Welcome to my trip report on SQ's Boeing 787 J class!
Photo of my ride, 9V-SCO (Photo: Tang Chia Hao)
Introduction
This was my 2nd time flying on SQ's business class and this time it was on a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, one of my favorite aircraft. What makes decided to fly on this route with the airline is mainly to check out the lounges at Bangkok and also to experience the Boeing 787 aircraft in the front cabin. I have flown on this aircraft twice on SIN-SGN-SIN route in the Economy Class and the experience is what you expect when flying on one of the best airlines in the world. Is this flight as good as my previous business class experience with this airline? let's find out!
For my previous J Class experience with this airline (SQ A350 Regional SIN-BOM) trip report, click here.
Booking
As Singapore Airlines has multiple flights on the SIN-BKK-SIN sectors, we are spoiled for choices on which flights to choose and I decided on the Boeing 787-10 flight. I selected flight SQ711 as the flight timing was better for me, departing around dinner time and arriving in Singapore near sleeping time.
I paid about S$490 for the one-way ticket, quite reasonable for this 2 hour flight.
These were the seats available during the time I did this booking.
I went with seat 15K, the seat closer to the window.
Book the Cook is not available for flights out of Bangkok so I pre-ordered the Seared Chilean Seabass from the in-flight menu.
It's nice to be invited to access the business class lounge regardless of class of booking.
Seat 15K was chosen and the rest of the seats were quickly taken.
This is the Changi Airport Mobile App, you can use it for reference of all flights in and out of Singapore.
After the comfortable 2 night stays in Bangkok, it was time to leave. As my flight was departing in the evening, I didn't have to rush to the airport. I left around noon time and took the train from the hotel to Phaya Thai Station and changed for the airport line to the airport.
This is the rabbit card used for the BTS.
The card can't be used on the airport's train, I have to purchase the one-way ticket (in a form of coin) to the airport (BKK). Does this make sense? Hopefully this will change in the near future.
This is the train running on the ARL (Airport Rail Link) line.
I did a check what aircraft I would be flying on and 9V-SCO gets the honour.
This aircraft flew in from Seoul and departed a few hours later for Bangkok.
At this point, the aircraft just took off from Changi.
The train ride to the airport took about 30 minutes.
You can take either the escalator or lift up to the departure hall.
There are restaurants located between the arrival and departure levels. (landside)
This is the departure hall (landside).
Singapore Airlines and Scoot's check in row at BKK airport is located in row K.
Self check in kiosks are also available.
There was a bit of queue at the business class lane.
Krisflyer Silver members now get a separate check-in counter at the airports.
For this flight, I was on business class.
Another exciting flight to look forward to.
The check-in process was fast and smooth and before I know it, I was on my way to the security and immigration.
The signboard was cleared and I was able to make my way to the lounge without issue.
Plenty of duty-free shops and restaurants to check out if you have the time.
First Stop: EVA AIR Lounge!
The walk from security to the lounge takes around 10 minutes or so.
At that time, the airport was quite busy.
This part of the airport looks unfinished in my opinion.
Once my visit was done, I made my way to gate D3.
S101 to S128 gates are located at another building.
My first sight of my ride, 9V-SCO.
Gate D3 is where my aircraft was assigned to depart.
Unfortunately, plane photography is difficult due to the design of the window.
This is SQ's 5 years old Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner registered 9V-SCO.
The waiting area of gate D3.
Soon it was time to board, unfortunately the boarding process was not organised.
Earpiece is available for each economy class passenger.
