While Singapore is gradually introducing their A350 into the fleet, the backbone of their longhaul fleet currently consists of the A380 and the 777-300ER. I had the chance to fly both planes in premium economy recently, and most of Singapore’s “premium” routes allow a choice between these two planes (e.g. London, where some flights are operated by the A380 and others are operated by the 777-300ER). I’d say if you were flying in first, business or economy class, the choice is pretty clear cut.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Hong Kong Airport
Feb 03, 2021 The Boeing 777-9 won’t be joining the Singapore Airlines fleet until 2024 at the earliest. (Photo: Boeing) New cabin products. In March 2018, as Singapore Airlines was taking delivery of its first Boeing 787-10, CEO Goh Choon Phong revealed that the carrier was developing a brand new First Class and Business Class cabin product for the Boeing. Singapore Airlines passenger fleet consists of wide-body aircraft from five aircraft families: the Airbus A330, Airbus A350 XWB, Airbus A380, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The airline also operates Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft. Overview The Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is operated on medium to long-haul routes. This 777-300ER features a four class configuration with 4 First Class suites, 48 Business Class flat bed seats, 28 Premium Economy seats, and 184 standard Economy Class seats.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Hong Kong Airport
BUSINESS CLASS CABIN. Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777 aircraft come in different layouts. On its oldest model, the Boeing 777-200ER, there are 26 flat beds in Business Class and 245 standard seats in Economy Class.
If you were flying in first class, you would probably want to choose the A380, which features a fully enclosed suite that has been consistently hyped for the past ten years (while there probably are better products out there at this point, I agree that their suites are impressive, particularly those which convert into a double bed).
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Suites Class
Meanwhile, if you were flying in business or economy class, you probably would want to sit on the 777-300ER. The 777-300ER features an updated business and economy cabin, while the A380’s business and economy cabins are starting to become dated.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Business Class
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Economy Class
This leaves one cabin – premium economy. A number of Singapore’s 777-300ERs feature premium economy, as do most (all?) of their A380s. The difference certainly isn’t as big, as you’d get the same seat either way, which is pretty industry leading, in my opinion. While the padding isn’t great, the seat reclines pretty far back, has a legrest and footrest at every seat (most airlines only feature a legrest in the first row), and they’re practical, with quite a few storage options and two power ports.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Premium Economy
I’ve reviewed both flights that I’ve taken between Hong Kong and Singapore on Singapore’s premium economy, which you can find here:
However, I thought I’d dedicate a post comparing between the two products, so those flying premium economy on Singapore would be able to choose between the 777 and the A380. Singapore Airlines’ 777s and A380s feature the same seat (which is comfortable, though I’d wish the padding was slightly better), so I’m basing the comparison around some other factors that I found interesting.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy
So, what differentiates the cabin products between Singapore’s A380 and 777-300ER economy class, and most importantly, which one would I choose on a longhaul flight?
Cabin Size
Singapore’s A380 lower deck is marginally wider than the 777’s lower deck, which fits one more seat abreast down in economy class. This means that the A380 cabin is ever so slightly more spacious than the cabin on the 777.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Premium Economy Cabin
However, the 777 only features four rows of premium economy, while the A380 features five. Personally I found the 777 premium economy cabin to be slightly confined, actually, and the A380 much more spacious. I can’t exactly explain that, but I guess it has to do with the 777 premium economy cabin being sandwiched squarely between business and economy class, while there’s a certain amount of space between premium economy and first class on the A380. So while the 777 cabin feels private, it does feel cramped at the same time.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Cabin
Overall, even as someone who values privacy, I’d take the A380 cabin over the 777 cabin purely in terms of size alone. It feels less cramped, and it’s slightly wider.
Sleeping Comfort
While the seats are identical, it’s worth noting that the A380’s window seats feature space between the seat and the window, due to the curvature of the cabin. That’s terrific if you want to store pillows and unused blankets in the space by the window, as it’s big enough, though people usually pay for premium economy to get slightly better sleep quality as it’s less cramped. With the A380, you can’t prop your pillow against the wall and sleep, while you can do that on the 777. That’s value for the window seats, in my opinion.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Premium Economy Cabin
While it ultimately doesn’t matter if you’re not in a window seat, I think the 777 edges the A380 out in seat comfort for that reason alone. The A380 is slightly wider on the lower deck, though, which should translate to wider seats – I didn’t notice a big difference in that regard, though, apart from the cabin seeming more spacious.
