Some flights feel like a commute. This one, which is currently the “longest flight in the world” was an experience. This JFK to Singapore Business Class Review covers the SQ23 flight, an ultra long haul flight that runs close to 19 hours.

We booked two Singapore Airlines Business Class lie-flat seats on the A350 from New York to Singapore, then Singapore to Hong Kong, using 318,000 Amex points (total for 2 people) transferred to Air Canada Aeroplan. Cash prices for 2 seats were around $9,300 for the same itinerary, and we paid only about $29 in taxes, which gave us close to 3 cents per point in redemption value.

In this trip report we walk through how we booked it, what the seat and bed were like on the longest flight in the world, how the food, service, Wi-Fi, and lounges stacked up, and who this product is best for, especially tall travelers, couples, and points fans.

Why This JFK to Singapore Business Class Review Matters for Points Travelers

Singapore Airlines uses a special Airbus A350-900ULR for this route, with only business class and Premium Economy seats. No first class, no regular economy, just two premium cabins, which keeps the plane quieter and more relaxed than a typical long haul. So while it’s not as aspirational as Emirates First Class, or Etihad’s “The Residence,” it’s still unique to be able to say you flew the longest flight in the world, and doing it on points makes it even sweeter.

Route overview: the World’s Longest Flight

JFK to Singapore on this Direct non-stop service has a Flight time of around 18 to 19 hours. That is an entire waking day in the air, so comfort and sleep matter more than almost anything else.

The A350 cabin starts with a large business class section in Seat configuration (1-2-1), followed by Solo premium economy seats. Flight timing usually has you leaving New York at night, eating, sleeping, then waking up somewhere over Asia for the second meal service.

Booking JFK to Singapore Business Class With Amex Points and Aeroplan

First, we built up Amex points through welcome bonuses and everyday spend as we discuss in our weekly podcast as well as our comprehensive guide on how to travel for nearly free. When we saw two Singapore Airlines Business Class award seats on Aeroplan for JFK to Singapore to Hong Kong, we held our breath, then transferred all 318,000 points from Amex to Aeroplan to book the flight.

Transfers from Amex to Aeroplan are usually instant, so we were able to move the points, refresh the search, and lock in both lie-flat seats on one ticket. It felt surreal knowing two beds in the sky had cost less than many people pay for coach.

Why we used Air Canada Aeroplan instead of KrisFlyer

Singapore’s own KrisFlyer program has direct access to its cabins, but in North America it is often easier to earn large chunks of Amex, Chase, or Capital One points than to accrue KrisFlyer Points, which is why I often times choose to book through partners like Aeroplan.

Aeroplan has fair partner pricing for long haul business, flexible routing rules, and a familiar booking site. We liked that we could add the Singapore to Hong Kong segment in business class without blowing up the award price.

Pre-flight Experience at JFK Airport: Lounges, Layover, and Check-in

Our journey started long before boarding. We had a separate positioning flight into JFK Airport, then a 12-hour layover to survive before Singapore Airlines opened check-in.

Long layover strategy: handling a 12-hour gap before Singapore Airlines

Because the Singapore flight was on a separate ticket, the airline would not check our bags that early, in fact there was not even a Singapore Airlines counter open or staffed at that time, which we had already planned for, but was hopeful we’d see otherwise. Because of this, we stored our checked bags in Terminal 4 baggage storage, at around $35 per bag.

If you have a long layover on an award ticket, plan for this. Bag storage easily beats dragging suitcases around the terminal for half a day.

Lounge hopping: Centurion, Capital One, and more

We spent most of the layover bouncing between lounges. The Amex Centurion Lounge let us in early since we technically were on a layover, when in comparison the Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge (literally right next door), which was our first pick, would not budge on the “maximum of 3 hours before your flight rule.”

Three hours before the flight we picked up our luggage to check it, and then went to the Capital One Lounge, which was recommended by the Singapore Airlines check-in attendant. It had quality food, a cheesemonger station, QR code hot meal ordering, and a strong bar with a uniquely designed cocktail menu. Because there’s no dedicated Singapore Airlines lounge, in addition to Capital One, we could use the Air India, and HelloSky lounge, but the best choice clearly was Capital One.

