Singapore SQ 207 - Singapore/Melb - J

[travelnutjohn]

Return Leg of my trip: Emirates EK409 Melb - DXB F

Singapore AIrlines: Business Class SQ207

Singapore to Melbourne

As there are heaps of other better reports of whats included/not included, im just going to post up heaps of photos, and put my comments at the end

My photography skills have not improved, and the lighting wasnt very good,

 

[travelnutjohn]

 

[travelnutjohn]

 

[travelnutjohn]

 

[travelnutjohn]

 

[travelnutjohn]

Service: 11/10
Exceptional all around, couldn't ask for more,
I actually dropped my earpod down the side seat gap, and I thought my new earpods were going to never be seen again, but 2 x cabin crew basically spent half an hour trying to dismantle the seat and in the end, got some chopsticks with tape on the end and managed to fish it out of the gap! was very grateful for that and I sent feedback to head office

Food: 9/10
The lobster thermidore was pretty decent, admittedly it looked a bit brown and unappetizing
The customary satay sticks were great, my gut is that it s been sweetened for the western palate, but it was still amazing. I dont know what first class would have been like but compared to emirates F, there is a noticeable difference. but apples vs oranges

Drink: 9/10
Piper Heidseck was great, glass ware like it was brand new
had a glass of 2020 Bordeaux which was nice, a coughtail, mocktail and plenty of softdrink

Seats: 9/10
Massive, I actually got laughed at as I thought they were first class as they were so big, and went straight to the back of the plane until I hit PE.
Largeish screen, with handcontroller, probably about 100 films all up but once again like in my other trip struggled to find something i liked.
Seat goes to complete lie flat but i never used it because I would have to get the Staff to flatten it, and then Unflatten it for food time, I couldnt be bothered asking them so I put the seat into almost flat and just slept in that.
Heaps of storage, with nooks and crannies, I counted 5 lights that I could adjust and on/off.
Admittedly the controls of the seats was quite confusing, so many options, and didnt know what they did

One thing i didnt understand , as per the photos is that you can stretch your legs into the cubby hole at an angle, but the seat wasnt on an angle. so it was a bit awkward to lie diagonally into the backrest. I assume in lie flat would be the same issue though

Checkin: 10/10
since im now a seasoned regular high class flyer..... I noticed they allowed first class on, then business, then economy. I only saw the 1x FIrst class passenger, and after being forced to painfully and insultingly wait 30 seconds they called business, which was like a handful , but as per the photo the economy queue was massive, times like this i aprreciated not having to wait!
At customs they also put me in the business queue which was 1/3 as long

Toilet: 8/10
Forgot to take photos, but it was the same size as economy toilet (not that ive seen a SIA economy toilet since like I was a kid) only different was there was a draw full of amenities and a few extra hand towels and more lights, seemed a bit nicer

Internet: 8/10 seemed to go through patches of unavailabilty, but when working it was all fine, youtube etc didnt open, i assume it was set like that. Didnt have this issue with Emirates

Amenity Kit: 5/10
in the menu booklet, they said it was only avaiable on demand (or the contents were) but I found them all in the draw of the toilet . Kind of still wanted one, even though I rarely use them

Earphones: 9/10
Noise cancelling seemed to work pretty decent, came in a soft plastic bag,

Overall, ive got very little to compare to except Emirates F, but from what ive read Singapore 777 J is one of the best , up there with Qatar, Emirates and SIA A380 J
I was expecting the gap between J and F to be smaller, eg a $200 wine vs a $80 wine.
Now, im not so sure, you just get the special feeling in F, that makes you feel like Business class passengers are your servants

being able to sleep flat or almost flat is the difference between waking up feeling youve been stuffed into a shoebox, the priority boarding when the economy queues are massive, having no one strangers beside you to climb over to get out, and having your food come out on porcelain rather than a tray covered in aluminum foil (first world problem), were the best things about business

I think I m rather going to enjoy trying to fly business whenever i can. I guess the rich and famous would still fly business when going to destinations that the plane doesnt have a first class.

