Review: Singapore Airlines Business Class Boeing 777 (FRA-JFK)

Very happy to see the fair comparison to Finnair. Many bloggers have lauded Finnair product as new when Singapore has offered something similar for many years. Glad the flight was very enjoyable - looking forward to my trip on SQ in April!

Another super SQ experience, start to finish. I too love their boarding music.

Might be worth mentioning the ability to pre-book a meal as well?

I fully agree about the bed - it is incredibly hard and uncomfortable. I also agree with your other comments about the outstanding service, I am surprised you gave 5 stars when the comfort of the bed is such a key reason for travelling business class.

XO Cognac in biz? Unusual.

Ben - as is pretty obvious from the bottle, that isn't the PH 2014 🙂

It's their "Essentiel" offering, which is basically a non-vintage champagne that's given a bit more cellar time on the lees (i.e. with spent yeast). It's a step above the base NV, but it's not one of their vintage offerings.

So excited to fly this same flight in May! 60k Aeroplan points, what a deal!

I find it fascinating that all aviation-bloggers dislike this seat, while the gen pop seems to like it. I kind of disagree with the whole "sleeping at an angle" idea. Are you sleeping diagonal relative to the seat's direction? Yes. But are your body lying in a straight line diagonally relative to the seat's direction? Yes.

And also, how is the bed any different than Finnair's? If I remember correctly, you gave that 4 stars...
Funny how that 'innovation' was applauded, while SQ invented the sleeping concept years ago...

The meal choices do not seem to be matched well to the departure time. Given the early morning departure I would prefer a breakfast after takeoff and the second, more substantial meal as lunch closer to the late morning arrival time in JFK.

"a Thai style stir-friend chicken" :)))

Great detail, I think you give more weight to soft product than your readers. It’s an incredibly hard seat, hardest I’ve ever had on a lie flat.

And if you gave to sleep at an angle cause you don’t have a bulkhead, your back will be hurting for the first 3 days of the trip. SQ totally screwed up their hard product. While you mention it, it’s sort of buried. It should be the first thing emphasized.

Normally I love your trip reports but I think you missed the overall mark on this.

I flew this just a couple days later, got out of FRA by the skin of my teeth before the snowstorm. First time flying J on SQ, some thoughts:

- Also selected 11A, which I was very surprised to find available the morning of the flight; J cabin didn't go out full but probably 75% full
- Didn't receive an amenity kit, which doesn't bother me as I never use them, but interesting to see they forgot that
- Ordered the exact same food, excellent across the board
- I found the seat itself to be very comfortable; didn't use it as a bed though; with the available recline, I was perfectly happy to do work or just sit with a scotch on the rocks and listen to music for a few hours
- Maybe this is just because I'm left-handed and thus have a tendency to lean left as I write or read, but whenever I would shift in my seat, I would trigger the release for the tray table, which got pretty annoying but this is small potatoes of course, in the grand scheme
- Service was friendly and professional but I wouldn't say warm... At least not to the degree I am used to on CX or NH

Overall, this would be my new preferred way to get back from Europe to NYC. I was thinking a few days later about the flight and how I felt about it. I recalled that toward the beginning of our descent into JFK, a flight attendant came up to me and commented her surprise that I hadn't slept at all the entire flight. I told her I was just super comfy and in the zone, so time had flown by. There's a saying that luxury is supposed to feel a bit like magic, and this flight was exactly that. For an eight-hour+ flight TATL, it went by like nothing. Good times.

@ Alvin | YTHK -- Good point, thanks! Updated post to add that.

@ Derek -- I hear you, though I think it's also important to consider this in the context of the competition. Look at most of the business class products across the Atlantic, especially Lufthansa out of Frankfurt, and I'd say this compares very favorably. And my five star rating is based largely on a soft product that's exceptional, balanced out slightly by the seat.

@ E39 -- I hear you, but at least speaking for myself, I don't have such strong feelings about the seat. It's not my favorite business class seat in the world, just as Finnair's also isn't. However, it's also (very) far from being my least favorite business class seat.

@ InternationalTraveler -- Interesting you raise that point. I think the reason lunch is served is because some passengers are arriving from Singapore, so that way the airline doesn't have two breakfast services in a row.

However, back in the day I believe Singapore Airlines did serve breakfast after takeoff, and at the time there was no satay in business class or caviar in first class. Personally I'm really happy to see that change, since airline breakfast is rarely anything to get excited about.

