Singapore Airlines Reviews

Singapore Airlines fly a very modern fleet now dominated by Boeing 777 and the Airbus A380. In fact you'll have to try hard to get on any other plane, although there are a few Boeing 747s left which do a few routes to Oz, Airbus A340s fly the Pacific and to Seoul, and A330s do some of the short hops up the peninsular. However Singapore Airlines now have an exclusive widebody fleet.

A380 Singpore Airlines new twin-deck Airbus

The airline has a history of labeling its fleet according to plane makes. The existing 747s used to be dubbed "Megatop", while the Boeing 777s were called "Jubilee". The 5 Airbus A340s were named "Leadership,", and the 747 cargo versions were called "MegaArcs".

This naming convention has been dropped (simply due to the new Chief Executive, who disliked the practice), however most outstations still refer to their flights by SIA name, not that of the firm that built the metal, and as a result at checkin you'll still be asked if you want to ride upstairs on the "Megatop".

Economy seats have a pitch of 32 inches - an inch bigger than British Airways, and also with slightly more padding, so they feel more comfortable. The headrests slide up, and the wings fold in, giving a decent sleep.

Business class used to be called Raffles Class, although that name has been dropped (but still remains on the boarding cards). Most planes have the "Space Bed". A flat bed for business class, it doesn't quite go flat, but instead you sleep at a 10% incline. Still, it is quite a nice seat, with plenty of flat places to put drinks on, special noice-reducing headphones, and a slide up screen between the seats to separate you from your neighbour. The remote for the TV is hidden in the right hand armrest, while the table is in the left hand one. The TV screen is alas on the back of the seat infront of you (except for the bulkhead seats) and even though it unclips for a better viewing angle, it still feels like watching TV from half way across a room.

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Cabin Seats 44ABC

Singapore Airlines A380 Superjumbo (Airbus A380-800)

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Seat Row 31

Singapore Airlines A380 seating plan has First Class in the nose, then three cabins of economy on the lower deck, while the upper deck has a small economy cabin at the rear, but is otherwise full of Business Class.

The Singapore Airlines A380 seating configuration is brand new, and even in economy the travel experience is so different to any other you will get long-haul, it is worth paying a premium to travel on this aircraft. They are most common on the Singapore to Sydney route (on the SQ221 & SQ220) plus the Singapore to London (SQ322 & SQ317) routes. All have The new KrisWorld - eX2 entertainment system, and of course all seats have a seatback TV. All seats also have access to laptop power so you can plug in a laptop, however Singapore Airlines, on their A380s, have fitted sockets that fit all types of worldwide sockets, except those in use in Singapore and the UK. This has bemused those flying on the flagship route from Singapore to London since the A380 started flying, and the cabin crew now carry adaptors.

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Class seats 54HJK

	A380 Seatmap
	Singapore Airlines A380 Seating Plan
	Interactive colour seating chart for A380 Singapore Airlines, with pictures of every seat in every cabin layout for the SQ A380-800. ► airreview > Seatmap > Singapore > A380

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Class looks just like standard economy in any plane, however Singapore's A380 offer's some special features. Not least is the size - 399 people are crammed in the back. A Singapore Airlines A380 economy review will focus on the pitch which is only 32 inches, but width is 19 inches - a tad wider than normal. The seat also reclines 115 degrees - again slightly bigger

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy seat 48D

In Singapore Airlines Economy Class A380 there are several cabins to choose from which will impact on your enjoyment. On the main deck seats are in a 3-4-3 pattern. The forward cabin has a bulkhead having extra legroom at row 31 with a window and a flip out TV screen, but this is a basinette (child cot, or screamer) seat. Single travellers may well avoid. Row 48D is an totally unique aisle seat with double the normal legroom thanks to an escape hatch for the basement sleeping booths being infront of it. It has a flip out screen and is very popular. The next cabin back has an emergency exit at row 44, but no window, and two crew seated infront of you. In the rear cabin row 54 has a window, loads of legroom, and only one crew member. 54A&K are is the definate seats to get if you want a window and you are on your own. A Singapore Airlines A380 review must mention that at the back rows 60 to 63 get progressively narrower, and should be avoided.

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Seat Row 81

Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Seat Row 71

Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class has a unique seat. It's similar to the new seat used on the 777s and retro-fitted to a few 747s, but wider. There are 60 seats in two cabins, in a 1+2+1 format, all on the upper deck. The forward section, in rows 11 to 16 is highly favoured, as it is smaller and service here is faster.

Singapore Airlines A380 Business class seat 20A

Singapore Airlines Business Class A380 seats have a width of 34 inches - which leads many people to complain that they are "too wide" - indeed, in turbulence, you need to wedge yourself in with cushions. Customer opinion is divided on this however: the general feeling is it is better to be too wide than too narrow, and all reviews of the seat in flight show that the crew are happy to come around with extra cushions to wedge you in. The fixed back shell on every seat can be extended with lift up screens at the sides.

Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class Seat 11A

The business seat has a pitch of 55, and a recline of 130 degrees - but this really a meaningless statistic, because if you pull the back of the seat down, it becomes the first half of a bed. You then flip down another triangle which becomes a fully flat bed.

Singapore Airlines A380 First Class rated 8 / 10 Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class rated 9 / 10 Singapore Airlines A380 Economy Class rated 10 / 10

A Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class review always note that this is far more comfortable than the old spacebeds, but beware: you have to wedge your feet into the triangle infront of you to sleep if you are over 5'6" tall, and also there's no gradually reclinging the seat.

Singapore Airlines A380 Business class self-serve snack bar

Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class Row 11 and Row 17 (Seat 18D & Seat 18G) are longer, without a triangle to put your feet into, but oddly, the beds do still have this cutout, so you end up having to still sleep at an angle. Every Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class seat has a 15.4 inch widescreen TV, a USB port for games, music (and for working using the inbuilt word processing software), a video in phono plug, and a computer network socket (for future expansion should Singapore add inflight internet).

Singapore Airlines A380 First Class cabin is unlike any other First Class cabin. The Singapore Airlines A380 First Class cabin has 12 seats are in separate cabins, in a 1-2-1 layout.

Singapore Airlines A380 Business class seat 11A

Singapore Airlines A380 First Class suites are a little bit like Emirates, in that there is a closed cabin, but it is much more comfortable. All of the seats get 2 windows, except for 3A&K which get three, and are favoured as you don't have to lean forward to admire the view. The cabins are 81 inches long, and 35 inches wide, which sounds rather like a rabbit hutch, but in context actually works. It is designed by leading French luxury yacht designer Jean-Jacques Coste of Coste Design. Singapore Airlines First Class A380 suites have two sliding doors, and screens which slide down either giving a view of a mesh, or a blackout screen.

Singapore Airlines A380 First class seats in double bed mode

Singapore Airlines A380 First class seat 3A

Singapore Airlines A380 First class bathroom

Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400 at Singapore

Singapore Airlines Boeing 747-400

Economy, Row 39 on a 747-400

Economy seats are in a 3-4-3 pattern. With the bulkhead and emergency exit seats there are also fold out video screens and a table, which is pretty nice, although beware that this eats into your seat width. It is possible to book seats in advance, if you are a Krisflyer Gold, and it is well worth it, to get enough legroom for a giraffe, and to be able to get out of your seat without problems on a long flight.

Economy, Row 49 In a 747 emergency exit seat

All 747s now have Spacebed seats for Business class, in a 2-2-2 pattern downstairs, but if you ask to be in the "Megatop" (What a silly name! You feel a right berk asking for it!) which is the upstairs section, with seats in a 2+2 pattern. Children won't be seated here it's much quieter, plus you can get a lot of attention from the cabin crew.

Singapore 747 Raffles 11K The best Busines class seat

Row 11 is right at the front by the cockpit, and has video screens that are screwed to the bulkhead, which makes them unpopular, however they are very private. Row 17 is by the emergency exit with miles of legroom, and gets fold out video screens, which means it is by far the best choice (although the seats on the left get crew members sitting looking at you, which can be a drawback).

Business 747 Spacebed, upper deck 17A

Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-200 / 777-300

Singapore use the 777-200s for flights to Brisbane (see below for seats) and Perth (without spacebeds). For 2 of the 3 flights to Melbourne a 777-300 (with Spacebed seats for Raffles (business) class) is used.

Singapore 777 Raffles 11K Non Spacebed seats

Singapore's 777-300 have Wisemen 3000 with video on demand, so it is worth looking out for these, as many of the 777-200s still do not.

Economy seats are in a 3+3+3 pattern, which allows for a lot of width. (Emirates, for example, fly with 4 in the middle section, giving much narrower seats).

Business class 777 Spacebed seats

For Business class seats are usually in 2+3+2 pattern. It is however vital to check which aircraft variant you will be on to work out what type of seat you are on, and to ensure you get the Spacebed with an extended length of 78 inches and seat width of 27 inches.

Singapore 777 at Singapore

For the 777-200 type with a First class section, Raffles is in 6 rows (seat numbers 11 to 17, with a galley & an exit half way between). Row 15 is an emergency exit. 777-200s without First (used to Brisbane) have Raffles starting at the front of the aircraft in row 11 (a bulkhead, with the video screen for seats in this row on the bulkhead) which then goes back 4 rows, but not alas with Spacebed seats. In the unusual dual-class 777-200ER (with no First) all the five rows of Spacebed Raffles seats are in a 2+2+2 pattern, giving a vast wide isle. The 777-300s (used to Melbourne) have all Spacebed seats, starting after First & the second entrance door, with 7 rows of 2+3+2.

On the 777s with First, these spacious seats are in 2 rows of 2+2+2.