How flying Singapore Airlines Business Class during COVID-19 feels like

Here is our in-depth experience flying Singapore Airlines Business Class during COVID-19 pandemic. Taken not long ago, find out our takes on how it feels like to fly this prestigious airline. We hope by reading this, you will gain more confidence to travel again and help to speed up the recovery of airlines industry.

The COVID-19 has affected Singapore Airlines massively. Singapore, being a small city state, has no domestic market to fill. Additionally, they depend on a hub and spoke model. Which means, an additional barrier for their passengers.

Singapore has one of the highest barrier of entry even for its own citizens and residents if you are coming from a high-risk country. For example, in this experience I took the flight from Jakarta. I underwent quarantine for 14-days at their Stay Home Notice Dedicated Facilities.

Getting Singapore Airlines Business Class Ticket

I have accumulated quite a number of miles in the past few years. Hence, this is the best time to cash in the miles. During pandemic like this the ticket prices are high. Thus, the miles value here is up there. Here is one example.

The price for one-way is IDR 7,280,000 whereas redeeming flight costs 19,000 miles. That is IDR 383.15 or SGD 0.035 per miles. Such a good value.

So people ask, why do you even fly Business Class even though the Economy Class is empty? The answer is simple, their service. Not only you will get better experience, but also you will feel relaxed knowing everything will be fine.

Business Class Check-in

Before you even go to the airport, make sure you have the documents needed to fly. This link is not really obvious, but here is the link https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/id/travel-info/covid-19/. Additionally, ensure that you have also met the Visa requirements https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/visas-immigration/requirements/.

In Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Indonesia, there are dedicated check-in desks for Business Class and First Class passengers. During this pandemic, these desks are actually busier than those in Economy Class. I was ushered to the First-Class desk since it was empty. They will check on your passport, Negative PCR Test Result (it has to be taken at most 48hours) and you cannot just take the test in any clinics. They have a list of approved clinics, otherwise they will not allow you to continue your journey. Find out the links here:
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/travel-info/pdt-pcr-locations/

The international part of the airport is very empty. Such a contrast to its domestic counterpart.

Saphire Lounge by Plaza Premium Lounge & Boarding

As a Business Class Passengers, you are entitled to either Plaza Premium Lounge invitation or IDR100,000 voucher. Since many shops closed their doors during this pandemic, I would strongly advise to pick up the Lounge offer. Based on my observation, I would rate this to be the second best lounge in Soekarno Hatta Airport Terminal 3 International. Garuda Indonesia lounge still rates not only for its service, but also due to its location, service and variety of food offered.

For experienced travellers in CGK, you will understand how far this lounge is from the immigration. Gate 4 is the furthest gate at the corner L shape of the international airport. Here you can find this Saphire Lounge.

They stopped buffet counter and only allowed made-to-order meals. I could not choose much because they have very limited menu.

Selecting Indomie is never a wrong option. The staffs follow strict hygiene procedures and they wrap the utensils in plastic.

I needed to walk back to Gate 6 for boarding. It follows the same procedure, starting from PPS Solitaire, then Business Class Passengers, afterwards up to the Economy Class.

The left side of the photo are Business Class passengers and PPS Club members. Although it may seem there are quite number of passengers, I realised that most of them are transit passengers. I only saw a few of them who finished the journey in Singapore.

Singapore Airlines A350 Flight SQ965 CGK-SIN Business Class Seat

The airline features 1-2-1 seat configuration, which is common for Business Class nowadays. I picked up window seat as I am a solo traveller. Avgeeks always refer this seat as 2013 Business Class Seat as Singapore Airlines first introduced the seat in 2013. You can get the same arrangement in Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 777-300ER.

During COVID, we as passengers get Singapore Airlines Care Kit. This includes hand sanitisers, alcohol disinfectant wipe, and surgical face mask. I believe there is no differentiation on the class for this Care Kit.

For the meal, I chose duck with noodles. Nothing fancy since I could not choose Book The Cook, which is because the flight started from Jakarta.

The flight experience is really good, therefore my 1 hour and 20 minutes flew past very quickly.

Arrival in Singapore

When I arrived in Singapore, I realised how bad COVID-19 impacted Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport. The usually buzzing airport is now a dead town.

After completing immigrations and briefed on SHN, I finally exited the Customs door just to see another barrier between outside world and me. Changi Airport has converted waiting area into a barrier where it made sure that passengers could not escape the SHN.

From then on I proceeded onto the SHN verification desk to validate my identity. In that moment, they allocate which hotel I would be staying at, and also the bus I had to take. Moreover, this guy in orange helped to carry my items.

After such a long ride, I finally arrived at Hotel JEN to fulfil my quarantine of 14 days.

Finally, you can follow my SHN quarantine journey here.

SHN Quarantine Singapore Experience at Hotel JEN Orchardgateway SDF

Follow my other journey in the Flight Reports section.