Singapore Airlines has been known for raising the industry standards. In the U.S. I am witness to how much the industry is struggling. While several major U.S. players make their way out of financial and labor-related trouble, air travel is little more than an exercise in getting from point A to point B with as little discomfort as possible.

When heading abroad, thee story is different, however. singapore airlines manages to make you feel comfortable, even in economy class. The food? Well, it's airline food, but everything else is quite nice. Crossing the Pacific, they give you a toothbrush. It goes nice with the personal screen for watching movies in-flight. It is obvious that attempts have been made to make the seats more comfortable. While Singapore does beat many competitors in the cushy seat department, tall people will still struggle from the typical tall-person-in-economy-class problems.

Small comforts are important, especially on trans-ocean flights. Things like a little more legroom, watching a movie on your own screen and, yes, the toothbrush, go a long way. Is S.A. the best? I can't say. But they provide the above-mentioned extras, making for a little more joy during a tiring long haul.