We were about to embark on what was currently the longest flight in the world – Newark, NJ to Singapore on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 ULR in Business class.  The journey was scheduled to take a whopping 18 hours and 45 minutes.  We caught the hotel shuttle to the airport turning up with plenty of time to grab a bite to eat at the Polaris Lounge.  It was situated in the other terminal but I had heard a bit about this lounge so was eager to try it out.

Airline and Flight #

Singapore Airlines SQ0021

Aircraft

Airbus A350-900-ULR

Airport and Terminal

Departure: Newark Airport, New Jersey, New York | Terminal B

Arrival: Changi Airport, Singapore |Terminal 3

Departure Date and Time

Scheduled: Monday 21st October 2019| 10:25am.  Left 5 minutes early.

Arrival Date and Time

Scheduled: Tuesday 22nd October 2019| 1710 (5 pm). Arrived 47 minutes early.

Scheduled Flying Time

18 hours and 45 minutes

Luggage Allowance

Carry-on: Passengers are allowed free of charge two pieces of carry on luggage up to 7 kilograms each in addition to one personal item such as a laptop, camera, overcoat, handbag etc. The sum of each piece of luggage (Length + Width +Height) should not exceed 115 centimetres (45 inches). Personal items should not exceed 40x30x10 centimetres (16x12x4 inches). Passengers must be able to stow their luggage securely in the overhead compartment or under the seat in front.

Checked baggage: Luggage allowances for checked bags are more generous if like us, you are travelling to and from the US.  Allowances when flying Business class from the US are:

• Two pieces  up to 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds) each with no single piece exceeding 158 centimetres (62 inches).
• Infants can have one piece up to 32 kilograms (70.5 pounds) plus a fully collapsible stroller or pram and carry-cot or car seat.
• If the first carrier on the ticket is not Singapore Airlines, then that airline’s luggage policy will apply to the itinerary unless that airline chooses to go with Singapore Airlines’ itinerary.
• More generous allowances are made for PPS club members and KrisFlyer Gold or Star Alliance Gold members.

Fun Facts

• Singapore Airlines is part of the Star Alliance with its main hub in Singapore
• Registered 9V-SGA, this aircraft first flew on 18th October 2018 making it not even a year old.
• The airline is currently running the longest flight in the world – Newark to Singapore taking 18 hours and 45 minutes.
• The Singapore Airlines logo is a bird, inspired by a silver kris which comes from the Keris, a dagger from SE Asia featured in the region’s myth and folklore.
• Singapore Airlines was the first to use the A380 being the world’s largest passenger aircraft as well as the Dreamliner B787-10 and A350-900ULR.
• In 2019 the airline won the Skytrax award for World’s best airline cabin crew and came second and fourth respectively for best airline and cleanest airline.

Website

The Singapore Airlines website can be found here.  Prices on Skyscanner were cheaper than the website so we booked through a travel agent who was happy to price match Skyscanner.  I did have trouble getting into Manage Booking with the page unable to load and then not being able to select seats until closer to our departure date.  Maybe if you booked directly through the airline, this wouldn’t happen.  Through Manage Booking you can also choose your meals in advance from the inflight menu or Book the Cook if you are flying First class, Business class or Premium Economy.  Book the Cook has an extensive selection of amazing Western and Asian dishes.

Check-in 

Check-in for Singapore Airlines flights opens 48 to one and a half hours prior to your scheduled departure. You can check-in via one of the following ways:

1. Mobile check-in – by downloading the SingaporeAir app. You will be required to enter your booking reference number or your E-ticket number as well as your last name. It then asks you for your passport number and expiry date as well as the reason for the ESTA Visa if travelling to the US. You’re also required to put down an address where you will be staying in the US. You can then print or download your boarding pass. The app also allows you to select or change your seat as well as your meal and number of bags you are checking.
2. Desktop check-in – by logging on to the Singapore Airlines website and clicking on Check-in. You must enter either your booking reference number or E-ticket number plus your last name as well as answer the same questions as per the mobile check-in. You can print your boarding pass or download it to your mobile.
3. At the airport – via the self-service kiosks or at the counter.  The counter opened at 7:45am

Singapore Airlines recommends being at the airport for international flights two and a half hours prior to departure if you have checked baggage and one and a half hours prior to departure if you don’t have checked baggage.

