For this leg of our journey, we flew Singapore Airlines Business Class from Singapore to Tokyo Narita. A nighttime red-eye, just under 7 hours. Since we were departing around midnight, we arrived at Changi Airport early to explore, shop, and spend time in the lounges before boarding.
Singapore Airlines Business Class is one of the most talked-about products in the premium cabin world, and flying it from the airline's home airport feels like experiencing it in its best possible context. Changi is essentially the flagship terminal for Singapore Airlines, and everything from the lounge experience to the ground crew reflects that.
(Curious how we flew Business Class for under $100 total for both of us? Vincent covers all the award booking strategies on his channel, linked in the video description.)
How We Booked
This flight was booked using award points, which is why the total cost came out to almost nothing in cash. Award travel takes some planning upfront but it completely changes what is possible when you are flying long-haul. If you are curious about the strategy behind booking Singapore Airlines Business Class on points, Vincent goes into full detail on his channel. The short version: transfer partners and booking through the right programs make seats like this accessible without paying thousands of dollars in cash.
Pre-Flight: SilverKris Lounge
There is something special about experiencing the SilverKris Lounge at Changi, the home airport for Singapore Airlines. We visited both the Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 lounges (dedicated reviews coming soon).
The food was genuinely excellent. We had spicy Mala chicken, lemongrass chicken satay, and a few Singapore Slings from the bartender before boarding.
Walking into the SilverKris Lounge at Singapore feels different from visiting it at any other airport. This is home turf. The staff are attentive, the food spread is better than most, and there is a warmth to the whole operation that you notice. The Singapore Slings alone are worth arriving early for: made by an actual bartender, not poured from a dispenser, and genuinely good.
We stayed longer than planned. The satay was hard to walk away from. By the time we actually boarded, we were well-fed and genuinely relaxed in a way that does not usually happen before a midnight departure.
The Seat and Cabin
This aircraft did not have a First Class cabin, so Business Class was the top tier, with around 36 seats.
We chose seats 20D and 20F in the last row. We picked middle seats intentionally because the layout puts you closer together, which works well for couples. There is no real disadvantage to sitting in the back row.
Space: Spacious with plenty of legroom. I am 5'1" and Vincent is 5'8", and we both had more than enough room. The seat configuration on this aircraft gives you good privacy even in the middle section, with a divider between seats that you can raise or lower.
Tech: Three adjustable reading lights, a hook for clothes, a hidden slide-out mirror, two USB ports, and one international outlet. The entertainment screen is smooth and tilts down for watching while lying flat. The screen response is noticeably faster than what you get on a lot of other airlines, and the content library is solid for a 7-hour flight.
Bedding: A plush pillow and a thick, fluffy blanket. My only minor complaint is that there is no dedicated spot to store the pillow when you are sitting upright. You end up stacking it somewhere awkward. A small thing, but worth mentioning because it is the kind of detail you notice on a long flight.
The seat converts to a fully flat bed. On a red-eye that is the thing that actually matters, and Singapore Airlines delivers. Once we had eaten and were ready to sleep, both of us were out within minutes.
Amenities
At the seat: brown slippers, socks, an eye mask, and Singapore Airlines-branded noise-canceling headphones. The headphones come with sanitary cloth covers, which is a nice touch that you do not always see in Business Class.
The Penhaligon's amenity kit: This is not handed out automatically. You have to ask for one. Vincent requested ours. It is a flat, hand-sized bag containing a good lip balm, facial mist, and hand lotion. Worth asking for, but note that if you do not actively request it you may not receive one. The branding is lovely and the products are actually good quality.
The restrooms were well-stocked: cloth towels, extra toothbrushes, facial mist, lotion, and perfume. Business Class restrooms on Singapore Airlines are consistently well-maintained and refreshed throughout the flight, which matters a lot on a long-haul.
We were welcomed with hot towels and Bellini welcome drinks (peach flavor, mostly just tasted like alcohol, still fine).
Inflight Dining: Book the Cook
We pre-selected our meals using the "Book the Cook" service. If you are flying Singapore Airlines Business Class and have not heard of Book the Cook: it allows you to pre-order specific dishes from an extended menu before your flight, rather than choosing from whatever is loaded on the day. You do it online before departure and it makes a meaningful difference in what you can order.
Since it was a red-eye, they provided wet wipes instead of a second hot towel before service.
My meal (Bak Chor Mee, dry style): My first time having this dish. Bak Chor Mee is a Singaporean noodle dish with minced pork, pork slices, mushrooms, and a slightly vinegary sauce. The noodle texture was surprisingly good for airplane food. The flavor is slightly sour in an interesting way. It was not my favorite flavor profile, but I kept eating it anyway because the execution was solid.
Vincent's meal (Beef Rendang): One of my favorite dishes, and Vincent's choice delivered. Tender beef, fresh vegetables, delicious curry. The rendang had the right balance of richness and spice, and the beef was noticeably soft. This was the stronger of the two mains.
The presentation on both dishes was clean and restaurant-style, not the usual compartmentalized tray situation you get in Economy. Even at 35,000 feet, Singapore Airlines makes the food feel like an event.
Service
The crew on this flight were attentive without being intrusive, which is the balance that makes a Business Class flight actually enjoyable rather than just comfortable. They checked in at the right moments and left us alone when we were clearly settling in to sleep.
On a red-eye, crew who understand the rhythm of a sleeping cabin are worth their weight. By the time most passengers had finished eating, the lights were dimmed and the cabin went quiet. We slept well.
Verdict
The flight was smooth, the internet was fast, the seat was comfortable, and the service was excellent. My only mild letdown was the inflight food: I had higher expectations given we were flying directly out of Singapore. That said, we had eaten so much at the SilverKris Lounge beforehand that it barely mattered.
Singapore Airlines Business Class is genuinely one of the best ways to fly, and doing it from Changi adds an extra layer to the whole experience. If you are booking a flight to Japan and have the points to make this work, it is absolutely worth doing. Use Book the Cook, ask for the Penhaligon's kit, and arrive early enough to spend proper time in the SilverKris Lounge before you board.
Tips for This Flight
- Book the Cook is mandatory. Pre-order your meals online before the flight for the best selection.
- Ask for the Penhaligon's amenity kit. It is not given automatically. Just ask.
- Middle seats (D/F) for couples. The layout brings you closer together than window seats on either aisle.
- Eat at the SilverKris Lounge. The food there is genuinely excellent and sets a high bar before you even board.
- Book with award points. This flight in particular is well within reach for couples who have accumulated transferable points.
