Singapore won best first-class airline in the world for its exclusive hotel-like Airbus A380 suite. Here's what it's like inside.

Taylor RainsJun 27, 2024, 21:14 IST

Singapore's first class was again named the world's best for 2024.James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Singapore Airlines won the 2024 Skytrax award for the world's best first-class service.
The airline's Airbus A380 planes sport a hotel-like suites that can convert into double rooms.

Singapore Airlines is heralded as one of the most luxurious carriers in the world, earning loyalty for its nice cabins, attentive flight attendants, and reliable operation.

It fought Doha-based competitor Qatar Airways for Skytrax's 2024 title of world's best airline, winning in 2023 but losing to Qatar this year.

However, one Skytrax awards category Singapore has consistently won since 2018 is Best First Class for the hotel-like suites on its Airbus A380s.

Although some travelers savvy enough with points may snag a seat, the exclusive cabin is widely booked by deep-pocket business and leisure passengers, as roundtrip tickets can cost up to $30,000.

First launched in 2017, Singapore's A380 first-class suite is about as close as one can get to flying private on a commercial jetliner.

Singapore's first-class travelers will still have to navigate check-in and airport security, but they have dedicated lanes and a lounge to look forward to.Vytautas Kielaitis/Shutterstock

The suites are accessible by a grand staircase at the front of the plane.

Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Six mini hotel rooms are separated by tall walls, each with a full sliding door.

Hallway with the suites.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Instead of the lie-flat bed common in business class, Singapore's suites have a separate chair and bed.

Singapore's first class suite.Singapore Airlines

Singapore's plush reclining chair has various positions for dining, working, and watching TV.

The swivel chair with the table out and the bed (left) stowed.James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Competitor Etihad Airways' A380 First Class Apartments have the same design — but without a key perk that sets Singapore apart.

Two of Etihad's A380 apartments combined.M101Studio/Shutterstock

While Etihad's apartment beds can half-connect, Singapore can fully combine two suites into one.

Two suites can be combined into one to offer 100 square feet of space.James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Qatar Airways QSuite business class has a similar design but without the hotel-style privacy and space.

The double bed is in Qatar's QSuite business class. The product is on all of the airline's A350-1000s, some A350-900s, and on most Boeing 777s.David Slotnick/Business Insider

In addition to the niche perk that helped win the Skytrax award, the suites also feature a 32-inch television with thousands of titles.

Singapore's television is touchscreen.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

A small vanity sits along the fuselage and includes a mirror and toiletries.

Noise-cancelling headphones are also available to passengers.Taylor Rains/Business Insider

Drawers, cubbies, a hanging closet, and various other little nooks are available for storage.

The storage compartments open for stuff or close to create a workspace.Taylor Rains/Insider

Outside the suite, customers can freshen up in one of the two giant lavatories reserved for first-class.

The smaller of the two lavatories (pictured) has the vanity built into the sink area.Taylor Rains/Insider

Passengers will find a vanity, toilet, toiletries, a baby-changing station, and a full-sized mirror in each restroom.

The larger lavatory is pictured. The vanity is on the other side of the wall between the toilet and the sink. Taylor Rains/Business Insider

The bathrooms do not feature a shower, though.

An in-flight shower on an Emirates Airbus A380.Emirates

Those hoping to experience the world's best first-class have just a few places to catch a ride — but none are in the US.

Singapore only flies its A380 to a select few cities.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Singapore used to fly its A380 to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport via Germany but replaced it with a Boeing 777-300ER in May 2023.

Singapore flies a Boeing 777-300ER on its fifth-freedom route between New York and Changi via Frankfurt, Germany. It flies the A350 nonstop between NYC and Singapore.Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock.com

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