Flight Review: First Class, Singapore Airlines SQ636 SIN-HND (Boeing 777-300ER)

In December 2024, I took Singapore Airlines SQ636 SIN-HND (Boeing 777-300ER) from Singapore (Changi Airport Terminal 2) to Tokyo, Japan (Haneda Airport Terminal 3). For my maiden voyage in cabin class F, I redeemed a First Class seat (01D) using 120,000 KrisFlyer miles. I took the flight on my actual birthday.

Whilst in Tokyo, I stayed at Janu Tokyo, the first and flagship property of the new Janu brand launched from the Aman group (behind ultra-luxury properties such as Aman Tokyo and Aman Kyoto); Shangri-La Tokyo, conveniently located next to Tokyo Station; and the popular Conrad Tokyo.

CHECKING IN AT THE FIRST CLASS PRIVATE LOUNGE

Singapore Airlines Suites and First Class passengers have exclusive use of a private check-in lounge and a dedicated immigration counter at Changi Airport Terminal 3 (“T3”). The First Class reception lounge is accessed via a private driveway located just before T3’s departure drop-off area, a left turn before Door 1. Upon check-in, you are issued your boarding pass as well as your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-esque golden invitation card to The Private Room, which may be retained as a souvenir (should you wish to) after being presented to the staff at the SilverKris Lounge. Airline staff escort and stay with you the moment you walk through the doors to the lounge, all the way until you cross the iconically nondescript “SIA First Class Departure” doorway. You find yourself in the dizzying world of luxury goods, perfumes and Bacha coffee within minutes of your arrival. It is all pretty surreal.

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Singapore Airlines First Class Reception Changi Airport Terminal 3 — Singapore Airlines First Class Reception, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Singapore Airlines First Class Reception Changi Airport Terminal 3 Immigration Departure — Immigration Departure, Singapore Airlines First Class Reception, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 The Private Room Invitation Pass — The Private Room Invitation Pass (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

SINGAPORE AIRLINES THE PRIVATE ROOM AND SILVERKRIS FIRST CLASS LOUNGE (SINGAPORE CHANGI AIRPORT TERMINAL 3)

As documented in my full-length review of The Private Room, Singapore Airlines Suites and First Class passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight have access to both The Private Room (a primarily a la carte affair, with table service and elevated wine options) as well as the SilverKris First Class Lounge (a buffet situation). For those who have access to The Private Room but nonetheless want to split their time between both lounges “for the experience”, they should take a leaf from Selena Gomez, who once shared a very relevant pearl of wisdom: “I mean I could…but why would I want to?”

The headliner attraction for any The Private Room meal is their champagne, and I naturally had copious amounts of the 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (citrus, creamy brioche, minerality, fine bubbles and a long finish). My first food order was the Stir-Fry Beef Hor Fun with Black Bean Sauce (wok-hei style rice noodles, US beef short plate, thick black bean sauce) which, from its description, suggests a gravy-laden affair. However, what was served turned out to be a sweet and rich char kway teow-esque situation that, while enjoyable nonetheless, hit very different notes from what was expected. I also had the Wagyu Satay (lightly barbequed Wagyu ribeye cuts, onions, cucumber slices, ketupat, peanut sauce), which played like a fattier, juicier upgrade to the ubiquitous Chicken Satay everyone religiously raves about on social media, and the Fried Carrot Cake from the SilverKris First Class Lounge (yes, that is allowed).

Out of curiosity, I wandered into the SilverKris First Class Lounge, and observed offerings such as Signature Laksa, Indian Flatbread with Fish/Chicken Curry, Wagyu Beef Slider with Twister Fries, Grilled Chicken Satay and Fried Hokkien Prawn Mee in Opeh Leaf.

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 The Private Room — The Private Room, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 The Private Room Shower Suite — Shower Suite, The Private Room, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 The Private Room 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne — 2013 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, The Private Room, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 The Private Room Wagyu Satay — Wagyu Satay, The Private Room, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 The Private Room Stir-Fry Beef Hor Fun with Black Bean Sauce — Stir-Fry Beef Hor Fun with Black Bean Sauce, The Private Room, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 First Class Lounge — First Class Lounge, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Changi Airport Terminal 3 The Private Room Fried Carrot Cake (Black and White Mix) — Fried Carrot Cake (Black and White Mix), The Private Room, Changi Airport Terminal 3 (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

FIRST CLASS ON SINGAPORE AIRLINES SQ636 (BOEING 777-300ER)

The Singapore Airlines First Class cabin comprises just four open suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, with a small walkway behind the middle seats for passing through to the next aisle. There are two lavatories in front of the cabin, meaning you are likely to never need to queue for bathroom access. What sets these lavatories apart from the other lavatories on the plane would be the presence of Lalique amenities.

With a pitch of 81” (2.0574) and width of 35” (0.889m), the diamond-stitched chocolate leather seats are suitably plush and comfortable, with the leather stitching extending to the footrest. The seat flips forward completely when made into a bed. A 24″ flat screen offers access to the KrisWorld inflight entertainment system (IFE) with movies, television programmes and games, with Bang and Olufsen noise-cancelling headphones provided for an optimal experience. Passengers enjoy unlimited complimentary wi-fi.

