Flying out of London Heathrow has a certain level of ‘prestige’. Many major international airlines send their latest and greatest planes there and Singapore Airlines is no exception. Two of its four daily flights to Heathrow are on the Airbus A380, resplendent with six Suites and 78 Business Class seats on the upper deck.
(Mainly Miles reports that one of the Airbus A380s will temporarily swap to a Boeing 777 from 1 February to 29 March 2025. It affects SQ308 SIN-LHR and SQ319 LHR-SIN, which is the flight being reviewed here).
With an 8:35pm scheduled departure, SQ319 is well-timed for business travellers finishing their day in London. And since the flight lands at 5:30pm, if you’re stopping in Singapore for the night, you’ll be able to head to bed soon after and try to bust the jetlag.
Check-in, lounge and boarding
Singapore Airlines flies out of Terminal 2 at London Heathrow, the home of all Star Alliance carriers. Check-in opens four hours before departure and there are plenty of dedicated Business Class priority lanes to use.
Going through security is equally speedy thanks to the shared ‘Gold Track’ priority screening lane that’s available for all Star Alliance premium cabin and elite status passengers.
Keep in mind that Singapore Airlines departs from the satellite terminal, which is a good 10-15 min walk from the security screening point. Once you emerge from the long underground tunnel, look towards the nearby wall to find the entrance to the newly-renovated SilverKris Business and First Lounges.
The Business Lounge does get busy in the evening as eligible passengers on other Star Alliance carriers (such as ANA) can access the SilverKris Lounge. Once inside, the bar serves Champagne, cocktails and Guinness or Tiger beer on tap. Over at the buffet, there’s a mix of (mainly) hot Asian and cold Western dishes to snack on.
But if you’re actually flying in Business Class, save some appetite for onboard!
Seat and layout
Behind the luxurious Suites cabin, you’ll find 78 elegant Business Class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout. The seats, designed in collaboration with Jamco and JPA Design, continue to exude a modern, fresh aesthetic, even though they lack features of newer products such as sliding doors and 4K screens.
When I sit down, the first thing that crosses my mind is how wide the overall space is. The seat itself is 25″ (63.5 cm) wide—noticeably narrower than SQ’s Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 long-haul seats, which are 28″ (71.1 cm) wide.
But I’m talking about the overall feeling of spaciousness within the seat footprint. With a ‘monocoque-like’ structure, the carbon composite shell is sturdy and thin and yes, that does seem to make a difference.
There’s plenty of space to stretch out in front while seated. Practical touches include various storage spaces, an 18″ full-HD touchscreen for inflight entertainment and a well-positioned AC charging port.
There are two common issues that I’ve seen frequent flyers bring up. The first is the angled sleeping position and footwell. Personally, I haven’t found this to be a problem when lying down.
The other is the firmness of the seat when sleeping. Now, this is something I did notice – the surface of the seat is quite hard, and the provided seat cover doesn’t do much to alleviate it. I suggest wrapping some of the plush blanket under you to act as padding. With that, I was able to sleep well for a few hours.
Food and beverage
See the menu of this flight:
This was the menu of SQ319 on 10 October 2024. For the latest menus, visit this page.
Before departure, we’re offered Champagne, a Bellini, juice, or water. For some reason, the Bellini – made of Moscato and fresh peach juice – is only available before takeoff, so I decided to go with that. It’s quite sweet, but otherwise, it’s a great start to the long journey.
Dinner
There’s time for a full four-course dinner after takeoff. Singapore chicken satay with spicy peanut sauce is the airline’s signature canapé and I always look forward to it Business Class.
Business and First Class passengers flying out of London and Manchester are treated to a special menu with options curated by Chef Monica Galetti. Her yellowfin tuna oka with ikura, coconut cream and shiso is a delightful take on the Samoan fish salad, plated with edible flowers.
But it’s her main course, the pan-roasted Cornish cod with caper gherkin sauce that really steals the show. I can unequivocally say that this is one of the best ever meals I’ve eaten in Business Class.
Perfectly roasted (and reheated) cod is paired with sea purslane, lemon salt, dill oil, and my favourite – smoked paprika batter crumb. It looks and tastes just like a signature fish dish from a fine-dining restaurant.
It’s impressive that they can pull this off in the air. It’s served with a choice of bread (I go for garlic bread, as usual) and Cornish sea salt butter.
Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines has stopped wheeling through the dessert trolley since the turbulence incident with SQ321. But the crew come around and show me all four options on a tray. I settle for two – the Tartufo (similar to an Italian ice cream cake) and some fresh fruits for balance.
The creamy Tartufo is an indulgent way to finish dinner. If you look closely, you’ll also spot the Singapore Airlines logo dusted on with cocoa!
A cup of brewed tea is one of my favourite, understated treats in Business Class. Even though the Silver Moon tea has a green tea base (which still contains some caffeine), the strawberry and vanilla tones give it a fruity punch that I find oddly comforting.
Mid-flight snacks
After five or six hours of sleep, I make it my goal to stay awake for the rest of the flight. Time to hit the menu again. On these long-haul journeys, Singapore Airlines offers a hot bowl of noodles as a snack. The egg noodle soup with chicken and Chinese greens is the perfect pick-me-up; both comforting and nourishing.
The crew also brings a gourmet snack tray, including Irvin’s salted fish skin and truffle and porcini mushroom crisps. Both are delicious, though probably an acquired taste if you haven’t tried those flavours before.
Light lunch
Note: When I travelled, a light lunch was served. However, at the time of publication, the ‘Light Lunch’ menu has changed to a ‘Before Landing’ menu with breakfast-style options instead.
Around two hours before arrival, it’s time for a light lunch. This starts with a juicy appetiser of poached chicken with goat curd, along with pickled baby beetroot. The crew member looking after me proactively offers a white wine to go with it – the 2022 J de Villebois Touraine Sauvignon Blanc which is crisp and easy-drinking. Good call.
I’ve decided to order from the ‘Book the Cook’ menu for my main course. The slow-braised short ribs with truffle cauliflower puree, pomegranate & mac and cheese is quite the definition of comfort food.
Finally, dessert is a small cookie dough and pecan cheesecake, which is more than enough after all that food. I also cheekily ask for an off-menu Milo Dinosaur, which I’ve enjoyed on a previous flight.
The crew member doesn’t know what it is, but she asks around and makes a delightful version with heaped Milo and even a KitKat on top! Full marks for initiative and creativity.
Onboard amenities
Unlike Qantas, Qatar Airways and Emirates (three major competitors for travellers flying from London to Perth), Singapore Airlines still doesn’t offer pyjamas in Business Class. I bring my own ‘relaxed’ outfit to wear during the flight. But you get slippers and a Penhaglions amenity kit with facial mist and lip balm upon request.
The lavatories stock essentials, such as dental and razor kits. You’ll also find Penhaglions Quercus eau de toilette, facial mist, and moisturiser.
Business Class passengers enjoy free, unlimited Wi-Fi onboard, regardless of their KrisFlyer membership. It’s fast enough to get work done (I publish an article on Singapore Airlines Wi-Fi while onboard) with download speeds of around 10 Mbps.
The KrisWorld entertainment system is loaded with Hollywood new releases, HBO box sets, Apple Originals, games and music. Check out the offerings ahead of your flight to help you plan better. Noise-cancelling headphones are also provided if you didn’t bring your own.
How to book this flight with points
The two easiest ways for a typical Australian points collector to book this flight are with Velocity Point or KrisFlyer miles. You’ll pay less in points with Velocity but more in fees because of the Singapore Airlines carrier charge, which is set to increase in 2025.
- 92,000 Velocity Points + A$763
- 103,500 KrisFlyer miles + GBP 273 (~A$533)
Regardless, flights departing London (or anywhere in the UK) are more expensive to book because of the UK Air Passenger Duty. In Business Class, that fee is currently £202, rising to £224 from 1 April 2025.
Consider flying out of Paris or Frankfurt to experience Singapore Airlines Airbus A380 Business Class without the hefty fees.
Our verdict: Airbus A380 Business Class
SQ319 from London Heathrow to Singapore is an excellent choice for business travellers, offering a well-timed evening departure and a comfortable, relaxing flight. The Business Class cabin delivers a modern and spacious feel, though the seat is firm when sleeping and the angled footwell might not be ideal for all.
The dining experience stands out, especially the dishes prepared by Monica Galetti. I’m sometimes sceptical of celebrity chef menus onboard, but her pan-roasted Cornish cod proves they have a place.
The overall service and amenities make this flight a top pick for those seeking a smooth journey to Singapore. The seat has some shortcomings, but if the airline were to introduce pyjamas and offer a softer mattress pad, I reckon it would be a five-star clean sweep.
Photography by Brandon Loo, who flew as a guest of Singapore Airlines.
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