@ X-CCCP -- Whoops, fixed, thanks!

@ Beachfan -- Interesting take. Though I'm a bit confused, why would sleeping at an angle cause your back to hurt? It's no different than any other modern business class seat in that regard. The only angle you're sleeping at is in comparison to the fuselage, just as you do in a reverse herringbone seat.

Yes, the seat is a bit hard, but I'd take this any day over the seats on Austrian, Lufthansa, SWISS, etc.

"This was a tasty dish, though not the most substantial meal service ever, given that it was only a single main course, with no starter or dessert."

Other airlines (like Lufthansa and United) do serve more food on this route...quality versus quantity, I guess? Though it would be nice if they at least offered a choice of dishes at least.

Tinned corn in the Gai Pad King - I didn't expect to see that.

I Agree. Except for the bulkhead seat these have to be some of the worst seats in the world. A superior seat exceeds soft product any day for me. With the expected exclusions ie short flights, day time flights. When it comes to a flight I expect to sleep on then the only thing that matters is sleeping and this seat fails

Good review. Thanks
Agreed their lie flat bed is somewhat hard. Not sure if it affects me getting a deep sleep as I never sleep well on planes. I do arrive rested everytime with sq J though.
Those bulkhead seats are hard to get as they always seem to be blocked off for families or else the crew use them for breaks.

What I do like about flying SQ J is the Silver Kris lounge at Changi. That lounge is streets ahead of any other lounge I’ve experienced, especially the food which is authentic dim sum.

I do concur with you that SQ are the best at keeping their toilets clean! Wish other airlines would be like that too…

I flew this exact SQ route in business class in early December 2023. SQ's business class has lost its luster. That curry dish for the main only had two very small pieces of chicken -quite a disappointment.
The seat: well only the crew knew how to turn it into a bed. SQ really need to get rid of it. The crew were attentive and friendly. The IFE was fine. Overall, they were just two average flights. Nothing memorable about them. Oh, and that Air India lounge at JFK adds to the averageness to poor experience of the entire trip.

Ridden that seat many times, and while it's certainly not the softest product out there, it's by no means as hard as what you'll find on most Western carriers.

Biggest gripe is that you have to stand out of it, just as you're feeling sleepy, to turn down. Really wish that wasn't the case.

As for the "back hurting for 3 days" bit.... either you're ridiculously over-exaggerating, or you've got an atypical sensitivity that you may wish to see a doctor about. Because that's just not a thing, for this seat.

How come you did not mention , as champagne lover as you are , that champagne is not offered as pre departure drink out of Frankfurt and out of New York ???

I can’t beleibe you have not notice that

Did you get downgraded by any chance?

I don't mind SQ's hard but very wide seats, as I have made it my practice for the past 6 years to always travel with a thin but comfortable Thermarest self-inflating hiking mattress. Largely because I have found most airline seats uncomfortable either due to hardness, or ridges in the mechanism that poke in when laying sideways. So once the mattress is inflated enough, and the bedding is in place, I always have a good rest.

How do you know its tinned corn? Certainly here we can purchase mini corn, and the taste and texture is much betterr than the canned variety.

The bulkhead centre 2 seats have slightly more length. The bulkhead seats are the only seats that have any semblance of comfort. The SQ non bulkhead seats are a disaster. The foot cubby is not even suitable as a Chihuahua kennel. Pretty much every reviewer of SQ business somehow magically snags a bulkhead seat. Wonder why. And don't get me started on the stupid flip of the seat to make a bed.

Because it tasted "tinny" ?

I’ve taken dozens of SQ J flights including this route and never been proactively offered the amenity kit! You must be special Official policy is its on request only, as far as I know.

Flew on an SQ A380 J recently, SIN-MEL (as part of a 60k Aeroplan redemption ICN-SIN-MEL on OZ+SQ in J). While OZ was actually quite good, I didn't find SQ to be quite as good in terms of friendliness - the crew seemed cold and detached, and was never addressed by name. I had to ask for the Penhaligon's amenity kit, it wasn't proactively offered. I managed to snag a bulkhead seat and actually slept quite well - but then that's because I probably like hard beds.

I actually found the service flow somewhat slow. Takeoff was well past midnight (0052), and the meal service only started at 0145, nearly an hour later). At least it didn't take long to finish the meal, and everything was cleared by 0210.

