Review of Singapore Airlines flight from Shanghai to Singapore in First

Hello everyone, welcome back to another flight review. Today, we’re doing something that bothered me a bit ever since a I joined Flight-Report, Suites aboard Singapore’s A380. Why has this bothered me? In May on 2024, just two months before I discovered this incredible community, I was lucky enough to try this product from Frankfurt to Singapore. Despite being top of my list for a review, I didn’t feel there were enough pictures for a full, comprehensive review. I do plan on review it regardless since there were more food options than today, and some memories of the crew and brief comparisons to a short trip today. Today we are heading from Shanghai PVG over to Singapore. The A380 giants operated this route for a brief period around October of last year, then halted operations before temporarily restarting again. Despite having planned to fly from Beijing to Singapore on the 777, I knew I had to reschedule just to fly on Suites.
 
For my more frequent readers you may remember I had an extensive list of mainland Chinese treks in the second half of 2025, flying through PVG quite often. This was, however, the very first time flying out internationally. I was also quite excited to check out the lounges, which I’ve heard are a step up from Beijing’s offerings (which really isn’t too hard of a feat).
 
After landing aboard my short trip from Beijing on HU, I made my way upstairs to PVG T2’s international departures. T2 is responsible for nearly all international carriers out of Shanghai, with only SkyTeam (Air France, Delta, KLM) staying in T1 alongside their partner (and PVG host) of China Eastern. Still Beijing Chinese New Year, there were lots of decorations celebrating the occasion.

Arriving at the check-in area, there was dedicated space for Suites. 

A few years earlier I had watched a vlogger document his trip aboard Swiss F out of PVG to Zurich, where he had an agent escort him through security and to the lounge, but it seems that’s no longer the case for F trips. There was also a placard for SQ F (as opposed to Suites) checkin hidden behind the agent, as the carrier swaps between the offerings with 777-300 ER’s also flying the same route. 

After receiving my (beautifully golden) Suites boarding pass, I was offered either the Air China or China Eastern lounge, the former being recommended as there’s a dedicated F section. Having experienced the CA F Lounge in Beijing which is essentially a carbon copy of the J lounge, I didn’t have my hopes too high.

There is fast track security here at PVG which is also something lacking at PEK. After a quick immigration, I headed over to the CA lounge up the escalator.  

Upon arriving, I was directed to the first class section after showing my boarding pass. Lots of CNY decorations still around. 

My immediate impression of the lounge was it’s a significant step up from that in PEK.

I was immediately offered an a-la-carte menu, which is literally not offered anywhere else I've been in mainland China, with some decent options. 

The lounge was also far quieter than that in PEK, probably due to the allowance of Priority Pass members there. The lounge also seemed quite elevated, showing a true dedication to providing an exclusive F lounge experience. Within, there’s a small buffet area and a full bar constantly manned by the staff. 

There’s also a large lounge area (not too large to preserve the exclusive feel) and a work area. 

Lockers were also available to store your belongings. 

The bar also offered some cocktails on request.

The small buffet section.

Lounge area.

I ordered the beef and Shanghai xiao long bao, the latter was told needed 15 minutes to prepare. The beef was decent, tthe sauce was quite good. It was funny to see a plastic knife accompany my metal fork. I also took some spaghetti and pizza from the buffet, just average as lounge buffets usually are.

The view from my seat, a nice one. . There’s also Carlsberg beer on tap.

Instant noodles and some snacks available at the bar. 

I also went with some mushroom soup from the buffet. 

My Xiaolongbao then came, accompanied with some vinegar. I only ate 2/3 since I had to spit one out purely because I wasn’t expecting it to be that hot! It was delicious, love having a piece of Shanghai before leaving. 

I then did some planespotting, which is interesting since you can spot all the international carriers even if you are flying domestically, as its on the lower level. International departures offer a unique few from the second floor.

