Travelled recently on Singapore airlines Raffles Class(this is what their business class is called) from Mumbai- Singapore, Singapore-Shanghai and then back home again via Singapore. The service level is better than Thai business class, on which I have travelled many times, but it is not something very great or something to rave about. First the pros.
a) Punctuality-Four flights and not a single delayed minute!
b) Efficient service-The air hostesses are pretty courteous(they are prettier than Thai ones as well as more courteous!)
c) Very good selection of meals and spirits. They have a choice of red wines(French & Italian). The French one is very good. They can even mix you a "Singapore Sling" cocktail, which is Singapore’s signature cocktail, or anything else.
d) You will be addressed by name, Mr. XXX would you like this .Mr. XXX did you enjoy your meal.Mr. XXX how about another glass of wine.you get the general idea. However this is more on the Singapore-Shanghai leg than on the Mumbai-Singapore leg.
e) A very good AVOD(Audio video on demand) system, with a pair of excellent noise cancellation headphones! This is great, except when you wish to be woken up but can’t hear the airhostesses call your name. Also multiple audio-only channels(about 12) and several movies.
f) One of the toilets is bigger than other the two(it is double the size of the normal airline toilet) so if you want to sort of dress up before you arrive, this is useful. Lotsa mirrors and a choice of eau-de-cologne & aftershave. The drawers contain some tooth brushes and razors, etc.
Now the cons!
a) The seats are not that comfortable. This is because on the B777-300, which I flew on, the seating configuration is 2-3-2. Woe begone if you get the middle of the 3 seats(which yours truly got 3 out of 4 times). The airhostesses on either aisle, are not sure who will serve you, the ones on the left aisle or the right! This sounds funny, but you may get either twice the number of drinks(one from each aisle) or none at all!
b) The air hostesses walk clump clump clump with their shoes, which is disturbing, as this vibrates through the seats. Not helpful at all, if you want to catch 40 winks even with the noise cancellation headphones on.
c) The seats are not really that wide. Only the upper portion is wide but the portion where you keep your legs is not that big. The best seats are in First Class, which has a 2-2-2 configuration. Don’t get misled by the ads(the world’s best business class seats or the sleeper beds) as these are not available at all, either on Mumbai-Singapore or Singapore-Shanghai sectors.
d) At Mumbai, I was surprised to see mosquitoes happily flitting from seat to seat(even they like to enjoy Raffles class). They apparently enter the aircraft from the aerobridge alongwith the passengers. The airline crew does not seem unduly bothered about this. And yes, they do bite you and make you irritable just before takeoff.
e) At Mumbai in the Singapore airlines lounge, you have to sign for every alcoholic drink that you consume. A sad eyed bartender gives you the drink, which you then sign for. It’s ridiculous!
f) A co-passenger spilled his drink on my seat(he had one too many). The staff did nothing, he himself covered my seat with two balnkets so that my pants did not get wet. Thankfully this happened in the last thirty minutes of my Shangai-Singapore leg.
g) The amenity kit does not contain much, only a pair of socks and an eye shade. Other airlines give aftershave lotion, creams, etc but no freebies here.
However overall a reasonably good experience!