T RIED AND TE ST E D FL IGHT
Singapore Airlines
A350-900ULR business class SINGAPORE–NEW YORK (NEWARK)
speeches, and boarding officially began at 1100 – I was in my seat a few minutes later.
THE SE A T The seat product for the A350- 900ULR is the same as that of standard A350- 900s – a good, spacious product that offers ample in-seat storage. This is not the airline’s newest long-haul business class seat product, however – that launched last December on board its new A380 superjumbos. The business class cabin is split across
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two sections with a 1-2-1 configuration. I was seated in 25D, a centre seat in the middle of the second section with direct access to the left aisle. The seats are very wide (29 inches) and recline to offer a fully flat bed, though this is done by folding down the back of the seat rather than pushing a recline button. A multitude of cubbyholes are ideal for
B A C KGROUND Singapore Airlines (SIA) reclaimed the title of longest commercial flight in the world in October with the relaunch of its non-stop service between Singapore and New York (Newark). The flight covers 16,700km and is scheduled to take approximately 18 hours and 45 minutes. Its previous service on this route (which
stopped in 2013) used an older – and far less fuel efficient – aircraft, the Airbus A340. With the new A350-900ULR (ultra-long range), an extended-range variant of Airbus’s existing A350-900 aircraft that SIA is the first carrier to operate, the airline hopes to make the route economically viable once again. To do this, SIA has completely cut out the
economy class cabin, meaning the entire aircraft comprises just 67 business class and 94 premium economy seats – roughly a 40-60 per cent split.
C HEC K - IN I arrived at Changi Airport Terminal 3 just after 1940 following a flight from Hong Kong, giving me ample time ahead of the 2335 departure of the inaugural flight SQ22 to Newark Liberty International Airport. My luggage had been checked
DE CEMB E R 2 0 18
through to New York in Hong Kong, with boarding passes provided for both my flights.
LOU NGE Typically, business class passengers on this flight will be allowed access to the Silverkris Business Class Lounge, though for the inaugural flight I was permitted to use the Silverkris First Class Lounge located next door. I have reviewed the first class lounge previously (see
businesstraveller.com for that review). The T3 Silverkris Business Class Lounge
continues to impress for its size alone, and it’s undeniably a comfortable place to sit and dine. It could do with a few enhancements, though: power outlets are incredibly sparse, particularly beside the seats, which are generally limited to small armchairs rather than a mix of tables and chairs, comfy seats and more private cubicles. The bar is also self-serve rather than manned, and SIA, aware of the shortfall, has indicated plans to spruce up the facilities sometime next year.
BO A RDING I headed to the gate at about 2215; we were given a pre-flight viewing of the aircraft, followed by commemorative
stashing away small items and devices, including a thin space perfect for stowing a laptop adjacent to the light and power outlet. There’s a large space beneath your seat for small bags, and a retractable divide that can be put up between you and your neighbour. This seat product’s main quirk is that the
footwell is off to one side rather than directly in front of you. This means it’s necessary to sleep in a fetal position on your side rather than stretched out on your back – entirely a matter of preference, though personally I prefer being able to stretch out my legs. Ask a member of the cabin crew to help you fold the seat down to reveal the flat bed, mattress cover and blanket, as it can be tricky to do oneself and is not immediately intuitive. The tray table is a good size and the
in-flight entertainment (IFE) incorporates SIA’s new Krisworld system that enables passengers to log in using their Silverkris details and create playlists across different flights and even resume films they didn’t manage to finish previously. The 18-inch monitor screens are HD but not touchscreen – instead the system is navigated using a sleek, intuitive controller. Noise-cancelling headphones are also provided.
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