Singapore Airlines Business Class Review
We recently returned from a two week trip to Germany and Austria! It was Korri’s first time to Europe and my first time to Germany (though I did connect through Frankfurt on my way to/from Vienna in 2016). We enjoy the flying part of traveling just as much as we do the actual vacation part and put a lot of thought into how we wanted to fly to Europe. We recently started getting into the credit card points/airline miles game and wanted this trip to be our first big “proper” points redemption.
Both Korri and I really wanted to fly business. Neither of us had flown international business class before. In fact, it was only Korri’s second time and my fourth time flying long-haul. We were sitting on a good amount of Chase points and started looking into business class award flights. When Korri discovered that Singapore Air flew from New York (JFK) to Frankfurt, he was sold, and we booked our tickets!
If you’re considering flying Singapore Airlines, below I shared my full review of the Singapore Airlines business class on the 777 300-ER. We flew JFK to FRA and FRA to JFK, and this review includes both flights. Here’s what I covered:
airport experiences at JFK and FRA prior to the flights
baggage allowance
lounge options
boarding process
cabin and lay-flat seat
on-board experience and crew
food and drink options
Let’s dive (or fly?) in! ✈️
READ NEXT: How to Fly to Germany on Points and Miles
Singapore Airlines Business Class Review
About Singapore Airlines
Based in (you guessed it) Singapore, Singapore Airlines is consistently rated one of the top airlines in the world with one of the best business class products and a wonderful, attentive cabin crew no matter which class you fly. A member of Star Alliance, Singapore Air was the first to put the huge A380 double-decker passenger jet into service. The airline operates a number of “Fifth Freedom” routes, which are routes connecting two countries that are not the home country of the airline. Five of their Fifth Freedom routes are long-haul, including New York (JFK) to Frankfurt (FRA) and back (the JFK to FRA flight, SQ 25, continues to Singapore, and the FRA to JFK flight, SQ 26, originates in Singapore).
This was our first time flying Singapore Airlines!
Flight Details
SQ 25 (JFK to FRA)
Plane: Boeing 777 300-ER (9V-SWY)
Flight time: 7 hours 27 minutes
Seat: 17A
Cost: 87,000 Chase UR points transferred to KrisFlyer (+ 500 miles for $20 + $5.60 in taxes and fees) for the Business Advantage fare
SQ 26 (FRA to JFK)
Plane: Boeing 777 300-ER (9V-SWL)
Flight time: 8 hours 12 minutes
Seat: 17K
Cost: 81,000 Chase UR points transferred to KrisFlyer (+ 121,52 euros/$133.71 in taxes and fees) for the Business Saver fare
Before the Flight
Prior to both flights, we checked in online when it opened 48 hours before the flight. Boarding passes became available 24 hours before the flight and at that point I saved mine to Apple Wallet. We did not go to the counter at either airport because we weren’t planning on checking luggage. At JFK terminal 4, Korri and I went through the normal TSA pre-check line at security (we both have Global Entry which includes TSA pre-check in the US). The wait wasn’t too long, and it was the typical TSA experience.
At Frankfurt in terminal 1 concourse B, we noticed separate security lines for first/business and economy passengers, so we chose the business line and there was no wait (no one checked boarding passes when picking a line). However, security at Frankfurt was much more strict; we had to remove laptops entirely from their cases, all electronics, our liquids bag, hats, and jackets/cardigans. (Of course, TSA pre-check doesn’t work abroad.) Security did examine Korri’s gel deodorant for a while deciding if it was okay. I didn’t remove all of my electronics (my electric toothbrush and hair straightener) so they sent my bag through the x-ray machine two to three times before sending it on its way. My family flew through concourse A (economy) and did not have to remove anything from their bags, so your mileage may vary (YMMV)!
Baggage Allowance
Business class passengers traveling to/from the US are allowed to check 2 pieces of luggage that weight up to 32 kg (70.5 lbs) each. You are also allowed to carry on 2 pieces of luggage that weight up to 7 kg (approximately 15 lbs) each. The sum of the dimensions of each carry on piece cannot exceed 115 cm (approximately 45 inches). Additionally, you are also allowed to bring a personal item onboard with maximum dimensions of 40x30x10 cm (80 cm total, or 31.5 inches).