Service Pace
The A380 is a huge plane, with over 400 passengers in economy class. That’s impressive up until the point where you have to wait for an hour on a four hour flight to get your tray cleared. On the 777, you’ll still have to wait for 45-50 minutes on a full flight (if you don’t book the Cook you’ll be waiting around 10-15 minutes less), which I don’t believe is acceptable. Nonetheless, the 777 features less waiting time in terms of service pace alone. I haven’t been on a longhaul flight so I can’t judge, but they seem to do things similarly on both aircraft on shorthaul flights.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Economy Class
So yeah, you’ll have to wait less for your tray to be cleared on the 777.
Entertainment
Singapore’s KrisWorld entertainment system is one of the best out there. I think that the A380 probably has the best entertainment system that I’ve ever used, based on the range of entertainment that it provides.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 KrisWorld Entertainment System
However, I do think that they botched the entertainment system completely on the 777, as it’s much harder to navigate. While Singapore tried to make the 777 entertainment system better so it could compete with Cathay Pacific and Emirates’ new systems, instead they fell behind. Ultimately there’s still a wide range of entertainment, it’s just the navigation that has been appallingly altered.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER KrisWorld Entertainment System
The one redeeming quality of the new entertainment system is that I prefer its inflight map, which features more extensive viewing options. However, if you’re not an airline nut that likes to watch the inflight map from takeoff until landing (hell, even I’m not one of those people), you probably wouldn’t appreciate the downfalls that the system has.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER KrisWorld Inflight Map
While the 777 was an attempt to improve the great first generation KrisWorld entertainment system, due to the lack of navigation options, I’d avoid the 777’s entertainment system, and would pick the A380 in that regard.
Exit Row/Bulkhead Seating
Singapore requires a payment for their exit/bulkhead rows, and I think that the legroom they provide is sufficient, so I personally wouldn’t spring for them. Singapore’s A380 features a window at their bulkhead row seat, though not a lot of extra legroom. I don’t have a picture of the bulkhead row, but from the below photo you can get a general impression of what it’s like.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Premium Economy Cabin
I probably wouldn’t spring for a bulkhead even if it was free, as most of the other rows feature two windows.
Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Premium Economy Windows
Meanwhile, on the 777, there’s a ton of extra space at the exit row, though there aren’t any windows. As an aviation nut, I’d probably avoid the exit row despite its extra legroom, even if assigning an exit row seat was free.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy Seats 31H and 31K
Obviously all this is a moot point if you’re not seated by the window, but the window seats are easy to snag if you book early.
Objectively speaking, I’d say that people would choose the 777’s exit row seats for their extra space, where there’s no reason to pay extra for Singapores’ A380 premium economy seats, as the extra space is marginal and they’re still missing a window. So I’d give the 777 the win, even though I wouldn’t pick their bulkhead seats either.
Bottom Line
I’d say that both cabins are pretty even in this regard, so I’d say the following:
- If you wanted to stay up and work in a wider, more spacious cabin and be able to quickly navigate around entertainment, I’d suggest booking the A380
- If you wanted to prop your head up against a wall and sleep, or wanted an exit row and didn’t mind losing the window view, I’d suggest booking the 777
However, I can’t recommend the product enough, and do think it’s one of the better premium economy products out there. I’m eager to try more premium economy products so I’ll be able to weigh Singapore’s premium economy against the other big products out there, though you’ll have a good flight either way – at least if your USB port and your PTV remote aren’t broken and your PTV isn’t glitchy. 😉
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy USB Port
Do you have a preference of aircraft when flying premium economy on Singapore? How does their A350 premium economy weigh up against the rest?
This Singapore Airlines First Class 777-300ER Review is based on our Singapore First Class flight from Moscow DME to Houston IAH, a route that is being changed to Manchester, UK to Houston. This is Singapore's old 777-300ER with 8 first class seats.
Visiting Russia? See all of our posts tagged Russia.
