Singapore Airlines is introducing fantastic new products for their Airbus A380s.
They have 5 new planes replacing 5 that are being returned to their lessor, and those are being delivered over the next year. They’ll be introduced into service with the new first suites and new business class that offers double beds for passengers traveling together.
New Singapore Airlines A380 Suites
Singapore Suites for Passengers Traveling Together
Singapore’s remaining 14 A380s will receiving the new cabin products and Singapore Engineering will work with Airbus to complete them all by 2020.
Singapore Airlines A380 New Business Class Bulkhead Seats
While a reduction in suites from 12 to 6 will make an already difficult award to get with miles even harder (especially for an airline that preserves the exclusivity of its cabin by frequently not releasing unsold seats as saver awards), it’s exciting to see the new product take flight.
Just to experience the new Suites I’ll be willing to spend extra miles for Singapore ‘standard’ award — 130,000 miles one way for Singapore – Sydney, 210,000 for Europe – Singapore, and 225,000 for New York JFK – Singapore provided the A380 stays on the route. Frankly I want to swivel in my chair, the way I used to in the old American Airlines Flagship First Suite.
Although Singapore’s CEO says that they do intend to make seats available on miles so perhaps there will eventually saver awards available for the product using KrisFlyer miles — a transfer partner of Citi, Chase, and American Express — after all.
Singapore seems to be copying AA’s new seats.
Your award rates are wrong, Gary, for SYD-SIN: it is 150,000 KrisFlyer miles (not 130,000) in First / Suites (luckily no carrier / fuel surcharges since the devaluation).