Tickets went on sale today for a dining experience onboard Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380. Within half an hour, all tickets had sold out. The airline confirmed it would start a waiting list later today due to the strong demand for places.
Onboard dining
Just because you may not be able to fly, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a nice meal on a plane. Like many airlines looking for novel ways to raise money at the moment, Singapore Airlines announced that it would be offering a dining experience on two of its parked Airbus A380s at Changi Airport.
Over the 24th and 25th October, guests can enjoy a meal onboard the parked planes. Tickets for economy seats start at SG$53 (US$40) with premium economy costing SG$96 (US$70). A business class seat costs SG$321 (US$236) and a first class suite costs a whopping S$642 (US$473). Alternatively, frequent flyers with the airline can pay using air miles.
Due to social distancing restriction, not every seat on the A380s will be filled. Typically, each plane can carry 471 people. Depending on the demand for each ticket bracket, the airline will try to accommodate as many guests as possible while maintaining guidelines for restaurant group limits and social distancing.
The superjumbo pop-up restaurant proved so popular that tickets were snapped up in under 30 minutes and the has said it will make a waiting list for those still looking to join in.
The full experience
The lunch serving starts at midday, and the restaurant will close at 15:00. During that time, guests can choose from the standard aircraft menu or branch out and select something from the specially-created Peranakan menu designed by chef Shermay Lee. Every diner will enjoy two complimentary alcoholic drinks.
Ticket-holders can also choose to take a tour of the aircraft before they dine. The tours start from 09:00 and will be allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. The tour will include a look at the design process of the new A380 cabins as well as a look into the cockpit and the hidden crew areas.
The lucky guests will be able to enjoy the full range of entertainment provided on a Singapore Airlines flight, including over 1,000 movies and TV shows. Each guest will also receive a surprise souvenir as a memory of the experience.
More than just a restaurant
Singapore Airlines is also offering an at-home dining experience where you will receive instructions on how to reheat, plate and serve the very best plane food. And Singapore Airlines isn’t the only airline offering some bizarre experiences. With the global downturn in recent months, airlines are finding new and innovative ways to make money.
It seems almost every airline is offering a flight to nowhere nowadays. From Qantas, Starlux, ANA, and EVA Air to Air India, Asiana Airlines, and Royal Brunei Airlines, flights to nowhere are seemingly everywhere. And it isn’t just flights that are proving popular. From pyjamas and amenity kits to bar carts, nuts and at-home meals, if it isn’t screwed to the plane, airlines are prepared to sell it.
We’d love to hear from you if you’ve bought something from an airline recently. Do you this is creative marketing or gimmicking survival tactics? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
