KEY POINTS:
Herald on Sunday Business Editor Chris Daniels gets a glimpse inside the first of the world's fully fitted-out A380s, delivered today to Singapore Airlines at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France:
TOULOUSE - Singapore Airlines is only letting the world's media onboard its new A380 in groups of ten.
Of course, it doesn't want people walking away thinking that flying on the new plane will be crammed and uncomfortable - getting pushed in the back by aggressive Japanese flim crews can do that to you.
But after queueing for half an hour, the wait to finally see inside the new plane was worth it.
First we are seen the 12 suites in the front of the plane on the main deck. This the "flashy - show off" part of the plane.
Flash leather seats - stitched together by the people who make Ferrari interiors of course - with an massive TV screen and private doors. The two centre suites can be fitted out into a double bed, which Singapore Airlines had displayed covered with rose petals and with a bottle of champagne at hand.
Not quite sure what they are thinking with this, but the side doors don't go up to the roof, so there's not as much privacy as anyone with "honeymoon suite" ideas will probably require.
Then we're down further into economy, that part of the plane that most of us will be traveling in when we first fly on the A380. And it's not too bad at all. The bulkheads and colour schemes break up the plane into manageable sections, so you never really get the feel of being in a massive plane.
Once the plane is filled with people, I can't imagine it'll seem much different flying in economy than it does now in a Boeing 747.
Then it's upstairs via the back spiral-style staircase. More economy seats, this time in a more comfortable 2-4-2 arrangement. If you get a chance to pick your economy seat, I'd recommend heading upstairs.
Then we come to what I think is the real hit of the show - the business class. Airlines fight tooth and nail for business passengers and if it's done right they can earn good profits from them too. But they're a notoriously fickle bunch, wanting laptop power points, USB ports and all the business tools while also demanding bigger seats and fine wine.
In the A380's 60 business class seats, Singapore Airlines has opted for big, wide and handsome seats, quite unlike anything Ive seen in other aircraft. There's a shiny panel in front of the passenger, with pop out shelves arrayed alongside the video screen. It's the best part of the plane by far - and I think if I was saving up to fly somewhere special, I'd go for the business class rather than the rose petals and champagne "sleeper cabin" experience.
That is, of course, fantastic, but perhaps a bit "Over The Top" for most of us. My recommendation is: leave that whole private suite routine for Elton John and his entourage when he heads to New Zealand on tour, and head upstairs to that Business Class instead.
* Chris Daniels traveled to Toulouse as a guest of Singapore Airlines.
