After spending roughly 11 hours on my layover at Singapore Changi Airport, it was finally time to board my flight to Mumbai. Singapore Airlines flies two daily flights to the city, the second of which is operated by the airline’s flagship Airbus A380-800. As this review is a continuation of my First Class flight from Jakarta, I won’t cover the check-in experience or the booking process.

Lounge

Singapore Airlines First Class and Suites passengers are spoilt with lounge choices at the airline’s home at Singapore Changi Airport. There are two SilverKris First Class lounges, one each in Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. However, First Class and Suites passengers also have exclusive access to The Private Room. In addition, the airline’s two Business Class lounges – SilverKris Lounge Terminal 2 and SilverKris Lounge Terminal 3 – are also open to First Class and Suites passengers.

Boarding

After tiring myself hopping between the various Singapore Airlines lounges at Changi Airport for the last 12 hours, I ended up heading to the boarding gate 30 minutes before the printed boarding time. Our flight was scheduled to depart from the lower A Gates, which features the biggest holding pen in the airport. This makes sense considering our full-booked flight (apart from Suites).

That brings us to the boarding procedure for Suites passengers on Singapore Airlines’ busiest flights. On top of the priority line, there is a separate line for Suites passengers to the side of the main priority queue. This certainly works well considering the massive size of Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 Business Class cabin.

Boarding for Suites passengers closely followed pre-boarding, which started at 18.09. Soon enough, I was invited to head up the Suites and Business Class jetbridge, which is connected straight to the upper deck of the Airbus A380. Being the only person booked in Suites, it certainly felt surreal to be the only person to board by a long margin!

At the top of the jetbridge, I was greeted by name by an enthusiastic crew. Vanessa, the senior flight attendant in charge of Suites soon introduced herself and escorted me to my suite. By this point, I was sure that this was going to be a great flight!

Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Cabin

The Singapore Airlines Suites cabin features six suites configured in a 1-1 layout. Considering how the space ordinarily houses Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, the cabin felt a lot more like a private jet than a commercial flight!

Each suite features a single swivelling armchair, which is your primary seat for taxi, takeoff, and landing. Of the six suites, however, the first-row Suite 1 is the most spacious thanks to an extra cutout on the bulkhead. This makes it the most sought-after seat in the cabin.

Furthermore, Suites 1 & 2 can be turned into a double suite — allowing a double bed to be set up between the two passengers. To do this, the partition wall between the Suites can be manually lowered, allowing each bunk bed to be set up seamlessly as a double if need be.

Suites detail

On this flight, I was seated in the coveted Suite 1F, the first-row suite on the right-hand side of the cabin. Inside, you’re greeted by a dramatically lit grey-walled space. A grey Poltrona Frau leather armchair serves as its centrepiece; this can be swivelled freely and rotates 270 degrees. As the armchair is the primary seat for the flight, it can also be reclined electronically to 45 degrees. Both the recline and swivel function is done with the seat control buttons hidden in the armrest; this is also where you’ll find the entertainment remote control.

By the door and next to the seat, there is a little console table that serves as a menu stand and the cover for the tray table. On its side, you’ll also find the suite’s USB-A port and universal power outlet. Conversely, embedded on the wall on the opposite side of the door is the 32-inch inflight entertainment monitor; this can be swivelled outward slightly for easy viewing.

Furthermore, Suite 1A and 1F are the only ones to have entertainment monitors arranged to the rear of the armchair. As such, this necessitates the inclusion of a secondary monitor on the bulkhead. This monitor exists primarily to allow easy watching of the safety video screening when the chair is in the forward-facing position for takeoff.

Storage, door, and closet

Another console can be found behind the seat and next to the windows; this one serves as the suite’s primary storage space. The surface lids open to reveal three shallow glove boxes, deep enough for a phone, passport, glasses, or a small book. The centre lid also doubles as a lit mirror, allowing for a vanity set up if you swivel your seat to face the windows. There is also a handheld tablet stowed on the surface, which is used as the primary controller for the suite and the KrisWorld entertainment system.

To the side of the console is a range of buttons featuring the suite’s light switches and do not disturb function. Here, you’ll also find a lid that opens to reveal an HDMI port and a second universal power outlet, alongside a magnetic headphone connector pad. Below the console, you’ll also find the suite’s literature pocket, which contains a KrisShop catalogue and a safety card.

As you’d expect from a Suite, there is a sliding door that can be closed to separate your space from the aisle. When closed, the Suite feels nearly fully private, especially in a seated position. Of course, the wall is still short enough for cabin crew to peer through for safety reasons.

Finally, I’ll add that a closet is seamlessly integrated into the Suite’s door. The closet has several hangers and an overhead rack and is wide enough to store a full-sized carry-on. The latter is particularly useful considering the lack of overhead storage lockers in Suites.