I also passed by the entrance to Juneyao's lounge. I found it interesting that it's entrance was so glamorous while CA's was hidden behind a small hallway. You could easily mistake Juneyao being the flag carrier leaving from PVG.

One incredible perk from being up top is the ability to get a perfect shot of plane landings. This elevation was by far the best ever spot I’ve experienced inside a terminal, and I was able to catch some glorious landings, including one of my A380.

PVG has by far the largest international carrier presence in mainland China. Here was the first glimpse of my giant for the day, just arriving in from Changi. 

With 30 minutes or so until boarding, I saw quite a crowd of aviation enthusiasts gathering around the gate taking pictures. Love the passion! 

I decided to return back to the lounge to take a quick shower, trading in my boarding pass for a key. The shower suite had the basic amenities, and quite a spacious area.

My only point of criticism was the shower floor, it might not be easily visible from this angle but the floor was essentially elevated in between the gaps, which made it feel quite sharp and actively brought pain to my feet. No slippers that can be worn in a shower, either.

Some sleeping rooms also on offer, I'm assuming you'd trade in your boarding pass for one of these, too. I previously did a review on Lufthansa's F lounge in Frankfurt and remembered how the sleeping rooms there, albeit being private, were in a very busy area of the lounge and I kept getting woken up every few minutes. Here, however, these sleeping rooms were hidden in a very quiet space. Well done!

One last look at what has been by far the best mainland carrier lounge here in China.

After a quick shower, it was finally time to head to our gate! As soon as the announcement began, I made my way over to priority boarding. Strangely, after I was admitted past the check, I was told to wait for a while.

During what was around 10 minutes of waiting, literally none of the other passengers were allowed through. I just stood there awkwardly until eventually being allowed onto the jetbridge. 

On we go! I was greeted at the door and escorted over to my seat. The first look at the F cabin.

Now then, the first glimpse of my seat (or suite?). 

The space is unmatched, absolutely incredible. You genuinely forget you’re on a plane. Waiting for me was the giant TV, not even IFE screen, a full TV. 

The menu was displayed next to a vase of real flowers. One of my biggest regrets from my 2024 flight was not taking pictures of the menu, don’t worry I have you guys covered today!

Waiting at my seat was an amenity kit and B&O headphones. . Let’s take a quick tour. There’s plenty of storage space in the three little cubbies on the left side. Extra space underneath.

A small table area here. 

I managed to lean over the partition and get a shot of the double suite before the family of three boarded. The bed combined between the two suites and essentially creates a double-bed in the sky. 

B&O headphones, these were outstanding for noise cancellation.

Three different crew members came by to introduce themselves, one lady and two gentlemen. The lady and one of two gentlemen were very professional and rather quiet, which is not an issue whatsoever. The other gentleman was my favorite, he was so energetic and insisted on a passionate handshake when meeting me! He asked for welcome drinks, and I hoped for champagne. He mentioned SQ started offering a new Pol Roger champagne in addition to the famous Krug, and I knew I needed one of each. I couldn’t really tell the difference. 

The massive partition. 

The grand staircase!

I then headed over to the toilet, two being offered for what usually is 6 F passengers (only 4 today). The toilet on the left is significantly smaller than that on the right, with the latter featuring a make up table. Still a mystery why SQ didn’t install showers on their A380 toilets. Basic amenities were available, along with an always appreciated real plant.

Returning to my seat, pajamas were offered along with some slippers, all co-branded with La Lique. 

When I flew back in 2025 the pajamas were gray, they’ve since changed it up with a navy-blue color. The crew offered to play my jacket in the drawer, located on the right side of the doors. I apologize for the blurry photo; the champagne was getting to me. 

The suite to my right remained empty.

Time to check out the menu! Although only the dinner menu was offered, I thought I’d document the reverse flight and the breakfast options too. I’m glad today’s flight offered dinner, as breakfast is always the last desirable meal in flight.

