Singapore Airlines reveals stunning Boeing 737 MAX business class
Solo flyers will love the private yet well-appointed 'throne' seats on SQ's new Boeing 737 MAX jets.
By David Flynn, November 16 2021
Singapore Airlines' shortest flights will soon boast a fully lie-flat bed in business class, putting the premium passenger experience on par with globe-striding journeys: here's your first look at SQ's Boeing 737 MAX business class.
As Executive Traveller first reported in February 2019, for its Boeing 737 MAX business class, Singapore Airlines chose the Vantage model from Thompson Aero Seating, carefully styled by London's Factorydesign.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Every passenger in the ten-seat cabin will relax in a seat of 19-22" width (yes, some of the seats are noticeably narrower than others).
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
These seats recline all the way back to a fully-flat bed of 1.94m (76").
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
They're fronted by a 16" HD video screen, with AC and USB ports within easy reach.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Other creature comforts include a wide folding tray table, a stowage nook under the monitor, a reading light with adjustable brightness, mood lighting around the seat and inflight WiFi (for which business class passengers get their first 100Mb free).
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
A unique trait of the Vantage seat's layout is that the rows alternate between two seats and just one seat.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
In the case of Singapore Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX, this means the single seats are in row 12, as seats 12B and 12J.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Generally known as 'throne' seats, they're highly prized by solo travellers for the added privacy and personal space they afford.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Both have extended shelving by the window plus a side cabinet equipped with a mirror and LED light.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Even the seats themselves are wider, at 22" across, compared to 19" at row 11 and 20" at row 14.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
They're also the only seats with direct aisle access, compared to the paired 'couples' seats in rows 11 and 14.
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
And while those two thrones will be the top picks for frequent flyers, Singapore Airlines says it has no plans to either charge extra to select them before your flight, or to initially reserve them for elite PPS Club members.
Factorydesign and Singapore Airlines have dressed the Boeing 737 MAX seats with colours and detailing in keeping with their long-range Airbus and Boeing siblings – most notably the medium-range business class of the Boeing 787-10 and some Airbus A350s – with "a pink champagne and anthracite colour scheme mixed with burnt orange accents."
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
Singapore Airlines says the seats spearhead a SGD$230 million investment – including development, design, and installation – which "elevates the standard for short- and medium-haul travel on board narrowbody aircraft."
Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.
"We can now offer customers a premium travel experience across our entire full-service network, no matter how long or short their journey," says Lee Lik Hsin, Singapore Airlines' EVP Commercial.
Singapore Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX 8.
Singapore Airlines inherited the Boeing 737 MAX fleet from now-axed regional sibling SilkAir, and has already upgraded six MAX jets with these new seats.
The airline says these will take wing "in the coming weeks" to selected destinations "in Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, and Thailand."
Eight more Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets will be delivered between now and March 31 2022.
Also read: Singapore Airlines signs off on Boeing 777X first, business class
31 Mar 2014
Total posts 397
Looks fantastic. Love the colour scheme
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 335
this is like the Swiss Thompson seat - so who gets to sit/book the thrones? On LX you can book a throne for free as a Senator/HON. I find them very narrow on LX when sitting in the throne seats. and you can only comfortably sleep on your side if you are a tall but not overweight person
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
"this is like the Swiss Thompson seat - so who gets to sit/book the thrones? " Anybody who books into business class, the article already makes that very clear.
I agree with you on these 'throne' seats, I've flown in them on Swiss, they're fine for sitting but not great fort sleeping, the foot space is smaller than other seats plus you feel more confined with those high walls on either side. So, great for sitting or relaxing but not sleeping in the flat bed.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 422
Memo to Cathay Pacific, THIS is how you do regional business class on a single-aisle jet!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
Using small models doesn't hide the fact that these are a small seat. Hopefully we don't get too many of these on overnights out of Australia.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
I wouldn't say these are 'small models', certainly not the guy with the mask, the couple being served a meal or the tall woman eating a meal. These seats are also used by Jet Blue and Aer Lingus so they are clearly good enough for 'average' sized Westerners. And as far as overnight trips, I would rather have one of these seats than the older SilkAir recliners!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 467
We shouldn't be getting any of these on flights to Australia. They are short haul only - the article lists the places they will be flying to.
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
The article lists the first set of destinations the SQ 737 MAX will be flying to, but SilkAir used to fly the B737 to Darwin and Cairns, so those cities can expect the SQ 737 at some stage.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
These would be fantastic on VA's 737 Max on the trans continental routes.
Coupled with the lower than QF J class fares having these type of seats would be a huge winner for VA in the J Class market.
I only hope they get something like this.
One can always dream I suppose!!!
20 Nov 2015
Total posts 483
I think the reality of economics will outweigh your dream. The same space which these ten flatbed seats occupy could probably contain 16 normal 2-2 recliners, and Virgin's low fares rely on more seats not less. Also I really don't think you need a lie-flat seat on a transcon flight, the short length means you can't get a decent sleep anyway, it's more like a 'power nap' to take the edge off your tiredness, and a decent recliner is fine for this. Obviously something better than VA has right now but lie-flat? Can't see the need for it.
QFF
16 May 2016
Total posts 66
Overkill for short haul.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
06 Mar 2015
Total posts 232
Yes, it probably is a bit of an overkill for the current route structure. Might be something to consider when VA starts International Ops again.
For Transcontinental a seat that is more compact than such as SQ's new one would be the go.
Having said that this new SQ seat would be fabulous, really looks very comfortable.
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 104
I think for some, seeing a narrow body with lie flat seats for short to medium flights, comes across as a waste, but its not.
You're also afforded extra space around you.
If tired due to an early morning departure, you can go into bed mode for a quick 30 min + sleep before arrival in SIN, leaving one a little more refreshed for the day or onward flight. If one has had limited sleep the night before, or time zone hoping, on that last short flight they can zonk out.
It is very practical and works.
Sometimes I cannot sleep on an overnight flight / or have to work before touch down in the US (even if Im in F ). On the onwards AA transcon to LAX, I can lie flat and sleep in F or J.
People who feel no one needs/desires/has use for a lie flat on short flights, are mistaken. It still makes sense on Oz Transcons.
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