After visiting Singapore Airways’ The Personal Room and the Singapore Airways First Class Lounge, it was time to proceed my lengthy journey to Abu Dhabi, by flying Singapore Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER top quality from Singapore to Jakarta.
Singapore Airways is considered one of my favourite airways on this planet, and on this case I used to be flying the provider on its shortest flight with top quality service, on the 80-minute hop to Jakarta. My gosh, what an absolute delight this flight was, from the impeccable service, to the scrumptious meals, to the selection of three champagnes.
As I at all times say, it’s so laborious to return to flying premium cabins inside the US after experiencing journey in Asia. It’s only a entire totally different world. Let’s get into the evaluate…
How I booked my Singapore Airways top quality ticket
The rationale I flew Singapore Airways from Singapore to Jakarta was as a result of I needed to expertise the provider’s new premium lounges in Singapore, and the most cost effective approach to try this was by taking Singapore Airways’ shortest top quality flight. I managed to ebook the next for 30,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles plus $46.71 in taxes and costs:
12/03 SQ950 Singapore to Jakarta departing 6:50AM arriving 7:35AM
Singapore Airways top quality awards are typically restricted to members of the KrisFlyer program. Luckily Singapore Airways companions with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Chase Final Rewards, and Citi ThankYou, so the miles are simple to return by.
Singapore Airways top quality lounge & boarding
My pal Toby was becoming a member of me on this flight in top quality (he occurred to be in Singapore, so he flew with me to Jakarta, after which continued his personal journey). We had spent the evening exploring Singapore Airways’ The Personal Room and the Singapore Airways First Class Lounge in Terminal 3, that are the provider’s finest lounges.
Within the morning, our flight to Jakarta was departing from Terminal 2, which is only a brief practice journey away. Our 6:50AM flight was scheduled to board half-hour earlier than departure (at 6:20AM) at gate F58.
In Changi Airport Terminal 2, safety is at every particular person gate. I discover the method to normally be fairly environment friendly, although I don’t love this as an idea, particularly since there’s no precedence screening for premium passengers. Luckily we bought by means of safety fairly shortly.
At that time our boarding passes had been scanned, and we had been within the “holding pen” for the flight.
Boarding began a bit forward of schedule, round 6:10AM, with top quality passengers being invited to board first.
Singapore Airways 777 top quality cabin & seats
Inside a second of boarding by means of the ahead door, I may inform it could be an incredible flight, because of the famous person crew working in top quality. We had been escorted into the primary class cabin, which is sort of intimate on Singapore Airways’ 777s, with simply 4 seats, in a 1-2-1 configuration.
I had assigned myself seat 1F, the window seat on the fitting aspect. In the meantime Toby was proper throughout the aisle from me, in seat 1D.
Singapore Airways has among the widest top quality seats on this planet on its 777s, and I’m undecided if that’s a great factor or not.
Whereas a large sleeping floor is nice, as a way to get comfy whereas sitting you actually have to make use of the offered pillow as an armrest on one aspect, as there’s no approach you’ll be able to in any other case assist your arms on each armrests on the identical time.
Every top quality seat encompasses a 24″ HD monitor, and subsequent to that may be a self-importance behind a panel.
Beneath the leisure display is a large ottoman. Notice that the cabin doesn’t have any overhead bins, in order that it feels extra spacious. In consequence, there’s a big uncovered space beneath the ottoman, the place you’ll be able to place baggage.
To the left of the ottoman is further storage, which isn’t fairly giant sufficient for a laptop computer, however can retailer smaller private objects.
To the fitting of the ottoman is an AC energy outlet, in addition to an HDMI plug.
The tray desk is big, and folds out from proper above the ottoman. It’s fairly versatile, as you’ll be able to lengthen it out fairly far, and can even simply elevate or decrease it. In consequence, it’s simple to rise up whereas the tray desk is prolonged, which is useful.
Instantly to the left of the seat is a panel with seat controls, permitting you to recline your seat, press the flight attendant name button, and even flip off the leisure display.
To the aspect of the seat is one more cupboard with a small storage compartment, plus USB-A retailers. Sadly the seats don’t have any USB-C retailers.
