Singapore Airlines is considered one of the best airlines in the world. So, when I had to choose the airline for my flight from Singapore to the Cambodian city of Siem Reap, I chose Singapore Airlines. Here is the Midlife Adventurer’s review of the Singapore – Siem Reap business class flight.
Table of Contents
Background to My Singapore – Siem Reap Business Class Flight
I was in Singapore for just two days. I ended up there because I had taken the world’s longest flight, from JFK to Singapore operated by Singapore Airlines. My main destination, though, was Cambodia where I was to stay for ten days.
I was flying from Singapore to Siem Reap and fortunately, I managed to bag a business class ticket.
Awards Flying
The ticket didn’t cost me much. I used 100,000 Alaska Rewards points and just over 87 Canadian dollars, (about 63.50 USD), for the New York – Singapore – Siem Reap one way business class trip.
I had booked this ticket almost a year ahead and it was a good deal.
CHECK MY VIDEO OF MY SINGAPORE-SIEM REAP
FLIGHT REVIEW
Check-in Formalities for SQ166
The flight SQ166 from Singapore to Siem Reap was at 1.50 pm and I reached the Changi Airport around 11.30 am. I had already done the online check in but still needed to go through the formality as I needed the luggage tag.
I initially had to do the check-in in the economy counter and then someone helped us to move to the business class section.
The check in was breeze and then I passed through the emigration control.
From there, I walked to the Krisflyer lounge. I will write a separate post about the Krisflyer lounge later.
I left the lounge around 1 pm and reached the boarding gate ten minutes later. Singapore is one of those countries where the security clearance is at the boarding gate.
I boarded shortly after 1 pm. We left the gate just before 2 pm and fifteen minutes later we were airborne.
After Boarding the SQ166 Flight
Singapore Airlines used a Boeing 737-8 Max on this just-over-two-hour flight route.
The Seat for Singapore – Siem Reap Business Class Flight
The business class has alternating 2-2 and 1-1 seating configuration. That is, the first and the 3rd rows have two seats on either side of the aisle while the second row has a single seat on either side of the aisle. Solo travelers prefer the middle row.
This is a lie-flat seat which was somewhat surprising given that this is just a two-hour flight. But I have been on such short flights with lie-flat seats before.
The seat was about 20 inches wide which is very generous and had ample leg room. It was very comfortable and certainly SIA gives a lot of thought to making it cozy.
The Meals and Drinks for Singapore – Siem Reap Business Class Flight
Shortly after boarding and I had settled down in my seat, I was offered the pre-departure drink options of fruit juice, water or champagne. I went for the NV Piper Heidisieck Essentiel Extra Brut champagne. This is the champagne I had during my SQ23 JFK to Singapore flight (the champagne was served once the flight was airborne) and I like this champagne. It is a smooth, bottle-aged champagne good for a pleasurable trip.
The meal came once we had reached the cruising altitude.
Singapore Airlines offers what it calls Book the Cook feature which allows the passenger to book their main meal online weeks earlier.
I had ordered nasi lemak.
I really liked the meal. Considered by the Malaysians as a semi-national food, this fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk was accompanied by spicy sambal prawns, an omelette wedge, grilled fish cakes (otah) and, the best part of all, fried anchovies.
For appetizers, there was Thai-style marinated prawns with pomelo salad (Yum Som Or Goong). There was of course bread but I skipped it. I didn’t feel right to spoil a great nasi lemak with bread.
For dessert, there was coconut bavarois with tropical fruit compot.
All in all, I loved the food.
I also had a beer to go with my meal but stopped with just one though the flight attended kindly asked me whether I wanted more. Usually, I would have gone for a post-meal drink of whisky or cognac but this time I declined.
Amenities: What to Expect in Singapore Airlines’ Business Class to Cambodia
I liked that I got a hot towel shortly after I settled into the seat. This was a short flight, so there was no need for eye-mask, slippers etc.
Wi-fi, Power and IFE on SQ 166
As a business class passenger, I had free wi-fi access once the aircraft reached 10,000 feet in air and it worked well.
There were USB ports and universal power sockets and, of course, the headphone kit.
The in-flight entertainment (IFE) options are huge with movies of different languages – English, Chinese, European languages, the various Indian languages etc. – tv shows, and news. It was a two-hour flight so I spent the time reading.
Toilet on Singapore – Siem Reap Business Class Flight Cabin
This perhaps is one area where SIA has been somewhat frugal. The toilet provides all the necessities such as the Penhaligon’s moisturizer etc., but the toilet is small. Pretty small. I am a small made person so it was okay for me but a regular-sized person will find the toilet very tight and challenging.
Service: What to Expect in Singapore Airlines’ Business Class Flight
The service in impeccable. The flight attendants were friendly, courteous and professional, just as the flight attendants on my long, 18-hour flight from JFK to Singapore were.
Concluding Comments on Singapore – Siem Reap Business Class Flight
As mentioned earlier, this was a short flight but I enjoyed every minute of it. The facilities such as the seat are great and so was the meal and drink options.
Capping it all was the service.