I have flown Singapore Airlines pretty frequently on a wide variety of its routes ever since the late 80s when SIA was still operating B757s and A300s on its short-haul services. For regional routes, I have personally flown on its Osaka, Hong Kong, Tokyo-Narita, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur short-haul services. For its medium-haul to long-haul services, I have experienced its flights into Kathmandu, New York ( via Brussels ), San Francisco ( via Hong Kong )and Moscow (a leisure unscheduled service). Singapore Airlines has, over the years, matured into a premium carrier with unsurpassed levels of in-flight service complemented with its youthful fleet of sophisticated MEGATOP B747-400s, JUBILEE B777s and CELESTAR A340s. Despite the recent tragic SQ 006 crash in Taipei, I believe it will live on as an airline even other carriers talk about.

COST
This is probably one reason why budget travellers would shriek at the thought of flying SIA on its long-haul routes. I usually purchase SIA tickets as part of tour-packages, in which the ticket-prices are greatly discounted. However, if you were to purchase a stand-alone SIA ticket from your agent, you will definitely pay a much higher price than other carriers operating the Asia-Europe sectors such as Thai, Finnair or Malaysia Airlines. A ticket during the Christmas season to London-Heathrow ex-Singapore can cost as much as S$2000 while Malaysia Airlines charges a minimal S$950 for the same London-bound ticket with an extra stop in Kuala Lumpur. A roundtrip ticket to Tokyo-Narita will set you back by S$900 on SIA while MAS merely charges S$480 with , of course, a transfer at Kuala Lumpur. Another odd thing is that Singaporeans usually pay more than foreigners for the same seats on the same SIA flight. Some Singaporean readers have brought this matter up in the local newspapers.

SIA is definitely a luxury, both for its superb service and its hefty ticket prices. If you can spare the cash, do fly it as a noteworthy experience ; if you are flying on a budget, I should think other carriers such as Thai and Malaysia Airlines would still promise you clean, good service at prices pleasing to your pocket. If you insist on flying SIA, I suggest that you purchase tour-packages that use SIA as its carrier. It's much cheaper that way.

AIRCRAFT
One of Singapore Airlines' strongest selling points. In the aspect of safety, all of its aircraft are very young at an average age of 5 years, after which they are leased out to other carriers. Rigorous ground maintenance and safety checks also help to keep the aircraft in tip-top condition, from the interior to the exterior. Currently, SIA has MEGATOP B747-400s, BIG TOP B747-300s, JUBILEE B777s, CELESTAR A340s and older Airbus A310s, which SIA is phasing out from the fleet shortly. I always remember SIA for its belief in using wide-body and spacious aircraft on all its flights, regardless of duration. Take the shuttle service between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for instance : Malaysia Airlines uses mainly narrow-body B737s while SIA operates only widebodies such as its B777s and B747-400s such that even its short-haul passengers can still enjoy modern amenities such as personal video-systems and footrests, previously exclusive to long-haul services. Every flight counts so I am glad that SIA has taken the step to pamper both its regional passengers and international passengers.

CABIN CREW
This is definitely SIA's strongest advantage over its rival carriers. SIA is one of the few airlines, which consistently promotes its cabin-crew in its advertisements worldwide. Sounds quite sexist really, but it has definitely captured the hearts of many travellers worldwide. The elegant image of the sarong kebaya ( an Asian traditional floral dress )-clad Singapore Airlines stewardess, also affectionately known as Singapore Girl, never fails to make an appearance on any SIA campaign ever since the airline started operations in the 70s.
SIA only accepts Asian cabin-crew currently to maintain the distinct Asian charm onboard the airline ; SIA employs Chinese, Malay and Indian cabin-crew, along with Japanese stewardesses to serve on Japan-bound flights. I would think Emirates, JAL and Gulf Air have a more diverse mix of cabin-crew nationalities than SIA.

Some of my friends working as SIA cabin-crew tell me it's almost a dog-life ; SIA has laid down very stringent and specific rules on how the stewardesses should doll themselves up before a flight. The application of mascara and rouge must be flawless and intricate such that not a blemish is to be noted. Lips must be a perfect ruby red ; long hair is to be neatly tied into a China-doll hairdo ; toe-nails must be painted a sheen of red too. Their jobs don't end there after making themselves look like perfect China dolls ; they have to smile and greet every passenger, put up with screaming, rowdy customers and endure a hectic work schedule. Exactly why some Singaporean stewardess-wannabes rather choose foreign carriers than SIA to enjoy a more relaxed job schedule.
All these efforts by SIA's crew management simply goes to show the strong emphasis on corporate image in the airline. With such strong emphasis on image alone, it is little wonder that its standard of service is one of the highest in the world's airline industry.