Amenities

For its First Class amenities, Singapore Airlines has for years partnered with French luxury glassmaker and perfume house, Lalique. As such, I was not surprised to find a smart, black leather-grain pouch waiting for me in my Suite. Inside was a travel-sized bottle of Lalique perfume, alongside a facial mist, body lotion, and lip balm.

Later in the boarding process, I was also presented with Singapore Airlines’ trademark Lalique pyjamas for First Class passengers. Though quite comfortable, I didn’t think these were the nicest pyjamas out there. To be objective, I didn’t like how they were made out of stuffy polyester instead of cotton. For one, the Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific First Class pyjamas feature better materials and fit.

Washrooms

Before departure, I decided to change into the Lalique-branded pyjamas. There are two dedicated Suites washrooms in the front of the cabin, next to the grand staircase. While there are sadly no showers here, you’ll instead find two very spacious lavatories.

Of the two lavatories, the left-hand side washroom is smaller – well if you can call it small. Spacious by aeroplane standards, the lavatory features ‘merely’ a padded bench and toilet seat, in addition to a large vanity that extends along the length of the wall.

Noticing that I was leaving my Suite with pyjamas in hand, Vanessa quickly walked me to the other lavatory. She explained that it was the better of the two, while holding the door open in the process; if better means lavish, better it certainly was!

In addition to a large sink and a beautiful toilet, this spacious washroom also features an actual vanity table with a padded stool. There’s even a drawer stocked with all sorts of toiletries you’d need on the flight; well, in addition to the Lalique-branded eau de toilette, facial mist, and body lotion, as well as bottles of pocket-sized hand sanitisers. There’s certainly no faffing about while changing into your pyjamas here!

Departure Preparations

As boarding went underway, the rest of the First Class crew – Peem and Azhar – came to my seat to introduce themselves. When Peem offered me my pre-departure drink of choice, Inflight Manager Shiva also came to my Suite to welcome me on board. Because I may have had a glass of Champagne too many at the SilverKris First Class Lounge, I decided to settle for a glass of fresh orange juice (for now). 😉

Peem soon served me my drink, accompanied by a ramekin of nuts, as well as a hot towel. Vanessa soon followed, coming by with a pair of pyjamas in my size – all while Singapore Airlines’ wonderfully soothing boarding music played in the background. Admittedly, with all this attention I was getting at this point, I was genuinely starting to feel overwhelmed!

After 30 minutes, boarding soon wrapped up, making it a near-full flight in other cabin classes. Shiva soon got on the intercom to welcome everybody on board and detailed our short flight time of 4 hours and 40 minutes. We soon started pushing back, right at our scheduled departure time of 18.45. This was followed by a screening of Singapore Airlines’ beautifully produced safety video.

Departure from Singapore

As we taxied to our runway, I tried to peek out the window to see all the other planes. Owing to the design of the A380’s windows, however, it is difficult to take pictures of the view outside. This is more so the case on the upper deck, which has windows that are curved upwards.

Never mind that, since I was soon distracted by Vanessa, who came by to take my meal orders after departure. After a lengthy 14-minute taxi, we finally reached Runway 02L, taking off at 18.46. Owing to the high passenger load of our flight, we had a long and slow takeoff roll; nearly using the entirety of the runway. Even so, the A380 very quietly ascended upwards – lending itself the moniker ‘gentle giant of the skies’.

Inflight Entertainment

As we ascended to our cruising altitude, I decided to take the time to check the entertainment system. Together with Emirates’ ICE, Cathay’s StudioCX, and Qatar Airways’ Oryx, KrisWorld offers one of the world’s best and most extensive entertainment selections. There are pages upon pages of films both new and old, in addition to a myriad of television shows.

Thanks to the forward-facing takeoff position, I initially browsed the selection on the handheld tablet and the small bulkhead screen. Only after I swivelled my seat back to the cruising position did KrisWorld switch to the large main screen. Overwhelmed by the massive selection, I ended up rewatching Celine Song’s Past Lives (2023) — after all, this has quickly grown into one of my favourite contemporary films!

To complement the massive 32-inch main screen, Suites passengers are offered Bang and Olufsen headphones for inflight use. These leather headphones were nicer and so much better than the Bose headphones you’d find on Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines.

Aside from KrisWorld, there is also a KrisShop catalogue in the literature pocket, in addition to the safety card and WiFi guide. Missing was the excellent SilverKris magazine; it looks like it will never come back after the Covid-19 Pandemic, at least in print form.

Dinner Service

We ascended to our cruising altitude 10 minutes after takeoff, by which time the captain switched off the seatbelt signs. After the cabin’s mood lighting was switched on for the flight, Vanessa came over with my aperitif of Krug Grand Cuvée and a hot towel before setting up my dinner table. Before starting the dinner service, I was also offered a plate (or two) of Singapore Airlines’ iconic satay.

For this flight, I took advantage of the airline’s Book the Cook programme to reserve a special main course. Of course, I had to go the course of reserving the airline’s ever-popular Lobster Thermidor. For the rest of the meal, I opted for the ‘International Menu’, reasoning that I’ll have plenty of Indian food during my two-week trip. You can refer to the complete inflight menu below.

