Head to Head: Singapore Airlines Suites vs Emirates Airways First

[Alanslegal]

(And to make it a three way battle, we'll add Thai Airways Royal First to this contest).

Whichever way you look at this, Singapore Airlines A380 Suites has been arguably the benchmark for First Class air travel for best part of the last decade – starring the only luxurious double bed flying in the skies and then being pampered by the flawless Singapore Girl service, this is the ultimate way of flying.

Chasing hot on its Singapore Airlines’ ‘Silver Kris’ tail though, is Emirates Airlines. The largest airline in the world, the biggest operator of the Airbus A380 plane type and the first airline to offer First Class passengers the ability to ‘take a shower at 40,000 feet’ – now this is pure indulgence.

We were very fortunate enough to fly around the world a few weeks ago – enjoying these two airlines, compare them head to head – and then come to an opinion, as to which airline is the best. And just for kicks, we have thrown in an ‘underdog’, Thai Airways, into the mix, just to compare and contrast, and see how it competes ‘up front’.

Yes, you might say, there is the brand new Etihad Airways A380 – their divine The Apartment and pure indulgent The Residence – and their desire to offer something much better than anything its competitors have ever offered up to now. On paper Etihad Airways A380 should trump these three airlines but we won’t come to that conclusion until the day, hopefully not too long from now, when we get our opportunity to experience that plane – and come back here to report.

Until then, my question is can Singapore Airlines keep its crown and remain the best of the best, can Emirates Airlines step up and come away with the jewels or will Thai Airways show that its Royal Orchard service can be a winner. So let's go.

 

[snabbu]

sounds juicy! subscribed.

 

[Alanslegal]

As a background to this trip – we were eloping to Las Vegas!!! And what a better excuse it is than to fly up front and fly the long way around!! But a bigger reason is ‘once you step onto a plane and walk left, it’s hard, very hard, to go the other way’. You see, this forum has corrupted me!! Flying up front – proper long haul First class that is – was only a dream not so long ago, even turning right when entering a plane and seeing Business Class was like thinking “oh, I wish I was there” or “these guys are so lucky” whilst needing to walk a further 30 rows before getting to my seat – that cramped Economy Class seat. But nowadays, long haul Business Class is just so ordinary – sure it’s nice & comfortable – but being right at the front, that’s where it’s meant to be, and that’s why I am corrupted (and spoilt) – all thanks to you guys.

My elopement around the world involves the following, and I will be reviewing the nice First Class flights only (unless you want to hear about domestic USA flights with South West Airlines Economy Class) – (I mean, who reviews Economy Class flights? Just kidding, *hands up* as I admit that I have done so in the past – and kudos to anyone who writes up a review on any topic).

My routing, aircraft and carrier & class:-

Singapore – Singapore | A388 | SQ Suites Class
Singapore – Tokyo | B77W | SQ First Class
Tokyo – Los Angeles | A388 | SQ Suites Class
Los Angeles – San Francisco
San Francisco – Las Vegas
Las Vegas – New Orleans
New Orleans – New York
New York – Dubai | A388 | EK First Class
Dubai – Bangkok | A388 | EK First Class
Bangkok – Sydney | B744 | TG First Class

 

[robd]

Interested in your review - subscribing.

 

[aaronjames000]

Sounds like an awesome trip!

 

[kpc]

So you are off the market now, Alan ? Congratulations!

 

[serfty]

Singapore - Singapore?

I presume you meant Sydney somewhere.

 

[LadyC]

Congrats on the elopement! Looking forward to your reviews of the Battle Royale

 

[mmchow]

I was lucky enough to fly a few of EK F and looking forward to SQ soon. Awaiting patiently for your reports. Also if you can share some of your insight of Las Vegas and New Orleans as I will visiting in a couple of months time.

Thanks and looking forward to this!

