I didn't get to sleep much since this was a day flight. I did lay down for a bit to check out the bed - it was adequately comfy and an improvement over 744 pod beds, and was also a rather good couch. So i simply lazed around watching the IFE; some good choices on offer including a few movies I'd not seen and several of my favourite tv shows like Gossip Girl and Summer Heights High. TV in bed was a rather pleasant experience. Apart from ensuring that my glass of Krug was efficient topped up ([aside]you really do realise how quiet the A380 cabin is when the sound of the Krug bottle being popped open can be heard v clearly when standing around row 1[/aside]) the LSS had on her own initiative brought me a bedside platter of fruits and juice, which was handy for rehydration alongside all that bubbles.
bedside snacks
Watching Gossip Girl, season 1 - the episode after Blair's Kiss on the Lips party
Ambient lighting in every suite
The service was fantastic throughout, both the LS and LSS worked tirelessly to ensure that my champagne flute was never empty. There was also a casual and relaxed atmosphere onboard, with a rather informal approach to the service which is v much just how I like things as on Qantas flights. The crew members including the ISM were always rather forthcoming with convo. and had a great sense of fun. I've always believed that regardless of the strength of the hard product, catering, IFE etc - nothing influences my experience onboard more than the crew themselves. The service does make or break a flight, or in the case of top shelve airlines such as SQ - determines whether the flight remains merely good, or tips over to the realm of spectacular and memorable. All too often in J and whY the SQ service has on the whole been formal and business-like; I guess in F crew are just more experienced and thus comfortable with pax. The LSS did mention that A380 crew were picked on both experience and merit and so that could also have been a factor. I was shocked when the LSS told me that she's been with the airline for 20 years, her youthful looks clearly belie her age.
I was encouraged to snack throughout the flight and so I'd asked for the tuna mayo sandwich. Unfortunately the caterers had failed to load it. It wasn't that big a deal to me but the crew were exasperated at 2 catering-related incidents on a single flight and once again profuse apologies were offered - the LSS informed me that they were going to file a report. I had the beef option instead; the snack did well to tide me over between meals.
Shortly before landing a light meal was served. I'd read that it used to be a full meal before and can only wonder how people manage to fit 2 full meals in F AND even snack. A nice duck foie gras terrine was had as an appetiser, followed by the very delicious beef pastrami which was a lot bigger and tastier than the one i had for my snack and came with a bowl of tomato soup. Dessert was a wine jelly thingy which tasted a little bland but for the fruits it came with.
The LSS had excitedly urged me to check out the views of the city beneath us (i think we were flying over The Netherlands at that point) on the A side of the cabin. She'd also suggested that I sat there for the landing for nice views of London, though I didn't really see anything much apart from some water prior to landing - I later learnt from SQTalk that I was meant to have sat on the F side instead. Being an aisle seat person normally I was clearly none the wiser.
And soon enough my A380 experience had concluded as we made a prompt landing at LHR and docked at T3.
Overall a truly marvelous and memorable experience, with great service by a cheerful, approachable and attentive lot. The hard product is commendable and does lends its name to the "Beyond First" product that SQ boasts of, because otherwise the catering and wine list are the same as regular SQ F. The large screen does heighten the enjoyment of the IFE. Food was fairly average on the whole though but caviar is always a plus. And Absolut (and the alternative according to an FTer was Smirnoff Red) vodka does not belong in First, let alone a "Beyond First" service. I also wish SQ varies the champagne list a little for there are so many other great drops out there. Not that I'm complaining about Krug of course, but it wouldn't hurt to go beyond just the most popular labels.
But as I've said before and will say again - so much of the flight is about service. In my case I had great crew which made the flight a v enjoyable 14 hours, heightened by the fact that I was the only pax in R.
edited to add: Menu for this flight here.
Next: SK534 LHR-ARN C; Sheraton Stockholm; Stockholm: Land of pickled herring and overpriced booze
bedside snacks
Watching Gossip Girl, season 1 - the episode after Blair's Kiss on the Lips party
Ambient lighting in every suite
The service was fantastic throughout, both the LS and LSS worked tirelessly to ensure that my champagne flute was never empty. There was also a casual and relaxed atmosphere onboard, with a rather informal approach to the service which is v much just how I like things as on Qantas flights. The crew members including the ISM were always rather forthcoming with convo. and had a great sense of fun. I've always believed that regardless of the strength of the hard product, catering, IFE etc - nothing influences my experience onboard more than the crew themselves. The service does make or break a flight, or in the case of top shelve airlines such as SQ - determines whether the flight remains merely good, or tips over to the realm of spectacular and memorable. All too often in J and whY the SQ service has on the whole been formal and business-like; I guess in F crew are just more experienced and thus comfortable with pax. The LSS did mention that A380 crew were picked on both experience and merit and so that could also have been a factor. I was shocked when the LSS told me that she's been with the airline for 20 years, her youthful looks clearly belie her age.
I was encouraged to snack throughout the flight and so I'd asked for the tuna mayo sandwich. Unfortunately the caterers had failed to load it. It wasn't that big a deal to me but the crew were exasperated at 2 catering-related incidents on a single flight and once again profuse apologies were offered - the LSS informed me that they were going to file a report. I had the beef option instead; the snack did well to tide me over between meals.
Shortly before landing a light meal was served. I'd read that it used to be a full meal before and can only wonder how people manage to fit 2 full meals in F AND even snack. A nice duck foie gras terrine was had as an appetiser, followed by the very delicious beef pastrami which was a lot bigger and tastier than the one i had for my snack and came with a bowl of tomato soup. Dessert was a wine jelly thingy which tasted a little bland but for the fruits it came with.
The LSS had excitedly urged me to check out the views of the city beneath us (i think we were flying over The Netherlands at that point) on the A side of the cabin. She'd also suggested that I sat there for the landing for nice views of London, though I didn't really see anything much apart from some water prior to landing - I later learnt from SQTalk that I was meant to have sat on the F side instead. Being an aisle seat person normally I was clearly none the wiser.
And soon enough my A380 experience had concluded as we made a prompt landing at LHR and docked at T3.
Overall a truly marvelous and memorable experience, with great service by a cheerful, approachable and attentive lot. The hard product is commendable and does lends its name to the "Beyond First" product that SQ boasts of, because otherwise the catering and wine list are the same as regular SQ F. The large screen does heighten the enjoyment of the IFE. Food was fairly average on the whole though but caviar is always a plus. And Absolut (and the alternative according to an FTer was Smirnoff Red) vodka does not belong in First, let alone a "Beyond First" service. I also wish SQ varies the champagne list a little for there are so many other great drops out there. Not that I'm complaining about Krug of course, but it wouldn't hurt to go beyond just the most popular labels.
But as I've said before and will say again - so much of the flight is about service. In my case I had great crew which made the flight a v enjoyable 14 hours, heightened by the fact that I was the only pax in R.
edited to add: Menu for this flight here.
Next: SK534 LHR-ARN C; Sheraton Stockholm; Stockholm: Land of pickled herring and overpriced booze
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Some remind me of cabins on a very smart train. 
