Singapore Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class Bali to Singapore (+ video)
Oct 19, 2018, 5:09 pm
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Singapore Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class Bali to Singapore (+ video)
On July 27th 2018, I flew Business Class in a brand new Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner of Singapore Airlines (SQ) from Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). Last March, SQ was the world’s first airline to take delivery of Boeing’s newest aircraft Dreamliner variant, the B787-10. SQ has installed a new type of regional Business Class layout and seat on its Dreamliner fleet, which I found to be very comfortable and definitely a step up from its subpar A330 Business Class product.
I made a Youtube clip about the flight experience, which you can watch here:
I paid 17,500 KrisFleyer miles + $21 SGD (Singaporian dollar) for the one way journey from Bali to Singapore.
2. PREMIER LOUNGE AT BALI AIRPORT
Since SQ doesn’t have its own lounge at Bali Airport, its Business Class passengers as wells as elite members of its frequent flyer program have access to the Premier Lounge, which is a contract lounge used by many other airlines as well. The Premier Lounge is basically a large room comprising several seating areas that are spread around three wood beams. There are several types of seat to choose from, ranging from basic chairs to red circular sectional sofas. One side of the lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of the interior of the departure hall. The design – mixing modern elements with traditional Balinese artefacts – is a little weird IMHO and there are several sign of tear and wear. Two buffet stations take center stage at the lounge, offering a decent but otherwise unremarkable selection of cold and hot items (including both Western and Asian dishes). The only real issue I had the with the lounge (apart from its rather unattractive decor and uninspiring food) is that the place gets very crowded since it only offers a limited amount of seats for number of airlines (and passengers) it serves.
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
The Boeing 787-10 features SQ’s new regional cabin product, configured with 337 seats in two classes: 36 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 301 recliner seats in Economy Class. All 36 Business Class seats are located in one large cabin and are arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 layout, spread over 9 rows. Each seat faces forward, has direct aisle access, and is located within a large, curved, silver-grey shell, providing complete privacy for all passengers.
The regional Business Class product onboard SQ’s B787 is a huge improvement compared to what is offered on the carrier’s fleet of regionally configured Airbus A330s. The later comprises 30 Business Class seats per aircraft, arranged in five rows with a standard 2-2-2 configuration (meaning that not al passengers have direct aisle access). So if you have a choice, always make sure that you are booked on a B787 for one of SQ’s intra-Asian flights, especially on routes where SQ operates multiple aircraft types (such as the Bali to/from Singapore route).
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEATS (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
I had selected seat 19A for the 2,5 hour flight to Singapore.
SQ’s B787-10 regional Business Class seat has a generous pitch of 44 inch (111 cm) but is only 22 inch (56 cm) wide, so it may feel a little tight. Fortunately, the seat width can be increased to a more comfortable 26 inch (or 66 cm) when you lower the retractable armrests.
Each seat has a large console on the side. The console’s upper part holds a small storage cabinet, a concealed mirror, and a business panel with in-seat power supply and USB ports. The console’s lower part features a cocktail table doubling as a working surface, a control panel for the seat’s lighting and position, and a handset for the inflight entertainment. The location of the console differs from seat to seat, with some seats having the console on their aisle side while others have the console on the window side or along the plane’s centerline. The seats with the console on the aisle side are the most private ones, but less accessible because the gap between the console and the seat in front is quite narrow.
Each Business Class seat comes with a 18 inch full high-definition touchscreen monitor. A large tray table is hidden under the TV screen, and needs to be pulled out and folded open for any use. Below the TV screen is also a generously spaced foot cubby, with some storage space underneath. This ottoman becomes part of the bed when the seat is reclined into its fully flat position, and although the bed is quite narrow, its length of 76 inches (190 cm) is more than adequate, even for tall passengers.
What are the best Business Class seats on SQ’s B787? Click here for a seat map.
Passengers traveling on SQ’s regional Business Class receive the following amenities:
A light lunch was offered during this 2,5 hour flight. Due to the short duration of the flight, the different meal courses were served all at once on one tray. The menu read as follows:
I made a Youtube clip about the flight experience, which you can watch here:
- Trip: Bali (DEN) to Singapore (SIN)
- Airline: Singapore Airlines (SQ)
- Aircraft type: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
- Aircraft registration number: 9V-SCF
- Flight Number: SQ943
- Date: July 27, 208
- On time departure: yes (1.30 pm)
- On time arrival: yes (4 pm)
- Miles: 1040
- Flight time: 2 hours & 30 minutes
- Seat: 19A
- Class: Business
I paid 17,500 KrisFleyer miles + $21 SGD (Singaporian dollar) for the one way journey from Bali to Singapore.