Check-in and boarding for Singapore Airlines business class

Once the Singapore counters opened, business class check-in was fast, with a dedicated lane and helpful staff who tagged our bags to Hong Kong. Note that (at least for when we went) the TSAPrecheck/CLEAR+ lines were on the far right side of the security gate. The first time we went through security earlier in the day we went to CLEAR that was on the left hand side, and although we bypassed the massive line, we still had to remove laptops and such.

Boarding was just as smooth. Similar to how most flights outside the US operate, people lined up in the respective Business Class/Premium Economy lines well before boarding started, so if you’re wanting to get on the plane first, and don’t mind standing a decent while, that’s the way to go. Business passengers were called first, and as we stepped on the A350, the open middle section with no central overhead bins made the cabin feel taller and more spacious right away.

Onboard Singapore Airlines Business Class: Seat, Space, and Sleep

Now on to the things that you likely really want to know. How was it on board?

First impressions: a quiet cabin with only business and premium economy

With only two cabins, the plane felt calm even before takeoff. There was less foot traffic, fewer carts banging around, and a more relaxed vibe than a three- or four-cabin jumbo. Our seats were the middle of row 22, so in the middle of the larger Business Class cabin section. This gave us great spacing from the galley, and also the bathroom.

Unfortunately about 5 rows up we did have to deal with a very small child who was in the bassinet who did a decent bit of crying on the flight, but the parents were attentive and worked to keep him relatively quiet. Being farther back probably would have helped with this, but if you get too far back then you’re hearing the toilets constantly flushing.

Overhead bins line the sides by the windows, but not the middle, so if you sit in the center, you look up into an open ceiling instead of storage bins.

Seat layout and storage: wide pods with a few quirks

The business seats are very wide with generous seat width and laid out in a 1-2-1 pattern, so everyone gets aisle access. Middle pairs work well for couples, but the pods are so large that chatting sometimes means leaning forward to see each other.

Storage is a mix of small compartments, a shoe cubby, and spots for a tablet or laptop. Larger items still live in the overhead bin. The footwell is angled off to the side, which looks odd at first but explains the cut-out in front of the seat.

Controls, tray table, and entertainment screen

The In-Flight Entertainment system screen is big and clear, but it is not a touchscreen. Everything runs through a handheld remote in the side panel, so even a quick pause takes a few taps, which is one of the things I found most annoying, as every time an attendant wanted to ask me something, it was a full 10 second process to get my movie to stop playing.

On the plus side, the tray table is very adjustable. We could slide it and change the height, and even get in and out of the seat with the tray fully setup, which is rare in business class.

Bed and sleep comfort on an 18+ hour flight

The seat reclines deeply, but the fully flat bed comes when you flip the seat back down into a separate mattress. That setup gives more space, especially around the shoulders and legs.

Tall travelers will appreciate the length, and the bulkhead rows are even more generous. While I used the full bed and the extra pillows stored behind the seat Taryn (being about 5’4″) was perfectly comfortable staying in a deep recline as her feet still didn’t touch the end of the footwell even without the seat set to “bed” mode.

Headphones, lighting, and power: small details that add up

Singapore’s headphones sound fine but are not noise-cancelling headphones, so engine noise seeps through. The three-prong jack also makes it tricky to use our own headphones without an adapter.

On the plus side, we had plenty of lighting options, from reading spots to softer ambient lights, plus standard outlets, USB, and even HDMI. Wi-Fi connection was free for business class on up to three devices and worked well most of the time, with the usual minor drops over the ocean and in certain airspace.

Soft Product Review: Service, Food, and Amenities from JFK to Singapore

If the hard product shows its age in a few spots, the soft product more than makes up for it.

Warm, polished service throughout the flight

From the moment we boarded and received a pre-departure beverage, the cabin crew service hit that balance of polished and personable that Singapore Airlines is known for. They helped with bags, offered drinks, and were constantly attentive without missing a beat. Like most long haul flights, they were very comfortable with adjusting our meal times around our desired sleep schedule.

