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Airline: Singapore Airlines (SQ)
Flight Number: SQ33
Route: SFO-SIN
Class: Business Class
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR
Registration: 9V-SGA
Delivered: September 2018
Flight Duration: 16 hours 25 minutes
Distance: 8,448 Miles
Overall Impression:
It had been a couple of years since we last flew long-haul with Singapore Airlines, so we were excited to be back onboard for the journey from SFO to Singapore. Widely regarded as one of the world’s top airlines—especially in business class—we were curious to see how it stacks up against other leading Asian carriers today.
Overall, the experience was very good, though not without a few quirks. The A350-900 (ULR) used on this route features a premium-heavy, two-class configuration with 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy seats—there’s no economy cabin at all. The business class cabin is split into forward and aft sections, with Singapore Airlines’ signature seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout.
The seats themselves are spacious and comfortable, particularly for lounging and dining over a 16-hour flight. However, converting them into a bed is less intuitive than expected, as it requires getting up and manually flipping the seat into bed mode. Service from the crew was friendly, polished, and attentive throughout the flight, though it occasionally lacked the proactive touch you might expect at this level.
Catering out of San Francisco was solid overall, and we enjoyed our meals, but the selection felt somewhat limited—even when using the Book the Cook pre-order option. As for amenities, Singapore Airlines provides the usual business class essentials such as eye shades, socks, slippers, and an amenity kit (available upon request), though pajamas were notably absent.
What I Liked:
The in-flight service – Our onboard experience with Singapore Airlines was positive overall. The crew were attentive during meal services and added a personal touch by addressing us by name. While there were moments where the service felt a bit scripted and not especially proactive, it didn’t take away from the overall experience. The team remained responsive and thoughtful throughout the flight, checking in regularly to make sure we were comfortable. Pre-departure beverages and a proper turndown service were also offered, both of which added to the sense of a well-rounded long-haul experience.
The IFE System – One of the highlights on this 16-hour flight with Singapore Airlines was the inflight connectivity—Wi-Fi is available and complimentary for business class passengers, which is a huge plus on a flight of this length.
When it comes to entertainment, the KrisWorld IFE system delivers. The screen is large, bright, and easy on the eyes, and the provided noise-canceling headphones are perfectly adequate for long-haul viewing. The interface is intuitive, with a wide selection of movies, TV shows, music, and even a detailed 3D moving map to track the journey.
The only real drawback is that the system isn’t touchscreen, so you’ll need to rely on the handheld remote to navigate—which can feel a bit dated compared to more modern setups.
The Seat – The business class seat on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULR is impressively wide and very comfortable for sitting, lounging, and dining. That said, it’s not the most intuitive design. Converting it into a bed requires getting up and manually flipping the seat over, which can feel a bit cumbersome—especially on a long flight. The footwell is also somewhat tight, so you’ll likely need to sleep at a slight angle to stretch out comfortably.
What I didn’t Like:
The lack of Personal Air Nozzles – One downside of Singapore Airlines’ A350 fleet is the absence of personal air nozzles, which can make it harder to stay comfortable if the cabin gets too warm. Fortunately, on our flight, the crew kept the cabin at a pleasantly cool temperature, which helped offset this limitation and made for a more comfortable journey overall.
The Amenities – Considering this is one of Singapore Airlines’ longest routes, the business class amenities felt a bit underwhelming. At the seat, we were provided with noise-canceling headphones, a pillow, bottled water, socks, eye shades, and slippers, but the Le Labo-branded amenity kit was only available upon request rather than proactively offered. The bed was pre-made with a duvet and additional pillows, which was appreciated, though the lack of pajamas stood out on such a long flight. On a more positive note, the crew did an excellent job maintaining the lavatories—they were consistently clean and well stocked with essentials like toothbrushes, shaving kits, and hairbrushes.
It’s OK, I guess…
The United Polaris Lounge at SFO – For this flight, Singapore Airlines uses the United Polaris Lounge SFO, which offers a spacious and well-designed environment to relax before departure. There’s plenty of comfortable seating throughout, along with shower suites for those looking to freshen up. The lounge also features a full bar, a solid buffet selection, and a sit-down dining area with made-to-order dishes.
That said, during our visit, the lounge was quite crowded, which took away from what is otherwise a calm and premium pre-flight experience.
The Catering – The catering on this flight with Singapore Airlines was decent overall, though it didn’t quite reach the level of carriers like Japan Airlines or Qatar Airways. There was a good range of beverages available, but the food selection itself felt somewhat limited.
Meal service began shortly after takeoff with drinks and a small ramekin of mixed nuts. This was followed by a starter of seared tuna tataki salad with warm bread, which was fresh and nicely presented. Unfortunately, the mains were less impressive—my Thai chicken curry was bland and underwhelming, while my companion’s baked lobster was overcooked and tough. Dessert was a slice of madeleine cake, which was light and pleasantly not too sweet, followed by coffee or tea.
Given the length of the 16-hour flight, additional mid-flight meals were available on request, though I chose to rest instead.
About two hours before landing in Singapore, breakfast service began with a glass of orange juice and a hot towel. The table was then set with fresh fruit, yogurt, warm pastries, and a hot beverage. For the main, I had pre-ordered the BBQ pork wonton noodle soup through Book the Cook, and it turned out to be a highlight—served piping hot and both comforting and satisfying, it was a great way to wrap up this ultra-long-haul journey.
Bottom Line:
This ultra long-haul flight with Singapore Airlines offers a comfortable and well-rounded business class experience, with standout strengths in seat comfort, inflight entertainment, and generally polished service. The complimentary Wi-Fi and spacious A350-900ULR cabin are definite highlights on a 16-hour journey. However, areas like inconsistent catering, limited amenities, and a few ergonomic quirks with the seat prevent it from feeling truly best-in-class. Overall, it’s a very solid product—just not quite at the level of some of its top-tier competitors.
TravelingFoody.com 