By Anthony Dennis

Copyright brisbanetimes

Your reviewer dons the eye mask and the ear plugs (though you can also engage the provided noise-cancelling headphones) soon after the fearfully late 1.25 am (Singapore time) take-off hour on this extended overnight flight. The KrisWorld entertainment system offers more than 1800 choices on an 18-inch (46cm) LCD flat-screen, including new-release Hollywood flicks, TV shows, music, games and apps. The in-flight Wi-Fi service, complimentary in business class, is seamlessly reliable, unlike other carriers such as Emirates where it can be non-existent on certain routes and aircraft.

Sleep, and as much of it as you can snare, is the dear friend of the long-haul traveller, so I skip the supper menu offerings which includes roasted chicken breast, fried Hokkien mee noodles and honey semolina cake. After a decent slumber, I’m wide awake, and hungry, for the breakfast service and choose the Spanish omelette with potatoes and smoked chicken sausage, accompanied by sauteed spinach and a roast tomato sauce. Lighter choices include a continental breakfast with assorted breads and preserves. Italian Illy espresso coffee is served with choices including caffe latte and cappuccino. Tea-drinkers can choose from a selection of deluxe brews from the Singapore-origin TWG brand.

Singapore is the Switzerland of South-East Asia with its Swiss-like efficiency translating, as ever, to the gracious, caring and attentive business-class service by the cabin crew. As evidence the Singaporeans may have out-Swissed the Swiss, Singapore Airlines scored a number two ranking in the 2025 Skytrax World Airline Awards with SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines), its code share partner, coming in outside the top 10, but with a still respectable ranking of 11.