Is the Airbus A380 really that different?

London, England (CNN) -- When Singapore Airlines first started flying
the Airbus A380 in 2007, it was still a
big question mark whether the aircraft
would be a hit with passengers. Early indications were that the plane
was a huge success in terms of
passenger comfort and after nearly
three years in service, routes that have
the A380 are at near capacity. Just last month, Emirates Airlines
placed a mammoth order for 32 more
Airbus A380s worth more than $10
billion -- the airline will have 90 super
jumbos in total. Other airlines like Qantas, Lufthansa
and Air France also fly the A380 on
some of their most lucrative routes. But, is the Airbus A380 really worth all
the fuss? Are passengers really willing
to switch airlines or choose different
routes just to be able to fly on the
super jumbo? On a flight onboard one of Singapore
Airlines' newest A380s from London
to Singapore, passengers would soon
find out. Noise There's been so much talk about the
A380's quiet interior, but until you
actually take a flight in one, it is nearly
impossible to get a sense of the
silence. On most aircraft, including the Boeing
747 and Airbus A340, noise levels are
generally one of the factors that
passengers dislike most. Even with the stock standard ear
plugs, they do little to block out
engine noise. On this particular Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore, the
silence was almost worrying. Right from takeoff, the level of noise
was drastically lower. Although there were four huge Rolls
Royce engines at full throttle being
used to lift the 571,000 kilogram
aircraft off the ground, the interior of
the plane was eerily quiet. However, the full effect of the lack of
noise doesn't really take hold until you
are at cruising altitude. Instead of talking loudly to the flight
attendant to order the airline's famous
Singapore Sling, passengers could
whisper. Full conversations were easily heard
two rows back. It was a startling and obvious
improvement for passengers used to
decades of loud engine noise and
ringing ear drums. Space With nearly 50 percent more cabin
space than the Boeing 747, airlines
have used this as a big selling point to
passengers. Onboard Singapore Airlines,
passengers in economy experience
seats with a width of 48 centimeters
across -- nearly four centimeters more
than a 747. Its business class seats are the widest
in the sky at a staggering 86
centimeters (2.82 feet). On this
particular flight, passengers were seen
sitting cross-legged or even sharing
their seat with another passenger. But perhaps the greatest luxury for in-
flight comfort lies with the airline's
exclusive first-class suite. Singapore Airlines' innovative first-
class cabin, complete with stand-alone
beds, sliding doors and blinds for
privacy, has also earned it a sometimes
dubious reputation, so much so that
the airline introduced a "no-sex" rule onboard for passengers sharing the
double-bed suites. Onboard this particular Singapore
Airlines flight, one passenger told CNN
that they would never fly on any other
aircraft on a long-haul route again. "I don't know why anyone would
ever want to fly on any other aircraft
other than the A380," Tomas Chilsky
said. "I traveled to London from Frankfurt
just to get on this flight and could
never imagine going on another loud
and uncomfortable flight for more
than five or six hours. "As a passenger, this is probably the
most comfortable and enjoyable
aircraft I have ever flown on."