Singapore Airlines has shown off its next-generation cabins, and the headline act is a first class suite whose centre pair converts into an 80-by-60-inch double bed — the size of a US queen mattress, and what the airline calls the largest double bed in commercial aviation. Four of these suites will fly on the ultra-long-range Airbus A350s that operate the airline's longest nonstops, with six seats (including one double) on the Boeing 777-9. PriestmanGoode designed the cabin, with Poltrona Frau leather, batik detailing, curved sliding doors, companion dining, a personal wardrobe and 32-inch 4K screens.

Business class finally changes too. The new Recaro-built seat, styled with BMW's Designworks, has doors in a 1-2-1 layout, a 79-inch bed, memory foam bedding, Bluetooth audio and wireless charging. The big fix: you can recline continuously and sleep flat without folding your feet into a corner. The tradeoff is width — 22 inches on the A350 versus the old seat's 28, rising to 24 on the 777-9. Early reactions online have been lukewarm on the grey-and-yellow styling, with some comparing it to Singapore's own budget arm Scoot, though the doors and storage earn praise.

Premium economy improves only on the 777-9: 40 inches of pitch, nine inches of recline and 16-inch 4K screens. Economy on that jet goes denser at 3-4-3. The A380, current 777-300ERs and other fleets keep their existing seats.

Now the catch. The first refurbished aircraft won't fly until the second half of 2027 — the rollout has already slipped twice — and A350 retrofits run to 2030. Only 41 A350s and the 31 ordered 777-9s are covered; the 779 is delayed and A350 seats still await certification. The A380 keeps its current spacious Suites and gets Starlink instead.

The commercial shift matters for anyone booking on points: the ultra-long-range A350 drops from 67 business and 94 premium economy seats to just four first, 70 business and 58 premium economy — a 38% cut in premium economy. Expect tougher award availability, especially at the back of the premium cabins.

Some upgrades arrive sooner. New amenity kits roll out this month on flights over six hours — Sisley in first, Byredo in business, and business class gets pyjamas for the first time. More than 100 new dishes and Christofle tableware are coming to premium cabins, and Starlink wifi starts landing on A380s and A350s from early 2027.

If you're planning a splurge, the practical takeaway is this: the double-bed Suites exist only on seven ultra-long-range A350s and, eventually, the 777-9 — one double per aircraft, not three. Book early, and don't expect them on the A380, which remains a different (still excellent) product.