For my journey from Singapore to Hong Kong, I had the pleasure of flying onboard Singapore Airlines 777 First Class, which is the arguably the airline’s “lesser” First Class product compared to their more exclusive Suites Class on the Airbus A380.
While I had previously experienced the world-famous Singapore Suites, I hadn’t yet had the chance to fly the 777 First Class product until now, so I decided to use this opportunity to try it out and see how it stacks up against its swankier counterpart.
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Booking
This particular First Class product is only available onboard Singapore Airlines’s Boeing 777-300 aircraft. The Boeing 777 is one of the newest additions to the airline’s fleet and operates on medium- to long-haul routes.
Singapore Airlines operates a fairly exclusive booking policy for First Class and Suites Class, limiting award redemptions to only their own frequent flyer program, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
To make things even trickier, the airline opens up First Class award availability 355 days in advance. To secure a seat, it’s essential to plan ahead, as availability can be scarce for popular routes.
Interestingly, whether you’re flying First Class on the Boeing 777 or Suites Class on the Airbus A380, all First Class cabins cost the same amount of miles. Availability-wise, though, the 777 First Class is generally easier to book on points than the A380 Suites.
In my case, I was able to snag this flight for a total of 45,000 KrisFlyer miles at the Saver level, plus a modest sum in taxes and fees of around $59 SGD ($60 CAD).
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Ground Experience
Before embarking on my journey onboard Singapore Airlines 777 First Class, I had access to The Private Room, which is Singapore Airlines’s flagship lounge reserved exclusively for First Class and Suites Class passengers.
The lounge was recently renovated to impeccable standards, with sleek and opulent interiors and a layout that struck a balance of privacy and sociability.
Among the standout additions to The Private Room are four well-appointed nap rooms and three luxurious private shower rooms.
Furthermore, the à la carte dining offered at The Private Room is nothing short of exceptional, with a downright tantalizing menu selection.
During my visit, I savoured lobster laksa and slurped up a custom-made bowl of Singapore-style fish cake noodles, all washed down with a glass of the coveted Taittinger de Comtes Blanc de Blanc 2008.
The Private Room is a relatively modest size, but nevertheless, the lounge manages to provide an intimate and exclusive ambiance that fully lives up to the exclusivity of First Class and Suites Class products.
If you’re flying Singapore Airlines top-tier cabins out of their hub at Singapore Changi Airport, I’d absolutely recommend making extra time to indulge in everything The Private Room has to offer before your flight.
Review: The Private Room by Singapore Airlines
Read moreSingapore Airlines 777 First Class – Cabin
I boarded the Singapore Airlines 777 from the forward door, where I was greeted by an attentive flight crew, who checked my boarding pass and promptly directed me to my seat.
The 777 First Class cabin is characterized by the airline’s signature warm palette of taupe and brown. At the bulkhead, there’s a softly lit textured surface, adding an elevated touch to the cabin.
The cabin in Singapore Airlines 777 First Class is one of the most intimate and exclusive you’ll find in the skies. With only a single row of four seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, this cabin is among the smallest of any First Class offering on the market. In fact, only two First Class offerings can lay claim to such an exclusive cabin, with Air France’s La Première being the other one.
A narrow pathway positioned behind the middle seats allows for the flight staff to seamlessly move across the cabin as they perform their in-flight service.
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class cabin is carefully configured to cater to the needs of both couples and solo travellers, with the middle seats being a popular choice for couples who wish to share the flight experience together.
Solo travellers, on the other hand, will likely prefer the unparalleled privacy and seclusion offered by the window seats. These seats are slightly offset in position from the aisle seat, so you won’t be able to see across to your neighbour when everyone’s sitting back.
Moreover, if you do find yourself in the middle seats as a solo traveller, there’s a central privacy partition which can be raised and lowered.
In my case, I had reserved Seat 1A for this flight. Positioned on the left-hand side of the cabin, the seat provided me with views of the passing scenery, and allowed me to retreat into my own private cocoon for the duration of the flight.
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Seat
With a seat width that’s wider than most and a pillow occupying one-third of the seat, I was almost spoiled for choice upon sitting down initially, and didn’t know exactly where to settle in and get comfortable.
However, with a little ingenuity, I eventually found a sweet spot. I moved the pillow across to my right, and took up residence where it previously occupied, to get the most comfortable and position myself within the embrace of the seat belt.
