Check-in
The check-in process was fast and easy. My original seat of 95F had a malfunctioning electrical plug and I was placed in 94F instead. The rear cabin was empty and had I known it I would have selected 96F which is the bulkhead seat (this was tagged as occupied during my online check-in process). Given the short 4 hours flight, I decided to just remain in my designated seat.
Lounge
Singapore Airlines has its own lounge in HKIA (with a dedicated First-Class lounge). Getting a seat was difficult as the lounge was packed to the brim! Eventually, I managed to get a pod seat for a short lunch before boarding.
The buffet spread was reasonable, including dim sum items (its Hong Kong after all!). There is an ala carte option of cheese polo bun with Hong Kong style milk tea and Wonton Soup noodle. I only tried the polo bun and milk tea (unsweetened), and I would certainly recommend these 2 items for those visiting this lounge.
There wasn’t any time left for me to explore the American Express Centurion Lounge.
Boarding
The boarding queue was as expected, long given the number of passengers the A380 carries. However, it was fast and soon I was on board and settled into my seat.
Soon after settling down, the flight attendant introduced herself and soon after offered me a selection of pre-departure drinks.
Hardware
I have tried the A380 Business Class on SQ 326, and I find it less comfortable than the old A380 Business Class seat or the 77W/359 seats in bed mode. In chair/lounge mode, the chair is comfortable. One advantage of this seat is that no turning down is necessary.
Bulkhead seat is highly recommended as you would have a much wider leg space (instead of a foot well) and it can be turned into a “double bed.” The privacy of the new A380 seats is better than their predecessor but it still lacks a door.
The touchscreen TV is quite responsive with good clarity. Paired with the provided ANC headphones, you can be sure to enjoy the Krisworld entertainment.
For long-haul flights, I would still prefer the 2013 seats (on the A359 and 77W) as I seem to sleep much better on these seats. Hopefully, the new seats to be introduced in 2026 will be a step up!
Software
The SQ service was certainly good on this flight. LSS Joey together with FSS Stephanie and Heidi were prompt and friendly. The one blip though (not related to service) is the insufficient slippers loaded on this flight. By the time I requested a pair, none were available. A little disappointed but no big deal for a short flight.
I ordered the inflight option of Sea Bass with lobster bisque sauce (which I request to be separated). Even without the sauce, the fish was moist and tender.
The raspberry Haagen Dazs was an excellent choice of dessert to end the meal with. The signature set ex-greater China, however, was disappointing.
Impression
A380 is still my favorite plane, given its majestic size which helps with stability during minor turbulence. The A350 is slowly becoming my favorite given that it carries less passengers (helpful for flights ex-SIN) while the seats of the A380 are not as comfortable for sleeping than its predecessor (subjective).
With A380 no longer in production, we may not be able to see newer products on the A380 (hopefully I am wrong on this).
That Time Of The Year! 