Review: 18 hours on world’s longest flight from SIN to JFK

Introduction and Booking – Singapore Business Class SIN to JFK

After my 7-hour flight from Melbourne (MEL) to Singapore (SIN), I eagerly looked forward to flying the longest flight in the world. This second leg of my journey from Singapore to New York (JFK) is technically the world’s longest commercial flight by distance. However, by flight time, the reverse route (JFK to SIN) holds the record, lasting approximately 20 minutes longer due to tailwinds. This flight was another tick off my travel bucket list.

Gate A15 at SIN – SQ 24

My journey from Melbourne, Australia, to New York was booked using 192,000 US Amex MR points, which I converted to Singapore Kris Flyer points. I paid $115 in taxes and fees.

For this flight, I was in a 19K bulkhead business class seat with window and aisle access. Due to their additional space, these seats are often considered prime real estate and are typically released for booking 36-48 hours before departure if not reserved by a paying customer. If you prefer these bulkhead seats, it’s worth reminding you to check for availability during this window.

SQ 24
Airbus A350-900 ULR
Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK)
Duration: 18h 40m (9531 Miles)
Seat: 19K (Bulkhead)

Singapore Business Class SIN to JFK

Due to the flight’s U.S. destination, boarding flight SQ 24 involved an additional layer of security. Passengers needed another full security check to enter the boarding area. Water bottles weren’t allowed past this point, but drinking water stations were available inside the boarding area (in my case, near gate A15 in Terminal 3). The security checks were thorough, with random checks on carry-on luggage, so it’s wise to be prepared for everything to be taken out.

Boarding was scheduled to start at 12:05 p.m. but commenced earlier, and the flight departed five minutes ahead of schedule. As per Google, this was consistent with the previous SQ24 flights earlier in the week.

My seat, 19K, mirrored the comfort and spaciousness of seat 19A from my last flight, providing an excellent environment for the long journey ahead. I took advantage of the comfortable bed and slept most of the journey. The bed was quite comfortable, almost as spacious as my bulkhead first-class seat on Lufthansa. If you’re taller than six feet, even the bulkhead seats might feel a bit cramped, but for someone of average height, the difference in space is significant. The bulkhead seat allowed me more room to turn while sleeping.

SIN-JFK on 19K

Seat Storage and Window Access

Seat 19K IFE screen

SQ Business Class – Seat 19K

Meals and Service – Singapore Business Class SIN to JFK

The first meal service was offered about an hour after takeoff. The starter was braised chicken in a tomato saffron sauce with a vegetable medley and potatoes. The chicken was incredibly moist, and the sauce complemented it well. I paired this dish with a Riesling, which matched the flavours perfectly.

Pre Meal drink and warm nuts

Appetizer – Braised Chicken in Tomato Saffron Sauce

For the main course, I chose Singapore Airlines’ Book the Cook (BTC) program and opted for the Lobster Thermidor. This dish was served in a lobster shell with broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and spinach. The lobster meat was rich, with a delicious sauce mixed with potatoes and mushrooms. The Riesling continued to pair nicely with this dish. The bread was also served alongside, which I used to soak up the remaining sauce in the lobster shell.

Main Course – Lobster Thermadore

Dessert featured two options: a vanilla ice cream with chocolate layers and a honey semolina cake topped with a poached pear. Both were delightful, but I’d recommend the ice cream if I had to choose. After the meal, I finished watching my movie and settled to sleep.

Vanilla Ice Cream

Honey Semolina Cake with Cheese and Fruit Tray

About eight hours into the flight, the second meal service began. The starter was chicken satay with a delicious, spicy peanut sauce accompanied by onions and celery. This dish was outstanding, with the peanut sauce adding just the right amount of kick, and the chicken was tender and moist.

Starter – Chicken Satay

Next up was a sesame crab mayonnaise salad, served with a grilled egg that visually resembled a stick of butter—more scrambled egg than sunny-side-up. The crab and egg complemented each other nicely, and the small salad of tomatoes and onions added a refreshing touch. The garlic bread was also served with this meal.

Crab Mayo Salad with Grilled Egg

For my main course, I again opted for a BTC selection: a rack of lamb. The lamb was cooked medium-well and was very tasty, served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. While the meal was delicious, having a steak knife would have been helpful, as cutting the lamb with a regular knife proved challenging.

SQ Book the Cook – Rack of Lamb

There was a walnut coffee cake and a cheese plate for dessert, both of which were satisfying. I paired these with my go-to Baileys for a delightful end to the meal.

Walnut Coffee Cake

Bailey’s on Ice

Both meal services were excellent and had plenty of options for everyone’s liking. However, light refreshments were available on demand throughout the flight for those with bigger appetites or those who prioritized their sleep over either meal services.

Takeaway

My journey with Singapore Airlines from Singapore to New York was fantastic. Everything was smooth and pleasant, from the check-in process to the service onboard. The meals were excellent, particularly the BTC selections, and the service was attentive and professional. The seat comfort, especially in the bulkhead “throne seat,” was notable, providing comfort close to first-class standards.

One thing to remember is the restriction on liquids when flying into the U.S. If you plan to buy alcohol at Singapore duty-free during the first leg of the journey, you might have issues bringing it onto the second leg due to liquid restrictions. I considered buying a bottle on the airplane duty-free during my first leg, but I’m glad I didn’t since I only had a carry-on and would have had to check the bottle in.

If I had to point out a minor disappointment, it was the limited availability of the Singapore Airlines collectible teddy bears. I could only get the “boy version” and not the “girl version.” But, this is a trivial concern in the grand scheme of things (#FirstWorldProblems).

The journey from Melbourne to New York took over 24 hours in the air, with an additional 8-10 hours of layover time. Despite the length, the comfort and service made the experience enjoyable. Flying this route in business class was far superior to the economy class, providing a much-needed level of comfort for such a lengthy journey.

Safe Travels! ✈️