Room to stretch out
The Tai Tai a few rows behind me exclaimed: “Wah! So much storage space, I love this plane already!”
Mes sentiments exactement.
Singapore Airline is promoting its newest A380 business class as the largest sleeper (stretching 34″) in the world. One other thing they have going for them - it also holds the most personal storage space.
I was onboard the Singapore Airline A380 inaugural flight to Paris last month, and 12 hours before I landed in Gay Paree, I was already merrily unpacking my carry-on bag, 10,000 miles up in the sky.
The seats on the side are clearly the choiciest and offers the most privacy in that class. I won’t gush about the flatbed that has already been blogged to death, though I have to admit, was so comfortable I shamefully wished the flight was a little longer.
On the side of the seat are two elbow-height storage compartments that lightly spring open, each big enough to easily fit a briefcase, a laptop, several newspapers, documents and folders etc - all the essentials that affirm your businessman status. The leg room on the front comfortably stows away another carry-on bag. In front of me between the large TV screen are two smaller compartments, meant to house your reading glasses, contact lens case and solution, eye drops, lip balm (something I never do without on a long-haul flight), a small tube of hand cream, pill case, and whatever other essentials you would need to have on-hand during the flight. A decent sized mirror is also available in a hidden compartment for that final vanity check-in before the cabin aisle walk.
Other design touches i adore about the A380:
The good-ol’ top compartment has a nice design touch- a nifty mirror overhead ensures nothing gets left behind from a bag mistakenly left opened during the flight.
Those with a sensitive temperament to sudden light glare will appreciate this. The reading lights don’t rudely ‘blink’ on, but rather, fade off gently. According to the Airbus designer, studies have shown that gentle LED light-play simulating night and day minimizes jetlag. Not just considerate for travel-worn passengers, the LED light-play also enhances the passengers’ mood too. I love the reading light on the side headboard of the seat. It has two modes that switch from soft ambient glow to a focused reading light. As I tend to read more than watch movies on the plane, this was a feature I really appreciated.
I don’t know if they were Sennheiser, but I love their noise-cancelling headsets. I wore them at all times, even when I wasn’t watching the in-flight movie. It certainly worked wonders in cutting out 80% of the ambient plane noise, which was already relatively low compared to other plane models owing to better design and placement of engines.
If you have some serious cash to splurge (absolutely shameful to even consider talking about in such trying times), pick Business over the Suite Class. I strolled down Suite and felt somewhat claustrophobic. When the suite doors were all close, the cabin looked like a train carriage. And don’t think for a second that you’ll get complete privacy, a gap is left between the roof and the door which allows anyone walking down the stairs to peek into the suite. So don’t you honeymooners get any mile-high club ideas in there. Another blogger has already wagged his little disapproving finger at SIA’s puritanical stance of “we are Singaporean, no sex please” here. For half the price of a Suite Class, the Business Class is sufficiently comfortable and luxurious.
I am quite in love with the L’occitane The Vert (Green Tea) Eau de Toilette I found in the (bright and clean) Business Class washroom. I am now a fan of the scent.
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