From Singapore to Siem Reap, Cambodia I flew on Singapore Airlines on a beautiful new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft in business class. For someone who mostly flies within the USA, it’s simply amazing what Singapore Airlines manages to pull off on a flight under two hours long.
Singapore Airlines 737-8 MAX Business Class Review
I booked my ticket about 26 hours before departure for 20,000 Air Canada Aeroplan miles and 99.70 CAD in taxes and fees. The same ticket was 45,000 United MileagePlus miles or 24,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles.
After visiting the SilverKris Business Class lounge and KrisFlyer Gold lounge in SIN, I boarded my 828-mile flight to Cambodia. Boarding began 30 minutes before takeoff.
Even in the orderly city-state of Singapore, boarding was slow and rather inefficient. I wish folks would step out of the aisle while getting settled onboard.
Singapore 166
Singapore (SIN) – Sieam Reap (REP)
Thursday, March 23
Depart: 2:30 PM
Arrive: 3:45 PM
Duration: 2hr, 15min (actual flight time 1hr, 50min)
Distance: 828 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 737-8 MAX
Seat: 11A (Business Class)
Onboard, I was warmly greeted by two flight attendants, one of whom pointed to my seat in the first row of business class.
Seat
The 737 MAX 8 is Singapore’s first narrowbody aircraft in many years, unless you count its former Silk Air subsidiary. Business class features 10 Thompson Aero Vantage seats arranged in an alternating 2-2, 1-1 pattern (there are three rows of business class).
“Throne” seats:
Regular seats:
Seats are 22 inches wide and convert into a 76-inch lie-flat bed. “Regional” bedding was provided including a pillow and large blanket.
Individual air vents are available in the passenger service unit above the seat and each seat has a universal A/C plug plus two USB-A sockets.
Singapore begins numbering its business class cabin with 11, so my first row seat was 11 and throne seats were in row 12. An American couple had reserved the throne seats…something I would have done too if traveling with my wife. The throne seats offer more privacy and personal storage, but have less room for your feet than the “standard” seats, especially in row one (the bulkhead provides extra foot room).
As an aside, Singapore Airlines calls rows one and three “business class seats with shared console” and row two “business class seat with two side consoles.” This is the same seat (sans doors you will find in JetBlue Mint class.
What a shame my seatmate across the aisle had no manners…
Business class went out booked 6/10.
Food + Drink
Since I booked more than 24 hours before, I was able to pre-reserve a meal from the “Book The Cook” menu, and I chose my personal favorite dish, rack of lamb.
Prior to departure, drinks were offered and menus distributed.
All three menu options sounded appetizing, but I was excited for the rack of lamb…and it did not disappoint (though I would have liked a second and third portion…).
The meal was served on a single tray and included a seared pepper-crusted tuna salad, main course, bread, and a chocolate dessert (different from the menu, which said sticky date pudding with cream sauce).
I enjoyed a glass of French red wine with my lamb. The lamb rack included mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, parsnips, carrots, spinach, and garlic on the side.
Although cooked a bit too long, it was still tender and nicely flavored.
The lamb was served with a mint sauce and butter sauce on the side, neither of which were necessary.
A choice of bread was offered along with butter, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.
Yeah, I’d say I enjoyed my meal:
Lavatory
I used the lavatory to wash my hands before lunch and found it very clean, though very small. I loved the cloth towels and facial mist and hand creme from Penhaligon’s (a British perfume house).
IFE + Wi-Fi
Each business class seat has a 16-inch touchscreen with a massive “KrisWorld” library of movies, games, TV shows, and music.
High-quality noise-cancelling headphones were distributed.
In addition to the touchscreen, a handheld passenger service could be used to control the screen.
I spent the flight listening to Andrea Bocelli and looking out the window…it was a beautiful day for flying.
Wi-Fi onboard was complimentary for business class passengers.
While not super fast, the speeds were certainly workable.
Service
The flight attendants onbaord could not have been better: they were and extremely attentive. It is amazing to think that everything above was pulled off on a flight that was in the air for less than two hours.
Of course, the business model and competitive landscape in East Asia is quite different than in North America, but oh how wonderful it would be to be able to fly from Los Angeles to Denver and enjoy similar service onboard…
CONCLUSION
As we neared Cambodia, landing forms were distributed.
We landed ahead of schedule at the now-closed Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which opened in 1932 and served Siem Reap and Angkor until recently. Now Siem Reap–Angkor International Airport (SAI) has opened and this airport is closed.
The new airport has jetbridges, but I did not.
Shorthaul flying on Singapore Airlines is such a pleasure. I could not have asked for anything more on my flight and the 737-8 MAX is quite comfortable in business class.
