We’ve always had a long bucket list of countries to travel to, but in the past few years, that bucket list has grown to include airlines and flights as well. High up on the list was Singapore Airlines Business Class, and this year we finally got to check it off with Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class from LA to Singapore!
If you too have always dreamed of flying business class on Singapore Airlines, or if you already have it booked, here’s everything you can expect! From the lounge to the food, to the service, to the lay-flat seat, let’s dive into all the details.
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Review: 17 Hours in Singapore Airlines Business Class from LA to Singapore on the A350-900
Flight Overview
- Route: LAX to SIN
- Flight number: SQ35
- Aircraft: Airbus A350-900 (long haul)
- Departure Time: 9:20 pm
- Flight time: 17 hours 10 minutes
- Number of seats: 253 (42 business, 24 premium economy, and 187 economy)
- Our seats: 14D & 14F
Singapore Airlines Business Class Check-in at LAX
LAX is not one of our favourite airports as it always seems to be under construction and always feels chaotic. Luckily, today we were departing out of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B), which is a much nicer experience than other terminals.
As soon as we stepped into the terminal, we noticed the dimmed lighting which helped set a more calming mood. We proceeded to the Star Alliance check-in area and printed off our boarding passes at a kiosk. We already had mobile boarding passes but we like to always get a paper copy just in case.
Since we were travelling with carry-on luggage only, we didn’t need to stop at any desks nor speak with anybody. It was a super quick and easy process.
Singapore Airlines Business Class Baggage Allowance
We always choose to fly carry-on only to minimize the risk of losing our luggage and also just to save time when we arrive at the other end. However, if you do want to check your luggage when flying Singapore Airlines business class, you get the following generous complimentary baggage allowance:
Checked luggage allowance for business class to/from US/Canada:
- 2 pieces, up to 32kg each
Cabin luggage allowance for business class:
- 2 pieces, up to 7kg each (sum of length, width and height of each piece should not exceed 115cm)
- 1 personal item (sum of length, width and height should not exceed 80cm)
We flew with one cabin luggage and one personal item each. At no point across our three business class flights with Singapore Airlines were we ever questioned about the size or weight of our bags. One of my cabin pieces is on the bigger and heavier end, so I was a bit worried, but it was no issue at all.
If you are worried about how strict Singapore Airlines is about carry-on luggage, I would say they are not very strict, at least not in business class.
Star Alliance Lounge – Singapore Airlines Business Class Lounge at LAX
Singapore Airlines does not operate its own lounge at LAX. Instead, business class passengers are invited to access the Star Alliance Lounge in Terminal B on level 6.
Considering it was dinner time when we checked into LAX, we were excited to make our way to the lounge and see what kind of food they had in store for us.
After security, we took the elevator up to level 6 and presented our business class boarding passes to gain entry to the lounge.
We were impressed as soon as we walked in. The lounge is definitely one of the larger lounges we’ve been to, with many different seating areas.
You’ll find a large dining area with a self-serve buffet of hot and cold options, including a noodle bar!
There’s also a bar area, a sitting area overlooking the terminal’s great hall below, more secluded rooms with TVs, and shower rooms.
My favourite feature, however, was the outdoor terrace!
Check out our full review of the Star Alliance Lounge at LAX!
Business Class Boarding
SQ35 was boarding from Gate 148, which was conveniently quite close to the Star Alliance Lounge. When it was time to board, we took the elevator back down and walked across the Great Hall to our gate.
What we immediately noticed upon arriving at the gate was how ORGANIZED and calm everything was. This is unlike most flights we take, where normally boarding is chaotic, with people crowding around in no sort of order and not following their boarding group.
However, here at the Singapore Airlines gate, the staff announce the boarding process and give clear instructions on how everything is going to go. They strategically place boarding group flags around the boarding area and instruct everyone to form a line behind the appropriate flag.
Passengers calmly found their corresponding boarding group flags and formed orderly lines behind each, while business class had its own lines right at the front. We were amazed by how civilized this boarding process was, and wished all flights were like this!!
Boarding began promptly at 8:40pm, as stated on our boarding passes. We were lined up behind one of four kiosks for biometric boarding. This was a first for us! All you need to do is walk up to the kiosk and it scans your face, linking you to your passport and ticket.
