Massive dissapointment

[gphamor]

After breaking my ankle in HoiAn Vietnam my travel insurance arranged a nurse to come and bring me back in Singapore Airlines business seats last week and to say we were both utterly dissapointed is an understatement.

The cabin staff were gorgeous as always but there must be some HUGE budget cuts...firstly the menu was meagre with nothing fabulous on it and very few choices. No cheese and biscuits if you just wanted a snack..no deserts.
There was no amenities kit and believe this or not~no toothbrush/toothpaste.
The beds were absolutely horrible..so uncomfortable. The staff make the bed up for you and you have to lay on quite an angle with very little leg room.
Get over it!
This was by far the worst business class flight I have ever taken and I would never fly them again and the nurse who flies business all over the world bringing home patients said exactly the same. She was very unhappy.
How do Singapore Airlines have such a great reputation? I'm blowed if i know.

 

[Danielb56]

After breaking my ankle in HoiAn Vietnam my travel insurance arranged a nurse to come and bring me back in Singapore Airlines business seats last week and to say we were both utterly dissapointed is an understatement.

The cabin staff were gorgeous as always but there must be some HUGE budget cuts...firstly the menu was meagre with nothing fabulous on it and very few choices. No cheese and biscuits if you just wanted a snack..no deserts.
There was no amenities kit and believe this or not~no toothbrush/toothpaste.
The beds were absolutely horrible..so uncomfortable. The staff make the bed up for you and you have to lay on quite an angle with very little leg room.

This was by far the worst business class flight I have ever taken and I would never fly them again and the nurse who flies business all over the world bringing home patients said exactly the same. She was very unhappy.
How do Singapore Airlines have such a great reputation? I'm blowed if i know.

How do Singapore Airlines have such a great reputation? I'm blowed if i know.

Usually Singapore are quite good on their flights. I have little to complain about. The last time I flew them was in 2016 when me and my wife flew to Maldives and it was great. However, in the past I have noticed that the leg you fly can make some difference. When I flew to Beijing the Syd-Sin leg was great but when i flew the Sing- PEK leg is was a peg or two down. Not with the staff but overall other issues like you mentioned above...was it your Vietnam to Singapore leg that you had issues?

 

[maz1]

I have flown a few flights in Singapore J and although the seat design is at an angle it was fine for me, 5f11, so not tall. I saw in your original post about the broken ankle, that would definitely tip the scales against you. no way the angled seating will be comfortable for that leg. I would have reclined the seat as far as i could and slept seated/reclined which i do on certain flights, i just enjoy it better. Sorry to hear about your troubles.

Thank you.
Unfortunately my leg had (still has ) to be raised

 

[higheden]

After breaking my ankle in HoiAn Vietnam my travel insurance arranged a nurse to come and bring me back in Singapore Airlines business seats last week and to say we were both utterly dissapointed is an understatement.

The cabin staff were gorgeous as always but there must be some HUGE budget cuts...firstly the menu was meagre with nothing fabulous on it and very few choices. No cheese and biscuits if you just wanted a snack..no deserts.
There was no amenities kit and believe this or not~no toothbrush/toothpaste.
The beds were absolutely horrible..so uncomfortable. The staff make the bed up for you and you have to lay on quite an angle with very little leg room.

This was by far the worst business class flight I have ever taken and I would never fly them again and the nurse who flies business all over the world bringing home patients said exactly the same. She was very unhappy.
How do Singapore Airlines have such a great reputation? I'm blowed if i know.

we have flown Singapore Air many, many times and agree with you. The quality of the facilities has deteriorated considerably. The bedding is very uncomfortable and has minimal leg room. Heaven help you if you are over about 5’3”.
It’s likely we won’t fly them again, unless left with no options. Compared to the standard of planes and the upkeep there use to be, Singapore Airlines is these days sadly lacking.
Agree too, with your menu comment - horrible,horrible menu!

 

[ozjuice]

I really like SQ flights and I have gotten used to the angle of the bed. Yes there are better but for me the whole package is very good.

Imagine travelling in economy though? Jeez!!!!

 

[boomy]

When flying SQ J it’s best to chose one of the refurbished A380s, preferably middle bulkhead seats but any standard seat will be fine as well.
On any other plane it must be bulkhead otherwise sleep will be uncomfortable, as the OP have experienced.
Regarding late night departures I think Australia is the only long haul route to get the supper service due to relatively short flight time. Personally I don’t agree with it and make sure to avoid these flights or go with other airline.