Note: Mobile and self printed boarding passes are not currently available for passengers who require Visa verification or are travelling between Sydney and Canberra.  As our final flight on our itinerary was transferring through Sydney to Canberra, we were required to collect our boarding passes at the counter at Newark.

Seating

Layout – The Singapore Airlines A350-900 ULR aircraft is a wide bodied jet with just 161 seats.  These are made up of  67 Flat Bed Business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration  and 94 Recliner Premium Economy class seats in a mostly 2-4-2 configuration. The 1-2-1 configuration in Business class means direct aisle access for all passengers with the two seats in the middle better suited for couples.  However even strangers can feel at ease in these middle seats as they are well spaced and the pull down divider screen provides a good amount of privacy. We were seated in row 23 for this flight.  23 of the 67 Business class seats are in the first part of the cabin whilst the remaining 44 are in the back part of the cabin.

Seats – Developed together with James Park Associates (designers of the Eastern & Orient Express opulent interiors), the Business class seats are nearly 50 percent wider than most products in this class.  Handcrafted from Scottish leather and diamond stitched, the mauve coloured seats look attractive.  Seat width is 28 inches and seat pitch 60 inches.  There are two upright positions, the Lazy Z where your weight is centred and balanced and Sundeck which is a lounging position that extends the base and foot of your seat.  On each seat was a large soft cushion, a bottle of water, a set of active noise cancelling headphones,  pillows, linen and a padded Givenchy blanket for sleeping. The seats recline to 132 degrees and can be folded into a fully flat 198 centimetre (78 inch) length bed.  Whilst in the upright position, the seats were very comfortable but I found when fully reclined, the cushioned headboard was quite hard and you could not stretch your legs out straight in front of you as the foot of the bed curves around forcing you to sleep in more of a fetal position.  In front of your seat is a concealed mirror if you don’t feel like leaving your seat to use the one in the restroom.

Tray tables – The main tray table is huge and sturdy.  It’s tucked into the armrest beside you and you simply push down to release it.  The tray is very versatile, moving in all directions . You are also able to move it across when your meal is on it in order to get out of your seat if you need to.  There is another small cocktail tray in front suitable for drinks.

Storage – There is a tonne of storage in Business class on Singapore Airline’s A350-900 ULR.  In addition to a deep storage bin, there is a side console, designed to sit above the armrest allowing you to store and conveniently reach your laptop etc whilst the seat is in seat or bed mode.  The ottoman in front and compartments next to the screen provide additional storage options whilst the step in front of your feet can be used to store your shoes.

Amenity Kit – Singapore Airlines does not offer amenity kits as such on board its airline. You are however issued with a pair of slippers, a pair of socks and an eye mask with further amenities available in the restroom such as facial mist, toothbrush and toothpaste, mouth wash, perfume and hand cream.  Singapore Airlines unfortunately also do not offer pyjamas in their Business class.

Cabin comfort

• The extra large and beautiful seats make the flight very comfortable
• The huge amount of storage means you never feel cramped as there are many compartments to put things.
• With no overhead bins, the cabin feels very spacious
• Plenty of lighting options create the perfect mood
• A Do Not Disturb button next to your seat along with a pull up screen divider between the two seats provide an excellent level of privacy.
• The concealed mirror with a light saves you from having to use the one in the restroom.
•  I felt the seat was too hard when in the lie flat position and I wasn’t able to stretch my legs out straight in front of me.  As a result, I didn’t sleep as well as I might have.  My husband however did not find the sleeping arrangement to be a problem so it might just depend on how you’re used to sleeping.

In-flight Entertainment

Electronic devices

• Electronic devices can be used whilst boarding using the aerobridge but not if you’re using the tarmac to board.
• Once doors on the plane have closed you need to then switch your device to flight mode.  Devices cannot be charged upon taxiing, takeoff or landing.

Communication

• A personal in-seat telephone lets you make calls via a global satellite network.  Calls are US$.0.59 per six second block with a minimum charge of $5.90 for the first minute. Seat to seat calls are available for free.
• To use inflight texting or data roaming, your mobile service provider must have a roaming agreement with Singapore Airlines’ connectivity provider OnAir or AeroMobile.  Roaming charges are determined by your mobile server provider and will appear in your phone bill.  Turn off auto roaming so extra charges aren’t incurred.

