Flight test

Amy Maas

On a Singapore Airlines flight to Johannesburg, a 2am takeoff meant I was just keen to sleep, so thank goodness the seat transformed into a fully flat bed.

The airline:

Singapore Airlines.

Route:

Singapore to Johannesburg.

The plane:

A350-900.

Time in the air:

Around 10 hours, 40 minutes.

The loyalty plan:

Krisflyer.

Up the front or at the back:

Business class.

Baggage allowance:

Two 30kg checked luggage, 7kg hand luggage and one personal item.

The seat:

A spacious 1-2-1 configuration gives you plenty of room, and privacy. The wide seat has an enormous amount of space and a built-in footrest, which angles you slightly towards the window. There is plenty of storage, with one at head height, and room in the chair’s arm rest for toiletries I like to keep handy on flights. There is also a built-in USB and a reading light at head height.

Comfort:

The leather seat is plush, but I was keen to sleep fairly soon after we boarded. After hitting the call button, one of the air crew flipped the seat so that it became a fully flat bed. The mattress was slightly firm, but I was pleased with that. Lying down on a plane is a luxury, so I slept for about eight hours.

Entertainment:

The business section has 18-inch screens, which is far larger than in Premium Economy. Although Singapore Airlines has hundreds of movies and a great selection of new releases, I slept most of the way and didn’t take advantage of it.

Service:

The crew were attentive and, of course, addressed passengers seated in this class by name. They offered hot towels and Champagne before take-off.

Food:

I didn’t pay much attention to the menu as I was fairly tired. But air crew offered a selection of snacks, including a chicken pie, which I had shortly after take-off. Shortly before landing, the standard eggs, sausage and tomato fare was served.

The verdict:

A luxurious way to top off the end of a long-haul flight, and being able to sleep properly on a plane does help you reset your clock.

Frequency:

Daily. This flight continues to Cape Town after passengers have disembarked in Johannesburg. See singaporeair.com.

Carbon footprint:

A one-way flight from Singapore to Johannesburg in business class would generate 3.48 tonnes of CO .

The writer was a guest of Singapore Airlines.