Review: Singapore Airlines A350-900 Business Class (CPH-SIN)

We redeemed this flight using EVA Air’s Infinity MileageLands programme at 80,000 miles per person for a one-way business class ticket on Singapore Airlines from Copenhagen to Singapore. That’s a significant saving over what KrisFlyer would charge for the same routing, and one of the reasons EVA Air miles remain popular for Star Alliance redemptions. The caveat, of course, is that award availability on SQ metal via partner programmes has become increasingly difficult to find in recent times. When it does open up, it’s worth jumping on.

We flew this route in November 2024. One thing I had been looking forward to was the Restaurant AOC tie-up. Singapore Airlines had partnered with Chef Søren Selin of the two-Michelin-starred AOC in Copenhagen to offer a special menu on this route, featuring dishes like slow-poached lobster and roasted monkfish with Danish potatoes. Unfortunately, that collaboration ran from August to September 2024, so by the time we flew in November, it had already ended. A shame, because it sounded like exactly the kind of local, seasonal dining experience that makes Singapore Airlines catering stand out from the standard long-haul offering.

Before the flight

Check-in at Copenhagen Airport was straightforward. Nothing particularly memorable, and the process was quick. One small note: due to a frequent flyer programme issue, the name order on our booking had been flipped. This didn’t cause any problems at the check-in counter. The staff processed everything without question, which was reassuring.

Singapore Airlines SQ351
Singapore Airlines SQ351

The seat

The Singapore Airlines A350-900 long-haul variant features the 2013-generation business class seat in a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, giving every seat direct aisle access. The cabin is configured with 42 business class seats split between a larger forward cabin and a smaller rear cabin.

Seatmap of the Singapore Airlines A350-900 Long Haul rear cabin (source: Aerolopa)
Seatmap of the Singapore Airlines A350-900 Long Haul rear cabin (source: Aerolopa)

I sat in 19K, a bulkhead window seat in the rear cabin. The bulkhead rows are worth seeking out on Singapore Airlines’ A350 because the ottoman area is noticeably wider than in the standard rows. On regular rows, the footwell narrows into a tight, angled cubby that some passengers find awkward for sleeping. The bulkhead eliminates this issue, giving you a proper flat surface to stretch out on.

Singapore Airlines A350-900 business bulkhead seat
Singapore Airlines A350-900 business class bulkhead seat
Singapore Airlines A350-900 business bulkhead seat's legroom
Singapore Airlines A350-900 business class bulkhead seat’s legroom

The seat itself is generous in width at 28 inches, and feels spacious when you’re seated upright. The design is now over a decade old, but it doesn’t feel cramped or dated. Storage is well thought out, with compartments tucked into the armrests for headphones, a water bottle, and small personal items.

A Bellini was offered as the welcome drink before departure. It was on the sweeter side, but I enjoyed it. Singapore Airlines also offers champagne and orange juice as alternatives.

Singapore Airlines SQ351's Bellini welcome drink
Singapore Airlines SQ351’s Bellini welcome drink

One thing worth mentioning: converting the seat into a bed requires flipping the seat cushion over. It’s not the most intuitive process if you’ve never done it before, but once you’ve watched a flight attendant do it (or had it done for you once), it’s easy to replicate yourself. I set up my own bed on this flight without any issues.

Singapore Airlines A350-900 business bed
Singapore Airlines A350-900 business class bed

In-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi

The KrisWorld in-flight entertainment system is displayed on an 18-inch screen, controlled either by touch or via a detachable remote. The content library is extensive, though I didn’t end up using it much on this flight since I was mostly sleeping.

Wi-Fi is complimentary for all passengers on Singapore Airlines, which remains one of the better policies in the industry. Most carriers still charge for business class Wi-Fi or limit it to a set data cap. Singapore Airlines gives you unlimited free access, which is appreciated.

That said, the connection quality can be inconsistent. It worked well for messaging and light browsing for most of the flight, but got noticeably spotty over certain regions. If you’re planning to do any heavy work or video calls, temper your expectations during those stretches.

Food and drinks

The first meal service was lunch, served shortly after takeoff. Book the Cook was not available on this route, so we ordered from the onboard menu.

The meal started with the satay service, followed by appetiser, and a codfish main dish. The fish was well prepared, not overcooked, which is always a risk with airline catering.

Singapore Airlines SQ351 satay service
Singapore Airlines SQ351 satay service
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service appetiser
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service appetiser
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service main course
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service main course

Dessert options included a fruit plate, cheesecake, a cheese platter, or ice cream. I went with the ice cream.

Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service dessert trolley
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service dessert trolley
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service dessert
Singapore Airlines SQ351 lunch service dessert

Breakfast was served before landing. It started with fruits and yoghurt, followed by stir-fried egg noodles with prawns and mushrooms. The noodles had a good flavour and the prawns were properly cooked. A solid way to wake up before arrival.

Singapore Airlines SQ351 breakfast service fruits
Singapore Airlines SQ351 breakfast service fruits
Singapore Airlines SQ351 breakfast service stir-fried prawn noodles
Singapore Airlines SQ351 breakfast service stir-fried prawn noodles

Arrival

We landed at Changi Airport Terminal 1 instead of the usual Terminal 3. This does happen occasionally with Singapore Airlines flights, though it’s rare. It caught us slightly off guard since we’d been expecting Terminal 3, but the only practical impact was collecting bags at Terminal 1’s belt instead.

No major inconvenience, just something to be aware of if you have lounge plans or connecting arrangements that depend on a specific terminal.

Landing at Changi Airport
Landing at Changi Airport

Concluding thoughts

Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 business class remains a strong product, even if the seat is now over a decade old. The 1-2-1 layout gives you privacy and direct aisle access, the bulkhead rows offer genuinely good sleeping space, and the soft product (food, service, amenity kit) is consistently above average.

The seat-to-bed conversion is a quirk that takes some getting used to, but it’s not a dealbreaker once you know the process. Free Wi-Fi for all passengers is a genuine differentiator, and the meal quality on this flight was good across both services.

Redeeming via EVA Air at 80,000 miles made this an excellent value proposition. If Singapore Airlines releases the award space, it’s one of the better uses of Star Alliance partner miles out there. The product may not be Singapore Airlines’ newest, but it delivers a comfortable, well-serviced long-haul experience that I’d happily repeat.

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