International flights at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport operate out of Terminal 2, and this was where my next flight on Singapore Airlines departed from. The check-in situation was very orderly. As this flight was operated by an A350-900 aircraft, there were no First Class passengers, and at least two Business Class desks were open to receive passengers.
My bags were swiftly tagged with priority tags, and the check-in desk staff reminded me that I was invited to the SilverKris Lounge before the flight as I was handed my boarding pass.
After security, I actually had time to visit a few lounges, namely the SilverKris Lounge, Air New Zealand Lounge, American Express Lounge, and the Plaza Premium Lounge. I also had some time to grab a bite at a couple of restaurants belonging to the Priority Pass programme.
Fast forward to the scheduled boarding time, where I made it just in time when Business Class passengers were called forward to board. The gate staff were very efficient in processing our boarding passes and wished us a pleasant flight ahead.
Business Class passengers boarded the aircraft through door 1L. As usual, the door was manned by several cabin crew who showed me to my seat. They also offered assistance to stow my belongings, but I needed some time to settle in so I politely declined.
This A350-900 aircraft features the 2013 Business Class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, providing all passengers with direct aisle access.
I didn’t manage to snag the bulkhead row this time, but was happy to be seated in row 12 where the front of the cabin is usually quieter.
The window seats are perfect for solo travellers, as it offers more than an adequate amount of privacy.
The seat controls and attendant call button were all conveniently located on the armrest, together with the reading light controls as well. The headphone jack can also be found here. The buttons are positioned slightly below your elbow so you’re unlikely to inadvertently activate them as you move around in your seat.
On the other armrest I found the usual amenities, such as a pair of socks and slippers and an eyeshade, as well as an amenity kit. This is also where you’ll find the dining table, which has a push-to-release and push-to-stow mechanism. A small storage compartment, which can contain loose articles, is also available for use.
Once deployed, the dining table can be adjusted to your preferred height.
Just by the headrest you’ll find your reading light, a power socket and USB port, and another storage compartment for your tablet or laptop.
On the opposite side of the headrest you’ll find another reading light with an adjustable intensity for your reading comfort.
A partition can be extended for greater privacy for solo travellers seated in the middle two seats.
At the front of the seat next to the IFE screen is yet another small storage compartment, a vanity mirror, and a small ledge for beverages.
On the opposite side of the IFE screen you’ll find a coat hook for your convenience.
The literature pocket is right next to the ottoman where you’ll find the usual magazines for your reading pleasure.
If you’d like to change into your socks and slippers, you can stow your footwear under the ottoman if you wish.
Based on the menu, there were two meals to be served for this evening flight to Singapore.
Once the boarding process was complete, the doors were closed and we were on our way. I got to enjoy a glass of champagne before takeoff, and a refreshing hot towel too.
The seatbelt sign was turned off once we climbed to a safe altitude. The skies were absolutely cloudless for most of the flight.
While preparing for the meal service, I was served my after takeoff beverage and some warm nuts.
To start off the dinner service, I had the antipasto plate, with prosciutto ham, smoked salmon, grilled zucchini, mozzarella cheese with tomato and balsamic dressing.
For the main course, I had pre-selected my meal from the Book the Cook menu. The pan-fried barramundi in native pepper sauce with sautéed vegetables and fettuccine was prepared and executed to near perfection. The fish was flaky, and the sauce brought the al dente fettuccine and other elements together nicely.
For dessert, I had the tiramisu ice cream, which was a wonderful way to conclude the dinner service.
As I had a busy day in Melbourne prior to boarding, I decided to get some sleep after dinner. Simply flipping the seatback over deploys a fully lie-flat bed, where a sleeping pad, pillows and a blanket are all provided for a good night’s sleep.
I actually slept so well that I completely missed the pre-landing light meal! In any case, I wasn’t hungry at all as it was almost midnight before we started our descent into Singapore.
The cabin lights were gradually turned up in preparation for landing. We eventually touched down ahead of schedule and disembarked uneventfully.
As I stepped off the aircraft onto the aerobridge, the cabin crew once again wished us a pleasant journey ahead, a perfect conclusion to yet another great flight on Singapore Airlines.