Korri and I packed in carry-on size luggage and each had two bags. In the US, we essentially had one carry-on and one personal item. I had a feeling our bags were not going to be weighed going to Frankfurt (just based on past experience on other international flights) but thought they would be coming back, and they were not weighed on either leg. We carried on everything. Our bags fit in the overhead bin just fine, and I squeezed my Dagne Dover large Landon under my seat. I had purchased a handheld scale to check weights but did not end up using it, and (🤫) our bags were over the weight limit. (IMO, the 7 kg limit is impossible!)
Lounge Access
At JFK, Singapore Airlines business class passengers have access to two lounges, Air India Maharaja Lounge and the Prime Class Lounge. (Suites customers have access to the Virgin Clubhouse.) I read that neither business class lounge option is particularly great, so we opted to skip the lounge. I walked by the Prime Class Lounge since it was between our gate and the restroom and overheard that the wait to get in was one hour.
At Frankfurt, Singapore Airlines business class passengers have access to Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, LH Senator Lufthansa Lounge, and LH Business Lufthansa Lounge. I figured the Lufthansa lounges would be busier, and we only had about 20-30 minutes to spend in a lounge before our flight, so we went to the Air Canada lounge. It featured a small buffet with mainly European breakfast options but some Canadian/American options, too. I ate a yummy chocolate-filled pastry! Korri decided to pop into the LH Senator lounge before boarding (it’s located directly above B46, the gate we boarded at) and felt that it was much nicer than the Air Canada lounge. It was bigger and the buffet had a lot more food options.
Check out all of the pre-flight partner lounges available around the world to Singapore Airlines passengers here.
Boarding Process
First class suites passengers board first, and then it’s business class passengers! We were sitting far away from our gate at JFK (the gate areas are miniscule for these huge planes) so we missed when they boarded business class; they started boarding well before the time listed on our boarding passes. We joined the business line and snuck in next to economy passengers. I honestly don’t even remember scanning my boarding pass or passport. It took a photo of my face and verified it was me and I boarded! Lol.
Because we boarded so early in JFK, I went to the gate early at Frankfurt and we ended up boarding later than the time listed on our boarding pass. (The plane was still completely boarded in about 20 minutes and we pushed back a minute early.) There, I scanned my boarding pass, but not my passport. Both flights boarded at the front of the plane but the flight back to JFK boarded at the very front so we all walked by the first class passengers. There are only four first class suites on the 777 300-ER, and they looked quite spacious!
Business Class Cabin & Lay-flat Seat
On the 777 300-ER, there are two business class cabins. The cabin just behind first class is smaller (12 seats) than the second one behind it (36 seats). They’re all in a 1-2-1 configuration, and row 15 in the second business class cabin has bassinets for kiddos. That entire row (plus a few other seats) were empty on our outbound (JFK to FRA) flight. On the inbound (FRA to JFK) flight, there was a kiddo in that row that slept in the bassinet. There are two bathrooms on the left side of the plane between the cabins and only one bathroom on the right side. We were on the left side going to FRA and right side coming back, and I had to squeeze through the galley to use a restroom on the left side because the right one was always in use.
The Singapore Air business class seats are by far the nicest I’ve ever sat in! The seat itself is wide and features controls on the side closest to the aisle. You can recline your seat, bring up a footrest, and also put your feet up towards the footwell. There is a hidden tray table and a compartment with a water bottle and headphones. There is also an open cubby (that must stay empty for taxi, takeoff, and landing) where I stored my Kindle and in-flight necessities (pouch with contacts, glasses, eye drops, Wisps, charger, etc.). Next to the cubby are a bunch of charging ports, including a regular plug (that can take many plug types) as well as a USB port. The USB port did not work on the inbound flight.