If everything is all good, the gate will open, permitting you to board. There was no need to talk to SQ staff, show our passports nor our boarding passes! So quick and easy.
Pre-departure Experience
Upon boarding the plane via the front business class doors, the flight attendants showed us to our seats and offered to help stow our luggage.
We were quickly brought hot towels, followed by a welcome drink and warm nuts. Our options for the welcome drink were only apple juice, orange juice or water. However, we were told we’d be served another drink after departure, and they took our orders.
Another flight attendant came around and greeted us by name and confirmed our dinner orders.
The flight took off right on time at 9:20pm.
Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Cabin
Business class on the Singapore Airlines A350 long haul is spread across two cabins. The forward cabin, where we were sitting, has seven rows of seats, and the rear business class cabin has four rows. There are a total of 42 seats.
Note that there are no overhead bins in the centre of this plane. They are only above the window seats. This made the cabin feel more open and spacious.
The cabins are sleek and clean, decorated with calming neutral tones of beige and brown. I would describe it as understated luxury, rather than flashy.
The seats are in a 1-2-1 configuration. Normally I prefer a window seat, but considering this was a long overnight flight, we chose the middle seats. This allowed us to be able to talk and share food, while not missing out on the view outside since it was dark anyway.
Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Seat Map
Seat Tour
Upon arriving at my seat, the first thing I noticed was how wide it was and how plush the pillow was.
I almost felt like I could fit another person next to me in the seat. There was ample legroom and lots of storage compartments.
On the left side of the seat, I had a reading lamp, headphone jack, universal outlet, and iPod, USB and HDMI ports. There was also a slim storage compartment, perfect for storing a magazine or laptop.
Along the centre divider was the remote for the entertainment system, and below it, another small enclosed storage compartment with a bottle of water and some nice headphones.
In front of me was a nice-sized TV screen, but surprisingly it wasn’t a touchscreen.
Immediately to the left of the screen is a sliding panel which opens to reveal a lighted mirror. A nice surprise when I discovered it!
To the left of the mirror is a small ledge which you can use for drinks when your tray table is stored away. Above it is another enclosed storage compartment, which I used to store my makeup bag.
To the right of the TV screen is a small coat hook.
Below the TV screen, you’ll find the padded footwell, which is a little awkwardly placed. To use it, I had to sit somewhat diagonally. Below it, there is storage space large enough to store a purse or backpack and shoes.
On the right side of my seat was a row of handy controls. From here, I was able to turn off and on the entertainment system, adjust the lighting, adjust the seat, and call for a flight attendant. There is also another headphone jack.
On the upper right of the seat, you’ll find some more reading lamps.
Best Singapore Airlines A350 Business Class Seats
The best seats in Singapore Airlines A350 long haul business class are said to be seats 11A, 11D, 11F, 11K, 19A, 19D, 19F, and 19K.
What makes these seats better? The fact that they are all bulkhead seats and thus have a bench at the front rather than the small angled footwell. This results in a wider seat and allows you to sleep straight, rather than at an angle.
For the best Singapore Airlines seat, check out our Singapore Airlines A380 First Class Suites review!
Singapore Airlines Business Class Food
We had heard such great things about the food in Singapore Airlines business class so we were eager to get our first taste of it. The fun thing about Singapore Airlines is that they allow you to select your business class meals online ahead of time, up until 24 hours before your flight.
You can choose from the standard in-flight menu or the extensive Book the Cook menu. Special meals for those with dietary restrictions are also available to pre-order.
Book the Cook
We were able to view the menus online for our flight by logging into the Singapore Airlines website and selecting to manage our flight. There were quite a few options, but to be honest, we were a little disappointed that there weren’t more Singaporean options.
Note: The business class menus for flights DEPARTING from SIN are much more extensive! We were way more impressed with our business class meal options on flights departing from Singapore.
Business Class Menu
Below are the menus that were offered for our LAX to SIN business class flight.
