Pre-Airport
The trip started with a leisurely stroll to the airport. It was -20C, but we were in Tallinn, one of our favourite European cities. Apart from its majestic old town and forty-proof glögi, its international airport is only 4km away, so it's a reasonable walk.
Singapore doesn’t fly from Tallinn, so we high-tailed it to FRA. We took another wintery walk to our Meininger Hotel, then hit the pavement the next morning to collect these puppies:
A sweet pair of suite tickets!
The walk to Terminal 1 isn't exactly scenic, but it got blood flowing before the onslaught of good food, great wine, new movies and relaxation.
We approached the Singapore Airlines desk:
Agent:Sir, this is the Suites line.
Me:Great!
It happens all the time; must be our backpacks and youthful looks :) It was well intentioned, so no harm. We'd soon board Suites Class to find everyone dressed casually; most of the guys had unkempt beards too.
Pre-Boarding
On our way to security, we noticed FRA's super-geeky flap board. This electro-mechanical masterpiece is immediately hypnotic to watch. If you squint, you can see our flight eighth row from the top: SQ 026 to JFK.
The Frankfurt Airport electro-mechanical flap board
Boarding was only an hour away, so we cut loose for the Lufthansa Senator Lounge.
The lounge was unassuming. The door attendant waved us through and we landed next to three children playing frisbee (ja, inside the lounge). Other patrons were nonplussed and the kids were a hoot; a refreshing change from the usual stuffy suits.
We ordered a couple of espressos, checked our email, and searched for ways to make our connection in NYC. Although we were landing at JFK, we had an onward flight to YUL from LGA only an hour later. Could we make it in time? Easy!
The lounge staff didn't collect us, so we gathered our bags and hit the jet bridge behind the masses. As we stepped onto the A380, POP!!! The first bottle of Dom flipped it's lid and the banality of pre-boarding was behind us.
Pre-Departure
Wendy and Karen, our stewardesses, introduced themselves, helped us get settled, and proffered tall flutes of 2004 Dom Pérignon. We'd later move onto Krug, but who were we kidding; we'd neither recognize the difference now, nor six glasses later.
The Singapore Suites Class seat is super-duper spacious. There was ample room to hang clothes, stow shoes, store bags, and organize tidbits. It was comfortable too; the sort of comfort that makes you feel at home, like this:
Lauren hydrating while reading The Economist
Lauren caused a little stir by requesting a copy of The Economist. Wendy said the plane's single copy had been given to someone in business. Lauren assured Wendy she could wait, but Wendy insisted. From all reports (actually, no reports at all), Wendy put the passenger in a headlock while Karen snatched the half-read periodical away.
We received our menus, drank more champagne (it was still early morning), browsed the seemingly endless list of movies, and settled in for the long-haul. I started by watching Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini in The Drop, then spent time reading my Kindle.
Early-Flight
Here was our mistake: we took a flight with the light meal service only. We didn't have much choice given our schedule, but it's something to consider.
Also, the meal options depend on your departure city. If you depart SIN, you're offered a genuine 8oz rib eye, whereas from FRA you're offered a lower quality cut.
Ooo, brunch time!
Brunch - Fruit Plate
Brunch - Bircher Muesli
Brunch - Beef Bee Hon Soup
Brunch - Snapper
Brunch - Crumble
It wasn't a real brunch, it was just brunch time, which was fine. (Our breakfast the next morning wasn't a real breakfast either, especially with a thick steak and spicy red.)
Lauren had the snapper, I had the soup. My soup was the best meal of the trip. Hot, spicy, and scrumptious. The rest was más o menos, which was a shame. But the Krug kept flowing and the movie selection was great, so we were happy chappies.
Mid-Flight
While we changed into our complementary pyjamas, the crew converted our seats into a double bed. As you can see below, there's a spacer between the seats and the belts are still exposed. Electronics are relocated too, since the easy-access sockets disappear.
I know what you're thinking, but no, Singapore Suites aren't ideal for getting busy. They may be miles high, but the walls are only neck high. The stewardesses are tall too, peek-a-boo! It's possible, but only once it gets dark and the service becomes less attentive.
The Double Bed Conversion
There's no doubt, this is one of the best sleeps in the sky. The chair goes fully flat, the mattress covers the bumps, the bedding is comfortable, and Krug is a perfect sedative.
But that raises the question: do you want a full sleep on an 8-hour first-class flight? It's possible to sleep the entire experience away, so we agreed to be woken for the next meal.
Late-Flight
We awoke to a hot, dry cabin, so we both toddled off with our first-class amenity kits to wash, change, and return to watch our suites being transformed into seats.
Salvatore Ferragamo Amenity Kit
The Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kits weren't just for show. Razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, all the good stuff. Plus less functional items, such as a large bottle of eau de toilette. We were encouraged to keep the Givenchy pyjamas too, but I like to keep my pack light.
Once settled, it was meal time, woohoo!
Purser:A Bordeaux with your meal, Sir?
Me:Absolutely!
I wasn't sure of the time because we were over the Atlantic Ocean. In theory, we'd just woken up, so I guess it was breakfast. Not the most common time for red wine, but hey, convention is no match for a 2007 Château Cos d'Estournel.
Our entrée soon followed, a rubbery spring roll with blue cheese salad, then our main, a beef fillet with a generous (capital G) serving of seared foie gras.
Light Meal - Spring roll with Salad
Light Meal - Beef and Foie Gras
Light Meal - Tiramisu
The beef was an unknown cut and pretty tough. It reiterated that not all Singapore Suites flights are the same. For the best experience, you not only need a flight with full meal service, but it helps to depart a flagship SQ airport, ideally SIN or JFK.
Post-Flight
It was a fun flight, but way too short. If you rarely splurge on first class, I suggest taking a longer flight, ideally an extended route, such as SIN-NRT-LAX.
The seat, entertainment and media selection were excellent, an easy 5/5. The Bose noise-cancelling headphones did a great job of masking the four Rolls Royce jets too.
The catering wasn't the best, but we chose a bad route, so I gave it a 4/5. Just remember, when you're searching for a Suites flight, ask yourself the following:
- Does the route have full-meal service?
- Can you Book the Cook in advance?
- Do you depart a flagship airport?
The service is a controversial topic. I found it a little too attentive. I refrained from sipping my wine during a movie because I knew five questions would ensue. Less attentive airlines would just pour. So it was a stretch for me to give the service a 4/5.
Overall, Singapore Suites Class is an excellent product. It's made a lot better by choosing the right route beforehand, so keep reading as we investigate the aircraft and routes.
