I flew home from Bangkok in Singapore Airlines business class, including a 15-hour longhaul flight from Singapore to Los Angeles. The flight was wonderful.
15-Hour Longhaul Flight In Singapore Airlines Business Class – The Time Just Flew By
I chose Singapore Airlines because I wanted to give the carrier another shot. While Singapore is often rated the best airline in the world, I had a bad flight on the same route in 2013…then operated by a four-engine Airbus A340-500. This was an opportunity to give SIA another chance on one of the longest flights in the world.
I used KrisFlyer miles to book the ticket (95,000 from Bangkok – Singapore – Los Angeles) and reserved my ticket just in time to “book the cook” prior to my departure, Singapore’s pre-order meal program.
While I wish I could tell you about the current lounge situation at Changi, I was instead herded into a faraway gate area during my layover.
But onboard, it would be business as usual. The purser greeted me at the door and told one of his colleagues to walk me to my seat. This was my first trip on a Singapore Airlines A350-900. Both segments were operated by the same aircraft type, which includes a mix of economy, premium economy, and business class seats. Although Singapore has an ultra-longhaul version of this aircraft with an extended business and premium economy class and no economy class, it was not used on my flight to Los Angeles.
A lot of people complain about this business class seat, calling it hard and uncomfortable in the upright position (it does recline a bit). Rather than recline into a bed, it flips over, which is unique to Singapore Airlines. I found it very comfortable and had a superb rest for over eight hours.
A few words about the flight:
- The crew was lovely, friendly, attentive, and kind – what a difference a crew makes
- I loved the food onboard
- For dinner after takeoff I had an Indian-style braised lamb shank, which was delicious
- Midway through the flight, I ordered breakfast – a frittata
- Prior to arrival in Los Angeles, I had steak, which was cooked medium well but still tasty
- Coffee was tremendous onboard
- There is no COVID-theatre going on – the full menu was available and served on proper dishes with proper glasses and silverware
- The IFE library is so great – I love finding not just 1-2, but dozens of interesting movies to watch, many I had never heard of
- Wi-Fi was fast and each business class passenger received a 100MB voucher, which actually lasted me for most of the flight once I put my phone in low-data mode
CONCLUSION
When I publish my full review I’ll share a lot more details about the aircraft, seat, bedding, amenity kit, IFE, meals, and more. But in this “first impressions” post I want to note how pleased I was to fly Singapore Airlines once again and how one of the longest flight in the world flew by very quickly.
I’ll confess my ignorance here but I’m completely unfamiliar with low data mode on a phone. I’d love to know more though. Do you have an iPhone or something else?
I use an iPhone. It’s in settings. Flipped it and it greatly reduced any background data and stretched out the 100MB pass.
Thanks!
Wondering how much Singapore Airline is paying you for the fake reviews or rather fake news.
SIA is the worst airline in the world.
Please wake up Matthew.
Are you crazy?
Seriously…SIA is regarded as one of thee best in the world. Mona must be a troll.
@Mona: Shut it! You’re a joke.
You so right
The worst business class ever
You must work for Philippines Airlines.
I tend to agree that the author was paid somehow for the review… I was on business class to christchurch early this year, and meals came in economy class style disposable utensils, no preflight champagne, drinks were only served during meal times, interaction with the crew was very limited….
I can assure you I wasn’t paid! Oh how I wish I was!
Mona is a troll from a crappy airline. Please use this forum for real people who really enjoy traveling in class.
Just travelled Business Class on Singapore, sorry NOT good. The worst business class service I have ever experience. The seats are poorly designed, you cannot stretch your legs out straight (must be angled) and everything (controls and the like) are behind you, very difficult to reach. I am also big and the tray table had no adjustment, so I had to force it into my stomach for my premium economy quality meal service. They used a drink cart like in economy ! No hot / cold towel or drink prefight. I was not greeted by name. All very ordinary. 4/10 rating
Matthew, does SN actually use a cappuccino machine onboard, at least on your flight? Also, how the seat comfort, since so many people seem to complain about the “hardness” if the cushions? Looking forward to the detailed review.
