We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don't cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements that
appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and services -
like free credit score access and monitoring. With the exception of
mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or services, partner
compensation is one of several factors that may affect which products we
highlight and where they appear on our site. Other factors include your
credit profile, product availability and proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors' opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews. Here is a list of our partners.
How to Make the Most of Singapore Airlines First Class
In first class, some cabins on Singapore Airlines are Suites, complete with a bed and recliners.
Eric Rosenberg is a California-based finance, travel and technology writer focusing on banking, credit cards, investing and business. A former corporate finance professional, his work has been featured in Business Insider, The Balance, Investopedia, HuffPost, Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and more. When away from the keyboard, Eric is a travel rewards enthusiast who loves taking his family on free and discounted trips around the world.
Megan Lee is a former editor on the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She had more than 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Megan has built and directed remote content teams and editorial strategies for websites like GoAbroad and Go Overseas. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food.
Updated
How is this page expert verified?
NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and
relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving
writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and
complete as possible.
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on
NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not
been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
Singapore Airlines first class is the crème de la crème of luxury airline experiences. From the moment you arrive at the airport until you’re safely at your destination, every need is meticulously attended to by dedicated Singapore Airlines staff; it's a truly first-class experience every step of the way.
But luxury comes at a high cost, either in miles or cash.
Learn about Singapore Airlines first class and its Suites, along with the food, drink and lounges that come with the highest class of service on one of the world’s most extravagant airlines.
What to expect flying first class with Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines first-class experience is so lavish that it is divided into Suites and first class, depending on the aircraft. Here are the most important details you need to know:
Baggage policy. For flights to and from the U.S., Suites and first-class ticket holders can check two pieces of luggage up to about 70.5 pounds. For flights that don’t go through the U.S., you can bring up to about 110 pounds. Flyers with elite status may qualify for an additional bag or two or additional weight, depending on the flight and status level.
Boarding. Suites and first-class flyers have their own boarding lanes. On the two-story A380, these flyers may possibly have their own jet bridge.
Suites or seats. First class on Boeing 777 aircraft includes an extra-wide lie-flat seat with plenty of storage. On the massive Airbus A380, first-class flyers may be able to snag their own suite, which includes a private room for one or two, a luxury recliner and a bed, plus a door for added privacy.
Lounges. Singapore operates its own KrisFlyer Lounge and KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in limited airports and may work with partners in many others. As a premium flyer, you can check in at the dedicated first-class reception area, where a porter takes your baggage. After an escort through a private immigration line, you’ll be whisked to the private lounge that lives up to its first-class branding. The private room lounges aren't your typical busy Priority Pass lounges — they’re a step above.
Food and meals. Singapore Airlines first-class food rivals anything you’ll eat on the ground. You can preselect a meal online with chef-prepared options through its "Book the Cook" service; here, you can choose from a wide selection of world dishes and special meals. Come thirsty, too — you’ll have access to the airline’s expert-selected wine list, high-end Champagne and just about anything else you would like to drink.
Singapore Airlines First Class seats on the retrofitted 777-300ER aircraft. Photo courtesy of Singapore Airlines.
How to book a first class ticket with Singapore Airlines
To book a first-class flight on Singapore Airlines, the likely easiest option for most people is to book online, but you can also book by phone. The website makes it easy to search by fare class and date. Note that Singapore doesn’t fly to many U.S. cities, and some routes don’t fly daily.
If you pay cash, flying first class is a five-figure endeavor, with fees typically ranging from around $10,000 to $30,000. The most affordable way to fly on Singapore Airlines is using miles or points.
If you need to bulk up your points stash, take advantage of the fact that Singapore Airlines is part of the Star Alliance. That means that you can earn KrisFlyer miles by flying partners like Air Canada, Avianca, Lufthansa and United.
Subscribe to our free TravelNerd newsletter for inspiration, tips and money-saving strategies, delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional
content and agree to our Terms of Use
and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Ways to get good value
Book with points
If you regularly fly on Singapore Airlines or otherwise build up a big balance, potentially through transfers from partner credit cards, you can book awards directly with Singapore. These range in cost from 52,500 KrisFlyer Miles to 295,000 miles one-way, depending on your destination.
Partner awards from other airlines
Again, if you have miles with any Star Alliance partner, you can book an award flight that includes travel on Singapore Airlines. For example, if you fly on United regularly, you can use those miles to book a Singapore Airlines trip if the route allows.
Arrive early to enjoy the lounge
So you probably can’t check in the day before and use the lounge as your hotel, but you can show up early to enjoy the full-service amenities at one of the Singapore Airlines lounges, which include Wi-Fi, TV and food and drink.
Note: Many lounges are currently closed due to the pandemic.
Consider 'fifth freedom' routes
"Fifth freedom" is an airline industry term for international flights that don’t originate or end in the airline’s home country. For long-distance flights on Singapore Airlines, current fifth freedom routes include San Francisco-Hong Kong, Los Angeles-Tokyo, Houston-Manchester and New York-Frankfurt.
Splurge for a suite
If you have the miles or the dollars to get yourself in a Singapore Airlines suite, it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have your own private bedroom in the air. It’s not quite as good as your own private airplane, but it’s about as close as you can get while flying commercial.
If you fly first class on Singapore Airlines
When you can cozy up in your own bed, you may be tempted to catch some sleep for the entire time you’re on the plane. But hopefully, you stay up long enough to enjoy your private TV and entertainment system, the fine food and dining, and the exceptional service provided in first class on Singapore Airlines.
These flights will rightfully earn their place as fond vacation memories that last a lifetime, rather than just another run-of-the-mill transportation experience.
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.