 

[dajop]

Regarding late night departures I think Australia is the only long haul route to get the supper service due to relatively short flight time.

They do to Japan (similar length flights also), but oddly the India-Singapore late night services are full service. I also know another airline that flies out of Singapore, to Australia, which tends to disappoint with rather abbreviated "supper" meal service as well (even on their flights departing around 8pm), but IIRC that depends on the size of the plate one chooses.

When I used to regularly fly SIN-MEL in business (many years ago now), I preferred the midnight departures for the extra opportunity to sleep. My body never felt like a single course meal - let alone a three/four course meal - at 1am, and I only ever asked to be served breakfast if awake (and not if not awake). Now alas, it's all personal travel in economy and in Y the day flights are vastly superior to the redeyes (and would be in F too ).

 

[Isochronous]

SQ J is great for day flights but terrible for sleeping due to the angle and the narrow cubby for one's feet as the OP observes.

 

[boomy]

I also know another airline that flies out of Singapore, to Australia, which tends to disappoint with rather abbreviated "supper" meal service as well (even on their flights departing around 8pm), but IIRC that depends on the size of the plate one chooses.

That airline tends to disappoint with every meal in J regardless of the length of flight
On a more positive note BA gets their catering from Do&Co on selected routes, if the SIN-SYD is included they win big on catering on this route!

 

[rbjhan]

I did SQ J MEL-SIN overnight return once, and never again!
Flight time is sadly too short to actually sleep. Supper was very disappointing.
I'm short so okay with the sleeping position however got woken up 2 hours before landing to have breakfast so not happy at all.
I did receive amenity kits but I think that was a trial of some sort...

Flying SQ again later this month, TPE-SIN-MEL. Intentionally chose long layover in SIN (overnight) to avoid the redeye.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I agree re the seats. I ended up with a crook neck from the overnight MEL-SIN flight. The old A380 seat on the return SIN-SYD leg was better, but I reckon I get better sleep in a Y seat than the crookedness of the lie flat J seats. Plus when in the upright position they’re pretty uncomfortable for short people.

I think the end to amenity kits is a good thing. The staff will give you toothbrushes/eye masks etc. if you ask, but by not handing out a package of items most people won’t entirely use, it cuts down on waste. So much would go to landfill.

 

[agentgerko]

No cheese and biscuits! How did you manage?

 

[maz1]

No cheese and biscuits! How did you manage?

Are you joking or just being unecessarily sarcastic..i actually cant tell...in any case I managed ok without the cheese and biscuits..I lived!

 

[Ekka]

Yep, you've struck the antithesis of the 'old' SQ experience, which I miss also. The meals and amenity kits were symptomatic of the timing of the flight, but I think the angled, narrow footwells are dreadful.

Hear hear, I have flown four J flights on various SQ aircraft, all four in their ridiculous cramped foot- wells,. Never again, so let's hope CX survives this current crisis.

 

[Ekka]

When flying SQ J it’s best to chose one of the refurbished A380s, preferably middle bulkhead seats but any standard seat will be fine as well.
On any other plane it must be bulkhead otherwise sleep will be uncomfortable, as the OP have experienced.
Regarding late night departures I think Australia is the only long haul route to get the supper service due to relatively short flight time. Personally I don’t agree with it and make sure to avoid these flights or go with other airline.

Not all Australians are able to do that, mate; we are not all treated equally. I am pleased that you are treated
above the norm, but remember, most of us are not.

 

[maz1]

Hear hear, I have flown four J flights on various SQ aircraft, all four in their ridiculous cramped foot- wells,. Never again, so let's hope CX survives this current crisis.

Yes lets hope...truly great J on CX

 

[DC3]

After breaking my ankle in HoiAn Vietnam my travel insurance arranged a nurse to come and bring me back in Singapore Airlines business seats last week and to say we were both utterly dissapointed is an understatement ...

Maybe the trick is to fly SQ in F, rather than J.

 

[RooFlyer]

Maybe the trick is to fly SQ in F, rather than J.

I've said before - that's my solution!

 

[maz1]

Maybe the trick is to fly SQ in F, rather than J.

For sure

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not all Australians are able to do that, mate; we are not all treated equally. I am pleased that you are treated
above the norm, but remember, most of us are not.

Bulkheads are available to all, first come, first served. Book the cook is available to all. And choosing flights is a matter of personal preference. Planning is the key