Singapore Airlines Business Class: What to Know

Singapore Airlines business class is widely regarded as one of the world’s best business-class products in the skies. Between top-notch service, chef-created meals and large, comfortable seats, that reputation is justified.

Let’s take a closer look at Singapore Airlines business class so you can decide if it’s worth splurging the miles or cash to book.

Singapore Airlines business class seats

Singapore Airlines business-class seats vary depending on the aircraft type. However, you can be sure you’ll have a spacious lie-flat seat with aisle access on all long-haul international and regional flights.

You can even find lie-flat seats in business class on some of Singapore Airlines’ short-haul aircraft.

The only Singapore Airlines aircraft that doesn’t have lie-flat seats is the Boeing 737-800. On these aircraft, business-class passengers get a standard recliner chair commonly found in domestic first class in the United States.

Singapore Airlines uses a wide leather-back seat on the long-haul Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft.

These massive throne-like seats are designed with comfort and privacy in mind, which are certainly appreciated on the world’s longest flights.

Seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 arrangement, meaning one seat on either side of the aisle and two in the middle. However, the middle seats are separated by a large console. That doesn’t make them great for couples that want to travel side-by-side.

Some passengers don’t care for these seats for a couple of reasons. First, although each seat faces forward, the footwell is off to the side. This means you need to sleep at an angle.

If you want to avoid sleeping at an angle, book a seat at the front of the cabin. These seats have much more extensive and forward-facing footwells.

Also, this seat doesn’t recline into a bed. Instead, the seat back folds down to create the bed.

This seat transition isn’t something that passengers can easily do on their own. So, you’ll need to ask the crew to assist you in transitioning the seat before you can go to bed.

The business-class cabin on Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380 takes up much of the upper deck. Rows are also arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration.

However, the middle seats are much better for couples flying together. In addition to being right next to each other, the seats recline to form a double bed in the sky.

Singapore Airlines utilizes a different lie-flat seat on its Boeing 787-10 and regional Airbus A350 aircraft.

Like the long-haul aircraft, cabins are arranged in a 1-2-1 arrangement. However, middle seats alternate between being together in the middle for traveling companions and separated for privacy. Middle seats have a sizable divider that can be raised to provide privacy.

Singapore Airlines even offers lie-flat business-class seats on short-haul flights using its Boeing 737 MAX — although the airline refers to it as the “Boeing 737-8.”

Seats alternate between one and two seats per row. Row 2 offers solo seats, while odd rows offer two-seat pairs that are great for couples.

You can fly these lie-flat seats on flights as short as two to three hours to Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar and up to six-hour plus flights to South Korea and Australia.

Food and drink in Singapore Airlines business class

No matter which cabin you fly in, Singapore Airlines aims to impress with its onboard meals.

Even on economy flights less than two hours, Singapore Airlines will serve a warm meal. So, you can be sure that Singapore business-class meals will be even more impressive.

Even on short-haul flights, Singapore Airlines serves multi-course meals on real china, using metal cutlery and glassware.

One of the best features of Singapore Airlines business class takes a bit of pre-planning. Singapore Airlines business-class passengers can “Book the Cook” on all flights over 1.5 hours.

Book the Cook lets eligible passengers select from a much more extensive menu of food options than they would find onboard — including laksa and Singapore Airlines’ signature Lobster Thermidor.

To Book the Cook, you must pre-order your meal through Singapore Airlines’ “manage my booking.” This can be done between 15 days and 24 hours before departure — although there’s an even earlier cutoff for Newark and Auckland flights.

Alternatively, you can view the onboard menu for your flight up to eight days before departure.

Amenities and other perks of Singapore Airlines business class

In addition to large comfortable seats and delicious meals, Singapore Airlines business class offers additional amenities and perks to make your journey smoother.

You may only find a single pillow stocked on your seat at boarding. But this is far from the only bedding you’ll get as a Singapore Airlines business-class passenger.

When you’re ready to sleep, the Singapore Airlines crew will prepare your bed with an additional pillow, mattress pad and a duvet — creating a welcoming bed.

In January 2023, Singapore Airlines expanded its free Wi-Fi offerings. Rather than just getting a 100MB data allotment, business-class passengers now get unlimited free Wi-Fi on Singapore Airlines flights.

Connect to the KrisWorld Wi-Fi signal, browse to www.singaporeair-krisworld.com, select “Complimentary Access,” and fill in details like your seat number and name.

After years of resisting providing amenity kits, Singapore Airlines finally gave in and started providing business-class amenity kits in 2020. However, passengers need to be in the know to get one. That’s because Singapore Airlines business-class passengers only get an amenity kit on request on flights over six hours.

Singapore Airlines also stocks its business-class bathrooms with various amenities — including dental kits, razors, combs and lotions.

• Additional checked bag allowance. Singapore Airlines business-class passengers get additional checked baggage allowance than economy and premium economy passengers. Business-class passengers can check up to two bags weighing 70 pounds (32 kilograms) each on flights to or from the U.S.

• Large inflight entertainment screens. Depending on the aircraft, the in-flight screens in Singapore Airlines business class measure as large as 18 inches diagonally.

• Noise-canceling headphones. Singapore Airlines business-class passengers can enjoy the wide-ranging inflight entertainment options using a provided set of noise-canceling headphones.

Singapore Airlines business class recapped

Singapore Airlines is known for providing one of the best business-class products in the world. On most flights, Singapore Airlines offers lie-flat business-class seats with direct aisle access.

Even on short flights, Singapore Airlines business-class passengers can pre-order delicious meals through Book the Cook. Singapore Airlines’ renowned onboard service rounds out the excellent experience.

(Top photo courtesy of Singapore Airlines)