The cabin doesn’t have any particular person air nozzles, which isn’t stunning, given how excessive the ceilings are, because of the lack of overhead bins.
One different fascinating quirk in regards to the cabin is the massive walkway positioned behind the middle seats. Whereas so many airways attempt to optimize layouts and make a cabin overly crowded, this looks like a slightly pointless passageway, for the reason that galley is correct in entrance of the cabin. It’s a good place to stretch your legs throughout the flight, although (not that this was wanted on the brief flight I used to be on!).
One other cute factor price mentioning is how Singapore Airways decorates its cabins for the vacations. There aren’t many airways that do this, and it’s a cute contact.
Whereas I favor Singapore Airways’ A380 Suites Class, Singapore Airways’ 777 top quality additionally provides a beautiful expertise.
Singapore Airways top quality facilities
Since I used to be touring on such a brief flight, facilities had been pretty restricted — there was no amenity package, no pajamas, and so on. Nevertheless, there have been nonetheless some goodies. For one, Singapore Airways provides wonderful Bang & Olufsen headphones in top quality, that are among the many finest you’ll discover on any airline.
There was additionally an attractive menu, which you possibly can simply spend the entire flight studying, primarily based on how large it’s.
Inside moments of settling in, each Cheryl and Keith got here by to introduce themselves and welcome us onboard, as they had been the 2 flight attendants working top quality. Stephanie, the crew in cost, additionally welcomed us onboard, and knowledgeable us of the flight time of 80 minutes, and wished us a pleasing journey.
We had been provided pre-departure drinks of selection. Singapore Airways provides three totally different sorts of champagne in top quality, so we figured we’d begin with the stunning 2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne.
My solely criticism in regards to the service on this flight is that Singapore Airways flight attendants are approach too attentive and by no means let your glass get anyplace near empty, which is an issue when it’s simply after 6AM, and you’ve got an extended day forward of your self. 😉
Heat towels had been additionally provided towards the top of boarding.
Singapore Airways 777 top quality leisure & Wi-Fi
Singapore Airways has its KrisWorld leisure system, which is among the many finest inflight leisure you’ll discover on any airline. Singapore Airways has an limitless collection of motion pictures, TV exhibits, reside TV, music, video games, and extra. As somebody who prefers TV exhibits to motion pictures, I like how Singapore Airways has whole seasons of TV exhibits, making it simple to binge watch when on an extremely lengthy haul flight.
There are some airways the place it’s finest to carry your individual leisure and never depend on the provider’s library… Singapore Airways isn’t a type of airways.
Singapore Airways after all additionally has a map characteristic in its inflight leisure, which is what I had on for many of the flight.
I do have two minor criticisms of the inflight leisure on the 777. For one, I discover the screens on this airplane to have fairly a little bit of glare, so it’s not preferrred when the cabin is shiny (as you’ll be able to most likely inform primarily based on the images). Moreover, I want the monitor had been touchscreen, so that you simply don’t have to make use of the controller to make your alternatives. These are each minor factors within the scheme of issues, although.
Past the seat again leisure, Singapore Airways these days provides limitless free Wi-Fi to all passengers. Premium cabin passengers routinely get it at no cost, whereas others simply should be members of the KrisFlyer frequent flyer program.
I used to be capable of log-in with simply my e-mail deal with, final identify, and seat quantity, and I discovered the speeds to be fairly good.
Singapore Airways 777 departure from Singapore
It was a reasonably full flight to Jakarta this morning, with all seats in top quality being taken. At 6:40AM the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time, and an anticipated largely clean journey, except for some bumps on departure and method. The door closed precisely on schedule, at 6:50AM.
Then at 6:55AM Singapore Airways’ soothing security video was screened, and 5 minutes after that we started our pushback.
At 7:05AM we began taxiing, and it took about 10 minutes for us to get to our departure runway.
We had been cleared for takeoff at 7:15AM, and rocketed off into the morning. The 777 certain has fairly some energy when it’s solely flying such a brief distance, and nowhere near the utmost takeoff weight.
I don’t know what number of instances I’ve traveled by means of Singapore over time, however there’s one thing I discover so oddly soothing and acquainted about taking off from right here and gazing out the window. Ahhh…
We hit some bumps on the preliminary climb out, and about 10 minutes after takeoff the seatbelt signal was turned off, at which level the inflight service started.
