Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Review: First Class Luxury
When First Class gets talked about, the Singapore Airlines A380 Suites is the golden ticket. It’s spacious in feet (not inches), beautifully designed, and packed with clever details that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a private hotel in the sky.
After almost a year of hunting, I finally snagged an award seat, originally from Sydney to Singapore after a New Zealand trip.
But an 8-hour overnight didn’t feel worthy of Singapore Suites (sleep would steal the fun), so I pivoted to a day flight out of Shanghai. Best decision. Let’s unwrap the experience.
Flight Overview
Route: Shanghai PVG → Singapore
Flight: SQ833
Departure: 16:45
Aircraft: Airbus A380
Seat: 1F
Booked with: KrisFlyer miles
Getting to PVG: Maglev Magic
I spent two nights in Shanghai and skipped the taxi for the Maglev—because why not start a high-speed trip with… more high speed?
In around 10 minutes I was at Pudong with a little over three hours to spare. Singapore Airlines operates multiple daily flights to PVG and uses permanent counters in Zone E.
Within minutes of check-in opening, I had the golden Suites boarding pass in hand (yes, full Charlie and the Chocolate Factory feels) plus an invite to the Air China First Class Lounge.
Lounge at PVG: A Quick Pit Stop
The Air China First Class Lounge (also used by China Airlines and Star Alliance Gold) is perfectly serviceable, but it’s not Singapore Suites level. If you’re flying the other way around (SIN → PVG), you’d aim for The Private Room in Singapore—far more befitting of this cabin.
If this is your only shot at The Private Room, consider booking Singapore → Shanghai instead.
Boarding the A380 Upper Deck
I arrived at the gate a good 70 minutes before departure and caught my first glimpse of our double-decker beauty.
Boarding was slightly delayed and, truth be told, the ground experience felt more Business Class than First outside the aircraft.
But the moment I stepped onto the A380 upper deck, the tone changed. I was greeted by the Cabin Service Manager and introduced to Matthew from the Suites team, who escorted me to 1F.
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites: A Private Hotel in the Sky
The cabin has just six Suites in a 1–1 layout with floor-to-ceiling walls. It feels more like a luxury train compartment than an aircraft cabin—private, quiet, and absurdly spacious.
Suite 1F (front right) was a showstopper. I genuinely had a “how is this on a plane?” moment..
The Seat, Bed & Smart Layout
The centrepiece is a wide leather armchair by Poltrona Frau that swivels (within limits in bed mode) and reclines to 45 degrees.
The separate bed folds out along the side wall—great for comfort, if slightly less “seamless” in design integration for those of us who watch too much George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.
A console table hosts fresh flowers and the menus in a leather folder. You’ll run out of appetite before you run out of choices.
There are two screens: a 32-inch main display and a 15-inch secondary screen usable during taxi, takeoff, and landing. Behind the main screen is a full-height wardrobe with bedding, slippers, amenities, and space for a carry-on.
Singapore Suites Side Panels Personal Entertainment Pad
Side panels hide plush storage and controls for lighting, entertainment, and seat positions. Four lighting “moods” with adjustable brightness let you dial in the perfect ambience.
Storage is excellent—even a vanity mirror for quick touch-ups.
Each window has two-stage blinds (partial or full blackout) controlled at the window or from the side console.
There’s a lot to play with; the quick-start guide is genuinely helpful.
Service That Sets the Tone
Singapore Airlines crews are famously consistent, and this flight was Exhibit A.
Matthew welcomed me, and then Peggy appeared with hot towels and offers of help as I settled in. Ling followed with a welcome champagne—because of course.
Five of the six Suites were occupied, including a very lucky 10-year-old travelling with his mum in 1A/2A.
Note: for take-off roll, Suites passengers must be in the armchair, facing forward.
Dining in Singapore Suites
Before departure I dove into the dedicated Suites dining and wine list—longer than my willpower. Although this mid-haul flight centered on dinner, you can order off the menu at any time.
Tonight’s menus:
Peggy helped pace everything perfectly around how I wanted to experience the flight.
We opened with the iconic Singapore chicken & lamb satay with onions, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce—familiar, fantastic.
For the formal appetiser I chose the baked lobster—hearty for a starter and absolutely delicious.
Next up: a silky broccoli soup—simple done superbly.
I took a breather before a bright plate of grilled asparagus with frisée and cherry tomatoes…
…and then the main event: a pan-fried beef fillet with seasonal roast vegetables and parmesan polenta—one of the best cuts I’ve had in the air.
Dessert was a light passion fruit mousse followed by a generous cheese course (walnuts + apricots = unexpectedly great combo; I’d have loved a sweet pickle too).
A decaf coffee with pralines closed a meal that lasted almost three hours, unrushed, perfectly paced, and wholly personalised.
Suites-Only Restrooms
The A380 dedicates two enormous restrooms to Suites passengers—think powder room and changing space, not just a lav.
There’s a sit-down vanity with Lalique amenities, facial mists, and everything you need to freshen up.
The second restroom has a slightly different layout but the same generous size. I shared more on my Instagram stories.
Entertainment & Connectivity
The KrisWorld library is broad and the hardware shines in Suites. A wireless tablet controls lights and IFE on both screens, and the interface is intuitive. Sign in with your KrisFlyer number to save favourites across flights.
The Bang & Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones are excellent, and both the chair and 32-inch screen swivel for perfect angles in seat or bed mode. Complimentary Wi-Fi for Suites/First is the cherry on top.
Bedtime in the Skies
After tea, I asked Peggy to make up the bed—turndown service that felt five-star-hotel level.
Bedding quality was superb—pillows, linens, everything.
I grabbed a short, restful nap. The mattress leans firm; on a 12-hour overnight I’d ask for an extra layer. Suites 1A/2A and 1F/2F can be combined into double Suites with a double bed—2F was occupied on my flight, but I did sneak a peek earlier:
About 50 minutes before landing I moved back to the armchair. Just before final approach, Peggy and Ling thanked me for flying Singapore Airlines with a small goodie bag—slippers, eye shades, and facial toner (usually seen on ultra-long-hauls).
Verdict: A Bucket-List First Class Experience
This flight was special from start to finish. Photos don’t do the cabin justice, especially in low light. The crew hit that perfect Singapore Airlines balance: polished yet warm, proactively personal without hovering. The dining and drinks? Easily on par with a high-end London restaurant.
As a hard product, the Singapore Airlines A380 Suites pushes the luxury envelope with design, space, and thoughtful details. The closest peer is probably Etihad’s A380 First Class Apartments. And if you love enclosed suites, you’ll want to compare it with my take on Emirates’ “Game Changer” First Class with floor-to-ceiling doors and individual temperature controls.
Could the bed be wider? Maybe. Does the separate seat/bed setup trade a little design cohesion for comfort? Perhaps. But overall, this is the aspirational First Class experience.
If you can choose, go for Suite 1A or 1F—they feel a touch roomier at the front.
Faze, founder of Wander Up Front and Elevate Your Stay, is a London-based travel specialist with a deep passion for aviation. With over 2 million miles flown, he has spent the last 7 years focusing on First and Business class experiences.
Faze provides straightforward, no-frills insights into premium airline products and services, sharing what matters to help travellers make informed choices.
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