Surprisingly for a sleeper service/night flight, I was offered breakfast immediately upon waking up (this despite having eaten dinner - lobster thermidor - on board prior to sleeping). Gotta love how fast they notice things, turned it down though.

You're right. It looks more like a 4.5 rating at the most.

Ben -

Time for you to reflect.... my downgraded trip report.... we get it, you got downgraded, you have mentioned it on each and every trip report in the series ... get over it

It was interesting to be on this side of the curtain. ... oh brother

Do you ever reflect on how you come off a boyish, elitist, self entitled with these comments ??

A little bit of humility and you would probably get more viewers, many I have spoken to just can't stand your pompousness ....

borish

Perhaps you should read a different travel blog! I think Ben comes off much less pompous than most.

Hey, so do the bulkhead seats offer more room?

Why does everyone mention for the SQ seats that you’re sleeping at an angle? You sleep exactly the same in any reverse herringbone configuration but no one finds that worth mentioning?

Totally agree with you. I was extremely disappointed by SQ's J seat (A380, SIN-MEL, no bulkhead). The angle really makes you only sleep at a single position, and I kept bumping my knees when shifting around. Worse sleep I ever had in a lie-flat, it's not even close. No amount of food/service can make up for a bad seat, in my eyes.

@Justin Devonish

The SQ lounge situation at JFK is a disaster. SQ cheaped out even more , their biz pax are now invited to Primeclass Lounge which is a step or two down from Air India one.

I don't think that many airlines between Europe and NYC serve proper second meal as it is relatively shirt flight. BA will offer finger sandwitches or so. I found SQ food offer excellent. And don't forget you can "book the cook" which offers endless options. Quite unique service.

I think the main issue is at least with reverse herringbone seats, your still look forward at the TV screen whether seated or laying down. With the SQ you have to watch the TV screen at an angle when it is in bed mode. And yes, you might say who cares, bed mode is for sleeping, but there are people who enjoying watching TV shows or a movie before going to sleep while the seat is in bed mode. That's my take, anyway.

I never said anyone offers a proper second meal on this route.

Say what you will, but Lufthansa does offer a dessert and bread along with the second meal entree, and a choice of entrees for that meal as well. United will throw in a packed dessert and side salad of sorts with that second meal as well as well as a choice of entrees. BA also gives you bread on that route as well in the second meal.

Again, nothing to do with the quality of the food, just that other airlines will give you more quantity on that route and routes of similar length.

Also, you can only Book the Cook on this trip to replace the entree for your first meal.

uh, no. In any other seat, you maintain the same angle vs. the seat (basically parallel) whether in seating or sleeping configuration. However, in SQ's seat, you are parallel to the seat while seated, but have to rotate yourself when in sleeping mode (the seat extends when lowered, but your legs go in a different direction towards the ottoman). This creates a very uncomfortable (at least for me) sleeping position, and it's very easy to bump your knees as well.

Thanks for the review. For me and my wife Singapore Airlines is the preferred airline, and whenever we travel from Europe to SIN and further, it is an obvious choice. About the service, though, it is not as consistent as one would want. I recently flew four segments with SQ and in two flights they struggled a bit with the service -- too many inexperienced crew members in the cabin at the time, at least this was the impression. The "trainees" seemed nervous, unrelaxed, some food and drinks were also dropped/spilled... The supervisor then intervened, yes, but all seemed a bit weird.

I did not know about the bulkheads seats, so have to check that out. 🙂

I actually think Ben is the most humble travel blogger out there. Always careful in what he writes and also fair in just outlining the bad things without neglecting to talk about the good ones. Look how he gives Oman Air a gleaming review even if they messed up one of his flights.

I just flew SIN-LAX and remembered how much I enjoyed this product. The service is attentive as you say, that you never have to ask for anything. The food is excellent and I actually like the bed - between the pillows and movable tray table, you can do nearly everything comfortably in the bed position, which isn't the case for most airlines. I like that it's more like a wide pallet - much better than something narrow!

Thanks for the detailed trip report. I'm flying this exact flight in April via the same Aeroplan redemption and it helped knowing what to expect.

Alerts for SQ awards are not available on ExpertFlyer.
Is there any other website to see SQ awards availability?

(ok I could check on SQ site every day but...)