Review of Singapore Airlines flight Bangkok Singapore in Business

Airline Singapore Airlines
Flight SQ983
Class Business
Seat 12K
Aircraft Boeing 787-10
Flight time 01:55
Take-off 04 Jul 19, 20:25
Arrival at 04 Jul 19, 23:20
SQ   #3 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 696 reviews
Rewardflying
Published on 16th September 2019

Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Call BKK-SIN



photo sq983-cover

This would be my third attempt to fly Singapore Airlines new 787-10. I had ticketed reservations last summer from Tokyo to Singapore and earlier this year from Singapore to Osaka. Both cancelled or changed. Spoiler alert: fantastic aircraft, unforced error by SQ for avgeeks who love the 787 windows.

Arriving on CX751 in Bangkok I exited immigration to get some fresh air as I had a decent layover. But most importantly now was the critical moment when my Swiss First Class redemption is validated. Would I get a boarding pass?

Yes!

Suvarnabhumi Airport is a bit of a mess when it comes to security so it took quite awhile to back inside. Since my last flight out of BKK on Singapore they have opened a new Krisflyer lounge. The prior one was very small. The new one is just small. And it was crowed today. 


photo sq983-lng-1photo sq983-lng-2

Yet it is a very functional lounge with a center bar where special drinks along with special coffees and teas are served. 


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There is also a common dining table along the back wall where the washrooms are located. 


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Of course I had to have a refreshing coconut water. 


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Plenty of food was available, this is just one photo. All in all, while still small, this is a nice lounge. Very comfortable seats with power plugs, good food and drink options along with the bar for sitting to eat or drink. 


photo sq983-lng-6

Before long it was time to board so I headed down to the gate. I was dark and raining so I had no opportunity to get a photo of the brand new 787-10. Boarding commenced shortly.


photo sq983-cabin-1photo sq983-cabin-2

My seat 12K. We will come back to this photo in a bit. Maybe you can figure out the “unforced error” I mentioned. 


photo sq983-cabin-3

The overall space of the pod is maybe a little below average. 


photo sq983-cabin-4

Aisle seats are exposed, at a minimum your arms and legs are susceptible to bumps from aisle movement. 


photo sq983-cabin-5

Center seats have a privacy divider but probably don’t need it because of the wrap around pod design.


photo sq983-cabin-12

Privacy is pretty good with this configuration. 


photo sq983-cabin-13

The footwell is good size and duals as a storage area that is also plenty big. 


photo sq983-cabin-6

More than enough room for your feet. Yet I didn’t recline the seat to a bed so I can’t say how well you might fit when trying to sleep. The most important take away is this is the only J class seat in Singapore’s fleet that you don’t sleep on an angle. 


photo sq983-cabin-7

Row 11, seats A and K have a bassinet table.


photo sq983-cabin-10

Although these seats have the appearance of having a narrower footwell. 


photo sq983-cabin-11

No air vents on this 787-10 aircraft.


photo sq983-cabin-21

Boeing standard lavatory with a nice feature of a step lever to open lid on the trash receptacle. 


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Smartly designed storage compartment complete with a supplied bottle of water. NFC ready along with 2 USB charging ports and standard power. 


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Seat controls. Initially mine didn’t work, they had to reset them. Teething pains on a new aircraft. 


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Seatguru has the seat width at 30 inches which is obviously a mistake. It’s more like 20-21 inches with the ability to add a couple more inches by lowering the armrest. 


photo sq983-seat-3photo sq983-seat-4

The wrap around part of the pod has light controls imbedded in the side, which to me defeats the purpose. Why have a padded wrap around which presumably is used to rest your head and then place a piece of metal in the center?


photo sq983-seat-5

The opposite side has a headphone hook. 


photo sq983-seat-7

While the monitor is small, it is crisp and frankly sized properly for the seat. Plus you can easily use touch to control. 


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Your tray slides out from below the monitor and folds out.


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On the back of the pod facing you is a coat hook and placard holder.


photo sq983-seat-11photo sq983-seat-12

Now to the unforced error as I call it. One of the nicest features on a 787 aircraft is viewing out the oversized windows which uniquely have a multiple dimming feature. Not on Singapore’s 787. ALL true window seats have the pod shell blocking your view. You can only lean forward and look out the window as shown below. From my experience you really can’t see much out of this window except for blue sky (or darkness). Also note, row 16 doesn’t have a window at all. For people who really want to gaze out the window, the aisle side seats have a better view. 


photo sq983-cabin-20

Service was extremely slow on this flight. Bangkok to Singapore is a 2 hour flight. On the climb out we encountered typical summer thunderstorms delaying the crew to begin service by 10-15 minutes. After that they were very slow. I think I was served my meal around a 75 to 90 minutes into the flight. In fact I was finished just about the time we began the decent into Singapore. 


photo sq983-menu-b1

The crew did not serve a pre-meal drink. I was able to get a glass of wine when the meal was served. There were plenty of crew to serve the 36 passengers in business class. My guess is they were unfamiliar with the galley as it could have been their first flight on the 787-10 as well. But Singapore has been flying this plane for almost a year. Whatever the reason, they were slow.  


photo sq983-menu-b2

Food. I did not Book the Cook. 


photo sq983-menu-f1

Small single tray meal with a coffee cup and coffee was never offered. And the “wide” selection of bread rolls and gourmet breads with equal portions of sauce and protein.


photo sq983-food-1

This so called “crepe” was more like a tortilla. 


