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Singapore won best first-class airline in the world for its exclusive hotel-like Airbus A380 suite. Here's what it's like inside.

Singapore won best first-class airline in the world for its exclusive hotel-like Airbus A380 suite. Here's what it's like inside.
Singapore's first class was again named the world's best for 2024.James D. Morgan/Getty Images
  • Singapore Airlines won the 2024 Skytrax award for the world's best first-class service.
  • The airline's Airbus A380 planes sport a hotel-like suites that can convert into double rooms.

Singapore Airlines is heralded as one of the most luxurious carriers in the world, earning loyalty for its nice cabins, attentive flight attendants, and reliable operation.

It fought Doha-based competitor Qatar Airways for Skytrax's 2024 title of world's best airline, winning in 2023 but losing to Qatar this year.

However, one Skytrax awards category Singapore has consistently won since 2018 is Best First Class for the hotel-like suites on its Airbus A380s.

Although some travelers savvy enough with points may snag a seat, the exclusive cabin is widely booked by deep-pocket business and leisure passengers, as roundtrip tickets can cost up to $30,000.

First launched in 2017, Singapore's A380 first-class suite is about as close as one can get to flying private on a commercial jetliner.

First launched in 2017, Singapore
Singapore's first-class travelers will still have to navigate check-in and airport security, but they have dedicated lanes and a lounge to look forward to.      Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock

The old first class featured 12 seats on the A380's upper deck, but the retrofit halved that.

Six next-generation suites, providing up to 100 square feet of living space, are now available on each of its in-service superjumbos.

The suites are accessible by a grand staircase at the front of the plane.

The suites are accessible by a grand staircase at the front of the plane.
Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The staircase clearly demonstrates the exclusivity of the fancy suites, and passengers will be welcomed by dedicated crew members specially trained to work first class.

Six mini hotel rooms are separated by tall walls, each with a full sliding door.

Six mini hotel rooms are separated by tall walls, each with a full sliding door.
Hallway with the suites.      Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Privacy is among the most requested amenities from customers for premium cabins. Carriers like Air India and British Airways have recently added doors to their business class. American Airlines hopes to launch its new door-equipped Flagship cabin later this year.

Meanwhile, Emirates announced first-class suites with sliding doors in 2017, shortly after Singapore's own launch.

Instead of the lie-flat bed common in business class, Singapore's suites have a separate chair and bed.

Instead of the lie-flat bed common in business class, Singapore
Singapore's first class suite.      Singapore Airlines

The bed folds out of the partition between cabins and can be set up by the crew members.

Singapore's plush reclining chair has various positions for dining, working, and watching TV.

Singapore
The swivel chair with the table out and the bed (left) stowed.      James D. Morgan/Getty Images

It can swivel to a desk facing out the window or at the television, and the tables are huge, with more than enough space for a laptop.

Competitor Etihad Airways' A380 First Class Apartments have the same design — but without a key perk that sets Singapore apart.

Competitor Etihad Airways
Two of Etihad's A380 apartments combined.      M101Studio/Shutterstock

UAE-based Etihad Airways' private first-class rooms are similarly luxurious, with a separate chair and couch to create that "apartment"-like feel.

The couch flips into a bed, and the top half can open to an adjoining pod.

While Etihad's apartment beds can half-connect, Singapore can fully combine two suites into one.

While Etihad
Two suites can be combined into one to offer 100 square feet of space.      James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Singapore designed the six suites to convert some into double rooms with space for two people by dropping the partition.

This means customers will get two recliners, two televisions, double the storage, and a full-sized bed.

Qatar Airways QSuite business class has a similar design but without the hotel-style privacy and space.

Qatar Airways QSuite business class has a similar design but without the hotel-style privacy and space.
The double bed is in Qatar's QSuite business class. The product is on all of the airline's A350-1000s, some A350-900s, and on most Boeing 777s.      David Slotnick/Business Insider

Qatar revolutionized business class with sliding doors and its convertable lie-flat beds that combine two into one.

The QSuite cabin also offers quad seating, so four people can dine or meet.

In addition to the niche perk that helped win the Skytrax award, the suites also feature a 32-inch television with thousands of titles.

In addition to the niche perk that helped win the Skytrax award, the suites also feature a 32-inch television with thousands of titles.
Singapore's television is touchscreen.      Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A remote is available to control the television, and customers can select from almost any genre of movie or show.

There are also games and music to enjoy.

A small vanity sits along the fuselage and includes a mirror and toiletries.

A small vanity sits along the fuselage and includes a mirror and toiletries.
Noise-cancelling headphones are also available to passengers.      Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Customers will get the expected amenity kit with things like lotion and dental items.

By the mirror is a tablet that controls things like lighting and adjustable window shades.

Drawers, cubbies, a hanging closet, and various other little nooks are available for storage.

Drawers, cubbies, a hanging closet, and various other little nooks are available for storage.
The storage compartments open for stuff or close to create a workspace.      Taylor Rains/Insider

Customers shouldn't have any issue finding a place for their stuff — and the closet is likely especially helpful to business passengers flying with a suit.

Outside the suite, customers can freshen up in one of the two giant lavatories reserved for first-class.

Outside the suite, customers can freshen up in one of the two giant lavatories reserved for first-class.
The smaller of the two lavatories (pictured) has the vanity built into the sink area.      Taylor Rains/Insider

The two lavatories sit at the front of the cabin on either side of the staircase, though one is larger than the other.

Six people will be sharing two bathrooms, which is a much better ratio than in economy.

Passengers will find a vanity, toilet, toiletries, a baby-changing station, and a full-sized mirror in each restroom.

Passengers will find a vanity, toilet, toiletries, a baby-changing station, and a full-sized mirror in each restroom.
The larger lavatory is pictured. The vanity is on the other side of the wall between the toilet and the sink.      Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The vanity in the smaller lavatory is connected to the sink, though the one in the larger bathroom is separate with its own chair and mirror.

It sits between the toilet and the sink as a divider, which makes the space feel even bigger.

The bathrooms do not feature a shower, though.

The bathrooms do not feature a shower, though.
An in-flight shower on an Emirates Airbus A380.      Emirates

Unlike Emirates and Etihad's first-class showers, Singapore does not include one because carrying the water would be a costly added weight.

Those hoping to experience the world's best first-class have just a few places to catch a ride — but none are in the US.

Those hoping to experience the world
Singapore only flies its A380 to a select few cities.      Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Cirium data shows Singapore flies its A380s on select routes between Changi and Asia, Europe, and Australia.

These include flying to Mumbai, Delhi, Frankfurt, London, Shanghai, and Sydney. The US fell off the list last year.

Singapore used to fly its A380 to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport via Germany but replaced it with a Boeing 777-300ER in May 2023.

Singapore used to fly its A380 to New York
Singapore flies a Boeing 777-300ER on its fifth-freedom route between New York and Changi via Frankfurt, Germany. It flies the A350 nonstop between NYC and Singapore.      Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock.com

The plane change cut capacity in half as Singapore found more revenue opportunity flying the mammoth plane to Australia instead.

However, the jet still has first-class — albeit not as bougie. Nor does it meet the luxury of rival top-notch first-class A380 cabins that fly to the US, such as Etihad and Emirates.


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