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Pack your bags folks. Today, we’re going on one of the most coveted First Class products out there. It’s so luxurious that it’s not even called First Class.

Singapore Airlines Suites were introduced in 2008 exclusively on their flagship A380-800. Ever since then, people have been hoarding their points for a chance to fly this room in the sky. For years, Singapore Suites could only be booked by using KrisFlyer points at an astounding 1 million miles roundtrip!

At the end of 2012, Singapore released their Suites product to saver availability on KrisFlyer. By doing so, the price of a roundtrip went to 180,000 points. Although that is still a lot of points, I’m here to show and tell you why it’s worth every point.

Singapore Changi Airport

I landed from Malaysia in Singapore’s Changi International Airport Terminal 1 on AirAsia. After landing, I cleared immigration and got my bags from the carousel. Tip: If you fly AirAsia, they have strict carry on rules and will often make you check in a bag. If you check in a bag, you have to clear immigration in Singapore so for people who don’t have valid entry into Singapore watch out.

I was fine with exiting the terminal because I wanted to experience the First Class check-in. Singapore A380’s and most flights on intercontinental routes fly out of Terminal 3. I got to Terminal 3 and immediately realized that I made a huge mistake. It was midnight and my flight was at 9AM. The First Class counters were closed and now I was stuck with no boarding pass and no way to enter the departures hall or lounge. I quickly ran through the entire check-in area and found a staff counter open. They were more than happy to check me in!

I proceeded to the security checkpoint/immigration queue. After clearing immigration, the time read 1AM. I made my way to the KrisFlyer Lounge and was greeted by a very friendly lounge employee. She looked at my boarding pass and told me that I was welcome to use the First Class section of the lounge but that the Private Room wouldn’t be open till 5:30AM. I opted to sit around the First Class lounge for a little while and then started walking around the airport.

A deserted T3

Singapore Changi is by far the BEST airport in the world. The amount of things to do is truly amazing:

  • Butterfly Garden (T3)
  • Cactus Garden (T1)
  • Swimming Pool (T1)
  • Fish Spa (T1)
  • Koi Pond (T2)
  • Snooze Lounges (All Terminals)
  • Variety of Shops (All Terminals)
  • Free Movie Theaters (All Terminals)
  • Singapore’s largest slide (After Immigration T3)
  • Cascading Waterfalls (T3)
  • Free Internet Kiosks & Free Internet (All Terminals)
  • Brick Toast (Best Toast Ever! T3,T2)

The lounge situation is even better in Singapore as Priority Pass cardholders get access to the Cathay Pacific DNATA lounge in T1. They also get access to:

  • Ambassador Transit Lounge (T2, T3)
  • Rainforest Lounge (T1)
  • The Green Market (Gross, Don’t Go. T2)
  • The Skyview Lounge (Cathay Pacific T1)

I spent most of my time sampling the lounges and I think the best priority pass lounge is Skyview. They have the best food options and the most space.

It was now 6AM and I started to walk to the KrisFlyer Lounge in T3. I came up the escalator and was immediately greeted by another friendly lounge agent. After taking a look at my boarding pass, she said “May I escort you to the Private Room?” I followed her past what seemed to be 50-60 people in the First Class lounge. She took me through the automatic sliding double doors and into the confines of the Private Room.

The food selection in the Private Room is actually really diverse. They have everything from Eggs Benedict to Roti Prata’s. (Singaporean-Indian dish)

I was quite surprised to see how many people were in the Private Room. There were families with kids and a bunch of business men. The place looked like it had about 20 people. The waiter quickly came to my seating area to take my order. I looked at the menu but wasn’t too hungry so I decided to forego the meals. There were a lot of people, so I didn’t take a lot of pictures.

The Private Room

About 30 minutes before departure, I was approached by the ground staff who told me it was time to board. The security check in Singapore is done individually at each gate and so I advise you to go through security about 30 minutes before. Once through security, I made my way towards the placard labeled Suites.

Singapore Airlines SQ 12

Singapore-Los Angeles (Stop in Tokyo)

Airbus A380

Suites Cabin 1A,2c,2D

As I walked through the jetway, I couldn’t help but smile. Here I was, finally flying  in Suites. As I entered, I was greeted by the Leading Steward and Stewardess and then I saw this:

I was still drooling when I took my seat and the purser immediately came to me asking for a pre-departure drink. She already had champagne in her hand and I think she expected me to order that but I don’t drink, so I ordered an Iced Milo. If many of you don’t know, Iced Milo is the best thing to happen since…mankind. It’s Asia’s version of Yoohoo or Chocolate Milk but tastes 10 times better.

While boarding was underway for the rear of the cabin, I snapped up a few more pictures.