Onto dinner, there were two set menus, a Shanghai inspired menu and an international one. I went with the former, as you can never go wrong with Shanghai food leaving from PVG. My apologies the photos aren't in the highest definition.

Next up, the (extremely long) beverage menu.

Shortly, the lights were dimmed ever so slightly. 

The tray table located here.

There are charging ports on the left side of your table, along with a card reader assuming you make an inflight duty free purchase. The seat controls located just above the ports. 

A hot towel was offered. 

Although SQ only usually offers teddy bears to children, I really loved them on my last journey and the crew were more than happy to provide! 

Opening up the amenity kit, this was up there with the best I’ve seen. The diffuser itself wins lots of points for SQ, along with some other LaLique branded amenities. Interestingly, no eye mask or earbuds, which I feel is a must for any amenity kit, J or F. They were available upon request.

I then asked for a small fleece blanket and immediately tossed it over my legs.  

The only other A380 currently serving PVG, big big EK. 

Checking out the internet, these were the guidelines,with free access for KrisFlyer members. Free access for me. 

This was the toilet on the right side, with the makeup table and larger than the one on the left. Also a giant mirror. 

The captain then came on the PA and apologized in advance for strong expectations for turbulence, meaning service would suspend until nearly an hour into the flight.

Let’s take a moment to check out the IFE. SQ offers an extremely extensive selection of both films and TV shows. I found it peculiar why there was a “for suites and first class” section, are these just not available for all other passengers, seems strange.  

There was also an extensive variety of films, from European to Indian to Chinese to Japanese cinema. As far as movies and countries represented is concerned, I think SQ wins the gold. 

I also liked how the TV is responsive to what you select on the smaller ipad. When browsing TV shows, the TV reflects it. 

Similarly for TV series, a great selection. 

They also tell you how long your show/film is relative to the flight time remaining, a nice touch.

The seat controls and controller located on the armrest, which also allows you to spin your seat around to face the TV. Again, apologies for what I promise is the last blurry picture, was 5 glasses of champagne down by now. 

We then began taxing out of PVG, and was quickly into the air on the A380’s incredibly stable engines. I decided to watch some Friends, my goto comedy show in the skies. 

As mentioned, there was no service until a good hour into the journey. The captain came onto the PA a few times to apologize for the inconvenience, and ultimately he was quite confused claiming there were warnings of heavy turbulence but we didn’t actually experience any, I thought it was funny even the captain was curious where the turbulence was. 

Finally, the seatbelt sign turned off and the crew kickstarted service. I started with some more Krug and a diet coke.

I noticed that once you turn your chair to face the TV, it becomes extremely inconvenient to plug your headset and phone to the ports. Luckily, points to SQ’s seat design as there are an entirely separate set of plugs attached to your chair, no problem after turning it around.

For my meal, I asked if I could mix and match doing the Chinese set with the international starter, to which the crew gladly accepted. This is my first time trying SQ’s famous chicken satay, and I must admit it lived up to the hype, incredible! 

I got a nice shot of the gorgeous Chinese sunset! So long for now, China!

Another towel was then offered.

The tablecloth was then placed, along with silverware and cutlery in anticipation of the main meal. 

I then went with a glass of Johnny Walker Blue Label, my favorite whisky. Although many airlines bring out the bottle of champagne when serving, this was the first time I experienced the crew bringing out every single bottle of spirits before serving, great touch!

I was then offered a choice from the bread basket, the garlic and focaccia my choice. Both were extremely toasty and warm. I believe this was the largest bread selection I've seen in the air. 

Continuing my mix and match, I wondered if I could get the lobster from the international menu, emphasizing the crew that it’s completely fine if not. Luckily, I got the green light! The lobster was alright, slightly on the blander side. The eggplant was actually my favorite, immersed with more flavor than the lobster.

Up next was my starter from the Chinese Menu: Five Spiced Belt Fish, Braised Duck Jelly, Pickled Kohlrabi with Sugar Peas Parcel. 

