Singapore A380 Business Class - 12DF or 96DF

[sydunipete]

I've made a few SQ Business Class redemptions and have an A380 back SIN-SYD on an overnight flight. I allocated myself to 12DF. I'm SQ Gold, but no PPS status so I couldn't grab 11DF. I rang up telling them about our 10th wedding anniversary (true) and she said she would request 96DF for us. Apparently 11DF is already booked and 91DF is only available to PPS. So I accepted that and a few days later nothing has updated yet.

I'm starting to have second thoughts. I always sit in the larger forward business cabin. The thought of the mini-cabin has some appeal and the double bed would be a nice gimmick and the extra space would be appreciated.

What is service like that far back? Turbulence? Time to disembark hence immigration queues?

So 12DF or 96DF? Many thanks.

 

[Quickstatus]

If 91DF is reserved for PPS, I would imagine cabin service to be the same as there is a galley at the back

But much of a muchness - pros and cons as you describe, from my point of view no real difference except...
I would only choose 12DF as there are no infant bassinets nearby - J infant bassinets are 91 and 96.

Immigration queues are not an issue.
The distance from Gate to Immigration can be long - especially if you arrive at the A gates at T3, so you can be last to disembark but does not mean you will be last to immigration counters.

Oh more importantly, SQ do celebration cakes for birthdays, wedding anniversaries etc. When we travelled SQ on honeymoon, they gave us a celebration cake - we didn't request it, we suspect the travel agent requested it
But make sure you email [email protected] with the request, flight details..... (about 2 weeks before flight)
Its a bit cheesy requesting a cake for yourself but think of the brownie points...

 

[sydunipete]

But make sure you email [email protected] with the request, flight details..... (about 2 weeks before flight)

I might do that for a first class flight (smaller cabin etc) as part of the same trip, but I doubt we'll be able to fit another thing in, but the staff might enjoy it.

 

[Quickstatus]

but the staff might enjoy it

If you dont eat it, they might but if you had a bit they wont.
As you are coming back into AUS, you can't take it with you. When we had ours they put ours in a box we could offload with it - not sure if thats allowed anymore...
They usually bring it out as dessert. Meaning that you have the option of forgoing the other desserts.

 

[Quickstatus]

Celebration cake in suites

 

[luckypierre]

If 91DF is reserved for PPS, I would imagine cabin service to be the same as there is a galley at the back

Managed to score 91D/F in 2024, via online chat at T-96. Very good seats and had a good nights sleep. J service (at the rear of cabin), as usual by SQ, friendly, efficient and courteous.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sat in 96DF and can confirm the same excellent service. Took a fraction longer to get off the plane.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

The last times I flew these A380s, (2024 iirc) I was interested in these double beds. I was told that they DON'T have bedding for this any more. I guessed it was just an additional weight and hassle, and they ditched it.

I suppose it's possibly available if it's specifically booked as a double. Perhaps the FAs just didn't know, but they were adamant that all beds and bedding were the same. I would be interested to hear different, as we are now platinum on their scheme.

It's a bit noisier at the back. Haven't noticed turbulence. Possibly noisy from the galley & toilets at the back on long flights. Didn't care about disembarking, because we get a wheelchair anyway these days.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The last times I flew these A380s, (2024 iirc) I was interested in these double beds. I was told that they DON'T have bedding for this any more. I guessed it was just an additional weight and hassle, and they ditched it.

I suppose it's possibly available if it's specifically booked as a double. Perhaps the FAs just didn't know, but they were adamant that all beds and bedding were the same. I would be interested to hear different, as we are now platinum on their scheme.

They didn’t have double bed bedding in early 2024. Never knew it was a ‘thing’ in business class. (It’s not actually a double bed anyway… just you can lower the centre barrier/armrest). Was a bit of a fizzer really. (But i liked the extra legroom.)

 

[Comoman]

96 is great as there is the toilet in the very rear right which people don’t seem to use so it’s mostly free all of the time.

 

[Quickstatus]

Possibly noisy from the galley & toilets at the back on long flights

I would say from the engines and turbulence. The SQ CC are very good keeping things quiet in the galleys.

96 is great as there is the toilet in the very rear right which people don’t seem to use so it’s mostly free all of the time.

Whereas the people up in the 11-12 row have further to trudge to get to a toilet at row 24

 

[luckypierre]

They didn’t have double bed bedding in early 2024. Never knew it was a ‘thing’ in business class. (It’s not actually a double bed anyway… just you can lower the centre barrier/armrest). Was a bit of a fizzer really. (But i liked the extra legroom.)

Agree 100% , the leg room was the attraction

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

They didn’t have double bed bedding in early 2024. Never knew it was a ‘thing’ in business class. (It’s not actually a double bed anyway… just you can lower the centre barrier/armrest). Was a bit of a fizzer really. (But i liked the extra legroom.)

It was a thing, I think. It's displayed on their website, and it's even mentioned on the seat selection plan in the app. The 'mattress' cover was a double, and the doona was a double. The lack of barrier between the footrests also makes it more bed-like. The mattress over the centre was probably enough to make it comfortable.

I liked the idea, as did my partner. Looks like we'll have to wait for a 'special' deal on a double first class suite with emirates instead

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It was a thing, I think. It's displayed on their website, and it's even mentioned on the seat selection plan in the app. The 'mattress' cover was a double, and the doona was a double. The lack of barrier between the footrests also makes it more bed-like. The mattress over the centre was probably enough to make it comfortable.

I liked the idea, as did my partner. Looks like we'll have to wait for a 'special' deal on a double first class suite with emirates instead

Oh yes… I saw the pictures too… and the seat maps which show ‘double bed’. I don’t know if it was ever implemented or actually offered on board?

As per luckypierre’s picture above… there was a barrier at the footwell… also confirmed by this video from 2018:

The video looks like separate doonas, although I suppose it could have been a double split half way down.

 

[sydunipete]

2 days after making the request I got an itinerary update back saying we had been allocated to 96DF. Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[MathNerd]

2 days after making the request I got an itinerary update back saying we had been allocated to 96DF. Thanks everyone for your responses.

That's wonderful, @sydunipete! Those seats are amazing (we were in them back in Jan 2020 flying ZRH-SIN), and there was nobody else in that back mini cabin. It was basically F at that point.

What sort of request did you make? I thought everyone had to wait until T-96 and call or live chat to request to be moved to those seats, if they're still available? Did you use live chat, or email a particular team, or something else?

Thanks

 

[sydunipete]

What sort of request did you make?

I called their Sydney number and they said they would have to refer it to another team for approval. A few days later it came through.

I'm SQ Gold - I don't know if that helped.

 

[nat000]

Can someone please advise if the refurbished a380 on SQ has the footwell off to the side in business class, or is it straight ahead ? I've only flew on the a350 900 long haul and not a fan of the side footwell.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can someone please advise if the refurbished a380 on SQ has the footwell off to the side in business class, or is it straight ahead ? I've only flew on the a350 900 long haul and not a fan of the side footwell.

It’s all side footwell, except for bulkhead seats.

 

[Clayton]

The bulkhead seats are amazingly roomy, we had 96D/F in December and I slept at least 7 hours with ample room everywhere. The service was every bit as spectacular as any other SQ J flight and proximity to toilets, with no wait time, was always appreciated. But..... they would be the hardest business seats I've ever sat on, and FRA-SIN is a long flight, I ended up using my partially inflated travel mattress when seated upright to provide a modicum on Butt comfort.