My ride: 9V-SCO
Boeing 787-10
Configuration: C36 Y301
Engine: 2 X Roll Royce Trent 1000
Delivered to airline in November 2019
938th Boeing 787 in service
Age: 5+ Years Old (December 2024)
Built in Charleston (CHS)
Flight Route: BKK-SIN
Miles: 876
My seat: 15K (Aerolopa.com)
Date of departure: 13th Sept 2024
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight: SQ711
Route: BKK-SIN
Aircraft: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
Registration: 9V-SCO
Gate: D3
Seat: 15K
Load: 100% in J Class
Flight Time: 1 hr 50 mins
Current Flight Time: 1hr 54 mins
Boarding: 1805
Departure Schedule: 1830
Pushed Back: 1831
Take Off: 1845
Arrival Schedule: 2155
Current Arrival: 2139
Departure Runway: 19R
Departure Weather: Partially Cloudy
Arrival Runway: 20R
Arrival Weather: Cloudy
My in-flight experience
The boarding procedure was in a mess. The ground staff didn't seem to know what to do as passengers of all classes were able to board when the announcement was made. Somehow I managed to squeeze into one of the long queues and board the aircraft not too long after the announcement was made. Once on board, the cabin crew waiting at the door, showed me to my seat. My first impression of the crew, they seemed nice and I was looking forward to the flight.
Once the doors were closed, an announcement from the Captain was made. The usual welcome announcement and a weather report of some expected turbulence along the way and meal service to be served after taking off was made by the inflight supervisor.
Personally I feel that the crew serving the J class cabin should check on the passenger first before serving the meals. After take off, I adjusted my seat to lie flat mode to enjoy my movie and I was surprised to see the crew appearing with the meal tray on her hand. I am not blaming her or anything, after all they had already informed us about the meal service taking place after taking off. In a hurry, I set my seat back to the take-off position and I felt slightly embarassed as the crew's eyes were fixed on me. Anyway, after the little awkward moment, my delicious meal was served and this time I had my drink order - the Singapore Sling. I did request for a teddy bear but it was turned down as the crew mentioned that the teddy bear was only available for flights longer than 5 hours. At this point, I gave up on it and decided to purchase the EVA Air's bear for my niece. If only the airline sells these cute bears, I would certainly purchase them.
Anyway, I find the meal to be delicious and I certainly recommend it. After the meal service, I reclined my seat to the lie-flat position and enjoyed my movie for the rest of the flight. There were a bit of turbulence during the flight and at one time, the turbulence was a bit intense. Although the flight was enjoyable, I find the in-flight service to be ok, just the awkward moment during the meal service. Other than that, the service was nothing. As for the inflight product, I heard a lot of complaints about it, personally it may not be the best product out there but I find it to be adequate for regional flights.
The quick 2 hour flight ended and we landed ahead of schedule.
Do note: For this trip report, I will focus only on the business class product.
About the business class product
There are 36 business class seats configured in a 1-2-1 on this aircraft model and Stelia Aerospace Symphony is the branding for these seats. These seats are identical to the A350 Regional Class and personally I find them comfortable for the medium haul routes that these aircraft are deployed. Each seat comes with a 18 inch HD touchscreen display, 20 inches seat width and the seat can be converted to lie-flat position to around 194 cm. Storage space is available with Universal AC and USB-A sockets are available.
In addition to the IFE screen for entertainment, complimentary WiFi (Krisflyer members) is available on this aircraft. However, the airline did not install exterior camera for passengers to view on any of the aircraft.
Business class cabin photos
The divider adds some privacy when sitted with a stranger.
This is one of the seats on the sides (near the window) closer to the aisle. (Row 11, 14, 16, 18 and 20 A/K)
The cabin view of the 787-10 business class
The electronic dimmed window is only available on the Boeing 787-10 for Singapore Airlines.
These seats in the middle are positioned away from each other, ideal for solo travellers.
This is the view from my seat.
The Boeing Sky interior does improve the cabin experience for both the crew and passengers.
A slight glimpse of the Roll Royce Trent 1000 engine.
I am satisfied with my 2nd flight experience on this cabin product.
The seats may look cramp from the photos but they are not so bad in reality.
This is my seat, 15K.
Another view of the middle seats (close to each other).
This is the entrance to the business class. (Coming in from the first door)
I was able to fully stretch out my legs.
That's me enjoying every minute of the flight!
At lie-flat position, I got to experience the bumps which we were warned of during the announcement made by the Captain and it felt quite bouncey at one point, luckily I had the seat belt fastened.
If it is your first trip to Singapore, you need to visit Gardens By The Bay.
Welcome on board!
I used the remote control to navigate the system, no issues at all .