There is a TV screen directly in front of you that is not touch screen, rather you use the black remote control that is anchored to the seat on the side. The in flight entertainment options are plentiful, though I kept it on the map the whole time and didn’t browse through the options. (Korri, the Swiftie that he is, watched all of the Taylor Swift music videos.) Next to the screen is a small tray for drinks, a cubby with a door, and a lighted mirror.
When you are ready to sleep, a flight attendant puts down the seat for you. It flips forward and lays completely flat. They cover the seat with thin padding and give you a duvet and an additional pillow that I found super comfy. (Side note: The pillow that is already sitting on your seat when you board is the best! I loved keeping it at my back when sitting.) Be sure to grab everything you may need out of the bag under your seat before you have your seat put down! And keep your shoes in a spot where you can grab them easily. I had to crawl under the seat on the outbound flight because I was unprepared lol.
The bed itself is not the most comfortable (especially as a side sleeper with curvy hips), but I reveled in the fact that I was laying flat…on an airplane. It felt like such a luxury just to have my feet up! The footwell is at an angle, which might be uncomfortable for some but didn’t bother me too much. I’m about 5’4” and my toes didn’t touch the end of the footwell when I stretched out. I typically sleep on my left side and found that sleeping in 17A (JFK to FRA) was more comfortable than 17K (FRA to JFK). That said, I got more sleep on the inbound flight. I know I flipped around a lot, though! At one point I ended up on my stomach which also happens at home lol.
Worth mentioning: I did have a seatbelt that I put on while sleeping in seat 17A. It felt restricting so I wonder if this affected how I slept at all. (I don’t remember the flight attendants specifically saying to wear it while sleeping, but you know, it’s smart to do so on a plane just in case something happens.) In seat 17K, I could not find the seatbelt once my seat was flat, so I didn’t wear one while I slept and I did sleep much better/longer. (The seatbelt sign was off the entire time during the inbound flight.)
The row 17 window seats featured two windows! It was easier for me to get close to and look out of the front window. I’d lean on the tray table constantly to look outside and pop it open, lol. Korri and I both love windows so we opted to sit a row apart so we both had windows. We just chatted via WhatsApp once the internet worked. On the outbound flight, there was an incredible solar storm, and we could see the northern lights out the window with the naked eye when they shut the cabin lights off completely! It made it impossible to sleep.
Singapore Airlines On-board Experience & Crew
During the boarding process (which as I mentioned above, is super quick and efficient, mostly because there are two aisles to work with), flight attendants offered us either apple juice or orange juice to drink (on the inbound flight, tomato juice was also an option). I picked apple juice both times…when in Germany! 😉 The glasses were picked up prior to takeoff no matter if you were done or not.
We also received hot towels, and the towel on the outbound flight was almost too hot to hold. I wasn’t sure what to do with mine on the first flight, so I followed my neighbor and wiped my hands. Korri scolded me for not putting it on my face, haha. So, on the inbound flight, I put it on my face—but that towel was not nearly as hot and cooled off quickly.
Flying internationally is a much different experience than flying domestically. We boarded quickly, pushed back quickly, and were in the air in no time (except in New York, where we sat on the tarmac for almost an hour before taking off). The seatbelt sign comes off almost immediately after reaching 10,000 feet (unless it’s turbulent) and stays off for the entire flight. Everything just feels much more relaxed. It’s great!
The Singapore Air business class crew is super attentive, and they were extra attentive on our flight to Frankfurt because there were a number of empty seats in on our cabin. I’m pretty sure it was full on our way back, and they were less attentive because there were lots of other passengers to tend to. They always referred to me by Dr. (since that’s what was on my boarding pass I think haha) and checked up often to make sure we were good. We gave the crew treats on both flights (my mom is a flight attendant and suggested we do that) and they loved them! The crew on the outbound flight gave us teddy bears and a sweet card to thank us.
I briefly mentioned the business class bathrooms earlier. I also wanted to mention that the bathrooms were almost always tended to between passengers (if there wasn’t a line). The toilet paper was often folded. There were also some nicer toiletries you could use and even a stash of hand sanitizer on our inbound flight, so I took one of those. We did not get amenity kits on either flight, but I believe they have them available if you ask. I meant to and totally forgot!
