Hello from Cambodia, as I just flew Singapore Airlines’ Boeing 737 MAX 8 business class on the 1hr40min flight from Singapore (SIN) to Phnom Penh (KTI), as part of my review trip. While narrow body flights usually aren’t much to get excited about, I was very much looking forward to this one, as it was my first time flying on a Singapore Airlines narrow body.
Up until a few years ago, Singapore Airlines exclusively operated wide body planes, and its SilkAir subsidiary operated narrow body planes. However, the airline decided to merge those brands, which seemed like a logical move, in terms of creating a consistent experience across flights.
While I’ll have a full trip report upon returning home, in this post I’d like to share some initial impressions, as I was very impressed by the whole experience.
Singapore Airlines’ 737 MAX business class cabin is comfortable
Singapore Airlines’ 737 MAX business class cabin is the most intimate in the fleet, with just 10 seats.
Business class consists of staggered seats spread across three rows — the first and third row are in a 2-2 configuration, while the second row is in a 1-1 configuration. I managed to snag one of the solo “throne” seats (this could be done within 96 hours of departure).
Suffice it to say that this is just about as good as business class on a 737 will get. These 737 MAXs mostly operate short flights of under two hours, so getting a flat bed is a real treat. That being said, the airline does operate a few longer routes with the plane, with Busan (PUS) being the furthest destination.
The only slightly unpleasant part of the experience is the bathroom situation, given the typical tiny 737 MAX lavatory. At least Singapore Airlines elevates this a bit, by keeping it spotlessly clean, having proper cloth towels, and even offering some nice toiletries.