The purser came around and handed us our amenity kits, pajamas and slippers.

Givenchy Pajamas (pronounced jee-von-she)

Kiehls Amenity Kit

As boarding wrapped up and the doors closed, the captain came on air to tell us that the flight time to Tokyo would be 6 hours and 15 minutes. SQ 12 stops in Tokyo for fuel before continuing onto Los Angeles. My original plan was to stay awake on the flight from SIN-NRT and sleep NRT-LAX.

That didn’t work out as I fell asleep 3 hours into the SIN-NRT flight. I was originally seated in seat 1A but I changed mid-air into 2C so the flight attendant could make me a double bed. For those not familiar with Singapore Suites layout, the two middle seats can be turned into a double bed. This is usually reserved for couples but the flight was only 5/12 full in First, and the purser came to me and asked if I wanted a double bed made.

Before I slept, I had to take advantage of the meal service. I had pre-ordered my meal from the Singapore Airlines website and it had consisted of

Lunch: King Prawns with Rice

I apologize in advance as I didn’t take pictures of the menu.

The first course was a delicious chicken satay.

Chicken Satay

Then, bread and soup followed.

Bread.
Soup.

That was followed by Salad & Cold Noodles

Salad.
Cold Noodles

Then, there was the main course.

Main Course: King Prawns with Rice

After the main course, I was too full for dessert so I opted out till an hour before landing.

It was now time to sleep and my bed was soon made. To make things better, an Iced Milo and bottled water were placed on my bedside!

Although the suites become a double bed in the middle, there is a partition that doesn’t get covered up. It is extremely uncomfortable but I was able to use the Givenchy blankets to pad the partition.

It’s important to note that the seat doesn’t become a bed, but it flips over and a mattress pad is placed on it to make the bed. It is very comfortable and the supplied down comforters are the best I’ve ever used on a plane. 

The Suites offer private closing doors and window shades. The shades have an opening on the bottom and top, so you aren’t completely out of view. I was told from a source that they were made like this to make sure passengers don’t get too comfortable with their partner.

Window Open
Window Closed

I slept for a good 2 hours and was woken up by the purser for my dessert.

The Suite

We landed in Tokyo for a fuel stop and had to leave the plane while it was cleaned and checked by security. An hour later, we boarded the plane. I was so surprised to see that at my seat, there was an Iced Milo waiting in my cup holder. It seems as though the previous flight crew made a note to the new crew about my beverage choice. It’s small things like this that made the flight so memorable for me. The doors closed and we were at the gate for about an hour due to the fact that our plane had to be de-iced. I didn’t mind. I was hoping to get as much time on board.

After a long wait and taxi towards the runway, we took off towards Los Angeles. Dinner service started almost immediately and so I decided to watch a movie. The entertainment/media set on Singapore Airlines is the best in the world I’ve seen. There were a total of 246 movies and over 500 different shows to watch. The interface is very easy to use but doesn’t include the tailcam that is usually included in A380’s. I chose to watch Madea’s Witness Protection which was hilarious.

For dinner, I had pre-ordered Lobster Thermidor.

The first course was the same Chicken Satay as before. The second course was salad and after the salad, I decided to skip to my main course.

Lobster Thermidor

At this point, I was way too tired to do anything else so I requested that my bed be made. I went to the bathroom and took a few pictures there.

I came out of the bathroom to hang up my clothes on the side of my suite. Many people don’t notice it because it blends in, but every suite has it’s own closet.

My double bed was made again but now, the lighting made it look a whole lot better!

Window looking in
Double Bed
The Suite even has recessed lights!
Two TVs and Two Beds!

Despite trying to finish my essay that was due an hour after I landed, I fell asleep. I woke up about 3 hours out of L.A and started doing some work. As soon as I turned my light on to find my laptop, a steward came by and offered me a hot towel and something to drink. This is in contrast to the previous flights I took on Lufthansa where we had to call the steward over after we woke up. It’s not a big deal but again, it’s the small things that made this memorable.

Breakfast was served about an hour and a half out of Los Angeles. I previously ordered the Japanese light meal but changed my mind when I saw waffles on the menu.

Mixed Fruits
Waffle with Chocolate Covered Bananas

With 45 minutes left, I walked around the plane a little and snapped up some more pictures.

We landed and so came an end to the most amazing flight of my life. Singapore Suites is as good as it gets. For now, nothing is better. The service, attention to detail, food and hard product is what makes this airline one of the best. Be it Economy, Business, or Suites, Singapore Airlines will not disappoint. This was definitely worth all 91,375 points.

Previously: how to transfer Membership Rewards to KrisFlyer miles and how to book Singapore Airlines online.

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