A Touch Of Cabin Lust

Many business class travellers can get a bit jaded over the years about the experience. Singapore Airlines, loved by its frequent fl yers and envied by its competitors, however, is proving us all wrong when we think there’s nothing new up there.

- Ruchira Bose

I don’t feel embarrassed or apologetic anymore when I say I’ve been flying business class (and sometimes First) since I was a teenager. I’ve literally seen the days when it wasn’t a fully flat bed. Airlines had armchairs and then later slopey beds that had about the same ability to retain you as your shoulder has when there’s a silk scarf draped over it. It used to be a task to not gradually slide down. But not on SQ! In 1998, Singapore Airlines was the largest operator of 747-400s in the world. And their business class was called Raffles Class. The recliner armchairs may look dated compared to the suites we see now, but back then, they really were the best among all cabins. I think few can deny that Singapore Airlines has always set the standards for luxury air travel, particularly being intuitive about what passengers may need on long hauls.