A380 - I’m breaking its perfect run
Written: Jan 29 '08 (Updated Jan 29 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: As always terrific air crew, product enhancements
Cons: Lack of the wow factor with new product
The Bottom Line: A new product is always worth a try, gives you bragging rights to have flown the worlds largest aircraft with the worlds best airline
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| pungpui's Full Review: Singapore Airlines |
At the moment, Singapore Airlines has the B747-400, featuring KrisWorld on Demand, the Raffles Class Space Bed and First Class. Then they introduced the B777 product in the late 90’s, and economy class gets a much better In-flight Entertainment System (IFE) with better screen resolution, a better recline so the bottom cushion moves forward as you recline and more spacious toilets. So the introduction of the A380 economy product feels like the next phase of this steady product improve. Nothing like the massive leap in product offering that the world’s press and the airline seam to claim. Again, the screen is better, wider and more crisp. The interface of KrisWorld has been made more user-friendly. Passengers can now plug in a USB and open files, listen to MP3 or watch video files stored on this device. The seats even recline a little more, and the bottom cushion moves forward even more. But what happened to the increase in space and legroom? The wider isles? The larger overhead stowage bins? The larger lavatories? The things that actually matter.
Despite the media frenzy around the aircraft, I’m sorry but I’m going to break the pack and say straight out that the economy class is not as good as the hype seems. Sure it’s an improvement from the old product, the screen is a good example of that. Much less lag from when you press the controller to the action on the screen (anyone who’s used KrisWorld will know what I mean, makes it hell to try and fast forward and rewind movies) and a much better FlightPath program to monitor the flight’s progress, slightly wider walking isles, though this does stop the aircrew from accidently bumping your elbows with the food trolleys. But that’s about it.
The seats themselves are not soft and comfortable, I prefer the seats on the B777. I was getting to the fidgeting stage by the end of this 7 hour flight, image spending the 12 hours to London on it! The supposedly non-intrusive lighting from below the screen instead from the ceiling is a good idea in concept, but is definitely not non-intrusive. And yet they still have the personal lighting on the ceiling anyway! Don’t know the reason behind that. We had 4 seats on the upper deck and due to the shape of the fuselage, the seating arrangement is 2-4-2, not 3-4-3 as per the main deck. Next to the windows is a little stowage bin where you can store personal items such as those pillows and blankets. I thought it would be a great arm rest as well, but unfortunately the bin lids are those that you press down to open. So every time I would lean on it, it would open. A terrible design flaw. The pillows and blankets have also changed to be Givenchy. While the blanket is definitely an improvement (no static), the pillows are just too fat, so you can’t put it behind your head because your head is brought too uncomfortable forward. Since Singapore Airlines talks its new improvements up so much, and thinks that their new products are excellent, why not roll out the new blankets and pillows across the whole fleet then? Why only A380 discriminatory? The packs given out on night flights are also supposed to be inspired by Givenchy, but seriously apart from a new bag and different coloured socks, it is exactly the same. What Givenchy?
I was looking forward to major improvements in the toilets, but why first of all does the entire aft cabin of the upper deck rely on just 2 toilets? Then once you enter the toilet you are overcome by the sense of claustrophobia. Sure improvements include fade lighting on and off, toilet lid depressors, soft music and Hollywood star-like mirrors that help make the experience more pleasant, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s so bloody small. Even smaller than those found on B777 or even B747-400! They say that mirrors help make a room look bigger...well there are mirrors everywhere in these bathrooms! Amenities are also the same as other aircraft (toothbrush sets, shaver sets, sick bags, tissues, paper towels and women’s sanitary sets – and no not Givenchy but if they changed the colour of the product I’m sure they could slap on the Givenchy logo if they wanted to!).
The aircraft itself is very impressive, and it’s cool to be able to be on the upper deck and look all the way down the front during takeoff and landing. You can just imagine all the people in the airport terminal, in their cars as the aircraft passes over a bridge to get to the runway, on other planes, and on the ground just stopping to watch the aircraft move. The cabin is noticeably quieter than B747-400 despite being larger with the same number of engines, each packing more power. The length of the runway required to lift off the ground is also noticeably longer, making a few of us a bit nervous! Changi’s new Terminal 3 caters for the aircraft wonderfully, with extended baggage claim conveyor belts and large pre-boarding lounge areas. Sydney Airport on the other hand is in no position to handle more than 1 A380 at a time. Arriving in the daily morning peak, there baggage claim belts have not been lengthened. What happens is the belts fill up and people wait around the belt making it difficult for others to drag their bags, so they stand back and wait for a while. This fills up the belt to a stage where no more bags can fit, so bags float around with no new ones coming out, and people just stand and wait. Then at quarantine, the waiting area has not been extended and is very close to the belts, so people just crowd around, pushing in an unofficial line. It is just chaos and we only experienced an SQ A380, an Emirates A340-500 and a Virgin Atlantic A340-600. Imagine soon Emirates, Virgin Atlantic, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways all upgrading to this mammoth airline. Sydney Airport is going to have to speed up its renovation plans.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
pungpui
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Location: Sydney, Australia
Reviews written: 23
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
I'm male, 19, a business undergrad student at University of Technology Sydney
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