When I travel domestically or around Southeast Asia, I usually stick to one airline whenever possible. My main reason is simple: I like accumulating miles and making the most out of my frequent flyer account. But after trying Starlux Airlines last year, I realized that it might actually be worth checking out other airlines before booking a flight.
So when we started planning our trip to Singapore, I decided to look beyond my usual airline and see what other options were available. Singapore Airlines was one of the airlines I considered. As Singapore’s flag carrier, Singapore Airlines is well known for its excellent service, comfortable cabins, and overall inflight experience. It is also one of those airlines that I had always been curious to try at least once.
I compared fares from 3 airlines, and to my surprise, Singapore Airlines had a lower fare than some of the other options I was considering. I took note of the fare, but I decided not to book right away because I learned that the BPI Awesome Travel Fair 2025 was coming up.
Waiting turned out to be a good decision. I booked our Singapore Airlines tickets during the travel fair sale and was able to save $52.80. It may not seem like a huge amount, but savings are still savings! I booked our flights seven months before our scheduled trip, which also gave us plenty of time to prepare for the vacation.
For three people, I paid $785.40 in total. The fare already included 25kg of checked baggage, hand-carry luggage, and meals, which made the deal even more appealing.
And just like that, my curiosity about Singapore Airlines turned into my first-ever experience flying with the airline. Here’s my first-time experience flying with Singapore Airlines.
Manila to Singapore
Our first flight was from Manila to Singapore, and overall, the experience was quite good.
One of the first things I noticed was that earphones were available before boarding the plane. You can simply pick up a pair before entering the aircraft, and the best part is that you can take the earphones home and use them on your future Singapore Airlines flights.
The seats were also equipped with an individual entertainment screen, which gave us something to watch during the flight.
Another thing I noticed was the pillow. Singapore Airlines provided larger pillows compared to some of the other airlines I have tried. They also provided a warm towel, which was a nice touch and added to the overall experience.
The Meal Service
My only disappointment on this flight was the meal service.
Since we were seated in the last few rows of the aircraft, our meals were served quite late. The meal service started from the front of the cabin and gradually worked its way toward the back.
With other airlines I've flown with, I have experienced meal carts starting from different sections of the cabin, which helps speed up the service. Because we were among the last rows, we had to wait quite a while before the meal cart reached us.
By the time it was our turn, some of the food choices were already unavailable. We ended up with pork as the only remaining option.
You can actually check the meal options through the Singapore Airlines app before your trip or on the entertainment screen. I just forgot to take note of the available choices.
I also noticed that Singapore Airlines offers pork dishes, which I don't usually see as an option on other airlines where the choices are more commonly beef or chicken.
Despite the delay in meal service, the rest of the flight was comfortable.
The Flight and Arrival
Boarding was on time, and we actually left earlier than our original scheduled departure time.
However, as we approached Singapore, we were unable to land immediately because of air traffic congestion. Despite the delay in landing, we still arrived in Singapore earlier than our scheduled arrival time, which was a pleasant surprise.
Singapore to Manila
For our return flight from Singapore to Manila, the experience was slightly different.
Boarding was a little delayed, but thankfully, the flight itself was smooth, and we arrived in Manila in less than three hours.
We still received the same amenities, including the warm towel, pillow, earphones, entertainment screen, and in-flight meal.
One thing I was particularly happy about was the meal service. Since our Manila-to-Singapore flight had experienced a long wait for the meal, I was a little worried that the same thing might happen on our return flight, especially since we were seated in the same row.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case. The flight attendants served the meals on time, and there was no long wait. It was a much smoother meal service compared to our outbound flight.
I also forgot to take note of all the available food choices, but we decided to try the Soya Braised Pork with Steamed Rice.
The meal was served hot, and overall, we had no complaints about the service on our return flight.
Overall Experience
Overall, we had a good first-time experience with Singapore Airlines.
There were a few things that could have been better, particularly the meal service on our Manila-to-Singapore flight. Being seated in the last rows meant waiting longer for our meals, and by the time the cart reached us, some of the choices were already gone.
But aside from that, I enjoyed the overall experience. The larger pillows, warm towels, earphones, personal entertainment screens, and included meals and baggage made the flight comfortable and convenient.
Would I fly with Singapore Airlines again? Yes, especially if I can find another good promo fare. At the regular price, I would still compare it with other airlines, as I normally do. But if Singapore Airlines offers another attractive promotion, I would definitely consider booking with them again.
For my first experience, Singapore Airlines left a good impression, and I'm glad I decided to look beyond my usual airline and give it a try.
