What was it like to fly on the A380?

What was it like to fly on the A380?

As my taxi pulled up at Changi airport, I knew this was going to be a special day - the day of the first A380 commercial flight was finally here.

The airport had long been adorned with banners and posters declaring Singapore "A380 ready" and anticipating the flight.

With some passengers paying tens of thousands of dollars for their tickets, some extra frills were expected and Singapore Airlines did not disappoint.

At check-in, passengers were given red-carpet treatment, with photographers on hand to provide them with souvenir photos.

Movie premiere

Once past customs and at the gate, the real party began.

The departure gate looked more like a movie premiere, with a buffet for guests and photographers and cameramen as far as the eye could see.

Although a stage was set up for various dignitaries to recount the importance of the occasion, the real star of the show was sitting outside.

Sign at Singapore Changi Airport

The A380 is not a pretty plane, but I dare say people said that about the Boeing 747 when it was introduced back in 1970.

The A380 does not look as sleek as other aircraft, but it's as impressive a sight as you're likely to see.

Two rows of cabin windows stretch all the way along the fuselage in true double-decker style and that aspect of the plane captured the imagination of everyone on the flight.

There was a presentation of US$1.3m - raised through auctioning off the seats on the first flight - to various recipient charities.

Then, after some wise words from Singapore Airlines' chief executive and some other sponsors, it was time to board.

Natural light

So what's it like inside?

The new suites for First Class passengers with their double beds and the Business Class seats have been well publicised.

My view of the A380 was from Economy Class, which is where most people will experience the new aircraft.

The seats are bigger and spaced further apart, the in-seat entertainment screens are larger with more features, and the lower deck that I was on felt positively cavernous.

The windows are huge - allowing lots of natural light to stream into the cabin.

I was lucky enough to get a seat by the window overlooking the right wing. The wings of the A380 look bigger than some planes.

Engine surge

Shortly after 0800, the giant plane began to move. After we'd moved back from the stand, it was clear that the entire ground staff of Changi Airport had stopped whatever else they might have been doing to see us off.

They waved. We waved back.

The taxi to the runway was short and it was time for take-off.

Some premature clapping started as soon as the engines began to surge. We moved forward, gathering speed, further and further down the runway.

There was a part of me that wondered if we were perhaps driving to Sydney rather than flying.

This plane could fly, right? After what seemed an age, we left the ground as smooth as silk.

There was a huge round of applause and a burst of camera flashes as everyone sought to capture the moment.