Elsewhere they were handing out soft drinks and there was also a Batik paper rose stand. An MC boomed away in the background to advise us of the impending boarding delays to our aircraft tours, although spirits remained high given the novelty of the occasion. The super gate is equipped with dedicated toilet facilities.
We were allocated the aircraft tour at Each tour was planned for 15 minutes, however with all the excitement and photo taking they were actually lasting around twice as long as that, leading to an understandable backlog. We also noticed that 9V-SKV was parked on gate B5 and appeared to be prepared to accept passengers, perhaps as a standby in case of a technical problem or it could be used on future events since there will be four dining dates in total. The aircraft tour included all four cabin classes, plus a peek at the flight crew rest area and inside the cockpit, where pictures were not allowed.
This was the perfect aircraft to showcase the new products to guests, many of whom will not have seen the latest A interiors, which remained quite rare even before the type stopped flying back in March. Entering the new Suites cabin for lunch itself was a slightly bittersweet moment for us.
That means right now we were just getting ready to arrive in Auckland for the last few nights of our two-week New Zealand tour, finishing off in the brand new Park Hyatt. Needless to say a 10 hour 40 minute daytime flight in these latest Singapore Airlines Suites was set to be the perfect end to a fantastic trip, but alas it was not to be.
With all of the right-side suites available to us, we were treated to the largest two suites, which convert into a double suite, plus the smallest of all in row 3, measuring around 35 square feet. As we settled in, drinks were offered. There was an SIA Care Kit provided for each passenger at the credenza, as there is on all flights currently. Singapore Airlines had the in-flight entertainment system all fired up for our 3-hour lunch visit, which gave passengers ample time to watch a movie or some TV shows during lunch using the latest on-demand KrisWorld system.
Two white wines and two red wines were also on the list, along with a selection of port, spirits, cocktails and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Between the three of us we sampled both Champagnes, the Bordeaux and an obligatory shot of Belvedere vodka with the caviar course! In case you missed the news, Singapore Airlines is no longer providing printed menus in any cabin class, and also did not do so at this event, with the exception of the beverage list.
Initially this was a COVID precaution, also involving removal of seat pocket literature like the SilverKris magazine, however the airline has since announced that the menus will not be returning as part of a digital drive to reduce waste.
Somehow we feel that the taste was better on the ground. Either way — this simple dish left us feeling very satisfied. Additionally in true spirit of good times the crew were happy to serve this alongside a healthy shot of Vodka.
The Anti pasti was served cold as a plate of prosciutto, scallops, mozzarella, tomato and fresh leaves, with a light Italian dressing. From the Peranakan menu, the Roast Duck Salad was a flavourful but light appetiser with rich meat and a zingy sauce.
Boeing will work with its customers to facilitate an orderly phase out of the Connexion by Boeing service…. The New York Times reported that only aircraft globally had been equipped to offer the service, a tiny fraction of the 5, Boeing had originally hoped for. Boeing had been trying to sell its unprofitable Connexion division for some time. Singapore Airlines had not yet made a decision on how to offer in-flight connectivity when the first As were delivered.
We are exploring possible solutions and technologies currently available but there are no firm plans at the moment. The remaining Singapore Airlines Airbus As, which have had the latest Suites cabins installed either from new or through the ongoing retrofit programme, are equipped with Inmarsat GX Aviation high-speed internet connectivity, with an unlimited free allowance for Suites passengers.
Thankfully in it became possible to redeem these new cabins at Saver and Advantage award rates too. Suites was categorised together with the First Class rates, though of course the airline took the opportunity to hike those rates at the same time!
The first five SIA Airbus As on operating leases were withdrawn from service and returned to their lessors in and , replaced by five brand new models from Airbus arriving around the same period, with brand new cabin products installed. The five older aircraft retained their original cabin products and one was picked up by charter operator Hi Fly the former 9V-SKC.
Over the years the aircraft has operated for low-cost carrier Norwegian Air, while its Boeing s were grounded due to Rolls-Royce engine issues, and flown some other charter services, but for the most part it was sitting idle.
Indeed we were a little disappointed that the Dine on A Changi restaurant experience in October used a pair of aircraft with the latest Suites cabin, rather than this one, though of course we understand why SIA chose to showcase its latest products at that event.
What will you miss about the Suites, or are you glad to see the back of them? Let us know in the comments section below. Thank you Mainly Miles…very nostalgic…will miss this suite… a class above the rest for sure back then…and SQ definitely set the standard for air travel.
Originally introduced by the airline in , the arrival of the Singapore Airlines Suite Class coincided with the first commercial Airbus A However, the Suite Class has recently received extensive re-imagining, making it the pinnacle of first-class flight experience. Unveiled at the end of , the new Singapore Airlines Suite Class entered service onboard five of the new Singapore Airlines As in the same year.
Retrofit work to update the existing 14 aircraft with the new cabin structure began shortly after, continuing until the end of last year. Compared to the previous version of Suite Class, which featured 12 private suites, the new Singapore Airlines Suite Class has become even more exclusive — with only six suites available on board in a pattern, with the aisle in the middle of the plane.
Each of the suites has been finished with the highest attention to detail, including an artistic sliding door that guarantees privacy and seclusion whenever you request it. The main feature of the suite is a plush leather armchair, which has been upholstered in fine leather by world-renown Italian furniture specialist, Poltrona Frau. Fully adjustable and reclinable, the armchair can accommodate a range of movements that are configured using the electronic control side panel.
The chair has a swivel capacity of degrees and a recline of up to 45 degrees, providing flexibility and the freedom to change positions depending on your needs. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.
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Skip to content. Advertiser Disclosure. Eric Rosen. Aircraft and routes Singapore Airlines eventually plans to retrofit its older As with the new Suites along with new business class and premium economy seats by the end of The suites and service So what exactly makes these Suites and the overall first-class experience so spectacular?
Using points and miles We have handy guides for using points and miles to book the new Singapore Suites specifically, as well as how to book Singapore first-class awards in general , but here is an update on strategies and award availability. Related: The easiest airline miles to get and why you want them Part of what makes KrisFlyer so special is that it partners with all five major transferable points programs. Related: The best travel rewards credit cards Just be aware that these transfers may not be instantaneous.
Award availability The bad news is, there is very little to no outright Saver-level award space on most of these routes. Ethan Steinberg contributed to this post.
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