Flying Singapore Airlines Business Class on flight SQ 22 from Singapore (SIN) to Newark (EWR) offers an exceptional travel experience aboard one of the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights. Spanning approximately 17.5 hours, this ultra-long-haul journey on the flagship Airbus A350-900 Ultra Long Range (ULR) promises luxury, comfort, and world-class service. Upon entering the cabin, you are greeted with warm hospitality, spacious and luxurious seating, and an atmosphere of refined elegance. Singapore Airlines’ meticulous attention to detail ensures every mile of the journey is a memorable experience. Fasten your seatbelt as we explore what this long-haul marvel has to offer.
Flight Booking
The journey began with the hunt for Saver award seats on Singapore Airlines, a notoriously difficult prospect, especially close to departure. But the reward was well worth the effort. After days of searching, I managed to snag two Business Class Saver tickets from Singapore to New York (JFK) just weeks before takeoff.
Each Business Class ticket cost 111,500 KrisFlyer miles plus SGD 88.90 in taxes and fees. Opting for a Saver award saved us nearly 30% compared to the 143,500 miles required for an Advantage award on the same route.
Just three days before departure, a last-minute emergency forced us to reschedule our trip. Fortunately, we were able to rebook 2 months later in November, landing in Newark (SQ 22) at a much more desirable 5:30 AM. This was a silver lining, as our original flight to JFK (SQ 24) arrived late in the evening at 6:50 PM.
TIP: For the best chance of securing Singapore Airlines award seats, especially Saver awards on popular routes like Singapore to New York, book as far in advance as possible. Singapore Airlines typically release award inventory 355 days out.
Pre-Flight Experience
Manage Booking
Singapore Airlines makes it easy for passengers to manage their flight bookings through their user-friendly website or mobile app, offering options like seat selection and meal customization. A standout feature of the Singapore Airlines experience is their signature “Book the Cook” service. Available up to 24 hours before departure, this exclusive offering allows passengers to pre-order from an impressive selection of main courses, including dishes crafted by their International Culinary Panel.
Singapore Airlines also offers special meals to cater for various dietary needs, including vegan and vegetarian options.
As for luggage allowance, Business Class passengers flying to/from Canada and United States are entitled to 2 pieces of checked baggage (up to 32 kg each). PPS Club members receive 2 additional pieces, while KrisFlyer Elite Gold, Star Alliance Gold, and KrisFlyer Elite Silver members are allowed 1 additional piece of checked baggage.
Check-In
Singapore Airlines flight SQ 22 departs from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3, with check-in opening 48 hours prior. Passengers can check-in conveniently online through Singapore Airlines website or mobile app, or opt for airport check-in. Thanks to dedicated counters for Business Class passengers, our airport check-in experience was seamless, with the entire process completed in just a few minutes.
TIP: If you are departing from Singapore Changi Airport, you can check-in at Singapore Airlines counters up to 48 hours in advance and spend some time exploring one of the world’s most awarded airports. Take note that you will only be allowed to enter the transit area 24 hours prior to your flight departure time, in accordance with the airport’s security policy.
Airport Lounge
Business Class passengers can access Singapore Airlines SilverKris Lounge on the second floor of Changi Airport Terminal 3. Look for the distinctive SQ Batik Wall, a handcrafted glass installation and take the adjacent escalator directly to the lounge.
At the top of the escalators, you’ll find an expansive entrance foyer and staff ready to welcome you to the lounge.
Designed for direct access to The Private Room, First Class SilverKris Lounge, and Business Class SilverKris Lounge, the spacious foyer also features an LED panel displaying Singapore Airlines’ signature Batik Motif.
Let me be upfront, the SilverKris Lounge is impressively spacious, featuring multiple seating areas to accommodate a variety of preferences such as plush armchairs for relaxation, communal tables for work or dining, or quieter nooks for privacy. However, when we arrived on a Sunday, 3 hours before our 12:40 AM flight, the lounge was nearly at full capacity.
The lounge offers a wide variety of dining options, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, satisfying even the hungriest of travelers. This time, we noticed a notable increase in vegan food options compared to our last visit in March 2023 and they did not disappoint, particularly the vegetarian dumplings and gyoza. Ingredient labels are clearly displayed on most dishes, making it easy to identify suitable options.
TIP: If you visit the lounge right before a flight, be mindful not to overindulge if you plan to enjoy the in-flight meals (more on that later).
