Find cheap Singapore Airlines flights

Singapore Airlines consistently ranks among the world’s best carriers, and for good reason. The airline offers four cabin classes, each with thoughtful touches like complimentary checked bags, quality dining, and attentive service. Here’s what you can expect when flying with this Southeast Asian carrier.

Cabin classes, seats and legroom

Singapore Airlines offers four cabin classes (first, business, premium economy, and economy), though not every flight has all four. The longest nonstop flight in the world from New York to Singapore, for example, only features business and premium economy on its Airbus A350. Here’s what you’ll find in each cabin.

First class

Singapore’s flagship “Suites” experience ranks among the top first-class products in the sky. Each suite has a separate seat and bed and couples traveling in Rows 1 or 2 can lower the divider to create a full double bed. You’ll only find Suites on the carrier’s Airbus A380, so choose the double-decker if you can.

On the Boeing 777, you’ll find a more traditional (but still luxe) first class. The seat is different, but the service, amenities, and food are just as good. I’m a fan of their “Book the Cook” service, which lets you pre-order gourmet meals before you even get to the airport.

Business class

The business class experience on Singapore varies, depending on the type of plane and length of flight. Longer flights, like those between the U.S. and Singapore, have more comfortable seats with extra storage and room to stretch out.

Unless you’re on a short regional hop on a Boeing 737-800NG (which doesn’t have lie-flat seats) or the newer 737-8 (which has lie-flat seats but in a 2-1-2 layout without direct aisle access from every seat), all business class seats lie completely flat. On the widebody aircraft used for U.S. routes, you’ll get direct aisle access from every seat in the 1-2-1 configuration.

I’ve flown Singapore business class many times, including on flights that are 18 hours nonstop, and each experience has ranged either pretty good to exceptional. All U.S. flights offer wide, fully flat leather seats with direct aisle access and have access to the “Book the Cook” feature like first-class passengers.

One quirk: Singapore’s business class seats have you lying at a slight angle due to the footwell cutout. Bulkhead seats (first row of the cabin) avoid this issue entirely. Despite this minor detail, the seats are comfortable overall and just take a moment to get used to.

Premium economy

Singapore’s premium economy gives you a roomier seat than you’d find in the back, complete with a calf rest, footrest, and your own reading lamp. You’ll usually find this cabin on longer flights. The seats don’t lie flat, but they have a generous recline and are a wide 19.5 inches. Plus, on certain routes, premium economy travelers can also use “Book the Cook” to pre-order meals.

Economy

Regardless of the type of plane you fly, economy doesn’t get much better than this when compared to the competition. Not only is there decent legroom and seat width, but there are amenities like hot towel service and a mini kit with a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye shades, and socks. Finally, a four-way adjustable, cushioned headrest and a footrest are at every seat. Singapore serves full, multicourse meals on real dinnerware, using metal cutlery and glassware.

Every seat has a four-way adjustable headrest (though footrests aren’t available on all aircraft types, like the Boeing 737-800NG), and they serve full meals. On longer flights over 3.5 hours, you’ll get meals on specially designed Singapore Airlines-branded tableware, while shorter flights use sustainable, FSC-certified paperware boxes with bamboo cutlery. It’s the little things, you know?

Routes

The Southeast Asian-based carrier offers an extensive route network, primarily from its Singapore hub. There are over 70 destinations in 32 countries on five continents. While almost all flights start or end in Singapore, the airline also offers a few unique routes, called “fifth freedom” flights. I’ve flown on one of these services, a flight that went between New York and Frankfurt, Germany.

Onboard experience

Here's more of what you can expect when onboard a Singapore Airlines flight.

Wi-Fi and entertainment

This is one area where Singapore excels as the airline offers free Wi-Fi for every passenger onboard (you’ll need to sign up for a frequent flyer account, though). In addition, the airline’s entertainment system, called KrisWorld, is one of the industry’s most vast with hundreds of movies, TV shows, and other programs at each seat to keep travelers entertained. (Of course, it’s especially important on ultra-long-haul flights up to 19 hours long.)

Amenities

First-class passengers receive a well-stocked Lalique amenity kit along with pajamas and slippers. Unlike other carriers, Singapore doesn’t automatically give passengers in business class an amenity kit. Many items are already stocked in the lavatories and the cabin crew will provide a full kit on request. Even premium economy passengers get a kit with slippers and eye shades on flights seven hours or longer.

Food and drink

As mentioned, Singapore has an impressive catering program churning out high-quality meals, all of which have made Singapore a leader in the food and beverage world. You’ll find regional specialties like stir-fried Singaporean hor fun noodles and dishes few other carriers offer.

“Book the Cook” allows premium cabin passengers (premium economy, business, and first class) on select routes to pre-order meals, with a massive selection of dishes that wouldn’t otherwise be available onboard. The airline even has an air sommelier program, a highly selective initiative in which cabin crew can apply to become wine experts. The airline has around 100 air sommeliers, offering guidance on wine pairings.

Onboard service experience

One other area also needs to be mentioned: Singapore’s iconic onboard service, which has helped make it such a standout carrier. I have been extremely impressed with the crew on my flights, trained to serve all passengers with elegance, grace, and of course, safety, in mind. In fact, all crew undergo a four-month-long program that includes weeks of service training, including etiquette, grooming, meal preparation, and more.

Pre-flight experience

Here’s what you should know about the Singapore Airlines ground and pre-flight experience.

Baggage policy and fees

Singapore has a generous baggage policy regardless of which cabin you’re flying in. For all flights that touch the U.S., economy up through first class are allowed two checked bags complimentary, while elite members are allowed even more. Those in economy and premium economy can bring up to 50 pounds (23 kg) per bag while business and first-class passengers can bring up to 70 pounds (32 kg) per bag.

Check-in

Singapore usually has four separate check-in areas, though some airports might combine them. At their home base in Changi Airport, there are dedicated check-in zones for first class, business class, premium economy, and economy. They also have self-service kiosks, and you can check in at Changi counters up to 48 hours before your flight (though automated bag drop and transit area access are typically available from 24 hours before departure).

Lounges

There are three levels of lounge access for Singapore passengers at Changi, while airports elsewhere typically have a single lounge option. At the highest level is Singapore’s first-class lounge and “The Private Room” which offers the finest champagne, sit-down dining, and individual bedrooms. The SilverKris Lounge is reserved for business class passengers while the Krisflyer Gold Lounge is for select elite passengers.

At airports without a SilverKris lounge, passengers may be directed to airline partner lounges. For example, in Los Angeles, business class passengers use the Star Alliance Lounge, while in New York (JFK), Suites passengers and Solitaire PPS Club members get access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, though business class passengers typically use a contract lounge.

Loyalty program

Singapore’s loyalty program is called KrisFlyer. It lets you earn and redeem miles on Singapore Airlines, its Star Alliance partners (like United and Air Canada), and other partner airlines. One of the great things about KrisFlyer is that it partners with all the major U.S. credit card rewards programs. That means if you need more miles for a dream trip, you can transfer points from American Express, Chase, Citi and Capital One.

Booking using miles

If you’ve been saving up Singapore miles, you’ll get the most bang for your buck by using them for flights on Singapore Airlines or its partners. One of the good sweet spots is booking those “fifth-freedom” flights from the U.S., like New York to Frankfurt. If you can find a Saver award ticket, you can book a business class seat for 89,000 miles each way. The Houston to Manchester route was unfortunately suspended recently.