I was on the Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ333 flight on my return trip back to Singapore from Paris on 3 February. It was after 3 weeks in France. My trip to Paris was on SQ336, also on J Class, which I have reviewed earlier.
How was my experience? Read on … to find out my verdict.
Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ336 From Singapore To Paris
Singapore Airlines
Route: Charles de Gaulle (CDG) – Singapore (SIN)
Flight: SQ333
Departure: 3 February 2018, Saturday, 1800H
Actual Departure: 3 February 2018, Saturday, 1815H
Arrival: 4 February 2018, Sunday, 1340H
Actual Arrival: 4 February 2018, Sunday, 1259H
Estimated Duration: 12H 40mins
Actual Duration: 11H 44mins
Mileage: 6663
Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
Seat: 20A (Business Class)
Route
Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ333 departs at 6pm from Paris Charles De Gaulle and arrived at Singapore Changi Airport the next day at 1.40pm daily on Boeing 777-300ER.
Check-in
Passengers on J Class (Business Class) are allowed 40kg baggage for check-in. In addition, there is a designated counter for this category of passenger.
Boarding
Even though business class passengers board at their convenient, however, there was a queue at this line at CDG. In addition, as I have some issue that I needed the ground crew help, however, they aren’t helpful. What frustrated me more was the French ground crew raised her voice and was extremely unfriendly. I can’t believe that they are treating their business class passengers in this manner. This is my second time having upset incident with the ground crew. The last time was in Hong Kong. I felt they need more training in customer service for ground crew. As I always say, the really test in customer service is in how they handle an upset customer and winning them back.
At boarding, I was only offered water or orange juice, instead of champagne, even though, on the tray were some glasses of champagne. I don’t understand why such discrimination on this flight. There are more to come.
Cabin
Ambience is similar to the SQ336.
Seating Plans
Likewise on this flight, a total of 48 seats in 2 sections for the J Class separated by the gallery between row 14 and 15. The seats at this section starts from row 11 to 23. The configuration is 1-2-1 with forward-facing seat.
Asides the Business Class, there are 4 First Class, 28 Premium Economy and remaining 184 Economy Class seats totalling to 264 seats on 777-300ER planes. It is similar to the SQ336 flight from Singapore to Paris.
Seats
Boeing 777-300ER installed seats measuring pitch of 50″ and width of 30″. Up o 132 degree of reclination angle with multiple recline position that includes sundeck and ‘lazy z’. I find neither position comfortable as the seats become too deep for a frame of 1.54m tall person.
I was at Seat 12A. The difference between 11A is that there is a cup placement and a space for storage while these are missing in Seat 11A. However, due to the missing leg space directly in front of the seat, hence, when in sleeping position, the legs has minimal movement space. With that said, I don’t think it will make a huge difference if you are tall and huge for either space. But for someone who is relatively small in size, the difference is felt, I certainly prefer 11A for sleeping.
Entertainment
Each seats has a 18″ wide screen and an array of media entertainment. Passengers are spoiled for choice. A noise-cancelling headset is available to each business class passenger.
Washroom & Amenities
This trip, the washroom was more pleasant. I don’t get to see the overflown bin. However, there are always missing items in the amenities drawers.
Food
After take off, I was served a glass of champagne however, there wasn’t warm nuts together with the drink. Unlike at SQ336, passenger got some nuts to snack along.
Highlights at the Singapore Airlines Business Class Flight is the Book The Cook Service. Passengers can do so up to 24 hours before their flight.
Lunch and Dinner were served on SQ333. Number of selection for both meals selection were pale in comparison with the flight from Singapore. I counted 14 items versus the 38 selections. Singapore Airlines’ signature dish, Classic Lobster Thermidor was not offered on this route.
Dinner
Now, revealing my meal on board Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ333.
Beginning with Singapore Airlines signature skewer, a popular local fare of grilled marinated chicken, beef and mutton, the Satay. Accompanying the meat with the peanut sauce is a delight. Meat were absolutely tender though a little dry. Furthermore, it will be perfect if marinate was stronger.
Next, the crew set up the meal table with fine linen cloth and cutlery.
Followed up closely with the appetiser, the Marinated Prawns Nicoise Salad. The serving size was decent and tasty.