Prior posts include:
Singapore Airlines 777-300ER First Class Cabin and Seat Selection
The Singapore Airlines First Class cabin on the 777-300ER has 8 seats, four in two rows in a 1-2-1 configuration in each row. While the couple’s seats are in the center, if one of you wants a window, as my son did, you can sit in window seats one behind the other.
Singapore Airlines 777-300ER First Class Seat Map, Courtesy SeatGuru
The nice thing is that often Sinapore Airlines' older 777 first class cabins are not full, so if anything, there's a more private feel to them than to Singapore Suites on the A380, where most of the seats can be full. And there are two lavatories for the 8 seats, so it's almost as good as Cathay Pacific First Class, with almost never a wait to use a lavatory.
The Singapore First Class Bathrooms on the 777 are standard size, so don't expect the large shower suite you find in Emirates First Class, or even the roomy bathroom on Thai Airways A380. But at least on our flights, they are kept impeccably clean, and with two bathrooms for at most 8 passengers, you're unlikely to have to wait or wait long for one. I also liked that there were fresh orchids, adding a touch of elegance.
Singapore Airlines 777-300ER First Class Seat
Singapore's old 777-300ER old first class seats are looking a bit worn these days, but they're still a roomy 35 inches in width, and of course recline to fully flat. These are open suites, no closing doors, but due to the fewer seats than in Singapore Suites and less likelihood of a packed cabin, it can actually feel nearly as private as Singapore Suites.
Since even (or especially) the most elaborate high-tech interfaces can encounter glitches, I'm happy to have manual seat controls in the armrest, along with a light control and the KrisWorld IFE remote.
Singapore First Class Pajamas and Amenity Kit
Singapore pajamas are grey and nothing much to look at, but are soft and comfortable. For some reason the legs of the pajamas (at least the women's pajamas) always run a bit on the short side.
There are also matching grey slippers:
The current women's amenity kit is Salvatore Ferragamo's Signorina Eleganza. While it looks great, and I'm certainly a fan of the Ferragamo family's luxury hotels, the Portrait Roma and Portrait Firenze, as a non perfume wearer I don't find this kit nearly as useful as the Kiehl's amenity kit Singapore First Class once used to offer.
Singapore First Class Menu and Food
Our flight departed in the morning Moscow time, and we were offered a pre-flight drink, for which I chose water and my son chose orange juice:
Menus were already at our seats, and the variety of choices helped compensate for the fact that Book the Cook is not available from Moscow (perhaps it will ultimately be available from Manchester, although it currently isn't).
We were offered a cool towel before starters and drinks were offered:
A source of pride for Singapore Airlines is that First and Suites passengers are offered a choice of either Dom Perignon or Krug (usually first class offers at most one of these brands, or another champagne entirely). I'm definitely not a champagne connoisseur, but it did go extremely well with the chicken and beef satay with peanut sauce that is a signature nibble in Singapore First Class and Singapore Suites. And don't worry, the bottle is there just for the photo; I had a single glass.
My son didn't want the satay, so the crew were kind enough to give him a fruit plate to nibble on instead:
My son enjoyed his cured salmon appetizer, even though he left the beets for me to eat.
Singapore. Airlines. 777. Toy
I tried the Antipasto Platter, and really enjoyed the foie gras terrine and shrimp that it came with:
I was going to skip the soup, but I love pumpkin soup, and was glad I tried Singapore Airlines' version, enriched with mussels and creme fraiche. This plus an appetizer would have made an excellent light meal if you didn't feel up for any of the main courses.
For my main, the lamb was tasty, but a bit chewy. It can be difficult to get the texture of meat or fish right when reheating it on flights, and generally stews or braised dishes work much better.
My son tried the pan seared salmon fillet with tomato caper sauce and fettucine, and had already eaten some before I managed to get over and take this photo, so keep in mind the presentation was nicer than it appears. As usual on flights, I found the fish slightly overcooked, but at least salmon tolerates this a bit better than some other fish.
Singapore Airlines 777 First-class
For dessert, I tried the Chocolate Delice, with caramel truffle chocolate mousse. It was a very good dessert–better than more than half the first class desserts I've tried, but not among the very best.