The foldable tray table
This is the 3-point seatbelt
The 3-pin socket for the headphone
Remote controller and passenger's console
The magazine and safety card are located near the foot of the seat in front of each passenger.
Above the control console, one can place his/her beverage on it.
I didn't attempt to sleep to test out if the seat is comfortable due to the short duration of the flight.
For short regional flights, I think this product is adequate.
I have to bend forward in order to view outside the window, something I don't like about this product.
As you can see, this seat partition is slightly blocking the window view.
My seat: 15K
Each J class passenger receives a pillow and blanket.
The mini closet contains charging ports, a bottle of water, menu and a pair of headset.
The windows fogged up after arrival due to the condensation of the cold window and the warm temperature of Singapore.
What's provided for each J class passenger?
A wet towel
Inflight menu
What's for dinner?
Disposal Bag
Safety Card
Instruction on how to access the inflight wifi
Inflight magazine
Lavatory Check
The lavatory was in tip-top condition.
Inflight Entertainment System
Good selection of movies and audio entertainment are available.
I was able to use the wifi and check on my flight's progress, thanks to Flightradar24.
The wifi connection was not bad.
This was my movie for this flight.
The pilot's view
In-flight meal
This is the Seared Chilean seabass meal which is served together with roasted vegetables, carrots and mashed potatoes.
The crew came with a basket of bread and I went for the garlic bread.
For dessert, I had the macarone and my Singapore Sling to enjoy.
Window view (Take off to Landing)
The sky was growing darker at this point of time.
Thanks for the memories, Thai's A320!
Mahan Air's A340-600
Our taxi to the runway took about 14 minutes.
At this point, only 2 runways were in operation. The 3rd runway (20R/02L) was opened on 1st November 2024.
We entered the runway 19R and took off immediately.
Off we go and what a view of Bangkok we had during our climb.
At this point, we were on final approach to runway 20R.
We landed after a flight time of 1 hr and 54 mins.
My Flight Summary
Back in Singapore
My aircraft was parked at Terminal 2.
The walk to the immigration took less than 5 minutes.
The wait for our luggages took a bit longer than expected.
That's all for my September Bangkok trip! I hope you enjoyed it.
My ratings
Airline Mobile App/ Website (User-friendliness): 4/5
Airport Experience (BKK): 3/5
In-Flight Service: 3/5
In-Flight Entertainment: 4/5
Seat Comfort: 4/5
Cabin Ambiance: 5/5
Seat Condition: 5/5
Punctuality: 5/5
In-Flight Meal: 5/5
Cabin Cleanliness: 5/5
Overall Rating: 44/50
Percentage: 88%
Conclusion
This was my 3rd flight with Singapore Airlines within a year and honestly speaking, I was slightly disappointed with my experience of these flights. This airline may be one of the top airlines but I haven't been blown away by what I had experienced so far. Maybe I am unlucky, I don't know but certainly I have experience better inflight service with other airlines especially on the business class. What disappoints me about this flight? No pre-departure drink and the meal service felt rushed even though the flight was not turbulent for the first hour of the flight. The crew could have asked each passenger whether they are ready to eat and for my case, I had to recline my seat back to the original position and it was awkward to be stared at while adjusting my seat. Other than that, I had no issues. I find the regional J class product on both the A350 and B787 to be comfortable and had no problem with the legroom space. No matter what, this cabin product beats the business class recliner seats. On the positive side, I enjoyed the inflight meal and my beverage. This flight was perhaps too short to enjoy such luxurious moments in the skies but its memories like this make our lives more fun. Another positive feedback I have to add is the lounge visit at the Bangkok Silverkris Lounge, I thought it is a pretty nice lounge to catch some bite and get some work done before the flight.
Despite the minor hiccups, I won't hesitate to fly on my national airline anytime in the near future. I look forward to try out the new business class products announced by the airline recently and you can check that out the teasers of the product over here.
Thanks for reading!
For my business class lounge view of Bangkok Silverkris Lounge, click here
For my Thai Airways A320 flight from Hat Yai to Bangkok (previous flight), click here
Charles
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