First Class on Singapore Airlines, compared to Business Class

We’ve just flown Singapore Airlines from Auckland to Zurich, non-stop with a few hours’ layover in Singapore. We flew First Class because our travel plans had changed and we had no time for a stopover, so we wanted to make the trip as comfortable as possible.

So I thought it would be interesting to compare Business and First Class. On both legs of the journey, we flew on a Boeing 777-300ER.

As a general rule, there is a huge cost hike from Economy to Business, but the step from Business to First Class is not as steep.

Most people already think Singapore Airlines Business Class is exceptional, and it is. Some travellers even say it is “good enough” and that First Class becomes a luxury rather than a necessity.  But, if you are interested in the difference, this is what you get.

What makes First Class different again?

The experience definitely shifts from ‘comfortable travel’ to something much closer to ‘luxury hospitality’.

Seat size

For me, the biggest difference is that there are only four seats or pods in the first-class cabin on a 777, and they are huge. My seat was substantially wider than a business-class seat and more padded. In fact, there was enough room to sit another person alongside me comfortably, and it’s two metres in length.

Only four seats

This is one of the biggest differences, along with seat size

• Quieter cabin
• Almost no foot traffic
• Much more privacy
• Calmer atmosphere
• More personal attention
• The bathroom was always available

Far more personal service

People often describe First Class as feeling “looked after” rather than simply transported.

• The cabin crew address you by name
• The service is more proactive
• Meals can be served when you want
• The staff-to-passenger ratio is much higher, one-on-one
• The crew have more time for individual attention

Better food and drinks

Great choice of food, from an extensive menu

• Premium champagne
• Higher-end wines and spirits
• More elaborate meals. I had chicken satay, caviar, followed by lobster thermidor for my dinner
• Impeccable restaurant-style presentation on Wedgewood china

  

Better sleep

All these touches give you a much better chance of a good night’s sleep.

• The wider sleeping surface and two metres in length ensure you can turn naturally
• Luxury amenity kits, quality bedding, and linen
• Less noise and disturbance

Ground experience

First Class also changes the airport experience:

• Dedicated check-in
• Faster security/boarding
• Exclusive lounges in Singapore for their First Class customers, with rooms for sleeping (like a hotel room )
• Premium dining in Singapore’s  First Class Lounge, so passengers can have a full meal service before boarding the plane

  

So is First “worth it” over Business?

Business = comfort

First = luxury and exclusivity

Summary

The seat size is a winner, but the overall experience, privacy, calmness, service, food, and exclusivity are what you are really paying for.

And on a very long route like Auckland–Singapore–Zurich, the differences add up. I loved it!