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DALLAS — Singapore Airlines (SQ) has long held the crown as one of the world's finest airlines, renowned for its impeccable service, modern fleet, and iconic Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) hub.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly hit the airline hard, forcing it and many of its contemporaries to navigate unprecedented challenges.
As travel rebounds, we look into the Singapore Airlines experience in 2025, examining its premium economy offering on their Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A350-900 ULR from Mumbai, India, to Los Angeles, California, via Singapore.
In this trip report, Airways looks to answer the questions: Has SQ maintained its position as a leader in aviation going into 2025?
How does its premium economy product compare to the offerings of its competitors? And most importantly, has SQ successfully mastered the art of delivering an exceptional premium economy experience?
On the Ground in Mumbai
Good evening from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport CSMIA (BOM) in Mumbai, India. Mumbai International Airport is located between the suburbs of Andheri and Santacruz in the sprawling megacity.
The airport was built in the 1930s as RAF Santacruz and began handling commercial operations in the 1940s. In the 1970s, with aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Douglas DC-10, Mumbai Santacruz airport began facing heavy operational issues: the terminals were just too small, and it was hard to expand the airfield, then India's busiest.
Eventually, the TATA group and the Indian government spent decades renovating and expanding the airport. In 2014, the new Terminal 2 was opened. However, the airport still faces operational issues.
Much of the airport is surrounded by slums, so it is still unable to expand truly. As such, the new Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMI), some 40km away, is being constructed to alleviate operations on CSMIA. It is expected to start operations later this year.
Arriving at this airport can be intense. During rush hour, the Travel time from South Mumbai to BOM can often exceed two hours by car. The airport is also connected by the Mumbai Metro’s Versova-Ghatkopar line.
CSMIA currently has two operating terminals. The older terminal, known as the Santacruz Terminal, is now used by IndiGo (6E) and Spicejet (SG) for domestic operations. However, it will be destroyed and rebuilt after the opening of Navi Mumbai International Airport.
We will fly out of the much bigger Terminal 2, the Sahar terminal, today. It is used by all International flights and Air India’s (AI) domestic operations.
Check-in for our trip to Los Angeles was quick and efficient. Premium Economy passengers are allowed two bags up to 23 Kg each. After clearing security and immigration, we arrived at Gate 70, where our flight would depart today.
Mumbai International Airport is quite lovely, very well maintained and modern. Getting Wi-Fi access is a bit of a hassle. It is free but requires an OTP number, which you cannot receive without an Indian phone number. You can activate it at an airport help desk if you are a foreigner, but it is slow and inefficient.
Mumbai - Singapore
Our first flight today is flight SQ423 from Mumbai to Singapore, one of 3 daily SQ flights to Mumbai. It was to be operated by an Airbus A380-800, but a week before the flight, I was disappointed to learn that our flight had been swapped to a Boeing 777-300ER.
Today’s aircraft was 9V-SWU, an 11-year-old airframe delivered to Singapore Airlines in 2013. The aircraft is arranged in an F4C48W28Y184 configuration (i.e., four seats in First Class, 48 in Business Class, 28 in Premium Economy, and 184 in Economy).
Boarding began at 22:40, 55 minutes before our scheduled departure. It was chaotic but efficient nonetheless. Flight time to Singapore: 4 hours, 51 minutes.
Boeing 777 Cabin
Premium Economy on the Boeing 777-300ER features four rows of Safran Z535 recliner seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. Each seat offers 38 inches of pitch, 8 inches of recline, a footrest, a 13.3-inch inflight entertainment screen, 2 USB-A ports, and one universal power outlet.
The cabin was generally clean and showed few signs of wear and tear. Waiting at our seat, 33K, was a large pillow, a blanket, noise-canceling headphones, a bottle of water, and a menu card.
Unfortunately, I found the blanket not to have been old and appropriately washed, as it had an unfortunate red stain. There were also no individual air vents onboard, which would be missed when departing from an extremely hot city like Mumbai.
These were also absent onboard the Airbus A350, which we would fly later today towards Los Angeles. Nonetheless, the seat was comfortable and spacious for our 5-hour leg to Singapore.
Inflight Entertainment
Singapore Airlines’ Inflight Entertainment, known as KrisWorld, is one of the best in the world. There are hundreds of options, from Hollywood to Bollywood and local options. The screen on this flight wasn’t super responsive, but given that it was a redeye, I didn't use it as much.
Free Wi-Fi is available once the aircraft reaches cruising altitude for all passengers with a registered Singapore KrisFlyer account. Economy and Premium Economy passengers are limited to one device at a time, but it is easy to switch connections between devices.
It was alright; it worked well, but it wasn’t the fastest. However, Wi-Fi is unavailable while flying over India, Turkey, and Iran on All A380 and A350 aircraft and most Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Takeoff, Meal Service
Just before midnight, we left Mumbai. About 30 minutes into the flight, the crew came and passed out our meal for the flight. Passengers in Premium Economy, Business, or First Class can “Book the Cook” and preselect from various options before the flight.
Local, Singaporean, and Western options were available, but I chose the Paneer Kathi Roll. It was served with some chaat, a paneer salad side, plain yogurt, a warm bread roll, chocolate cake, and assorted chutneys and condiments. It was served with a selection of beverages, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic.
