In 2007, Singapore Airlines was the first airline ever to create a private cabin experience on board a commercial airliner with the Singapore Airlines Suites A380 cabin product.

Today, they’ve taken their second shot on the same approach, making it even more luxurious, with one eye on Etihad’ Apartments, which is an industry-leading product right now, and the first one to master the single-aisle concept in an international premium cabin.

As you enter the suite, you get a 21″ swivel chair that tilts 45 degrees and is upholstered in full-grain leather by Poltrona Frau. Except for the taxi/ takeoff/ landing timings, the chair is yours’ to swivel at other times. There is a 32″ high definition television screen for you to watch.

While we’ve already shared some insights earlier today, here is a detailed look at the SQ A380 First Class product. There are only 6 instead of 12 Suites, which is the airline’s stance on how many they’d be able to fill going forward.

The bed is 76″ long + 27″ wide, and stows on the wall. When you want to sleep, the crew turn it down for you. Oddly enough, this bed is smaller than the 78″ in business class.

The sleeper suite and slippers, and the combed cotton duvet are designed by Lalique for SQ, switching away from Salvatore Ferragamo who has been their provider for over a decade. It seems SQ has taken care of the hard divider problem this time around and can make a genuine double bed.

Next to the recliner, lining up on the shell of the plane is a concealed stowage. Your Bose noise cancelling headsets and an amenity kit by Lalique are placed here. One drawer is for your own stuff, and of course, a mirror for the odd-touchup before landing. The dinner table extends from under the side console next to the seat, which is the one you can also use for your laptop.

One of the features borrowed from Etihad, apart from the single-aisle concept, is also the high walls, which assure privacy for those who fly the suites. Each suite also has their own wardrobe as well.

There are two lavatories for these 6 passengers, and one is bigger than the other. SQ does not subscribe to the school of thought that a shower is a good thing on a plane, but they do have a massive bathroom where you could change in and out of your Lalique pyjamas. There is a sit-down vanity counter as well.

One is stupendously over-sized, affording plenty of room to change into and out of your supplied Lalique pyjamas, and also boasts a sit-down vanity counter. Pictured above is the RHS lav which is the bigger one. The LHS one is pictured below.

The Suites are large, however, there seems to be a lot of space left out. I don’t know if I feel nice about this in line with Singapore Airlines’ new space is personal philosophy, or do I feel not so nice as an airline passenger experience analyst and appreciator, who thinks there was more potential in this product.

Singapore Airlines Suites is, of course, also focussing on two new soft features. Both relate to personalisation. You can make up to ten lighting settings saved on your own KrisFlyer account and these can be used on your future flights as well. Secondly, you can watch a movie half way on one flight, and continue watching the same movie on the IFE on your next connection as well.

Bottomline

Singapore Airlines has a loyal base of frequent flyers, and SQ seems to have borrowed some features from the book of Etihad and merged them into their own colour scheme. This seems like an opportunity played up and nothing new coming out of it. Or maybe I was expecting too much from an airline of SQ’s stature.

Having said that, it will be a different thing to fly the new Suites and experience them for ourselves.

What do you feel about the new Singapore Airlines Suites class?