Singapore Airways top quality meal service
So, what’s service like on this brief 80-minute flight? Under you will discover the primary class menu, after which the drink record.
Remember the fact that along with the usual menu, Singapore Airways additionally has its Guide the Cook dinner program, the place you’ll be able to order from an enormous collection of choices upfront.
However very first thing’s first, it was time for one more drink. I take my job of reviewing airways significantly, so after all I needed to pattern one other champagne. This time I went with the 2007 Blanc des Millenaires.
I made a decision to not use the Guide the Cook dinner characteristic, as I considered the inflight menu upfront, and one of many choices onboard sounded nice. Particularly, I chosen the nasi uduk, ikan goreng, and sambal udang. This got here with a aspect of contemporary fruit, fruit yogurt, and a variety from the bread basket. It was completely scrumptious, and oh-so-spicy.
I used to be additionally provided a variety from the bread basket, however handed. It was extra of a liquid calorie type of morning.
Toby, in the meantime, ordered the rooster satay from the Guide the Cook dinner program, and it appeared nice.
After a few glasses of champagne inflight, I ordered a cappuccino, which was additionally tasty.
The service concluded with a heat towel.
Singapore Airways 777 top quality bathrooms
Singapore Airways has two bathrooms on the entrance of the primary class cabin on the Boeing 777, with one being on either side. The bathrooms are giant, and as you’d count on, are so clear that you possibly can eat off the ground.
The bathrooms had toiletries from Lalique, and in addition had correct fabric towels, slightly than simply paper towels.
Singapore Airways top quality service
What makes Singapore Airways one of many world’s finest airline manufacturers, and what actually units the provider aside, is the service. Singapore Airways flight attendants simply function on a distinct degree, and this flight was no exception.
They’ve such an unimaginable eye for element, in order that premium cabin service on the airline virtually feels extra like a synchronized efficiency than service. Most spectacular of all, Singapore Airways crews persistently function at such a excessive degree, all whereas making it appear fully easy.
There’s not an airline the place I’ve discovered service to be as persistently nice as on Singapore Airways, and that’s what makes the airline such a pleasure to fly. I’m comfortable to see that even after the pandemic, the provider’s service degree hasn’t slipped one bit. I used to be particularly excited to expertise service on the provider’s shortest top quality flight, and it didn’t disappoint. Because of Cheryl, Keith, and Stephanie, for being such high notch professionals.
Singapore Airways 777 arrival in Jakarta
Simply 45 minutes after takeoff, the captain was again on the PA to advise that we had been beginning our descent, and can be touchdown in round half-hour, and he suggested the crew to arrange the cabin for arrival. The seatbelt signal ended up being turned on round 5 minutes later because of turbulence, after which stayed on for the rest of the flight. So yeah, the entire above service occurred inside 45 minutes of takeoff.
I loved the views as we approached the shoreline — anybody know what these issues are within the water alongside the coast? I assume fishing, or one thing?
We touched down in Jakarta at 7:30AM (there was a one hour time change), after which taxied to our arrival gate.
On the taxi in, I notably loved seeing the TransNusa Comac ARJ21-700, because the Indonesian provider is the primary international airline to fly this Chinese language jet.
The airline additionally flies A320s, that are a bit much less thrilling…
Anyway, we pulled into our arrival gate at 7:35AM, and parked subsequent to a Saudia Boeing 777, headed to the identical vacation spot as me (Jeddah).
Upon arrival we discovered ourselves coping with a weird transit expertise, previous to trying out the Garuda Indonesia Lounge and Plaza Premium Lounge.
Backside line
I had a spectacular flight in Singapore Airways’ Boeing 777 top quality. The provider’s shortest top quality flight has lengthy been on my bucket record, so I’m comfortable I had the prospect to expertise it. What a deal with this was, from the pleasant service, to the massive seats, to the good meals and champagne choice.
Flying inside Asia in premium cabins is persistently pleasant, and this most likely my finest brief haul intra-Asia flight ever.
What’s your tackle Singapore Airways’ Boeing 777 top quality?