Dinner Menus
Inflight Menu Options:
- Smoked Fennel Duck Confit
- Chinese Pork Rib Noodle Soup
- Braised Beef Cheek with Red Wine Sauce
- Japanese-style Seafood in Sansho Pepper Sauce
Book the Cook Options:
- Angus Beef Burger
- Chicken Rice
- Grilled Salmon with Yuzu
- Herbal Pork Ribs Soup
- Lu Rou Fan
- Pan Roasted Veal Cutlet
- Seafood Congee with Chinese Cruller
- Wanton and Char Siew Pork Noodle
Special Meals:
- Bland Meal
- Diabetic Meal
- Fruit Platter
- Gluten Intolerant Meal
- Low Fat Meal
- Low Lactose Meal
- Low Salt Meal
- Seafood Meal
Drink Menus:
Refreshment Menu
Inflight Menu Options:
- La Mian or rice noodles
- Tom Yum Instant Noodles
- Chicken Instant Noodles
- Vegetarian Curry Instant Noodles
- Pizza Margherita
- Japanese-Style Seafood in Sansho Pepper Sauce
- Soup of the Day
- Assorted Nuts
- Potato Chips
- Chewy Chocolate Granola Bar
- Dried Fruit Snack
- Assorted Biscuits
- Kit Kat Chocolate
- Crunchy Granola Oat and Honey Bar
- Fresh Fruits
Breakfast Menus
Inflight Menu Options
- Scrambled Eggs with Cheese
- Seafood Congee
- Braised E Fu Noodles with Mushrooms
- Continental Breakfast
Book the Cook Options:
- Boursin Cheese Omelette
- Seafood Congee with Chinese Cruller
- Wanton and Char Siew Pork Noodle
Coffee and Tea Menus:
Dinner Review
Our flight to Singapore departed late in the evening so we began the flight with dinner service. Dinner was served at 10:45pm, one hour and 20 minutes after takeoff.
The flight attendants came around to set our tray tables with tablecloths, dinnerware, cutlery and a glass of water. We were offered wine, which we declined since we don’t drink much alcohol.
Appetizers
Our meal began with an appetizer of marinated shrimp with Meyer lemon aioli on top of a farm salad with turnips and red radishes. There was no choice in appetizer, so if you don’t eat seafood, then I guess you’re out of luck unless you mention it ahead of time.
Another flight attendant came around with a warm bread basket and I selected the garlic bread. It is delicious and definitely my favourite of all the bread options.
Our appetizers were cleared at 11:05pm, and now it was time for our mains. We were also asked if we would like another drink with dinner.
I went with a mocktail called Midsummer Breeze, which was a delicious blend of apple, orange and pineapple juices topped with Sprite. Ryan couldn’t resist ordering the famous Singapore Sling.
Mains
I had chosen to “Book the Cook” and pre-ordered the Chicken Rice. We were headed to Singapore after all, so chicken rice seemed like the best option.
The chicken was served sliced on a bed of long-grain rice cooked in chicken broth, and some bok choy. On the side were dark soy sauce, chilli sauce, and the most delicious ginger sauce ever!
It was absolutely delicious and this is probably the one time that I wished the portion size was bigger!
Ryan, on the other hand, had pre-ordered from the Inflight Menu and chosen the Chinese Pork Rib Noodle Soup. He said it was absolutely fantastic and also finished every last drop.
Dinner was cleared at 11:25pm and we were given wet wipes and toothpicks.
Dessert
At 11:40pm, the flight attendants came around with the dessert offerings. The options were cake, vanilla ice cream, or cheese. I went with the cake option, but I probably should have looked more closely at the menu ahead of time.
The cake turned out to be a Gluten-Free Spiced Apple Cake with strawberry sauce, and was sadly quite dry.
Lay-flat Bed
Finally, just before midnight, the flight attendants came around to make our beds, before dimming the lights right around midnight. Unlike most other business class seats, the business class seats on these Singapore Airlines A350s do not just lay flat at the push of a button, unfortunately.
The flight attendants actually have to fold the seat down to turn it into bed mode. A mattress pad is placed over top along with two small fluffy pillows and a larger one, plus a cotton blanket.
I found the mattress pad a bit thin, but I loved the fluffy pillows. They definitely made the bed very comfy and cozy. The cotton blanket was perfect – not too thick, not too thin.