In terms of appearance, the seats have a modern and polished look, adorned with sleek and supple dark leather. The delicate stitching and wooden accents were very much in keeping with the distinctive style of Singapore Airlines.
Upon settling into your seat, you’ll observe an impressive 24-inch in-flight entertainment screen easily within arm’s reach. An adjacent discreet door conceals a vanity mirror, and a console just below offers some horizontal surface space.
A spacious ottoman is positioned underneath, serving as an extension of the bed when the seat is placed in the lie-flat bed position. You’ll also find a literature pocket placed at your feet right under the ottoman.
Adjacent to the ottoman is a storage compartment that plays host to two racks for stowing personal items. You can store your larger items either beneath the ottoman or within the storage locker that is conveniently located between your seat and the bulkhead.
Near the window side, you’ll find a conveniently placed power outlet and HDMI port within easy reach. Additionally, a lever for the tray table is located beneath the in-flight entertainment screen.
Taking a closer look at the table tray, it’s quite flexible in design. The tray slides outwards and then downwards at an angle via a rotating “arm”, so that the table is at a lower height, providing the ideal positioning for either working or eating.
Nestled on the side of the seat shell, an array of buttons allows you to fine-tune the seat angle, footrest extension, mood lighting, and beckon the cabin crew with ease. In addition to this, there’s a Do Not Disturb activation button, should you prefer to be left alone.
Located on the aisle side of the seat tucked away behind a sliding panel beneath the armrest was the in-flight entertainment controller, which could be withdrawn for handheld use.
While on the window side, a secondary small compartment houses two USB ports and enough space for your phone.
On both sides of the shell, adjustable reading lights are positioned at shoulder height, with a headphone holder conveniently placed on the aisle side.
Unlike the A380 Suites Class, Singapore Airlines’s 777 First Class cabin does not feature sliding doors, and can therefore be viewed as slightly less cutting-edge than other leading First Class products out there.
That being said, the slight staggering of the seats, coupled with the sheer exclusivity of having just four seats in the cabin, results in ample privacy and a very luxurious experience nonetheless.
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Amenities
Shortly after takeoff, the flight attendant came by to offer me a hot towel and a choice of welcome beverage.
I was given a choice between Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blancs 2007 and Krug Grande Cuvée, both premium Champagnes with complex and elegant flavours. I had already enjoyed the Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blancs 2008 in The Private Room on the ground, so I decided to go with the Krug onboard.
Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines doesn’t offer Dom Perignon in First Class anymore, which is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and prestigious Champagnes globally. Dom Perignon used to be a staple of Singapore Airlines’s First Class wine list, but the brand has now signed an exclusive deal with Emirates.
Nevertheless, I was still very happy to be sipping Krug at 30,000 feet in the air, with a view of potentially switching to the equally high-end Taittinger later on during the flight.
Lastly, since this flight would only last about four hours, there was no amenity kit provided. Instead, simply a set of noise-cancelling Bose headphones were given.
Note that passengers on longer Singapore Airlines First Class flights are treated to premium amenity kits by French luxury brand Lalique.
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Meal Service
As we continued at cruising altitude, I eagerly anticipated the breakfast service onboard this morning flight with Singapore Airlines.
The food and drinks menu read as follows:
Naturally, I had taken advantage of the airline’s exclusive “Book the Cook” service to pre-order my meal. Book the Cook is available for Singapore Airlines’s premium passengers, offering a wider selection of meal options beyond the typical in-flight menu.
However, I was also keen to explore the breadth of the onboard menu, so I ventured beyond my initial selection, requesting the appetizers and eggs with caviar from the main menu before the grand finale of Bak Kut Teh – a Singaporean-style pork bone soup – from the Book the Cook service.
(Although I normally would’ve been curious to try the Soon Heng pork soup noodles on the main menu, I had already indulged in two bowls of noodles at The Private Room prior to the flight and was already eating pork bone soup as a main course, so I made the difficult decision to forgo it.)
The crew graciously acquiesced to my request to sample additional items on the menu. Shortly thereafter, I was presented with a refreshing appetizer, consisting of a fruit plate of dragon fruit, mango, juicy melons and strawberry.
Alongside the fruit plate, was a freshly baked croissant with a crisp crust and a soft interior, accompanied by creamy butter and jam.
Next up was a Bircher muesli, which was an acceptable dish, but alas one that failed to leave a lasting impression.
