Singapore Airlines Review

Our Rating :

Review Date : November 2011

Singapore Airlines is a pleasure to test. The eGuide team uses regularly as they fly many flights a day out of our home country, Australia. From a base at Singapore the airline operates to 65 destinations in 35 countries.

Founded in 1972 and developed to one of the few five star airlines. Very much an airline industry trendsetter that stays one step ahead of competitors

Singapore Airlines was the first to offer free headsets; first to introduce inflight telephones; first to offer audio and video on demand with Krisworld in all classes; first to fly the A380 from Singapore to Sydney and offer the first class suites that others are now copying.

So why is it so good? It works well, flights are on time, cabin staff are efficient, on board entertainment is good, check in is easy. Some might argue just a little too organised and maybe not as a natural as say the interactions you might have with staff of close competitor Thai Airlines.

For premium passengers Singapore is innovative and offers the best seats in both Business and First Class and all the extras you want are provided. The product always evolves much to the frustration of competitors who just catch up and then Singapore springs something else out of the box.

The image of Singapore Airlines is captured in “Singapore Girl” a marketing initiative that has remained with the airline since 1972. A uniform designed by Pierre Balmain, a sarong kebaya in batik material. There is even a waxwork of the Singapore Girl at Madame Tussaud’s, the real thing that greets you on board is much better.

Training of cabin crew is intensive and that shows in the service you are offered. For those with special needs cabin crew offer some of the best assistance we have seen in the air.

An International Culinary Panel with some of the most renowned chefs in the world guides on menus and includes Georges Blanc, Sanjeev Kapoor, Matt Moran and Gordon Ramsay. Cuisine is taken seriously.

For first and business class passengers you can pre-select a main course dish of your choice from the Airline’s Book the Cook service, available on all flights departing from Singapore. All meals as you would expect are served on fine bone china and crystal.

In economy menus are designed to match the route and on an Asian route there will be a choice of Asian or Western style food. We have always been happy with the quality and choice.

It would be good to think that Singapore Airlines was also the safest airline in the work but sadly not true and a major accident in October 2000 in Taiwan where the aircraft took off on a closed runaway sent shocks through the industry.

Lounges are amongst the best in the world. In some airports other Star Alliance member lounges are used.

Overall we rate Singapore Airlines as an airline of choice. The airline ticks all our boxes. We look forward to seeing what is next in air travel from the industry leaders.