 

[love_the_life]

Service: 11/10
Exceptional all around, couldn't ask for more,
I actually dropped my earpod down the side seat gap, and I thought my new earpods were going to never be seen again, but 2 x cabin crew basically spent half an hour trying to dismantle the seat and in the end, got some chopsticks with tape on the end and managed to fish it out of the gap! was very grateful for that and I sent feedback to head office

Food: 9/10
The lobster thermidore was pretty decent, admittedly it looked a bit brown and unappetizing
The customary satay sticks were great, my gut is that it s been sweetened for the western palate, but it was still amazing. I dont know what first class would have been like but compared to emirates F, there is a noticeable difference. but apples vs oranges

Drink: 9/10
Piper Heidseck was great, glass ware like it was brand new
had a glass of 2020 Bordeaux which was nice, a coughtail, mocktail and plenty of softdrink

Seats: 9/10
Massive, I actually got laughed at as I thought they were first class as they were so big, and went straight to the back of the plane until I hit PE.
Largeish screen, with handcontroller, probably about 100 films all up but once again like in my other trip struggled to find something i liked.
Seat goes to complete lie flat but i never used it because I would have to get the Staff to flatten it, and then Unflatten it for food time, I couldnt be bothered asking them so I put the seat into almost flat and just slept in that.
Heaps of storage, with nooks and crannies, I counted 5 lights that I could adjust and on/off.
Admittedly the controls of the seats was quite confusing, so many options, and didnt know what they did

One thing i didnt understand , as per the photos is that you can stretch your legs into the cubby hole at an angle, but the seat wasnt on an angle. so it was a bit awkward to lie diagonally into the backrest. I assume in lie flat would be the same issue though

Checkin: 10/10
since im now a seasoned regular high class flyer..... I noticed they allowed first class on, then business, then economy. I only saw the 1x FIrst class passenger, and after being forced to painfully and insultingly wait 30 seconds they called business, which was like a handful , but as per the photo the economy queue was massive, times like this i aprreciated not having to wait!
At customs they also put me in the business queue which was 1/3 as long

Toilet: 8/10
Forgot to take photos, but it was the same size as economy toilet (not that ive seen a SIA economy toilet since like I was a kid) only different was there was a draw full of amenities and a few extra hand towels and more lights, seemed a bit nicer

Internet: 8/10 seemed to go through patches of unavailabilty, but when working it was all fine, youtube etc didnt open, i assume it was set like that. Didnt have this issue with Emirates

Amenity Kit: 5/10
in the menu booklet, they said it was only avaiable on demand (or the contents were) but I found them all in the draw of the toilet . Kind of still wanted one, even though I rarely use them

Earphones: 9/10
Noise cancelling seemed to work pretty decent, came in a soft plastic bag,

Overall, ive got very little to compare to except Emirates F, but from what ive read Singapore 777 J is one of the best , up there with Qatar, Emirates and SIA A380 J
I was expecting the gap between J and F to be smaller, eg a $200 wine vs a $80 wine.
Now, im not so sure, you just get the special feeling in F, that makes you feel like Business class passengers are your servants

being able to sleep flat or almost flat is the difference between waking up feeling youve been stuffed into a shoebox, the priority boarding when the economy queues are massive, having no one strangers beside you to climb over to get out, and having your food come out on porcelain rather than a tray covered in aluminum foil (first world problem), were the best things about business

I think I m rather going to enjoy trying to fly business whenever i can. I guess the rich and famous would still fly business when going to destinations that the plane doesnt have a first class.

Thanks for the review travelnutjohn. One question, why did you have to ask staff if you wanted the seat to be fully flat? Was there a problem with your seat or is the norm for this plane?

 

[MARTINE]

Service: 11/10
Exceptional all around, couldn't ask for more,
I actually dropped my earpod down the side seat gap, and I thought my new earpods were going to never be seen again, but 2 x cabin crew basically spent half an hour trying to dismantle the seat and in the end, got some chopsticks with tape on the end and managed to fish it out of the gap! was very grateful for that and I sent feedback to head office

Food: 9/10
The lobster thermidore was pretty decent, admittedly it looked a bit brown and unappetizing
The customary satay sticks were great, my gut is that it s been sweetened for the western palate, but it was still amazing. I dont know what first class would have been like but compared to emirates F, there is a noticeable difference. but apples vs oranges

