Review: Singapore Airlines 737 MAX business class

Singapore Airlines’ travellers darting around Asia – to India, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, among others – are increasingly likely to find a modern Boeing 737 MAX sitting at the departure gate.

The Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-8, aka the 737 MAX 8.

The MAX jets are steadily replacing the older 737-800s, which are due to be retired by early of 2026, and they represent a vast upgrade in the passenger experience – especially (but not only) in business class.

Singapore Airlines' elegant Boeing 737 MAX business class cabin.

The SQ 737 MAX fleet sports the latest seats, which in business class convert to fully lie-flat beds; there are even two more private ‘throne’ seats for solo flyers.

Singapore Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX business class seat transforms into a lie-flat bed.

Also on board: large bright HD video screens and inflight WiFi, both of which are absent on the 737-800s.

Add Singapore Airlines’ excellent business class catering, including the many amazing dishes on the Book The Cook menu, and you might end up wishing this short flight lasted a bit longer.

Singapore Airlines’ 737 MAX business class cabin has ten seats spread across three rows.

The unique layout of Singapore Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX business class cabin.

As you can see, there are two rows (11 and 14) where the seats are two-abreast, while sandwiched between these at row 12 are two single seats, also known as ‘throne’ seats because of the wide benches either side.

The unique layout of Singapore Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX business class cabin.

The paired seats in rows 11 and 14 are best for travelling with a partner...

Rows 11 and 14 (Singapore Airlines skips row 13) have two seats either side of the aisle.

... and while the extended centrepiece between each seat makes it difficult to really ‘share’ the experience, this provides ample privacy if your seatmate is a total stranger.

As you’d expect, the throne seats in row 12 are highly prized by solo flyers.

The 'throne' seats in row 12 are highly-prized by solo travellers.

Not only do you get the row all to yourself, but the additional shelf offers more room to spread out, with extra working and storage space into the bargain, along with niceties such as a mirror tucked away inside a small cabinet.

More privacy, more space to spread out... what's not to like?

Row 11, at the very front of the cabin, has the most legroom...

Want maximum space for your legs and feet? Row 11 is the place to be.

As the first row in the cabin, there's excellent legroom.

... and also the most space for one’s feet.

Front row seats usually boast the most room for your feet when the seat becomes a bed.

That’s more generous (especially if you have plus-sized plods) than the tighter confines of seats in row 14 and the row 12 ‘thrones’.

There's less room for your feet in the smaller cubby of rows 12 and 14.

So how about those two solo seats at 12B and 12?

They’re wonderful for daytime flights – so much personal space, with those two wide shelves either side.

When the solo seat becomes a lie-flat bed, the high walls on either side can become very confining.

But you’ll feel quite confined by those two high walls once the seat is reclined into bed mode, so that’s a consideration for night flights when you’ll likely be sleeping.

There are also differences in the width of each Singapore Airlines 737 MAX business class seat, from one row to the next:

• in row 11, seats are 19” wide
• in row 12, seats are 22” wide
• in row 14, seats are 20” wide

As you‘d expect from Singapore Airlines, its Boeing 737 MAX business class seats are thoughtfully designed and very well-appointed.

Singapore Airlines' Boeing 737 MAX business class seats subtly pick up the airline's colour palette.

The recess next to each passenger is topped by a high-power USB port, so it’s the logical place to store and juice up your smartphone and tablet.

The USB power socket is exactly where you need it to be.

There’s a second USB outlet, along with a ‘universal’ AC socket (which works with the most popular international plug types), at the front of the console.

There's a second USB socket alongside the AC outlet.

Another pocket under the IFE screen is perfect for a tablet or magazine…

More stowage space under the video screen.

… while your shoes can be tucked away into this little nook at the footwell.

Slip off your shoes and get comfortable...

The sturdy tray table is large enough to accommodate even the most hulking laptop – if like most travellers you have a 13” notebook, there’s still room next to that for a small snack and drink.

Fire up the WiFi, it's free in business class.

There’s a noticeable mid-way gap when the seat transforms into a bed, and although Singapore Airlines doesn’t provide a mattress pad or ‘topper’ when you need some shut-eye – just the obligatory blanket and pillow – I didn’t feel the gap when I reclined.

'Mind the gap'? It's not really noticeable.

Each of the 10 business class seats is fronted by a 16-inch HD screen loaded with Singapore Airlines’ extensive KrisWorld library of movies, TV shows and music, along with four live TV channels: BBC World News, CNN, CNBC and Sport 24.

If you’re the type who likes to plan ahead, Singapore Airlines’ smartphone app lets you browse that content library ahead of your flight and add programs to a personalised playlist: once you’re on board, just connect your device to the KrisWorld library via the inflight WiFi network and your favourites are ready to roll.

Singapore Airlines' KrisWorld packs plenty of entertainment plus live TYV channels.

Singapore Airlines’ 737 MAX satellite WiFi is relatively fast – I clocked clocking a steady 5Mbps download speed – as well as being free and unlimited for all passengers in business class; the same applies if you’re in economy, provided your KrisFlyer membership number is listed against your booking.

(If not, pricing ranges from US$4 for one hour of connectivity to US$16 to stay online for the entire flight.)

So much for the sitting, the sleeping and the working: how about the eating?

Singapore Airlines Boeing 737 MAX business class.

Thanks to Singapore Airline’s Book The Cook service, you don’t need to limit yourself to the standard on-board menu – just make your choice online at least 24 hours prior to your flight.

On flights from Singapore you may encounter the airline’s signature satay as a starter.

Who can resist a delicious starter of satay?

For mains, despite being sorely tempted by authentic Boon Tong Kee chicken rice I simply couldn’t go past the Lobster Thermidor, which Singapore Airlines has revised and modernised with an eye towards today’s healthier eating habits.

This healthier take on SQ's iconic lobster loses nothing in the modernisation.

“We stripped the recipe back and looked at the key components – it was quite heavy on cream and very heavy on cheese – so we removed a little bit of the cream and we reduced the cheese content,” Antony McNeil, the airline’s Global Food & Beverage Director, has told Executive Traveller.

The saffron rice was replaced with a fondant potato, “which is basically grilled or caramelised and slowly simmered in the lobster stock so it takes up that enriched lobster flavour”, while seasonal vegetables complete the plate.

I’ll be honest – despite enjoying a lovely breakfast at the Singapore Airlines lounge, I could have polished off two servings of satay and lobster.

As it was, those single serves meant there was room for dessert. I opted for a delightful caramel banana cake…

Because there are no calories in the sky...

… with the cabin crew happy to set aside a spare fruit platter and cheese platter for later in the flight.

The fruit and cheese plates are more of a light snack than a dessert.

Both of those were on the modest side, so they actually proved better suited to a light snack.

On the longer regional 737 flights you may have the option of a second meal – such as this slightly spicy nasi lemak – instead of a less-substantial snack.

The second meal service saw this slightly spicy nasi lemak served up in business class.

All up, Singapore Airlines’ 737 MAX business class experience is on par with that of the larger twin-aisle jets in the SQ fleet – so even if you’re changing flights at Changi, you could look forward to a fully lie-flat bed right across your journey. That’s a consistency few airlines can promise.

The author travelled as a guest of Singapore Airlines.