However, the service took quite a while. It was 2.5 hours into the flight when the crew came and cleared our trays and dimmed the lights. Given that the flight left at midnight, and I only wanted a few hours of rest, it wasn't the most convenient.
I woke up just before arriving in Singapore to a beautiful sunrise.
Layover in Singapore
We landed at SIN around 7:00 local time, 35 minutes ahead of schedule. A short taxi ride later, we parked at Terminal 1, where the fantastic crew bid us farewell.
Since our next flight, SQ036 to Los Angeles, wouldn't depart for another 12 hours, I opted to spend some time sightseeing, my first time in the city. SQ offers a couple of free tours for passengers with over a 6-hour layover, each taking around 2.5 hours.
However, I opted to explore a bit on my own. Exiting Changi was seamless; no visas were required for US nationals. I took advantage of the MRT Singapore Tourist Pass card, an unlimited MetroCard available for 24 hours for 17 SGD.
Singapore is remarkably accessible for long layovers. Even with just 8 hours, you can truly experience the city and see most of its major attractions.
Before long, we were back at SIN, ready for our connection to the United States. No visit to the airport is complete without a visit to the world-famous Jewel at Changi.
Departing from Changi was just as seamless as entering, leaving me to wonder why airports worldwide struggle with efficiency when technology like this exists. As passengers traveling in Premium Economy do not have lounge access, I spent the remainder of my layover working at our gate.
Singapore - Los Angeles
Our second flight today is Flight SQ36 to Los Angeles, California. It is one of 10 weekly nonstop flights operated by SQ between the two cities.
This flight is operated by 9V-SGA, one of the airlines’ A350-900 ULR types, which they exclusively use for flights to New York (JFK and EWR), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO).
These aircraft do not have an Economy section; they are arranged in a C67W94 configuration. SQ35/36 only operates 3x a week, but the later flight, SQ37/38, operates daily. The A350-900 ULR does not operate these flights but instead features the standard 3-class long-haul A350-900 configuration.
Boarding began at 18:15, and we quickly boarded and awaited our departure. Flight time to Los Angeles: 14 hours, 09 minutes.
The A350 Cabin
The A350-900ULR has 94 Safran Z535 recliner seats in a 2-4-2 configuration, the same as onboard the Boeing 777. The same amenities from our Mumbai - Singapore flight were waiting at our seat, 31C, an exit row Aisle seat.
I noticed less storage available in this seat, primarily due to being an exit row seat. The legroom was plentiful, though.
We took off from Singapore just after sunset, bound for the United States.
Amenities
Singapore Airlines offers on-demand amenity kits for flights exceeding seven hours, although availability varies for premium economy passengers. While basic toiletries like toothpaste were accessible in the lavatory on the Mumbai-Singapore leg, I received a kit on the Singapore-Los Angeles flight.
However, the kit's contents were mediocre for a 14-hour flight, consisting solely of slippers (which were uncomfortably small), an eye mask, and lip balm.
I've received more comprehensive amenity kits on long-haul economy flights with airlines like Turkish Airlines (TK) and Qatar Airways (QR).
Meal Service
The first meal service commenced approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, with a snack pack of mixed nuts and beverages. I had pre-ordered the Asian Vegetarian meal, which was served shortly thereafter. It consisted of a paneer and dal dish with basmati rice.
Accompanying this were some chaat, a roti, papad, a dessert, raisins, chocolate, and yogurt. Overall, I found the meal quite enjoyable; it was one of the best meals I've had while flying.
Throughout the flight, a selection of snacks was readily available upon request from the galley. I spent the following 10 hours in a combination of work (although my unproductivity got the better of me), rest, and watching some movies.
Two hours before landing, the second meal service began. I had pre-ordered the risotto option for this meal, accompanied by a refreshing salad, a warm garlic bread roll ( the highlight for me), a cheese and cracker plate, and a fruit cake for dessert.
Arrival
I spent the flight's last minutes looking out the window as we passed over Malibu and turned into the LA area. Just before 5 pm, we touched down in Los Angeles during a beautiful sunset. A short taxi later, we parked at the Tom Bradley International Terminal and were again bid farewell by the excellent crew as we disembarked through the L2 door.
On both flights, the cabin crews were consistently exceptional. The Singaporean hospitality was evident, as the crew members constantly walked down the aisles, checking on passengers and offering refreshments such as water and coffee. Their friendly and attentive service was a highlight of my travel experience.
Final Thoughts
Going into this trip, I had high expectations, which were met effectively. Apart from the crews, the catering was on point. Book the Cook is a unique feature that most airlines only offer in Business or First Class—and even many airlines don't have as many options available in Business as we did.
The inflight entertainment system offered a comprehensive selection of options comparable to many competitors. The amenity kits were lacking, particularly for long-haul flights to the US and UK.
It wouldn't be much work for the airline to upgrade to these amenities, but it would improve the overall passenger experience. Despite this minor drawback, the flight was delightful, and I would confidently recommend it to any traveler considering this route, with SQ delivering a good-enough premium economy experience.
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Featured/All images: Rohan Ramalingam/Airways
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