2. PREMIER LOUNGE AT BALI AIRPORT
Since SQ doesn’t have its own lounge at Bali Airport, its Business Class passengers as wells as elite members of its frequent flyer program have access to the Premier Lounge, which is a contract lounge used by many other airlines as well. The Premier Lounge is basically a large room comprising several seating areas that are spread around three wood beams. There are several types of seat to choose from, ranging from basic chairs to red circular sectional sofas. One side of the lounge features floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of the interior of the departure hall. The design – mixing modern elements with traditional Balinese artefacts – is a little weird IMHO and there are several sign of tear and wear. Two buffet stations take center stage at the lounge, offering a decent but otherwise unremarkable selection of cold and hot items (including both Western and Asian dishes). The only real issue I had the with the lounge (apart from its rather unattractive decor and uninspiring food) is that the place gets very crowded since it only offers a limited amount of seats for number of airlines (and passengers) it serves.
3. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN
The Boeing 787-10 features SQ’s new regional cabin product, configured with 337 seats in two classes: 36 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 301 recliner seats in Economy Class. All 36 Business Class seats are located in one large cabin and are arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 layout, spread over 9 rows. Each seat faces forward, has direct aisle access, and is located within a large, curved, silver-grey shell, providing complete privacy for all passengers.
The regional Business Class product onboard SQ’s B787 is a huge improvement compared to what is offered on the carrier’s fleet of regionally configured Airbus A330s. The later comprises 30 Business Class seats per aircraft, arranged in five rows with a standard 2-2-2 configuration (meaning that not al passengers have direct aisle access). So if you have a choice, always make sure that you are booked on a B787 for one of SQ’s intra-Asian flights, especially on routes where SQ operates multiple aircraft types (such as the Bali to/from Singapore route).
4. BUSINESS CLASS SEATS (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)
I had selected seat 19A for the 2,5 hour flight to Singapore.
SQ’s B787-10 regional Business Class seat has a generous pitch of 44 inch (111 cm) but is only 22 inch (56 cm) wide, so it may feel a little tight. Fortunately, the seat width can be increased to a more comfortable 26 inch (or 66 cm) when you lower the retractable armrests.
Each seat has a large console on the side. The console’s upper part holds a small storage cabinet, a concealed mirror, and a business panel with in-seat power supply and USB ports. The console’s lower part features a cocktail table doubling as a working surface, a control panel for the seat’s lighting and position, and a handset for the inflight entertainment. The location of the console differs from seat to seat, with some seats having the console on their aisle side while others have the console on the window side or along the plane’s centerline. The seats with the console on the aisle side are the most private ones, but less accessible because the gap between the console and the seat in front is quite narrow.
Each Business Class seat comes with a 18 inch full high-definition touchscreen monitor. A large tray table is hidden under the TV screen, and needs to be pulled out and folded open for any use. Below the TV screen is also a generously spaced foot cubby, with some storage space underneath. This ottoman becomes part of the bed when the seat is reclined into its fully flat position, and although the bed is quite narrow, its length of 76 inches (190 cm) is more than adequate, even for tall passengers.
What are the best Business Class seats on SQ’s B787? Click here for a seat map.
- Solo travelers should go for one of the window seats (A and K). The seats with the cabinet on the aisle side are the most private ones since they are somewhat sheltered from the cabin. These seats are located in rows 12, 15, 17 and 19.
- The dual and more intimate seats in the center of the cabin (D and E) which have their consoles on the aisle side are perfect for partners traveling together. These ‘honeymoon seats’ are located in rows 11, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
- The bulkhead seats in row 11 not only feature more leg room, but they also have extra space next to the TV screen which can be used as either a bassinet or storage area.
- If you are ‘passenger of size’, I suggest to avoid the seats with the console on the aisle side because of the narrow gap between the cabinet and the seat in front (which may prove a real challenge to access the seat).
- Solo travelers should avoid the honeymoon seats in the plane’s center, although an adjustable divider can be raised for complete privacy if you are seated next to a stranger.
- Passengers seated in row 11 and 20 may occasionally suffer from noise from the lavatories and galley.
- Seats 16A and 16K have no window and are thus best avoided.
Passengers traveling on SQ’s regional Business Class receive the following amenities:
- A high-quality blanket
- A stylish, colorful pillow
- Noise canceling headphones (to block the noise from the engines and cabin); you cannot take these home as the headphones can only be powered within an aircraft.
- An amenity kit is not provided. Penhaligon toiletries (e.g. hand lotion, facial mist and fragrance) are available though in the lavatories in case you would need them.
A light lunch was offered during this 2,5 hour flight. Due to the short duration of the flight, the different meal courses were served all at once on one tray. The menu read as follows:
- Appetizer: marinated prawns with lime pepper vinaigrette and papaya asian slaw salad.
- Main course: seared salmon fillet in tomato black olive vinaigrette with lentil carrot stew and squash.
- Dessert: kue mutiara, indonesian jackfruit sago coconut pudding.