In-Flight Experience
Boarding
Boarding for flight SQ 22 takes place at Terminal 1, which is a 25-minute walk from Terminal 3 or a quick ride on the Skytrain. With no Suites or First Class cabins, Business Class passengers board in Group 2, following those requiring assistance and families with young children. As I settled into my seat, a crew member greeted me with a warm “Welcome back, Mr. Lee,” a gesture that made me feel valued as a customer and reflects Singapore Airlines’ commitment to exceptional service.
Champagne was served shortly after boarding, followed by a refreshing hot towel.
Seating and Comfort
The Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft operating the SIN-EWR flight is configured with 67 Business Class seats and 94 Premium Economy seats, designed to enhance comfort during this ultra-long-haul journey. Economy Class seating is not offered on this route. Business Class is split into two cabins (a smaller front cabin and a larger main cabin), each with a 1-2-1 configuration providing direct aisle access for all passengers. The absence of overhead bins above the middle seats creates a noticeably more spacious cabin.
Christmas wreaths throughout the cabin added a festive touch.
We were seated in window seats 26K and 27K, at the rear of the main Business Class cabin on the starboard side of the aircraft.
The Business Class seats on the Airbus A350-900ULR are wide and spacious, featuring elegant diamond-stitched handcrafted Scottish leather. While the seats feel luxurious, I found the cushioning firmer than expected, perhaps to encourage movement during the long flight.
One notable comfort feature of the Business Class seat is its ability to recline during takeoff and landing. In Row K, the seat controls are found on the left armrest.
While the Business Class seat offers generous legroom with its 60-inch pitch, taller passengers will need to sit at an angle to fully stretch their legs.
This is one of the reasons bulkhead seats are so popular, as they offer more generous legroom.
Each Business Class seat offers several stowage compartments, a power socket, a USB-A port, a HDMI port and a 9-pin iPod port (likely an underused feature).
The seat’s high shell and curved, cocoon-like design effectively shield passengers from their neighbors’ view unless they lean far forward, making these seats perfect for solo journeys.
Converting the A350-900ULR seat into a fully flat bed is slightly unusual, requiring passengers to stand and manually lower the seat back. During the flight, the attentive cabin crew proactively offered to assist with the conversion. Once converted, the bed is made up with linen, a duvet, and two pillows (one soft, one firm).
One of the more unusual aspects of the seat design is the angled sleeping position, with your feet tucked into a small side cubbyhole.
The view from seat 27K was partially obstructed by the aircraft wing but I was still able to capture some stunning in-flight photos when the plane banked at just the right angle.
TIP: For the best window views in Business Class, opt for seats in the first cabin, which are located ahead of the wing.
In-flight Entertainment (IFE)
Passengers are spoiled for choice with in-flight entertainment on this long flight to New York. Each seat features an 18-inch LCD screen with crisp images and access to KrisWorld, offering over 1,800 on-demand entertainment options, including movies, TV shows, music, games, and apps.
The in-flight entertainment system is accompanied by a user-friendly video touchscreen handset, conveniently tucked away on the right side of the seat.
KrisWorld offers an extensive library of 380+ movies, 1,010+ TV shows, 710+ albums.
A recent addition to KrisWorld is a selection of Apple TV+ shows, including Emmy-winning series Ted Lasso, The Morning Show and Slow Horses.
Business Class passengers are provided with noise-cancelling over-ear headphones, which I found comfortable for short periods but less so during prolonged use due to excessive pressure on the sides of my head. I’ll be investing in a Bluetooth headphone adapter to use with my AirPods on future flights.
Besides entertainment, passengers can also monitor the flight’s progress on the IFE’s real-time flight tracker, which is particularly interesting on SQ 22 due to its crossing of the International Date Line along the Pacific Ocean.
FUN FACT: The International Date Line is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole, dividing the earth into the Western and Eastern Hemisphere. It is the boundary that separates two calendar dates. When you cross the date line traveling east (e.g. Singapore to New York), you subtract a day, and if you cross the line traveling west, you add a day. This can lead to interesting scenarios, such as arriving before you departed in local time, missing Christmas Day or celebrating New Year’s more than once!
In-flight Connectivity
Business Class passengers enjoy unlimited complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi, available approximately 15 minutes after takeoff and before landing. While sufficient for basic tasks like email and text messaging, the connection, which fluctuated but generally remained around 3 Mbps was insufficient for streaming video.
