Style: August 03, 2018

STYLE | travel 107
THE BUSINESS END
If you are yet to take a seat at the front of the plane,
let us provide you with an insight into what you would expect if you
were to opt for Business Class on Singapore Airlines’ A350.
Words Kate Preece
You’re the guest of honour and cannot see another
passenger from your seat. You’ve barely spent any time in
a queue, boarded your plane at a leisurely pace and seem to
have at least two different flight attendants ensuring all is as it
should be.
If you are travelling with someone else, as I was, you will
find yourself either perched on their expansive seat, or
standing in the traffic-free aisle, if you wish to chat. Though,
you could instead focus on enjoying your pre-flight flute of
champagne.
You will discover discreet stowage areas for whatever you
need, and a mirror (with light, of course), hidden behind a
panel, but within easy reach. It’s not about squeezing yourself
and your belongings into your space, it’s about exploring the
space and choosing what areas to use, which to leave.
You could read the New York Times, or flick through the
KrisShop magazine – perhaps order cosmetics, alcohol or
some headphones by Porsche Design.
For night flights, there’s the option of food right after
takeoff, or two hours before arrival – or both. I opted for
breakfast only (having made the most of the KrisFlyer lounge)
as I knew I would need the coffee to survive the timezone
change. Though I could have chosen a selection of dim sum,
an American breakfast, or beef noodle soup with apple
foccacia sandwich, the lighter continental option was for me,
with breakfast pastries, fresh fruit and yoghurt. Whatever
you choose, your white tablecloth will soon cover your
table, the (real) cutlery will be laid out and the service will be
impeccable.
Something to check is whether your flight is one with
the ‘Book the Cook’ option. Available for travellers on the
Singapore to Christchurch route, for example, it enables you
to choose a meal created by a world-renowned chef like
Japan’s Yoshihiro Murata, up to 24 hours before you fly, then
enjoy wines to match both food and altitude. This is how you
secure your lobster, or a quinoa and kale salad, if you prefer.
Someone will close your window for you, so the sun
doesn’t stream in as you fly through daybreak. And if you
can’t figure out how to make your bed, a member of the
crew will do it with ease, and with utmost courtesy. The
comfy duvet and extra pillows – that actually have density
to them, unlike the token ones provided in most Economy
sections – do much to put you on your way to catch that
evasive Sandman.
If you don’t want to pull that eye mask over your eyes quite
yet, just relax – stretch out. Pull on the tube socks or slip on
the slippers. Watch a movie, listen to music, read a book. No
matter what, you’ll truly feel a million miles away.
Kate Preece flew Singapore Airlines from Singapore to
Brisbane to experience the A350, which will take travellers from
Christchurch to Singapore from January 8, 2019. Business Class
has 42 leather 71cm seats, each of which fold out to become a
flat 198cm bed.