Trio of Sweet Suites with SQ, EY, EK (Part 1 - SQ)

[SQueeze]

Background

When we talk about the lists of the best of the best, the names SQ, EY, and EK will usually appear in them. No doubt that they are the cream of the crop and they have all pushed for groundbreaking innovations (double beds, showers, onboard chefs, etc) and have invested an enormous amount to create the best premium experience in the sky.

I fly with SQ regularly in Y and J, and once or twice a year have treated myself and the partner on their F and Suites. While it's always exciting to be on SQ F, we have recently been curious of all the others out there to see where SQ is positioned. And who doesn't it find it exhilarating to try something fresh.

Last year we had tried the Fs of JJ, TG and LH and found JJ and TG to be quite average while LH shone at the same level as SQ.

This year, we strived for the airlines with even higher reputations: EY and EK. This trip report will be a first hand account of this trio best. However, take it with a pinch of salt because this was our first time with EY and EK and we can't vouch for their consistency yet.

Part 1: Valentine Day in SQ Suites to Paris

Flight: SQ336
Route: SIN-CDG (Singapore to Paris)
Aircraft: A380-800 (9V-SKA)
Seat: 3C/D (bed), 3F (dining)
Class: Suites
Load: 8/12

What better way to spend Valentine day other than spending it in the City of Lights, Paris. While the original schedule was a 13 Feb flight, along the way, there was a schedule change which pushed the departure slightly past midnight and I was elated to be in possession of a Paris-bound boarding pass that stated 14 Feb - a Valentine Day flight in SQ.



The journey started in style (it has to be in style of course) with a Mercedes ride courtesy of the bank on the usage of one of my credit cards. I was dropped off at the First Class check-in hall, which for those unfamiliar with Changi, is located in a smaller annex building next to Terminal 3. Porters immediately grouped around the car to help with luggage while the concierge requested for my flight details and directed me to the check-in agents.



I never really took a picture of this building before although I had passed through it numerous times. So while I was waiting for my partner to arrive from a connecting flight, I walked around the corner to get a good look at this building. It's recessed from the main kerb with lots of landscaping in front of it and it feels quite intimate in scale compared to the rest of the airport complex. It feels like a small private airport terminal.



The interior was spacious and of just the right size in comparison to what I would have discovered later at EK's oversized hall.



Check-in is at individual desks hotel-style.



Check-in was smooth with the agent being quite friendly and proactive. She noticed we were seated separately on account of my partner having missed his flight from SGN and the offshore station re-seated him on a single suite. Fortunately, nobody was taking my other half of the double suite or else it would be quite awkward to spend Valentine Day with a third party in the double suite. LOL. A few minutes later, we were back together in the same suite.

She then gave me the invitation card to the Private Room because I was actually originating from BOM that morning and had no such invitation (yes, I know I did a crazy BOM-SIN-CDG at one shot and that was just the SQ sector because I started the journey in Goa the same day). I am not sure why they are still keeping this practice (the invitation card). I think the card is not necessary although it is a nice gesture. I would rather have a porter escort for my carry-on for example. Or a butler who can help run some last minute duty free shopping. Or massage

From the check-in-hall, there is also a separate immigration control and then the SilverKris lounges loom almost immediately before you.



I proceeded straight there where a concierge brought me through the First Class section which was very crowded that evening and then into the relative calm of the Private Room.



It was not my first time in the Private Room and my partner was sick (not very, more like recovering) so I didn't take too many pics. We ordered the lobster and the papaya salad which I think were just ok. I was looking forward more to the food onboard.





I didn't spend more than 20-25 minutes there before we had to make a move to look for a clinic to get some medicine. And since doctors were not stationed in any of the airside clinics, we spent quite a fair bit of time waiting for the doctor to come and were the last passengers to board 11 minutes before scheduled departure. Tight. Phew!

[SQueeze]

View of the Suite from the side which shows its impressive length.



And then the view of the seat which I think is not impressive-looking but is comfortable.



The Leading FAs soon buzzed a round with offers of drinks. Just plain water for now after a last minute dash across the airport.

It's been awhile since we flew Suites (2 years) and I was quite excited again. I initially intended to do a very detailed coverage, even more than my first reports, but alas, the partner was sick and adding to it, I forgot to bring my SLR battery onboard and by that time I was already low on battery. So here it is, much of this segment has to go with iPhone camera.

That night, we were 8 passengers and were served by 1 leading stewardess, 1 leading steward, 1 chief stewardess, and IFS Doris. Both cheery Doris and her equally cheery leading stewardess (whose name I unfortunately didn't get) was a very good team, in fact one of the best in a very long time. Thumbs up. This is going to be a great journey.

