We recently flew from Fukuoka to Singapore on Singapore Airlines’ B787-10 Business Class seats.
However, we booked this flight as it was part of an itinerary which included a flight from Fukuoka back to Singapore. For the 2 flights, we paid a total of 50,000 Air Canada Aeroplan Points, making use of the program’s stopover rule to stay in Singapore for 30 days.
This is also our first time experiencing Singapore Airlines’ 2018 Business Class Regional Product! As most of our previous flights were much further, we’ve only had the chance to take the A350-900s, which feature the older 2013 Business Class seats.
This is our review of the Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class product.
Booking the Flight
This flight from Fukuoka to Singapore is part of an itinerary which includes a subsequent flight from Singapore to Bangkok. For this itinerary, we redeemed our flight through Air Canada’s Aeroplan program and spent 50,000 Air Canada Aeroplan Points and CAD123.5 (S$115.60) per person.
We were able to redeem for Singapore Airlines flights as Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance. To earn Aeroplan Points, Hey Max and HSBC are transfer partners of Air Canada’s Aeroplan program.
This is a steal as flight redemptions between just Singapore and Japan can cost 52,000 KrisFlyer miles. Adding a Bangkok flight would be another 13,500 KrisFlyer miles.
Check-in and Boarding
During check-in and baggage drop off, there’s a dedicated check-in line for Business Class and KrisFlyer Gold passengers. On the other hand, Economy Class passengers will use the automatic check-in counters on the opposite aisle.
As Fukuoka was a small airport and there weren’t that many Singapore Airlines flights out of the city, we did not have to wait long before it was our turn to check in.
At immigration, similar to other Japanese airports, Fukuoka Airport has a priority line for premium cabin passengers. As we were flying in Business Class that day, we could use it, which saved us a lot of time from queuing! The standard lines were long while the priority line was completely empty.
We headed straight to Lounge Fukuoka after immigration, which was the dedicated lounge for Singapore Airlines Business Class passengers.
Plane boarding was done in an orderly manner, and there was a strict adherence to the boarding groups.
Seat Map
There are a total of 36 business class seats and 2 lavatories on the B787-10 plane. The seats are configured in a 1-2-1 configuration, with every seat having direct aisle access.
Alternative rows have a slightly different placement of the seats.
For odd rows, the window seats are closer to the aisle, providing slightly less privacy. The middle seats are honeymoon seats where passengers are closer to each other.
For even rows, the window seats are closer to the windows, providing slightly more privacy to the passengers.
Seats
The B787-10s feature Singapore Airlines’ latest 2018 regional business class seats. Designed by Stelia Aerospace, these seats are 20″ wide and 44 inches in pitch length. The seats can be reclined into a full-lie down bed with the electronic controls at the side.
First impressions, despite their age (7 years now), they still appear modern and luxurious. While in the seat, they do feel less spacious than the older long-haul A350-900 product.
On every seat, you’ll find a set of pillows and blankets for your flight.
As someone with a height of 175cm (5ft 8), there’s plenty of leg room for me to comfortably stretch out my legs in the sitting mode. However, the leg area can feel slightly cramped due to its shorter width.
The buttons to control the seats and lights are conveniently located on the sides of the seat. They are very intuitive and easy to operate without needing any assistance from the cabin crew.
On the sides of the seat, you’ll find a nook where the headphones and charging ports are. You get a universal power socket and 2 USB-A ports for charging your devices. Note that the USB ports are really slow, so I’ll highly recommend using a charging adapter on the socket instead.
From under the screen, you can extend the tray table for the meal service. This is convenient, but it takes up the entire space of the seat. When this is extended, you will not be able to leave the seat for the bathroom.
In-flight Entertainment
The business class seats feature an 18″ HD touch screen. You can control the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system by either touching the screen or the remote control on the side. I prefer to use the remote as the screen is quite a distance from the seat.
The IFE is running on Singapore Airlines’ proprietary “KrisWorld” software, which provides ample entertainment options from the latest movies and TV shows. I find KrisWorld to be one of the better IFE systems out there, with constantly updated content for passengers.
You’ll find a pair of noise-cancelling Bose headphones by the side of your seat. These will not sound as good as the latest AirPods Max or Sony headphones, but as long as you’re not a hardcore audiophile, they should be decent enough for consuming the in-flight content.
Bathroom
There are 2 bathrooms at the front of the aircraft to service 36 business class passengers. This ratio is on the higher end, becoming evident before landing, when it’s typically a busy period for lavatory visits.
The bathroom is of a similar size to what you’ll find in Economy Class, with the main difference being the amenities provided.
The bathroom amenities are provided by Penhalgon’s, a British luxury perfumery.
Meal Service
Shortly after takeoff, the cabin crew went around the cabin to serve Singapore Airlines’ famous Satay sticks. As far as in-air cuisine goes, these Satay sticks slaps. They will not be as flavourful and tender as what you’ll find in Lau Pa Sat, but they will definitely remind you of home.
For the meal service, business class passengers have a choice of either going with the “Book the Cook” menu or the “In-flight” menu. For “Book the Cook”, you’ll have to make your selection at least 24 hours before the flight.
As for the “In-flight” menu, it will differ significantly across flights. For our flight from Fukuoka to Singapore, we chose between a Japanese Set Meal “Hanakoireki” or a Beef Fillet main course. Of course, both M and I went for the Japanese Set Meal, and we didn’t regret it one bit.
The Japanese set was a 3-course meal, starting with a cold noodle mackerel combo. The cold noodles were cooked to perfection, and the mackerel was tastefully marinated.
We were shortly served the main course set after the cabin crew cleared away our appetiser. The main course was less impressive than the appetiser, with a dominating portion of rice and a few modest pieces of chicken.
The taste of the main course was good for an in-flight meal, but it wasn’t something that blew my mind and made me crave it months later.
We ended the meal service with a scoop of Häagen-Dazs ice cream and a plate of assorted fruits.
Final Thoughts
Singapore Airlines B787-10 Business Class
Summary
As the airline’s latest business class product, the B787-10s showcase the best that the airline has to offer. Although it’s starting to lag behind other airlines when it comes to technology due to its age, this is arguably the best business class seat offered by Singapore’s flagship carrier.
True to form, Singapore Airlines maintained its consistently high service standards on this flight. We experienced excellent service from the cabin crew throughout our journey, from boarding to arrival.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect is Singapore Airlines’ commitment to deploying these wide-body aircraft even on their shortest regional routes, making this excellent product widely accessible no matter your destination.
