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- I flew on Singapore Airlines for the first time.
- I was surprised that I could select my seat for free in economy.
- The seats were spacious, the food was decent, and I loved the in-flight entertainment selection.
When it was time to plan my first trip to Asia, I knew I wanted to book an airline I’d never flown before. No option seemed better than Singapore Airlines.
A certified 5-star airline by Skytrax, Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler in 2024. It also won the title of best airline in Asia at last year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards, considered the Oscars of the aviation industry.
While Singapore Airlines is famous for its luxurious suites and first-class cabins, I could only afford an economy ticket. However, my experience was still far better than my recent trips on US airlines.
I was impressed with Singapore Airlines before my flight even began.
I decided to travel to Japan after a friend’s wedding in Sydney and booked an economy ticket on Singapore Airlines. There are four different tiers of economy — lite, value, standard, and flexi — but only standard was available on my flight.
The trip, which included a layover in Singapore, cost $814.
While booking my Singapore Airlines ticket, I was surprised to find that I could select seats on both of my flights for free. I could even choose one of the “Forward Zone” seats, which are closer to the doors and allow you to disembark first from economy. This felt like a great option since my layover at Changi Airport was less than an hour and a half.
Plus, I got to pick the window seat (my favorite) for both flights.
I was also surprised by the airline’s generous weight limit for checked bags.
I’m a notorious overpacker. If there were a gold medal for shuffling items from your checked bag to carry-on to meet the 50-pound limit of most US airlines, I would be the Simone Biles of the sport. It’s a natural gift — I don’t even have to train!
So, I was shocked when the Singapore Airlines attendant told me I needed to put more stuff in my checked bag, not less. She informed me that the weight limit for checked bags in economy is 30 kilograms, or about 66 pounds. If you fly Singapore Airlines on economy lite or value, the limit is 25 kilograms, or about 55 pounds.
Being able to unload my overstuffed carry-on and gallivant around duty-free was an unexpected pre-flight treat.
Before boarding my flight, I grabbed a pair of headphones waiting by the plane’s entrance.
It was a small detail, but I appreciated that I could immediately sit and start watching a movie without waiting for an attendant to pass out the headphones.
My chair was far more spacious than what I’ve come to expect from US airlines.
As someone who’s only flown economy, I’ve become all too accustomed to the increasingly shrinking seats.
However, I was flying on an Airbus A380-800, the world’s largest commercial aircraft, and it had some very comfortable seats — even in economy. My seat, which was 19 inches wide, felt surprisingly spacious.
A plush gray pillow and a hefty blanket were waiting on my seat.
They both felt like major upgrades from the paper-thin sheet and flimsy maxi-pad-esque contraption I’ve received during long-haul flights on various US airlines.
There was plenty of legroom.
When I first sat down, I was surprised I could still stretch out my legs, even with my backpack under the seat in front of me.
Once the woman in my row and I realized no one would be taking the seat between us, we easily slid both of our backpacks under the middle seat and enjoyed the extra space.
The seat in front of me had helpful buttons and compartments.
Under the left corner of my screen were buttons to turn on the overhead light and call the attendant, plus an outlet to charge my phone. Under the right corner was a stand-alone drink holder. There was also a shelf under my screen, which I used to store my headphones when I wasn’t watching anything.
I also appreciated the four separate pockets in front of my seat. I could easily store my phone, book, magazine, charger, and water bottle in all of them.
I also had access to an extensive entertainment selection.
According to its website, Singapore Airlines offers over 1,900 on-demand options via its KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system.
There was just about every recent Oscar nominee available, including “Wicked,” “Sing Sing,” and “The Substance,” the latter of which I didn’t feel brave enough to watch on a plane.
TV options included food shows, kid programs, and classics like “Law & Order” and “The Golden Girls.”
Before takeoff, flight attendants passed out hot towels to everyone on board.
The custom, known in Japanese as “oshibori,” has been a longtime signature of the Singapore Airlines brand. Each towel is perfumed with the airline’s “Batik Flora” scent, which combines the floral notes of various flowers that are native to Singapore.
Just as soon as I had given my hands a refreshing cleanse, an attendant returned moments later to retrieve the towel.
Within 20 minutes of takeoff, we were given our first drink and snack.
Who hasn’t chugged their little drink on a plane because there wasn’t enough space?
But, thanks to the stand-alone cupholder, I could leisurely sip on my complimentary glass of white wine as I snacked on the peas and cracker snack and read my book.
Then came the dinner service.
Every tray included an entrée of chicken or fish (the vegetarian meals had already been served), bread, a small noodle salad, Australian cheese and crackers, and a mini water bottle. I was surprised it came with metal cutlery rather than the plastic or wood I’m used to seeing in economy.
I started with the salad, which featured vermicelli noodles and shrimp cooked far more delicately than expected for an in-flight meal. The shrimp were plump and fresh, pairing well with the light, tangy dressing that covered each noodle.
I opted for the chicken entrée, which was solid. The meat was tender and covered in sauce, while the potatoes were well-cooked but under-seasoned.
It wasn’t exactly gourmet, but it was a huge upgrade from the undercooked pasta and rubbery meat I’ve had on many long-haul flights with US airlines. (And I’ll never forget the tortilla filled with a cut-up hot dog.)
Shortly after we’d settled into dinner, attendants offered us an ice-cream sandwich for dessert.
The delicious vanilla fudge brownie was a highlight of the flight. It featured a chocolate crunch on the bottom that satisfyingly snapped with every bite.
An hour before landing, we were given a hot snack.
We were offered a choice between a sandwich with sweet potato and cheese or sweet chili chicken. I chose the latter, which was fine. I couldn’t taste the sweet chili, but it was a nice, warm snack.
Overall, I had a great first experience on Singapore Airlines.
At the end of the day, economy is economy. Still, the experience has become increasingly uncomfortable as US carriers shrink their seats and add more fees.
By comparison, flying on Singapore Airlines felt like a breath of fresh air. From the hot towel and spacious seats to the decent in-flight entertainment and food options, my nine-hour flight seemed to fly by.
It’s easy to see why Singapore Airlines consistently ranks among the top in the world. I can’t wait to fly on one of its planes again.