There is a seatbelt to wear over your body while you are sleeping, but I didn’t find it too restrictive.
Note: Once the bed is folded down, it is difficult to reach anything stowed away beneath it. I had my bag stowed away and had a hard time retrieving my personal items. So, make sure you grab what you need before they fold down your seat.
The biggest complaint people have about these A350 business class seats is that the footwell is so narrow and at an angle. While I did indeed find it narrow and awkwardly at an angle, I slept perfectly fine on my back and on my side so I was able to get a solid eight hours of sleep.
Although, considering that I am only 5’3″, I can see how taller passengers may feel restricted. Having a lay-flat bed is always a win in my books, but given the choice, I would prefer business class lay-flat seats on the 787.
Inflight Entertainment
As I got ready to sleep, I perused the inflight entertainment system. There is an overwhelming number of options to choose from, which is a welcome problem to have on a 17-hour flight. However, I ended up wasting a lot of time just browsing through all the movies trying to decide on one to watch. 
You’ll find classic favourites, new releases, Disney movies, TV series, music, and games.
I settled on Crazy Rich Asians, figuring this was a very appropriate time to rewatch it haha.
Wi-Fi
We were excited to learn that Singapore Airlines offers unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi for business class passengers. This was super nice to have on such a long, 17-hour flight.
I used it throughout the flight (well, during my waking hours, at least) and never had any connectivity or speed issues. Uploading photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram was quick and easy. However, streaming services, such as Netflix, are not supported.
Business Class Amenity Kit
I always look forward to receiving business class amenity kits and enjoy collecting them as souvenirs from our trips. However, I was disappointed to find out that Singapore Airlines is not big on amenity kits and only offers them on flights longer than 6 hours and only by request.
Luckily, our flight was long enough to qualify so I requested an amenity kit upon boarding.
The amenity kit is made by Penhaligon’s, which is a brand that I had actually never heard of but is apparently a British perfume house from London. Inside the simple brown leather pouch are lip balm, facial mist and hand lotion.
They were high quality and nicely scented. I particularly appreciated the lip balm as my lips were feeling quite dry from the long flight.
In addition to the amenity kit, you can request a hair brush, slippers, eyeshades, socks, ear plugs, face masks and disinfectant surface wipes. I requested the hair brush, slippers and socks.
The hair brush was particularly handy and I ended up keeping it in my purse throughout our travels. The slippers were nothing special so I didn’t end up bringing them with me.
Lavatories
There are a total of three lavatories in business class on this A350 long-haul flight: one at the very front left of the forward business class cabin, and two located between the front and rear business class cabins. This means 42 people are sharing three lavatories, which at times feels like not quite enough.
Every time I used the lavatory, it was nice and clean and smelled fresh. There are air fresheners inside, as well as fake orchids which add a nice touch.
If you didn’t request an amenity kit, don’t worry – the lavatories are well-stocked with everything you may need.
You’ll find dental kits, shaving kits, hair brushes and combs, lotion, hand sanitizer, and even sanitary pads. Some lavatories have everything displayed, whereas in others you’ll find them in the drawers.
Breakfast Review
After a solid eight hours of sleep, we woke up ready for breakfast. For anyone who may have woken up earlier, they could have ordered snack items from the refreshments menu.
The cabin lights were turned on at 9am PST since our bodies were still on LA time. A flight attendant came around to ask if I wanted to have breakfast in bed, or if I’d rather have her fold it back up into a seat. I figured that I was going to try to get some more sleep before landing in Singapore, so I let her know I was happy to dine in bed.
At 9:30am, we were served breakfast, starting with a fruit platter of strawberries, cantaloupe, melon, watermelon and pineapple. Since I had ordered the continental breakfast, I was also offered a choice between yogurt or bircher muesli. I also got a coffee, juice and water.
15 minutes later, they came around with a choice of pastries: croissant, Danish, or bun. I went with the croissant, and it was just okay. It wasn’t warm, and it was a little dry. The side of butter and jam made it a bit better, though.