Followed with assorted bread for selection.
My Book A Cook selection was actually Spiny Lobster with pilaf rice but it wasn’t served, instead served me the Beef Bourguignon with mashed potato. Personally, I didn’t mind having either for dinner. At this point in time, I didn’t know I won’t be getting my former order. Anyhow, beef was mediocre. Though tender but was bland. Mashed potato was dense and heavy though tasty. The worse was the sauce was lumpy. It seems it was frozen and wasn’t well-thawed. In a nutshell, it was unpleasing.
Here is the next disappointment. As the female flight attendant was about to ask if I wanted some cheese and dessert. I overheard the male flight attendant mention to her to serve me only the dessert. This was ridiculous. Why should they skip me with the cheese while served others!
I was offered either the Red Berries Charlotte or the Mystere Ice Cream. I opted for the former. In spite of the unhappy event, I enjoyed the dessert. It was toothsome. An ideal harmony of creaminess versus fruitiness and sourness versus sweet cum the various combination of texture.
Lastly, a tray of Fine Pralines was served. I was greedy wanted to have more than 1. Due to turbulent, hot drinks were not served after order was taken. Despite the condition, I feel that when the seat belt sign was off, crew should re-visit our order. It is a shame that this was not the case.
If you didn’t like what you choose via Book The Cook, there is an In-flight Menu to sought after.
Light Lunch
Before light lunch was served, the crew asked me about my choice, Lamb or Chicken. I was puzzled since I have Book A Cook. Here was when the incident unfold. I was then informed that my order was missed out by the caterer. I was upset and displease. They should have known about it and owned the mistake right from the start. No service recovery on their part, only an apology by the junior flight attendant. I just felt awful being treated in this manner. Anyhow …
During light lunch, only 4-course meal was served. Beginning with the appetiser, Assiette Campagnarde comprising platter of black forest ham, coppa, pate, Beaufort cheese with greens and pickles. Decent though not fantastic.
Since I wasn’t getting my Book A Cook dish, I have no choice but choose a dish offered from the inflight menu. My choice was the Braised Lamb Shank in Red Wine Sauce. In spite of the unhappy incident over my Book A Cook, I won’t be bias to judge the dish. The braised lamb was flavourful and melt in the mouth. The best part was it was de-bone. The sundried tomato cous cous was delicious too. I love the dish. Serving of the meat chunk was huge too.
Amaretto Mandarin Orange Cake was the dessert on board my flight. Orange mouse alternate with fluffy vanilla sponge layer with a proportion ratio.
Ended the meal with a single origin Brazil coffee. I still prefer having my coffee together with my dessert.
Between the meals, Light Bites and both Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages are also offered.
Delectables
As I wanted to tune to Singapore timing, hence even though breakfast wasn’t served, I requested for Tom Yum Noodle and Ethiopia coffee. The noodle was a disappointment. It was instant cup noodle. Later, I found out they offered Koka, and not even Nissin.
I later requested for a cup of Seven Tea served by a male flight attendant. He serve me solely the cup of tea. He didn’t go above and beyond to couple it with some biscuits like what the male flight attendant did at SQ336.
At SQ333, they left some snacks at the gallery for self service, however, I didn’t see traces of the SQ bears like what other blog posts mentioned.
Service
I am surprise that the service on board flight SQ333 was below expectation. When comparing my experience with SQ336, I felt sort changed
My Entire Flight Journey
From the boarding to the flight journey to landing, it wasn’t as pleasant as my flight from Singapore to Paris. Beginning from the ground crew who are rude, to chose to skip serving me cheese and the male FA didn’t go above and beyond like the male FA of SQ
3 areas of improvement for Singapore Airlines, first the book a cook service, cabin crew and the ground crew. Extremely disappointed with the ground crew for the manner of handling the incident. Next, the cabin crew chose not to serve me cheese and lastly, the most disappointing among all was I didn’t get what I order through Book A Cook.
NAHMJ Verdict
Overall, I don’t feel that the service on the Singapore Airlines Business Class SQ336 From Singapore To Paris was any better than the economic. The 2 area that is superior comparatively are the seats and certainly the food.
Singapore Airlines
A Singaporean Air Carrier
Website: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/home