Being Chinese, I hate to say this but it was rather underwhelming. The fish was by far the best of the three, with the Pickled Kohlrabi being extremely sour and Duck Jelly very stale and bland. 

Up next was the Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Yellow Croaker’s Lion Head Ball and Peas, this was top notch. The soup was extremely refreshing, delicious.

The main course then followed, featuring Spicy Scallion Oil Poached Chicken, Hunan Chili Stir Fried Lamb Belly, Braised Luffa Vegetable in Prawn Broth, and Shanghainese Glutinous Rice Pork Shao Mai. 

Mixed reviews on this one. The lamb was quite spicy which I liked, but there was a bit of a strange taste that I didn’t enjoy. The chicken and vegetables were perfect, and although the shao mai was on the blander side, I was able to dip it into the sauces of each side dish to add to the flavor.  

I only noticed this when writing the review, but there's also a "shi quan shi mei" themed paper placed over the tray, in line with the theme of the Chinese meal concept.

All in all a solid meal, other than the Chinese appetizers.

The Chinese set menu lists a pumpkin dessert, but I opted for the International option: the passion fruit mousse cake with Belgian chocolate ice cream and berries compote. The cake was average but the ice cream really elevated it. You can never go wrong, in my opinion, with a hearty scoop of chocolate ice cream.

After my meal, I asked the crew to begin turndown service as I visited the toilet again to freshen up. There was an entire drawer stocked with amenities, ranging from shaving sets to toothbrushes to sanitary pads.

Back at my seat, the bed had been brought down and set up. 

The cabin lights also dimmed as everyone began to doze off.

Although the bed is quite narrow, it was extremely comfortable. I was afraid I might fall off when fidgeting and turning around in bed, but luckily that didn’t happen. Props to SQ for providing a full turndown service with all the amenities on a shorter 5 hour flight. I then proceeded to pass out (I blame the alcohol) for a solid 2 hours.

When I woke up, the PA announced we were beginning our descent into Singapore, something you always dread to hear when flying such an incredible product. I asked the crew for a small bag to hold the goodies they offered. Another wet towel was provided.

The lights remained dimmed up until landing and I caught up on some final glimpses of Friends. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and we touched down in Singapore a few minutes before 22:00. My final glimpse of our giant upon disembarking.

I only learned of this a few days before flying, that you can actually access The Private Room upon arrival, I always assumed this was only a perk for departing out of Changi. Although I was extremely stuffed, I thought I’d check it out (also a large part to share with you guys!).

The Private Room was very quiet and yet not that empty, a good 20 passengers or so were present.

I went immediately to the dining area, which had only one other passenger. Here’s the menu, what stands out is the incredible champagne offering, and I had to go for the 2007 Tattinger. Here it is!

Other than the a-la-carte menu, there’s a very small buffet area just featuring some cake and chocolates. 

The lounge area. 

A look of the entrance to the Private Room. 

I didn’t try out the showers or private resting bedrooms, but I did overhear the couple from my flight be informed apologetically by the staff that no private resting rooms were available for use.

Back at my seat, my glorious 2007 Tattinger was being served. Diet coke and still water accompanying. 

I went with the lobster and wagyu satay. The former was quite disappointing as the dish was as bland as it can get, but the satay was brilliant. 

Check out this incredible wine cellar!

I then opted for the Chinese New Year limited set of desserts, featuring a matcha cake on the right, a white chocolate dessert disguised as an orange in the center, and I genuinely can’t remember what’s on the left. My favorite by far was the white chocolate orange. I also grabbed two chocolates from the small buffet area. 

Finally, I ordered the Truffle Ee Fu Noodle with mixed mushroom, this was spectacular. Nothing too over the top, just a classic fried noodle but elevated with truffle. I couldn’t help but also grab another order of the wagyu satay.

Finally, it was time to bode farewell to the Private Room and conclude this wonderful journey.