The meal progressed with the arrival of fresh eggs with caviar – one of the standout dishes of the meal. The eggs can be prepared baked, scrambled, or even hard-boiled; however, my preferred soft-poached eggs were not among the options, so I asked for scrambled.
I savoured every bite here, skipping the meats that came on the side to focus solely on the rich and flavourful combination of the eggs and caviar.
Next up was the main course of Bak Kut Teh, which I had ordered from the Book the Cook menu. The dish was an absolute delight, featuring succulent pork that effortlessly fell off the bone, swimming in a flavour-packed and peppery broth.
I didn’t end up consuming every drop of the soup, as the saltiness was a touch overwhelming for my palate.
The cabin manager kindly came over to chat with me a bit more about the Bak Kut Teh, explaining the subtle differences between the Singaporean and Malaysian varieties of the dish, with the former being more peppery and the latter sweeter in taste.
Our enjoyable conversation was another testament to Singapore Airlines’s unparalleled service, and a shining example of what exceptional First Class service should look like.
To accompany the meal, I sampled a delightful selection of beverages, including the iconic Singapore Sling, which I had never tried before despite having flown with Singapore Airlines several times.
Along with this classic cocktail, I also savoured a frothy cappuccino and a glass of sparkling water.
Despite the temptation of a glass of the Taittinger Comtes Blanc de Blancs 2007 Champagne, I ultimately decided to pass, as I had already dabbled in some Taittinger at the lounge prior and was already working up quite a nice buzz for 10am local time.
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Bed
After wrapping up meal service and with my stomach happily satiated, I headed to the restroom to freshen up and prepare for the remainder of the flight.
The restroom on board Singapore Airlines was impressive in a simple way, with ample space and a spotless environment.
Not only was there a convenient table that folded out from the toilet, providing additional surface space for personal items, but the Lalique amenities also added a luxurious touch.
Despite the fact that we’d be landing soon on this four-hour regional flight, I still wanted to sample the Singapore Airlines 777 First Class bed in lie-flat mode. The crew was happy to put together the bed for me.
Unlike most airline seats, this isn’t a simple reclining bed, as the crew has to flip over the seat into a lie-flat bed, and then assemble the bedding. Singapore Airlines seems to have a particular affinity for these types of more complex beds, as you’ll find a similar crew-operated setup on the airline’s A380 Suites Class and A350 business class.
The sleeping surface was impressively wide, and I would have no hesitation flying this product on a long-haul route, as I imagine the sleep quality would be exceptional.
My only qualm might be the fact that I wasn’t on Suites Class on the Airbus A380. Though one could argue that this 777 First Class bed is wider and more comfortable than what you’ll find on the A380, there’s no double bed in the sky option here! 😉
Singapore Airlines 777 First Class – Entertainment
The KrisWorld entertainment system offered by Singapore Airlines is among the world’s best. The high-definition 24-inch screen is incredibly responsive, and can be controlled effortlessly by the touch screen or entertainment controller.
With over 100 movies, including the latest blockbusters, 180 OnDemand television programs, games, and other entertainment options, KrisWorld offers a diverse selection that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s top airlines.
The in-flight map feature is another great entertainment option, allowing you to monitor their flight’s progress in real-time.
Lastly, Singapore Airlines offers First Class and Suites Class passengers unlimited Wi-Fi access with no pesky data caps or usage limits, allowing me to seamlessly stay connected throughout the flight.
Conclusion
As my journey drew to a close and we began our descent into Hong Kong, I was happy to have had the privilege of experiencing Singapore Airlines’s secondary but still spectacular 777 First Class product.
Despite no sliding doors (such as in the A380 Suites Class), there was still ample privacy thanks to the offset arrangement of the window and middle seats. Meanwhile, although the extremely generous width of the seat was slightly awkward when upright, it would definitely serve as an exceptional lie-flat sleeping surface on long-haul flights.
The crew’s dedication to outstanding service was particularly evident during meal service, where they went above and beyond to accommodate my requests. What’s more, the eggs with caviar and the Bak Kut Teh from the Book the Cook menu were both expertly prepared, beautifully presented and full of flavour.
For those looking to experience Singapore Airlines’s exceptional food, drink, and service, the 777 First Class product is generally easier to book on points than A380 Suites, and on this showing, is very much a product to seek out in its own right.
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