Airline review: Singapore Airlines business class, Frankfurt to Singapore

12 hours 20 minutes

THE LOYALTY SCHEME

KrisFlyer. Members of KrisFlyer and Virgin Australia's Velocity Frequent Flyer scheme can convert miles and points between both programmes.

BAGGAGE

40 kilograms checked luggage, two pieces up to 7 kilograms each for carry-ons.

CHECKING IN

Frankfurt is a major airline hub and it's busy, but check-in is fast and smooth. Security screening is thorough. Everyone gets a body scan. I'm selected for enhanced screening and literally everything in my carry-on is checked. The Lufthansa Lounge is quiet and uncrowded but food selection favours dieters.

SEAT

Business Class 27A, window seat at the very back of the first cabin on the upper deck.

COMFORT

Singapore Airlines' business class seats are the widest in their class but mine is a bit tatty with signs of wear on the footrest, which is frayed in one corner. The seat flips over to make a lie-flat bed with more yielding foam tailored for a more comfy bed and I can swear it's true. Amenities kit has socks and slippers only, but there are toothbrushes and lotions in the toilets which are kept spotless throughout the flight. I'm not a huge fan of the caramel and chocolate seat colour scheme but there's a new version in rollout.

ENTERTAINMENT

Singapore Airlines goes big time with its Chinese and Hindi movie selection and the usual Hollywood hits but the English-language arthouse selection is not great. I watch T2 Trainspotting, and kudos to the airline for leaving the naughty bits in. Main course arrives just as I'm at the ranting soliloquy by Ewan McGregor and it's such a dazzlingly great moment I rewind and watch it again. After that I binge watch series one of The Sopranos. The airline-supplied noise-cancelling headphones work a treat.

SERVICE

I'm knackered after a 3am start to make my flight from Dubrovnik and when I turn on my reading light in the darkened cabin after three hours' kip, there's a crew member genie-like at my side – would I like anything? OJ please, with a Pu-erh tea and grilled veg ciabatta to follow, and I'd like to sit up. "We can flip the bed," she says, "but why not sit in that empty seat across the aisle and you can still have your bed if you'd like to lie down again?" Brilliant.

FOOD

Dinner service begins about 40 minutes after take-off with a selection of satays, and the menu says chicken and lamb but I swear one is beef and it's a bit chewy. Served with a proper peanut sauce with a chilli bite. All is forgiven with the next course, a smoked salmon tartare with fennel-orange salad and this is a mouth-melting delight. Coq au vin for mains is moist and tender. Breakfast is served 2½ hours before arrival – frittata, pancakes, noodles, granola with yoghurt or a selection of pastries. Champagne is Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, there's a pair of rieslings from Germany's Mosel, an Haut Medoc and a McLaren Vale shiraz.

ONE MORE THING

Frankfurt is a perfect hub for anyone looking to connect to other parts of Europe, and it's a much happier experience than London's Heathrow or Paris' Charles de Gaulle.

THE LAST WORD

Arrival at Singapore is bang on time and even though it's almost 1am according to my body and sunrise local time, I feel calm, rested and cheerful. The Middle Eastern airlines might have the edge in the cabin hardware department but they can't match Singapore Airlines' service, and business class flyers are made to feel very special.

OUR RATING: ★★★★½

Michael Gebicki travelled with assistance from Singapore Airlines.

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