Post take-off and after enough of panting, it's time for the obligatory glass of Krug with accompanying nuts.



And then here is our Valentine Day dinner courtesy of Singapore Airlines. Since it was not a full flight, we requested to have dinner face to face on one of the single window suites.

Prawns with asparagus terrine and sundried tomato pesto - nice and refreshing



Iberico jam on with celeriac remoulded and kalamata olives - Not my personal favourite but it's good quality



Asian spiced lobster and coconut soup with lobster-salmon dumplings - very comforting for a night flight such as this one



Double-boiled chicken soup with ginseng - it's good but we had seen it before



For my main, Beef short-rib with baby carrot, leek, rose to potatoes and rocket leaves.



I expect low for meat dishes usually, but this surprised me in a very positive way. It was yummily tender and the soaking jus was full of flavours. The potatoes at the side were good too - not too hard, not too soft. Overall, this was a great dish.

For my partner, main was Hainanese pork chop with fried rice.



It intrigued us when reading through the menu but then it turned out to be just average.

Dessert was lemon cream with sesame tuile and almond praline.



Nice contrast between its soft texture against the crunchy tuiles. This was a satisfying end to the meal.

[SQueeze]

While I was gobbling down my dessert, the double bed was prepared. And here's how the wonderful FAs present it to us with all our babies. Haha. They were having a lot of fun with them.



I checked out the toilet, brushed my teeth and groomed a bit. I love the A380 toilets.





Then it was time to close the doors for some privacy. And down the shades.



But oops, for those looking for some mile-high club escapades, note that the window shade is rather see-through at the bottom!



Then time to scrutinise some details.



Very convenient charging station by the bedside.



And I am not sure what is this for. But it has lots of scratches already.



Then it was zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Unfortunately not my best. I found the cabin too warm. I was tossing and tossing and tossing around. I should have asked for lowering of temperature as usual.

A few hours later, somewhere around Turkey, breakfast service starts.

[SQueeze]

Freshly-squeezed orange juice and glass of water to freshen up.



And then walked walked slowly and look at what I found near the galley! Supposed to be a surprise for us? Hmmm....



It was actually for SQ's corporate Facebook posting. Our flight was one of those featured as Valentine day flight.

Anyway, back to breakfast at 3F. I started with a cup of Blue Mountain coffee and my god how copious they served me this time. It was so much until I started to feel tingles.



SQ First Class standard breakfast soon follows

A plate of cut fruits



Muesli



Or Yoghurt. Unlike usually, they didn't ask me if I would like natural or flavoured. They just straightaway served me this.



Bak kut teh - described as Hokkien style pork spareribs in a peppered broth served with fragrant steamed rice.



Mutton and onion murtabak with mutton curry.

Omg, this is one of the best meal onboard I ever had. It was all just of the right texture and flavours. Thumbs up.



And all along, we were chatting very much with the FAs on all sorts of things under the sun. Amazing experience.



Not too long after, landing sequence commenced and the FAs went their rounds. And look what I got from them. sweet !



And also passed us the priority access card, which was then not necessary because there was no queue at CDG at the time. We were probably one of the latter arrivals at about 7+ am.

[SQueeze]

Since we were landing at daybreak, I thought I should shift to the window suite to capture some photos.



A Republique Francaise A340



And ah, hello kitty jet. Too bad I am not a fan. If only my mamegomas (my favourite baby seal characters) are painted over then I will be enticed. Haha.



I absolutely love CDG T1 architectural experience. I find it really futuristic in a rather retro way.

Incredible curved tunnel from the satellite to the main building which is shaped like a donut.



It curves down first and then curves up.



Then after immigration, everyone moves up this glass tunnel across the 'donut hole'.



Looking up, one can see the sky ...



This is the futuristic view of the crisscrossing escalators that I really like. It's such an architectural marvel.



Waiting for luggage. Here the design is lacking due to not enough space to move around.



But the ceiling is impressive. I believe this is new. These are air conditioning ducts which are very sleekly-designed.



And so ... that's it for Part 1.
To be continued to Part 2 (EY from GVA to AUH)
And then Part 3 (EK from DXB to SIN)


Verdict

Hardware - this was a very great flight, one of the best in a very long time. The hard product is stellar as usual and since this is a night flight, i don't need to enjoy the IFE which i find to have the screen rather too far from the seat and therefore appears too small. My only complaint is that it has aged quite a fair bit and it shows in scratches etc. But it is still very comfortable. (9.5/10)

Food - food was fantastic this time round. Again, one which I would remember for a very long time. (10/10)

Crew - Crew was also one of the best ever in their natural enthusiasm to engage at a normal people level and not the awkward server-served kind of relation. (9.5/10)


Quality of Sleep - Only the quality of sleep somehow was lacking for me this time. Cabin temperature was too high. (7/10)

Ground service - T3 check-in and Private Room experience is classy. But it has no complimentary luxe limo ride. So would rate it just slightly above average (8/10)

[banoffi]

wow, can't wait to read Part 2!!

wonder when I'll ever get to fly Suites to CDG....

