After years of traveling, it is surprising to realize that we have never flown with Singapore Airlines. Working in the travel industry, I have always received excellent feedback about this airline, and it has managed to maintain a position of respect and renown in this field. I enjoy sharing our travel experiences, so here is a comprehensive review of Singapore Airlines economy class.
Choice of Airline
When searching for flights for our trip to Europe, our choice was based on the best price and efficiency to reach our destination. With limited time in Europe, we wanted to maximize our time on the ground and minimize travel time. Singapore Airlines won out in terms of price and efficiency to get us to our destination.
Going into a situation with high expectations is always difficult. Even our driver on the way to the airport kept singing the praises of Singapore Airlines, stating that she had never heard bad feedback about them. This made it hard not to expect excellence.
Check-in and Boarding
Check-in was seamless, as was boarding, and our flight was on time. We had booked seats with extra legroom, costing about $150 more per person per sector. For example, from Sydney to Singapore, it cost $150 per person for more legroom, and from Singapore to Paris, from Rome to Singapore, etc. It was an additional expense on an already expensive ticket, but Singapore Airlines offered us the best value for money on our tickets. My husband thought we could do without it for shorter flights, but I was determined to arrive in Europe in great shape, and for the return, we knew we would be very busy as soon as we arrived. So we paid for the extra space, and I think it was money well spent.
Seat Comfort
Our seats were in the exit row for most of our flights, which is not available for people traveling with a disability, as you are expected to be able to help in an emergency if needed. I’m not sure that everyone sitting in those seats could or would help, but maybe I’m cynical.
There are, however, seats with extra legroom that are not classified as exit rows. On our flight from Singapore to Paris, we had seats not classified as exit rows that offered nice space to stretch our legs.
Onboard Service and Entertainment
On the return flight to Australia, my husband and Amelia booked the row behind the exit row, which offers a seat with extra legroom, next to the window. This is convenient if a family member particularly needs space. For example, if we were traveling with Braeden, we would place him in that seat, and the rest of us could make do with standard seats.
The toilets located near our seats were not a problem. Singapore Airlines crew members are the most attentive I have seen in terms of hygiene. The toilets were cleaned regularly and impeccably. On A380 flights, there was a large accessible bathroom for people with disabilities.
The entertainment options were satisfactory, but not exceptional. I found a wider selection when flying with Delta Airlines to the United States last year. I got back into “Grey’s Anatomy” after a long break.
Food and Meals
The food on the outbound flights from Sydney to Singapore and from Singapore to Rome was good, but I did not like the options on the return. The meals were too salty and swimming in soy sauce. I like soy sauce, but in measured amounts. Amelia, who was returning a few weeks after us, ordered vegetarian meals and found them good. In hindsight, I would order vegetarian meals in the future if I flew with Singapore Airlines.
On flights from Australia to Europe, we received a delicious Connoisseur ice cream as a snack. I may have slept through the snacks on the return, as I didn’t see them go by. Other passengers asked for snacks during the night, and they received savory snacks like Doritos and chips.
Assistance for People with Reduced Mobility
Although Braeden did not travel with us, I observed how passengers requiring mobility assistance were helped. As usual, disabled passengers boarded first and had to leave the aircraft last. If you are considering traveling with Singapore Airlines, I recommend consulting their disability assistance page.
It was nice to see Auslan (Australian Sign Language) in the onboard safety video. After learning a lot about Auslan with Amelia, I agree with her that the person using Auslan in the video should wear black, or there should be a dark background for more clarity.
Conclusion
The flight attendants were polite and accommodating. Singapore Airlines economy class was good, but did not quite meet my high expectations. The food on the return was disappointing, but perhaps I had heard too many positive comments. The extra legroom was definitely worth the money spent, and I would book those seats again for a long-haul flight.
Most importantly, all our flights arrived on time at our destinations, even when they departed late from some cities, they made up the time in flight. My husband’s lost luggage could have been handled better and caused a negative note at the end of his trip. Amelia and I had no issues with our luggage.
I am curious to know if you have traveled with Singapore Airlines and how you found them. I am particularly interested in your experiences regarding disability assistance services.