CABIN SERVICE
So, you know that SIA cabin-crew win hands down in terms of image, with stewardesses in their intricate make-up and elegant sarong kebayas ; and stewards in smart blue blazers. How about their level of service?
Undoubtedly, the service is a winner in the airline industry. Only two airlines have service standards similar to SIA's :Air New Zealand and JAL. SIA crew work feverishly, and it really shows on long-haul flights. Throughout the night, as soon as a call button is pressed, a crew member immediately rushes down to attend to the passenger's need. Even if you don't press the call-button, cabin-crew frequently go up and down the aisles, providing peanuts, cookies, ice-cream and beverages. Throughout my 11-hr flight to Moscow, the cabin-crew at least made 20 trips up and down the aisle, continuously handing out beverages and checking for passengers' requests.
SIA also provides an amenity kit with warm socks and toiletries on overnight long-haul services to every passenger. This is something that I seldom see on most airlines' longhaul services.
I do know of airline cabin-crew who literally disappear as soon as the meal service is over and I am pleased to know that SIA crew really go all out to serve with such fervour.

FOOD
Another winner for SIA. Even economy class passengers get gourmet cuisine 33000 feet high up in the sky. Before the meal service, SIA crew will hand out nicely-decorated menus, giving passengers specific details on the meal choices available for the flight. A wide range of delectable cuisine, guaranteed to please any taste-bud, is available : from Chinese Ee-mee noodles with chicken slices in pepper sauce; salmon fillet served with a creamy milk sauce over buttered rice ; smoked turkey with cranberry/mint sauce ; seafood pasta in white win sauce ... many culinary delights to await you on the next SIA flight you take. The dessert is usually another dream : mango mousse pudding with a whirl of fresh cream ; custard pudding with cream ... bon appetit!
SIA has employed an international culinary team of chefs from all over the world, to plan out new in-flight gourmet meals for every flight. On the menu itself, you will be able to see which meal-choice has gotten the chef's recommendation for the month. Now, in case you thought you were reading a restaurant review, you have just finished reading the Food segment in this SIA review.

IN-FLIGHT AMENITIES AND ENTERTAINMENT
I don't really fear long-hauls anymore because the entertainment system is simply superb. The audio channels are standard just like any other airline, but the onboard Krisworld video entertainment system is really revolutionary. 22 video-channels with programmes to suit every taste, from cartoons to news to the latest blockbuster movies such as <<Toy Story 2>>, it really takes in-flight entertainment to another level. In addition, there is an Interactive mode which features destination information, the standard Airshow on most airlines, airline information, and most importantly to teenagers, over 20 Nintendo video-games to choose from. They are old favourites like Super Mario All-Stars, Street Fighter 2 and Super Ghouls n' Ghosts ... just to name a few.
In addition, long-haul economy class passengers are provided with snack-boxes to enjoy as they are watching movies on Krisworld, as if they were in a cinema munching on popcorn over a box-office hit.
Every economy class seat is like the typical B777 seat with a personal in-flight video screen, extended leg-room, winged headrests and footrests. Light purple head-covers on a blue seat add a cheery touch to the cabin ambience. SIA has upgraded all its older B747-400s to include these amenities previously exclusive to the B777s and A340s.


ROUTE NETWORK / STAR ALLIANCE
SIA flies to over 65 cities around the world, including Lahore, New York (JFK & Newark), Madrid, Jeddah and Kathmandu. It used to have an alliance with Delta and Swissair years back. SIA code-shared with American Airlines on US services until a year ago when the former joined the Star Alliance. SIA now code-shares with fellow Star Alliance members Air Canada and Lufthansa on London-Toronto services and Singapore-Frankfurt-New York routes respectively. In addition, it has many codeshare services with Ansett and Air New Zealand on its Bangkok and European services.
In addition, SIA has a subsidiary airline Silkair which operates to exotic regional destinations in Asia such as Trivandrum, Manado, Solo, Lombok and Siem Reap with a Fokker and Airbus fleet.



Recommended: Yes