There’s not a fully automatic machine, just the espresso maker and milk frothing wand. They do the milk first and then put the espresso in when it should be the other way around, but it was still nice.
Sorry to be pedantic, but SN (Brussels Airlines) is a very different airline to SQ. Not likely to get an espresso there- I flew with them in business class a few days ago, and the meal consisted of a prepackaged salad with a plastic bag of croutons and a couple of random wooden forks swimming among the lettuce leaves- pure class!
Was this shorthaul or long haul?
Short-haul thankfully! Actually two short flights in quick succession on both of which the same salad was offered. To their credit, the FAs on the second flight allowed us to choose alternatives from the BOB menu and I went for a tapas platter which was perfectly decent.
PM: I meant SQ not SN as submitted. Thanks for pointing out.
Such an interesting report on a flight that I could conceivably take.
I clicked on the link to your 2013 SQ A340-500 article. There’s a 20% chance that I was on that plane for a different flight. That’s because the A340-500 fleet was very small, possibly 5 planes. I flew LAX-SIN once arriving at roughly 6 am and being at a meeting at 9 am. I felt so refreshed that I stayed awake and alert that entire 3/4 day of meetings. The meeting host was surprised that I had just arrived. She could tell because the meeting had fewer than half a dozen people.
In contrast, I have been on a US to NRT to SIN, arriving at almost midnight and was tired the next day.
No COVID-theatre going on here at all, other than the crews’ masks and plastic goggles.
For all I care, they can serve me steak and cappuccino on fine China while wearing a hazmat suit!
That isn’t what he meant and you know it.
Aaron and science know what is best for everyone else and anyone who disagrees with him is a white supremacist and literal murderer. Follow the science, comrades!
No, not everyone, but you certainly are 🙂
Yet again, Aaron presumes to know something about me. Why do progressives hate freedom? Why are so many such presumptuous racists? Do you think Clarence Thomas, a black man who grew up poor in the deep South under Jim Crow, is a white supremacist? I think it’s pretty clear that I prioritize liberty over safety. Calling anyone whose idea of how government should operate disagrees with yours a white supremacist is infantile and is the sort of thing someone who doesn’t have reason on his side would resort to.
“Why do progressives hate freedom?”
They don’t.
“Why are so many such presumptuous racists?”
They’re not. But calling people who call out racists as racist themselves is the tried and true tactic to a real racist. Bravo, you are doing what is expected of you, attacking others as racist to try and cover up your own racism.
“Do you think Clarence Thomas, a black man who grew up poor in the deep South under Jim Crow, is a white supremacist?”
I think denial isn’t just a river in Egypt where he is concerned.
“I think it’s pretty clear that I prioritize liberty over safety.”
That’s just you being selfish then.
“Calling anyone whose idea of how government should operate disagrees with yours a white supremacist is infantile and is the sort of thing someone who doesn’t have reason on his side would resort to.”
Oh, that isn’t why you are being called a racist. You are called a racist for other reasons…mainly, you’re racism. Nothing to do with your “ideas” of how a government should selfishly operate.
Need I point to every socialist state ever to exist to show why “unselfish” government “for the people” inevitably turns out to be a disaster? Government does not exist to help people. It exists to enrich those with power and their allies. Of course someone like you thinks people shouldn’t be free.
I’m pretty sure Clarence Thomas had to endure far more actual racism than you ever have. but, sure, call him a white supremacist.
“Need I point to every socialist state ever to exist to show why “unselfish” government “for the people” inevitably turns out to be a disaster? Government does not exist to help people. It exists to enrich those with power and their allies. Of course someone like you thinks people shouldn’t be free.”
This has nothing to do with socialism. Stop changing the goal posts and/or take some medication for your extreme case of Whataboutis.
The original post was referring to CIVID-theater. Matthew doesn’t give a hoot if the FAs are wearing gloves, masks, glasses, or an entire hazmat suit.
For Matthew, it’s all about the soft product being offered. In Matthews own words:
“There is no COVID-theatre going on – the full menu was available and served on proper dishes with proper glasses and silverware”
As long as those requirements are met, he really doesn’t care what else the airline does with regard to “COVID-theatre. Try to keep up dear, please.
