After our time in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, our Singapore Airlines travel continued, with a business class flight to Male.
Singapore uses its medium-haul 2-class A330-300 for service to Male.
Getting to Male
We were seated in business class for the flight, which was about 4 1/2 hours. There were 2 flights a day to Male, and we were on the evening flight. It gave us time for lunch in Kuala Lumpur, then our flight on Air Asia to Singapore, and time to spare at Changi Airport. Getting to the Park Hyatt Maldives is never easy, and even for us, it required a bus ride, 3 flights, a boat ride, then a golf cart to get to our villa. We would have plenty of time to relax during our week there.
Since we were flying Business class, we could access the Silver Kris Lounge at Changi. Rocky has a nice review of that lounge, and I won’t go into more detail since our visit was rather short.
Before the flight, I took advantage of the Book the Cook option for these flights. There is an extensive menu available for flights departing Singapore. Here is a link to the BTC menu, just for business class flights departing Singapore. They have quite an array of options. Once on board, we were warmly welcomed to our seats. Business class is in a 2-2-2 configuration, with angled lie flat seats. Here is a link to the description on Singapore’s website.
Singapore Airlines A330 Business Class
Champagne offered upon boarding
The seats were comfortable, although they showed their age, and seemed a bit tired. Still, for a 4 hour flight, they were plenty comfortable. There were small storage areas below the IFE monitor, plus storage for reading materials and water bottles between the monitors. There was also storage between seats for smaller items. In addition, under the armrest there was a power adapter, plus a slot for laptops. See below for a quick photo tour of the seats.
Screen and storage located in the shell seat in front.
laptop charging area between seats
The seat was easily adjustable with a control under the armrest.
KrisWorld in flight entertainment was excellent. IFE is controlled via remote.
Soon after take off, the flight attendants asked for meal selections. As mentioned, I pre ordered my meal for this flight. This must be done a minimum of 24 hours before departure.
Here is the menu:
Dinner menu Singapore to Male
Prelude
Satay with onion, cucumber and spicy peanut sauce
Starter
Salad of feta cheese, tomato, olives with marinated prawns and mesclun
Main
* Seared US sirloin with cold green sauce, fingerling potato and trumpet-oyster mushroom
Steamed Garoupa with mushrooms and soya sauce, seasonal vegetables and fried rice
Chicken Breast in morel sauce, grilled vegetables and rosemary polenta
Indian lamb curry, spiced vegetables and basmati rice
Finale
Choice of dessert Movenpick Swiss chocolate ice cream or blueberry cheesecake with vanilla sauce
Selection of Camembert, sundried tomato cream cheese and Monterey cheeses served with garnishes
A selection of fresh fruit
Gourmet coffees & selection of fine teas, with pralines
* Exclusively created by Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar & Grill, New York
Champagne and wines
Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain
2011 Reichsgraf con Kesselstatt Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany
2011 Domaine William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy, France
2009 Château Loudenne Médoc Cru Bourgeois, Bordeaux, France
2011 Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz, Barossa Valley, Australia
Taylor’s 10-Year-Old Tawny Port, Portugal
Cocktails
Mix of the Month
Tropical Fizz
Cocktails
- Singapore Sling
- Silver Kris Sling
- Sunrise Breezer
- Rumba
- Skyhigh
- Screwdriver
- Kris in Love
- Solitaire Dreams
- Dry Martini
Apertifs
- Campari
- Dry Vermouth
Spirits
- Courvoisier XO Fine Champagne
- Absolut Vodka
- Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky
- Johnnie Walker Black Label
- Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey
- Bombay Sapphire Gin
- Bacardi Superior
- Premium Ginjo Sake Tamanohikari
- Talisker 10-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Liqueurs
- Cointreau
- Bailey’s Original Irish Cream
Beer
- International selection
- Guinness Stout
Beverages Enjoy a selection of hot and cold beverages, anytime you wish.
Specialty Coffees
- Brewed Coffee
- Café Royal
- Espresso
- Cappuccino
- Decaffeinated Coffee
- Mocha
International Teas *
- Royal Darjeeling
- Earl Grey
- English Breakfast Tea
- Paris-Singapore Tea
- Moroccan Mint Tea
- Chamomile
- Decaffeinated Earl Grey
In-House Tea Selection
Asian Teas *
- Indian Masala Tea
- Sencha
Chinese Teas
- Jasmine
- Oolong
- Pu-Erh
Herbal Infusions
- Peppermint
- Lemon Ginger Tea
* Available hot or with ice
Other Beverages
- Hot Chocolate
- Milo
Mineral Water
- Sparkling
- Still
Fruit Juices
- Apple
- Orange
- Pineapple
- Tomato
Soft Drinks
- Bitter Lemon
- Coke
- Coke Light/Coke Zero
- Ginger Ale
- 7-Up
Milk
- Full Cream
- Low Fat
This was pretty impressive menu for a regional business class. The drink selections were similar to what was in First class, with slightly fewer top shelf options.
Let’s eat!
The service started as do most Singapore Airlines flights, with satay.
Next was the salad. This came on the meal tray, and was a tasty course, with fresh vegetables, feta cheese and prawns.
Starter course on the dinner service to Male
As mentioned before, I use the Book the Cook service for my main course. In this case, I booked the Straits Chinese Chicken Curry, figuring on one chance at Singaporean food before our week in the Maldives.
Not particularly adventurous I guess, but it was excellent.
Dinner finale was Movenpick Swiss ice cream
And some Singapore Airlines branded water.
After the meal, I reclined the seat and napped a bit knowing we had another flight, and a boat ride before we’d arrive at the Park Hyatt.
There are no amenity kits provided on Singapore Airlines Business Class, but they do offer slippers/padded socks and eyeshades.
Even the business class blankets are a name brand.
Final Thoughts Singapore Business Class
Service was very good on this sector as expected from Singapore Airlines. Maybe it wasn’t as personalized as the more intimate first class experience, but it was still very good.
We arrived in the dark of Male airport, deplaned via airstairs, and found someone holding a Park Hyatt placard with our names on it. We collected our bags, and walked with the hotel representative the short walk to the domestic terminal. He kept our bags and directed us to the lounge where we waited for the domestic flight. Fortunately our wait was less than an hour.
