The View From Above.(Airbus A380)

Byline: editor: Valerie Steiker

Richard Alleman explores the plane that brings flying to new heights.

Recalling the glamorous era of 1930s aeronautics, when British and American Clippers regularly featured teak-paneled cabins and private compartments, the extraordinary Airbus A380 promises to revolutionize flying. The largest commercial plane ever built, this double-decker beauty, with a wingspan larger than a football field, has been designed with luxury in mind. Singapore Airlines debuted the new plane on its Singapore--Sydney run and this month launches its second A380 with flights between London and Singapore.

First class, which the airline calls "a class beyond first," offers individual cabins with generous leather armchairs, built-in desks, full-length wardrobes, spacious bathrooms stocked with Ferragamo toiletries, and proper beds made up with linens designed by Givenchy (who also did the tableware). For couples traveling together, a master suite can be created from two adjoining cabins (and comes complete with a beautifully appointed double bed). For dining aloft, England's Gordon Ramsay, Singapore's Sam Leong, France's Georges Blanc, and Australia's Matthew Moran have come on board with sophisticated international menus, accompanied by prized vintages. ...