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My S$321 business class experience onboard Singapore Airlines’ Restaurant A380

SINGAPORE — The chime to mark the start of the in-flight announcement came on, but it was not to inform us that it was time to fasten our seatbelts to prepare for take-off.

The Restaurant A380 experience costs between S$53.50 and S$642 to embark on, depending on the cabin class.

The Restaurant A380 experience costs between S$53.50 and S$642 to embark on, depending on the cabin class.

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Restaurant A380 for those who want to reminisce about pre-Covid-19 days

  • Cheeky in-flight announcements set the tone for a fun night
  • I started dinner with a Singapore Sling and a certain scepticism towards airline food
  • My perception changed over the course of the three-hour meal

SINGAPORE — The chime to mark the start of the in-flight announcement came on, but it was not to inform us that it was time to fasten our seatbelts to prepare for take-off.

Instead, the Singapore Airlines (SIA) cabin crew making the announcement cheekily said: “Our first in the world gastronomy journey will take approximately three hours... In the interest of your safety, you are to keep your seatbelts unfastened and place them on your side.”

This marked the start of my Restaurant A380 experience — which costs between S$53.50 and S$642 to embark on, depending on the cabin class.

I was among some members of the media who were invited to experience the dinner service on the business class on Saturday (Oct 24) — the first day it was opened to the public.

For me, it was a chance to reminisce about pre-Covid-19 days when air travel was a norm.

Shortly after the announcement, SIA air stewardesses took to their stations for a safety demonstration, and another cabin crew announced: “In the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation, please leave the aircraft quickly in an orderly manner when instructed by the crew.”

These set the tone for a fun night, one where aviation safety was not at the top of everyone’s mind for once, as the plane was not going anywhere.

Even Covid-19 failed to be a party pooper, although diners were reminded to keep a safe distance of at least 1m if they would like to move about in the aircraft.

We weren’t wearing a face mask at our seats most of the time as I was served with a Singapore Sling not long after the “safety demonstration” to kickstart my virgin business class (dining) experience with SIA, which costs S$321 per head for this Covid-19-induced edition.

Dinner was from 7pm to 10pm.

While I thought it was funny how people would pay hundreds to be stuck to a chair in a box for that long, I ended up staying the full length of the dinner service as I was entertained by the experience throughout, although I was... eating alone.

The food and drinks just kept coming. And again and again, my scepticism towards airline food was struck down.

I picked the “Shermay Lee’s selection” — a peranakan meal specially designed for the occasion by its namesake chef, who is the late founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s niece.

It features nasi lemak as its main dish. I was tickled by the idea of juxtaposing the humble dish with the posh business class treatment.

Part of me was also curious about what it would taste like, given that the other main course dishes offered in the same price tier are things like grilled beef fillet, pan-seared prawns and scallops on saffron broth, and Suzuki Saikyo Yaki (Japanese-style grilled Chilean bass).

Well, I was taken aback by how fresh and tasty the nasi lemak’s fish was.

It was doused in a tangy tamarind and turmeric gravy that was so mouth-watering that I immediately went to Google to check if Ms Lee’s recipe is somewhere online.

It came with chicken satay as a starter, a chicken, prawn and jellyfish salad appetiser, and a gula melaka ice-cream sandwich as an after-meal dessert.

The meal could also be topped up with up to two alcoholic drinks, as well as assorted cheese and fresh food platters, so I was stuffed by the time I was done.

Appetiser: Chicken, prawn and jellyfish salad. Photo: Wong Pei Ting/TODAY

Restaurant A380 will run for another six seatings on Sunday and a second weekend, on Oct 31 and Nov 1.

Mr Lee Lik Hsin, SIA’s executive vice president (commercial), told reporters on Saturday that there are still “some slots to fill” for the seatings next weekend. Slots for its first two seatings were sold out within 30 minutes after bookings opened at midnight on Oct 12.

Asked if more runs will open beyond these two weekends, he said it would depend on whether the demand continues to be strong.

Meanwhile, the “SIA@Home” initiative, which allows people to book an in-flight dining experience in the comfort of their homes, will remain, as more than 500 home delivery dining packages have been booked and “demand continues to come in”, Mr Lee said.

He added that SIA is looking into putting out a Christmas menu.

Mr Lee, however, stressed that these initiatives are not long-term plans for the airline’s viability.

“We are an airline and we do have to get back to flying,” he said.

The first group of diners onboard the Restaurant A380 on Saturday (Oct 24, 2020). Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

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