Flight: Singapore Airlines SQ 517 from Kolkata to Singapore
Aircraft: A333 (Airbus 330-300)
Class: Business
Seat: 12 H (Window), 12 K (Aisle)
Seat Specification: Angle Lie Flat, Seat pitch: 60.0 “. Seat width: 24.5 ”
Singapore Airlines operates Airbus 330 in this mid haul route between Kolkata and Singapore with flight duration of around 4 hours. There are 30 business class seats in 2 x 2 x 2 configuration.
As soon as we boarded the aircraft we were struck by the nice color scheme in the business class. The light brown leather contrasted well with the walls. The seats were wide and very comfortable.
We were offered water/juice/champagne for pre-departure drink and also hot towel. While I was taking pictures of the cabin, a stewardess approached us and volunteered to take our picture.
I noticed that below the armrest there was the Universal port as well as USB ports. Karen loves to use her Kindle and this ensured there was no worries about charging.
When the stewardess came to take orders for after takeoff drink, we selected the Singapore Sling. You should definitely try this drink at least once. Me and Karen have both fallen in love with it. Its very refreshing (especially if made with a little restraint on alcohol). The cabin crew came by after takeoff to give us amenity kits containing eye mask and a pair of slippers.
For dinner main course I chose Lamb with mint jus and Karen chose chicken with rice and lentils.
For appetizer there was potato salad and salmon. Both were tasty (as much as they can be I guess). The walnut over the potato salad was a nice touch.
The lamb was a bit greasy but quite tasty. The mint went really well with the lamb.
Karen: The chicken was a bit bland and not that tasty at all. The lentils were standard fare. The Naan was incredibly hard and almost inedible.
For dessert they only offered fresh fruit and no cheese plate !! It was crisp and tasty though.
After dinner, I realized there was only 2 hours left for the flight and wanted to put the angle flat seat to the test. The seat is wide enough and even though it angled down at the bottom end, it wasn’t too inconvenient. I would put the Thai Airways Angle Flat seats in ICN – BKK flight above this just for the reason that with that seat you feel even less discomfort with the incline.
While the seat is wide enough and comfortable, the same cannot be said regarding the blankets they give on the flight. The material is awfully coarse and itchy and very uncomfortable. We did like the feather pillows though.
Before I knew it, the cabin crew turned on the lights to prepare for arrival at Singapore. We were offered hot towels again and the stewardess asked if I wanted another drink !! 🙂
Everyone talks about the famous Singapore Airlines onboard service. I do like their service but considering all the four flights I flew Business class in Singapore Airlines, I would put them behind Asiana Airlines service. The crew did everything right and were very efficient and courteous but it still felt very routine and mechanical. With Asiana on the other hand it felt like the crew was really enjoying it and made the passengers feel really welcome.
Bottomline:
Seat: ****
Service: ****
Food: ***1/2
The seats were wide and quite comfortable. While laying on them, you get a better sleep on the side rather than on your back. They really need to change their blankets. ugggggh !!
The food was decent although I wouldn’t call it spectacular.
The service was pretty good but I have come to think that the legendary Singapore Airlines service is overrated. It felt too routine and mechanical to me.
Karen: MPT is a snob!! I had no issues with the service.