How to choose the best business class seat if you travel with Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines, the world's top airline, has a long-haul fleet consisting of different types of aircraft, but at [...]
Singapore Airlines
Star Alliance
Singapore Airlines, the best company in the world, has a long-haul fleet consisting of different types of aircraft, but unlike with many other carriers it has no particular differences among its business class cabins.
Singapore Airlines' long-haul fleet
In this article:
While before the pandemic the Asian carrier was one of the few in the world with only wide-body aircraft, it now also has smaller aircraft in service that it uses for medium-haul routes where it has no need for large capacity.
The flagship is undoubtedly the giant, namely the A380. The entire fleet of double-decker aircraft is the one with the most modern cabins. From first class suites, to new business class seats, to the newest version of Premium and Economy,
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There are then three different variants of A350. There is the classic one that flies to Rome, Milan and generally around the world, set up in 3 classes. Then there is the version for medium-haul routes, where there is no premium economy. Finally there is the ULR variant which is the one used for very long haul flights, i.e. the direct connection to New York. The world's longest flight is made with an A350 outfitted with only two classes: business and premium economy and carries, at most, 161 passengers.
Turning to Boeing's fleet, Singapore Airlines uses 777/300 and 787/10, that is, the two largest variants of the two American planes. Looking forward to the 777x, not until 2026 at the earliest, where it will install the new cabins, these planes have the same seats found aboard the A350s, the only drawback being the first present on the 777 is nowhere near that of the A380.
Which seat to choose in business class with Singapore Airlines
From Italy, SQ flies only the A350. This model is used for flights from Milan and Rome, the company's only routes in Italy and also for the fifth-freedom route to Barcelona from Malpensa..
All planes are configured the same. There are two business cabins, the first the larger one, and the second with only 4 rows of seats. Obviously every passenger has aisle access and plenty of space, although being a model that was introduced in 2013, it is no longer very young, but one could say without fear of contradiction that it has aged well unlike many other models.
I personally prefer the second cabin, which is quieter and less crowded, but in this respect there is no physical difference between the seating in the two different areas of the plane.
The big difference, as is often the case, is in the space available in some seats versus all the others. The first two rows, compared to all other seats, offer much more legroom. As can be seen in the comparison above, the first row has legroom along the full width of the seat, while all other seats have a small cavity in the bottom corner.
If in armchair mode you do not feel a big difference, it is in bed mode that instead being able to have more space and not having to sleep at an angle makes so much difference.
Being able to sleep in a more natural position with lots of freedom of movement for your legs is an important plus when you are talking about doing 13 to 15 hours of flying.
It is not only the outer seats that have this extra space, but all 4 seats in the front row. For a total of 8 seats on board each long-haul aircraft. Similar discussion, even on the A380, but for a different reason. The cabins are newer, and the first center rows of business class have the special feature of turning into a double bed, similar to Qatar's QSuite.
The chair to absolutely avoid
If all the chairs were created equal, the same cannot be said about where they were placed. There are two sessions that should absolutely be avoided, since they enjoy a spectacular view of the bathrooms, or rather everyone coming out of the bathroom is in your line of sight, sound and even smell.
They are seats 18D and 18F, because not only are they attached to the two of the three bathrooms, but they are also bordered by the galley area, which is the aircraft's kitchens and where the crew stands during flight phases.
How to book the best seats
The seats in rows 11 and 19, are the ones that give the most space, but they are not easy to reserve. In particular. the 4 seats in row 19 are the only ones set up for cradle installation for infants and that means they can be booked via call center when you also have the need for a crib.
Even for row 11 you have to go through the call center, or directly at check-in at the airport, assuming they are still free.
In conclusion
I am often asked which is the best seat on this or that carrier, in this case since the difference on board Singapore Airlines is so much I decided to do this article to help passengers better spend their Krisflyer points when it comes to traveling aboard the best company in the world.