After another 15 minutes, I was surprised nothing else was offered to me. I figured my continental breakfast would come with more options, but sadly I was wrong. My breakfast only consisted of fruit, yogurt and a croissant. Left a bit hungry, I regretted my order. I definitely should have ordered off the Book the Cook menu!
Ryan was smart and had pre-ordered the Wanton and Char Siew Pork Noodle, which he was very happy with! He said it was absolutely delicious. Definitely the choice to go with next time.
After breakfast, the cabin lights were turned back off to allow passengers to sleep some more if they wished. Considering the time difference and that we’d be landing in Singapore at 5:30am local time, I definitely appreciated this.
Video Tour
Service
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people absolutely rave about the service they received on Singapore Airlines. We frequently hear how Singapore Airlines service is the best and the flight attendants are incredibly friendly. Being our first flight with Singapore Airlines, we were so excited to experience this first-class service.
Sadly, it fell short of our expectations. Some of the flight attendants were indeed incredibly friendly, while others were not so much. It felt hit or miss, depending on who we interacted with. For example, Ryan had one FA who always addressed him formally by his last name, whereas I was hardly ever greeted by name.
When it came to requesting the amenity kits, my FA brought mine right away, whereas Ryan had to ask three times, and finally was brought one at the END of the flight just before landing. We also experienced the FAs getting our food orders wrong or forgetting items.
Additionally, no one ever came to fold down Ryan’s bed and he ended up falling asleep sitting up in the chair. He slept like that for 8 hours, and it wasn’t until breakfast that a flight attendant asked if he wanted it made into a bed.
However, I did observe very good service when the passenger sitting next to me couldn’t find his cell phone. A total of six flight attendants assisted him and totally went out of their way to help him find his phone.
So, I’m not sure what to think. We will of course give them another chance and figured some of the crew were just having an off day. It was just a bit disappointing that the service wasn’t as warm and helpful as we were expecting.
Arrival at Singapore Changi Airport
About 45 minutes before landing, the cabin lights were turned back on and the flight attendants came around to fold up our beds and prepare us for our descent. I was surprised just how quickly the flight went by. The 17 hours definitely didn’t feel as long as I expected.
We ended up landing a bit ahead of schedule at 4:52am, instead of 5:30am. Changi Airport was very quiet at this hour and immigration was super quick and easy. We had already completed the mandatory Singapore Arrival Card on the app so immigration was all automated. Just present yourself at the kiosk to scan your face and fingerprints – no need to speak with anybody.
What we loved about Changi Airport is that there is an arrivals lounge, where we were able to take a shower and enjoy a delicious meal before heading out to explore Singapore. Having a shower after such a long flight is such a game-changer!
We were able to access this arrivals lounge using our Priority Pass. Sadly, just arriving on a Singapore Airlines business class ticket does not grant you access.
Check out our full review of the Changi Lounge!
Booking Singapore Airlines Business Class
This business class flight can be booked on the Singapore Airlines website for about $3000-4000 USD one way, depending on your dates and how far in advance you book.
You can also book using points, either directly on Singapore Airlines using their KrisFlyer miles, or with a Star Alliance partner, such as Aeroplan. You may find more reward space availability using KrisFlyer rather than Aeroplan, but if you book far enough in advance, you can get lucky.
We were able to book this flight using Aeroplan from Vancouver to LAX to Singapore for only 87,500 miles each!
Final Verdict – Is Singapore Airlines Business Class worth it?
Overall, our very first experience with Singapore Airlines business class was a very good one. It was certainly the best way to fly the long 17-hour trek as I don’t think we’d have done it if we were in economy. Having that lay-flat bed is always a game-changer, even if it isn’t the comfiest one in the sky.
The unlimited free Wi-Fi was also super nice to have, as was the extensive entertainment selection.
However, as mentioned, the service did not overly impress us. It was not as warm as we were expecting and we didn’t feel like they went the extra mile.
The food was very good (as long as it was an Asian dish), and we loved the fact that we could “book the cook”. However, I don’t feel like it quite lived up to Etihad business class food.
For such a long flight, booking business class with Singapore Airlines is definitely worth it. However, while it is high up on the list of our business class experiences, we can’t say it is the absolute best based on this experience.
Have you flown business class with Singapore Airlines before? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!
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