On the side of the seat shell, you can access various buttons for various functions: call for the cabin crew, activate the do not disturb status, control the mood lighting, switch off the IFE screen as well as adjust the seat angle and footrest extension. On the other side of your seat is a sliding door compartment which houses two USB ports. The IFE remote is concealed behind a sliding panel under the armrest, while a mirror is hidden behind a panel next to the flat screen. In the absence of overhead bins for your luggage, there are stowage spaces underneath the footrest for your bags, including a two-tiered cupboard.

First Class passengers are issued Lalique pajamas, socks, slippers and an eye mask along with a Lalique amenity kit. The men’s amenity kit comprises a room spray, perfumed soap, lip balm and body lotion from the Neroli range while the women’s amenity kit consists of a perfume, hand cream, lip balm and facial mist from the Soleil range. It seems women are (first) classier than men.

I also managed to procure myself a set of the iconic SQ Bears (Blue Batik), which was a pleasant surprise given their scarcity on my Business Class flights in 2024.

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 First Class Cabin — First Class Cabin (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Bedside Compartment — Bedside Compartment (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Singapore Airline Bears and Lalique Male Amenity Kit — Singapore Airline Bears and Lalique Male Amenity Kit (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

As is the case with The Private Room, the grand attraction of a First Class flight would be the expensive champagne. It was entirely felicitous that my flight coincided with the launch of Cristal Millesime Brut 2015 in SIA’s Airbus A380 Suites and Boeing 777-300ER First Class cabins, the fruit of an exclusive agreement with leading French champagne house Louis Roederer. Initially available on flights between Singapore and Delhi, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Shanghai, Sydney, and Tokyo from 1 December 2024 onwards, the offering was eventually introduced on other Suites and First Class routes on a rotational basis.

(Fun geek fact: Cristal 2015 – which currently retails at S$400 a bottle on Grand Vin’s website – bears the distinction of being the first vintage since 2002 to come from all 45 20+ year vineyard plots eligible for inclusion in the blend of Louis Roederer’s iconic cuvée. That titbit ought to make you sound immediately more learned and sophisticated at posh, Tatler-esque soirees or dinners with big firm lawyers.)

I have always been very partial to Louis Roederer (the rare, unreleased bottles of Louis Roederer Collection Essai 238 and 239 in my bathroom can attest to that), and in spite of my prior Private Room frolic, I made darn sure I reserved ample stomach space (and sobriety) to ~~guzzle the golden nectar with reckless abandon~~ truly give the Cristal 2015 the attention it deserved.

Aside from Cristal 2015, I also enjoyed a few glasses of the fruitily delicious 2009 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose as well as the ever-reliable 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blane des Millénaires Champagne.

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut — 2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 2009 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose — 2009 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Brut Rose (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires — 2007 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class passengers are able to select dishes from Singapore Airlines’ extensive Book the Cook menu up to 24 hours prior to their flight, with dishes such as Classic Lobster Thermidor, Singapore Style Yu Pian Mi Fen, Char Siew Wonton Mee Dry, Nasi Padang with Braised Rendang Short Rib and Singapore Nasi Biryani available.

Many mileage club members and food bloggers swear by the Bak Chor Mee Soup (egg noodles in pork broth, garnished with sliced and minced pork, pork ball, braised mushroom, lettuce, fried pork lard and dried sole, served with sliced red chilli), but I decided to go for the Chicken Rice (Leg Meat), which delivered decidedly juicier and fattier white chicken joy than the Business Class (and body part non-choosable) version. My travel companion had the Wagyu Yakiniku, which was sweet, suitably luxurious and so rich that I was surprised no SPGs (that’s Sarong Party Girl and that’s a bit orbit a reference – Singapore Lingo Editor) emerged from the middle seat rear walkway in hungry ambush.

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Book The Cook Chicken Rice (Leg Meat) — Chicken Rice (Leg Meat), Book The Cook (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656 Boeing 787-10 Book The Cook Wagyu Yakiniku — Wagyu Yakiniku, Book The Cook (First Class on Singapore Airlines SQ656, Boeing 787-10).

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

My maiden First Class voyage happened on the same trip as my first visit to The Private Room, and it must be said that the “wow” factor of The Private Room in terms of dining customisation and food quality did feel greater than that of the First Class flight itself (of which most of the time was spent in dreamland for me). That being said, The Private Room is ultimately still a lounge space, while in the First Class cabin you are amongst a very select and intimate group of Anna Delvey VIPs, given the opportunity to imbibe gratuitous amounts of very expensive top-shelf champagne, and treated like you were someone very, very important, which to most ~~miles-redeeming hoi polloi~~ non Crazy Rich Asian-humans is something rarely experienced in our day-to-day lives. Both experiences are same same but different, but both come together to form something truly memorable and bucket list-worthy. What a birthday celebration indeed.