My son had the Pear Almond Tart, which, after sneaking a tax bite, I actually liked a bit better:
I got some sleep (more on that below), did some work, and a couple hours before landing in Houston, had a light meal. The highlight was the soup, a fantastic creamy tomato soup with cauliflower custard and masala spiced prawn. It was my favorite dish of the flight, or at least of the changing menu items, since I do really like the satay with peanut sauce that is on every flight.
For the main I didn't want any more meat, nor do I like chicken congee, the other two choices, so that left the Baked Cheese Herb Crusted Salmon Fillet. I still think it was best given what I felt in the mood for, but it was quite lackluster, and of course overcooked.
More and more I prefer fruit desserts, so I actually liked the Warm Cherry Streusel Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream better than the Chocolate Delice I'd sampled earlier.
Singapore Airlines 777-300ER First Class Bed and Sleep Quality
One thing I definitely miss in Singapore Airlines old First Class on the 777 is that, unlike in Singapore Suites, there's no memory foam-like mattress pad, and the seat simply reclines into a bed. In Singapore Suites, the bed is designed to be a bed, so it's not the same seat surface. The minus of that approach is that it does require cabin crew to make your seat into a bed.
Even with Singapore Airlines First Class on the 777, it's best if you allow the crew to do turn down service, since there is a mattress pad and duvet, it's just that the mattress pad is a relatively thin mattress pad, similar to what you'll find in most airline first class products. It's not a differentiating factor, the way it is for Singapore Suites and JAL First Class / JAL Business Class.
Because of this, I called into Singapore Airlines to see if it might be possible to carry one or two of the Singapore Suites mattress pads on our flight, but as I expected, it wasn't possible. Instead though, the cabin crew graciously agreed to give us each two mattress pads, since there were extra ones from the other empty seats. That definitely helped make it more comfortable, although of course not Singapore Suites comfortable. Thanks to the two mattress pads and a sleep aid, I slept about 4-5 hours, which is good for me on a flight.
In Flight Entertainment
Bose noise cancelling headphones are provided:
Singapore Airlines' IFE system, KrisWorld, is so good that I keep the KrisWorld guide for movie ideas for my husband and me. I love that it unearths many foreign films that I'd otherwise not know about, as well as carrying films that have been on my list to see. In the former category was Bolshoi Babylon, a documentary about the crisis affecting the Bolshoi Ballet after its director, Sergei Filin, had acid thrown in his face. I found it enthralling, and it was a good chance to hear Russian again on our way back from 3 weeks in the country.
Singapore Airlines 777
In the latter category, of films I'd been meaning to see, was Michael Moore's “Where to Invade Next.” Enjoyable to watch Moore's film making, although of course the subject matter is hardly complimentary to the current state of affairs in the U.S., tackling everything from the U.S. for profit prison system to school lunches to women (or lack thereof) on company boards, to paid vacation days.
Our Award
We redeemed 57,375 KrisFlyer miles per person for our Singapore First Class award from Moscow to Houston, which you can easily earn most of with the 100K Chase Sapphire Reserveoffer, especially if you put the $4000 minimum spend towards travel or dining, which earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points per dollar. Ultimate Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Singapore KrisFlyer miles. The new Manchester-Houston flight also costs the same per person for first class awards.
The Verdict
Singapore Airlines in the process of retrofitting its 777-300ER fleet, but there are still flights such as the Moscow-Houston route (changing to Manchester-Houston 10/30/16) on the old aircraft. While it certainly lacks the wow factor of the A380 Singapore Suites, it's still a very comfortable first class product, particularly if the cabin isn't full and you can snag an extra mattress pad for the bed.
The strongest points of Singapore Airlines are the consistently great service (Singapore Airlines trains its cabin crews longer and more rigorously than most other airlines), nice wide seats, excellent KrisWorld entertainment system, champagne (Dom or Krug) and usually, the appetizers. Weaker aspects are the main courses, especially on flights that don't offer Book the Cook meal pre-ordering and the ground service, since there's no chauffeur service offered anywhere, and the Singapore Private Room in Singapore does not offer sleeping rooms or any spa or massage service.
If you've flown Singapore First Class on the 777-300ER recently, what was your experience?
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