Food & Drinks on Singapore Air
Before takeoff, the flight attendants took our drink orders that we received once we were in the air. I ordered a Singapore Sling on the outbound flight and a Bellini on the inbound flight. Korri opted for the Shiraz red wine on both flights and loved it, and he also got some port on the inbound flight and loved that as well. We received our drinks about 20 minutes after taking off on both flights.
About 10-15 minutes after receiving our drinks, we got our first course. On the outbound flight, the appetizer was Hudson Valley hot smoked trout and AeroFarms salad. I was nervous for this course since I’m not a big fish eater but it ended up being my favorite out of any of the courses. It was SO good! One of the best meals I’ve eaten anywhere ever for sure, let alone on an airplane. The arugula was spicy and the mix of flavors together were fantastic. Shortly after I got my smoked trout, the plane hit some fairly significant turbulence and dropped (we flew through hurricane remnants) and they had to pause service until that passed.
On the inbound flight, we started with what they called a canapé (sort of like an hors d'oeuvre): Singapore chicken satay. I had heard great things about this course, and it was yummy! An appetizer followed: smoked duck breast with radish pear salad. I preferred the smoked trout appetizer, I’m just not the biggest fan of duck or pears.
In between the appetizer and main course (or right after serving the main course), they come around with a brunch of bread options. I took garlic bread both times, though I know Korri had the rolls and loved them. I read great things about the pretzel roll, too! I wanted to save room for my meal or else I would have also grabbed one of those.
We were given four main course options in-flight, but Korri and I opted to Book the Cook on both flights, which offers a variety of other dishes created by an international culinary panel. We had to make our selections at least 24 hours before the flights. On the outbound flight, I selected the white truffle ravioli with broccolini. I was less hungry on that flight, and it was such a rich dish (and a lot of food!). I wasn’t able to eat most of it but I did eat all the brocollini and a few ravioli. Korri picked a chicken, rice, and vegetables dish. On the inbound flight, I was so excited to see Viennese-style breaded chicken with potato salad! It was sort of like schnitzel but the chicken wasn’t smashed down; it was just breaded chicken breasts. Korri got a beef noodle soup that was basically pho and loved it. He added way too much spice and it cleared his sinuses!
After our main course came dessert! I selected a fruit plate on the outbound flight (I was so full but didn’t want to miss any of the experience and this seemed like the best option). Korri had the caramel ice cream and said it was fantastic, and I wish I had tried it! I had the Movenpick lemon lime sorbet (with a piece of chocolate stuck into it) on the inbound flight and it was so yummy and light. Other options included a cheese plate or a pastry/tart.
During the flight, Singapore Air offers snack options on request, but I was not hungry enough for snacks and the flight wasn’t long enough (I tried to sleep instead).
About an hour and a half before landing came the refreshment. (Before sleeping, the flight attendants ask if you want to be woken up for the refreshment or left alone to sleep. I opted to eat. I was awoken both times by the smell of food and the sound of setting tables and people chatting!) There are two options for that meal and they change on occasion. On the outbound flight, I selected the soy sauce fried noodles (which included chicken), and on the inbound flight I had the panini with pulled pork and cheddar cheese. Both options had either a meat or a fish included. These dishes were less exciting but still good overall! I wish there had been a veggie option since I don’t typically eat a lot of meat for breakfast (or after sleeping in general lol).
Being a business class passenger, we were sadly one of the first groups off of the plane at the conclusion of the flight. I honestly wish the flights had lasted longer! I really wanted to take advantage of everything, so I did not get enough sleep, especially on the flight to Germany. Flying in business class on Singapore Air is totally worth it, especially if you can snag tickets on points. I so enjoyed my first two times flying in business class aboard Singapore Air’s 777-300ER and am already looking forward to when I get to do it again! We will be flying Singapore Air’s A350 next year on a longer route and I’ll be sure to update this post with those thoughts!
Any questions about Singapore Air and/or their business class? Drop ‘em in the comments!
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