Power

• On the A350-900 ULR, Business class passengers have their own power ports concealed within their seat under the light and beside the little storage nook.  There is a 110 universal AC power outlet with a HDMI port and USB port for charging devices.

In the Seat Pocket

• There is side compartment holding the following Singapore Airlines material:

1. KrisShop magazine for duty free shopping
2. SilverKris KrisWorld magazine
3. Card on inflight Wi-Fi
4. Aircraft safety card

In addition to this, cabin crew offer up a range of other reading material including magazines and newspapers.

WiFi

• Singapore Airlines offers its Business class passengers 100 MB of complimentary WiFi on this flight, up from just 30 MB previously.  For more than this, charges apply with the amount varying depending on if you are with Panasonic or T-Mobile or OnAir.

Entertainment System

• In Business class Singapore Airlines offers Panasonic personal inflight entertainment systems on a high definition 18 inch screen.  The KrisFlyer system offers 1800 entertainment options.  The screens aren’t touch screens and I found the remote a little cumbersome to use at times although I had got used to it since using it on our last flight.  Entertainment options are:

1. Movies
2. TV
3. Music (over 800 albums)
4. Games & Apps (flight path, connecting gate etc)
5. Inflight connectivity
6. MyKrisWorld (if you sign in as a KrisFlyer member, you’ll be able to save settings and preferences)
7. SilkAir Studio (provides access to additional content)
8. Silkwinds (monthly inflight magazine)

Safety Demonstration

Updated in 2019, Singapore Airlines’ safety video goes for nearly six minutes.  The video is typically Singaporian in that it is no nonsense, proper and aesthetically pleasing.  The video demonstrates the safety aspects not from inside the plane but in some of Singapore’s own indoor and outdoor attractions.  I thought it was quite good and never tire of seeing those beautiful Singapore women in their attractive costumes, matching shoes and perfect hair do’s.

Catering

Menus

• Singapore Airlines has collaborated with COMO Shambhala to create specially curated wellness cuisine.  The carefully selected dishes are designed to aid digestion, improve blood sugar control and prolong fullness and satisfaction between meals.  In addition to the inflight menu is the Book the Cook option prior to flying which has an even more extensive range of meals.  The inflight menu consists of:

Page 1 – Photographs of the international culinary panel who created the menu

Page 2 -Inflight Dining Singapore to New York (timeline of when meals will be served)

Page 3-7 – Supper, mid-flight on and refreshment menu from Singapore to New York

Page 8  – Inflight Dining  New York to Singapore (timeline of when meals will be served)

Page 9-16 – Lunch, mid-flight on and refreshment menu from New York to Singapore

Page 17- Singapore Airlines’ wine connoisseurs

Page 18-21 – Champagnes and wines

Page 22 – Cocktails and aperitifs

Page 23 – Spirits and beers

Page 24-26 – Non-alcoholic beverages

Page 27-28 – Coffee selection

Page 29-30 – Tea selection

Food/Drinks

Singapore Airlines has chosen not to serve its food on trays in Business class.  Instead they lay the plates, cutlery, crockery and glasses onto the pristine white tablecloth covering your tray table just as if you were dining at a fancy restaurant.  Having everything more spread out makes the dining experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

• 10:00am – Once flight attendants assisted with stowing luggage in the overhead bins, drinks were brought around.  I chose a tomato juice.

• 12:05am – Hot towelettes were handed out

• 10:53am – Bowls of hot mixed nuts were given to passengers and drinks offered.  I had a Baileys and milk on ice.

• 11:30 – An appetiser was served with a selection of wine and bread and butter.  The appetiser was Heirloom Tomato Ceviche consisting of baby burrata, cured ham, palm hearts, Aerofarms arugula and spiced tomato dressing.  We both enjoyed it.