 

[Alanslegal]

Sydney – Singapore | A388 | Singapore Airlines Suites

Thank goodness for Kris Flyer points. For around 117,000 of them plus $750 or so in taxes per person, we were able to book our flights; Sydney – Singapore – Tokyo – Los Angeles, including a paid stopover in Tokyo. We had booked 10 months out so availability was quite good at that stage – I don’t know how the current American Express Velocity Platinum promotion would affect availability now though – but everyone needs to fly Suites once in their life, right?

We had booked via the call centre, this was the only way given we were on Saver Awards requiring a stopover. The booking process was fast and efficient, we locked in those important couple/side by side/double seats of 3C and 3D, but left our meal option for another day – with over 50 meal choices ex-Sydney we needed to examine what was on offer before committing.

Fast forward to the day of travel and it was pure bliss walking up to the Suites line and seeing nobody there – this was going to be the start of a very seamless journey to Tokyo. Flying up front isn’t just about the enormous space on board – but it’s the entire process from the moment you book through to the disembarkation at your destination. From a no waiting check-in, express queues through Immigration, lounge access, priority boarding, flat seat and so on.

The Singapore Airlines First Class Lounge in Sydney was recently refurbished and I am impressed. The warm lounge attendants escorting me into the private lounge, the tranquil ambience, the stylish modern décor – it all fits in so well. Complimentary food and beverages are either from the self-serve buffet or ordered off an a la carte menu. The mandatory ‘chicken satay’ is ordered, along with pan seared barramundi, and a serving of duck pancake.

 

[TomVexille]

Congratulations! Sounds like a great trip and looking forward to following along

BTW EK isn't the largest airline in the world

 

[cleaver]

Have a TG F SYD-BKK in December then a short trip in Suites SIN-DEL July next year so you will give me something to look forward to!!!

 

[Nizar]

Subscribed and following with interest

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Will follow with excitement

 

[Flying mermaid]

Planning to try Singapore Suites next year so very interested in this. Have a good trip and congrats.

 

[Alanslegal]

A lounge attendant comes to find us when it is ready for boarding. I could really spend more time here though but then again, we need to go and our Suites await us – our very first time too so we are doubly excited. Fast tracked at the gate and we are warmly welcome on-board by the awaiting crew – by name too, that’s Singapore Airlines smooth.

We are taken to our Suites and are offered a quick demonstration on the seat and entertainment functions – whilst that happens, another purser serves Dom Perignon 2005. The head purser then comes by and introduces herself – she notices that my man-bag is on the floor and brings a Singapore Airlines cloth bag to protect it, definitely a nice little touch. The in-flight services manager comes by and lets us know the up to date flight details including that the flight will be quicker than schedule – I guess that is a negative as when you fly up front as you want to savour every minute. Everyone moves like clockwork on this plane – warm welcome by multiple crew, champagne upon boarding, champagne served post take off, crew moves elegantly and seems to be relaxed, and what is most noticeable – every crew seems to be happy.

I usually take photos of anything and everything – it’s being an Asian-thing – but missed taking photos of the menu so I will have to take an educated guess to the meals we were offered. So fast forward to lunch – which can be served anytime you want – which we accepted as soon as possible given our 11:15am departure and it would be after midday when the meals would be fully prepared anyway.

Typical meal service: include Caviar, Soup, Salad, then our Book The Cook “Indian Lamb Shank”, Cheese & Fruit, Dessert, Coffee/Tea. It was lot of contemplating which main meal to book but in the end The Indian Lamb Shank did not disappoint - the meat fell off the bone, lots of spices, and thanks to the curry, made the dish nice and moist. Service was top notch – plates and cutlery removed quietly and replaced discreetly, linen squared up after each course. These are some of the little things that make the service flawless.




The Singapore Airlines Double Beds; this is what we have been looking forward to for a very long time!! We have flown several other First Class cabins previously (Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Korean, Asiana, Thai) but none ever came close to matching the size and privacy of these Suites. Our beds were prepared as we went to change into the complimentary pyjamas. Yep, that is me – with the square black head – and pointing to the sky, thinking up-up and away.




