Review: Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Business Class (Bulkhead) Singapore to Frankfurt

Flight no.	SQ 26
Aircraft	Airbus A380-800
Seat no.	96K (Bulkhead)
Cost	IDR 18.8 million (US$1,255) (CGK-SIN-FRA-SFO, LAX-ZRH-SIN-CGK)
Flight duration	12.5 hours

This was a SWISS codeshare flight that was booked through an error fare.

How to fly in Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Bulkhead Business Class

How to choose Bulkhead seats

Unlike the ones on the airline’s Boeing 777s, the window bulkhead seats in the Airbus A380 aircrafts do not have ultra-generous legrooms and are only slightly better than non-bulkhead ones.

However, the center seats (non-window) do! Couples booking them can enjoy a “double bed” configuration; which is pretty luxurious for Business Class. They are almost as spacious as Singapore Airlines First Class!

The bulkhead seats (in rows 11, 91 and 96) are located at the front of 3 mini Business Class cabins.

These seats are only open for selection (to non-PPS Club members) 96 hours before departure. So, set your alarm and jump on them as soon as they are available, because they are well worth it!

How to book with Miles

Travellers can fly in Singapore Airlines Business Class with KrisFlyer miles, which can be earned through the best travel/rewards credit cards in Singapore.

These long haul seats can also be booked through some partner Frequent Flyer Programs like EVA Air Infinity MileageLands, Air Canada Aeroplan and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan.

Pre-flight

Prior to take-off, I was greeted and offered a beverage of choice. Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines is still not offering hot towel service at this time.

Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Bulkhead Business Class seat

The cocoon-style seats are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration and can be transformed into fully-flat beds. These bulkhead seats come with slightly-better legrooms than non-bulkhead ones.

However, as shared in my previous review of this seat, it is pretty hard and uncomfortable in bed mode.

These window seats are positioned closer to the aisle than the windows, not great for passengers who enjoy window views.

Amenity kit

Business Class passengers on this flight receive Penhaligon’s amenity kits.

Dining

Flying in a premium cabin with Singapore Airlines gives you access to Book the Cook (BTC) where you can choose your in-flight main course beforehand with a lot more options than those in the in-flight menu.

I resisted the urge to pre-order the Lobster Thermidor and chose Nasi Lemak this time.

It was a good Nasi Lemak, but like most of the airline’s hawker BTC dishes, the plating wasn’t creative. I can imagine this being an enjoyable dish for non-Singaporeans, but for me, it had the same level of taste and presentation as the one that I could buy for US$3, just a few steps away from my home in Singapore.

Plating of the cheese and fruit platters were also poor and looked like they were taken from a buffet (with plastic wrappers too); nowhere near as impressive as the dining experience on Qatar Airways Business Class.

Airport lounge access

Flying in Singapore Airlines Business Class from Singapore Changi Airport gets you entry into SilverKris Lounge in Terminal 3.

Unfortunately, the lounge was extremely crowded during my visit at 10pm in the evening. There were no seats available and hardly any space to even stand, near the dining area. I hope to get more pictures for a review on a future trip.

My ratings

This is how I am rating my Business Class experience (vs other airlines):

Seat	9/10
Bed	8/10
Dining	8/10
Privacy	8/10
Storage	9/10
Service	9/10
Cleanliness	10/10

Bottom line

Singapore Airlines’ bulkhead Business Class seats, found in just 12 of 80 seats on its Airbus A380 aircrafts, offer better legroom for passengers who take the extra effort to select them a few days prior. In this aircraft, the center bulkhead seats are the one to get!

Singapore Airlines’ Business Class in-flight dining experience is not the best out there, but if you are flying as a couple and in-flight space is all you care about, these seats are one of the best out there!

Additional reminder: These seats are not guaranteed at time of booking and requires manual selection about 96 hours prior to departure.