to get some proper sleep.
Since this was a daytime flight I didn’t really feel like sleeping onboard, there was too much available through Krisworld to watch, but other passengers onboard wanted to sleep so I got to see what the seat looks like turned into a bed.
I changed into my Givenchy sleeper suit though which was very comfortable and fitted me perfectly, the crew was also happy to take care of my regular clothes during the flight and put them on a hanger in a closet.
I reclined my seat a bit (plenty of options to find a nice position) and then asked for a blanket (actually I was given one) so I could enjoy some movies on my personal TV and also get a bit of rest.

Pics
The First class cabin
My seat! Perfect position to watch a movie!
The seat control
This is what the seat looks like turned into a bed

More food onboard

During the flight I asked for some fresh fruit to have something to eat while watching movies, they had a whole basket with fresh fruit including bananas, strawberries, apples, grapes and probably other things. Without asking for it I was also given a napkin and proper cutlery (even though just a plate would have been enough).
I also asked for a Singapore Sling which they happily mixed for me, quite good!

Around two hours before landing they offered a second meal with a choice between Thai rice porridge with pork, or salmon with vegetables.
I was still watching a movie when they came to take the meal order but I was told I could decide myself when I wanted to eat. There were 20 minutes left of the movie, so I said in 20 minutes, and they really kept track of when 20 minutes had passed.
In the meantime I was served drinks, I tried one of the other red wines onboard this time, and after 20 minutes the flight attendant was back and asked me if I was ready to eat.
I said I was, and my table was prepared for the meal, the salmon was absolutely delicious!!
I had another cup of coffee afterwards, the Brazilian coffee bean this time.

Pics
Inflight snacks! A Singapore Sling and fresh fruit
The meal just before landing, the salmon was delicious!!
A last cup of coffee before landing

Arrival in Singapore

Soon it was time for the descent into Singapore and the flight attendant returned my clothes so I could change back in the lavatory.
One of the main differences between first class and economy class is how lenient the flight attendants are with the passengers and what they do.
For example when the seat belt sign is turned on, in economy class that means you should be seated with the seat belt fastened and sit there until the plane has parked at the gate, and certainly not visit the lavatory.
In first class the seat belt sign is an indication that it’s time to slowly start collecting your belongings, get changed/dressed, visit the lavatory a last time, and then raise your seat back and eventually fasten your seat belt.
I don’t think a single person in first class was seated with the seat belt fastened five minutes after the seat belt sign had been turned on, and you can probably visit the lavatory until minutes before touchdown if you are quick.

I collected my belongings and packed my bag before landing, and both the amenity kit, slippers and menu ended up in my bag. I have actually kept almost everything I have been given during the flights, so I have something like five amenity kits at home including the black Star Alliance overnight kit I got in Rarotonga.

We landed in Singapore right on time, actually 5 mins early, and taxied to terminal 2.
After having parked at the gate the curtains between business class and first class were closed and first class passengers were allowed off the plane first through the front door.
I chatted a bit with one of the male FAs who asked me what my plans were in Singapore, he already knew I did not have a connecting flight. He guessed shopping, he might have been right…

I was among the first passengers off the plane and the very first passenger from the flight to reach immigration, which took around 2-3 minutes.
Still, when I got to the baggage reclaim the first bags were already on the belt. As my bags were tagged with the SQ first class tag they were among the first on the belt and one of them was actually already there. Amazing!
I was actually standing in the taxi queue only 15 minutes (!) after getting off the plane, and that’s with two checked suitcases and immigration in between.
Absolutely amazing!! ^ ^ I think that’s very hard to beat!! And I checked the time, 15 minutes it was...

Final comments about the flight

This was a very very nice flight with great service onboard and very delicious food.
The service was absolutely superb, the FAs are so attentive and really keep track of everything going on. On top of that they also try to think of other things that could be done and they almost try to anticipate what you may want or need.
I sometimes saw FAs standing at the back of the cabin looking for something to do, and you just had to turn your head and the flight attendant would immediately come and ask if she could get you something or do something for you. Very very attentive service!! ^
The seat was also extremely comfortable, and the large screen was a big plus.
I was also impressed by all the amenities offered. A sleeper suit on an 8-hour daytime flight is certainly not bad, and the Bvlgari amenity kit was probably the best one of all flights.

If I should give any negative comments about the flight I would perhaps echo what other people have said about the FAs being a little bit robotic.
Even though the service was absolutely fantastic onboard the FAs have been so highly trained that I missed some genuineness. They have been taught exactly what to do and how to behave in every single situation, and it just leaves very little room for own initiatives.
It’s a bit like the service was too polished, if you get what I mean.
These are just some reflections though and certainly not any complaints, we are still talking about one of the best inflight experiences you can get, and I am also being very picky.
Overall it was still an absolutely fantastic flight, and I can warmly recommend the Singapore Airlines First class product to anybody!! And with the new first class seat launched next year it will be an even nicer experience!