Singapore Airlines' Boeing 747 Slumberettes: So good that other airlines complained

Long before airline seats converted into full flat beds, Singapore Airlines offered another way for its First Class passengers to rest easy — and the Brits weren't happy. The airline's Boeing 747 Slumberettes, which featured 44 seats that converted into fully enclosed, single-occupancy suites, were the epitome of luxury travel. However, the high level of comfort and exclusivity offered by these Slumberettes did not sit well with British Airways, which lodged a formal complaint with the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in 1982. The complaint was centered around the fact that Singapore Airlines' Slumberettes did not meet the UK's definition of a 'bed' due to the presence of a 'curtain' rather than a solid wall separating the suites. Despite this, the Slumberettes remained a staple of Singapore Airlines' First Class offerings until the airline's 747s were eventually retired from service.