Everything was perfect on this flight. Top crew, flawless service, drinks were always topped up, very good food, and the double beds – they were better than I expected. It was a proper bed (not like a seat converted to a lay flat position), totally flat, the pillow-top was super comfortable and when the doors were closed, our enclosed space made it feel like we weren’t even on a plane!

We landed earlier than scheduled, it was a 7 hour transit - but enough time for me to go into the City to meet my sister and her family for dinner - and enjoy my birthday cake. You see, it was my birthday too so another reason to celebrate. Next up, more Singapore Airlines.

 

[Alanslegal]

Singapore – Tokyo | B77W | Singapore Airlines First Class

A quick catch up with my sister – the obligatory Chilli Crab and Pepper Crab – and it was back at Changi Airport and the First Class drop off area. With boarding passes at the ready we are shown the exclusive immigration queue and straight to Singapore Airlines’ The Private Room, arriving within a matter of minutes.

I have previously visited The Private Room several years ago and my trip report here, it’s a bit dated but the photos is still pretty similar to what is being offered today:-

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/community/trip-reports-and-trip-photos/singapore-airlines-the-private-room-19580.html

It was an 11:55pm departure, 6 hr 35 minute flight time, before landing into Narita. I had only one thing planned and that was to sleep. Friendly crew, offering to turn down my bed once we are airborne. Pyjamas and amenity bags are offered on this short flight, as expected though.

Sometime when I was asleep – the crew realised it was my birthday and prepared a small card and a little teddy bear, and when I awoke I saw it waiting for me. It was signed by the entire crew including the flight deck. Top marks.

 

[Alanslegal]

Tokyo – Los Angeles | A388 | Singapore Airlines Suites

A quick five day visit in Tokyo and we were back for the final leg of my Singapore Airlines adventure, this time to Los Angeles. The whole check-in experience is fast with no one else before us, expedited immigration and security and straight to the ANA First Class Lounge which was directed by the check-in agent. A modern lounge, comfortable, with 180 degree viewing windows of the airport. A small but good selection of food from the buffet, plus some dishes which can be ordered from a menu. We used the bathroom facilities to freshen up and are offered Shiseido bath products.




Boarding is on time, and we have a scheduled 10h 10minute flight eastwards. Suites 3C and 3D are again, the star of our journey. We are warmly welcomed on board again with no less than three crew member introduces themselves, and the journey time – 9hr 25 minutes – which again is a little bit too short for my liking.

Champagne is offered, post take off drinks are ordered and away we go. It’s a dinner and breakfast service on this flight, a 7:15pm departure and 1:30pm arrival however like all top tier premium airlines, food can be ordered anytime.

My meal consisted of: - their famous chicken satay sticks for entrée, smoked duck for appetizers, cauliflower creamed soup with scallop, Book The Cook: Lobster, green tea ice cream and mocha for dessert and fruit. Everything was tasty and presented well, including the lobster. I have eaten about a dozen lobster meals on planes now and unfortunately will rank this as number 2 on my list. The benchmark lobster meal we had was, surprisingly, on a Thai Airways ex-Frankfurt.




Book The Cook: Kyo Kaiseki meal. Iff you love Japanese meals, then this is definitely your choice. It is said that a Michelin starred chef made up this dish – and the crew was able to describe each of the items presented.




After meal service, a quick movie, around five hours of sleep and then it’s time for a light breakfast before landing. I wished that this flight was another two hours longer, in that way we could have had a proper seven hours or so of rest and the trip would have been perfect. The crew on this flight and like the two before this was exemplary and perfectionist. They were warm and friendly, professional and willing to help. They all had an eye for detail and was always around to ensure that nothing was short of excellent. The level of consistency across all the flights was again excellent. I shouldn’t be surprised that they managed to get everything so right, they will indeed be very difficult to beat.

Next up: Emirates Airways A380

 

[hummel]

Really enjoying the TR alanslegal, keep it up!

 

[Bindibuys]

Subscribed. I have flown SQ suites, but booking my QF & EK F in the next few weeks, so looking forward to your comparisons.