Sorry, not allowed to include photos due to newbie.

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So please search "SQ221 Inaugural" on YouTube for video report

Airlines: Singapore Airlines (SIA/SQ)
Flight: SQ221
Origin: Singapore Changi (SIN/WSSS)
Destination: Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD/YSSY)
Date: 2017/12
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
Registration: 9V-SKU
Class: Business Class
Seat No: 97A
Lounge: SilverKris Lounge Business Class, Terminal 3, Changi
Starring: Rilakkuma/Korilakkuma
Camera: Sony Alpha7s, Sony RX10IV, iPhone X, GoPro Hero 5 Black

I started planning for this trip when Singapore Airlines debut the new products and announced the first flight that it will be used, unfortunately by that time all Suites awards were gone, so I settled for Business Class for both outbound and inbound sector of the inaugural flight, and I hope I'll be able to review the new Suites some time later.

I arrived Changi Airport terminal 3 slightly early at 4pm even though the flight departs at 8:40pm, so I could have enough time for the lounge as well as the gatehold room reception, and the screens above the check-in counters were already showing special banner for this inaugural flight.

Unlike previous inaugural flights that used gate B8, with more passengers onboard the A380, the larger gate B7 was used, and balloons were set up in front of the gate entrance.

Despite it’s not a new aircraft type and not a new route, the celebration standard is on par with a brand-new aircraft type, demonstrating the importance of this new cabin product is to Singapore Airlines. Singapore girls were posing for pictures and Singapore Airlines staff had instant camera ready. Refreshment was served, and there were singing performance by Singapore Airlines cabin crew performing arts circle, followed by a short welcoming speech by Mr. Campbell Wilson, Senior Vice President of sales & marketing, and concluded with a lion dance performance by Singapore Airlines cabin crew martial arts circle.

I didn't have very high expectation on the new Business Class seats, because by counting the number of rows between upper deck door 1 and door 2, there are actually 2 more rows on the new A380 (11 rows VS 13 rows), so by theory each seat would be smaller than the older generation. However, the seats are still sufficiently wide, and this new seat it is no longer require leaving your seat and flip down the seatback for bed, but this also means the bedding can no longer be tucked behind the seatback and had to be stored in the already small foot cubicle.

The seat control is similar to Apple iPhone's force touch, where you press on it, it would vibrate and turned into blue color, indicating that it's responding to your command, but they are too sensitive, my arm always accidentally activated the seat control, including the crew call button unfortunately.

The leather is by Poltrona Frau, an Italian furniture maker. There are foldable armrests on both sides, and there are two high power USB ports for charging electronic devices on top of the power outlet, there's also an RFID reader reserved for inflight purchases in future. The headphone jack is Phitek magnetic jack, but the plug of the headphone provided is still a conventional one. On the new seats they no longer have headphone jack on both sides, which makes it inconvenient if your headphone cable is on one side while the jack is on the other. There's also a vanity mirror with light, and ample of stowage space under the ottoman. The reading light is operated by turning, which controls both on/off and brightness, there's also a bed light behind the seat back which comes with 3 modes, low, high and warm flood light.

I have chosen seat 97A on this flight, the last row on the upper deck, hoping to have the entire section to myself if the flight is not full and others choosing seats in the front. However, you may wish to note that the window seats of row96 and 97 are slightly narrower, probably due to the aircraft fuselage curvature, this could be observed by the smaller cocktail table area compared with other seats.

Many people's eyes are on the "double bed" in Business Class, unfortunately not all seats are equal and the "double bed" is only possible for the center bulkhead seats, and for this I had asked the crew to set up seat 96D and 96F as double bed after takeoff for my photographs, which they are glad to entertain my request and showcase their newest product in store. These bulkhead seats have full width legroom, however only the partition for the upper half of the body can be lowered, so it is only at most a "half" double bed.

The most important aspect to me on every special flight is the goodie bag, and on this flight, it consists of an inaugural flight certificate, a pair of Bodum PAVINA Double Wall Glasses, a batik pen, an A380 Post-it pad, and a limited edition of the Laundress Amenity Kit.

As none of the default meal choices was appealing to me, I had opted for Classic Lobster Thermidor from Book the Cook, and all of the porcelain tableware and cutlery on this flight is brand new, spoons were shiny like mirror and without scratches. There were also special truffles by Awfully chocolate distributed at the end of the meal to celebrate this special flight. Sheets, blankets and pillows are of course brand new for the new seats, so are the Penhaligon’s toiletries found in toilets, which replaces previous’ Miller Harris toiletries

I had my bed setup at seat 97D, for back sleeper, you’ll have to adjust to fit into the headroom and foot cubicle in a straight line, as there’s not much margin for that, but for side sleeper, it would be easier to adjust your posture to fit in the space. The shell partition of the seat provides excellent feeling of privacy.

Few hours quickly passed and it’s time for pre-arrival refreshment, just some breads from the bakery and fresh fruits, I would emotionally feel better if it is a complete breakfast or at least a hot breakfast main course.

Crew on this flight was amazing, from helping me carry my suitcase and goodie bag all the way to the last row of the aircraft when I boarded the aircraft, giving me SQ70 teddy bears and entertaining my various requests such as setting up double bed during the flight, it was a nice and friendly team who shows they enjoyed the new cabin product as much as passengers do.

The atmosphere was full of moisture and turbulence was on and off during the whole flight. Sunrise was invisible but I was fortunate that the flight landed from the north, so I could have a view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House minutes prior to touchdown.