The Meal

Before long, Vanessa had set up my table and soon served my appetiser of Marinated Scallops, alongside a choice of various breads on the side. Being a fan of wonton soup, the Cantonese Lobster Wontons in Superior Soup quickly caught my eye. Giving in to temptation, I soon asked Vanessa if I could try that as well, to which she happily obliged.

Ignoring how greedy I became, I was glad I got the wontons as this dish was phenomenal. The dumplings had an excellent crunch and texture, complemented by the light and savoury soup. They might just be giving Cathay Pacific a run for its money. 😉

Next came my pre-ordered Classic Lobster Thermidor, served with a sauce of Cognac and Dijon mustard on a bed of potatoes, broccolini, and bok choy. Revered by frequent flyers or even a rite of passage, the dish is a staple of Singapore Airlines. Reheated carefully to avoid overcooking the lobster, it was no surprise that the dish was really good – if not a bit overrated.

To finish, I had the Caramelised Apple Pound Cake, served with a side of vanilla-chantilly cream. Despite my sweet tooth, this was probably my least favourite dish of the meal. While the cake and cream wasn’t at all bad, it just seemed ‘meh’ relative to the rest of the meal.

Before ending this feast of a meal, Vanessa insisted that I try the cheese plate and have some fruits as a palate cleanser. Despite being very full, I finally relented and gave in to her offer. Needless to say, I was completely stuffed by the end of the meal. 😛

Bedding

Before I wrapped up my dinner, Vanessa proactively started preparing the beds of Suites 1A and 2A. I was thus taken by surprise when she told me that a full bed had been set up next door. She even needlessly prepared a double bed, simply to give me more space. The set-up was even complete with a glass of water and a hot towel on the side. I was amazed, to say the least.

The double bed was set up completely on top of a mattress pad with multiple pillows and a Lalique-branded duvet. As such, it was no surprise that the bed looked plush and inviting. Despite that, the bed is admittedly a bit too hard for my liking, owing to the hard bunk bed on which the mattress pad lies. While I would honestly prefer Cathay Pacific’s First Class bed for instance, this set-up was still in a league of its own.

Service

As I was the only person in Suites, I had Vanessa taking care of me for the whole flight. As I have probably alluded to in the review, she was nothing less than incredible. She was warm, charming, accommodating, and polished – or literally world-class. From boarding to de-boarding, she would constantly make sure and anticipate that I had everything I needed or wanted. She’d do so discreetly too, so as to not disturb me – in true Singapore Airlines fashion!

Having mentioned during the flight that this was my first trip to India, she also proactively suggested a list of places to visit in Mumbai. Before disembarking, Vanessa even provided me the a list of places not to miss – if that’s not exemplary service, I don’t know what is. Truly spectacular.

Arrival Preparations

About 40 minutes before landing, the captain announced the start of our descent to Mumbai. Thanks to favourable conditions, we were expected to have an early arrival at 21.20 – 50 minutes before our scheduled arrival time! What a shame… given how incredible this flight had been, I wouldn’t have minded an extra long flight 😉

Sure enough, by 20.54, the cabin crew started preparing the cabin for arrival. Sadly, this meant that my nap had to be cut short as my bed was stowed away. As such, I quickly went to the lavatory to soak in its magnificence one last time and change out of my pyjamas. Just before the seatbelt signs were then turned on five minutes later, Vanessa came to offer me one last drink and a hot towel.

Landing in Mumbai

A few automated safety announcements in Hindi accompanied our final approach as the cabin lights were dimmed in preparation for landing. As we approached Mumbai, we were greeted by an endless display of city lights, truly signifying our arrival in India’s city of dreams. We smoothly touched down eight minutes later at 21.15 on Runway 27.

Like most foreign carriers, Singapore Airlines uses Terminal 2 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. As we nearly used the whole runway, we had to taxi back the whole length of the runway, passing Terminal 1 in the process. We even passed by an Air India Boeing 747-400 parked near Terminal 2 – what a sight to behold!

We finally pulled into our gate at 21.24, over 45 minutes early. As the jetbridge was finally connected to the plane, Vanessa invited me to deboard first, before any Business Class passengers had a chance to exit. Now that is service! As I disembarked, I said my final thank yous and goodbyes before looking back for one last look at our majestic Airbus A380.

Verdict

Singapore Airlines Suites has long had a venerable reputation for being the best way to fly. And it really is; from the spectacular food to the exemplary service, I had a very enjoyable flight. While I may have found certain aspects of the seat to be merely adequate, the experience really is something special. Suites truly is a class above First.

Truth be told, much of the experience does feel like a gimmick more than something you’d do regularly. But then again, to fly in Suites is not really something you need, but it really is something you’d want to do. For now, I’d definitely be thinking about the next time I’d be flying Suites again!

Read more from this trip here!