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The rest of the meal was edible. 


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Except this dessert is one of the few failure desserts I’ve had on a plane. 


photo sq983-food-4photo sq983-flightpath

Visit rewardflying.com for similar flight comparative ratings. http://www.rewardflying.com/report-blog/2019/9/7/singapore-airlines-b787-10-business-class-bkk-sin

See more

Verdict

Singapore Airlines

5.6/10
Cabin7.5
Cabin crew5.0
Entertainment/wifi5.0
Meal/catering5.0

Bangkok - BKK

5.0/10
Efficiency5.0
Access5.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness5.0

Singapore - SIN

5.0/10
Efficiency5.0
Access5.0
Services5.0
Cleanliness5.0

Conclusion

Cabin: Singapore chose the new Stella Aerospace Solstys III seat for their regional Boeing 787-10 aircraft. The pod is (mostly) well thought out as it’s comfortable, private and has storage space. Those are the positives. The negative, as I’ve rambled on about, is the wrap around shell blocking the window. I also felt it was smaller than United’s Polaris seat in their 787-10.

Food: The food was average for a two hour Asian flight. And much better than you’d find on a two hour US domestic flight.

IFE: Nice touch screen monitor with decent content. You can use the SQ app to control the monitor if you download and connect on the aircraft, which I did not.

Aircraft: Boeing 787-10. This aircraft was Singapore’s 2nd to last delivery, about 6 weeks old. Gotta love new aircraft smell!

Information on the route Bangkok (BKK) Singapore (SIN)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 66 avis concernant 9 compagnies sur la ligne Bangkok (BKK) → Singapore (SIN).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est Singapore Airlines avec 8.7/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 2 heures et 17 minutes.

  More information

7 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 522403 by
    Arq 43 Comments
    Thank you for the review. I have flown this flight several times and I am delighted to see that, unlike my last flight, the menu is back to a full pamphlet style again. They gave everyone a single page menu last time and I am disappointed (no description of wine or drink at all).

    787 C class seemed very comfortable, I am looking for an opportunity to fly them one day, which I guess would not be too difficult as the fleet is growing.

    A bit of a surprise note, book the cook is not available from SQ's flight out of Bangkok, but you can order it from route SIN-BKK
    • Comment 522502 by
      Rewardflying AUTHOR 493 Comments
      Hi Arq. Thanks for leaving a note and for the BTC education. I didn't know BBK wasn't a BTC station (as PVG surprisingly isn't BTC as well). But I didn't BTC out of SIN on my next SQ flight to BOM which is coming up. I totally forgot about BTC on this trip.

      I think SQ has 49 of these 787-10's on order so you should be on this aircraft sometime soon. Happy Rewardflying.
  • Comment 522405 by
    ChrisB GOLD 3391 Comments
    Nice review on this B787-10, shame the seats are a bit ill disagned.
  • Comment 522730 by
    socalnow 976 Comments
    The reports are coming out fast and furious. Thank you for this installment. I've been curious about the 787-10.

    But most importantly now was the critical moment when my Swiss First Class redemption is validated. Would I get a boarding pass?

    -Hallelujah! It's happening!

    The wrap around part of the pod has light controls imbedded in the side, which to me defeats the purpose. Why have a padded wrap around which presumably is used to rest your head and then place a piece of metal in the center?

    -Right where your head would fall if leaning to one side.

    The most important take away is this is the only J class seat in Singapore’s fleet that you don’t sleep on an angle.

    -Yes those awkward, small, foot areas on the 777 and A350. This looks better in that regard.

    My seat 12K. We will come back to this photo in a bit. Maybe you can figure out the “unforced error” I mentioned.

    -They went and ANA'd the windows! No, it's not that bad but I see what you mean. It looks like a long lean to see out.

    No air vents on this 787-10 aircraft.

    -Sad face.

    Service was extremely slow on this flight. Bangkok to Singapore is a 2 hour flight. On the climb out we encountered typical summer thunderstorms delaying the crew to begin service by 10-15 minutes. After that they were very slow. I think I was served my meal around a 75 to 90 minutes into the flight. In fact I was finished just about the time we began the decent into Singapore.

    -That's an unfortunate but almost unavoidable situation. It's a large cabin and so little time. But in 4k you'd think you would be among the first to dine.

    The rest of the meal was edible.

    -The chicken looks pretty decent, Is that crispy skin? Impressive for a reheat.

    This aircraft was Singapore’s 2nd to last delivery, about 6 weeks old. Gotta love new aircraft smell!

    -Cool to get a new ship!

    Thanks again for sharing the trip. Even with the flaws I would still like to fly on board one some day.

    Thanks again and happy flying Mark. Are you going to make us wait for the main course(s)? ;)
    • Comment 522870 by
      Rewardflying AUTHOR 493 Comments
      Right where your head would fall if leaning to one side.

      -exactly, wonder if Turkish has the same feature?

      They went and ANA'd the windows! No, it's not that bad but I see what you mean. It looks like a long lean to see out.

      -pretty close. Blue sky is the best you’ll get.

      Is that crispy skin?

      -no,

      Main course hopefully before embarking on the first journey of BA a380 / EK NEW 777 x2 / JL 777 rtw adventure in a couple weeks!
    • Comment 522871 by
      Rewardflying AUTHOR 493 Comments
      And many thanks for your comments!

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