Singapore Airways’ Higher-Deck A380 Enterprise Class, Melbourne to Singapore : AirlineReporter

Singapore Airways is aware of what it’s doing. No airline is ideal, however Singapore earns its standing as a fan favourite for frequent fliers. Flying one in every of their long-haul premium cabins has been one in every of my AvGeek desires for some time. So after I snagged a fortunate award ticket throughout a visit to Asia/Australia — and on the A380, no much less — I used to be EXCITED.

I’m not going to bury the lede. This flight was about pretty much as good because it will get. It was the airborne equal of watching a seasoned orchestra carry out. Learn on for the total story about my time in Singapore Airways’ upper-deck A380 enterprise class. And don’t fear, as nice as issues have been contained in the aircraft we nonetheless have loads of window seat views so that you can soak up.

Touring Tullamarine

My flight was from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport to Singapore Changi. Tullamarine hosts enormous number of carriers and long-haul plane, and it made for some nice planespotting. The image beneath was on a wall within the terminal. I like how robust the Aussie AvGeek tradition is.

I received a head-on take a look at the Airbus A380 that might be working my flight. Loads of you in all probability keep in mind that Singapore was the A380’s launch buyer.

Earlier than boarding I took a peek at Singapore’s lounge, one stage down from the primary concourse.

I cherished that they’d an A380 mannequin sitting on the entrance desk.

Singapore’s lounge right here does the job, although it isn’t something particular.

There’s loads of snug seating and plenty of energy retailers. However proper earlier than the flight it might probably get crowded. And there’s no views out onto the ramp.

The lounge does have a bathe room, a pleasant characteristic in case you’ve received an extended layover.

There was a spread of meals and drinks, although the meals choices have been extra snacky than substantial.

One cool characteristic: you possibly can board the aircraft from the identical flooring because the lounge, as a substitute of getting to return upstairs to the primary concourse.

Isn’t she pretty?

Meet the Seat

I received onboard by a jetway that went on to the A380’s higher stage. Attending to board instantly onto a aircraft’s higher deck is fairly cool. Although to be honest, climbing a set of stairs on a aircraft can also be a enjoyable AvGeek novelty.

My first response was how MASSIVE the enterprise class cabin was. It stretches almost your complete size of the higher deck, apart from the primary class cabin in entrance.

The cabin could also be enormous, however the pod-style seats preserve you feeling secluded and comfy as soon as you agree in.

Seats are in a 1-2-1 structure. The paired middle seats are nice for touring twosomes, although in case you’re flying solo you possibly can increase a divider for some privateness.

I used to be in a right-side window seat within the second of the three mini-cabins. One tiny annoyance for AvGeeks is that the seat enclosure covers a part of the home windows.

Right here’s a better take a look at the seat.

There’s loads of area, storage, and seat controls, all organized in an intuitive method.

The flight attendants launched themselves and handed out pre-departure drinks.

Try our video beneath for the nice window seat views throughout pushback, taxi, takeoff, and climb-out. And don’t overlook to point out our YouTube channel some love! Like and subscribe and we’ll preserve the movies coming.

How’s this for AvGeek consideration to element: on the flight tracker the aircraft icon banks into its turns — no skids right here.

Singapore’s Service

The second after the double-chimes rang there was a flurry of seatbelts clicking from the galley because the crew actually sprung into motion.

The airline boasts an enormous checklist of wines, coffees, teas, cocktails, and loads of non-alcoholic choices.

Because it was my first fancy flight on Singapore Airways I needed to begin with the sling.

Try the dinner menu right here:

There was a stable hole between the preliminary cocktail service and the beginning of the total meal. To be honest, they’d 78 passengers to prep for. However as soon as the meals confirmed up it was price it. The plating was lovely and the plates have been set down one after the other on the desk, as a substitute of utilizing a tray.

Right here was the starter, a panzanella salad with prawns.

The braised lamb neck with pickled carrot and Korean chili oil — listed as a particular dish created by Matt Moran of the Aria restaurant in Sydney — was cooked completely and VERY flavorful.

And right here have been the desserts. General it was among the finest meals I’ve had within the sky.

By the point the meal wrapped up we have been midway throughout the continent, passing over Uluru.

The crew had me coated after I was within the temper for some midflight espresso.

And a pair hours earlier than touchdown the crew introduced out a “refreshment” meal. I went with the Mee Goreng noodles. Versus the intricate first meal service this one got here out on a tray, however nonetheless tasted nice.

The crew’s angle and vitality throughout this flight was simply as nice because the meals themselves. The flight attendants have been extremely proactive, making frequent passes down the aisle, letting every passenger get by the meal service at their very own tempo, and providing up recommendations for meals+drink pairings.

Passing the Time

After the primary meal the crew dimmed the cabin lights and all of us settled in for the lengthy haul.

Singapore’s inflight leisure system Krisworld is without doubt one of the greatest round. Right here’s a take a look at a few of the many, many film choices.

The noise cancelling headphones have been positively above the typical enterprise class choices.

Singapore is without doubt one of the small however rising group of airways that provide free WiFi, although you’ll want a Krisflyer account to check in. On this explicit flight the protection minimize out a number of instances.

I find it irresistible when airways benefit from the temper lighting choices that producers now provide.

We hit the midway mark within the flight …

… it began getting darker exterior …

… and it felt like time to take a nap.

The seat turns into a completely flat mattress.

It’s a broad mattress, although the best way the footrest snakes diagonally in the direction of the window may restrict a few of your sleep positions.

The lavs had drawers with self-service toiletry facilities, and so they have been saved spotless all through the flight. Considered one of my cabin’s lavs was out of service. And even when that one had been working, the lav-to-seat ratio was fairly stingy for a premium cabin.

I took a nap, and awoke as our descent began. It was darkish out and there weren’t many views on the best way down since our strategy was largely over water.

The Verdict

This can be anticlimactic, however this flight was so excellent that I don’t have a complete lot to say right here. I used to be anticipating an incredible flight. And I received one. The A380 is the proper platform to ship an incredible passenger expertise at an unlimited scale. The area and luxury elements amplified the wonderful work the cabin crew did by your complete flight.

Like I mentioned in the beginning, this airline is aware of what its doing.

If you happen to didn’t catch our earlier story on our 17 hours within the sky on SQ24, the world’s longest route, go test it out! And tell us what you concentrate on this flight and share any experiences you’ve had on Singapore’s A380s within the feedback part beneath.