“I’m pretty sure Clarence Thomas had to endure far more actual racism than you ever have. but, sure, call him a white supremacist.”
I wouldn’t call him a white supremacist, more an enabler actually.
I flew Virgin Atlantic (older plane) upper class last week and had a similar seat in the herringbone configuration. It was hard, reclined only a bit and had to be flipped over to sleep flat.
So I’m not a big fan of these seats. Their soft product, however, like SIA was terrific.
The COVID theatre should be over for a lot of airlines but it’s not.
Covid is back on the rise unfortunately. At least here in the US.
I’d have been shocked if it wasn’t a lovely flight in SN business class! That’s what you (or someone) paid for.
“A lot of people complain about this business class seat, calling it hard and uncomfortable in the upright position (it does recline a bit). ”
Is it less rigid than the seat that you had in the 2013 review? You said that was hard and uncomfortable :). It looks similar.
Just came back on SQ26 from FRA to JFK.
These business class seats are harder in comparison to the old business class’s seats they had on the A380, they used on this route before covid.
Service on board was great as usually, but I wish this would be the seats from the A380.
Great article. I also had a bad experience in the route Singapore – Los Angeles. I was coming from Tokyo just for the pleasure of flying… and I promised never to take again same flight. Thanks for updating.
I went to iPhone setting.I don’t see flip button
Search for it at the top and it will come up.
I flew LAX to SIN last month on Singapore Airlines. When I saw how few were flying I opted to go for the 38k economy seat over the 95k Business. I did get a 3 seat row to myself but I regretted the decision. 3 economy seats < 1 business.
I had not flown economy overseas in many years and then chose to do it on the (2nd or 3rd?) longest flight in the world. Not again.
Day time from Europe to the US (and even then, probably not to the west coast), overnight from east coast to Europe (since I won’t sleep anyways so who cares), and maybe west coast to Japan or South Korea is all I’ll consider for overseas in economy.
I also considered the 38K redemption—it’s a great deal. But the flight was close to full. So happy I splurged.
I really like the seats on the a350. Maybe they’re firm, but there is plenty of space and in bed mode, it felt larger than many other long haul flights I’ve taken.
Service is always top notch.
Lest we forget, before anyone, SQ set the bar for service and quality. Without the standards they established god only knows what would be offered in premium otherwise around the world.
Yes, it’s strange the leave pass the US carriers seem to get in reviews.
SQ is generally very good, though I’ve had a couple of crappy sectors with them.
Was this recently? I flew business class round trip from JFK-SIN last week. Both the flights and Singapore were absolutely marvelous! SQ’s service was spectacular as always. Singapore was open for business but with her hair down. They only allowed music in bars and restaurants two days before I arrived, and as a result people throughout the city were ready to party as a result. I’ve already booked for January when United restores service and can’t wait to return.
Any thoughts on the “cubby hole” for your feet whole sleeping?
I slept fine…same (non) issue on ANA.
I’ve always suspected that sixteen years after Singapore Airlines introduced a version of this seat the reason why it is truly unique to them is that it’s so awful no one else wants it – and the newer version found only on the A380 is even worse. It is truly uncomfortable with limited recline and no where to put your feet up without twisting your back.
Singapore Airlines though, can never admit to making a mistake. It’s far from the premium airline it was even twenty years ago and they trade on past glory rather than the reality of today. They are never my first choice because although the soft product remains good, the hard product is worst in class.
I hate Singapore airlines. My last experience with them was just straight out of hell. If I never fly with them again it would be too soon. They know the effed up and they cost me a lot of money. I didnt even get an apology for their negligence.
What did they do that was so bad? When did this happen, and on what flight?
Same question. I’ve had a bad flight too on Singapore once, but they are so few and far between it really is an anomaly.
Yes SQ is a excellent airline , yet i find these posts redundant and crass , showing the catering and stuff
Enough is enough – I flew on BA Concorde a number of times – yet had the good taste not to embarrass myself with useless pics of the caviar service etcetc
Get a little class and stop w/ the pics .. Jesus
This is a travel blog that focuses on the premium cabin experience…