SIA To Pioneer All New Business Class To Newark, Los Angeles

[StarG]

Latest update about SQ38/37 all-business service:

For Los Angeles, the Singapore Airlines all-Business Class service will operate three times weekly starting 10 August 2008. Effective from 21 September 2008 will be daily service.

[EdB]

SIN-EWR-SIN: Disappointing experience

Took a recent SIN-EWR-SIN trip – I’ve flown this route 3 times last year on the old two-class planes (and LAX twice) and quite frankly I was less than impressed by the new all business plane.

My main issues are:

1. Seat – whilst this is technically the same as the 77W, it actually isn’t… the 77W has a large shelf to the side, above the foot rest. Not so the Airbus config – no shelf at all and a tiny foot rest – basically the seat and cabin feels quite claustrophobic and seat lacks storage space. I was really surprised by this and a fellow passenger actually commented on this out loud upon seating down... cue embarrassed looks from the crew...

2. Very odd food selection – in particular the hot options provided between meals are pretty bad – on such a long journey, I’d rather have a light bite or a sandwich – impossible here but instead two prawn dishes and some rather heavy tasting thai pork meatballs… the snacks on the other hand are all junk (crisps, crap chocolate etc..) so a pretty hungry trip for me.

3. Nothing specific to the route but movie selection is now confined to third rates movies... probably another way to save a few bucks…

This last two would normally not be a big deal but on a 19 hours flight, they really become a right pain in the …

So whilst a direct flight is good, it’s my last one, I’m going to try LH via FRA, that’s yet another route where I drop SQ…

[zvezda]

1. Seat – whilst this is technically the same as the 77W, it actually isn’t… the 77W has a large shelf to the side, above the foot rest. Not so the Airbus config – no shelf at all and a tiny foot rest – basically the seat and cabin feels quite claustrophobic and seat lacks storage space. I was really surprised by this and a fellow passenger actually commented on this out loud upon seating down... cue embarrassed looks from the crew.

The A340-500 now has the same Business Class seat as the WhaleJet, right? They are only roughly similar to those on the 777-300ER.

So whilst a direct flight is good, it’s my last one, I’m going to try LH via FRA, that’s yet another route where I drop SQ…

I fly back and forth between FRA and SIN quite often and I dread flying LH when there is no seat available on SQ. Try LH once. You'll be back to SQ.

[sqforever]

3. Nothing specific to the route but movie selection is now confined to third rates movies... probably another way to save a few bucks…

So whilst a direct flight is good, it’s my last one, I’m going to try LH via FRA, that’s yet another route where I drop SQ…

I doubt that SQ's penny pinching on KrisWorld. It just boils down to this month's selections and personal taste

[rolov]

Im flying SIN-EWR in about a week and a half
I have never been on the 77W so I can't make a comparison.
I used BTC , so my meals should be good .
I will give my feedback when I get back , but I have flown the route with the old config , so I can compare to the old A345 Configuration.

[milehighj]

I doubt that SQ's penny pinching on KrisWorld. It just boils down to this month's selections and personal taste

In the past, Krisworld used to carry at least 1 or 2 current month movie releases - meaning top-tier stuff still being shown in cinemas. SQ even used to proudly display the movie promotion placards and cutouts in the SIN SKL.

Nowadays, while the quantity of movies may have increased, the quality of selection of top releases are older and fewer.

[Kyo]

Agree with you on that one.

Best movie I saw on the plane back from Taipei last month was Horton Hears A Who.

Vantage Point + Cleaner were also average.

[StarG]

This month's KrisWorld movie options indeed was not so interesting.
I hope it is just the case for this month.

[EdB]

I doubt that SQ's penny pinching on KrisWorld. It just boils down to this month's selections and personal taste

The selection is much worse than it used to be - nothing to do with personal preference.

But it's OK to pretend all's well... forever....

[EdB]

The A340-500 now has the same Business Class seat as the WhaleJet, right? They are only roughly similar to those on the 777-300ER.

I fly back and forth between FRA and SIN quite often and I dread flying LH when there is no seat available on SQ. Try LH once. You'll be back to SQ.

Never flown A380 so my point for what is billed as the same product ("New Business Class") is that it isn't... the Airbus version has less personal space and this is not at all what SQ tells you.

As for LH, I've had great flights and I've had bad flights - but they saved the day when SQ dropped me on a missed connection and for this they have a little extra credit.

[EdB]

Nowadays, while the quantity of movies may have increased, the quality of selection of top releases are older and fewer.

Spot on! And pretty sad...

[crazycrab955]

Never flown A380 so my point for what is billed as the same product ("New Business Class") is that it isn't... the Airbus version has less personal space and this is not at all what SQ tells you.

Not having seen any photos of the interior of the new J product in the A345, do you have any recommendations for good seats or ones to avoid?

FWIW I agree with you -- the J class in the Airbus planes (A380 upper deck, A345) suffers from the smaller, narrower, more cramped cabin relative to the B77W. You certainly wouldn't know it by how much SIA is pimping the whalejet, especially here in Singapore.

[Bon]

Agree with you on that one.

Best movie I saw on the plane back from Taipei last month was Horton Hears A Who.

Vantage Point + Cleaner were also average.

Maybe it's Hollywood's fault for coming up with lousy movies lately...

Also, from what I understand the movies have to reformatted for IFE screens. So it might be the movie companies who are dragging their feet before releasing the movies to the airlines.

[Kyo]

I guess it was a bit difficult to completely accept when we knew Iron Man / Kung Fu Panda was simultaneously showing in cinemas all around the world.

Knowing that this was the start of the blockbuster season and having to put up with Vantage Point was a bit... *meh*

Seriously, now with Iron Man just about done, Kung Fu Panda also over, Wanted on its way out and current releases like the Dark Knight in theatres, Wall-E about to appear, I certainly hope some of these make it onto the July or August Krisworld otherwise you really have to wonder what's going on. Only time will tell...

[matt_will_fix_it]

Both Iron Man & Kung Fu Panda will be showing on Krisworld next month... http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_U...nextmonth1.jsp