Singapore Airlines was recently named the world’s second-best airline on the Oscars of the aviation industry, the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2022. But how does it perform when time is against the crew on a speedy flight? This eye-opening video reveals all.
It shows travel experts from The Points Guy UK (TPG UK) – plus one special guest, Czech YouTuber Adam Mach – concurrently reviewing economy, premium economy and business class on a Singapore Airlines long-haul A350 flying a remarkable recent short-haul route between Barcelona and Milan.
Despite the short flight time, the reviewers are charmed by the airline’s fast service and luxury levels, with economy snapping up points for its ‘lovely’ free food, premium economy for its ‘peaceful’ layout, and business class for its high-quality accessories. But there are a number of wrinkles, from an ‘underwhelming’ business-class meal to a ‘thin’ blanket in premium economy. Read on for more…
BUSINESS CLASS
The Points Guy UK team flew concurrently with Singapore Airlines on an A350 flight between Barcelona and Milan. Liam Spencer (pictured) tested out the business-class seat
Liam Spencer enjoyed the luck of the draw, with TPG paying £312 for his Business Class seat – 15A.
He was impressed by it, describing it as ‘extremely comfortable’. He revealed: ‘I enjoyed its unique design in comparison with other business class products.’
Nevertheless, he admitted that it ‘might have been a bit comfier’ when folded out right into a bed, with the horizontal configuration ‘a bit too firm for my liking’. What’s more, the footwell was ‘fairly narrow’, meaning his feet were ‘at quite a clumsy angle within the fully flat position’.
The food was one other low point.
He explained: ‘The meal itself was sadly a bit disappointing for business class. There weren’t many options to select from so I opted for a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. It was on no account inedible, just underwhelming.’
On a more positive note, the accessories that got here with the seat – ‘from the bedding and pillows to the noise-cancelling headphones’ – were ‘of the best quality’.
Liam declared: ‘Singapore Airlines ensured that each one the amenities were of the premium quality you’d expect on a business fare.’
Above is Liam with a smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich, which didn’t impress. ‘It was on no account inedible, just underwhelming,’ he said
Liam’s meal was ‘sadly a bit disappointing for business class’
It didn’t take long for Liam to receive a glass of Champagne after boarding
The crew were premium quality, too.
Liam said: ‘[They] handed me a glass of Champagne shortly after sitting down, and were attentive and friendly throughout. I used to be impressed at how quickly they were in a position to serve and clear away a full meal service on this hop.’
Plus, it only took a zippy 25 seconds for a crew member to reply after he pressed his flight attendant call button.
Overall, Liam gave the experience a thumbs up. ‘It was a thrill to fly such an opulent product on a route this short,’ he concluded.
PREMIUM ECONOMY
Czech YouTuber Adam Mach tested out Premium Economy. Above, he unwraps his inflight meal – a ham and cheese croissant
Adam Mach found himself in Premium Economy, with TPG splashing £150 on seat 33K.
It was the YouTuber’s first time flying on this grade of cabin – and he was pleasantly surprised by the experience.
He said: ‘It really surprised me what an upgrade it actually was from regular economy.
‘The mini cabin of three rows gave enough intimacy to have a peaceful flight.
‘My seat was really comfortable, wide enough and likewise reclined well. Along with an uplifted footrest, comfortable enough even for extra-long-haul flights, which the plane also operates on a each day basis. A fantastic seat.’
As for the service, it was ‘quick’ – it took just 29 seconds for a flight attendant to seem once he’d pressed his bell.
Adam found that service was ‘quick’ – it took just 29 seconds for a crewmember to seem once he’d pressed his flight attendant call button
One niggle for Adam was a blanket that was on the skinny side
Any downsides? Just a pair.
Adam said that while his pillow was ‘huge’, the blanket was on the skinny side. And he was ‘left wanting a bit more of Singapore Airlines’ supposed sensible catering’, noting that because the flight was short he was only given a ham and cheese croissant, and that was ‘a bit dry’.
Despite these drawbacks, Adam’s overall experience was a positive one. ‘It was a extremely nice flight. Truly amazing,’ he declared.
ECONOMY
Nicky Kelvin, Head of TPG UK, flew economy. Above is his ‘large comfortable seat’
Nicky said: ‘I used to be in a position to stretch out in a way that isn’t normally possible inside Europe’
Nicky together with his free Weight loss plan Coke on the flight
Nicky Kelvin, Head of TPG UK, drew the short straw, paying £76 for seat 45K in economy.
While the flight was ‘the same price to other carriers, even the low-cost options’, he said that it included ‘free food, a big comfortable seat, a spacious cabin and in-flight entertainment’.
He found that since the cabin was ‘so large’, it meant there have been free seats beside him. ‘I used to be in a position to stretch out in a way that isn’t normally possible inside Europe,’ he said.
Nicky had picked up a freebie pair of Singapore Airlines headphones when he boarded, and was surprised by the sound quality when he tried them out. ‘For a free pair of headphones in economy these [were] actually really good,’ he admitted.
What in regards to the service?
Nicky’s meal, a packaged egg sandwich, turned out to be ‘a stunning little snack’
Nicky said that regardless that the flight was temporary, the crew hit the mark, with a flight attendant appearing just 36 seconds after he hit the bell.
‘The Singapore Airlines crew were in a position to deliver an actual experience and taste of what a long-haul flight with the airline would have been like,’ Nicky revealed.
The refreshments were one other highlight.
His meal, a packaged egg sandwich, turned out to be ‘a stunning little snack’. He received a free Weight loss plan Coke, too.
Summing up his flight, he declared: ‘For an economy product at such a low price point and inside Europe, this experience was unbeatable.’
For more information on travel suggestions and tricks, join to The Points Guy UK. To see the total Singapore Airlines A350 Barcelona to Milan review video click here.
Nicky, Liam and Adam at Barcelona Airport before their flight to Milan
Jet-setting: The team’s Singapore Airlines Airbus A350 at Barcelona