• 11:50am – For lunch I chose the New York Sirloin steak with broccoli, mushroom, roasted capsicum and potato cake.  It was one of the eight choices on Book the Cook.  The meal was tasty although the steak was a little on the tough side and a little hard to cut with the cutlery we were given.  Hubby had the Char Siew Pork Ribs from the menu.  This was served with stir fried Chinese vegetables and fried rice.  Hubby enjoyed his meal too.

• 12:10pm – Dessert was a choice between Tiramisu Ice Cream and Raspberry and Passionfruit Dome.  We both went with the mousse like Dome and it was delicious.

• 3:40pm – After a bit of a nap I requested a coconut water from the menu but was told they didn’t have any.  So I went for a Sunrise Meadow Mocktail.  This consisted of a refreshing concoction of orange and pineapple juices topped with soda water.  I enjoyed it.

• 6:15pm – I requested a chocolate Hagan Daaz ice cream as I was beginning to feel a bit peckish again.

6:45pm – I walked over to the self-service bar and picked up a bar of Hershey’s cookies n creme chocolate and a packet of roast almonds and cashews to munch on whilst watching some episodes of Agatha Christie.

• 8:35pm – Appetiser was handed out which was Summer Salad with Cajun Prawns.  This was served with refreshing watermelon, cucumber, feta cheese and lime dressing.  The dish was very tasty.

• 9:00pm – I chose my main course from the Book the Cook menu prior to flying.  I picked the Seafood Linguine with Asparagus and Capsicum.  Hubby chose his dish from the menu which was Stir-Fried Seafood with Sa Cha sauce served with Chinese vegetables and egg fried rice. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals.

• 9:20pm – Dessert was Coconut Panna Cotta in tropical fruit soup with fresh fruit.  It was OK.  Another dessert which wasn’t on the menu was also offered which was Baked Cheesecake with Strawberry Compote.  An assortment of mini desserts and petite fours also came around on a trolley and tea and coffee were also offered.

9:40pm – Fine Pralines were served and I asked for a Mocha to have with them.  I love it when airlines have chocolates on board and I’m a real sucker for pralines.

12:30am – The airline had run out of snacks although I have no idea how I could have still been hungry looking back now at all the food I ate.  So I settled with a sparkling water before trying to catch some more sleep before we landed.

Restroom

There are three Business class restrooms on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 ULR.  Two between the first and second cabin and one suitable for disabled passengers just behind Business class in the second cabin. Each are attractively decorated with a fresh orchid inside.  The well-stocked restrooms contain amenities by Penhaligon’s including eau de toilette, hand lotion and facial mist.  A bottle of mouth wash is also available whilst inside the drawer you will find extra items including toothbrushes and toothpaste and hairbrush and comb sets.  There are face washers to dry your hands and the metal bin beside the sink opens to dispose of them by pushing the pedal on the ground with your foot.  Sensor taps add to the  more hygienic experience.

Service

The service on this flight was great except for what I think was a miscommunication problem where hubby asked to have his breakfast prior to landing and upon descent it had still not arrived.  On mentioning it again the crew member was quick to prepare it so hubby could rush it down just in time. Otherwise staff were efficient, friendly and nothing felt like it was too much trouble.  Meals were served and cleared away quickly and plenty of drinks were offered throughout the flight.  The service definitely sets them apart from many other carriers.  Cabin crew also did a great job with keeping the restrooms clean throughout the flight which is not always an easy task.

Pros

• Beautiful seats that are extremely spacious with lots of storage
• Extensive selection of food from Book the Cook and the inflight menu
• Plenty of drinks offered throughout the flight
• Friendly and helpful service from the cabin crew
• Restrooms were kept very clean throughout the flight

Cons

• I found the bed to be a bit hard and there isn’t enough room to stretch your legs out in front of you.
• No amenity kits or pyjamas are provided although some supplies are available from the drawer in the restroom.
• No touch screen with the remote being a little cumbersome to use at times
• No coconut water despite it being offered on the menu

Conclusion

It may have been the longest flight in the world but the entire experience made it enjoyable and feel much shorter.  I would definitely recommend flying Business class with Singapore Airlines, especially in one of their A350’s.  The flight was comfortable and enjoyable.  The service, food, seats and cleanliness of the aircraft all stood out for me.  I just wish they would issue pyjamas in Business class.  I look forward to flying with Singapore Airlines again.