Drink: 9/10
Piper Heidseck was great, glass ware like it was brand new
had a glass of 2020 Bordeaux which was nice, a coughtail, mocktail and plenty of softdrink

Seats: 9/10
Massive, I actually got laughed at as I thought they were first class as they were so big, and went straight to the back of the plane until I hit PE.
Largeish screen, with handcontroller, probably about 100 films all up but once again like in my other trip struggled to find something i liked.
Seat goes to complete lie flat but i never used it because I would have to get the Staff to flatten it, and then Unflatten it for food time, I couldnt be bothered asking them so I put the seat into almost flat and just slept in that.
Heaps of storage, with nooks and crannies, I counted 5 lights that I could adjust and on/off.
Admittedly the controls of the seats was quite confusing, so many options, and didnt know what they did

One thing i didnt understand , as per the photos is that you can stretch your legs into the cubby hole at an angle, but the seat wasnt on an angle. so it was a bit awkward to lie diagonally into the backrest. I assume in lie flat would be the same issue though

Checkin: 10/10
since im now a seasoned regular high class flyer..... I noticed they allowed first class on, then business, then economy. I only saw the 1x FIrst class passenger, and after being forced to painfully and insultingly wait 30 seconds they called business, which was like a handful , but as per the photo the economy queue was massive, times like this i aprreciated not having to wait!
At customs they also put me in the business queue which was 1/3 as long

Toilet: 8/10
Forgot to take photos, but it was the same size as economy toilet (not that ive seen a SIA economy toilet since like I was a kid) only different was there was a draw full of amenities and a few extra hand towels and more lights, seemed a bit nicer

Internet: 8/10 seemed to go through patches of unavailabilty, but when working it was all fine, youtube etc didnt open, i assume it was set like that. Didnt have this issue with Emirates

Amenity Kit: 5/10
in the menu booklet, they said it was only avaiable on demand (or the contents were) but I found them all in the draw of the toilet . Kind of still wanted one, even though I rarely use them

Earphones: 9/10
Noise cancelling seemed to work pretty decent, came in a soft plastic bag,

Overall, ive got very little to compare to except Emirates F, but from what ive read Singapore 777 J is one of the best , up there with Qatar, Emirates and SIA A380 J
I was expecting the gap between J and F to be smaller, eg a $200 wine vs a $80 wine.
Now, im not so sure, you just get the special feeling in F, that makes you feel like Business class passengers are your servants

being able to sleep flat or almost flat is the difference between waking up feeling youve been stuffed into a shoebox, the priority boarding when the economy queues are massive, having no one strangers beside you to climb over to get out, and having your food come out on porcelain rather than a tray covered in aluminum foil (first world problem), were the best things about business

I think I m rather going to enjoy trying to fly business whenever i can. I guess the rich and famous would still fly business when going to destinations that the plane doesnt have a first class.

Thanks
I have done that same flight in J so many times and it.never.fails.to.deliver excellence in service
That sense of calm whilst being bombarded by thousands of requests at once but still making me feel like nothing is too much trouble I love.
They are great
Doing that trip again in July

 

[travelnutjohn]

Thanks for the review travelnutjohn. One question, why did you have to ask staff if you wanted the seat to be fully flat? Was there a problem with your seat or is the norm for this plane?

To be honest. I didnt know if my seat goes flat, so i just enquired.
There is a lie flat button on the panel, and when you press it, it goes almost flat.
Emirates F required staff to flatten it in first class as well,
Not sure about other airlines

 

[danielm19]

Thanks for the review travelnutjohn. One question, why did you have to ask staff if you wanted the seat to be fully flat? Was there a problem with your seat or is the norm for this plane?

On 777's with SQ the seat back actually folds down to make the bed, rather than the seat sliding down. I did it myself as didn't want to bother the crew when they were busy clearing up the galley. It made for a pretty comfortable bed!

 

[rbjhan]

Yeah the SQ bed design is funky....You don't have to ask them to make the bed, if you know how to do it yourself....but it does involved standing up/down so not as good as the sliding option IMHO.

 

[danielm19]

Yeah the SQ bed design is funky....You don't have to ask them to make the bed, if you know how to do it yourself....but it does involved standing up/down so not as good as the sliding option IMHO.