[Hajimbo]

Lucky you! Great Trip Report! Can't wait to see the comparison with the big wings from Middle East!

[SQueeze]

Thank you banoffi and hajimbo ...
Now need to keep my momentum of writing to produce the next two sequel soon.

[yflyer]

Very nice, SQueeze! And I have just started to read part 2 on EY...jawdroppingly good product (and TR!)...

[SQueeze]

Very nice, SQueeze! And I have just started to read part 2 on EY...jawdroppingly good product (and TR!)...

Thanks, yflyer
I just finished the EY Trip Report ...

Exactly how I would describe it too - jawdropping.

I feel it has gone beyond 5 stars and is neck-to-neck with SQ Suites and is way ahead of SQ First. SQ really has to watch out if they are to survive in the longer run.

[dfs24]

Thanks for taking the effort to write this report and take all that pictures.

I used to think I'd be happy with J. But after I got the chance to try LH F plus reading reports like yours makes me rethink about F.

[SQueeze]

I used to think I'd be happy with J. But after I got the chance to try LH F plus reading reports like yours makes me rethink about F.

Exactly!

I thought the same too before. J is all about hardware comfort and basically it is transportation from A to B in comfort.

F makes you feel special, and flying a special occasion, a celebration. I keep my Fs to vacation trips only and with special people.

Which Lhr F product did you try....?
I was fortunate to fly the seat+bed version of the 744 and I think they can very closely compete neck to neck with SQ Suites and EY F. The mattress is the best amongst all in fact.

My TR on that here

[dfs24]

Did it on JFK-MUC on the A330. Didn't get the bed and seat product, but it was still very good.

Having someone escort you through security and then straight into the very private lounge was nice. Took a stroll to the gate myself after boarding had started. So I queued with the *G/Business people. Got sieved out of the queue and escorted onto 1L. Onboard, drinks poured in front of you from the bar in the front. Macadamia nuts and the airy cabin without centre bins. The only downside was that the cabin was full so dinner was a little slow. Otherwise it was perfect. 3 crew serving 8 pax, 2 toilets for 8, and the toilets were a little larger and had a window if my memory serves me right. The bedding when fully set up, really made the seat look more like a hotel bed than anything else. Slept until 30mins before landing and finished my coffee just as the seatbelt sign comes on. In MUC, straight into the FCL for immigration clearance and a shower, followed having breakfast served at my table.

The only bad thing was that I was for the lack of better word, "looked down" upon the F check in agent who refused to let me use the F counter without even asking to see my ticket. Only when I took my ticket out and asked for the station manager did she let me through. Even then she had the cheek to say many Y passengers try to check in here, which is why she had the right to do that. The flight experience made up for it but it ended badly as my bags was not loaded. But customer service told me to just go shop for whatever I needed and I was paid within 3 days of emailing the receipt.

[SQueeze]

Did it on JFK-MUC on the A330. Didn't get the bed and seat product, but it was still very good.

Having someone escort you through security and then straight into the very private lounge was nice. Took a stroll to the gate myself after boarding had started. So I queued with the *G/Business people. Got sieved out of the queue and escorted onto 1L. Onboard, drinks poured in front of you from the bar in the front. Macadamia nuts and the airy cabin without centre bins. The only downside was that the cabin was full so dinner was a little slow. Otherwise it was perfect. 3 crew serving 8 pax, 2 toilets for 8, and the toilets were a little larger and had a window if my memory serves me right. The bedding when fully set up, really made the seat look more like a hotel bed than anything else. Slept until 30mins before landing and finished my coffee just as the seatbelt sign comes on. In MUC, straight into the FCL for immigration clearance and a shower, followed having breakfast served at my table.

The only bad thing was that I was for the lack of better word, "looked down" upon the F check in agent who refused to let me use the F counter without even asking to see my ticket. Only when I took my ticket out and asked for the station manager did she let me through. Even then she had the cheek to say many Y passengers try to check in here, which is why she had the right to do that. The flight experience made up for it but it ended badly as my bags was not loaded. But customer service told me to just go shop for whatever I needed and I was paid within 3 days of emailing the receipt.

LH has usually been under-rated.

I, too, found it quite up there with SQ and EY. The FAs were very friendly and outgoing to us non-Germans and were even more friendly like family with the German-speaking HON pax.

You flew out of MUC. In FRA, even more impressive with the FCT and airside limo.