Airline review: Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER business class, Melbourne to Singapore

8 hours, 20 minutes

FREQUENCY

Five flights daily.

THE SEAT

Of all the Singapore Airlines seat styles (and there are several), this is one Goldilocks could love. It has a 132-degree recline and when it was introduced, the fold-down full-flat bed was the widest in the industry. It's 79 inches (about 200 centimetres) long. There are also two different seat positions, Lazy Z and Sundeck. There are 48 of these seats all up, in a 1-2-1 configuration.

Other features include a 46-centimetre LCD screen and video touch-screen handset. The in-seat power supply, USB port, eXport and HDMI ports, as well as seat control, are all neatly organised in the one panel, and there are plenty of easy-to-access places to stash your bits and pieces.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Each business class passenger is entitled to two items of checked baggage, up 40 kilos in total, plus two pieces of cabin baggage, up to 7 kilos.

COMFORT

At the risk of sounding fussier than Goldilocks, my one gripe with this seat is that it's actually too big for me when in take-off and landing mode. I am short and my legs dangle. Only my tippy-toes can reach the foot bench under the seat in front. But once that seatbelt sign goes off, I easily find my "just right" configuration. I have chosen SQ217 because it's a day flight, departing Singapore at 11am and arriving in Melbourne at 8.25pm. I pull out the laptop and treat the journey like a work day – a work day with fine wines, silver service and delightful people tending to my every need.

ENTERTAINMENT

There are more than 1800 entertainment options on this flight, but not yet the new myKrisWorld, which is now available on the new A380s, 787-10s and A350-900s. The new system allows you to pre-select a playlist of movies and shows, and (genius!) pause content on one flight and resume it on your next - providing, of course, your next flight is also on the right type of aircraft.

FOOD

The high standard of Singapore Airlines' in-flight cuisine is well-documented. Kudos to it for finding ways to make it even better, such as personalising meals via pre-flight ordering. Suites Class, First Class, Business Class and Premium Economy passengers can pre-select their meals online up to three weeks before departure. The increase in lighter options is a welcome innovation as well.

ONE MORE THING

Clearly, variety is the spice of life for Singapore Airlines - it has lounges within lounges at Changi Airport and the exclusivity of each corresponds with your flying style. The huge Business Class section is more than fine by me, with good coffee and a restful, uncrowded ambience.

THE VERDICT

Striving for excellence is the Singapore Airlines way. On this flight, in this seat, it is surpassed.

OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE

Five

Julietta Jameson travelled as a guest of Changi Airport Group and Singapore Airlines.