Agreed! We were lucky enough to try the B777, A380, A350(LH config) and 787-10(Regional config) on our last trip. Even managed to snag the bulkhead seat on A380 and the bed on that was fantastic!

 

[jase05]

Thanks
I have done that same flight in J so many times and it.never.fails.to.deliver excellence in service
That sense of calm whilst being bombarded by thousands of requests at once but still making me feel like nothing is too much trouble I love.
They are great
Doing that trip again in July

I’m going to have to go out of MEL next time!
My last few A350 J flights to/from Australia on SQ have been very underwhelming IMO so much so that for our trip in a couple of weeks time I cancelled SQ award flights and went with TG/UK just to mix things up

 

[lovestotravel]

I’m going to have to go out of MEL next time!
My last few A350 J flights to/from Australia on SQ have been very underwhelming IMO so much so that for our trip in a couple of weeks time I cancelled SQ award flights and went with TG/UK just to mix things up

Was it the regional A350? Those flights are pathetic in J with new crew, less galley space and a bad seat
.
Thar being said I find crews generally the worst to and from MEL.

 

[AIRwin]

Thar being said I find crews generally the worst to and from MEL.

But SQ crew is generally not dedicated to a particular route

 

[dajop]

Yeah the SQ bed design is funky....You don't have to ask them to make the bed, if you know how to do it yourself....but it does involved standing up/down so not as good as the sliding option IMHO.

Maybe I've been conditioned by SQ, but even when I have a slide down seat, I always stand up, put it into bed mode, set up pillow and blanket etc, then get it. . Maybe it's the nice feeling of getting into bed that I like. As a result doesn't bother me either way.

 

[lovestotravel]

But SQ crew is generally not dedicated to a particular route

Except new crews are on the A350 regional which did serve MEL for quite a while.

But apart from that it's usually the MEL SIN MEL flights where I find the service not as polished as the onward EU flights

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Except new crews are on the A350 regional which did serve MEL for quite a while.

Again with these totally incorrect assertions.

ALL SQ Crews on ALL flts are constructed by a computer system known as ICORPS.

This system churns out rosters of crews for all flts which basically consists of a set criteria of seniority and experience for ALL flts on ALL aircraft.

Totally IMPOSSIBLE to have a less experienced Crew on any flt or any particular plane.

ALL new* SQ Crew must complete at least 12mths** in Y cabin before they can be rostered for J cabin duties.

* Crew with less that 4yrs full time employment and experience are considered to be ‘new crew’. Prior to Covid approx 25% of SQ Crew Members were considered to be ‘new’ - post covid that figure now between 40 and 45%

** Pre Covid new Crew Members were required to spend min 12mths in Y cabin before rostering to J if their performance as assessed by Senior Crew during their initial 12mths was satisfactory.

Now with such a high prevalence of ‘new crew’ that time length has been shortened to 8 to 9mths but they are still monitored and assessed by Senior Crew on all sectors flown.

 

[travelnutjohn]

Again with these totally incorrect assertions.

ALL SQ Crews on ALL flts are constructed by a computer system known as ICORPS.

This system churns out rosters of crews for all flts which basically consists of a set criteria of seniority and experience for ALL flts on ALL aircraft.

Totally IMPOSSIBLE to have a less experienced Crew on any flt or any particular plane.

ALL new* SQ Crew must complete at least 12mths** in Y cabin before they can be rostered for J cabin duties.

* Crew with less that 4yrs full time employment and experience are considered to be ‘new crew’. Prior to Covid approx 25% of SQ Crew Members were considered to be ‘new’ - post covid that figure now between 40 and 45%

** Pre Covid new Crew Members were required to spend min 12mths in Y cabin before rostering to J if their performance as assessed by Senior Crew during their initial 12mths was satisfactory.

Now with such a high prevalence of ‘new crew’ that time length has been shortened to 8 to 9mths but they are still monitored and assessed by Senior Crew on all sectors flown.

ive always wondered, do the "best" staff get First class to look after? as it does require extra service skills, but do the staff prefer First vs econom

 

[lovestotravel]

ive always wondered, do the "best" staff get First class to look after? as it does require extra service skills, but do the staff prefer First vs econom

I find crew don't like being creeped on by old men and then have to pretend to be extra friendly