Yesterday Singapore Airlines announced that they’d be resuming the world’s longest flight as of October 11, 2018. Specifically, I’m talking about the 9,500 mile, 19-hour flight from Singapore to Newark, which will be operated by the carrier’s new A350-900ULR (which is the ultra long range version of the A350-900).
This plane will have a special configuration with just 161 seats, including 67 business class seats (in a 1-2-1 configuration) and 94 premium economy seats (in a 2-4-2 configuration).
This new flight will operate with the following schedule:
SQ22 Singapore to Newark departing 11:35PM arriving 6:00AM (+1 day)
SQ21 Newark to Singapore departing 10:45AM arriving 5:30PM (+1 day)
For Singapore Airlines this route represents a service resumption, as the airline flew the route until 2013. At that point they got rid of their A340-500, leaving them without a plane capable of operating the route. Now Singapore Airlines is getting seven A350-900ULRs, which they’ll use to fly to New York, Los Angeles, and a third destination that hasn’t yet been disclosed.
The world’s longest flight is now on sale
Singapore Airlines’ new flight between Newark and Singapore just went on sale, only a day after the launch date was announced. I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to take this flight, and I’ve been curious to see what pricing and award availability would be like. We’ve known that Singapore Airlines plans to charge a premium for these flights, given that they think this flight will be desirable for passengers. However, they won’t be charging more for award seats on this flight (though that doesn’t mean they won’t heavily restrict availability).
So, what are fares and award availability like?
For roundtrip travel from Newark to Singapore it looks like the cheapest fare in premium economy is ~$1,730.
Meanwhile the cheapest business class fare is ~$5,010.
For a simple roundtrip from Newark to Singapore I find both of those fares to be pretty reasonable, given the challenging economics of a flight like this. I’m sure there are cheaper fares out there for people originating in other cities, given how convoluted airfare pricing is, and also given that airlines can typically command a premium for nonstop flights (so if you’re booking a flight with a connection they don’t have quite the same advantage).
Now let’s talk a bit about award availability. The normal KrisFlyer redemption rates between New York and Singapore are as follows:
- Business Class: 92,000 miles (Saver), 135,000 miles (Advantage)
- Premium Economy: 70,000 miles (Saver)
The good news is that there’s actually plenty of confirmable award space in premium economy at the lowest possible level, so you can redeem just 70,000 KrisFlyer miles to fly one-way on this flight.
Business class is trickier. It looks like there’s some award space that can be confirmed for the cost of 135,000 miles one-way (which is the higher Advantage pricing), but for the Saver pricing I only see the option of waitlisting. That being said, I haven’t searched the entire schedule.
These seats are only bookable with KrisFlyer miles, and not with miles of a partner airline program. The good news is that you can transfer miles to KrisFlyer from Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Starwood Preferred Guest, so there are lots of easy ways to earn miles with them.
- 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel purchases
- $95
- 3x points on Travel after the $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 3x points on Dining
- $300 Travel Credit
- $550
- 4x points at restaurants, on up to $50,000 in purchases annually
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases annually
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com
- $325
- Earn 5x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500k/year)
- $200 Annual Uber Credit
- Amex Centurion Lounge Access
- $695
- Earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary
- $395
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Global Entry/TSA Pre-Check Credit
- $95
Happy booking, hopefully lots of you can take this very cool new flight! It looks like the seatmap has already filled up quite a bit for the inaugural, even though the flight only became bookable a few minutes ago.
There’s a good chance we’ll see some changes to award availability soon, both because some people will be snagging these award seats quickly, and also because airlines often load more award space just days after a flight becomes bookable (though I wouldn’t necessarily count on it here).
Anyone planning on booking this new Singapore Airlines flight to/from Newark?
Has anyone managed to redeem a biz class ticket on saver miles? Cos I am looking at tickets thats 1 year away and it seems that only advantage redemption is available.
What's the amount of miles needed for an upgrade from Premium Economy to Business? I don't really understand SQs mileage chart...
