On the Ground: A uniformed Singapore Airlines bellman greeted me as I arrived at the first-class curbside drop-off at Changi Airport. He whisked my bags away while a Singapore Airlines hostess escorted me to the first-class check-in lounge. The entire process was quite efficient. I was completely relaxed. I received my boarding pass and proceeded to do a bit of duty-free shopping before retiring to the first-class lounge to await departure. The lounge offered an array of conveniences including Internet-wired computer stations. Singapore Airlines does not make boarding announcements in the lounge, so I headed for the gate about 40 minutes prior to scheduled departure. 18/20

Onboard: I chose this particular flight to check out Singapore Airline’s new Raffles-class Space Beds. The cabin had a total of five rows in a two and two and two seat configuration. While the lie-flat seats were designed to offer the ultimate comfort for long-haul travelers, my first impression of the SpaceBed was that it seemed a bit confining. Flight attendants welcomed us with a choice of water or orange juice, followed by newspapers and a hot towel. We enjoyed a quick meal service-choice of sandwich or salad-during the 40-minute flight. Flight attendants were extremely courteous and gracious. 35/40

The Experience: Departure was slightly behind schedule, but we arrived at the beautiful Kuala Lumpur International Airport five minutes early. A tram transported passengers to the main terminal where I proceeded to the Premier Lane to pass through Immigration. I headed for the baggage carousel, picked up my priority-tagged luggage and cleared customs. Although Singapore has a reputation for being the best, I thought the quantity of food served for the lunch/snack was less than adequate. The airline’s first-class lounge is practical, but could use a facelift and a few more computer stations. 35/40

The Last Word: Overall, a very smooth shuttle flight experience.

Total Score:88/100