SQ 222 is a convenient afternoon flight out of Sydney. One of five Singapore Airlines flights that leave daily. Normally you can only check-in three hours before a flight departs. However, as Singapore Airlines have multiple flights out of Sydney the check-in is open all day.
The check-in agent advised that people often check in to the flight in the early morning and then head back out again. We decided to head straight to the Air New Zealand lounge
We were on the return leg of our cheap business class flight out of Stockholm. At less than AUD4,000 return it is as good as redeeming a points flight.
Singapore Airlines SQ222
Sydney (SYD) – Singapore (SIN)
Thursday 16th December
Depart: 16:10
Arrive: 21:20
Duration: 8hr 30min
Aircraft: Airbus A380 800
Seat: 18D and 18F (Business Class)
In this post:
Bulkhead seats 18D and 18E are very comfortable
On this flight we choose a bulkhead seat 18D and 18E, other seats with the same set up are 17A and 17K. All four are bulkhead seats toward the front of the plane. Normally in Singapore Airlines business class you have a foot compartment under the seat in front. The bulkheads instead have a padded bench to rest your feet, which makes them very roomy. 17A and 18D are preferred as the toilets are convenient but not in your personal space. 17A is a window seat and on our flight included a baby.
The only downside of these seats is storage. All the window seats have a side storage for laptops etc. All the middle seats need to use the limited seat storage or the shared overhead bins. There is still plenty of space for phones glasses etc but not laptops or shoes.
Julie also commented that the screen was a little too far away and would prefer one of the other seats. At 5 foot 2 and super flexible thats works well for her.
I find the service in Singapore airlines far superior to Qantas. They are prompt with drinks both before take off and once you are in the air. For some bizarre reason Qantas are really slow to serve your first drink once you are in the air. When you are paying full price for a return business class flight that’s just rude. Its like inviting people over for a party and waiting an hour to offer them a drink
Free Wifi is included for business and first class passengers.
Wi-fi is available on this flight, as a business class passenger you get 30mg included. First class get over three times that amount with 100mg. I got around 15 mins online doing some messenger chatting, looking at my bank balances, synching google docs, checking my emails and looking at Google Analytics. If I wanted more I could have used Julies seat number and name or just purchased more.
They gave some tips on how to minimise wifi by changing settings. As someone who is technically literate this was not easy to do. The wifi was over pretty quickly so was an interesting novelty.
Amenity Pack
Unlike most top class airlines you don’t get an amenity pack with Singapore Airlines Business Class. You do get eye masks, slippers, socks. If you need to comb your hair, clean your teeth, moisturise or have an inflight shave then the bathrooms have everything you need.
I am OK with that but I do miss the inflight pyjamas. I forgot to pack PJ’s in hand luggage and ended up wearing jeans and icebreaker gear for the next 24 hours plus. Julie sported her Virgin Atlantic business class pyjamas.
Food Service
Entree was a crab and mango salad. It was pretty insipid but edible. Julie was less impressed and had just one mouthful.
Main course was a different matter. I choose to book the cook before I left and opted for a Hainanese Chicken dish, the national dish of Singapore. I was not disappointed, the rice and condiments were a perfect combination for the steamed chicken. Of course for around $5 I could buy the same thing in a Singapore hawker centre.
Desert was a choice of ice cream or apple tart. While I photographed both I only ate the ice cream.
Cheese and fruits were pretty awesome. Julie chose the peach and I had grapes with cheese. The cheeses were very good and worth the carbs.
Business Class Wine List
They had a good selection of wines that retail from between AUD20-30, however many are not available in Australia. I took a photo of the wine list and passed it through Google:
Champagne
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée Brut, Champagne, France
Champagne, in the north of France, with its cold climate and for limestone soils is one of the most famous wine regions in the world in ter of both history and quality. Laurent-Perrier was established in 1912, and is today one of the best known and respected names in the region. It also has a strong commitment to sustainability both in the vineyard and cellar Made by chef de cave Michel Fauconnet, this multi-vintage wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier in declining order and spends 4 years on yeast lees before release. The result is a classic non-vintage wine – fresh, with good complexity and intensity
White Wine
2018 Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough, in the north of the South Island, is New Zealand’s most famous wine region. Not only is it beautiful, it is home to many of the worlds most distinctive and expressive Sauvignon Blanc wines. The Wairau River winery (pronounced why-row) was established in 1978 by Philand Chris Rose. Today, they are joined by their five children and extended family. Including winemaker Sam Rose – so it remains very much a family affair. All wines are made from their own vineyards. This gold medal-winning wine a classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc-pale in colour, with a distinctive leafiness, linear acidity and overall freshness, Delicious
2017 Leo Buring Dry Riesling, Clare Valley, Australia
The Clare Valley, north of Adelaide, is home to some of Australia’s greatest Rieslings. These long-living wines are dry aromatic and delicious, Leo Buring’s legacy is based on the extraordinary wines made by the legendary John Vickery from the 60s till the 80s. Today, under the watchful eye of winemaker Peter Munro, the goal of Leo Buring remains the same – to make the best Rieslings in Australia, This wine is hyperfresh with limey, citrus notes and bone-dry finish. Unlike some sweeter wines made from this grape variety, it is an outstanding food match. A marvellous wine of purity and elegance – South Australian classic
2018 Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia
Margaret River, about 300 kilometres south of Perth, is a great place to grow Chardonnay. The best vineyards are close to the ocean where the cool sea breeze modifies the temperature in a positive manner during ripening. Vasse Felix, established in 1967, was the first winery to be built in Margaret River. Today, it is owned by Paul Holmes à Court with the wines made by the charismatic and highly talented Virginia Willcock. The wines from Vasse Felix are amongst the very best in Australia. Filius shows the typical pear-like character and acidity of the region and is a fine example of modern Australian Chardonnay.