I flew the older flight a few times and it was really great. I prefer the last schedule from SIN to EWR which left about 11AM and arrived at 6PM at EWR.
Im booked out on the flight in December and i was able to find a premium Y rate of about $1558 return. I am very excited to take this flight again I enjoyed it when I took it on the A340-500 back in 2005
i would never. way too long, even in biz.
When SQ launched the EWR-SIN flight 15 or so years ago, they had a free companion fare in Business Class. I snagged 2 tickets for around US$5K.
Excited to try this flight. Would’ve said I’d never do it except in business, but those solo side seats at the back of the premium economy section don’t look too bad either! That must be pretty unique right? Can’t think of another airline with solo seats in an economy/premium economy cabin
@Alian - the coffin cabinet was jokingly referred to as "KrisMorgue" when it existed.
@Lucky - I didn't realize you knew how to speak jive!
"However, they don’t be charging more for award seats on this flight ..."
:)
@UA-NYC - both SQ and UA are Star Alliance members. They have codeshare agreements in place and SQ business class passengers get UA lounge access - the call was likely made based on connectivity options and lounge experience.
Although SQ also have codeshare agreements with B6 and AS, the customer experience and connectivity options for passengers was likely deemed inferior at JFK for those options.
Personally, I'd take B6 or AS over UA for short haul any day!
And it seems the inaugural is sold out in J, I guess you snooze you lose totally applies here. Should’ve stayed up.
@UA-NYC: Being asked to choose between EWR and JFK is liked being asked to choose between a poke in the left eye with a sharp stick and a poke in the right eye with a sharp stick.
or make that Virgin (now Alaska) actually not B6...still holds though
Pretty sure B6 is SQ's US-domestic connecting partner, not UA...they should be going to JFK. JFK isn't amazing but it's better than the dump that is EWR (esp. since SQ will go into B, vs. C w/the soon to open Polaris lounge)
5k USD is pretty good. At 270k pts round trip, you are better off paying for business.
I waitlisted for three days in a row in January at the Saver level from SYD-SIN-EWR, but am also wait listing for the SYD-SIN-FRA-JFK those same days. Hoping one of the 6 wait listed flights clears.
SQ also has O&D award pricing so it's possible you may be able to find availability EWR-SIN-XXX even if there is no EWR-SIN availability.
Done this one many times on the A340, even when they still had the purple non-flat seats. Never been any problem as I could easily sleep most of the flight.
The only thing I recall was the for a BC only flight they had extremely narrow toilets even though there was plenty of space to be a bit more generous. Hopefully they"ve done that better this time around.
I flew this routing last time SQ operated it in J on the A340 and surprisingly the time didn't seem to go on and on. The service was faultless as always on SQ and before I knew it I was in SIN.
Wonder if they will continue to have the coffin cabinet like they did on the a340
I’d love it
F this! 19 hours in a small metal tube stuck at 30,000+ feet in the air? Only if they pack me a parachute and oxygen tank so after I lose my mind of boredom, I can jump out and parachute into whatever random country we happen to be flying over.
Will we be getting new segments from the Seychelles trip report series any time soon?
I just saw online on Singapore's website that they only have 7 seats left for the inaugural in Business Class. Though Premium Economy is quite empty.
Worth noting that the flight schedule changes from the 29th of October.
I really prefer to fly a ultra long haul flight with Emirates or Etihad in First Class, so I can take a shower.
@Gio - connecting traffic.
Newark is United's hub. UA's inferior soft product (but superior connectivity from NYC) seemingly won out over the relationships with AS and B6.
Why Newark again? Why not fly nonstop to -JFK?
Not good. I will fly JFK-FRA-SIN in First Class Suites again for 120k
yikes! 19 hrs. I'm hoping it has WiFi!!!
Ben - Whats your thoughts on other Singapore's other flights from NYC to SIN - specifically the JFK - FRA - SIN route. Will they cancel this or change it in any way? Have an award booking for Feb next year..
A350 sucks
Not sure I can stomach 19 hours without a break. Even in business. I’d get stir crazy after a couple of naps and movies.