In-flight Dining
Shortly after takeoff, a cabin crew came by to take my drink order, which was served about an hour into the flight, followed by a serving of cocktail nuts.
Fifty minutes later, around 2:50 AM Singapore time, the starter (grilled chicken salad with roasted apples, almond romesco sauce, and sundried tomatoes) was served, accompanied by a dessert cake and a selection of bread.
My “Book the Cook” main course, Veggie Balls with Risotto, arrived shortly after I finished the starter. The portion was generous, and while it was reasonably tasty, I couldn’t finish it after enjoying one too many vegetarian dumplings and gyoza at the SilverKris Lounge.
For the second meal, I had pre-ordered another BTC meal but requested to have it served later since I was still too full from the lounge and the first meal. The cabin crew then offered to serve it about two hours before landing.
10 hours into the flight, around 11:00 AM Singapore time, the cabin crew began serving refreshments ahead of the second meal. Undecided if I should have the refreshment or wait for my second meal, I decided to go ahead and was glad I did. The starter was a delicious serving of Singapore Chicken Satay, paired with onion, cucumber, and a rich, spicy peanut sauce, all complemented by champagne.
Around 3:45 PM Singapore time, nearly 15 hours into the flight, I received my second BTC selection, Nasu Dengaku, a Japanese style eggplant with miso glaze and baked in oven, served with simmered vegetables and flavoured rice. This culinary creation, inspired by renowned Michelin-star chef Yoshihiro Murata of the International Culinary Panel, was accompanied by a starter, dessert and another refreshing Singapore Sling.
A wide range of “Book the Cook” dishes are available for flights departing from Singapore. The full menu is available online.
My wife chose the vegan “Vegetarian Oriental Meal” for all her in-flight dining, finding several dishes particularly enjoyable.
Service
Having flown with Singapore Airlines multiple times over the years, I’ve consistently been impressed by their award winning cabin crew and their high level of service. This flight was no exception. The crew were attentive and accommodating, readily fulfilling requests, including for amenity kits, their signature teddy bears, and deferring my second meal closer to arrival. They were prompt in responding to service calls and efficiently cleared meal trays, drink glasses, and utensils after each meal.
Lavatories
The A350-900ULR aircraft operating flight SQ 22 is equipped with four lavatories to serve 67 Business Class passengers, resulting in a passenger-to-lavatory ratio of approximately 17:1. Two lavatories are located at the rear of each Business Class cabin, offering convenient access for all passengers. Those seated in the larger main cabin benefit from easy access to all four lavatories throughout the flight.
Throughout the journey, I experienced no wait times for lavatory use, though I was mindful to avoid peak periods such as post-meal times. The lavatories were well-stocked with essential amenities, including toothbrushes, toothpaste and Penhaligon’s toiletries.
Post-Flight Experience
Baggage Claim
After disembarking the aircraft, we cleared immigration at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal B in about 30 minutes. A short walk and a quick ride down a single escalator brought us directly to the baggage carousel, where our luggage arrived within minutes.
TIP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) publishes airport wait time reports for major international airports in the United States, including Newark Liberty International Airport. These reports provide insights into the number of passengers processed hourly and the average time it takes to clear Passport Control for arriving flights.
Pelago
Singapore Airlines understands that travel is about more than just the flight itself. That’s why they created Pelago, a travel and lifestyle platform that curates unique experiences for travelers, from culinary adventures and wellness retreats to immersive cultural tours. As an added benefit, SQ passengers receive exclusive discounts of 10% off on 3 Pelago bookings (capped at SGD 50 each) at their destination/layover country, along with the opportunity to earn KrisFlyer miles. We took advantage of this benefit by purchasing discounted tickets to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
Final Thoughts
Overall, our experience aboard Singapore Airlines’ flight SQ22 from Singapore to Newark was nothing short of delightful. Despite the journey spanning 17.5 hours, the time seemed to pass surprisingly quickly, and it never truly felt like we were on a flight for such an extended period. The impeccable service, a hallmark of Singapore Airlines, played a significant role in enhancing our comfort and enjoyment.
Every detail of the Business Class experience, from the gourmet “Book the Cook” meals to the luxurious fully flat beds and the diverse KrisWorld entertainment system, reflected a commitment to passenger comfort and excellence. It was, without a doubt, a fantastic way to begin our trip to New York.
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