What It’s Actually Like Flying Singapore Airlines A380 Business Class

Singapore Airlines debuted its A380 upgraded business class cabin in 2019. That same year, I had the experience of traveling on the A380 in premium economy and was very impressed by the space and privacy it offered. However, until late 2025, I had never tried their business class seats on this aircraft.

Since Singapore Airlines operates the Airbus A380 on the Mumbai–Singapore route, I finally got to experience their business class on this jumbo jet during a recent trip.

Booking Experience

If you’re looking for surprisingly good fares on this route, it helps to start checking around six months in advance. If you’re lucky, you may find a deal like I did — under $1,000 round trip. I also used some KrisFlyer miles, which brought the cost down even further.

One thing I really appreciate about Singapore Airlines is that even their basic business class fares include seat selection and lounge access. That’s not always the case with other airlines, where you may still have to pay extra for those perks.

Airport Experience

Mumbai:
Check-in was efficient, and we had access to the Adani West Wing Lounge. It offers a good spread of food, a full bar, and even a complimentary 15-minute foot massage.

Singapore:
We had access to the SilverKris lounges and chose the Terminal 3 lounge since our flight was departing from there and it’s often considered the best one. The lounge had a wide variety of food (including many vegetarian options), a full bar, showers, and comfortable seating.

One highlight for me was the live counters and the TWG tea selection which is a luxury tea brand from Singapore. I even snagged a few sachets for later.

If you’re flying out of Singapore, I’d definitely recommend arriving early. Between the terminals and Jewel Changi, the airport mall, there’s a lot to explore before your flight.

In-Flight Experience

We sat in the middle seats (15D and 15F on the way there, and 16D and 16F on the return). It felt like a great setup for two people traveling together. The divider can be lowered completely, which gives it a more open, almost suite-like feel. It's not the full double bed style like Q Suites (though some seats do offer this and are often reserved) but it was comfy enough for a 5.5 hour flight.

There’s a lot of space overall — both around the seat and for your legs. There’s also a dedicated space next to the screen to store your phone during takeoff and landing, which I found really convenient.

Since it was around Christmas, there were also small festive decorations in the cabin, which added a nice touch.

The Positives

The service really stands out. The cabin crew was incredibly courteous and attentive, something I’ve noticed even when flying Singapore Airlines in other cabin classes.

The food options were also impressive. There was a full Indian thali (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian), created by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, along with Western options. The variety felt generous, and small details like the warm bread service (especially the garlic bread) made a difference.

On the return flight, we were shown a selection of desserts to choose from, and later even offered chocolate truffles, which was a nice touch.

There’s also the “Book the Cook” option, where you can pre-select your meal online in advance, which is worth doing if you want to be sure of your choice.

Other highlights include the spacious seating, strong entertainment options, and free Wi-Fi for KrisFlyer members. Free seat selection and lounge access across all business class fares is another big plus.

The Negatives

One thing that takes getting used to is the sleeping position. When the seat is fully flat, your legs go slightly to the side rather than straight ahead, so you end up lying diaganol. It’s not the most natural position, although I was still able to sleep comfortably after a while.

Another downside is the lack of an amenity kit on this route. Since the flight is under six hours, only basic items like socks, slippers, and an eye mask are provided. It does feel like something is missing, especially on a premium aircraft like the A380.

Final Thoughts

Overall, despite a few minor drawbacks, I really enjoyed the experience. The aircraft is well maintained, the service is excellent, and the overall experience still holds up well even compared to newer business class products.

Somewhere between enjoying a good meal, sipping Milo, and watching my second movie, I found myself wishing the flight were longer. That, to me, says a lot.