Food review: Book the Cook menu and inflight dining

We used the Book the Cook menu to pre-order our main dishes for the meal service. I chose a Singapore-style chicken rice for my first meal, and the other was a Cantonese-inspired dish, and both came out hot, flavorful, and nicely plated. Both meals honestly were close to the quality of food I’ve actually had in Singapore, so it did not disappoint.

Remember the Book the Cook service is available up to 24 hours before your flight, so make sure to look at the meal options in advance to see if you want to go with what they are already serving on board, or would like to have something else like an angus beef hamburger, or even lobster thermidor

Appetizers and desserts from the regular menu held up as well, including a smoked trout starter, garlic bread, and a raspberry pistachio dessert that tasted like something from a good restaurant, and not a reheated tray.

Drinks, snacks, and staying hydrated

The drinks list covered champagne, wine, cocktails like the Singapore Sling, and a solid range of non-alcoholic options. Crew brought water around often, which is key when you sit in dry cabin air for close to 18 hours.

Snacks were easy to request and there were light bites ready in the galley, which helped break up the long flight into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Amenities: slippers, request-only kits, and what is missing

There was no boxed amenity kit on the seat and no pajamas. Instead, the airline offers most items on request, such as eye masks, socks, and extra slippers, and stocks toothbrushes and grooming kits in the lavatories. They do provide smaller sized Le Labo amenity kits that contain lip balm, lotion, ear plugs, and a couple of other smaller items if you specifically ask for it.

We did get slippers at the seat, and we could request anything else we needed. For travelers used to Middle East carriers that hand out full amenity kits and sleepwear, or even our long haul Singapore Airlines flight from San Francisco to Taipei on our way to Bali that gave us loaded Moschino brand amenity kits, this will feel a bit light, especially on the longest flight in the world.

If you plan to explore Singapore after your flight, this Singapore itinerary: Chinatown, Gardens by the Bay, and business class travel pairs nicely with this route.

Final Verdict: Is Singapore Airlines Business Class from JFK to Singapore Worth Your Points?

Big wins: space, sleep, food, and quiet cabin

The biggest strengths of Singapore Airlines Business Class are clear. Huge seats, long beds, and a quiet premium-focused cabin make this one of the most comfortable ways to cross the globe.

Food quality, Book the Cook flexibility, and warm service all matched the high expectations we had from other travelers and past trips.

Where Singapore Airlines business class falls short

Not everything is perfect. The non-touchscreen entertainment, basic headphones, lack of pajamas, and only-okay storage keep the hard product from feeling truly modern. Also if you are really looking forward to cuddling up with your partner, or even just being able to enjoy some conversation, that’s not very doable in any way that’s comfortable, because of how far back you’re set into your bay.

None of these are deal breakers, but if you love doors and maximum privacy, this seat will feel more classic than next-generation.

Who should book this flight and how we would do it again

We think Singapore Airlines Business Class was overall a good experience, but certainly nothing about it was earth-shattering. It got the job done for us to get us on our way to Hong Kong, which was the first stop in our honeymoon. While I would book it again for the right amount of points, I would certainly not go out of my way to fly it.

In the end, our JFK to Singapore Business Class Review shows that with the right points strategy, the World’s Longest Flight does not have to be a slog, especially when landing at Changi Airport SIN. It can become a highlight of the long-haul travel experience, a quiet pocket of space, service, and good food that sets the tone for an entire trip across the world. Stay tuned for our next post where we highlight the SilverKris Business Class Lounge we relaxed in while on our layover to Hong Kong.

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Singapore Airlines Changi Airport SilverKris Lounge Bottom Line Review (Terminal 3, SIN) Fiji Airways A330 Business Class Review: Hong Kong (HKG) to Nadi (NAN) What to Know About Positioning Flights: Save Points and Unlock Better Award Travel Grand Hyatt Hong Kong Review: Harbor Views, a Standout Club Lounge, and a Smart Points Play