Singapore Airlines has a lot of experience offering premium Airbus A380 services. As the launch customer for the superjumbo, the Singaporean carrier utilises these spacious, high-capacity airliners on long haul routes.

Their aircraft offer a premium-heavy layout, with 6 suites, 78 business class seats and 44 premium economy seats, as well as space for 343 economy class passengers. So, when I needed to make the long trek to London, Singapore Airlines was at the top of my consideration list!

The Flight in Detail:

Flight: SQ308
Route: SIN-LHR
Date: 1 May 2024
Cabin: Business Class
Seat: 91K
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800 9V-SKW
Ticket Class: Velocity Frequent Flyer Redemption
Traveller Status: Krisflyer Gold

Pre-flight: I’ve long found Velocity Frequent Flyer a great way to book premium seats onboard Singapore Airlines. As I booked 10 months before departure, there was plenty of availability. The ticket from Australia to London cost 129,000 points as well $403.28 in taxes, which covered travel all the way in Business Class.

Once ticketed, I was able to find my Singapore Airlines booking reference number and add the flight to my Krisflyer account. As a result, my included Krisflyer Gold perks were added to the booking, though the reward redemption nature of the flight meant I did not earn any points for this trip.

I had checked my luggage all the way through to London from Australia, so upon arrival at Changi Airport I made the brief transit from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 using the Skytrain. The process was simple and efficient.

The Lounge:
Krisflyer Gold status gives travellers access to the Krisflyer Gold lounge. At Changi Terminal 3 this lounge is situated near the A gates. It features a selection of warm food, seating areas, Wi-Fi, and shower rooms. I wanted a shower before the long flight, but the lounge was extremely crowded, with an anticipated wait time well over one hour.

With little time before my next flight, I made my way to the nearby Silver Kris lounge, which was far less busy, and the showers were available. This lounge offers a wide selection of seating, WIFI, restrooms, a barista, and some help yourself buffet style food, with a drink’s fridge.

On Board:

I was able to utilise the Suites & Business Class boarding lane, which leads to the upper deck of the giant Airbus. Greeted warmly at the door, the cabin crew directed me to seat 91K. Situated just behind the wing, this seat is positioned aft of the 2nd upper deck door.

I purposefully selected this seat, as it offers a wider foot-rest area due to its position against the bulkhead. The location does come with some noise risks, as the seat is close to a galley and two baby bassinets.

The seat itself is sumptuous, and at first glance one could be forgiven for thinking it was first class. It is very wide, making it lounge to sit in. Though not as lengthy as some rival seats, it does convert into a fully flat bed. Unfortunately, a tear that had been stuck back together with white tape interrupted the otherwise elegant appearance of 91K.

There is plenty of storage, both in the overhead lockers and within the seat itself. This includes a bag storage area (under the main console) and a separate space for shoes.

As I familiarised myself with the seat, welcome drinks were offered. I opted for apple juice. Hot towels were also provided, providing instant refreshment. On the right-hand side, a console provides USB-A charging and a universal plug. Nearby, a large controller can be used to interact with KrisWorld entertainment, that is displayed on a big screen.

Singapore Airlines provide noise-cancelling headphones, which are good enough that I did not bother taking my own Bose headphones out for this flight. A water bottle and menu were also provided, along with a bed topper, two pillows and a blanket for sleeping.

Before departure, the captain greeted passengers over the intercom, informing us of an unusually long flight time: 14 hours 17 minutes! This time-consuming trek was to accommodate a course alteration, necessary to avoid airspace near Iran. It meant we were due to arrive at London at least one hour late.

Inflight:

SQ308 pushed back on time and taxied the short distance to runway 02C. Once airborne, the seatbelt sign was extinguished, and a breakfast service commenced. Although Singapore Airlines does offer Business Class passengers the option to pre-order meals, I never know what I am going to feel like eating in advance. So, I browsed the onboard menu for each of my meals.

For breakfast, I started with a fruit salad, followed by Belgian Waffles with apple and sultana compote. The fruit tasted fresh and flavoursome, while the waffles were satisfying, albeit a bit stodgier than what you’d find in Belgium!

After watching a few episodes of The Big Bang Theory on KrisWorld, I decided to get some sleep. Singapore Airline’ current A380 business class seat reclines into a fully flat bed. Cabin-crew were helping guests convert their seat though none were around when I was ready to sleep, so I did this myself.

Although an amenities kit is not offered, all the amenities you could possibly need are available onboard. Ear plugs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, eye masks and even slippers can be requested. I like this, as on Singapore Airlines you’re only using what you need, which is far less wasteful.

I was grateful to have the extra footrest area on this bulkhead seat. The design of the seat means taller travellers must sleep on their side with knees bent, and this location allowed for maximum space and comfort.

About halfway through the flight, the lights are turned on and dinner was offered. Even though I could opt to skip this, the noise from the galley made sleeping challenging. I’ve never been able to work out why Singapore Airlines handles the meal service in this manner, rather than waiting until closer to landing.

The crew were very friendly throughout the service. I was served seared tuna with potatoes as a starter (I think this came standard as I did not request it), which was paired with some hot garlic bread (that I did request!!). For my main course, I chose Braised Beef with polenta and roast vegetables. It was cooked to perfection.

After a delicious chocolate and caramel tart, I visited the restroom before retiring to sleep again. The restrooms are spacious on the A380 and were kept spotless on this flight. I particularly like how Singapore Airlines installs a foot pedal to operate the waste bin door – keeping hands clean after washing and increasing the chances of the bathroom being kept tidy! All airlines should install these!

Despite the long flight time, the experience seemed to pass quickly. I got several hours sleep, awaking at one point to the spectacular sight of the Hindu Kutch mountains below, an indication as to the unusual flight path being travelled on this trip.

After another hot towel service, we landed at Heathrow just one hour and 8 minutes late at 16:38. Fast track security, e-gates and a speedy baggage retrieval meant I was in the arrivals area in no time.

Final Thoughts:
Singapore Airlines offers a high-quality premium service on its A380. The privacy of the seat, coupled with efficient and friendly cabin crew and tasty food makes the flying experience very pleasant.

While I personally do not like the timing of the mid-flight meal service, the comfort of the seat, attentiveness of the crew and exclusive ambience of the cabin more than make up for it.

I’d highly recommend Singapore Airlines A380 business class product for frequent flyer redemption bookings, and I plan to fly with the airline again soon!

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Chris Frame is a travel writer and maritime historian and travelled on a self-funded Velocity Reward seat.