Singapore Airlines ups the ante for business and first class travel — big time
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Singapore Airlines is rolling out new seats in all three cabins — first, business, and economy. The economy seat improvements are nice, but the premium cabin improvements, especially in business, are game-changing.
The photo above shows the forthcoming seating in business class on a Boeing 777. This isn’t a private jet. It’s a 1-2-1 configuration with 30-inch wide seats, WAY more generous than anything else out there. On other airlines’ comparable aircraft, you’re lucky if you get 2-2-2 seating. (2-3-2 is more common.) And a 30-inch wide seat is a huge leap from the 20 to 22 inches that most business class seats offer.
This isn’t just raising the bar, it’s grabbing the bar and throwing it like a javelin. (I guess that makes the other airlines the equivalent of the track-and-field judge who “caught” a javelin with her foot.)
Part of me wonders (however briefly) who really needs that much width in the seat. It’s nice, sure, but are we all getting that fat and wide that we need 30 inch-wide seat? (Oh, wait, we ARE getting that wide.) The new first class is even wider: 35 inches wide. Practically a meter wide!
The revisions to the Krisworld inflight entertainment system are also impressive, though I’m not sure why it’s necessary to have a word processor and spreadsheet. Won’t people who need to create a spreadsheet be firing up their laptop? And how do you transfer a file from the onboard system to your own system, especially since Boeing’s Connexion isn’t operational after January 1? (And why the heck is it called Krisworld anyway? I’ve never understood that.)
This comes after a slew of business-class news. It’s been a big couple of weeks: Delta announced it was installing flat beds by 2008. Upstart Silverjet made it official and announced it would start flying all-business class Boeing 767s between London-Luton and Newark on January 25, 2007. Similarly, all-biz French newcomer Elysair announced that it was planning to fly between Paris-Orly and Newark beginning in December. And Fortune Magazine ran through their favorite business class seats.
But Singapore’s news blows all that out of the water. Delta going lie-flat by 2008? Puh-leeze. I mean, sure, it’s nice to go lie-flat, and it’s great that Delta is doing it, but Singapore is basically a decade ahead of anyone else. It reminds you how pathetic the premium offerings of U.S.-based carriers really are right now.
Hats off to Singapore. I’m left wondering what this will cost. And if any seats in the improved business class cabin will ever be available for frequent flyer mile redemptions…
Related:
- Singapore Airlines (aff)
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October 17th, 2006 at 10:47 pm |
Well, it would be nice to be able to turn over without hitting the side of the seat, I guess.
But how can you wear a fracking seatbelt on that thing?
October 18th, 2006 at 9:11 am |
A “kris” is a ceremonial Malay dagger. I think that’s what “Krisworld” refers to.
October 18th, 2006 at 3:07 pm |
Indeed, how DO you use a seatbelt?
And that’s quite a martial name for an inflight entertainment system (Krisworld)and a frequent flyer program (Krisflyer). Thanks for the clarification. (A history of the kris, unrelated to the airline, is here.)
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:48 am |
The Singapore Airlines logo is the Silver Kris. Also to be fair, Singapore Airlines has been behind the ball by having angled lie flat seats in business class whereas fully lie flat seats have become increasingly the standard to beat with BA, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, Air NZ, Iberia and LAN all going lie flat. Singapore couldn’t let that continue especially with Emirates moving to angled lie flat seats.
December 11th, 2006 at 5:12 pm |
[…] It looks nice, but it also resembles a lot of existing business class seats out there, such as Air New Zealand, Virgin Atlantic, or even the forthcoming Delta seat. Increasingly, first class isn’t looking that different from new-generation business class (unless, of course, you’re Singapore Airlines…) […]
December 12th, 2006 at 3:25 pm |
[…] A couple readers grumbled via e-mail that yesterday’s post about Singapore Airlines’ improvements to business and first class cabins glossed over the improvements to coach, which most people will actually be flying. In my defense, I was at least discussing scheduled, commercial travel, and not the mega-bling of private jumbo-jets, as was on the front business page of the New York Times yesterday. […]
January 13th, 2007 at 10:32 am |
[…] Singapore Airlines’ new business class… reviewed! Remember Singapore Airlines’ major upgrade to its business and first class cabins on selected routes? The Global Traveller has sat in the business class seat, and offers his review. Live vicariously. […]
March 10th, 2007 at 2:38 pm |
[…] take a bite out of the first and/or economy class sections. (Compare to Singapore Airlines’ new premium cabins, which are even 5 inches […]
April 27th, 2007 at 11:54 am |
I tried that new business class seat from SIN-SFO. It really is amazing. There is a separate seatbelt when the seat becomes a bed and it basically goes over your stomach comfortably. Separate panels beside the 12 inch screen (which is huge considering you are on an airplane) turns over to be a mirror, cup holder, compartment for cell mobile, and USB ports for thumb drive and qwerty keyboard….overall, very impressive.- JTWL
June 6th, 2007 at 7:23 am |
The new business class seat is amazing. Very private and very nice for lounging as well. Comfortable in both sitting and sleeping positions. When turned into a bed, you will be provided with a comforter to complement the 2 pillows. I can actually sleep in any position I want despite I am 6 feet 3. By the way, the screen is actually 15 inch wide.
June 18th, 2007 at 10:48 pm |
As much as I dislike the idea of catering to fatties, I think the wider seat has more important benefits. A big part of it is simply the personal space. Who wants to be breathing in the germs of the 8 people within coughing proximity?
It’s interesting the developments that are going on in the industry. Singapore airlines has a business class seat that embarrasses many first class seats, which will move first class into purely suite configurations. Also, EOS by providing first class style seats at business class fares will then force a reduction in first class fares, which will consequently force a reduction in business class fares.
Meanwhile further upward pressure is being placed on business class from below - Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy seats are equivalent to domestic first class, thereby also raising the bar for premium economy in general.
Maybe air travel isn’t going down the crapper after all.
September 18th, 2007 at 4:22 pm |
[…] 471 seats, thanks largely to a boatload of extra-wide business class seats, much like the ones pictured here. To get a glimpse of the seatmap, Click here. Note that the economy class seats on the lower level […]
October 15th, 2007 at 10:14 am |
[…] Related: - Video: Airbus A380 evacuation test - Reader mail: How much will tickets on the Airbus A380 cost? - Video: Airbus A380 landing in fierce crosswinds - Airbus A380 at Chicago O’Hare - Singapore Airlines ups the ante for business and first class travel — big time […]
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm |
I just got home from Singapore. Traveled First Class from Tampa and had an opportunity to try Singapore Air, Air Asiana, and Lufthansa all First Class. There really is no comparison. Singapore Air wins hands down by a very large margin for comfort, style, service and food. Unbelievable experience. If I had to rate it:
1) Singapore Air
2) Air Asiana
3) Lufthansa
SA will spoil you for travel and leaves you feeling cheated when traveling other airlines, IMHO. I had UNLIMITED Dom Perignon, Caviar and Lobster. The perks were Givenchy jogging suit, Salvatore Ferragamo goodie bags, down mattresses and comforters. My needs were not only met, but anticipated. Most impressive: A FA noticed I had the hot towel on a sore arm. She asked, brought me hot towels on FOUR occasions, aspirin, AND told me that there would be a trolley waiting at my destination so I wouldn’t have to carry a thing! U.S. domestic First is a joke after that! It is the only time I have ever felt that my comfort was the most important thing in the world. Everyone needs to have this experience just once in a lifetime. If I could do it again, I would fly SA on every leg that I could, regardless of layovers, etc. The journey was truly as wonderful as the destination…
OMG, I would love a shot at that A380!