Restaurant A380 @Changi

1 of 5

Why
Coronavirus travel curbs have not quenched the desire to travel, and for many, a reminder of the in-flight experience is a welcome treat. In Pattaya, a retired commercial airplane was converted into Coffee War, a “plane café” complete with first-class seats, while Thai Airways turned the staff cafeteria in its Bangkok headquarters into an aircraft-themed restaurant.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) went the extra mile. Over two weekends between October 24 and November 1, two of its newly retrofitted A380 superjumbo aircraft were opened for exclusive tours and multi-course meals, reviving the memory of dining in the clouds.

What
Parked at Changi Airport Terminal 3, a pair of double-decker A380s hummed in wait of their first guests since the outbreak. While each plane seats more than 470 pax at usual capacity, only 250 guests were served per aircraft, per dining session, in line with safe distancing measures.

With a choice of either lunch or dinner serving, diners selected their experience as they would book their flight. Seatings ranged from Economy to Suites, and the menus varied with the cabin class. Guests who signed up beforehand were also treated to a guided tour of the entire aircraft, including the suites and the cockpit.

How
Although the restaurant was the core concept, the entire experience mimicked the boarding process. Our journey started in the departure hall, where we were guided to the gates. In order to prevent overcrowding, we had been allocated ‘departure’ timings.

Once inside the gate hold room, we could enjoy a variety of activities while waiting for our guided tour. The caricature sketching station was a hot favourite, and a batik rose-making workshop was held every half-hour. At hourly intervals, the cabin crew held a showcase of the airline’s uniforms from 1957, with a queue set up for guests to snap photos.

After a short time, I was called for the pre-dining tour. Each batch was further split into small groups of four to five, led by a staff of Singapore Airlines who acted as a product guide.

The groups were spaced apart, with no two occupying the same cabin. The tour took us through the plush suites – where we caught a rare glimpse of the cabin’s luxurious powder room – all the way to the cockpit of the plane, where three pilots were stationed for a photo with guests.

Post-tour, we were led back to the gate hold room, where we waited an hour as the planes were prepared for dining. As the cabin crew filed in, they were greeted by rousing applause from fans and loyal customers. Many of these crew members have not flown for months, and had volunteered to serve in Restaurant A380 for a small allowance.

Upon boarding for our meal, the crew warmly welcomed us with SIA’s famed hospitality. I was seated in the business class cabin, and was given a choice between an international course and a local menu selected by chef Shermay Lee. All guests were also entitled to two complimentary alcoholic drinks and a free flow of other beverages.

The dishes had been prepared by SATS, and were thus, fresher than usual in-flight meals. I picked the international menu, and was treated to a hearty dinner comprising SIA’s signature satay, smoked salmon, a well-done beef fillet, baked cheesecake and a smattering of cheese and fruit.

The entire meal lasted about three hours, during which, we were kept entertained by in-flight entertainment. At the end, guests were given a goodie bag with airline merchandise as a token of appreciation.

Verdict
As the dishes had not been frozen and were formulated for on-ground consumption, they tasted much richer than they would have in the air. While I found the beef a tad dry, I greatly enjoyed the truffle mash it was served with, but my overall favourite had to be the satay.

Crowd control was largely effective, however, it could have been managed better at certain points, such as during the uniform showcase, when the queueing system was not clear to guests and the staff had to rush to enforce safe distancing.

During the hours between entering the gate hold room and boarding for our meal, the wait could have been made more enjoyable if some snacks or drinks were provided. Ultimately, however, the service was well worth the wait. Throughout the dinner, the crew was eager to host and engage in hearty conversation, and the overall experience was a unique and memorable way to support SIA through this tumultuous storm.

Rate From S$53.50 (US$40) per person
Contact
Tel: +65 62238888
Website: www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/plan-travel/discover-your-sia/restaurant-a380-at-changi/