Red Wine
2015 Château Amour Cru Bourgeois, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
The Medoc is a long tongue of land that stretches north of Bordeaux city between the wide Gironde estuary and the stormy Atlantic Ocean. As you travel north, this lick of land narrows as the sea and estuary close in, and cooling breezes begin to dominate the sun’s heat. Every ridge here is covered with vines-deep, warm, well-drained beds of gravel without which Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot couldn’t ripen. Château Amour sits on one of the last ridge and is certified as farming with high environmental value. This gives us a surprisingly delicate wine in a hot vintage like 2015, the fresh earthiness of the Medoc landscape brightened by the scent of water meadow owns and soothed by gentle, ripe strawberry fruit.
2016 Clarendelle, Bordeaux, France
I remember the first time I really understood Clarendelle: we were tasting the 2015 and 2016 wines in the cellars. They were unbelievably elegant sophisticated wines, balanced in the way that all great Bordeaux are. The label said ‘Inspired by Haut-Brion’ and I could see why As II looked up I saw the smiling face of Jean-Philippe Delmas across the table. His grandfather began making Haut Brion, one of Bordeaux’s greatest wines in 1921. Jean-Philippe and his Haut Brion team also make Clarendelle, and this is a picture perfect example of the balanced, mouthwatering delight that first made Bordeaux famous And did I taste a whisper of tobacco and honey mingling with the dark. dry fruit? Haut Brion is famous for that
2017 Delaire Graff Shiraz, Stellenbosch, South Africa
You can’t always guarantee that a delicious wine will come from the world’s most beautiful landscapes, but you have a better chance if your wine comes from the old-established region of Stellenbosch in South Africa, where soaring mountain crags reach high into the clouds, and the best vineyards clamber up the mountains until they’re too steep to go any further. Delaire Graff wines are on terraces at the top of the Helshoogte Mountain Pass. It’s very sunny there, but the vines are cooled by strong sea breezes to keep the fruit fresh. This Shiraz is a delight, not heavy or dense, but bursting with raspberry and blackberry richness darkened by liquorice, then dusted with cocoa powder and milk chocolate.
2016 Henschke Henry’s Seven, Eden Valley, Australia
Whilst technically part of the Barossa, Eden Valley is much higher and cooler than the main valley. As a result, the red wines are generally medium bodied and restrained. Henschke, established in 1888, is today one of Australia’s oldest and most revered winemakers. Henry’s Seven is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache Mataro and the white variety Viognier, proving that with wine the sum is often greater than the parts. The wines were aged in old French hogsheads prior to bottling. Named in honour of Henry Evans, who planted a 7-acre vineyard in Keyneton in 1868, this wine is a classic medium bodied red showing spicy plum characteristics and soft tannins. A delicious softer blend from both a top producer and a well-regarded vintage.
Fortified
Morris Classic Liqueur Muscat, Rutherglen, Australia
The extraordinary Muscat wines of Rutherglen in North East Victoria are amongst the most revered fortified wines in the world. Described as “liquid Christmas pudding”, these wines are made from the Muscat a Petits Grains grape known locally as Brown Muscat. The primary fermentation is stopped with the grape spirit before extended ageing in old oak barrels where they become more concentrated and complex. Morris was founded in 1859 and the wines today are made by David Morris, who represents the fifth generation of the family. This wine is brown in colour with amazing raisin intensity, power and persistence. Remarkable.
I enjoyed the French, South Australian and South African red wines. The first two are worth having again.
There was a choice of another meal prior to landing but knowing how much more lounge access and flying was ahead I slept through that service.
In flight entertainment
They had the usual selection of Hollywood and Asian movies plus TV programs and music. The noise cancelling headphones make listening to music better. The screen was large and easy to use.
Cabin configuration and Lie Flat Bed
The A380 is a business class has a 1-2-1 configuration making the cabin super roomy. The seats and beds are very wide. Rather than sleeping straight your feet tuck into a corner under the bed in front. With the bulk head seat you get even more room, which is why I rate it so much.
The A380 800 appears to have a slightly older bed and cabin layout than the A350 which has better storage and power access.
Power Outlets
A trap for young players occurred on the A380 with the power outlets. My laptop charger was too bulky for the connection. I tried also using a double adapter. Neither worked.
Lights and heating were the only complaints
The A380 800 configuration has a business class only cabin upstairs. I estimated business class was only 70% full and the back section nearly empty. Bizarrely the lights were dimmed in the back of the plane but not the front making sleep a bit harder.
The heating on the plane was also annoying. Set at just too hot for comfortable sleep. Interestingly on my next flight on the SQ362 the temperature was perfect for sleeping.
Summary
Overall the trip confirmed why I love Singapore Airlines business class. Huge seats, attentive service and great food.
