Several months ago booking award seats for premium class travel on Singapore Air became available due to computer glitch. This past week was my turn to go and try out the A380 and a few days in Singapore.

I was originally booked outbound SAV-IAD-LHR-SIN with the last leg being in Business Class on the 380.  That is how I flew outbound. The return was changed from my originally ticketed SIN-IAH on Singapore Air 777 in First Class to United First all the way home via Hong Kong and Chicago. My interest was the A380. I was disappointed to be located in the first row upstairs of the 380 in a center seat with no window view. I could not change my seat as it was a sold out Business Class. The attendants were splendid in their uniforms and makeup and were as professional and interested in serving us as any attendants I have seen. The seat was wide enough for almost two butts of average size and the extra room was appreciated. Past that, I was disappointed in the seat. I personally like to lean back in my seat and love when a seat reclines. These did not. The only movement was the seat portion, not the backrest and I felt like I was in posture school. The attendants had to convert the seat into a bed. It did not just recline into a bed. When in the bed mode, it was perfect for sleeping and I slept about 8 hours of the 12 hour flight.

Singapore was worth the trip although 4 days was more time than I needed. The highlights were my stay at the Marina Bay Sands and the 57 story high infinity pool… I spent two days enjoying the scenery and novelty of the pool in the sky and finished two books while relaxing and swimming in the sky.

Next stop was the Park Hyatt on Scotts Rd. The staff was extremely personable and helpful and a nice two room suite on points for three nights. The breakfast buffet was $45 Singapore and the dinner buffet was $55. Our dollar has about a 20% premium at present. The selections were varied with Asian, Indian and American cuisine offered. It was much better than my trip to the local food court where the smells of fish ball soup got to me.

Singaore is extremely clean. I saw one cigarette butt in four days and all the buildings were well taken care of. I made it a point to visit the original Singaore Raffles Hotel and the Long Bar, home of the original Singapore Sling. I had the virgin version and my son Andrew had the high test original at $26. Man, am I glad I quit drinking and smoking. The costs of those habits are way out of line these days.

I’m glad I went, but for me, Singapore is a stopover city not a destination in my opinion.  It was great to hang with Geoffco the first two days and Andrew the last two. The pool was amazing, service was great and friendly whereever I went and I enjoyed the United First Class product. After all, it is just transportation and the ability to sleep on a long haul in comfort made the redemption worthwhile. I think I’ll upgrade my transpacific flgihts to first class and stay with business class with transatlantic. That seems like a reasonable compromise to me.